Sep
03
It has been a couple of weeks I have been able to field test the Fuji X-Pro1, and I am already using it as main camera for out work as London Boudoir Photography. I have been in love with that camera for a long time, and now that I can use it regularly I love its concept even more. I have used a specific word, “concept” as it is very important to understand that the Fuji X-Pro1 is not a DSLR and if you expect it to behave like one you will be highly disappointed by it. That said, my journey with this camera had been phenomenal so far, with just few hiccups when I expected it to behave like a DLSR. Lately, I have been looking for a camera that was “less” than my Canon 5DMkII. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean a cheap point and shoot, but a camera that was lighter, less bulky and that would allow me to be more important than the camera itself. When Fabiana had the possibility to have it in her hands, she immediately noticed the difference in weight: its six hundred grams, comprehensive of the lens, were absolutely nothing compared with the almost two kilos of the 5DMkII with a 85mm lens on it. Keep your camera in your hands for hours and hours and you will notice the difference as well! There is also another huge advantage I have found in the Fuji X-Pro1 and its unobtrusiveness: being a left-eye shooter, I have always given my right eye a minor impact in the way I photograph. Now that I use this camera, which is much smaller than the others, I have moved my right eye in the viewfinder; why? That’s simple; I use my right eye for checking the exposure, locking the focus and framing, but then I switch all my attention to my left eye. That one sees the real photograph I want! I am still a left-eye shooter, but I can now focus all my attention to my subjects with an eye unobstructed by a viewfinder that limits my ability to see the moment. We specialise in Boudoir Photography, so you have to expect our subjects to be quite intimidated of posing half naked in front of our cameras. A smaller, unobtrusive camera works wonder in lowering the gap and relaxing our customers! This is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G thing that the Fuji X-Pro1 allows me to do…..
See more pictures on fabyandcarlo.com
Sep
03
Here are some better pictures of the upcoming Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R lens. We already knew that the 23mm lens will have a distance scale and 62mm filter thread. The official announcement will be in the next few days. Fuji is also expected to announce the entry level X-A1 mirrorless camera….
See on photorumors.com
Sep
03
Most of the people who read my blog know I am an official Fuji X-Photographer and I use an X-Pro1 & a X100s. Some people think that I am paid or have an agreement with Fuji to advertise their cameras and write great things about them and use them exclusively. This is not the case. Fuji does not tell me what I can or cannot write about and they have not told me to only use their cameras. I just so happen to really, truly, genuinely love the Fuji X-Series and I let everyone know it. I love them so much in fact that I am moving to only using Fujis for my photography. How & why after the jump. I loved my Canon 5D Mark II & then Mark III but I hated carrying it around especially with a few lenses. It was heavy, awkward and drew attention from people around me. I felt that people were a bit intimidated in front of it too. I wanted something lighter but still with awesome image quality. A few years ago this did not exist to me. There were a few mirrorless interchangeable lens systems on the market but the sensor was either too small or just not that great for what I wanted. A mental roadblock I developed was that I did not want to give up my pro dSLR camera body and lenses because that would make me less of a pro. I wanted to project an image to those around me. “I have a pro camera so I must be a great photographer!” …..
See on www.rileyjoseph.com
Sep
03
In photography, I’m a firm believer in the mushy lump (i.e., the photographer) behind the camera rather than the fanciness of the kit he is shooting with. Great results can be had by just about camera these days but one of the most common questions I get from you guys is regarding my camera gear and workflow for the photos on Handcarry Only. So, instead of replying to each person by email, I figured I might as well write a post about it.
The days of chunky black cameras
For the longest time, since I first started ‘serious’ photography (meaning: photography as more than a means to ‘prove’ my participation in various events and holidays), I had been shooting with a SLR camera. First, the Canon 50E (yes, it shoots film), then the digital Canon 10D, Canon 5D and finally, the Canon 5D mark II. I have always appreciated the vast range of lenses available, the good ergonomics, and most of all, the image quality from these big, black, chunky metal boxes. Nevermind that I would often have red welts on my shoulders from lugging these anchors and their requisite variety of (equally heavy) lenses around whilst travelling. One had to suffer for his art right?
Enter the Fujifilm X-Pro1
When I made the decision to go on sabbatical in 2012 to travel to Africa and South America, I started to think long and hard about my willingness to carry my 5D mark II and L lenses on what would be a backpacking trip, probably one involving numerous journeys in sometimes more than a little dodgy buses and nights in hostel dormitories. Also, the sheer weight of the metal and glass, hauled over long distances by foot, might actually do more than a bit to detract from the enjoyment of the trip. With that in mind, and the then recent release of the Fujifilm X-Pro1, I ended up selling my Canon 5D mark II and getting the Fuji. The X-Pro1 promised a DSLR equivalent image quality, with a minimal weight penalty. The fantastic Fujinon primes that launched with the X-Pro1 sealed the deal. I went ahead and bought all three of the initial prime lenses, the XF 18mm f2, the XF 35mm f1.4 and the XF 60mm f2.4 to go with my new Fujifilm X-Pro1, giving me the full frame equivalent focal lengths of 27mm, 52.5mm and 90mm. I would have loved a 35mm equivalent but as of now (April 2013), the 23mm from Fujifilm has let to be released.
Lens cap? What lens cap?
The X-Pro1 and all 3 lenses fit in a beautiful Billingham Hadley Pro with room to spare (for extra batteries, maps, a water bottle, passport, mobile phone, wallet and various other unidentified crumpled pieces of paper which have lingered in the pockets for far too long. I have dispensed with the fiddly lens caps on the 3 Fuji lenses, using only the lens hoods and B+W UV filters for protection.
Post Production Workflow
For a good number of months since I first got the X-Pro1, I shot in jpeg only as my image editor of choice, Aperture, did not support Fujifilm RAF files. At some point, I got tired of waiting and switched to Adobe Lightroom, which despite initial quality concerns with the RAW conversion, supported the RAF files produced by the X-Pro1. By all accounts, Adobe have since improved the quality of the RAW conversions, although I don’t pixel peep enough to notice the difference, but I’ll just take the word of the internet tech experts for it. I use VSCO Film presets to treat most of the images, as I like the softer, more organic look it affords the digital images, not quite the same but reminiscent of my days shooting film with my favourite stocks like Fujifilm Reala, Provia 100, Velvia 50, NPH 400, Neopan 1600 and Kodak 100VS and Portra series of films. I usually tweak the settings a bit to taste and level out horizons but generally don’t spend too much time post processing the images. I believe in ruthless culling of photos, only the relevant ones that tell the story of the destination or my experiences in the place get online. I hate viewing all 534 of someones vacation photos and try my utmost not to put Handcarry Only readers through the ordeal. Let me know if you’d like to know anything else in the comments below and I’ll be glad to share.
See more pictures on handcarryonly.com
Sep
02
The sun was shining so we headed up to Hollow Ponds and took a rowing boat out on the water. It was a lot of fun although I had to do all the rowing. A few shots below all processed with VSCO Film 04….
See more pictures on samburtonphoto.com
Sep
01
The unmodified X Pro 1 is sensitive enough to IR for handheld shooting with a 720nm filter, a short lens, a steady hand and cranked up ISOs…
I managed to lose the Exif, but for this one I used a tripod so I am guessing I stopped down a bit. What I don’t like about this photograph is that when you look closely you can see a circular zone of increased brightness. It is noticeable on the trunk. It is a dreaded infrared hotspot. They are very unpredictable – sometimes you get them sometimes you don’t, but I have experienced hotspots with the 18mm, 35mm and 60mm fuji lenses. With the 60mm it is hard not to get a hotspot. I have seen reports of no hotspots on the 35 and only hotspots on the 18 when stopped down. This is not my experience. Hotspots are least common on the 35, but they are still present. Hotspots are common on the 18 even when opened up…
See on gearramblings.tumblr.com
Aug
31
what a really luck guy I am…
a few days ago I just walked in the local photostore to pick up some equipment for my loewe photobag and while paying couldn’t help asking for a delivering date of the fujinon xf27 – the answer came immediate and really unexpected: “yes, we do have one in stock since yesterday!” BONG :-)) after testing af speed and minimal focus distance with a few shots inside the store it took me another hour of thinking and googling, but then returned back and bought the lens. why did I hesitate? well, I’ve not been quite sure, if the lens was worth buying or if it’s better to wait for the xf23 prime? on the pro side, since I’m not owning a prime lens near the 35mm ff-format, it definitely does fit well in my existing xf-collection (14, 18-55, 60, 55-200). besides that, I assumed, that I can benefit from the pancake size, offering low weight and a “stealth mode”-design due its smallness, which for sure is also practicable for street-photography. the xf35 prime on the other hand will offer two stops more – from f2.8 down to f1.4 – and will certainly play in it’s own optical class, providing a different – higher level – playground for us photographers. for those now asking: what about the xf35? I can respond, that I personally prefer the 41mm focal length of the xf27 over the 53mm of the xf35, seeing the latter already more at the beginning of tele. the fact that the xf27 will therefore allow me easier picture composition in every day shooting, destroyed my last doubts……
See more great pictures by Robert with the Fuji 27mm lens:
http://www.refro.at/refroto/wp/?gallery=linzer-hohenrausch-3
http://www.refro.at/refroto/wp/?gallery=linzer-hohenrausch-3
See more pictures on www.refro.at
Aug
31
I decided to introduce my travel camera into my wedding kit bag this season and am loving it! The X100s is a brilliant compliment to my two X-Pro 1s. Things are still in the early stages but it looks so promising. I am finding that the 35mm focal length is a joy to work with and it compliments the 50mm focal length for a days coverage.
All images in this post are a combination of my x100s and one of my X-Pro 1s with the 35mm 1.4 lens.
See more pictures on vopoku.com
Aug
31
Fujifilm’s designers are in a tight spot: they based their design on the best elements of simple cameras, but no digital camera is simple thanks to the demands of the typical “what-about-my-astrophotography” camera buyer. I do not envy their position. That said, it’s to Fujifilm’s credit that critics are mostly clamoring for a slightly more polished camera instead of kvetching about image quality. I say give them another round to take advantage of better electronics and user feedback. While I may eat these words later, I’m optimistic Fujifilm will deliver. I mean, have you seen the reviews of the X100S? David Hobby called it “damn close” to a perfect camera; Luminous Landscape left little puddles of drool all over their website. More than some other manufacturers, I get the sense that Fujifilm is hungry to do better. Each round of cameras is exponentially better than their last. They’re getting better at high-end digital cameras faster than the competition is getting better at doing, well, anything interesting. So while the X-Pro1 is not quite the simpler digital camera some of us are clamoring for and that will never come – hell, even Leicas do video now – they’ve definitely got my attention.
See on www.thewsreviews.com
Aug
31
As I’m generally using the Fuji X Pro 1 in controlled environments with either models or actors following my direction what better way to test out the Auto Focus speed and accuracy than to test run it with my new kitten Marlon…as you can guess he’s extremely hyperactive and doesn’t take direction too well. I mainly took advantage of the fantastic ISO and set it around 500 to 1250 so I could have a fast shutter speed to capture movement…..
See more pictures on creativelondonphotographer.wordpress.com
