Apart of lowlight and build quality, it's a perfect lens even better than some of expensive one. I own it and I have been using it for wedding professionally and makes my cool money.
If it said, in low light shoot such as an event or wedding, then I'm using s speedlight. Then its much better to use now Since sometimes we need to darken the exposure to compensate to the speedlight?
So like many I have fuji gear and Canon gear as well. My Canon goodies includes many L lenses so I'm not discussing a lens without substantial experience using excellent lenses. I have four Fuji primes lenses and I'm very happy with what I have. But my longest lens of the lot is 60mm. I have grumbled from time to time wishing I had something longer. And I do in my Canon goodies, for example the Sigma 150 - 600 Sports lens, as well as the famous Canon 70 - 200 L lens. Simple translation of what I just said, I didn't want to spend a fair bit of money to get longer telephoto shots with my Fuji X T1. I had considered the 50 - 230 lens but got all snobby and decided it wasn't worth it. But I watched a few vlogs like this one and decided to take a chance. Got to tell you I was very pleasantly surprised, and I mean - seriously surprised. I shot a test pic of my neighbour across the street, raking in her front yard. I also forgot to change the shutter speed that had been set at 1/60th. The image I shot was amazingly sharp, I got her at a more still moment of movement with the lens racked out to 230mm. The resulting image was sharp at a shutter speed that would have given fuzzed results with some of my past lenses. Took another shot of my dog sitting on the sofa at 1/30th of a second, again amazingly sharp. Then I went out into the streets in the evening and shot down the road in very low light using an ISO in the 2000 + range. Again really decent shots. If you are learning this lens, initially I'd set the camera up on auto ISO, Auto F, and shot at faster shutter speeds, 500th/sec or faster if you are taking moving wildlife photos. Once you start to get a feel for exposure considerations, then get more sophisticated with your settings. I find a lot of newbies don't really appreciate how fast a shutter speed should be set to get a decent sharp result. Remember image stabilization is for general overall reduction in blur but does not affect any moving target like a bird, dog, etc. Only shutter speed will freeze motion. My one complaint, the manual focus sucks. But still I think a very good lens for what you pay for. Fuji has wisely not compromised on optics or stabilization but instead given up on speed of the lens and build quality. And with Fuji's great high ISO performances, the sacrifice isn't as brutal as you might think.
ha yessssssss! I picked up this lens for $100 on ebay and love it! Nobody eeever talks about it but so long as you're in daylight it works absolutely perfectly! I don't do much tele stuff which is why I picked up a cheapo one. Grabbed some great shots with it. Bang for your buck it's hard to beat!
I got this lens a year ago for about 150 € , I have to say it was a great deal, I will never regret buying this. I had a ton of fun with it without carrying too much weight
I went on a boat trip last week and all I had was an X100 which didn't really cut the mustard, so decided to look for a telephoto. Supposed to be picking this up this afternoon for 120usd. Seems like a good hobbyist landscape, wildlife and travel lens and here in Malaysia it's normally bright and sunny.
I think it actually might be reasonable thing for dudes like me that take telephoto shots once in a blue moon (i mean rarely, not literally under the faint moon light, not with that f6.7 anyways XD). You pick it up, you make your birds-cats-dogs daylight pics, and then work a bit in post with those imperfections it might have, and that's about it! For the price and if you are not too ambitious - I guess it might really worth it! PS And according to sample videos I've seen - the OIS is actually pretty handy there too!
You've damned my nice new lens by faint praise. And subjected me to gear-snobbery. Better than nothing ? Come on man, that's unfair. Remember that for us hobby photographers, GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) leads simply to 'more toys'. Some of us judge these toys principally according to their 'play value'. Having fun playing with my cheapo 50-230. Why rain on my parade ? It's probably a better lens than I am a photographer.
Hi Damian until recently I bought and tested and sold many Fuji lenses as a business and the one thing I noted was that the Japanese manufactured Fujinons were consistently great except for the 18-55 which could be variable. However most Fuji lenses manufactured outside of Japan were variable. The 18-135 and 27mm varied between 2 out of 3 very good and 1 out of three stunning, the 18mm f2 consistently uninspiring but the 16-50 and 50-230 were 3 out of 4 very good and 1 out of 4 quite amazing. So if you get hold of a brilliant version of any of these lenses hang onto them.
Coni Glione If buying second hand, do so from a camera store and ask to try it out before purchasing. By using the preview zoom you will be able to check corner and edge sharpness at different apertures. Alternatively go to the official Fujifilm refurbished store. Very likely they will have been checked thoroughly by Fuji before resale and will have been set up to the best standards that the lens can achieve. I feel a fine example of the 27mm can be a great purchase as it is a brilliant focal length for street and candid photography.
@@garymanning4402 so basically fuji lenses -as for what you have experienced- are not all according the same quality in the end of the line? Im just new to the fuji system and Im interested in added the 50 230 in my arsenal but it would be pretty difficult to check if the lens would be a 3 or 4 out of 4 as you put it?
I own this lens, it is sharp. Has a inbuild ois 2 times. But a zoom beginning at 50mm on APS-C is really a telezoom. That is for me the biggest con. I not understand why most people look down on this lens. I also have for my Sony a Tamron 18-300mm, small and not fast. But you can play with it very much, very close at wide end. I make most of my photo's with F8.0. They are both for daytime shooting.
The Mark II was only bundled as part of a kit I thought? It's the Mark I that is sold on it's own? The Amazon link only has 3rd party sellers so I'd be interested to know whether they're actually selling the Mark I or they've taken it out of the camera kit that the lens was bundled with. AFAIK the Mark II lens was only bundled with the X-A2 camera. The difference is the OIS is improved by a half stop otherwise it's identical to the Mark I optically
Hey Damian - Just watched your take on the XC 50-230 lens. Based on another TH-cam review, I just picked up Version II used "like new" for $224.00. Other than making sure it works it has to go under the tree until Christmas. The other review said it is actually better on the 16mp X-T1 than the 24mp X-T2. I own both so will be checking that out first thing after Christmas. I think it will be an ok lens for someone like me who doesn't have a frequent need for a long lens. All The Best, John
I used a Samyang mirror telephoto and it was pretty bad... fixed aperture, no DOF, lousy color. Replaced it with this lens and it is just so much better. As you say, not the sharpest when fully extended, but I bought it used (almost new) and for the price, you get a pretty good lens. Mostly I shoot using an X-E1 with the 18-135 and the 16mm, but when I need that extra zoom this lens does the job... at least until I can afford something better. But I'll buy an X-E3 first. Thanks for the review Damian!
I have added this in after using the 50 - 230 more extensively. You need to know I am an old fart. My first camera was a Konica T3 bought in 1974. Back then all lenses were manual focus. The camera had only auto shutter speed, most only had auto aperture control. With the Hexanon (Konica) lenses, you'd set the f stop on the lens, then the camera chose the shutter speed. It was either this auto mode or manual. The camera only had center average exposure readings. The camera was built like a tank and if the battery died, you could still use the camera, albeit without the metering. This made the camera the perfect arctic and antarctic bit of kit. So why am I telling you this? Well sometimes the autofocus of the 50 - 230 sucks. So I tried out just using the lens in manual and the speed of results was often faster and just as accurate. You need to set the lens into manual mode in camera. I use it with my X T1 and I use the Q button to call up the menu and set it in that menu. Here is short blurb on the first lens I ever owned, back in 1974. I kept this camera till 1990 when I bought a Canon 10s SLR (you probably haven't heard of it): playingwithlenses.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-stakes-are-high-konica-hexanon-ar.html
There's a great difference with those of us that grew up with, and even worked with, all manual gear ... And those kids who just know the latest technology. We appreciate what we have more perhaps, and definitely can get the best out of it in manual shooting! Thanks for sharing!
The XC50-230mm II offers improved image stabilization compared to the Mark I model (now 3.5 stops vs 3.0 stops). Fujifilm say it has better build quality and smoother operation.
This is a cracking lens for the money paired with the XC16-50mm makes for a fantastic lightweight kit. Yes I'm fortunate to have the XF premium lenses but for togs wanting to move over to Fuji X system they are the first two lenses I recommend without hesitation if they are not heavy handed with there gear. When the light gets low ? Pick up a Godox TT350 and X1 trigger 😊 Good review Damian and GR8 that you have bought these two XC lenses to fellow togs attention 👍🏻 I got mine New for £119 on eBay !
Picked mine up, second-hand but unused, for just over £90 on eBay. Totally adequate lens that has more than acceptable image quality. Brand new, at the price Fuji are asking, it's not worth it.
haha never expected to see this lens :) love the 50-230 especially as it came free with an X-A1 years ago. nice cateye bokeh and still gets used on the T2 until i can justify the 100-400. cheers damian
@@ivanples6724 not good, 16-50 not enough to get a good action photos, and x-a10 autofocus is too slow to get any fast moving target... you better use more powerful body like from sony a7 series
I just sold my 55-200 because it is too heavy for taking it on hikes. I have the 16-50 and several f2 primes. Will buy the 50-230 which together with the 16-50 should make a perfect hiking kit.
I had both but sold the 55-200 as it is just too heavy. The 50-230 is not as good of course, but it lives in my bag permanently. And as is often said, the best lens is the one you have with you....
Mindrover: yepp, I agree with you. the combo 18-55 & 55-200 is great. It covers most angles....I have both lenses and have achieved incredible results with both. No real need for many different primes, if you have one or two great zoom lenses.
At one point, I had the 16-50, 18-55 and 16-55. There is very little optical quality difference between the first two. In fact, the first one is sharper in the centre.
I had this for a while, got it as part of a trade, sold it on pretty quick. Not because of it's IQ, it's pretty decent in good light actually, but I hated the cheap feel of it. Other brands have kit zooms that are built better and feel much better than this in the same price range. It IS Fuji's worst lens IMO.
This is ideal lens for creeps who shoot girls on a beach in the summertime 🤣🤣🤣 Fun aside, I don't think this lens is bad, at all. But I do have 18-135mm as my only Fuji lens and I'm happy with it. For anything longer I would rather pick up fast prime telephoto any time of a day. Even vintage one...
Edit: 18-135mmis my only ZOOM Fuji lens. And about 100-400mm, Harpinder Sanghera, Robert Cappa once said "If your picture sucks, you wasn't close enough" 🤣
Apart of lowlight and build quality, it's a perfect lens even better than some of expensive one.
I own it and I have been using it for wedding professionally and makes my cool money.
If it said, in low light shoot such as an event or wedding, then I'm using s speedlight. Then its much better to use now Since sometimes we need to darken the exposure to compensate to the speedlight?
So like many I have fuji gear and Canon gear as well. My Canon goodies includes many L lenses so I'm not discussing a lens without substantial experience using excellent lenses. I have four Fuji primes lenses and I'm very happy with what I have. But my longest lens of the lot is 60mm. I have grumbled from time to time wishing I had something longer. And I do in my Canon goodies, for example the Sigma 150 - 600 Sports lens, as well as the famous Canon 70 - 200 L lens. Simple translation of what I just said, I didn't want to spend a fair bit of money to get longer telephoto shots with my Fuji X T1. I had considered the 50 - 230 lens but got all snobby and decided it wasn't worth it. But I watched a few vlogs like this one and decided to take a chance.
Got to tell you I was very pleasantly surprised, and I mean - seriously surprised. I shot a test pic of my neighbour across the street, raking in her front yard. I also forgot to change the shutter speed that had been set at 1/60th. The image I shot was amazingly sharp, I got her at a more still moment of movement with the lens racked out to 230mm. The resulting image was sharp at a shutter speed that would have given fuzzed results with some of my past lenses. Took another shot of my dog sitting on the sofa at 1/30th of a second, again amazingly sharp. Then I went out into the streets in the evening and shot down the road in very low light using an ISO in the 2000 + range. Again really decent shots.
If you are learning this lens, initially I'd set the camera up on auto ISO, Auto F, and shot at faster shutter speeds, 500th/sec or faster if you are taking moving wildlife photos. Once you start to get a feel for exposure considerations, then get more sophisticated with your settings. I find a lot of newbies don't really appreciate how fast a shutter speed should be set to get a decent sharp result. Remember image stabilization is for general overall reduction in blur but does not affect any moving target like a bird, dog, etc. Only shutter speed will freeze motion.
My one complaint, the manual focus sucks. But still I think a very good lens for what you pay for. Fuji has wisely not compromised on optics or stabilization but instead given up on speed of the lens and build quality. And with Fuji's great high ISO performances, the sacrifice isn't as brutal as you might think.
Thanks. This is very helpful. I think I'll get it tomorrow for my occasional telephoto needs.
Thanks mate very informative
I love this lens, in optimal light conditions it is exceptional! Above all, the value for money is unmatched! Thanks fuji!
ha yessssssss! I picked up this lens for $100 on ebay and love it! Nobody eeever talks about it but so long as you're in daylight it works absolutely perfectly! I don't do much tele stuff which is why I picked up a cheapo one. Grabbed some great shots with it. Bang for your buck it's hard to beat!
I got this lens a year ago for about 150 € , I have to say it was a great deal, I will never regret buying this. I had a ton of fun with it without carrying too much weight
Coincidentally as you typed this I was looking at today's second prices for this lens 😅
I went on a boat trip last week and all I had was an X100 which didn't really cut the mustard, so decided to look for a telephoto. Supposed to be picking this up this afternoon for 120usd. Seems like a good hobbyist landscape, wildlife and travel lens and here in Malaysia it's normally bright and sunny.
Should be a bargain!!
I think it actually might be reasonable thing for dudes like me that take telephoto shots once in a blue moon (i mean rarely, not literally under the faint moon light, not with that f6.7 anyways XD). You pick it up, you make your birds-cats-dogs daylight pics, and then work a bit in post with those imperfections it might have, and that's about it! For the price and if you are not too ambitious - I guess it might really worth it!
PS And according to sample videos I've seen - the OIS is actually pretty handy there too!
Definitely agree with you!
You've damned my nice new lens by faint praise.
And subjected me to gear-snobbery.
Better than nothing ?
Come on man, that's unfair.
Remember that for us hobby photographers, GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) leads simply to 'more toys'.
Some of us judge these toys principally according to their 'play value'.
Having fun playing with my cheapo 50-230. Why rain on my parade ?
It's probably a better lens than I am a photographer.
Oh don't get me wrong, it's a great value for money lens! I often look at adding one to my personal collection :D
Hi Damian until recently I bought and tested and sold many Fuji lenses as a business and the one thing I noted was that the Japanese manufactured Fujinons were consistently great except for the 18-55 which could be variable. However most Fuji lenses manufactured outside of Japan were variable. The 18-135 and 27mm varied between 2 out of 3 very good and 1 out of three stunning, the 18mm f2 consistently uninspiring but the 16-50 and 50-230 were 3 out of 4 very good and 1 out of 4 quite amazing. So if you get hold of a brilliant version of any of these lenses hang onto them.
Coni Glione If buying second hand, do so from a camera store and ask to try it out before purchasing. By using the preview zoom you will be able to check corner and edge sharpness at different apertures. Alternatively go to the official Fujifilm refurbished store. Very likely they will have been checked thoroughly by Fuji before resale and will have been set up to the best standards that the lens can achieve. I feel a fine example of the 27mm can be a great purchase as it is a brilliant focal length for street and candid photography.
Great comments Gary, thanks for sharing!!
@@garymanning4402 so basically fuji lenses -as for what you have experienced- are not all according the same quality in the end of the line? Im just new to the fuji system and Im interested in added the 50 230 in my arsenal but it would be pretty difficult to check if the lens would be a 3 or 4 out of 4 as you put it?
I've been waiting forever for a decent video about this lens, and you certainly delivered. Thanks :)
I own this lens, it is sharp. Has a inbuild ois 2 times. But a zoom beginning at 50mm on APS-C is really a telezoom. That is for me the biggest con. I not understand why most people look down on this lens. I also have for my Sony a Tamron 18-300mm, small and not fast. But you can play with it very much, very close at wide end. I make most of my photo's with F8.0. They are both for daytime shooting.
The Mark II was only bundled as part of a kit I thought? It's the Mark I that is sold on it's own? The Amazon link only has 3rd party sellers so I'd be interested to know whether they're actually selling the Mark I or they've taken it out of the camera kit that the lens was bundled with. AFAIK the Mark II lens was only bundled with the X-A2 camera. The difference is the OIS is improved by a half stop otherwise it's identical to the Mark I optically
Hey Damian - Just watched your take on the XC 50-230 lens. Based on another TH-cam review, I just picked up Version II used "like new" for $224.00. Other than making sure it works it has to go under the tree until Christmas. The other review said it is actually better on the 16mp X-T1 than the 24mp X-T2. I own both so will be checking that out first thing after Christmas. I think it will be an ok lens for someone like me who doesn't have a frequent need for a long lens. All The Best, John
Ye cracking cheap lens! I've been tempted a bunch of times myself.
I used a Samyang mirror telephoto and it was pretty bad... fixed aperture, no DOF, lousy color. Replaced it with this lens and it is just so much better. As you say, not the sharpest when fully extended, but I bought it used (almost new) and for the price, you get a pretty good lens. Mostly I shoot using an X-E1 with the 18-135 and the 16mm, but when I need that extra zoom this lens does the job... at least until I can afford something better. But I'll buy an X-E3 first. Thanks for the review Damian!
Thanks Mark!
Never a bad lens, it’s always a bad photographer.
Yes!
I have this because I couldn't afford the dearer lenses.But It works fine for me.
I have added this in after using the 50 - 230 more extensively. You need to know I am an old fart. My first camera was a Konica T3 bought in 1974. Back then all lenses were manual focus. The camera had only auto shutter speed, most only had auto aperture control. With the Hexanon (Konica) lenses, you'd set the f stop on the lens, then the camera chose the shutter speed. It was either this auto mode or manual. The camera only had center average exposure readings. The camera was built like a tank and if the battery died, you could still use the camera, albeit without the metering. This made the camera the perfect arctic and antarctic bit of kit. So why am I telling you this? Well sometimes the autofocus of the 50 - 230 sucks. So I tried out just using the lens in manual and the speed of results was often faster and just as accurate. You need to set the lens into manual mode in camera. I use it with my X T1 and I use the Q button to call up the menu and set it in that menu. Here is short blurb on the first lens I ever owned, back in 1974. I kept this camera till 1990 when I bought a Canon 10s SLR (you probably haven't heard of it): playingwithlenses.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-stakes-are-high-konica-hexanon-ar.html
There's a great difference with those of us that grew up with, and even worked with, all manual gear ... And those kids who just know the latest technology. We appreciate what we have more perhaps, and definitely can get the best out of it in manual shooting!
Thanks for sharing!
What is the difference between FUJIFILM len 50-230 OIS vs OIS 2
The XC50-230mm II offers improved image stabilization compared to the Mark I model (now 3.5 stops vs 3.0 stops). Fujifilm say it has better build quality and smoother operation.
@@DamianBrown OIS i cost 90 UK dollars while OIS ii cost 130UK.dollars, which is worth to buy ?
This is a cracking lens for the money paired with the XC16-50mm makes for a fantastic lightweight kit.
Yes I'm fortunate to have the XF premium lenses but for togs wanting to move over to Fuji X system they are the first two lenses I recommend without hesitation if they are not heavy handed with there gear.
When the light gets low ? Pick up a Godox TT350 and X1 trigger 😊
Good review Damian and GR8 that you have bought these two XC lenses to fellow togs attention 👍🏻
I got mine New for £119 on eBay !
Ye love them, great comment Phil! Thanks a lot! I like the way you put it!
Thanks Damian! I had been thinking about this lens to carry when out birding.
I've seen some cracking bird shots with this lens!
Fairly new to your channel. Really loving it! Keep it up!
So kind Ruth!!
Picked mine up, second-hand but unused, for just over £90 on eBay. Totally adequate lens that has more than acceptable image quality. Brand new, at the price Fuji are asking, it's not worth it.
Definitely worth it at that price
It is true it is a bit soft at 230. But if you are on a budget the pros out way the cons and it is a no brainer.
Definitely!
What's the diferent between fujinon xc 50-230mm OIS & OIS ii? Please lemme know the diferent
Stabilization from 3 stops to 3.5 and supposedly better build quality.
haha never expected to see this lens :) love the 50-230 especially as it came free with an X-A1 years ago. nice cateye bokeh and still gets used on the T2 until i can justify the 100-400. cheers damian
The underdogs deserve love too :D
Hey Damian, what do you think, is the 55-200 faster at af?
Oh yes, that lens is better all round... of course it's bigger, heavier and more expensive but that's to be expected.
Damian, nice review. I like the lens very much. It was so cheap.
wondering how it perform for basket ball tournament? i am having that job at the end of the month and only have x-a10 + xc 16-50 only....
How was it sir? Coincidentally, i have the same gear as yours and will be using them for basketball games
@@ivanples6724 not good, 16-50 not enough to get a good action photos, and x-a10 autofocus is too slow to get any fast moving target...
you better use more powerful body like from sony a7 series
If you have to choose between this XC 50-230mm and XF 55-200mm, which one you will choose? Thanks.
Indah Riyanti Putri the xf costs 3 times more
Easily the 55-200. Of course it's more expensive but still.
I just sold my 55-200 because it is too heavy for taking it on hikes. I have the 16-50 and several f2 primes. Will buy the 50-230 which together with the 16-50 should make a perfect hiking kit.
I had both but sold the 55-200 as it is just too heavy. The 50-230 is not as good of course, but it lives in my bag permanently. And as is often said, the best lens is the one you have with you....
My X-T20 kit came with the XC 16-50 & XC 50-230. I have no complaints with either lens but will eventually upgrade to the XF 18-55 and 55-200
Sounds like a plan! That kit is very nice tho
I have more primes than I can cope with ( ex Canon user) so I invested in a Fuji - Canon adapter. The word Cucks says more about you than you know.
Jerry M I only work with primes. But I have time for the higher level fuji zooms especially.
Mindrover: yepp, I agree with you. the combo 18-55 & 55-200 is great. It covers most angles....I have both lenses and have achieved incredible results with both. No real need for many different primes, if you have one or two great zoom lenses.
At one point, I had the 16-50, 18-55 and 16-55. There is very little optical quality difference between the first two. In fact, the first one is sharper in the centre.
I had this for a while, got it as part of a trade, sold it on pretty quick. Not because of it's IQ, it's pretty decent in good light actually, but I hated the cheap feel of it. Other brands have kit zooms that are built better and feel much better than this in the same price range. It IS Fuji's worst lens IMO.
Definitely the cheapest feel of the lot :S
Thanks for the review.
Ur my fuji guy..
Thanks!
4 words...Ratatouille
Need too much sample..
This is ideal lens for creeps who shoot girls on a beach in the summertime 🤣🤣🤣
Fun aside, I don't think this lens is bad, at all. But I do have 18-135mm as my only Fuji lens and I'm happy with it. For anything longer I would rather pick up fast prime telephoto any time of a day. Even vintage one...
No, that lens would be the 100-400 with 2x teleconverter :D
Edit: 18-135mmis my only ZOOM Fuji lens. And about 100-400mm, Harpinder Sanghera, Robert Cappa once said "If your picture sucks, you wasn't close enough" 🤣