Lens ReviewMorten ByskovAugust 16, 2022Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Revisited, Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 sample images, Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 sample photos, Fuji XF 70-300mm sample photos, Fuji XF 70-300mm review, When do you need a telephoto lens, Steveston BC, West Dyke Trail, Lighthouse Park, Cypress Lookout, PoCo Trail, Fuji 70-300mm, Fuji 70-300 review, Fujifilm 70-300mm review, Fujifilm 70-300 review4 Comments

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

The Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS mounted on a Fujifilm X-E4. I am taking a closer second look at this popular Fujifilm telephoto zoom lens.

A Second Look at the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR

I did not buy the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS after I reviewed it in the spring of 2021. I did however write the following in my conclusion:

I am lucky to live in a city where I can rent the XF 70-300mm lens and will not hesitate to do so again when the need arises

It was more an urge than a need to shoot with a telephoto lens again that prompted me to rent the XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS for a weekend in early August.

For the past several months, the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR has been almost glued to my X-Pro3. While the XF 33mm is a tremendous lens I felt an urge to shake things up.

A fishing boat, The Royal Canadian, is docked at the harbour in Steveston, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR — “The Royal Canadian” docked in the harbor of Steveston, BC, Canada
Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 192mm

Weekend Telephotography Goals

We came up with five destinations on this beautiful August summer weekend with locations that I had been wanting to cover with a telephoto lens.

I no longer shoot wildlife and only rarely do I encounter sporting events demanding a telephoto lens. My purpose for a telephoto zoom would primarily be for landscapes and general travel photography.

I do appreciate how a telephoto lens can compress your images. At times it may also be a priority to get closer to the action as with the kite landboarding photos in this post.

Telephoto lenses are also excellent for when you want to put emphasis on landscapes such as the spectacular Mount Baker in Washington State while capturing the photo from a distance north of the US border here in Canada.

A kite landboarder at Garry Point Park in Steveston, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR — Kite landboarding in Steveston, BC, Canada
Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/7.1, ISO 800, 1/800, 278mm

Steveston Kite Landboarding

Stevenson Harbour and the surrounding area present ample telephoto opportunities and as a surprise, I spotted a guy tirelessly kite landboarding up and down Garry Point Park.

I am rusty at shooting sports as I shot the first few frames without changing my usual aperture priority setting using auto ISO.

The shutter speed was too slow and my exposures were all over the place. The kite landboarding guy was backlit so I dialed in a manual exposure at ISO 800, 1/800 @ f/7.1.

This would give me consistent and correct exposures and adequate depth of field in case focus would not be one hundred percent accurate.

Having the zoom lens was a definite plus as I could vary between close-up and open shots depending on his proximity to me. In hindsight, I should have increased my shutter speed. 1/2000 would probably have done the trick as I did have frames with motion blur.

West Dyke Trail

North of Steveston we walked along the West Dyke Trail by the Terry Nova Rural Park. We hit this magnificent spot around sunset and the views of the Straight of Georgia and the Fraser River were astounding.

The telephoto opportunities counted planes approaching Vancouver Airport, a cargo ship in the distance, and people walking or biking the West Dyke Trail. See more sample images below.

A young couple waking hand in hand at sunset along the West Dyke Trail in Richmond, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR — A couple walking hand in hand at sunset on the West Dyke Trail in Richmond, BC, Canada
Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/6.4, 123mm

Lighthouse Park

We had hiked in Lighthouse Park on one prior occasion but had not spotted the wonderful cut-off to a viewpoint overlooking the city with Mount Baker perfectly positioned behind the city of Vancouver.

This time we stopped there twice. Once when we first arrived and then again just before we left hoping the harsh late afternoon light would have softened a bit. We stayed a while as we spotted a cruise ship leaving Vancouver Harbour.

The Royal Princess Cruise Ship departs from Vancouver Harbour in British Columbia, Canada. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR — The Royal Princess Cruise Ship departs from Vancouver Harbour with the city of Vancouver and Mount Baker on the horizon
Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/9, 132mm

Cypress Lookout

We have frequented the Cypress Lookout catching photos of the Vancouver Skyline many times in the past, especially when showing visitors around the city.

This August evening was spectacular and I probably caught some of my favorite city shots to date. Having a long telephoto zoom lens in this location is paramount as you can focus on smaller details in the city or surrounding landscape.

The view of the Vancouver skyline at sunset as captured from the Cypress Lookout. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR — The Vancouver Skyline captured from the Cypress Lookout
Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 223mm, tripod-mounted

There is a new lookout at Cypress, Lookout 2, and we stopped there for the first time. It gives you a slightly different angle and vantage point with excellent views of English Bay, the Burrard Inlet, and Lions Gate Bridge.

Music was playing for a birthday party and there was an overall great atmosphere. There is a small restaurant at Lookout 2 and excellent new bathroom facilities. A viewing platform is built into the hillside and gives you an even better view of the city.

The summer evening view of the Lions Gate Bridge, Burnaby, and Mount Baker captured from Cypress Lookout 2. Sample image from a Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR — A summer evening view of the Lions Gate Bridge, Burnaby, and Mount Baker
Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/8, 300mm, tripod-mounted

Sunday Bike Ride, PoCo Trail

In Port Coquitlam, about a 45-minute drive from Vancouver, we cycled the PoCo Trail. This is a great loop, about 25K (16 miles), taking you through forest trails, along three rivers, and with out-of-this-world views of the mountain in Golden Ears Provincial Park.

The Pitt River and mountains in Golden Ears Provincial Park were captured from the PoCo Trail
Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ f/9, 102mm

Wrapping it Up

I enjoyed having some reach again as part of my photographic paintbrushes. As mentioned I reviewed the XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR last spring.

This was my second stint with the lens but there was nothing that made me want to re-write or change the original review. If anything the lens handled and performed much as I recalled it would.

I do want to drive one point across again. This lens is incredibly light and portable for what it is and what it can deliver. I did not find it a burden to carry around. On the PoCo Trail, I cycled with the lens slung on my back and it was not an issue, even on a packed gravel trail.

You can read my original review of the XF 70-300mm here:

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

Please see more sample images below.

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Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM WR - Sample Images

Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos. Some of the images are cropped slightly.

Please click to view larger images.