Fujifilm’s new XF 400mm f/4.5 R LM OIS WR combines a 609mm-equivalent reach with a brighter aperture and manageable 1.245kg design, offering X-mount photographers a balanced alternative to the company’s longer 500mm prime.
Fujifilm’s XF 400mm f/4.5 R LM OIS WR is the latest attempt to give X-mount photographers a serious super-telephoto option without the burden of a full-frame 600mm prime. The lens delivers an angle of view equivalent to roughly 609mm on APS-C, placing it between Fujifilm’s 200mm f/2 and 500mm f/5.6 primes and rounding out a line-up that now spans about 305mm to 762mm in full-frame terms, according to Fujifilm and reporting from DPReview and Digital Camera World. For bird and wildlife shooters, the attraction is obvious: it offers meaningful reach, but with a brighter maximum aperture than the 500mm lens and a more manageable form for field use.
That extra stop of light, or thereabouts, matters in practice. Christopher Frost’s review of the lens on an X-T50 suggests that the 400mm is not simply a shorter alternative to the 500mm, but a more flexible tool for situations where subject tracking, shutter speed and handholding all matter. He notes that the 500mm f/5.6 can feel extreme on Fujifilm’s 40-megapixel bodies, where diffraction becomes more visible, while the 400mm’s f/4.5 aperture gives photographers a little more room before image quality and exposure constraints start to bite. Frost also found the lens easier to aim and follow, especially when working quickly on moving subjects.
The lens’s appeal is strengthened by its handling. Fujifilm has kept weight to about 1.245kg, with a weather-sealed barrel, a fluorine-coated front element and 20 sealing points, according to Digital Camera World’s hands-on report. The lens also accepts Fujifilm’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, extending its reach still further when needed. Controls include a tripod collar, focus-range and stabilisation switches, an aperture ring with third-stop clicks, and internal autofocus driven by a linear motor. Fujifilm claims optical image stabilisation of up to 5.5 stops, which is especially relevant given the magnification at this focal length.
Image quality appears to be the main reason to buy it. Frost’s testing on the X-T50 found the centre sharp wide open, with strong contrast at f/4.5, and only the expected softening from diffraction once the aperture was stopped down towards f/11 and f/16. Digital Camera World’s review similarly described the lens as sharp, with low chromatic aberration, little distortion and smooth bokeh. At a list price of $3,199.95 in the US, and £2,499.99 in the UK, the 400mm is not inexpensive, but it undercuts Fujifilm’s 500mm f/5.6 and offers a more portable alternative to heavier full-frame super-telephotos. For photographers who want one long prime for wildlife, birds or field sports, it looks like the most balanced lens Fujifilm has made in this category so far.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
