Fuji XF 150-600mm Lens - First Wildlife Shoot, First Impressions and Full Review

The Fuji XF 150-600mm lens, box and accessories.

Having used the Fuji XF 100-400mm lens extensively for my wildlife and landscape photography I was very excited to hear about the launch of the Fuji XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens. While I had no complaints about the super telephoto lens that I already owned, in my mind the Fuji XF 150-600mm would offer me a number of benefits:

1. Longer maximum focal length

2. Internal zoom

3. Less reliance on a teleconverter

4. Even better image quality in some scenarios due to newer lens design and less use of a teleconverter

With this in mind I pre-ordered the lens, received it at launch and headed out to see what wildlife I could find to photograph. Below is a female Chaffinch which is one of the first images I captured using the new lens. The first image shows my preferred crop (a minor aspect ratio change from out of camera), the second is a smaller crop of the same image to show more of the detail on the bird:

When reviewing this initial image in my editing software I was very pleased with the sharpness and detail that was captured. Unfortunately the “internet” versions shown here are lower quality than my RAW files but hopefully they show some of the capabilities of the lens.

While on location with this lens I was using the Fuji X-T3 camera body. Most of my time was spent photographing static birds as there was lack of birds in flight that were suitable subjects. In the static scenarios I was presented with I felt that the autofocus found my subjects quickly and accurately and this helped me get a number of photographs that I am pleased with. As any wildlife photographer will know, small birds perched on a branch, object or on the ground can still prove difficult for both photographer and camera due to their small size, foliage and other obstructions, changing light and because they often don’t stay in the same spot for long. In my very limited opportunities to photograph birds in flight again I felt the camera and lens combination did a good job; although I was only out to test the lens I was able to capture some sharp images of gulls that flew past. I would love to try the Fuji XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR with the newly released Fuji X-H2S camera as I feel this combination may offer some benefits for wildlife photography, focusing and tracking birds in flight etc.

A young Great Spotted Woodpecker captured on Fuji X-T3 and XF 150-600mm lens.

Throughout my first shoot I felt that my new lens performed very well and I was comfortable using it handheld for most of the time that I was out. It comes with a strap which is very comfortable and the lens is well balanced which is an asset for both handheld and tripod use. The zoom ring is nice and smooth, as is the aperture ring which has a nice soft click to it as it is turned. On my first shoot I did not use the focus ring as the autofocus worked very well for my needs. At the front of the lens are four focus control buttons which I found quite useful and I am sure these will get a lot of use from me when photographing wildlife.

Chaffinch captured on Fuji X-T3 with XF 150-600mm lens.

Towards the end of my shoot dropping light levels resulted in me having to use higher ISO values to get the correct exposure on my photographs. With a camera such as the X-T3 this is not such an issue as it once was and I was still able to capture very good quality images. The following image of a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was captured using ISO 2500. In wildlife photography terms this is not an excessively high ISO but it was still a reasonable test of image quality on the Fuji X-T3 with the XF 150-600mm lens. Having looked closely at the image I am really pleased with the result, the noise is very manageable (thanks to the camera sensor) but what I was most keen to inspect was the detail captured on the bird at this ISO level. The fine, small details have been captured sharply - a very good result considering the overcast conditions and my camera settings.

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker captured on Fuji X-T3 with XF 150-600mm lens.

Overall I am very pleased with the Fuji XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens based on my first shoot. It is a very manageable weight considering the focal length it covers, and due to the internal zoom it feels well balanced. In my opinion it has helped produced some very sharp and detailed images with pleasing colours and I am looking forward to using it again soon.

I have produced a video showing my first shoot with this lens which is available on my YouTube channel Wayne Robertson Photography. You can watch the video by clicking here. Also, a few weeks after my first shoot, I’ve now published my full review of the Fuji XF 150-600mm lens. My review contains lots of information about the lens and shows 27 photographs and 7 videos captured using this lens. The review is available to watch here. If you’d like to see my future wildlife and landscape photography shoots with this Fuji lens then be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

The Damage Storms, YouTube, Instagram and Social Media Can Do to the Landscape

Woodland on a fog filled morning.

As I write this Storm Corrie and it’s almost 60mph winds batter my house. Apart from a short trip out it’s another day indoors for me editing some photographs and catching up on some other work. I can’t help but think of the damage this storm will cause to people, property and of course the landscape. I’ve already seen more trees destroyed and of course storms Arwen and Malik took their toll too. The change to areas we live in, visit and perhaps photograph will be lasting. Storms aside, as a landscape photographer never do a few days pass without me pausing to think about the potential damage my outdoor photography could cause.

I’m very aware of the potential damage my own feet could cause to the landscape - what is under and around them. I always take great care but even in doing so if I visit the same place a few times within a short period I can have an effect on that specific area. In recent months I’ve visited some reasonably well known areas that I have been to before. Though not long had passed since my last visits I noticed the new damage done to narrow access roads which are simply not capable of supporting the high volumes of traffic they have seen. I saw cars and larger vehicles parked (or perhaps abandoned?) at the side of narrow roads as people ran out to take photographs. Roads, verges and vegetation all suffer. It’s not only roads that suffer, very similar damage happens to footpaths and the landscape itself. Even if I and others take care sometimes the sheer amount of footfall is enough. Of course when we wander off path new paths begin to form and others follow. It is becoming increasingly more common for me to read and see in the news, and witness for myself, the damage done to some areas due to them being unable to cope with large visitor numbers. Unfortunately I’ve also seen areas being damaged deliberately to make them more photogenic, and of course litter and waste is often an issue too.

While I have every confidence that the vast majority of us take great care and appreciate and respect the areas we visit, it’s a fact that a large number of visitors is enough to have an impact. Wildlife and people who live in the areas we visit are all impacted. But how does this relate to outdoor photography? As a photographer and someone who loves the outdoors an issue that I often find myself struggling with is because of the popularity of the internet, social media, and the sharing of photographs and video. Should a photograph or landscape/wildlife photography video which identifies the location of the content become very popular, it has the potential to make hundreds of thousands of people, if not more, want to visit that location. It’s impossible for me to put exact numbers to this in terms of how many people will actually visit that location, but the audience of photographs and videos does in some cases reach millions of views. I know beyond any doubt it has increased the visitor number to many many areas exponentially.

I’m not an expert on this matter, I’m just someone who cares about these issues. I care about the landscape, wildlife and the people who live in these areas and I feel that these three things don’t always want or benefit from the popularity the internet, photography and video can bring. For me these three things need to be prioritised over photography and business. I’ll continue to quietly do my best to minimise the effects of my own photography. If anyone were to ask me what can we do about this, my simplest answer is: “Think before you share”. Before you post your next photo or video online pause and think what could be the potential effect of sharing the location information? Thank you for taking the time to read this! Even if it makes a difference to only one person that is a positive result. If you are interested in this topic and want to hear more I have a video on my YouTube channel here.

#naturefirst

My Limited Edition Prints - Landscape and Wildlife Photography from Scotland

I’ve recently added some new limited edition prints to my Shop. These are some of my favourite photographs that I’ve captured over a number of years from across Scotland. All my images are captured, printed and checked by myself. Other than the time spent capturing these photographs I enjoy taking considerable time to ensure the final prints are just right. Each photograph is printed on archival quality paper with inks which ensure it will retain its original colour quality and look for essentially a lifetime. I also include a certificate of authenticity.

Why not take a look through my prints, I’m sure you will find something that you’d get years of enjoyment from hanging in your own home. Whether a foggy woodland, a snow covered vista, a seascape, a beautiful view from the Isle of Skye or a box set containing a few prints, I hopefully have photographs for sale that will resonate with you.

Below is one of the new prints that I have recently added. This is one of my personal favourites. It is an image I visualised many years before I was able to actually capture it. I wanted to photograph this tree during heavy snowfall and it was a delight to finally see that moment years after first having the concept. The image looks wonderful in print and is a faithful representation of what was a special and very rare moment.

Fuji X-T4 and Fuji XF100-400mm Lens - First Wildlife Photography Shoot

Ever since switching to the Fuji line of cameras I have had my eye on the Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens. As someone who loves wildlife photography this lens seemed perfect for my needs offering a great focal length range which can be extended further by using one of the compatible Fuji teleconverters.

I’m happy to say that I have now purchased this lens along with the Fuji XF1.4X teleconverter; when using this teleconverter the lens has a maximum focal length of 560mm on my X-T4 which is fantastic for photographing wildlife. Note: when using the teleconverter the aperture becomes F6.4-8.

For my first shoot with this lens I headed out on an evening to try and find some roe deer to photograph. The conditions were quite challenging with a strong wind blowing and of course the ever decreasing light as the evening headed towards sunset. I found some roe deer near a corn field which made for a wonderful setting for photographs as the corn blew in the wind. Despite the aforementioned challenges the lens performed really well and I was able to get some photographs that I was very pleased with. Excited to try the lens more I headed out again the following morning and captured some nice photographs of deer in the golden morning light.

So what do I think of the Fuji XF100-400mm lens based on my first few hours using it? I’m very impressed with the lens. Obviously I can’t yet speak about it in a long term capacity but the build quality seems excellent and I found the size and weight very manageable for a lens offering this focal length range. I am very happy with the image quality - the photographs I took show great detail and look very pleasing. When using the 1.4X teleconverter I found the loss in sharpness to be minor and this makes the teleconverter a great choice when the extra focal length is beneficial.

If you’d like to watch the video I made of this shoot which includes plenty photographs taken with the lens and teleconverter, and also video footage captured using the lens, then be sure to checkout the video here on my YouTube channel.

Camera Settings for Photographing Birds in Flight + Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary Tips

Capturing nice images of birds in flight is a very rewarding experience. To capture good sharp images you need to use the correct settings on your camera and lens. I’ve created a video which covers all the camera settings you need to use for photographing birds in flight, I also gives some tips to help Canon users including taking advantage of custom settings and modifying Canon AF case settings. I also discuss the best settings for the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens. You can watch here.

Limited Edition Landscape Photography Prints from Scotland

Here on my site I have a number of limited edition landscape photography prints, and limited edition wildlife prints, from Scotland for sale. I have a range of single prints and also box sets of prints, all from Scotland. Each photograph that I sell means something to me personally and I am proud of each image that I offer as a print. Great effort and care has been put into the capture and natural edit of each photograph, and that continues with my printing and packaging process. I produce archival quality prints which will last a lifetime and included in each sale is a certificate of authenticity and some other documents which I think you will enjoy receiving. I despatch worldwide and ensure that my prints arrive in pristine condition.

Why not take a look at my landscape and wildlife limited edition prints in the Shop section of my website?

Wildlife Photography with the Sigma 150-600 mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens

I spend the majority of my time doing landscape photography but over the years I have spent a lot of time doing wildlife photography. It is something that I have a love for and for a few months now I’ve felt the urge to get back out and capture some wildlife images. Recently while doing some woodland photography I was visited regularly throughout the day by a Robin (watch the video here). The Robin is a beautiful small bird with its vibrant red breast and seeing one up close that day inspired me to return with a suitable lens to try and capture one out in nature in the woodland. That lens is the Sigma 150-600 mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary (affiliate link to lens on Amazon) which I use on my Canon 5D Mark IV. I really like this lens, the only drawbacks for me being the size and weight but it’s certainly manageable. I made a video which you can watch here and in it I show a number of wildlife images I’ve captured over the years, and also the images I captured that day of a Robin. I also discuss why I switched to the Sigma lens when I previously had the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens (Amazon affiliate link).