The XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR lens is a standout addition to Fujifilm's X mount lineup, standing as a useful tool for wildlife and sports photography. It combines excellent optical performance with practical handling, making it an intriguing option for many users.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this detailed video explores the XF 500mm f/5.6 and its performance on Fujifilm’s APS-C X-mount cameras. The lens is essentially a redesign of Fujifilm’s GF version for medium format cameras. While repurposing an existing lens design helps reduce development costs, it also leads to a larger and more expensive lens than if it had been tailored exclusively for APS-C sensors. Priced at $3,000, the lens costs significantly more than Fujifilm’s 150-600mm zoom but offers a brighter aperture for improved performance. For photographers focused on wildlife or sports, the narrower field of view and sharp image quality could justify the expense.
Frost highlights the lens’ construction and handling as key strengths. Weighing 2.93 pounds, it is lighter than it appears, making it practical for handheld use. The lens features robust weather-sealing, a sturdy metal and plastic build, and a removable tripod collar for added flexibility. Controls for autofocus settings, focus presets, and stabilization are conveniently placed. Image stabilization is particularly effective, significantly reducing camera motion at this extreme focal length. The aperture ring and manual focus ring are both smooth to operate, though some quirks with autofocus performance on the X-T5 camera’s bird detection system are worth noting.
Key Specs:
- Maximum Aperture: f/5.6
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Filter Size: 95 mm
- Minimum Aperture: f/22
- Minimum Focus Distance: 9.02' / 2.75 m
- Maximum Magnification: 0.2x
- Optical Design: 21 elements in 14 groups
- Diaphragm Blades: 9
- Dimensions: 4.1 x 10.1" / 104.5 x 255.5 mm
- Weight: 2.93 lb / 1.33 kg
Optical performance is where this lens excels. Tested on the 40-megapixel X-T5, it delivers exceptional sharpness across the frame starting at f/5.6. Stopping down to f/8 provides a subtle improvement, though diffraction softening becomes apparent at narrower apertures. The lens is also sharper than Fujifilm’s 150-600mm zoom, even at the same aperture. While vignetting is minimal and disappears entirely by f/8, there is some chromatic aberration at close focus distances, which can be mitigated by stopping down.
Performance against bright light is commendable, with only mild flaring in extreme conditions. The lens’ ability to produce creamy background blur improves subject isolation, making it a strong choice for wildlife and action photography. Autofocus speed is fast and generally accurate, though tracking capabilities could benefit from further refinement. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
