Cliff L.
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Upload & Sell: On
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 Re: Fujifim Birds and Wildlife Images | |
Richard_M wrote:
molson wrote:
Russ Becker wrote:
I purchased a 500mm PF last August for the express use with my Fuji X-H1 and possibly an X-H2 or X-H2S. I did this on the strength of experiences by a number of users on this and other camera forums with the Nikon 500mm PF, and my experiences with the Fringer EF-FX and EF-GF adapters using much of my Canon glass.
My first copy of the Fringer NF-FX adapter would not even talk to the camera body; it was exchanged. The 2nd copy would at least talk to the camera body, but the 500PF was very slow to focus, even after being updated to the current firmware (1.7.0). After spending a few months tinkering with the 500PF on the X-H1 I finally started comparing scene metering between it and the Canon 100-400 Mk2 using the Fringer EF-FX adapter. I discovered that the metering was 2 or more f-stops apart, although the reported aperture was f/5.6 in both cases. Further noted that if I changed the aperture setting on the camera body the scene metering did not change, i.e. the aperture doesn't actually change. After some further experimentation I decided to look down the lens barrel when powering up the camera and noticed that the 500PF briefly opens up wide and then stops down to either f/11 or f/16 AND NEVER CHANGES subsequently, regardless of what you do with the X-H1 (and an X-H2 which I also tested it against). This explains both the slow AF (stuck on C-AF) and the poor image quality (f/11 and f/16 are way past DLA on an X-H1 and really past it on a X-H2). Most of the time to even get the X-H1 to achieve focus I had to put it into AF-S and repeatedly tap the AF button.
Reported this to Fringer, they said to get another adapter as there was something wrong with the one I had (did NOT offer to fix or exchange it). In January I bought yet another NF-FX adapter directly from Fringer, updated the firmware to 1.7.0, and observed exactly the same issues as the earlier adapter, except now I had 2 of these paper weights.
So, I borrowed a Nikon D300. Lens worked perfectly, focused quickly and accurately. Borrowed a D750, same result. Rented a D500 in order to establish a baseline and took a couple of thousand shutter snaps over 8 days. Flawless operation, sharp, contrasty, very quick and precise AF on the D500. At this point we know there is nothing regarding my copy of the 500mm PF that Nikon Service can address, it works as advertised.
Report all of this to Fringer ( 3 different Nikon camera bodies, 2 different Fuji camera bodies, 2 copies of the NF-FX adapter). Fringer said there was nothing they could do about it, the adapter did NOT work with my copy of the 500mm PF but they insist the lens is compatible with their adapter (these two things cannot simultaneously be true but they are true in China).
I decided at this point to fish or cut bait and do something to get this excellent piece of glass into action. Picked up a used D500 from a forum member here and have been using that ever since. The more I use this combo (D500 + 500PF) the more I realize they fit like a hand in a glove, and together are actually 40g lighter than the X-H1 + Fringer + 500PF. It has become my standard birding rig, and I rarely use the X-H1 for that purpose. Put off acquiring either an X-H2S or an X-H2 because I already have a GFX100S for portrait and landscape work.
I still have one of the NF-FX adapters; I will see if the next two or so firmware updates result in any changes. If not, I'll sell the adapter and let someone else have a go at it.
As they say, caveat emptor.
-Russ
Yikes. My 500PF should be here by Tuesday so I guess I will find out soon enough.
I'm pretty happy with how the 300PF works on my X-H2S, so I was hoping the 500 would be the same. I can't see myself buying another Nikon camera, so I guess if it doesn't work I might end up going back to m4/3 for birds and wildlife shooting.
What I find interesting is the number of owners of Fujifilm bodies turning to adapted lenses for birding. It doesn’t say much for Fujifilm lenses.
Good luck with your 500pf. I had no apparent issues using my 500pf with the Fringer adapter.
The problem isn't really about Fuji's lenses, it more about their lack of lenses for this type of photography. They patented a few interesting telephoto primes a few years ago, but nothing has come out of that yet.
I'm sure the Fuji XF 150-600mm is an excellent lens, but f/8 is too slow - I would have to shoot at ISO 12,800 most of the time, and I find ISO 6400 is about as far as I'm willing to go with the Fuji files, even using DxO software.
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