I am glad to be given a chance to be tried on the Fujifilm XF70-300mmF4-5.6 R LM OIS WR. Even though we don’t have that many opportunities to do more tests on this setup because of the Covid-19 lockdown.
for quick sharing from Fujifilm XF70-300mmF4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Liew WK – Lens Stories
For birding Photography, we always concern about on few camera and lens specifications
1. Image Quality
– how sharp and how’s the ISO performance
– with Teleconverter Image quality
2. Autofocus performance
– how fast the autofocus, how accurate autofocus, and how good is the tracking capability
3. Weather-resistant, Weight and Size
– no one can deny bigger lens (longer and bigger aperture) will give you better image quality but we need to know how much we can tolerate with Image quality drop with the size and weight reduce.
– most of the bird photography here (Tropical rainforest – Malaysia) involves a lot of tracking, walking, hiking so it is not really a good choice to carry heavy equipment to long hours to do bird photography here.
Some Extra Features
4. Minimum Focus Distance
– most of the Bird photographers also a nature lover who may also capture many other creatures (butterfly, snake, etc
– minimum focus distance of 0.83 which give magnification 0.33
5. Image stabilization
– I can’t comment much as not really do a lot of testing on this but some of the dark conditions where I shoot ~600mm at 1/10-1/30s also give a very good success rate but for my comfort. 1/100 is a base shutter speed to get a very high success rate for myself.
I also captured some videos handheld
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Very low light condition
ISO1600, F8.0, 1/30
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1. Image Quality
– with previous testing on the Fujifilm equipments
– as previous testing share, the X-T4 AF performance FAST, accurate and tracking is good too.
– I won’t share any single point AF here as all others above are using AFS or single focus but here I am sharing what I am concern about continuous focus for both lock focus & tracking capability
– Both above Loglight Condition sharing pictures were captured in very low light condition and AF is still fast and accurate for AFS
All pictures below captured with AFC – continuous focus and Zone (almost full screen). [I let the camera and lens decide to lock the object and track without any additional setting change]
i. Terns
– many of them flying far and near with moderate speed but in any direction under the hot sun
– most of the focus can lock fast and continuous tracking the bird by the next 1-2 s as the tern fly out from the frame
– it is almost no fail to lock focus when the birds flying with blue/white sky and sea background which has enough contrast
– it is getting difficult to lock focus when a bird flies into the frame where the background is green
– this owl all of a sudden fly out from the small palm oil plantation- the focus lock fast but the tracking miss 50% intermittent as it is flying toward me fast and close (some of the focus frame lock on the wing but not the head).*** the tracking may able to improve by some AF setting. as the focus locking is fast enough to focus again after miss out of focus within 1-2s flying toward me seriesFujifilm X-T4, Fujifilm XF70300, TC 1.4x [434mm, ISO800 F.8.0 1/1250]
– This is a special case where this hornbill standing on a building wall. So make use of the continuous focus & tracking mode. Even the bird is near the tracking work since the bird begins flying until it missing into a tree.
– the moment happens just ~2s, while I am shooting 7fps. and the focus just miss 2 frame
– it is very difficult to capture swift picture due to normally they are flying fast, all different direction
– success rate is not very high due to the flying speed very fast and accelerates in any direction for feeding. But the camera and lens still able to lock the focus as long as my position is at the right position.
– due to the APS-C sensor size the lens design in a smaller size compared to an equivalent 35mm equivalent lens (100-400mm)
– the lens with X-T4 which is 607g (including battery and SD memory card)
– 1.4x TC
with such focal length 107mm to 457mm or (107mm to 457mm)x1.4 or x2)
look at the size
4. Minimum Focus Distance
– this lens can take a photo at a minimum focus distance of 0.83 which give magnification 0.33 think this is also good for some butterfly, big object macro
– Adobe Camera RAW 12.4, same recovery and other parameters for the same test
*** I found the Dynamic Range setting not just affect JPEG output, but also affects the data inside the RAW files. So testing also included DR100 (off), DR200 (suppose reserve highlight exposure 1 stop) & DR400 (suppose reserve highlight exposure 2 stop)
But check out the RAW files recovery result below !!! it is some magic that happens !!!
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1. Highlight Recovery Test
1A. Highlight Recovery Test: Dynamic Range setting
– make sure of in Camera setting to protect Highlight details
Even with the direct JPEG output, the highlight details have been protected (DR200 1 stop and DR400 2 stops). But let’s have a look at the RAW file recovery
LEFT: DR100
CENTER: DR200
RIGHT: DR400
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1B. Highlight Recovery Test: RAW files recovery
Test1: Highlight recovery from RAW files
– ISO1000, F5.6, 1/15 – this makes the picture +4 (4 stops overexpose)
– Adobe Camera Raw recovery. [Highlight -100%, Exposure -3.00]
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Test1Bi. Highlight recovery, DR100 (DR off)
– All setting same as mentioned above
– DR100
– LEFT: Direct JPEG from Camera
CENTER: RAW
RIGHT: recovery setting as above and save as JPEG
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Test1Bii. Highlight recovery, DR200
– All setting same as mentioned above
– DR200
– LEFT: Direct JPEG from Camera
CENTER: RAW
RIGHT: recovery setting as above and save as JPEG
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Test1Bii. Highlight recovery, DR400
– All setting same as mentioned above
– DR400
– LEFT: Direct JPEG from Camera
CENTER: RAW
RIGHT: recovery setting as above and save as JPEG
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Here’s come the magic of the RAW file and the Dynamic Range settings !!!!
– Look at the right face of the toy & background paper beg
– the DR400 not just protect highlight data in JPEG but in the RAW file, preserve more than what we expect (3 stops + 100% hight recovery)
DR400DR200DR100
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2. Shadow Recovery Test
– 5 stops underexpose
– ISO800, F5.6, 1/8000
– DR100, 200, 400
– below are JPEG direct output from Camera
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Test2A. Shadow recovery
Test1: Highlight recovery from RAW files
– ISO800, F5.6, 1/8000
– this makes the picture -5 (5 stops underexpose)
– Adobe Camera Raw recovery. [Exposure +5.00]
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As the discussion of Dynamic Range is to protect Highlight data of the pictures. But I still go ahead with my test with DR100, 200 & 400
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Test2Ai. Shadow recovery, DR100
Test2Ai. Shadow recovery, DR200
Test2Ai. Shadow recovery, DR400
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For the 5 stops Shadow recovery, most of the details of the focused object still intact.
But when we turn on the Dynamic Range (DR200 & 400) gives an impact on the RAW files. Something really weird where DR400 actually give negative impact which produces more color noise and purple tint when exposure recovery
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So we need 2 settings for Highlight & Shadow recovery
1. Highlight recovery: Highly recommend Turn on DR400
2. Shadow recovery: Highly recommended Turn of DR which is DR100
1. Greater Painted-Snipe, 彩鹬, 彩鷸, Rostratula benghalensis, タマシギ, MERAGI BIASA
– very beautiful bird
– abnormal breeding behavior where the male will taking care after lay egg
– very shy bird
update 202105
– casual lazy birding, driving around. but not a bad morning at all, found this pair of the lovely couple.
– male and female are also beautiful. the one focus is female
It was a lucky and memorable evening! We arrived around 3 PM, and soon had excellent views of Whitehead’s Trogon and a Spiderhunter. Not long after, this beautiful bird perched just 5 feet in front of us, stayed for quite a while, calling and giving us great opportunities for both photos and video.
Charming tiny bird, brightly-colored but difficult to see as it forages quietly in dense undergrowth. Olive-yellow above and dark gray below, with a dark line through the eye and a bright yellowish crown. The very similar Gray-bellied Tesia has a paler belly, a distinct yellowish eyebrow, and a darker greenish crown. Slaty-bellied breeds in foothill and montane forest and winters at lower elevations. Frequents dark damp areas, often near streams or fern beds. Song is a series of high thin whistles followed by a jumble of warbled notes, longer and more complex than Gray-bellied Tesia’s similar song. Gives sharp chirping call notes, as well as loud rattles. [Ebird]
This tiny bird moves swiftly through the bushes, making it incredible that we managed to spot it.
It’s a bird everyone on this trip has been eager to photograph. Yesterday, only Amy and I were lucky enough to capture it, while others could only catch a glimpse without getting any photos. However, luck was on our side today! Two different Tesias came close to us within just 15 minutes, giving everyone the chance they had been hoping for. Tonight, we can all sleep soundly, content with the experience.
This is a fairly common bird in the area, but it moves too quickly to capture good shots. It often hides in dark and damp spots, making it a wonderfully active but elusive subject.
– another bird that we seldom missed since pandemic “covid” (previously seem more shy). This bird just pop up when we trying to locate the partridge. Cute, small and fast
– “side effect” of the CANON RF200800, this bird small, fast and always in lowlight .. end up ISO20000 needed
– as usual very fast moving and tiny bird.but now with the AI camera CANON R7. so much easier with the animal eye detect. almost like point the lens to the bird and press shutter
– very common glass-land, paddy field winter visitor (North)
– mostly brown, long billed, gray leg
update 202411
– It’s great to see them return to the paddy fields, where they are as active as ever in the morning. I came to test out the Canon R1, and with its new Continuous Pre-recording and advanced AF tracking features, I was able to capture the moment they took off and flew toward us. Later, I combined the JPEGs into a single movie file.
– long tie never go paddy field for birding, take a short visit with friend. Very quiet instead but this bird make us spend some time to have good view than follow with good meal
1. Siberian Stonechat, 黑喉石䳭, 黑喉石䳭, Saxicola maurus, ノビタキ, MURAI-SAWAH BIASA
– a common winter visitor(North) normally found grassland, paddy field
update 202012
– this little poor bird with the bill hook up
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2. Pied Bushchat. 白斑黑石鵖, 白斑黑石䳭, Saxicola caprata, クロノビタキ, MURAI-SAWAH HITAM
– Males are black with a white vent and a white wing patch. Females are dark brown with a reddish-brown rump and underparts. Females can resemble the migratory Siberian Stonechat, but can be separated by the absence of an eyebrow and of any white on the collar or wing. (Ebird)
Small songbird of forest edges, open scrub, and farmland, usually seen in pairs or small flocks. Male is silvery gray overall with black face and white supercilium, throat, belly, and wing patches. Female dull brown overall, with a rufous tail and faded version of the male’s head pattern. Bold but not very active, usually seen perching for long periods on posts and overhead wires. Song is bright and melodious, but often has a somewhat faltering quality, trailing off towards the end. Most common call is a harsh rising “bzeeet!”. [EBird]
During one of the quieter moments while waiting for a Scarlet Finch, a female caught my attention. As it flew around, I decided to enable Continuous Pre-record mode, just in case. Suddenly, it spread its wings, and I seized the perfect moment to press the shutter after see the action, capturing this stunning shot.
– a special bird found at Borneo near open area, not difficult to spot along any road near open grassland and Palm Oil plantation ..
update 202503
I spent my rest day near a paddy field and spotted some great birds, including this beautiful Grassbird flying around. I really wished I had my 400mm f/2.8 with me to capture these special moments. I had to use ISO 16,000 for a fast shutter speed, but it still wasn’t quite enough to freeze the bird in motion.
我在附近稻田度过了我的休息日，看到了一些不错的鸟类，其中包括这只美丽的草鹛在空中飞舞。真希望当时我带着我的 400mm f/2.8 镜头来捕捉这些精彩瞬间。为了提高快门速度，我使用了 ISO 16000，但仍然不足以完全凝固这只鸟的飞行姿态。
202503, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202411
– A streaky brown bird commonly found in fields, scrubby edges, and dense thickets. This large but elusive warbler is usually spotted as a quick glimpse of its chestnut rump and long, trailing tail as it flushes from nearby cover. It occasionally perches in the open, sometimes even on telephone wires.
– On our first day, we managed to get incredibly close to this bird, just 5-10 feet away. It’s not a rare or particularly striking bird, but it’s always a pleasure to encounter one, especially since we don’t often visit its habitat.
A distinctive chestnut, white, and black waterbird with a sky-blue bill and enormous feet. The immature lacks the blue bill and shield and is brown-headed. Resident and nomadic, this species trots on the surface of water lilies and other aquatic vegetation, using its long legs and ludicrously elongated toes to prevent it from sinking. It flies weakly, low over the water, with legs and toes dangling behind awkwardly, and calls with a honking repeated “kyaaan” and wheezy hurried “skreeeeeet’–most often in flight. Highly unusual mating system in which one dominant female maintains a harem of multiple males. After egg-laying, each male will raise a brood alone. [EBird]
Here’s another true story of why I prefer using large-capacity memory cards (I’m currently using the Angelbird 1TB CFexpress B). After 18 days of birding, I returned to Malaysia and started editing my photos. That’s when I realized an entire set of pictures was missing—specifically, a series of shots of a bird in flight (it had been flying around us, and I’d managed to capture several sequences).
I checked my SSD, thinking I might have accidentally deleted the folder after downloading, but I couldn’t find anything. As a last resort, I decided to recover the images from the card. Thanks to the large capacity of the card, I had never filled it up completely, which meant the missing files were still recoverable. In the end, I managed to recover the entire series of bird-in-flight shots, as well as some photos of White Rhinos. This experience reinforced the importance of using high-capacity cards!
1.Black-crowned Night-Heron, 夜鹭,夜鷺,Nycticorax nycticorax, PUCUNG-KUAK BIASA
– 46-60 cm
– common, widespread, like to roosting big group in same area
Adults have a black crown and back with the remainder of the body white or grey, red eyes, and short yellow legs. They have pale grey wings and white under parts. Two or three long white plumes, erected in greeting and courtship displays, extend from the back of the head. The sexes are similar in appearance although the males are slightly larger. Black-crowned night herons do not fit the typical body form of the heron family. They are relatively stocky with shorter bills, legs, and necks than their more familiar cousins, the egrets and “day” herons. Their resting posture is normally somewhat hunched but when hunting they extend their necks and look more like other wading birds.
Immature birds have dull grey-brown plumage on their heads, wings, and backs, with numerous pale spots. Their underparts are paler and streaked with brown. The young birds have orange eyes and duller yellowish-green legs. They are very noisy birds in their nesting colonies, with calls that are commonly transcribed as quok or woc.
7. Chinese Egret, 黄嘴白鹭, 黃嘴白鷺, Egretta eulophotes, カラシラサギ, Bangau Cina
– Vulnerable species
– look confusing to little egret, bill, leg color make the different
– medium size, sometimes confused with a little egret
update 202101
– high tide, force this rare and globally endangered white egret to come near to platform feeding
update 202012
– funny to see this bird inland where is in a Manure pond.
202012, Selangor, Malaysia
8. Great-billed Heron, 大嘴鹭, 大嘴鷺, Ardea sumatrana, スマトラサギ, Cangak Laut
- lucky to have these 2 birds displaying and managed to have a good session with them
- a not so common heron
非常幸運，拍到它們在配偶行為。
update 202102
- while w on the way to Great-billed Kingfisher. Saw these 2 birds displaying and stop to capture the good moment.
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9. Cattle Egret, 牛背鹭, 牛背鷺, Bubulcus ibis, アマサギ, BANGAU PENDEK
– normally single bird or small group near the beach with rock
– dark and white morph (rare)
update 202506
It’s the final day of our long tour. After successfully finding our main target, something dark suddenly flew past in a split second. As we walked closer to the beach, we spotted this bird seemingly enjoying the shore alongside the many other tourists.
