XF 50-140 f2.8 zoom

[kmleffler]

I currently own the 16-55mm f2.8 zoom, the 16mm f1.4, and the 55-200mm zoom and I am considering selling the 16mm prime and the 55-200mm zoom and buying the 50-140mm f2.8 zoom.  I would like to know what experiences users have had with the 50-140mm zoom and whether it is worth it's high price?

[quietlight]

There's a dimensional quality to the images produced with the 50-140 that is hard to describe. It's a great lens!

[Naddan28]

I've never had experience of the longer lenses referred too, but really like my 50-140mm. One thing to consider is size/bulk. Anything other than the xt1 might be difficult to handle.

[Pierre]

I have the 16-55 and the 50-140 with my X-T1. 50-140 is the best zoom lens in the Fuji range. I replace my 55-200 with the 50-140, and enjoy it a lot.

Edited May 9, 2016 by Pierre

[frod]

The 50-140 is the best lens I have ever used. It is significantly larger than anything else in the fuji range and I suggest that if you can possibly try it in a local store then please do so as it is fairly unique in the range for size and weight. It is, however, sensationally good.

[uckdie]

I own the 56mm, 90mm and 55-200mm. Yesterday I have received a 50-140mm for testing. Here are my findings so far:

 

@ 56mm: I think the 56mm is a bit sharper at f2.8 and has the opportunity to generate better bokeh at smaller aperture settings (f1.2...), the OIS of the 50-140mm however allows to shoot at around 1/20s vs. 1/100 for the 56mm.

@ 90mm: The 90mm offers better sharpness, bokeh and subject separation at f2. But again it lacks OIS.

@ 140mm (vs. 55-200mm): Minimum aperture for the 55-200mm at 140mm is around f4.4 vs. f2.8. The 50-140m is a sharper, but the out-of-focus areas are smoother with the 55-200mm.

 

I will return the 50-140mm without regrets. It is a great lens over all, but I prefer primes. And the 55-200mm still is an excellent choice, especially when stopped down a bit. 

 

You may also want to check this test from Damien at Prophotonut which includes the 55-200mm and the 50-140mm.

[Adam Woodhouse]

I have heard this lens makes a constant humming sound, as if the stabalization motor is running constantly.  I learned this from a photographer that took it to shoot a wedding (regularly shoots weddings) and he noticed it, so went back to the store and showed them and the store said that it was a normal characterisitc of the lens.  He found it very distracting and returned it. 

 

Has anyone else here noticed a constant humming coming from the lens when the camea is turned on?

[uckdie]

I have heard this lens makes a constant humming sound, as if the stabalization motor is running constantly.  I learned this from a photographer that took it to shoot a wedding (regularly shoots weddings) and he noticed it, so went back to the store and showed them and the store said that it was a normal characterisitc of the lens.  He found it very distracting and returned it. 

 

Has anyone else here noticed a constant humming coming from the lens when the camea is turned on?

Yes, the sound is there - you can listen to it on this website (scroll down to OIS).

 

I just did a small test with the 55-200mm and 50-140mm at 140mm and f5,6/6,4. The 50-140mm has more contrast and saturation OOC, but sharpness is pretty much the same. After adjusting the 55-200mm picture in LR, I don`t see a difference between the pictures anymore. 

[Trenton Talbot]

He found it very distracting and returned it. 

 

If you find humming distracting, OIS lenses are not for you. 

[frod]

You can set OIS to 'shooting only' so it's only active when the shutter button is half pressed if you want.

[jlmphotos]

I looked at both the 50-140 and the 55-200.  Sharpness was the same to my old eyes.  What wasn't the same was the size and weight. I went with the 55-200...

No regrets whatsoever!!!

[uckdie]

You can set OIS to 'shooting only' so it's only active when the shutter button is half pressed if you want.

This has no effect on the humming noise for this lens.

[dvz]

The 50 -140 is a lens with an image quality that almost everyone agrees is excellent.  That's why I love it.  I like it's constant aperture, quick focus, it's OIS, the weather sealing, and pretty much everything else about it too.  The price for what you get isn't too steep for me. 

 

You already know about the image quality of the 55-200, but in other comparisons, the 50-140 is larger, heavier, louder and clunks deep within it's bowels pretty much every time you take a step when the camera is turned off (if you're carrying it around on a neck or shoulder strap).  Others may disagree, but I don't think it makes a very good "walking around" or travel lens.  It takes more room in your bag and you have to have eaten your Wheaties to be able to carry it around all day, in or out of your bag.

 

I like the 50-140 in the studio, for portraiture, and when I want to separate subject and background.  The OIS makes it easy to hold and shoot, but it excels when on a tripod or monopod. The 55-200 is capable of much of that as well, but it may be, perhaps, better suited for landscape work than the 50-140 or when you want to have it on your camera or available in your bag while shooting out and about.

[kmleffler]

The 50-140 is the best lens I have ever used. It is significantly larger than anything else in the fuji range and I suggest that if you can possibly try it in a local store then please do so as it is fairly unique in the range for size and weight. It is, however, sensationally good.

I will take your advice and try it at B&H in NYC.  Thanks

[rsimko]

I have just come back from Mongolia and I had this lens with me. Build quality great. However there is a clunking sound when turning the lens upside down. I was worried a bit about having a faulty lens  but then I did some research and it is apparently caused by moving magnets inside the lens and it is normal. I would be little happier if Fuji somehow addressed this in their future lenses.

 

Optically it is one of the best lenses Fuji ever produced. I have nothing bad to say about it (based on one trip so still limited experience). OIS is great and it was one of the reasons I went for this rather than 90mm. It is also more versatile.

 

The real downside is weight. It is the heavies lens that Fuji made to date. Size is almost same as my old Nikkor 80-200mm althoug touch lighter. Whole premise to move to Fuji was cutting down on weight so why this lens? It is heavy for traveling or climbing which I occasionally do but it is so good optically that I decided to bite the bullet.

 

If size and price is no concern, then it is a lens to have.

[mpw1950]

I am thinking about switching from the 55-200 to 50-140. The wider aperture better suits my photography but above all I find the AF on the 55-200 is just so slow and unreliable even in bright conditions. I even sent it back to Fuji after I had had it only a few months because I was sure it must be faulty. I know the Fuji will not match my Canon 1Ds3 but the 55-200 is desperately slow even by Fuji standards, definitely the slowest in my collection.

 

So is the 50-140 AF noticeably faster? Has anyone used it with sport, soccer, basketball or the like? Any ideas how I could borrow one in the UK for a day or two to try it out in real use?

[frod]

It is very fast, but it's probably limited by the camera.

 

lensesforhire.co.uk just added a bunch of Fuji lenses to their range.

[Sluw]

I am thinking about switching from the 55-200 to 50-140. The wider aperture better suits my photography but above all I find the AF on the 55-200 is just so slow and unreliable even in bright conditions. I even sent it back to Fuji after I had had it only a few months because I was sure it must be faulty. I know the Fuji will not match my Canon 1Ds3 but the 55-200 is desperately slow even by Fuji standards, definitely the slowest in my collection.

 

So is the 50-140 AF noticeably faster? Has anyone used it with sport, soccer, basketball or the like? Any ideas how I could borrow one in the UK for a day or two to try it out in real use?

 

What camera do you use? The older ones tend to focus slower.

[deva]

Old thread, but the most recent I found about the 50-140

 

I just unpacked my new one and went for a test shoot around the neighborhood. The first thing that struck me is how amazing the OIS is. I took a photo in the shadow of a building and it was handheld 1/4 second @ 140 and it was sharp! So I tried 3 different times with different (still) subjects @ 1/4 second shutter and each one was sharp. I still think I must somehow be making a mistake cause how can it be that good. I checked the shutter speed like 3 times to be sure. I have steady hands, but still, the OIS is phenomenal.

 

The AF is very fast on the X-Pro2. I was standing next to the street tracking cars as they came and went and most shots were in focus.

 

It's a big heavy lens and that limits its usefulness for just walking around all day... but the performance is exceptional. I was unsure if I was going to keep it because of the size/weight, but with such amazing OIS and very good AF speed, it has its advantage. 

[Stealthy Ninja]

16-55 2.8 seems literally made to go together with the 50-140 2.8.

 

This (approx) gives you the classic zoom combo of 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 in full frame equivalence (of course will a deeper DOF).

[yukosteel]

I've recently partially disassembled 40-150mm from the rear side. It's very well built lens, and internal metal chamber has very thick walls. There are many sealing rings in every moving area.

 

There are two moving modules inside, probably same as in XF 55-200mm. One module I think is OIS, powered by electromagnets and connected with four springs to the frame - it moves perpendicularly to optical axis, and makes little noise. Another module is bigger group of lens - moving in direction of optical axis and produce that famous knocking sound, I think it's autofocus.

Or maybe they function vice versa.

 

When 50-140mm is powered on - the constant noise is produced by electromagnets of autofocus module, ready for action. When you power on OIS - that module is also moves.

[darknj]

You have far more steadier guts than I do, I would never dare to open up a lens with that many parts, kudos to you

[yukosteel]

I'd also not open 50-140mm without real need.

Even in this case I only disassembled areas which look very clear to me, with 100% confidence that doing that will not harm the lens performance.

Looks like that taking out rear lens group for cleaning is pretty safe and does not cause any misalignment after assembly.

I didn't move further for cleaning other lens areas, for that steps I need more information first.

 

Some shots from that procedure:

http://www.fuji-x-forum.com/topic/2760-disassembly-xf-50-140mm-rear-area/

 

I very like the design of internal zoom, it makes the air mostly circulate inside of 50-140mm lens without pulling dust from the outside.

[deva]

The OIS in this lens is remarkably good. I shot 5-6 images handheld at night at 140 @ 1/15 and they are sharp.

 

I'm not used to the whirring sound it makes yet. Nor the little clunk turning on and off. Noisiest lens I've had and accentuated by a very quiet night here... but the performance is very impressive... 

[yukosteel]

I've took XF 50-140mm optical schema from Fuji page and marked autofocus and OIS there.

 

As you can see the AF module is quite big (and heavy), so that knocking sound is loud.

The dominating noise while operating is produced by massive electromagnets of Autofocus module, it remains same when OIS is switched off.

 

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