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National Geographic Tested 26 Travel Cameras — APS-C and Fujifilm Come Out on Top

Best Travel Cameras

National Geographic tested 26 cameras and selected 12 cameras they believe are ideal for travel photography.

And out of these 12, five Fujifilm cameras ended up being recommended by National Geographic

Fujifilm (and APS-C) is King

What we notice:

  • Fujifilm is the most represented brand – 4 out of 12 cameras
  • APS-C is the most represented sensor size – 5 out of 12 cameras

APS-C is overall considered the best balanced system, winning also the best overall category with the X-E5 and X-T50 due to top-notch image quality, size, lens selection and good durability for the price.

This might not come surprising: PetaPixel, DPreview and also Bill Claff from Photons to Photos long claimed that APS-C is the sweet spot.

You can read the full National Geographic article here.

And it’s not only National Geographic: also CNN tested 15 cameras for travels and this Fujifilm model won the battle, as we reported here.

Unspoken Fujifilm Advantages

So yes, APS-C might deliver excellent image quality in a perfectly balanced system that makes it ideal for travels.

But there are also some software features that make specifically Fujifilm the best pick for me.

Features that allow me to drastically shorten my editing and that other brands like Sony do not offer – as I explained here.

I know what you think: it’s the Fujifilm colors and also the recipes you can create in-camera.

And sure, that’s part of the reason. And it’s not only me saying it. We reported about sport photographer Andrea Cimini, who, after many years of using Fujifilm, switched to Sony for the better autofocus since the 2024 firmware broke the AF on his Fujifilm cameras. He said that now, because he has to deal with Sony colors, he needs twice the time to edit his files. And he is certainly not biased.

But colors are just one of the software reasons I pick a Fujifilm over any other brand.

There are other features that ensure that, once I’m back home from my travels or hikes, I’m not burdened with hours of image editing on the computer.

I have written about it here:

SG-Image AF 35mmF1.4 and AF 35mmF2.2 for Fujifilm X Launched

We reported about the new SG-Image EZICAR autofocus line for Fujifilm X back in May and now the 35mmF1.4 Retro and 35mmF2.2 started to be available in Asia.

Keep an eye on the dedicated SG-Image Amazon storefront to see when they get listed there. For example, te SG-Image AF 35mmF2.2 is already listed for other mounts already.

The new SG-Image AF lenses for Fujifilm are:

So far the SG-Image AF 18mm F2.2 does not seem to be released yet.

Currently available AF lenses from SG-Image:

Specs, Video and Samples

SG-Image AF 35mm f/2.2

  • 163g
  • All-metal body
  • Black: ¥699 | ¥749 (including lens hood)
  • Silver: ¥739 | ¥789 (including lens hood)
  • Available September 7th

SG-Image AF 35mm f/1.4 Retro Style

  • soft bokeh wide open
  • 7 elements in 6 groups
  • 227g
  • all metal
  • STM autofocus
  • ¥799

 

Fujinon XF400mm f/4.5 Announced – Reviews and Preorders – LIVE BLOG

Fujinon XF 400mm f/4.5 LIVE BLOG
(refresh for latest updates)

The long awaited Fujnon XF400mm f/4.5 R LM OIS WR is now reality!

Pre-Orders

XF400mmF4.5 – Official Fujifilm Info

XF400mmF4.5 – First Looks

Pre-Orders

↓ Launch Videos ↓

Fujifilm Launches “FUJINON Lens XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR”

Fujifilm Launches “FUJINON Lens XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR”

A compact and lightweight super-telephoto prime lens delivering outstanding mobility
Featuring the highest optical performance of XF lenses, making dynamic long-distance photography more accessible

TOKYO, September 4, 2026 – FUJIFILM Corporation announces the launch of “FUJINON Lens XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR” (“XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR”)*1. The lens is a new lineup of the “XF Lens” interchangeable lens lineup for the mirrorless digital camera “X Series” that offers outstanding image quality and compact size and weight thanks to its unique color reproduction technology.

“XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR” is a super-telephoto prime lens featuring a focal length of 400mm (equivalent to 609mm in the 35mm format) and a bright maximum aperture of F4.5. Delivering the highest optical performance in the “XF Lens” lineup, the lens weighs only approximately 1,245g*2 despite its super-telephoto specifications. In addition, enhanced camera shake detection accuracy and an optimized mechanical design provide up to 5.5-stop*3 optical image stabilization. This enables stable shooting of subjects and scenes that require fast shutter speeds, including birds, motorsports, and aircraft.

By pairing the lens with teleconverters, its focal length can be extended even further. “FUJINON Teleconverter XF1.4X TC WR” provides a focal length equivalent to 560mm (853mm in the 35mm format), while “FUJINON Teleconverter XF2X TC WR” extends it to 800mm (1,219mm in the 35mm format).

With the addition of “XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR” to the lineup, “XF Lens” now offers a range of large-aperture super-telephoto prime lenses covering focal lengths equivalent to approximately 300mm to 762mm in 35mm format. The lineup enables users to choose the optimal lens according to shooting applications, scenes, and subject distance, providing professional photographers, photography enthusiasts, and users seeking to take their photography to the next level with a highly reliable shooting system.

*1 For local availability information, please contact your nearest Fujifilm office or authorized distributor.
*2 Lens cap and hood are not included.
*3 Pitch/yaw direction based on CIPA standard.

Main features of “XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR”

(1) Optical performance embodying the technologies of “XF Lens”

  • “XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR” features a super-telephoto focal length of 400mm (equivalent to 609mm in the 35mm format) and a bright maximum aperture of F4.5, making it ideal for photographing distant and fast-moving subjects such as birds, motorsports, and aircraft.
  • Combined with teleconverters, the focal length of the lens can be further extended. “FUJINON Teleconverter XF1.4X TC WR” provides a maximum focal length equivalent to 560mm (equivalent to 853mm in the 35mm format), while “FUJINON Teleconverter XF2X TC WR” provides a maximum focal length equivalent to 800mm (equivalent to 1,219mm in the 35mm format).
  • The lens consists of 21 lens elements in 14 groups, including 2 Super ED lenses and 4 ED lenses. By thoroughly suppressing chromatic aberration—a characteristic issue with super-telephoto lenses—the lens achieves exceptional resolution. This enables high-definition capture of even the finest details in distant subjects, allowing for the powerful visual expression unique to super-telephoto lenses.

(2) Outstanding mobility enabled by a compact and lightweight design

  • Through extensive weight-saving measures, including a reduced lens diameter, shortened overall length, and thinner lens barrel construction, as well as by leveraging the 1.5x crop factor of the APS-C format, “XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR” achieves super-telephoto performance equivalent to 609mm, in the 35mm format while weighing only approximately 1,245g. This compact and lightweight design offers outstanding mobility for prolonged shooting sessions and transportation.
  • Although super-telephoto lenses tend to have a heavy front lens element, the optimum lens arrangement improves weight balance and delivers excellent handling characteristics. This reduces fatigue during extended hand-held shooting sessions.
  • The lens barrel is sealed in 20 places to provide dust-resistant, weather-resistant, and low-temperature operation down to -10°C. In addition, the front lens element is coated with fluorine to repel water and dirt, allowing users to shoot with confidence even during extended sessions in adverse weather conditions.

(3) Powerful optical image stabilization performance of 5.5 stops

  • By improving the accuracy of camera shake detection and optimizing the mechanical design, Fujifilm has achieved up to 5.5-stop optical image stabilization system. This enables comfortable hand-held shooting even in the super-telephoto range, where camera shake can have a significant impact on image quality.

(4) Comfortable operability and fast, quiet, and highly accurate autofocus

  • The adoption of an inner-focus system reduces the size and weight of the focus lens group. Furthermore, the focus group is driven by a high-speed linear motor, delivering fast, quiet, and highly accurate autofocus performance. Even in super-telephoto photography, where precise focusing is essential, subjects can be acquired quickly and accurately to capture decisive moments.
  • The Focus Preset function allows the focus position to be instantly shifted to a pre-set location using the SET button. Since there is no need to refocus on the targeted subject, users can achieve rapid focus acquisition.
  • The Focus Control Button is positioned near the front of the lens barrel. Functions assigned through the Focus Selector Switch, including AF-L, PRESET, and AF, can be instantly recalled enabling smooth autofocus operation.
  • The lens is equipped with a Focus Limiter function*3 that restricts the lens drive range during focusing. By reducing lens drive time when photographing subjects located five meters or farther away, the function enables faster autofocus performance.
  • *3 The focus limiter function can be activated by the “Focus range selector.

Fujinon XF400mm f/4.5 Could Drop Around Midnight–1 AM New York Time — Says Fujifilm’s Past Announcement Pattern

I have shared the rumor of the Fujinon XF 400mm f/4.5 R LM OIS WR coming September 4.

And I got the question at what time exactly it will be announced.

Well, I don’t have the time, but I’ve covered plenty of Fujifilm announcements over 15 years of covering Fujifilm, and almost always Fujifilm decided to announce new gear at around midnight/1AM New York time, depending if it summer or winter time.

So if this historical announcement timing pattern holds true also this time, then this would mean the Fujinon XF400mm f/4.5 will come:

  • midnight-1AM New York Time
  • 6/7 AM Berlin Time

So definitely stay tuned on FujiRumors at that time, as we will cover the announcement live here on FujiRumors.

Fujinon XF400mm f/4.5 vs XF500mm f/5.6 – Size Comparison

We have leaked the first image of the Fujinon XF400mm f/4.5 R LM OIS WR, and now we can make an accurate size comparison between the XF400mm f/4.5 and the XF500mm f/5.6.

One note: the XF400mmF4.5 image I received came with the lens hood on, so I removed it and manually rebuilt the front section it had been covering, using the XF500mm as a reference.

We can see: the FR-reader Hiergeist rendered XF400mm looks identical to the leaked one and we also 100% nailed the size comparison ;).

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