I'm honestly freaking out a bit because I have this trip to Costa Rica in three weeks and I still havent pulled the trigger on a long lens for my X-H2S. Ive been staring at reviews for days and my head is spinning trying to decide what makes the most sense for wildlife. Im basically torn between the older XF 100-400mm and the newer 150-600mm and I keep switching my mind every hour.
I can find a used 100-400 for a decent price around $1100 but that 150-600 reach is so tempting for birds, even though the aperture is kinda scary at f8 on the long end. My main constraints are:
- Budget is strictly under $1800 total
- Need to carry this on 5-mile hikes in the humidity without my shoulder falling off
- AF speed needs to be top tier because I am still learning how to track fast subjects
The 100-400 is smaller and faster glass but everyone says the 150-600 is sharper and fits the X-H2S sensor better? But then there is the 70-300 with a teleconverter option which would save me a ton of cash but I dont want to regret not having the reach when I'm actually there in the jungle. Is the f8 on the 150-600 really that bad in lower light under the canopy? Im so worried I'll spend the money and just get blurry shots of branches... which one should I go with?
TL;DR: Grab a used Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR and save your cash. I've used it for years and it works well without breaking the bank. The AF is plenty fast for birds. If weight is the biggest deal for those 5-mile hikes, the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a total gem. It's way lighter and you can always add a Fujifilm XF 1.4x TC WR later.
^ This. Also, in my experience, jungle humidity is a total lens killer. I once had a lens fog up internally during a trek and it ruined half my shots. You need reliable sealing like on the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.
- Built like a tank for moisture
- Extra light at f/5.6 is vital when clouds roll in Dont risk the f/8 glass, honestly.
> Is the f8 on the 150-600 really that bad in lower light under the canopy? You really need to be careful with that f8 aperture in the deep jungle. Costa Rica canopy is way darker than people realize... its basically like shooting in a basement. On an APS-C sensor, you might find yourself pushing ISO 6400 or even higher just to keep your shutter speed fast enough for wildlife. That gets noisy fast. The autofocus might also hunt in those low-contrast shadows because the sensor isnt getting enough light to lock on. Reach is great but if the glass is too slow, you just get grainy blobs. I would suggest thinking about the physical weight too. Lugging a massive lens on a 5-mile hike in 90% humidity is brutal. Make sure to test your hand-holding stability before you go because those long focal lengths amplify every tiny shake.
Like someone mentioned, that canopy light is a total nightmare. I learned that the hard way on a trek last year! Honestly, just stick with any of the Fuji telephoto zooms. Their long glass is always fantastic for tracking birds, ngl. They're super reliable in the heat and humidity too. Just grab a Fuji lens and you'll be set, you really can't go wrong!
