... you say "Camera Lens Porn" ?!

I would perhaps call it Potry Porn or something. Meh - I don't know. But yeah, we geeks can get a bit excessive - especially during the honeymoon period. In my case, I would say it is even worse BEFORE honeymoon - since i tend to write a lot about it, when i am excited between the time i have ordered a special lens - before it is delivered.

Either way...

Fujinon letters - the meaning of them

Those crummy letter behind a Fujinon lens' name do have meaning:

(GF) means, it is a G-mount (mediumformat); GF lenses are extremely high quality, featuring ED, Super-ED, and ASP optical elements to ensure minimal optical distortion

Oh, the (R) I don't even know what the "R" stands for. Oh wait, here; It stands for "ring" - meaning that the lens has an aperture ring. (for example the GF 35-70/4.5-5.6 "kit-zoom" Fuji often sold its GFX50s II cameras with, doesn't have an aperture ring)

Next (OIS) means it exhibits a fast, nearly noiseless linear motor, (OIS) means built-in image stabiliztion, and finally (WR) means it is weather resistant.

Fujinon GF 500 mm f 5.6 R LM OIS WR

My first impression of the 500mm lens is - that only Royals have longer names, you know. Now that being said... oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

Elegance

First impression is that it is smaller and lighter than i had expected. Perhaps because i just had tested and worked with the more "crude" looking, feeling and sounding Pentax 645 FA lenses, like the 400/5.6 ED (IF).

Now the Fuji 500 is like a refined, elegant and sophisticated brother - coming 35 years later to the world. What a difference. Albeit, the next surprize is that the sharpness of the Pentax 645 FA 400/5.6 and the Fuji GF 500/5.6 IOS where not really that much apart (after Noise AI and gentle sharpening) on motives around 5-6 meter away. It means the Pentax FA 400&5.6 is actually a high performance lens.

The smoothness is a joy

The Fuji 500 however, is just so smooth and elegant to work with - i would almost call it optical-mechnical poety. The smoothness in focus (and lack of noise) as well the handling almost chocked me the most. Chock is perhaps a big word... I just didn't expect the lens acting so gentle and smooth. I mean, I should have expected that... I must have forgotten.

(I am most likely still affected by the crude, solid chunk-y movements in lenses like Pentax 645 FA 400/5.6 ED (IF): when the AF kicks in, you feel a slight heft though the lens in your hand (as you hold it from below) and the focus locks onto the object / or when it racks and adjust the focus). Everything now appears cruder. The typical old style AF you know from larger lenses in the 1990s and early 2000s).

Now using the Fujinon GF 500/5.6 is ... as if touching a smooth cat on the sofa !

The size surprized me a bit too.

Its both big and yet it is less than i expected. Chunky sure (95 Ø mm filter size) - but elegant. It even appears shorter than the Pentax 400/5.6 ED. (I have not exactly tested that yet) Revert the lenshood on the Fuji 500 - and it even fits into my Loewe Micra - that tiny backpack.

WFT, seriously ?!

It still fits... in a tiny backpack !

Just remove the lens handle (or not) - which by the way works via a knob you can take it off easily. ACtually i can keep the handle on the lens, and it still fits into my Micra backpack. Hell, even my yellow work warning vest, is still left in the backpack. And Karin's handmade scarp *LOL* Together with the 500 mm lens and GFX camera. All in there.

Yeah, how is that even possible !!

I can't do that with the Pentax 645 FA 400/5.6 lens.

Loewe Photo Traveller 150 "Micra" backpack

Boy it that backpack worn... after almost 10 years heavy use. I have traveled with it, i have had it endless times at work. It has spots and yelloing in some places... everything.

The other week, I bought a second "Micra" - as a backup in case my old one above gives up. I got it from an eBay store in Italy for 45 € (second hand, including shipping) - looking like new.

Other eBay sellers around the world

who still have this model in store (new), seem to sell it for around 150 € + excessive shipping prices which by the way totals 4x the original price from 2016/17 around 45-50 €.

In other words; HORSE SHIT dealings ! The Loewe Photo Traveler 150 "Micra" isn't being made anymore. So far, it has aged well, despite being so heavily "misused" for 10 years. Really, i had this backpack almost everywhere, even during many journeys in Sicily.