For a while the Fujinon XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM WR OIS was the only pro-grade long telephoto zoom on the XF platform along with being the lens that had the longest reach on the platform.  That changed with the debut of the Fuji 150-600mm, which I reviewed here. Other options include the standard 70-300mm (my review here) and the premium XF 200mm F2 lens (my review here).  I loved the latter lens, but at a price tag of $6000 USD, it obviously isn’t for everyone.  Fuji now has two pro-grade telephoto zooms that are only priced about $100 apart, with the 100-400mm coming in at roughly $1900 USD and the 150-600mm coming in at $2000 USD.  While it might seem (on paper) that the newer 150-600mm is the logical choice (more reach, newer design, flashier finish), the decision is actually a little more nuanced than that.  The 100-400mm is an externally zooming design while the 150-600mm is an internally zooming design, and while you can debate which approach is better, there’s no question that the 100-400mm provides a MUCH more compact package for storage and transport.

The XF 100-400mm offers some serious reach with its 152-609mm full frame equivalent zoom range which can be stretched even further by the use of either the Fujinon XF 1.4x (213mm-853mm full frame equivalent) or 2X TCs (305mm-1,219mm).  Maximum aperture at the telephoto end will be either F8 (1.4x TC) or F11 (2.0x TC) with the teleconverter attached.  Even in the native range, however, this is a nicely flexible focal range, going from this at 100mm:

to this at 400mm:

One area where the 100-400mm has a definitive advantage over the 150-600mm is when it comes to maximum aperture.  The 100-400mm is faster/brighter at every point throughout the zoom range.  At 100mm, the maximum aperture is f/4.5, at 200mm, it’s f/5, at 300mm, it’s f/5.2, and at 400mm, it’s f/5.6.  Interestingly, the lens only reaches that smallest maximum aperture at about 350mm, so that’s a solid amount of brightness for this type of lens.  By contrast, the 150-600mm has a smaller maximum aperture than F5.6 from 183mm on, and at 400mm it is F7.1.  On average the 100-400mm is about 2/3rds stop brighter across the shared zoom range, which could be a real factor if your photography involves less than idea lighting conditions.

That, along with the more compact size, may be enough to keep bringing some potential buyers back to the older lens (it was released in February 2016).  Fuji definitely plans to keep selling it, so they clearly believe that people will keep buying it.  We’ll try to highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of the lens in this review to help you make an informed decision. If you want to know more, you can watch my definitive video review or read my text review…or just enjoy the photos here.

Follow Me @ YouTube | Patreon |  Instagram | Facebook | DA Merchandise | Flickr | 500px Thanks to Fujifilm Canada for loaning me the X-T5 and lenses for this review.  As always, this is a completely independent review and my conclusions are my own.

Fuji XF 100-400mm Build and Handling

Images Taken with the Fuji XF 100-400mm 

      Gear Used:

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Purchase the Viltrox Pro AF 75mm F1.2 @ B&H Photo  | Amazon | Viltrox (use code DUSTINABBOTT for 10% off) | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Pergear Store

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