Review: Testing the New Fujinon 1.4x Converter

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For the past 3 months I have been secretly testing the new Fujinon 1.4x converter which when mated with the XF50-140mm f2.8 makes this superb lens a 70-196mm f4 (or 105-300mm f4 equivalent focal length).

 I have been using mainly for motorsport but I have also used it for wildlife and for landscapes and I can report that this converter doesn't affect the image quality, even when using the lens with its maximum aperture, and it also doesn't affect the performance of the AF.  You do loose one stop of light (hence the f4 rather than the f2.8) but if the light drops off too much you can just dial in an extra stop on the ISO.

Physically the Fujinon 1.4x converter is tiny as some of the elements fit up inside the back of the 50-140mm lens and it only adds 18mm to the profile of the lens and body.  It may be small but the 1.4x converter feels solid and is easy to attach and remove.

 As I said earlier the quality of the images the lens produces with the 1.4x converter fitted are not degraded in anyway. The same goes for the AF tracking, which was just as snappy in AF-S or AF-C as the lens is without the converter fitted.

 The following two shots of the Eiffel Tower show the zoom range from 70mm to 196mm


The one question that will be asked is the 55-200mm f3.5/f4.8 better value for money than the 50-140mm f2.8 + 1.4x converter, which gives more or less the same focal length at the long end for a loss of 0.5 stops but costs one third of the price and is more compact - £486 for the 55-200mm against £1099 + £329 for the 50-140mm + 1.4x. 

 Having run both lenses side by side the 55-200mm is a good lens but doesn't match the quality or the AF speed of the 50-140mm, even with the 1.4x fitted.  Plus you have the option of removing the converter and have a fast f2.8 lens. 

 For me having this 1.4x converter in my bag is a no brainer and it will be useful when Fujifilm bring more lenses that can utilise this nifty piece of kit.

 Three of my images have been used by Fujifilm as sample pictures to illustrate the quality of ths Fujinon Tele Converter 1.4x TC WR.  

 For more information and to see the sample images CLICK HERE







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