image courtesy: sulantoblog
X-photographer Matti Sulanto is running one of the most popular camera sites in Finland. Right now he is testing the pre-production 55-200 mm and has some sample photos on his site (only in small size, because full size is not permitted yet). The site is in Finnish, but everybody can understand the photos with technical data.
Read his posts and see the samples in this post here (translated version) and this post here (translated version)
These are his first impressions, he sent me via email:
– bit bigger than I expected, but still relatively compact and not heavy
– very fast autofocus
– impressive OIS
– image quality seems very good indeed
– I like the lens already, even though the pre-production version is not the same quality as the final production version will be.
Preoder the 55-200: BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / AmazonUK / DigitalRev / PictureLine (USA) / PCHstore Brussel
The lens should be available (at least in Europe) in the beginning of June.
4 Responses
Of all the samples i’ve seen from this one so far, they’re all sharp and strong. Only one downside and that’s the bokeh that is questionable at times, but often great as well. I guess that’s to be expected with a zoom. We’ll have to wait for a good prime like 90mm(135eq) F2 to get the very best bokeh in all conditions. Hope that one will be on the 2014 roadmap !
There is more samples from sulanto:
http://www.sulantoblog.fi/fujinon-xf-55-200-mm-f3-5-4-8-r-lm-ois-lisaa-ensivaikutelmia/
I agree. Bokeh is quite nervous I think. 35 1.4 bokeh “rings” are smooth without bright outer circle. 55-200 makes often bokeh “rings” with brighter outer ring which makes bokeh look like nervous. But this is not rare thing with telezooms… After all looks quite promising.
Everything looks great so far, but I’m still slightly disappointed at the slower F/3.5-4.8 range. I would spend $900-1000 for F/2.8-4 with F/2.8 going from 55-70 and 150mm still at F/3.5. I don’t really care if it’s an inch longer and/or a bit wider. Should’ve made it work…I hate spending $700 on a zoom that’s just a better kit lens knowing it’ll struggle with moving subjects in low light. No church weddings for me 🙁
Although this will likely be a great lens, once I get an X-Series camera, I will be getting a relatively fast prime manual focus lens (85mm or 100mm). Hopefully they add focus peaking with a firmware update soon.