Contents
Conclusion
Pros:
- High end build quality makes for a solid lens
- Very sharp throughout the zoom range from wide open, and extremely sharp stopped down just a bit.
- Outstanding bokeh for a zoom lens. Heck, outstanding bokeh for any lens.
- Rich, vibrant color and good chromatic aberration control
- Moderately fast and silent autofocus with excellent accuracy
- Exceptional image stabilization that is good for 3-4 stops at all focal lengths
- Good value at $699
Cons:
- Large and heavy for a mirrorless lens
- Edges aren’t the greatest wide open
- Zoom ring is a little too stiff
- Balance is a little front heavy due to the extending lens on the rangefinder styled X bodies
Overall, Fuji has created a truly outstanding zoom lens with the Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS. It’s a lens that is not only sharp throughout the range, but has excellent color rendering, beautiful bokeh and good control of lens aberrations.
While certainly quite large for a mirrorless lens, most of the handling issues became footnotes for me once I started shooting with the 55-200mm. When I received the lens, I was intrigued but disappointed by the size. By the time I returned it after the review period, I had started saving up to purchase it. At $699, it’s a no-brainer purchase for anyone who needs a telephoto lens for the X-Series. Another great optic for the X-system!
Image Samples
Click to Enlarge
Another great lens for fuji it seems… which is pushing me closer to clicking the add to cart on b&h 🙂
Great rev!
thanks for an information packed review that was enjoyable to read , im glad i will be adding this lens to my
x mount stable… the ois which impressed you so , is it noticeably better than ois in the 18-55 2.8-4? [which seems good to me .]
the only lenses i have currently are the 14mm and 18-55 in native mount….this will be welcome
Jordan Steele thank you for nice review !
Thanks for your interesting article and great sample shots. It would be handy to many people, I expect, if you might add your shutter speeds to the captions; people already know the lens aperture range.
I purchased the 55-200 zoom about three months ago, but I’ve been disappointed with the image quality. The sample photos that you provided are great. I’m not sure why my experience with this lens has been somewhat different. The images that I’ve shot have not been as sharp as your samples.
I totally agree with Jordan. This telezoom is an excellent performer, its price is very reasonable. No matter if it is used at full aperture or stopped down, the results are top notch. Love this lens!
It’s a couple of years since you posted this review and lots of lenses have been added to the Fuji system since then. Would you consider adding a post-script to this review to reflect on how the lens compares to more recent Fuji telephotos like the 50-140 or the 90? Like many others I love the compact Fuji primes but often find myself missing a little telephoto reach. I want something longer than my 56 but the bulk of the 50-140 seems to defeat the point of a small mirrorless system. Is the 55-200 the answer I’m looking for or do the newer lenses outclass it?
The newer lenses are definitely better optically. The 90 is the best all around lens yet made for the X series in my opinion. That said, it’s also less versatile. The 50-140 is fantastic, but much, much larger. For what it’s worth, the 55-200 is still what’s in my bag. I may have to add the 90 at some point, though not as a replacement. I did a comparison between the 50-140 and the 55-200 when I had the former for review: https://admiringlight.com/blog/fuji-50-140mm-f2-8-vs-fuji-55-200mm-f3-5-4-8/
Great comparison Jordan – thanks for passing that on. The 90 certainly is tempting. One of the reasons I haven’t yet abandoned my Canon 5DmkII is the 135 f2 which is close to my favourite lens of all time. I’m personally very comfortable with the constraints that field of view imposes so the Fuji 90 may just tip me over the edge! Incidentally I’d like to say how greatly I appreciate and admire your work. The quality of the sample images you provide with your reviews is always exceptional. Thanks for all the advice – and inspiration – you share with us all.
Mine is noticeably soft at 170mm and above, at any aperture. Even manually focusing it. Quite disappointing.
I’ve got it and love it. Use the 55-200mm even for my professional work (theater/ event/ portrait photography). See some samples here: https://tilmankoeneke.de/?s=55-200mm
Cheers, Tilman