Fujifilm continues to innovate and strive to meet the needs and demands of photographers at every level.
The Japanese optics giant has just announced the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR super-telephoto prime lens.
In our review, we’ll put this beast through its paces to uncover everything this pro-grade, Red Badge, optically impressive lens can do.
Highly Recommended
Durable lens with lightning fast and accurate autofocus, perfect for capturing fast and distant subjects.
The Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 is a telephoto prime ideal for enthusiasts and professional photographers who want to capture sports, wildlife, and birds.
I had an absolute blast taking this lens out and seeing its capabilities firsthand.
Let’s take flight and unpack everything one of the most impressive lenses in the X Series fleet has to offer.
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Specs
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- Premium Fujifilm Red Badge lens experience
- Fast and accurate autofocus performance
- Pairs with Fujifilm Teleconverters
- Weather-sealed and durable
- Exceptional image quality
- Pro-grade bird, wildlife, and sports lens
- Heavy at 1335g (2.94lb)
- One of the most expensive Fuji primes
- You’re going to need a bigger bag!
- Focal length – 500mm (762mm FF equivalent focal length)
- Maximum aperture – f/5.6
- Minimum aperture – f/22
- Optical Image Stabilisation – 5.5 stops
- Filter size – Ø95mm filter thread
- Lens configuration – 21 elements in 14 groups
- Dimensions – Ø102 mm × 259mm (4.01 x 10.19″)
- Weight – 1335g (2.94lb)
Build & Ergonomics
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR
Make no mistake, the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 is a premium-quality lens featuring one of the most durable and robust builds of any X Series lens.
The weather-sealed Fujifilm XF 500mm boasts an alloy lens barrel with a premium pearl-silver finish—the same as on the whopping Fuji XF 200mm f/2.
There are 20 weather sealing points allowing the lens to operate in temperatures as low as -10ºc (14ºf).
As found on the 200mm f/2, the new XF 500mm f/5.6 includes a broad and deep lens hood with the same metallic finish, a large Fujifilm logo, and a green ring around the hood.
The end of the hood is also equipped with a firm rubber ring to protect the front of the lens from bumps. It also features a sliding door to access variable filters.
The lens hood is massive and measures Ø119 x 91.5mm (4.68 x 3.6″).
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR
As a Red Badge Fujifilm lens, it’s feature-packed and includes a rotating collar and detachable tripod foot that doubles as a convenient carry handle.
The rotating collar has a locking dial and a pair of camera strap lugs to mount a strap.
While the manual focus ring is a finely ridged rubber, the alloy clicky aperture ring includes marked f-stops and a lock to disengage the aperture from the auto setting.
The aperture ring’s sound, feel, and resistance are a sensory delight!
Towards the mount end of the camera, a panel houses the Fuji Red Badge logo, a focus limiting switch, an OIS on/off switch, an autofocus preset selector, and a single focus set button.
Four equi-distanced custom focus control buttons surround the lens barrel at the far end of the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6.
The precision-machined Fuji X Mount includes rubber gaskets to protect the lens from dust, moisture, and cold.
The giant 95mm front lens element is a whopping piece of glass at the other end.
Regarding ergonomics, the 500mm f/5.6 is big and heavy to hold and pairs better with larger cameras like the Fujifilm X-H2S.
Putting aside the weight, the lens sits comfortably in the left hand, and the manual focus and aperture ring are easy to locate and operate.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s heavy and will cause fatigue over long periods, but that’s the price you pay for a specialist piece of glass!
Focus Performance
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/800 SS | ISO 200 | f/5.6
I paired the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 with the equally impressive flagship Fujifilm X-H2S.
With the camera set to a continuous zone subject tracking AF, I could spot, point, and lock onto my subjects quickly and confidently.
I didn’t have the same experience with the Fujifilm GFX camera and telephoto lens combo, as the autofocus wasn’t at the same level.
Bird subject tracking was beneficial as I explored the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to photograph birdlife for this review.
The lens kept pace with the demands I placed upon it to focus and frame a desired shot quickly. According to Fujifilm, it achieves focus as quickly as 0.33 seconds.
Its autofocus is incredibly fast thanks to the linear motor drive system powered by the X series camera body.
It’s impressive how quickly the lens responds and gains sharp focus.
In low light, the XF 500mm f/5.6 struggled a little with accuracy; however, on more than one occasion, I realized I was standing too close to my subject to gain sharp focus.
Image Quality
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/1000 SS | ISO 200 | f/8
I paired the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 with the flagship X-H2S, which boasts a 26MP X Trans 5 image sensor, X Procesor 5, and 5-axis in-body image stabilization.
The X-H2S features fast subject detection, tracking autofocus, and a blistering 40fps continuous burst mode.
The camera and lens combo are fast enough to track a cheetah at full speed without missing a shot.
I wasn’t able to travel to Africa to test the lens with a coalition of cheetahs, but I was able to test it with some local birdlife.
While the X-H2S features a 26MP sensor, I achieved exceptional image quality, even after cropping frames in Lightroom.
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR
Wide open at f/5.6, the lens delivers impressive subject separation and a fine line of in-focus elements.
As a result, the smooth background blur and bokeh were appealing and allowed foreground subjects to pop.
At f/5.6, center sharpness was assured, and stopping down to f/8 resulted in higher sharpening levels towards the corners and edges.
The image quality was just as clean in low-light settings, thanks to the camera IBIS and lens OIS working in tandem to afford slow-speed shooting.
The internal lens configuration includes 21 elements in 14 groups, including two Super ED and five ED lenses.
The premium Red Badge XF 500mm f/5.6 delivers exceptional image quality regardless of the shooting conditions or the subject’s motion.
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6Â Sample Images
Here are some sample images taken with the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6, using a Fujifilm X-H2S.
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/500 SS | ISO 200 | f/5.6
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/1000 SS | ISO 800 | f/5.6
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/500 SS | ISO 800 | f/5.6
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/1000 SS | ISO 200 | f/7.1
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/640 SS | ISO 200 | f/5.6
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/400 SS | ISO 500 | f/8
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/160 SS | ISO 200 | f/8
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/1000 SS | ISO 200 | f/7.1
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/500 SS | ISO 200 | f/5.6
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/160 SS | ISO 200 | f/5.6
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/400 SS | ISO 200 | f/7.1
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/400 SS | ISO 200 | f/8
How I Tested The Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6
I was fortunate to receive the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 about ten days before the product was announced.
Fujifilm Australia also shipped me a loan X-H2S to pair with the XF 500mm lens for testing and review.
Having recently shot with the GFX 100S II and the super GF 500mm f/5.6, I was familiar with the focal range and weight.
The new XF 500mm f/5.6 is a heavy lens to hold and carry for long periods of time.
With a combined weight of 1,995g (4.4lb), the lens and camera made me work for my money!
As mentioned, I tested the new lens at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens on a fine sunny morning.
The lighting was perfect, and the gardens were teeming with birdlife on the ground, in the trees, and on the water.
I also tested the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 on a grey, overcast afternoon at the local skate park.
It’s a big pearly-silver lens that draws attention, so it was challenging not to show it off too much before the release date embargo lifted.
Regardless, I found the new super-telephoto Red Badge prime Fuji lens a delight to shoot.
Alternatives
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR + XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR
Fujifilm has finally filled a gap in its telephoto prime lens lineup.
The only other Red Badge metallic silver prime telephoto lens is the remarkably sharp XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR.
It’s an absolute beast of a lens, measuring 122 x 205.5mm (4.8 x 8.09″) and weighing an arm-deadening 2,265g (4.99lb).
The front filter thread supports 105mm filters, and the minimum focal distance is 1.8m (5.91′).
While the Fujifilm XF 200mm f/2 is big and heavy, it produces exquisite image quality with crisp details and sharpness to every frame corner.
It provides a 305mm full frame equivalent focal range and a tight 8.1° field of view.
The wide maximum f/2 aperture creates pristine subject separation, background blur, and perfect bokeh even stopped down.
The penultimate Fujifilm XF lens costs around AU$8,300 (US$5,600)—premium pro-grade pricing!
The other alternative to the new XF 500mm f/5.6 is the monolithic XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR telephoto zoom.
Fuji’s XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 is the ultimate bird, sports, and wildlife telephoto zoom with exceptional image sharpness and focus performance.
It’s a Red Badge zoom lens measuring 99 × 314.5mm (3.9 x 12.38″) and weighing 1,605g (3.54lb).
The XF 150-600mm produces a 229-914mm full-frame equivalent range and a tight 10.8°-2.7° field of view.
It retails for around AU$3,550 (US$2,400).
Value for Money
Does this lens make you green with envy?
When discussing the value or cost of a lens like the XF 500mm f/5.6, the user’s skill level and desired outcomes must be considered.
High-level enthusiasts and pro photographers demand exceptional performance and image quality from their go-to lenses.
Anyone shooting sports, wildlife, or birds would value a lens of this nature and capability.
It’s not only built to endure the wildest environments, but it’s also an exceptionally fast and optically precise lens.
It includes various features tailored to top-end photographers working in some of the planet’s most challenging settings.
The Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR retails for around AU$5,400 (US$3,600).
It’s the Goldilocks of lenses sitting in between the XF 200mm f/2 at AU$8,300 (US$5,600) and the XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 at AU$3,550 (US$2,400)
While the equally impressive XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 telephoto zoom is a great option, the added value of a high-speed prime is undeniable.
Another benefit is the ability to pair the XF 500mm f/5.6 with either of the Fujifilm XF Teleconverters.
The XF 2x Teleconverter extends the focal range to a jaw-dropping 1000mm (1524mm in full frame), and the XF 1.4 Teleconverter creates a 7oomm (1524mm full frame) range.
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Review | Conclusion
Fujifilm X-H2S + XF 500mm f/5.6 | 1/250 SS | ISO 800 | f/5.6
Let’s be perfectly honest: I’m more of a street and travel photography kind of guy and rarely shoot telephoto.
I recall reviewing the Fujifilm GFX 100S II and the giant GF 500mm f/5.6. I was initially intimidated by it!
Don’t get me wrong—it’s an incredibly impressive lens, but its size and autofocus performance made it difficult to get clear shots.
When the new Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 arrived, I was determined to make the most of my second chance at shooting with a super-telephoto prime.
What I found remarkable about the XF lens is how responsive and forgiving it was to my attempts to master it.
Where the GF 500mm was a bucking bronco, the XF 500mm handled more like a well-trained Australian stock horse effortlessly wrangling livestock on demand.
The Red Badge Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 is an incredibly impressive lens that exemplifies Fuji’s optical mastery and delivers class-leading image quality.
Highly Recommended
Durable lens with lightning fast and accurate autofocus, perfect for capturing fast and distant subjects.
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