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Home › X Stories › XF500mmF5.6 x Giacomo de Franchis

XF500mmF5.6 x Giacomo de Franchis

21.10.2024
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XF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR | Exploring the world with Giacomo de Franchis 

The Wildlife and nature photographer Giacomo de Franchis has recently travelled from Vietnam to Indonesia, from Mozambico to South Africa capturing natural and landscape details with his Fujifilm kit.   

Let’s read his impressions about X-H2S and XF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR. 

Fujinon XF 500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR: the ultimate piece for the Fujifilm X puzzle  

The X system has always been a beloved tool among street, travel, and fashion photographers. Despite this acclaim, Fujifilm has often been overlooked in the wildlife photography sector—a domain saturated by other APS-C systems boasting massive telephoto lenses but missing the special Fujifilm feel and way of being. Finally, with the introduction of the new FUJINON XF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR, this is about to change.  

For those of us who’ve roamed the wild landscapes, seeking to capture fleeting moments in nature, this new lens might just be the game changer we’ve been waiting for. 

I am Giacomo de Franchis and as an Italian travel and wildlife photographer my passion lies in representing nature’s beauty in unconventional ways, playing with perspectives, shapes, lights, and shadows.  

In a world where things often move too fast, I strive to preserve the moments that may never be repeated: the silhouette of a rare bird in the morning mist, the tender connection between a mother and her offspring, or the delicate hues of distant cultures. Each frame is an invitation for the viewer to explore and interpret the world on their own terms. For me, photography is more than capturing a scene; it is about giving voice to the silent elements of life that are often overlooked.  

For more than 10 years, I experimented with different brands, but as time passed by and digital technology improved, I realized something was missing. It wasn’t until I embraced Fujifilm that I felt a real connection to my tools. What drew me to Fujifilm was not just the world-famous retro aesthetic of the camera bodies and the technical specs but the tactile experience—those physical dials and controls that make me feel connected to the camera itself, rather than endlessly scrolling through digital menus. In a world that’s increasingly driven by AI and post-processing, Fujifilm allowed me to focus more on the shot itself and less on the hours spent behind a computer. The film simulations and the signature Fujifilm look made my files come to life straight out of the camera, cutting down my post-production time significantly. This connection to the physical process of photography and the unique rendering of Fuji files is what convinced me that this was the system I had been searching for all along.  

However, we all know Fujifilm X was a little shorter on the wildlife lens coverage, lacking a super telephoto prime fixed aperture lens. However, I still decided that what the brand brought to the table and the renewed enthusiasm I felt while shooting was worth trusting the process, especially with great zoom solutions like the XF 100-400mm and the XF 150-600mm.  

You can imagine my excitement when the Fujifilm team told me about the release of this lens and how that they wanted me to test it out at first during my upcoming trip to Vietnam. The key specs ticked all the crucial boxes you’d expect:  

• Linear motor Autofocus system 

 • Professional grade weather sealing 

 • In-lens OIS image stabilization  

However, the first thing that struck me about this lens was its size and weight—or rather, the lack thereof. Weighing in at below 1.5kg, it’s surprisingly light for a super-telephoto lens, making it easy to carry on long treks through the Vietnamese jungles and National Parks. In contrast to the bulky, full-frame telephoto glass I used in the past, FUJINON XF500mmF5.6 is compact and portable, without compromising on optical performance. This combination of power and portability is a blessing for those of us who need to be nimble and like shooting handheld.  

The lens’s Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is another standout feature. In the past, using super-telephoto lenses meant relying heavily on tripods or monopods to get sharp images, particularly in low-light conditions. But with XF500mm F5.6, I’ve been able to shoot handheld for extended periods without sacrificing image quality. The OIS allowed me to capture sharp, detailed shots even when tested at surprisingly low shutter speeds (down to 1/50th or 1/100th of a second with slow moving subjects)—a critical advantage when photographing animals at dawn or dusk.  

Furthermore, given the great video capabilities of the latest Fujifilm camera bodies, I’ve been trying to get more into filming, and the OIS gave me stunning perfectly stable and useable results even shooting handheld. That is quite special on a 500mm lens! Also, the weather sealing truly proved its worth during a challenging trek through the Sa Pa rice fields, where I encountered relentless storms and heavy downpours. Despite the unforgiving weather, the lens performed flawlessly, remaining completely operational and keeping moisture at bay throughout the trek. Autofocus is where Fujifilm has made significant strides, and the XF500mmF5.6 shines in this regard. Coupled with Fujifilm’s AI-powered autofocus in the latest X cameras, such as my X-H2S, this has proven invaluable during my trip, where split-second reactions were required to capture birds in flight or monkeys darting through thick underbrush. As a wildlife photographer, I often feel like an observer of a delicate balance that is constantly at risk of being disrupted. My work aims to preserve these moments, to document the beauty and fragility of ecosystems that may not exist for future generations.  

XF500mmF5.6 is not just another lens—it’s an extension of my vision, allowing me to capture nature without intruding on it. It’s lightweight enough for long expeditions, powerful enough to bring distant subjects into sharp focus, and reliable enough to handle the harshest environments.  

XF500mmF5.6 is a bold statement by Fujifilm that the X system is ready to convert all wildlife photographers. It is a testament to Fujifilm’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what their APS-C cameras can achieve, and for those of us who seek to capture the fleeting beauty of the natural world, it may just be the final piece of the puzzle. With this lens, Fujifilm cements its place not just as a street or travel photographer’s go-to, but as a powerful option for nature and wildlife photography as well. 

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