Fuji X-T4 and Fuji XF100-400mm Lens - First Wildlife Photography Shoot

Ever since switching to the Fuji line of cameras I have had my eye on the Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens. As someone who loves wildlife photography this lens seemed perfect for my needs offering a great focal length range which can be extended further by using one of the compatible Fuji teleconverters.

I’m happy to say that I have now purchased this lens along with the Fuji XF1.4X teleconverter; when using this teleconverter the lens has a maximum focal length of 560mm on my X-T4 which is fantastic for photographing wildlife. Note: when using the teleconverter the aperture becomes F6.4-8.

For my first shoot with this lens I headed out on an evening to try and find some roe deer to photograph. The conditions were quite challenging with a strong wind blowing and of course the ever decreasing light as the evening headed towards sunset. I found some roe deer near a corn field which made for a wonderful setting for photographs as the corn blew in the wind. Despite the aforementioned challenges the lens performed really well and I was able to get some photographs that I was very pleased with. Excited to try the lens more I headed out again the following morning and captured some nice photographs of deer in the golden morning light.

So what do I think of the Fuji XF100-400mm lens based on my first few hours using it? I’m very impressed with the lens. Obviously I can’t yet speak about it in a long term capacity but the build quality seems excellent and I found the size and weight very manageable for a lens offering this focal length range. I am very happy with the image quality - the photographs I took show great detail and look very pleasing. When using the 1.4X teleconverter I found the loss in sharpness to be minor and this makes the teleconverter a great choice when the extra focal length is beneficial.

If you’d like to watch the video I made of this shoot which includes plenty photographs taken with the lens and teleconverter, and also video footage captured using the lens, then be sure to checkout the video here on my YouTube channel.

Short-term Review of the Fuji X-T4 Camera

As I write this article I have now owned my Fujifilm X-T4 for just over three months, I’ve used it a lot mainly for photography but also for creating video too. It seems like the perfect time to sum up my initial thoughts and experiences with the camera so let’s get started…

Out of the box the newer model still feels very well made but also feels more comfortable to hold in the hand due to subtle size and design changes. The familiar Fuji dials on top for changing ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation are still present and I appreciate the new switch which enables me to change between shooting stills and video quickly and easily. A high degree of customisation is possible allowing the photographer to specify which action various button presses on the camera perform, and also actions can be assigned to swipe gestures on the rear screen.

The New Rear Screen

A new feature on the X-T4 which has proven divisive is the rear screen which is now fully articulating. I can definitely understand the mixed opinions on this…

My Fuji X-T4 with the new design rear screen

I really liked the screen design on the X-T3, I felt it was perfect for photography. However it is important to me that I am able to use my camera to record video too, and because some of that is recording myself it is a significant benefit to be able to see the screen and my composition, exposure etc. when I am facing the camera. With the X-T4 that is now possible. So for that reason alone I do prefer the new screen design over what was previously available on this line of Fuji cameras. In addition to this the screen itself is better, although I could not compare it side by side with the X-T3 I feel the higher resolution is making it easier for me to check my photographs are in focus and to see finer details when looking at a composition.

BUT it is not all perfect… A common problem with this design of screen is that their range of motion can be restricted when using a L bracket. Many landscape photographers use a L bracket and they work much better alongside the type of “tilt” screen found on the X-T3. As I write this a few companies are selling L brackets but I have not yet found a X-T4 specific one that is the ideal solution - manoeuvrability of the rear screen is restricted to some degree on all models. This is definitely a drawback and a frustration but not a fault of the camera itself. L bracket issues aside I really like the new screen for my needs.

IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation)

Another new feature on the X-T4 that I am finding really useful is IBIS. As someone who spends most of his time capturing landscapes with my camera on a tripod I don’t think this is an essential feature, but I’ve definitely used and benefited from it over the last few months. I’ll continue to use my tripod the vast majority of the time but having IBIS has encouraged me to take a few more shots (when suitable) handheld. I have made a few videos on my YouTube channel Wayne Robertson Photography testing IBIS on the Fuji X-T4, and also one discussing how IBIS helped me in two ways to capture a specific photograph. Feel free to watch those to get a lot more information on this topic.

IBIS Videos:

Fuji X-T4 IBIS Test For Photography - How Good Is It?

Fuji X-T4 IBIS Test For Photography With Fuji XF14mm Lens

How IBIS on the Fuji X-T4 Helped Me Capture This Photograph

Fuji X-T4 IBIS Video on my YouTube Channel

Autofocus

I’m finding that autofocus on the Fuji X-T4 works very well for me when taking photographs but I would like to see a performance improvement when I’m in front of the camera recording video of myself. The X-T4 offers both face detection and eye detection which have the potential to be very useful for people like myself when recording video, however I find they are currently (at the time of writing) not working quite as well as I’d like. When using continuous autofocus the camera seems to have a tendency to occasionally lock onto a subject which is not a face or eye. Fuji has released a number of firmware updates for the X-T4 which appear to have improved the autofocus in this type of situation, and it’s certainly not bad, but if it could be improved just a little bit more I’d be delighted. As is it still performs well and the X-T4 is an excellent camera for producing high quality video.

Final Thoughts

Prior to purchasing the X-T4 I used the X-T3, the experience of using both cameras is very similar but I feel the X-T4 is definitely an improvement overall. How much of an improvement it is depends on your own individual needs but for mine (using it mainly for photographing landscapes and wildlife and video creation) it was definitely a worthwhile upgrade. I’ve been getting some great results when photographing wildlife (more of that to come in future videos on my YouTube channel) and the overall size and weight of the X-T4 partnered with a suitable lens makes it a great and manageable setup for wildlife photography.

Some Photographs I’ve Captured With My Fuji X-T4:

The improvement in battery life over the X-T3 is noticeable and very welcome. Although the sensor has not been upgraded for the X-T4, image quality when partnered with my Fuji lenses remains excellent and it takes photographs that I am very pleased with. I find the look and feel of Fuji cameras to be very welcoming and it makes them a pleasure to use and in that respect the X-T4 is no different - it is an excellent camera which helps produce fantastic photographs and video and lets us enjoy the experience while doing so.

I've Switched to the Fuji X-T4

When I learned that the Fuji X-T4 was to be released and I read its specifications I thought it would be an excellent camera. However, due to having very recently bought a Fuji X-T3, I didn’t think I would buy one. Due to some unusual and unexpected circumstances I have ended up buying a X-T4, if you’d like to hear the story behind this and see my first images and video taken with my X-T4 you can watch the video on my YouTube channel here. In that video I also cover some of the main features of the X-T4 that I feel will benefit my photography and video making.

Due to the current virus situation I am unable to head out as normal and take landscape images so I can’t yet use the X-T4 as I would like. However I have been trying the camera indoors and in my garden and so far I am very impressed. It has built upon the very solid foundation of the X-T3 and added some new features which personally I will find very useful. In terms of shape and size the design changes are subtle yet noticeable and it feels a little bit more comfortable to hold and use. I feel very much at home with using the camera coming from the X-T3.

Some of the main features that have stood out to me so far are:

• The Rear Screen - although I really liked the X-T3 screen, overall the X-T4 design is more useful to me because I record video. Also the higher resolution means it is nicer to look at and helps when checking focus etc.

• New Battery - longer life, less changing batteries and I won’t need to carry as many batteries.

• IBIS - I spend most of my time doing landscape photography and nearly always use a tripod, but IBIS now means that there will be times I can get the shot I want handheld.

• Improved Autofocus - this will be very useful in my wildlife photography and for video making.

• Mechanical Shutter - it is now quieter, has a longer lifespan and has higher FPS in continuous shooting mode which will benefit my wildlife photography.

• Stills and Video - clearer separation of stills and video and the settings and preferences for each.

• Timer Settings - it is now possible to store your timer settings which I couldn’t do on the X-T3 e.g. the camera can optionally remember, even when switched off, that I had the 2 second timer activated. It is possible that Fuji could add this to the X-T3 in a future firmware update.

Be sure to watch my first X-T4 YouTube video linked above if you’d like to hear some more of my initial thoughts on the camera and see my first images and video.

#fujifilmx_uk #fujixt4 #fujifilm

The first image I captured with the X-T4 and XF16-55 lens in my garden.