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Fujinon XF 55-200mm Review: A 6-Year Owner’s Verdict

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Yumi Katsura Japanese-style wedding dress model

In 2018, I added the Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 to my camera bag. Over the next six years, it captured thousands of images, from airshows to mountain landscapes. It’s not a ‘Red Badge’ zoom, and it’s not perfect. But for its price, it offers a blend of image quality, reach, and portability. It is an essential lens for many Fujifilm X-series photographers. In this long-term review, we’ll see where it shines and where it falls short. I’ll help you decide if it’s the right telephoto zoom for your needs.

Fuifilm X-T2 with Fujinon XF 55-200 mm on tripod
Fujinon XF 55 - 200mm on a tripod-mounted Fujifilm X-T2.

Where does the Fujifilm 55-200mm excel?

  • It’s reasonably light – the 55-200 weighs 75 grams less than my 16-55. That’s a big difference.
  • It’s not big – this is one zoom you will find space for in your camera bag.
    It’s an affordable lens that gives quality pictures. For about US$700, it is excellent value.
  • Vignetting and chromatic aberrations are well-controlled.
  • The bokeh isn’t creamy or the smoothest. It’s pleasing but has some cat’s eyes, especially towards the edge.
  • Even though plastic makes up a large part of this lens, the 55-200 is quality. The lens feels durable and solid.
  • Autofocus is very quiet.
  • The OIS is great. I’ve shot at 1/80 sec at 200mm and got sharp images.
drift race car passing crowd
Drifting in Odaiba.

What the Fujinon XF 55-200mm isn’t so good at

  • Variable aperture. This means that as you zoom from 55mm to 200mm, the lens lets in less light. This can be challenging for manual exposure in video or for maintaining fast shutter speeds for indoor sports.
  • Autofocus struggles in low light. The autofocus is near-silent and adequate for well-lit scenes like landscapes and portraits. In dim conditions, it can become hesitant and “hunt” for focus. For low-light action, you will get better results by focusing manually.
  • Not weather resistant.
  • No teleconverter for this lens exists.
  • Limited reach for dedicated wildlife photography. The 200mm (a 300mm full-frame equivalent) is plenty for travel, portraits, and larger field sports. For small birds or distant wildlife, it may leave you wanting more.
  • The minimum focus distance is 1.1 meters, but many lenses in this class have the same limitation.
Shinjuku mount fuji sunset

Real-World Use Cases

Tennoji big buddha head
Tennoji Temple's Buddha.

Fujinon XF 55-200mm technical specs

  • Mount Type – Fujifilm X
  • Focal Length – 55 to 200mm
  • Lens construction (elements/groups) – 14 /10
  • Angle of view – 29.0 – 8.1°
  • Number of diaphragm blades – 7 (rounded diaphragm opening)
  • Maximum aperture – f/3.5 – 4.8
  • Minimum aperture – f/22
  • Minimum focus distance – 1.1 meters/3.7 feet
  • Max magnification – 0.19 x (telephoto)
  • Weight – 580 g
  • Dimensions – 75 mm (wide) x 118 mm / 176 mm (telephoto)
  • Filter size – 62 mm
  • Optical Image Stabilization – Yes (rated at 4.5 stops)
Fujinon XF 55 - 200mm f-3 on Fujifilm X-T2 camera on tripod

Is this lens for you?

It could be! The Fujinon XF 55-200mm is great value for money. But the price comes at a compromise. It is a little slow, and its variable aperture. Some people also prefer lenses with weather resistance. But if those things were improved, it would cost more. I’ll keep things as they are.

Let’s look at the alternatives in the Fujifilm world. One is the 50-140mm. It has a fixed aperture of f/2.8, but it is 995 grams. That’s about 400 grams heavier than the 55-200. It’s also far more expensive at about US$1600, though.

brown pomeranian
How's the 55-200mm bokeh in this image?

The other choice is the Fujifilm 100-400mm. It has more reach, but it isn’t a fast lens either. It costs about $2000.

What am I trying to say here? Currently, the Fujinon XF 55-200mm costs USD$699. That’s a super price, even though it has limitations. Remember, you get OIS, it’s lightweight, and has good image quality. I recommend it.

Do you have this lens? Share your opinion about it by leaving a comment below.

If you found this review helpful and decided the Fujinon XF 55-200mm lens is for you, consider purchasing it through this Amazon link. It supports our work at no extra cost to you.

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Rohan Gillett

Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.

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One Response

  1. I agree with your review. I bought this lens used on eBay and have not looked back. I used to have my Canon 70-200 on a Fringer adaptor but I found it awkward to work with. I like having this lens for landscapes, birding, and portrait work.

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