Fujifilm XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Review

April 7, 2021 | Mark Goldstein | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Conclusion

The new XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a logical addition to the Fujifilm X-series lens range, sitting between the shorter, cheaper Fuji 55-200mm and the longer, more expensive XF 100-400mm lenses in terms of both focal range and price.

It's also a very good lens in its own right - light and compact enough to carry around all day, yet still optically excellent throughout the zoom and aperture ranges.

It also boasts the same level of weather-proofing found on the more expensive XF 100-400mm, and somewhat surprisingly at this price point, full compatibility with Fuji's 1.4x and 2x tele-converters.

Adding the 2x converter extends the telephoto reach up to a crazy maximum of 914mm, which should provide more than enough reach for most subjects. It comes at the cost of 2 stops of light, making the maximum available aperture f/11 at 914mm, but most users probably won't mind that at all.

The fact that the XF 55-200mm isn't compatible with either tele-converter is also another reason to consider the new Fuji 70-300mm.

There are a few caveats to be aware of with this lens. There is no tripod mount collar, or indeed any way to attach one, so it can only be used hand-held, which is mostly fine because of its OIS system and light weight, but may not suit all users or uses.

It's also not the best Fuji lens that we've ever seen in terms of its build quality, thanks to the all-plastic construction, a necessary sacrifice in the pursuit of low weight and a low price tag.

The auto-focus system isn't quite as snappy or as good in low-light as the one on the XF 100-400mm, which has a dual linear AF motor, but we're really splitting hairs at this point.

Overall, the new Fuji 70-300mm more than fits the bill as a lightweight, compact super-telephoto zoom lens that delivers excellent images at almost every setting, all at a price that won't break the bank.

We suspect that this will become the default choice for Fuji owners looking to add a super-zoom to their lens collection, and happily we can highly recommend the XF 70-300mm as a lens that more than fits the bill.

4.5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4
Features 4
Ease-of-use 4.5
Image quality 4.5
Value for money 4.5