p.97 #6 · Fuji GFX Image Thread - all cameras and lenses
I have been playing with the GF500mm F5.6 lens that I have on loan from Fujifilm Canada.
One of the questions I am interested in is whether the lens can be used as a digital zoom on my GFX100S II,
covering the range: 400mm (102MP) - 500mm (63MP) - 600mm (44MP) - 700mm (32MP) - 800mm(20MP)
Here are two examples at the effective 570mm and 700mm.
p.97 #11 · Fuji GFX Image Thread - all cameras and lenses
ruthenium wrote:
not sure if the last few series were cropped but I thought the ones you specified were cropped looked pretty good to me. These last one are good too, but that squirrel in particular looked great for that much of a crop.
p.97 #12 · Fuji GFX Image Thread - all cameras and lenses
Seabassius wrote:
not sure if the last few series were cropped but I thought the ones you specified were cropped looked pretty good to me. These last one are good too, but that squirrel in particular looked great for that much of a crop.
All of the photos taken with the GF500mm lens and posted above were cropped, and most were heavily cropped.
For example, the following is a 28MP crop out of the full 102MP frame; thus, the effective focal length is about 750mm.
In my recent experience (although limited) cropping the photos taken with the GF500 lens to effective 700mm gives more than satisfactory resulting image quality. Further cropping, to 20MP effective 800mm FL is probably as far as I would crop, and the resulting crop may require more work in processing.
If my experience can be of interest to others - here are some thoughts:
The lens exceeded my expectations.
1) Image stabilization of the lens on my GFX100S II is excellent. I have used (and still own) the micro-four-thirds system OM-1 II & M.Zuiko 300mm F4 as well as the Sony A1 & 200-600mm F5.6–6.3. In my hands the 500mm lens on the GFX100S II feels as stable as the micro-four-thirds system that is known for outstanding IBIS. I would give a 5* rating to Fujifilm for the lens and the body stabilization.
2) I like the controls on the lens – fully adequate for my needs. I particularly like the AF switch with the PRESET option. I find it useful in some situations to start AF from the distance pre-set to be near the MFD of the lens.
3) The size and weight of the GF500 lens make it a perfect choice for photographers like me who are interested in a long telephoto lens that can be used hand-held without problems (on my balance the camera and lens weighed 2267 g/ 5lb, although the lens was without the foot and without the hood). I am used to carrying cameras in a holster while hiking. My experience of hiking with the GFX100S II & GF500mm system in the holster was surprisingly good – I could walk for hours without any uncomfortable feeling in my shoulder that carried the weight of the holster with the camera system. The camera and lens are perfectly balanced - I didn't feel any problem like strain or fatigue in the wrist of the right hand that gripped the camera.
4) When I received the lens (on loan from Fuji Canada), I didn’t know what to expect from the AF performance. I also wasn’t sure whether AF-C was going to be useful. The experience of using the lens proved very positive. I was focusing on birds in heavily branched areas, with many possible distractions in the frame. In most cases, AF-C worked confidently with the subject detection (I used the largest “spot” for focusing). The focus was typically established sufficiently quickly. Then the camera&lens stayed focused on the subject, even when there were twigs and small branches in front of the subject. I was impressed by the persistence, stickiness, and exceptional accuracy of the AF.
5) Related to the above, the only challenge that I occasionally experienced with the AF was the initial focus acquisition. I believe I understand why, occasionally, this was problematic. This typically happened in heavily branched areas with the subject (bird) being relatively small. Also, the initial focus (from a previous shot) in the lens was different from the needed, thus, resulting in everything in the frame being totally blurred and unrecognizable. My understanding is that in such situations, the camera simply didn’t have enough information to decide whether to move the focus forward or backwards. My way of dealing with such situations was by pushing the button on the lens to set the focus to near MFD, then the AF usually worked predictably, moving the focus forward and eventually identifying the subject. Another approach that I tried successfully was with the AF + MF option, that is by tweaking the focus manually, to the point when the camera could “see” the subject.
The bottom line: I like the 500mm lens very much. I think this should be a useful addition to my kit, and I decided to buy it (if not now, then later this summer).
I didn't try any bird-in-flight shooting, but this is a different subject. My feeling is that for most if not all shooting scenarious where the shutter speed of 1/500s is sufficiently fast, then the lens should perform well.
p.97 #14 · Fuji GFX Image Thread - all cameras and lenses
Another comment on both cropping and the AF-C performance of the GF500mm lens on my GFX100S II, with subject (bird) detection.
The 1st upload is a 6588 x 4357 (28.7 MP) crop - meaning an effective focal length of about 740mm.
The 2nd upload is the full 11649 x 8736 frame.
Note that this small bird is behind two twigs, and there are a few more behind the bird.
Despite the obstruction and the narrow depth of focus field, the AF is confidently on the bird and the bird is sharp.
I used Set 1 with AF-C, and experienced no mis-focus or focus jumping from the subject to obstruction.
p.97 #18 · Fuji GFX Image Thread - all cameras and lenses
ruthenium wrote:
Another comment on both cropping and the AF-C performance of the GF500mm lens on my GFX100S II, with subject (bird) detection.
The 1st upload is a 6588 x 4357 (28.7 MP) crop - meaning an effective focal length of about 740mm.
The 2nd upload is the full 11649 x 8736 frame.
Note that this small bird is behind two twigs, and there are a few more behind the bird.
Despite the obstruction and the narrow depth of focus field, the AF is confidently on the bird and the bird is sharp.
I used Set 1 with AF-C, and experienced no mis-focus or focus jumping from the subject to obstruction. ...Show more →
Ouch!!!! Sharpness paper-cut!!!!!!!!!
They should add a "macro" moniker the the lens "title".
Beautiful rendering here! Bokeh is stunning!
Dan
p.97 #19 · Fuji GFX Image Thread - all cameras and lenses
ruthenium wrote:
Here are some other random photos taken with the GF500mm lens
These are amazing comositions!
I had not seen a Fuji GFX mounted with a GF500mm ever and I am stunned! Crisp, sharp, bokeh is wonderful!!!....
The flowers are stunning!
I called my friends in Oakville, Ont(musicians) yesterday and they said the flowers were beautiful now.
