Review of the Fujinon XF200mm f/2 for Motorsports Photography

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Fujinon XF200mm f/2.0 LM OIS WR

Review of the Fujinon XF200mm f/2 for Motorsports Photography

by Stephen Scharf
Racing the Light Photography
www.stephenscharf.com

OVERVIEW

I had the pleasure to use and extensively test the newly released Fujinon XF200 f/2.0 LM OIS WR in October, 2018 while covering the Sports Car Club of America’s 2018 National Championships, also know as “The Runoffs” at Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA, Oct 19-21, 2018.

Fujifilm North America graciously sent me the Fujinon XF200 f/2.0 along with an X-T3 and battery grip for approximately 10 days for motorsports photography testing to compare to my Fujifilm X-H1. The purpose of the test was to collect autofocus performance data for both cameras when used in a real-world professional motorsports photography use-case, and for this weekend long test-session, I used the new XF200 f/2.0 exclusively, as well as the new 1.4X teleconverter in some situations.

BACKGROUND: I’ve been a professionally accredited motorsports photojournalist for 15 years. I’ve was an official track photographers for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for 7 years, and have been shooting as an accredited photojournalist for Sonoma Raceway since 2003. I cover all their professional series races, including NASCAR, NHRA Professional and Indy Car, and my photographs have been published in numerous newspapers in the SF Bay Area, including the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as various motorsports websites and magazines.

INTRODUCTION

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Fujifilm GFX100 Gets Rid of (Marked) Dials, a Good Idea? VOTE NOW

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Fujifilm GFX100 Dials

At photokina 2018, Fujifilm displayed the first mock-up of the Fujifilm GFX100 Megapixel camera, which will be announced in the first half of 2019.

And it could not pass unnoticed to the FR-community, that the Fujifilm GFX100S got rid of the shutter dial, leaving only one unmarked and customizable dedicated dial on the left side.

This change has let to some heated (but civil) discussions at our Fujifilm GFX group here, with the community split between those, who applaude this change, and others, who think Fujifilm should have kept their classic dial layout.

Here are some of the comments from this post:

  • Bigger screen – less dials
  • Bigger back panel – less clunky top plate
  • Its the reason I use Fuji, without I might as well just switch to a different brand
  • Oh please get rid of those useless dials
  • I do like the iso dial. It shortens the iso changing from three steps to one. (I work in the dark, so have to press the lcd light on before pressing the iso button, then adjusting the dial to the right iso)
  • Top dials need to stay
  • I love my dials, but if they made some small buttons with iso/af/wb/etc, I would be able to live with one wheel and no dials
  • Dials are much easier to operate then digging into 2 or 3 level menues

So what do you think? Is it a good move to minimize the amount of dedicated dials and offer only one unmarked dial, or would you prefer to keep the current ergonomics of the Fujifilm GFX 50S?

And wouldn’t that big top LCD be nice, if it was a touch screen? ;)

Feel free to vote the survey below.

  • Read here – Size Comparison: Fujifilm GFX 100S vs Sony A7III, Nikon D5, Canon 1DX, Canon EOS R, Nikon Z7, Nikon D850, Fuji GFX 50R
  • Read here – Fujifilm Manager Says Fujifilm GFX100 has Less Noise than GFX50, Less than 10 fps, OIS/IBIS Combo, X-T3 AF Algorithm and More
  • Read here – Fujifilm GFX 100 sensor information published by Sony
  • Read here – Fujifilm manager says Fujifilm GFX100S will cost $9,995
  • Read here – Size Comparison: Fujifilm GFX 100S vs Sony A7III, Nikon D5, Canon 1DX, Canon EOS R, Nikon Z7, Nikon D850, Fuji GFX 50R
  • Read here – RUMOR: Fujifilm GFX 100 with Pixel Shift Multishot
  • Read here – Fujifilm Manager: GFX 100 Full Sensor PDAF, no Crop 4K@30p
  • Read here – Fuji Guys Billy Hopes IBIS will be Implemented in Future Fujifilm GFX 50 version of GFX 100

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Photokina 2019 Cancelled: Coming Back in May 2020 and Looking Back at Photokina 2018 with Fujifilm X Photographers Live Stages

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Photokina 2019 2020

Kölnmesse has just issued an official press release (PDF here), that Photokina 2019 in May has been cancelled and will come back in May 2020.

It’s pretty sad, but it’ true: Photokina 2018 in September was the last of its kind.

Even US Fujifilm manager Steve said that from now on, Photokina will become more of a smaller regional show. And while in the past Fujifilm (and other companies) organized big launches in proximity to Photokina, it won’t be like this anymore in future.

I personally attended two photokina shows (2016 report here2018 report here). It was fantastic, because of the sheer magnitude of the event. Everybody with rank and name was there, and all the latest and greatest gear was launched at photokina. This magnitude will inevitably go lost now.

I don’t think it will be worth for me anymore to travel through half of Europe for a smaller regional show, so that was it. No more Photokina for me.

And to remind us of the good old days, I share the Fujifilm X Photographers Photokina 2018 live stages, which I was lucky to enjoy personally.

Photokina 2018 Live Stages

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DPReview Declares Fujifilm X-T3 Best Consumer Stills/Video Camera 2018 and Fujifilm GFX50R Runner-Up High-End ILC

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Fujifilm X-T3

The Fujifilm X-T3 has been highly praised by all top review blogs and youtube channels out there. And if you take a look at the Fujifilm X-T3 customer reviews at AmazonUS you will also find overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback.

Yes, the Fuji X-T3 a fantastic allrounder.

And now, after winning three categories in the DPReview buying guides, the DPReview team declared the Fujifilm X-T3 the best consumer stills/video camera of 2018, beating illustrious competitors like the Sony A7III, Fujifilm X-H1 and Nikon Z6.

DPReview writes:

At first glance very similar to its direct predecessor the X-T2, this year’s model is in fact a major upgrade, offering a substantially improved set of video and stills features. In fact, despite its lack of IBIS, the 4K/60-capable X-T3 is arguably a better 4K video platform than the nominal video flagship of the X-series, the X-H1. Its ability to capture 4K/60p footage in 10-bit even puts it ahead of the latest models in Panasonic’s video-centric GH series.

All of this is made more impressive by the fact that until quite recently, Fujifilm’s X-series lagged seriously behind its competition in terms of video. The X-T3 is the clearest indication yet that Fujifilm has well and truly joined the game.”

The Sony A7III, though, beats the Fujifilm X-T3 in the “Best midrange ILC” category, with the Fujifilm X-T3 grabbing the second spot, beating the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z6.

DPReview also nominated the Sony A7III best product of 2018, with the Fujifilm X-T3 runner up. They write:

Picking the single best product of the year is always a difficult task, and if we’re being honest, it’s impossible. Everyone’s needs are different. There has never been a better time to be a photographer, and in 2018 there are fantastic cameras, lenses and accessories out there for everyone.

But pick we must. This year’s shortlist is comprised of those products that represent, in our collective opinion, four of the best bits of gear released in 2018. Two of them really stood out, though. Runner-up is the Fujifilm X-T3 which – in case you didn’t already get the message – we really like. Fujifilm didn’t need to make the X-T3 as good as it is – hell, Fujifilm didn’t even need to replace the X-T2 yet – but they did, and they did. And the resulting camera is one of the best APS-C format ILCs money can buy, even rivaling some full-frame models.”

Compared to the Sony A7III, the Fujifilm X-T3 offers better weather sealing, less rolling shutter, less banding in electronic shutter mode, superior video specs, better EVF, better colors, dual UHS-II SD-card slot, video eye-tracking, blackout-less EVF at 30 fps and more for a cheaper price.

But, well, the Fujifilm X-T3 is not “full frame“, and these two little words just make the difference, probably more in our minds, than in real life shooting. But hey, that’s it. Now let’s talk medium format :).

Fujifilm GFX50R

When it comes to the best high-end ILC category, the Nikon Z7 wins and the Fujifilm GFX50R takes the second spot, beating the Panasonic GH5s and Panasonic G9.

This year’s runner-up spot is taken by the camera with the biggest sensor of all – the Fujifilm GFX 50R. Designed for active photographers, the 50R takes the best bits of the more costly 50S – including its most important feature – the excellent 50MP CMOS sensor – and packages them in a smaller, more affordable, rangefinder-style body. Medium-format has never looked more attractive.”

You can read the full list of 2018 DPReview awards at dpreview here.

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Fujifilm X-T1 Survives Crude Oil Swim, Sony A7III vs Fuji X-T2 and X-H1 and NOT Switching to SONY for WEDDINGS – miXed Zone

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Mixed Zone

Time for a major miXed zone, this time focused on all kind of Fujifilm cameras, except for the brand new Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm GFX50S and Fuji GFX50R and Fuji X100F.

But before we move on, remember to feed your Fuji addiction on our social media:

FujiRumors: Facebook, Instagram, RSS-feed and Twitter
User Groups: Fujifilm X-T, GFX, X-H, X-Pro, X-E and X100 line
Dedicated PagesFujifilm X-T, Fujifilm X-H and Fujifilm GFX

Fujifilm X-T1 Oil Diving

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