Dez
30
To date Adobe Software hasn’t come up with reasonable raw processing for the Fuji X-trans sensor. The way the new sensor captures and processes light requires new thinking on their part and as yet Adobe has been satisfied to rework their current formula to produce acceptable, but not outstanding images. The jpeg processing in the Fuji camera can do it, SilkyPix can do it (albeit through a rather arcane user interface), and Phase 1in the beta release of their raw processor – Capture 1 – has apparently been able to do it. I gave a beta version of Capture 1 (which includes updated processing for the X-trans sensor and Fuji X series camera profiles) a test run. If it works as well as touted, I’ll have to think long and hard about switching from Lightroom which for me so far has been OK …. just. To have two different cataloging systems – for Lightroom and for Capture 1 – is a bit daunting for me.
Now onto the XP1 and the 18-55 zoom lens. I was out on the streets in New York City yesterday with the intention of shooting most of my images at the 55mm setting with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) turned on. Previous to my outing yesterday, I discovered information about how the OIS works between the camera and lens, and understanding how to use it affects both image quality and battery life. There is a new setting in Shooting Menu 5 called ‘IS Mode’ for which there are two settings with descriptive names of IS1 and IS2 – oh so helpful. In the IS1 option OIS is on and running continuously whenever the camera is turned on and a lens which has the OIS functionality is mounted and the function on the lens is acctivated. In the IS2 option OIS is activated only when the shutter is depressed half way before shooting.
Ah me, there’s always trade-offs in life, and especially in photography.
If IS1 is selected, the OIS runs continuously which creates a serious drain of battery power. But it also means that the teeny weeny gyroscopes in the lens are always engaged, running, and ready to stabilize without the slightest delay. This, not surprisingly, results in a very large percentage of the images shot in this mode being completely unaffected by lens motion or shake at slow shutter speeds.
If IS2 is selected, the OIS kicks in only when the shutter is depressed half way. So power from the battery for the OIS is used only at that time which, of course, results in a significant saving of battery power. However, in the time it takes for the battery to get the gyros up and running, and to stabilize the image the camera can still fire the shutter if the button is depressed quickly in one continuous motion. This resulted in a significant number of images shot on Friday (in this mode) being not optimal.
Sometimes the story or the expression of the person in an image is significant enough that I process and post it even with its technical shortcomings. So here’s what I got from my outing on Friday. The first was shot at 55mm and, with the OIS set to IS2, was one of the few at that focal length that were spot on…..
See full article on genelowinger.blogspot.com
Dez
23
Took a trip way back down memory lane today. In Århus, we have a huge 1:1 scale museum depicting old city life around the 1900′s. Some great scenery to be found there. I gave the images an authentic S-Curve processing to make them look dated. I think they turned out quite well. All images shot with X-Pro1 w/35mm f1.4 lens.
Thomas Menk‘s insight:
Dr. Jonas Dyhr Rask is a Street Photographer from Aarhus (Denmark)
See more pictures on jonasraskphotography.com
Dez
22
Below are a few photos taken in Prague during the Christmas Market this past week. It is a magical city that really turns on its charm during the Christmas season (maybe except for the time the local school kids danced to Gangnam style on the large stage :) ). All photos taken with the Fuji X Pro-1 with 18mm or 35mm lens. Photos processed in Lightroom.
Tim Steadman is a freelance photographer based in New Delhi, India, specializing in portrait and travel documentary photography.
See more pictures on timsteadmantravel.squarespace.com
Dez
21
After reviewing my images from my outing on the streets of New York, one thing is very clear to me. I need more time with this lens to get my zoom/longer focal length chops back to snuff.
Drat it! I guess I’ll just have to go out and shoot a lot more. Just to recap what I said yesterday: the focus speed is very good at 18mm and 35mm but a little slower (not by a big factor) at 55mm, the IOS (image stabilization) works extraordinarily well so that I can hand hold at 1/30th second and get good shots, I miss not having the aperture indications on the aperture ring but as this is a variable aperture lens (f2.8-f4) those indications would be meaningless, and the lens hood mounting leaves something to be desired in terms of a secure fit on the front of the lens.
The images below were shot RAW, processed minimally in Lightroom and then put through my workflow with NIK filters. The first two shots below were at a focal length of 18mm, f6.4, and 1/125th second. Since I keep my camera set on auto ISO it varies – the first shot was at ISO 5000 and the second at ISO 6400. In my film days an ISO of 6400 would have resulted in practically no definition in the small details. The first NIK processing is with Dfine to manage the contrast noise, then into Color Efex Pro 4 to optimize the color contrast with my special (wink wink) tweaks, and lastly into Silver Efex Pro 2 for the conversion also with my special (wink wink wink) tweaks.
In the first two images, the woman on the right was quite striking looking (nothing gets my camera finger more twitchy than a pretty lady) and yet so sad…..
See on genelowinger.blogspot.com
Dez
21
For most people Fuji might not sound like a worthy contender when they consider getting a camera in the world of Nikon’s and Canon’s. Where it is always about the big 2, Fuji hit the sweet spot since the launch of X100 which I have been drooling over for a long time. Since the X100, there has been X10, X-Pro 1 and very recently X-E1. You don’t say No to Fuji when you are offered to take the amazing X-Pro 1 for a ride. Thanks to my friend Brian for recommending me to Fujifilm Middle East and a big thanks to Fujifilm ME for letting me have the X-Pro 1 along with the fantastic prime lenses to cover the 41st National Day Celebrations in the UAE.Its been a couple of weeks with the equipment and I was surprised how my initial ‘jeez’ changed to ‘omg’ in a short while when you spend some time the the camera. I am primarily a Nikon user along with my always in the bag cam being a m4/3 lumix. I do keep trying various brands very often, so I didn’t really need to open up the users manual to figure out the X-Pro. Most stuff you need is right there at your finger tips. All we basically need for making a picture is a good eye and nailing down the exposure triangle (Aperture, Shutter, ISO). Selecting focus points could have been improved as its a bit of hassle to dig in deep. And how I wish I had spare set of batteries for that day. Focusing, a bit on the slower side but you get used to it and can figure out how to make it behave to your liking. Patience pays off when the images pop up on you big screen. The X-Pro 1 has been in the market for a while now and there will be enough reviews that show the Pros & Cons, so I don’t have to talk about most of the things all over again……
See full article on anjumvahanvati.com
Dez
08
Most street scenes worth photographing happen only a couple of meters in front of you. At that distance the X-Pro1 AF really can not keep pace with the movement of the subject, at least not with the 35mm/1.4. To be fair the X-Pro 1 is not alone in this as the subject’s speed of movement across the frame at short distances is tough for most cameras to keep up with…
When shooting candid shots the camera just has to get out of the way, you don’t want any distractions or delays. The Ultron combined with the X-Pro1 almost achieves that goal. There is no shutter lag and framing is easy through the EVF. An inaccurate focus distance however is a major distraction, and it took me most of the morning to start to get to grips with it. I am sure if I were to stick at it then it would become second nature. If my other M mount lenses would all behave slightly differently in this regard it would make working with this adapter a big distraction.
The image quality however I think is quite fine for this type of work, and the look is quite different to the Fuji glass. I think it is a combination that is worth continuing to experiment with.
As for manual focusing….lets face it the X-Pro1 is really a AF camera. Lets hope the new range of Fuji lenses perform better in the AF department.
See full review on wideanglecafe.wordpress.com
Dez
07
I have had the Fuji X-Pro 1 and the 18mm, 35mm & 60mm lenses since March this year but most of that time was spent in Cambodia.
Last month I was back in Melbourne, Australia and had the chance to shoot with the X-Pro 1 in a more modern, urban setting. All of these photos were taken with the 18mm and it captured Melbourne’s summer light, colour and vibrance beautifully.
The 18mm is my walkaround lens and because it’s so versatile i always leave the rest of the kit at home.
See more pictures on 500px.com
Dez
06
Metro rides can be boring, even in Paris. Unless you have a camera with you!
In between photo walks or in the evening when going back to the hotel in the city of light, the metro is the way of transportation of choice.Until I got the excellent Fujifilm X-Pro1 I used mainly B&W film when strolling through Paris. Shooting this kind of pictures in the metro with B&W film is possible but with a digital camera with live view on the back, great high ISO capabilities, very silent operation and auto focus it is much less of a gamble. Not much post processing was needed on these photos. Some minor exposure adjustments due to user error and some white balance tweaks on a few photos were the only adjustments needed. The liveview and the people being so self engaged make this kind of photography very easy. When doing well you do not get noticed at all.
See more pictures on parisphototours.wordpress.com
Nov
29
Sample images with Fuji X-E1 by Ariel Broitman
See pictures on www.ariel-broitman.com
Nov
26
This past Saturday evening I had the opportunity to kill a couple of hours in Chinatown and North Beach while waiting for my Apple Store appointment time to roll around. I decided that it’d be a good time to see what my present street photography setup was capable of in low light. The results were mainly satisfactory with a couple of hiccups, as is to be expected when shooting moving, uncooperative subjects in low light. I have read and agree with many others’ findings about the X Pro 1 and its prime lenses for street photography – that the 35mm is too slow and its autofocus too inaccurate to be counted on when speed is crucial, particularly at night. Also, 35mm (52mm full frame equivalent) is too long for how I like to shoot, while 18mm is too wide. I find that the 24mm lens, zone focusing, a generous depth of field and the X Pro 1′s OVF allow me to get many shots I might otherwise miss while the 35mm/1.4 dilly-dallies around trying to focus. I love that lens and the images it makes, I just don’t love that its autofocus is slow enough in bright light to be noticeable and didn’t want to stake the evening’s results on that lens. Another gripe is that the refresh rate of the EVF on the X Pro 1 gets awfully choppy and grainy the lower the light levels get. In some of the brightly lit shots, it’s a non-issue. In the case of the man on his phone in front of the shadowy sidewalk, it was tough to get the image in focus. In fairness, that shot is more about the shapes and shadows than it is a portrait, anyway, but I’m a pretty harsh critic of what I create. So, what’s the verdict? Well, heck – I love this camera and lens combo at night, too. Sure, I missed critical focus many times. Sure, people moving around makes for great backgrounds with extra grainy/blurry people. At 1/125, though, I think the results are good enough to share. Post processing is done in LR4.2. Although I’m a fan of black and white, for this exercise I eschewed black and white as I like several of these in color and feel that the colors contribute significantly to several of the images.
All from X Pro 1, Canon FD 24mm/2.8 SSC at f4.0 or f5.6, 1/60 or 1/125, ISO3200 or 6400.
See pictures on gimletsandfilm.wordpress.com
