Finally, a LONG X Lens for the Fuji Family!
Pawleys Marsh, Fuji X Pro 1 720nm IR conversion w/ the new 55-200mm lens.
Fuji X 55-200mm
Yes, the new Fuji 55-200mm lens arrived for my fuji camera systems! I am currently shooting with a color X-E1, a color X Pro 1 and a IR converted (720nm) X Pro 1. I know how well the 55-200 works on the color bodies but what I really needed to know how did it work with the IR system! Would it give hot spots as so many of the Fuji lenses do? This post is the report of my findings. The final verdict is that it works very well and as long as you do not go higher than f/16 there are no hot spots to worry about at any zoom range! To me this is a really big deal.
So far only the 14mm and 35mm Fuji lenses are usable in infrared. So the addition of another lens really helps.
I am going to give you some examples of how this lens actually does at both the wide and long ends of the zoom range wide open and closed down so that you can get a feel of the usable Infrared range that you can use. Next week I will do a posting using the lens for color work only.
Pawleys Marsh, Fuji X Pro 1 720nm IR conversion w/ the new 55-200mm lens.
OK, let’s take a look at the good and bad of the 55-200 in IR, the Wide end:
55-200mm @ 55mm, f/23.5 No hot spot
55-200mm @ 55mm, f/11 Small hot spot
55-200mm @ 55mm, f/22 Bad hot spot
As you can see as you get to f/11 we start to develop a small hot spot, but nothing that cannot be fixed. Above f/11 the lens becomes unusable at the wide end.
Now, let’s take a look at the long end of the zoom range:
55-200mm @ 200mm, f/11 Bad hot spot, NO HOT SPOT
55-200mm @ 200mm, f/4.8 Bad hot spot, NO HOT SPOT
55-200mm @ 200mm, f/22 Bad hot spot, SMALL HOT SPOT
The difference at the long end of the zoom is amazing and is usable over the entire range of the aperture! This is great news for us IR shooters.
Pawleys Island Marsh, 200mm B&W Post Processing
There is starting to be a large number of IR photographers out there who are using converted Fuji X Pro 1 camera systems. There are currently 2 conversion companies out there who can do the conversion. I HIGHLY recommend the X Pro 1 as an Infrared platform and with the addition of the 55-200mm lens to our shooting arsenal we are way ahead of the game!
Infrared Atelier's Infrared Photography Blog 
Thanks for the reply. I suspected that was the case. I’d better save more pennies or sell some gear!
Hi Mark,
Off-topic, so my apologies first! Just saw a note on the site about the Voigtlander 12mm lens on your Fuji. I just yesterday picked up an X-E1/35 to supplement my dslr habit and I already fear I may be bidding adieu to my D700 and gear! My question is, do you get the Voigtlander with the M mount and use the Fuji adapter or is there a Fuji mount available? I had almost decided that the Zeiss 12mm was my best option, but I don’t doubt the quality of the Voigt! Plus, it’s a little less costly and I don’t mind manual focus (especially with Fuji promising focus peaking by the end of the month).
I also see you’re in the low country. I live in Greenville and my first IR experience was at BG Gardens about 20 years ago. Great place for summer IR work!!
Vince, I use the M mount version and the FUJI adapter because it gives you corrections abilities!
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