Well, actually there is something spectacular about this lens: It's not only its low price but rather its excellent image stabilization. I'm using it on an X-T4 with ibis and I can easily hand hold it steady enough to get perfectly sharp photos at a shutterspeed of only 1/15s when zoomed in all the way. Even far more than 50% of the shots at 1/8s are perfectly sharp. To me that's good enough for night photography!
I own the XF55-200mm and love it. I Picked xc50-230 up for $130 in the sales as a 'disposable' travel lens, disposable in the sense it would be used in extreme conditions and if lost or stolen it would be no big deal. Wow, its cheap, tacky, piece of plastic junk... BUT it performs fantastically optically as a travel lens \ if you overlook the build quality. It is sharpish (if you don't pixel peek) it held up to abuse and as I didn't care if it got damaged caught images my XF55-200 would never contemplate. Coupled with my RF27mm for low light and my RF18-135 general use lens it made the perfect travel setup. Do yourself a favour, put aside gear snobbery and grab one if you can get one at a good price. I did.
Hello, I really like your constructives videos with a smooth and calm voice in contrary with the hysterics young RUclipsrs speaking too fast with no articulation. Which microphone do you use for your videos ?
Well as the comments confirm, this lens is extremely underrated and downplayed by people that have way too much money to spend on camera gear. When looking at the entire Fuji lens line-up you just can't ignore this one at all. It is a great and easy to use lens with decent optics, very good ois (which is rare in the Fuji family) it has a nice range from portrait to more than 'just tele', is quite compact, light weight AND is extremely cheap. Especially when you buy it second hand. There is just nothing at all that could even come close to beating this beast in price to performance ratio...
After all the reviews of this lens I must have bought the “Artists Proof” version in Singapore Airport. Mine is fantastic. Extremely sharp at f8 and with the IS performs better than my Nikon 70-200f2.8. I use it at daylight harness race meetings at f8 so light is not a problem. For the price, the reach, the quality is amazing. Buy and try.
I used to have this lens before upgrading to the better XF55-200. Good value for money. BTW, the rattling that you are hearing is most probably the OIS system. This rattling should not occur when the lens in powered on with the camera...
Hmm, well - I never actually handled that lens personally, so I don't know - maybe it was a different implementation? I believe it was Fuji's 1st OIS lens....
I wonder what miraculous manufacturing technique is used by Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, Tamron, Sigma use to ensure that their OIS lenses don't rattle around like cheap toys?
I purchased this lens and used it during a golf tournament yesterday. However, despite selecting the people or objects I wanted to focus on, the lens didn’t focus on the chosen area. Instead, it focused more on the areas behind the selected subject, blurring the object or person I wanted to capture. Am I possibly using it incorrectly? My camera is a FujiFilm X-T200, and I tried shooting in Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority modes. I used Single Point Focus for the shots.
You have to consider, this lens isn't a 400$/€ lens, cause the most people will get it with the kit and then it's really good priced, at example: when I bought my XT 10 it was 799€ with the 16-50 and 899€ with both, so effectively I paid 100€ for it. And for this it's incredible good
but its still a little too expensive when you consider the canon 55-250 STM is optically much better in the corners .1/2 of a stop faster ,bigger zoom range and the canon is only £175 compared to £310 for the fuji ...not taking account of special offers or gray imports ..price found at www.camerapricebuster.co.uk
Do you mean the EF-S lens or the EF-M lens? A direct comparison would be the EF-M lens, which is for the Canon EOS M mirrorless lineup. The 55-200 EF-M lens is about $350 and has a similar slower aperture (6.3 I think at the long end), which is similar in max aperture and price and size. It would not be a fair comparison with the EF-S lens you mention, which is much bigger (I have owned it before) and requires a special adapter to mount on a Canon mirrorless body, making it even bigger. The Fuji system is mirrorless.
Is there anything similar to this for Sony Full Frame? - I loved this lens on my Fuji, the stabilisation is insanely good! - but can't find anything like it for Sony. I tried the Tamron 70-300mm which comes close in focal length and even lighter, but no OSS which makes it very difficult for handheld videography.
Thank you for the review sir, makes me think to buy this one, and i have a question, what the differences this one and the version ii? little bit confused what the differences, thank you!
Canon 70- 300 II & Tamron 100- 400 Which one is the best n where can they be used? Pls suggest as I have to buy one for hobby purpose. I have 6 D Mark I I
Definitely the Tamron, it's a great lens! From what I've seen from many reviews around the net, it's almost as sharp as the latest Canon 100-400 L lens, which is of course much more expensive. The Canon 70-300 is certainly a good lens, but it isn't as sharp as the Tamron and obviously doesn't offer the same reach (300 mm on full frame isn't anything special, that's the reason why I'm getting a longer lens this very moment). Cheers!
How do you turn on and off image stabilisation on this lens? I struggle to understand how IBIS + lens OIS work together. I can turn on the IBIS, bit the OIS? Where do I find it? Thanks for your thoughts
I was going to buy one for my X-E1, but It's too slow at the long end and considering the AF system on my camera is incapable of tracking anything moving, I really have no use for a tele lens.
Nobody really cant compete with Canon when it comes to newer budget lenses, or even budget gear in general, 55-250 STM is cheaper and better in most ways. Fuji is OP in that segment.
Those $35 dollar amazon cctv lenses are pretty sweet. I got one called fotasy and it's really cheap, really small, built like a tank and it has crazy strong swirly bokeh. Also the 1.6 aperture is awesome in low light. For the cost and size, everyone should have one in their bag somewhere. For video or as an everyday lens... Probably not so much. It's designed for a tiny sensor, so the image is very soft and the edges are always blurry. For most shots that's not a good thing but when you want the ultimate bokeh bomb it delivers for the price of a couple pizzas. It's possible with mine to get the FOV so small that I can't get their eyes in focus without blurring their eyebrows.
Thank you very much for this review! I would love to see how the Samyang 300mm catadioptric lens compares with this one on the long end (aside from bokeh and contrast). Do have any plans to test that lens?
In order to get an easiest bokeh do you know any faster prime tele lens (around 200mm), for less than US dollars that can be used on fuji x series mount with autofocus?
Picture quality-wise, they are almost the same. The G2 improves on the G1 when it comes to AF performance, weather sealing, minimum focusing distance and image stabilization. Not that any of those things were bad on the older model, but Tamron had to do something to justify the release of the newer model. So, if you mostly care about image quality, you can save yourself some cash by getting the G1 since it's as capable as the G2 in that regard. However, if you're a Nikon user, the G2 might be a better choice after all because the G1 apparently had some trouble focusing on Nikon's bodies and that has been completely fixed with the new lens. Cheers!
mindprison88 thanks for your reply! Maybe I should save and go for the G1, I'm an 80d user so I should expect it to have no problems at focusing. Cheers!
I understand you. There is a plan to change dslr on a mirrorless camera but I do not know what to choose. I would like to know your opinion. I want to have a compact and light camera.
I do not have Facebook so I write through a friend. I have a question that bothers me a lot. Do as Crope's 1.5 nikon. Is that also in the sensor. That is, 400 iso in this frame is like 560 krup. This is very important to me. I already wrote you through RUclips, I do not buy lenses without your recommendation. I would appreciate it if you would reply
How bad is this? (referring to my actions lol), I am looking for reviews on this lens and I see your name and literally speak out loud (with no one around), "Oh good... I like this guy" (referring to how much I appreciate your reviews). Mr Frost, you are among the best for accurate info and being straightforward. Thanks for all the great reviews. Cheers.
Can't complain about it for $150 bucks on ebay. Will give me some decent reach for daylight shooting. Won't be the most useful inside but I simply can't afford their 2.8 zoom atm.
This is a cheap F11 lens. If you can live with that limitation, great cheap lens. I would use auto-ISO and select shutter speed while leaving it at F11, or maybe no more open than F8. If you know how to take shots, then you would be able to get results where nobody would guess you are using such a cheap lens. I am thinking landscape photos that are not the wide angle type.
I'm wondering if I could use this as a telephoto lens for landscape. The lens looks horrible, but it's pretty cheap and light. Image quality seems surprisingly good.
I have an XT2. Bought this lens and basically after a long winded explanation from Fuji IT DOESNT WORK. Pretty upset. Basically I turn all the dials like ISO, shutter, ap. And nothing changes. If i take the pic the settings work, but not in the preview. My lens doesn't come with a particular button on the side and that has something to do with compatibility with the camera. It's just insane that these are both Fuji products and it doesn't work
The (even cheaper) Nikon 55-200 DX probably destroys that lens. Wanted the 50-230 for my X-H1 as light hiking lens but I think I have to go for the 55-200 XF.
it is a perfectly usable lens and it presents very nice optical quality. if you want a decent zoom to walk around , light this is it. Avoid the last mm from the zoom.
Canon’s 55-250 is stm is similar sized but with longer reach and brighter aperture on the long end. And it’s much cheaper. I don’t get the purpose of the whole Fuji system....
Well, actually there is something spectacular about this lens: It's not only its low price but rather its excellent image stabilization. I'm using it on an X-T4 with ibis and I can easily hand hold it steady enough to get perfectly sharp photos at a shutterspeed of only 1/15s when zoomed in all the way. Even far more than 50% of the shots at 1/8s are perfectly sharp. To me that's good enough for night photography!
I just bought this in second hand, which hand feel very close sigma 1.4. I take this for sunset and volleyball which is very good results.
“It works.” -Christopher Frost, 2018
I own the XF55-200mm and love it. I Picked xc50-230 up for $130 in the sales as a 'disposable' travel lens, disposable in the sense it would be used in extreme conditions and if lost or stolen it would be no big deal. Wow, its cheap, tacky, piece of plastic junk... BUT it performs fantastically optically as a travel lens \ if you overlook the build quality. It is sharpish (if you don't pixel peek) it held up to abuse and as I didn't care if it got damaged caught images my XF55-200 would never contemplate. Coupled with my RF27mm for low light and my RF18-135 general use lens it made the perfect travel setup. Do yourself a favour, put aside gear snobbery and grab one if you can get one at a good price. I did.
Hello, I really like your constructives videos with a smooth and calm voice in contrary with the hysterics young RUclipsrs speaking too fast with no articulation. Which microphone do you use for your videos ?
It’s a great lens and mine doesn’t rattle. Superb resolution for wildlife and pretty good bokeh considering the aperture. SS 1/180 to 1/250 outdoors.
Well as the comments confirm, this lens is extremely underrated and downplayed by people that have way too much money to spend on camera gear. When looking at the entire Fuji lens line-up you just can't ignore this one at all. It is a great and easy to use lens with decent optics, very good ois (which is rare in the Fuji family) it has a nice range from portrait to more than 'just tele', is quite compact, light weight AND is extremely cheap. Especially when you buy it second hand. There is just nothing at all that could even come close to beating this beast in price to performance ratio...
After all the reviews of this lens I must have bought the “Artists Proof” version in Singapore Airport. Mine is fantastic. Extremely sharp at f8 and with the IS performs better than my Nikon 70-200f2.8. I use it at daylight harness race meetings at f8 so light is not a problem. For the price, the reach, the quality is amazing. Buy and try.
Me too, I'm steel asking how this can cost 120€... The sharpness blows my mind
Is fuji xc full Frame lens?
@@anonimman1235 all Fuji X series are crop sensors
I used to have this lens before upgrading to the better XF55-200. Good value for money.
BTW, the rattling that you are hearing is most probably the OIS system. This rattling should not occur when the lens in powered on with the camera...
It's probably the same rattling one can hear from the new XC15-45 when switched off.
And basically from any Fuji lens that has OIS...
Fourth Way Can’t hear it from the XF18-55 though.
Hmm, well - I never actually handled that lens personally, so I don't know - maybe it was a different implementation? I believe it was Fuji's 1st OIS lens....
I wonder what miraculous manufacturing technique is used by Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, Tamron, Sigma use to ensure that their OIS lenses don't rattle around like cheap toys?
Great review! Looking forward to having more Fuji lenses review, especially the zoom lenses~
I purchased this lens and used it during a golf tournament yesterday. However, despite selecting the people or objects I wanted to focus on, the lens didn’t focus on the chosen area. Instead, it focused more on the areas behind the selected subject, blurring the object or person I wanted to capture. Am I possibly using it incorrectly? My camera is a FujiFilm X-T200, and I tried shooting in Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority modes. I used Single Point Focus for the shots.
And no bokeh and depth of field
God! I love this guy's voice. I come for the lenses, but ooh, that voice makes it so easy to stay.
You have to consider, this lens isn't a 400$/€ lens, cause the most people will get it with the kit and then it's really good priced, at example: when I bought my XT 10 it was 799€ with the 16-50 and 899€ with both, so effectively I paid 100€ for it. And for this it's incredible good
but its still a little too expensive when you consider the canon 55-250 STM is optically much better in the corners .1/2 of a stop faster ,bigger zoom range and the canon is only £175 compared to £310 for the fuji ...not taking account of special offers or gray imports ..price found at www.camerapricebuster.co.uk
Do you mean the EF-S lens or the EF-M lens? A direct comparison would be the EF-M lens, which is for the Canon EOS M mirrorless lineup. The 55-200 EF-M lens is about $350 and has a similar slower aperture (6.3 I think at the long end), which is similar in max aperture and price and size. It would not be a fair comparison with the EF-S lens you mention, which is much bigger (I have owned it before) and requires a special adapter to mount on a Canon mirrorless body, making it even bigger. The Fuji system is mirrorless.
I need to pay €400 for a new one 😮
is this compatible with x-a5 model?
Yes! They sold it as a kit at some point.
May you review Fuji 15-45 lens ?
What is the difference between FUJIFILM len 50-230 OIS vs OIS 2
Is there anything similar to this for Sony Full Frame? - I loved this lens on my Fuji, the stabilisation is insanely good! - but can't find anything like it for Sony. I tried the Tamron 70-300mm which comes close in focal length and even lighter, but no OSS which makes it very difficult for handheld videography.
Finally review more Fuji Lenses!
Waiting for xf 70-300 review
Thank you for the review sir, makes me think to buy this one, and i have a question, what the differences this one and the version ii? little bit confused what the differences, thank you!
I didn't realize you are still using Fuji system. I think RF is always fascinating and I'm looking forward for new Fuji DRF in photokina this year.
Excellent video 😊!
At F8 is very sharp, great for landscape
Canon 70- 300 II & Tamron 100- 400
Which one is the best n where can they be used? Pls suggest as I have to buy one for hobby purpose. I have 6 D Mark I I
Definitely the Tamron, it's a great lens! From what I've seen from many reviews around the net, it's almost as sharp as the latest Canon 100-400 L lens, which is of course much more expensive. The Canon 70-300 is certainly a good lens, but it isn't as sharp as the Tamron and obviously doesn't offer the same reach (300 mm on full frame isn't anything special, that's the reason why I'm getting a longer lens this very moment). Cheers!
Pls do 55-200 too :/
michael vican yes a comparison between both would be great
is it good for moon shots?
Between Fujifilm XC 50-230 and Fujifilm XC 16-50mm what should I pick for portrait?
Neither.
How is this lens for landscape photography on a tripod? I've been looking for a lightweight telephoto.
Watch the review, and you'll find out all about it :-)
wondering how it perform for basket ball tournament? i am having that job at the end of the month and only have x-a10 + xc 16-50 only....
It probably won't be great - autofocus is a bit slow
I REALLY need some budget reccomendations for getting into night photography both cameras and lenses
How do you turn on and off image stabilisation on this lens? I struggle to understand how IBIS + lens OIS work together. I can turn on the IBIS, bit the OIS? Where do I find it? Thanks for your thoughts
Its found in camera settings, however you will have 1.29x crop in OIS
Fuji 18-55 please :)
Can we use it with Fuji xt30?
I was going to buy one for my X-E1, but It's too slow at the long end and considering the AF system on my camera is incapable of tracking anything moving, I really have no use for a tele lens.
I would like to buy a Fujfilm X-T100 camera. Is this lens will be good for telephoto and macro?
Watch the review, and you'll find out
Is there any different between this and the version II of it?
Apparently there's not much difference
The version 2 is twice as good
Is it possible to install a teleconverter on this lens?
Maybe - I don't think so, though
Nobody really cant compete with Canon when it comes to newer budget lenses, or even budget gear in general, 55-250 STM is cheaper and better in most ways. Fuji is OP in that segment.
I bought mine when the 55-230 was around $200
I bought it for around 135€ black version
Hi Christopher. Could you please review the FUJIAN 35mm f1.6 C mount CCTV Lens II? Sounds like a fun cheap lens for cinematic video
Those $35 dollar amazon cctv lenses are pretty sweet. I got one called fotasy and it's really cheap, really small, built like a tank and it has crazy strong swirly bokeh. Also the 1.6 aperture is awesome in low light. For the cost and size, everyone should have one in their bag somewhere.
For video or as an everyday lens... Probably not so much. It's designed for a tiny sensor, so the image is very soft and the edges are always blurry. For most shots that's not a good thing but when you want the ultimate bokeh bomb it delivers for the price of a couple pizzas.
It's possible with mine to get the FOV so small that I can't get their eyes in focus without blurring their eyebrows.
I want to see you and @mattiasburling do a video together
Thank you very much for this review! I would love to see how the Samyang 300mm catadioptric lens compares with this one on the long end (aside from bokeh and contrast). Do have any plans to test that lens?
Great video Chris! Is there any other affordable tele lens you can recommend for fuji x mount cameras (i.e. x-t10)?
This one is currently available on Massdrop for $189.
This is the only really affordable one TBH
@@christopherfrost ok, thanks!
@@vastila Thanks for the information!
In order to get an easiest bokeh do you know any faster prime tele lens (around 200mm), for less than US dollars that can be used on fuji x series mount with autofocus?
Good vlog, you think exact as I do over this zoom lens.
This lens for camera full frame or apsc ?
It's for Fuji X, which is APS-C only
Try to compare the old Tamron 150-600mm and the Tamron 150-600mm G2.
Picture quality-wise, they are almost the same. The G2 improves on the G1 when it comes to AF performance, weather sealing, minimum focusing distance and image stabilization. Not that any of those things were bad on the older model, but Tamron had to do something to justify the release of the newer model. So, if you mostly care about image quality, you can save yourself some cash by getting the G1 since it's as capable as the G2 in that regard. However, if you're a Nikon user, the G2 might be a better choice after all because the G1 apparently had some trouble focusing on Nikon's bodies and that has been completely fixed with the new lens. Cheers!
mindprison88 thanks for your reply! Maybe I should save and go for the G1, I'm an 80d user so I should expect it to have no problems at focusing. Cheers!
I want to see your review of the x-t2 and comparing with sony a6500. Please!
Don't review cameras, sorry
I understand you. There is a plan to change dslr on a mirrorless camera but I do not know what to choose. I would like to know your opinion. I want to have a compact and light camera.
Christopher Frost Photography which one is better xt2 or a6500 for all around camera?
I do not have Facebook so I write through a friend. I have a question that bothers me a lot. Do as Crope's 1.5 nikon. Is that also in the sensor. That is, 400 iso in this frame is like 560 krup. This is very important to me. I already wrote you through RUclips, I do not buy lenses without your recommendation. I would appreciate it if you would reply
I don't really understand your question - sorry.
How bad is this? (referring to my actions lol), I am looking for reviews on this lens and I see your name and literally speak out loud (with no one around), "Oh good... I like this guy" (referring to how much I appreciate your reviews). Mr Frost, you are among the best for accurate info and being straightforward. Thanks for all the great reviews. Cheers.
how do you turn the ois on and off?
In the camera menu.
Auto fokus??
Can't complain about it for $150 bucks on ebay. Will give me some decent reach for daylight shooting. Won't be the most useful inside but I simply can't afford their 2.8 zoom atm.
Excellent
This is a cheap F11 lens. If you can live with that limitation, great cheap lens. I would use auto-ISO and select shutter speed while leaving it at F11, or maybe no more open than F8. If you know how to take shots, then you would be able to get results where nobody would guess you are using such a cheap lens. I am thinking landscape photos that are not the wide angle type.
This Fuji XC 50-230mm is basically an F11 zoom lens. Bump up the ISO a bit as a compromise, but keep it at F11.
I'm wondering if I could use this as a telephoto lens for landscape. The lens looks horrible, but it's pretty cheap and light. Image quality seems surprisingly good.
In what sense is it f11?
You didn't show the lens flare test!
analogdesigner yes he did
@@simistef Not the one he usually does.
Thanks much Sir
Your contribution for our heavenly kingdom will not be in vain 🤍
Nice stater tele lens
I have an XT2. Bought this lens and basically after a long winded explanation from Fuji IT DOESNT WORK. Pretty upset. Basically I turn all the dials like ISO, shutter, ap. And nothing changes. If i take the pic the settings work, but not in the preview. My lens doesn't come with a particular button on the side and that has something to do with compatibility with the camera. It's just insane that these are both Fuji products and it doesn't work
Is that lens doing autofocus?
...yes (?)
@@christopherfrost is that autofocus lens?
Hopefully you can do a XF 55-200mm review as well. Most people who get into the Fuji system will never look at XC lenses...
It's only 200 USD now
Christian Leo yea 😂
Atleast a mental mount would be better
brilliant! will spend for better ingredients. thanks.
wide open at 4.5... :)
The (even cheaper) Nikon 55-200 DX probably destroys that lens.
Wanted the 50-230 for my X-H1 as light hiking lens but I think I have to go for the 55-200 XF.
6.7 for APS-C, just as blackhole in backpack...
Seems good from sunrise to sunset outside. I mean you can easily shoot at base iso or very close at f8 in those situations.
it is a perfectly usable lens and it presents very nice optical quality. if you want a decent zoom to walk around , light this is it. Avoid the last mm from the zoom.
Canon’s 55-250 is stm is similar sized but with longer reach and brighter aperture on the long end. And it’s much cheaper. I don’t get the purpose of the whole Fuji system....
hellomyphone really? If you don’t get it that’s your issue.
Jabber 1974 Buying the more expensive lenses is the purpose. No thanks:)
This is for a mirrorless camera. The 55-250 is for a DSLR. It's not the brand it's the type of camera that's more expensive.
Unimpressed by Fuji XC, but impressed by Canon L. All plastic.
I think the biggest minus is minimum aperture, even 5,6 at 230 would great.
what a shitty lens. And I really considered it for hiking :(
The Nikon 50-250 blows that thing away ...
gd
Oof that's dark. I'd say this is pretty handily beaten by the Canon 55-250.
This is a mirrorless lens. The 55-250 is for a DSLR. Completely different cameras.
🇷🇺🇷🇺👍🇷🇺🇷🇺