Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR Review

Simon Svane Als testing a Fujifilm XF 100-400mm lens in Squamish, BC, Canada — Salmon River Road in the snow testing the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 LM OIS WR

Fuji XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 Review

Elusive Eagles in Squamish, BC, Canada

Thanks to Leo’s Camera Supply in Vancouver for making this lens available to me for testing.

Fujifilm XF 100-400mm Introduction

It had been a while since my last trip to Paradise Valley in Squamish, so I was excited to go again and try Fujifilm's, on specs, impressive XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens.

What a name for a lens, but what do the abbreviations mean? R = ring aperture on the lens, LM = linear motor, fast autofocus, OIS = optical image stabilizer, WR = weather resistant.

A 100-400mm lens on an APS-C sensor gets you close to the action and is a 150-600mm equivalent on a full-frame sensor.

I have always been a bit wary of these types of lenses, promising to do all things well. My experience has often been that they do nothing really well. I was sharing the lens with a fellow shooter, Simon Svane Als. It was good to get his opinion as well.

Icy edge of a lake along Squamish River Road. Sample image from a Fuji XF 100-400mm — Squamish, Fujifilm X-T20, XF 100-400 @ f/5.6 R LM OIS WR @ 120 mm

Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR vs. Canon Telephoto Lenses

I have done some wildlife photography in the past but would not put myself in the category of avid or hardcore. My Canon kit with the 5D Mark III, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS with the 1.4x extender giving me a focal length of 420mm, was my go-to setup.

I have had brief encounters with super-telephoto lenses such as the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II, EF 600mm f/4L IS II, and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L Mark II. The 400mm and 600mm super-telephoto lenses are incredibly good but cost 5-6 times as much as Fujifilm’s XF 100-400mm. Pricewise the Canon EF 100-400mm is more equally matched.

An eagle sits in a tree above the river along Salmon River Road in Squamish, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Fuji XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR — Squamish, Fujifilm Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/5.6, 400 mm

XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR For Wildlife

As the headline suggests, the eagles remained somewhat elusive compared to previous visits but we did spot about five or six as we walked up the river bed in a foot of snow.

It was very near the end of the season. It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed the sunshine but struggled to get close enough despite the impressive reach of the XF 100-400mm.

Handling the Fujifilm Fujifil XF 100-400mm

First impressions of the XF 100-400mm. It feels good in the hand and is well balanced on my X-Pro2 until you start working the zoom. I should have brought my MHG-XPRO2 grip which would have helped. The zoom felt a bit jerky to me. I am sure this is something you would get used to over time.

Trees along Salmon River Road in Squamish. Sample photo from a Fuji Xf 100-400mm — Squamish, Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/4.8, 175 mm, ISO 200

The lens is light considering you are holding an effective 600mm lens. My old Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS weighed about 2.5 kg, 5.5 lbs, and the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm 1.375 kg, 3 lbs.

As for the image stabilizer, I think it may be the best I have ever tried. Things look rock-solid in the viewfinder. Image quality in this very limited test fell a bit short of expectations.

I have been spoiled using good primes over the years so this may not be a fair comparison. In my day-to-day shooting, I do not need a lens like this, which may affect my opinion.

We knew it was not going to be easy to capture a great eagle shot. Simon and I left Squamish with a newfound respect for the avid wildlife shooters out there who put in the time, have patience, and the ability to get close enough to get the shot.

Pros

Great reach for wildlife photography
Fantastic OIS, image stabilization
Faster aperture range than XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8

Cons

Zoom feels a bit jerky
Image quality fell a bit short of expectations
Stiff competition from the XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8

Update:

Fujifilm has now released an interesting alternative to the XF 100-400mm. The XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a more affordable and compact option if you are researching telephoto zoom options. You can check my full review here:

Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR - Review

Update:

Fujifilm has now also released the impressive XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR. You can read my review here

XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR - Review

Please see more sample images below.

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support our site you can do so, with no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below.

Check the availability and current price at B&H Photo

Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR - B&H Photo

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