A visit to Minninglow
Last week I pulled the trigger on a new lens, one that I swore i wasn't going to purchase. The Fuji 10-24mm arrived a few days ago, but due to other commitment,s and the weather I had not had a chance to shoot outdoors with it much. This lens will replace the legendary 14mm, one lens I thought i would never change. So what was it like out in the field? Quite simply it's outstanding. So with the promise of some spring sunshine, I took off from the gallery a little early and headed of to Minninglow near Parwich. It's been a year since I last visited the place, and I am always happy to be back for a wander round the Bronze age site. It's a great place to spend an hour or two, very easy access from the Tissington trail.
So how does the 10-24mm compare to my much loved 14mm. Well I can say without a doubt that it seems to me to be pretty equal, maybe the 14mm edges it in micro contrast just. The 14mm has a marked aperture ring, and it's a shame that Fuji didn't use the same marked ring on the ultra wide. However the differences in extra viewing real estate is the real issue for me.
I always felt I was comprising my composition with the 14mm, for ultimate landscape work the 14mm is just not wide enough. As an example the image below of the dead branch would not have had the same perspective with the 14mm, some may say I could have stepped backwards, however there were things in the way which would have altered the composition for me, so it was not possible, I could have altered my viewing angle but that would have meant losing part of the image either top or bottom, again not realistic.
I know many have said the extra weight of the wide zoom is an issue, yes it's a larger lens than the 14mm but on the Xt1 with battery grip the combo weighs in at just over 1 kilo. On my D3 with a 24-70 f2.8 Sigma lens weighs in at over 2 kilos. Toting around the 10-24 on the Xt1 isn't that bigger deal. The OIS system on the 10-24mm is staggering, I have shot images at 1/8th of a second hand held without loss of clarity. F4 or F2.8 about the same when you take into account the OIS factor. Lens flare is apparent when the sun is low in the sky, but its not ugly flare, the starburst effect though is a nice feature you see this happen when stopping down the lens past F11.
The lens is very well made and certainly feels nicely balanced on the Xt1, the lens hood is pretty good, a better fit than on the 14mm which on my version had a tendency to fall off at random times. I feel the lens attains focus a little faster than the 14mm, but its not a game changer TBH. The lens is another fine optic from Fuji, has all the hallmarks of Fuji design, great sharpness, great colour and contrast.
For me the Pro's definately outweigh the Cons I really struggle actually to have any. The only real issue for me is the lack of markings on the aperture ring, it's so nice to be able to set the aperture without looking thru the EVF. The manual focus to Af clutch mechanism was a real cool touch on the 14mm, as was the superb build quality. The 10-24mm build quality is pretty damn good. My all time favourite lens for a long time, was the Nikon G 16-35 F4, it was and still is a stellar piece of glass, the ideal focal length for landscape and travel photography. The Fuji 10-24 is certainly on par with that lens.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the images.
Fuji Xt1...............One year on
Its been one year since I've owned the Fuji Xt1, in that time it's been up hill and down dale, in snow, rain, basically anything that the fickle British weather could throw at it. It has never let me down once. For its size its a sturdy wee thing. I have umpteen reasons why I like it, I think the main one is its simplicity, everything you need to do with the camera is in one place, on the top plate. The other stuff (settings) I rarely touch, once they are set up they are left alone. I very rarely access the Q button menu. I've even grown use to the dinky little D pad. Through Fuji's excellent firmware upgrades even the most loathed button on the top plate the Video switch has been resolved.
After a year of heavy use the top plate and the dial engravings are still pristine, I don't look after my gear that well it gets chucked around alot, on car seats and in the boot, again testimony to its build quality. The image quality is just staggering, I don't just show my images on the web, I have a gallery with my images printed as large as 4 feet by 3, a caller earlier today asked if it been taken on a medium format camera, that's how good they look in print. My favourite lens is the 14mm teamed up with the Xt1 gives me everything I need for my landscape work. The viewfinder (EVF) is such an immersive experience, it's doubtfull I would ever go back to a hybrid view like the X pro 1 has, don't get me wrong I love the X pro but the viewfinder is a league away. The AF is pretty decent, in fact I've stopped comparing it to my old Nikons, its not as good, but hey I'm not carting around a big heavy DSLR anymore. I don't compare it to anything now, as Its totally pointless, I've moved away into the Fuji system and thats it.
So yesterday to we had the most bizzare weather, bright sun, sleet, snow, rain, and a biting wind. The light in the afternoon was epic, I left for Stanton Moor around 3pm giving me a couple of hours to see what I could find. It didn't disappoint. That laser light you get when the sun is low in the sky was amazing, I was in mono heaven. I didn't shoot that many images in the coule of hours i was out, I spent most of my time chasing views and trying compositions that worked with the light, a fun excercise. So my day ended, and I viewd a selection on the Ipad, gotta love the wi-fi feature. Pretty pleased with the results. The only nagging doubt I have is should I get the 10-24mm, If I do it will mean goodbye to my constant companion the 14mm? I love this lens so much. Anyway a few images made yesterday, I hope you like them.
The Zebra Awards
As a monochrome enthusiast, I thought i would enter some images in the 3rd annual Zebra awards, I was pleasantly suprised to see a few have been accepted to go through to the next round of judging. Most of these images were taken using either the Fuji X pro 1 or the Xt1, just goes to show what a capable system the Fuji X series is.
Bleak midwinter in the Peak
Well we've certainly had some snow over the last few days, and try as I might I've struggled to convey (in my own mind) what this landscape is really like during a cold snap. So ventured out yesterday to one of my favourite gritstone edge. Derwent edge has some commanding views and interesting structures, ideal for landscape photography. The light was in my favour with a veiled sky and weak sunlight. Mind you getting anywhere in the peak, was a major trial as most of the high roads from Buxton were closed. Eventually arrived at Cut Throat bridge car park, keen to get on the trail. Wasn't prepared for how much ice there was underfoot, some of the walking was quite perilous, easy to take a tumble, which happened only once on the way up. Should have had some crampons on.
I was not really prepared for how cold it was on the edge, with a keen northerly wind I reckon the windchill was in the low teens, certainly made for some interesting walking. The scenery was simply staggering, and really gave me that bleak mid winter look I was after. The moorland looked like the artic tundra, even the grouse wern't hanging around. Stopped by Mam Tor for a quick photo, which I must say looked superb, in the late afternoon light. All images taken with the Fuji Xt1, lenses used 14mm, 18-55mm and the 55-200mm.
Swiss travels part 1
A couple of years ago we went on a hastily arranged break and ended up in the Swiss Alps. I guess this became the start of my journey into serious landscape photography. When asked by my partner where to go, I mentioned that I fancied the Alps, half an hour later with the help of an online article from the Guardian, entitled Europes 10 best camp sites, we had settled on La Fouly in the Val Ferret. Close to the French and Italian borders and part of the Mont Blanc massif. So epic peaks and vistas beckoned. Camera kit comprised 2 D3 bodies and associated lenses, and I also took along the dinky little Fuji x100. Along with various filters and tripod. My girlfriend remarked about the amount of gear I was taking. Never mind the hair drier, electric fan heater, and other assorted goodies she had managed to hide away.
After a pleasant drive through France into Switzerland we stopped just before dark close to Lake Lucerne for a much needed break and bought some food, here we encountered our first problem, we assumed wrongly that the Swiss used the Euro, so all our currency was in Euros, not a good start when paying for the food which was in Francs. Finally arrived at the campsite around 10pm, the journey had taken a little over 14 hours. It's no fun trying to pitch a tent, blow up a double airbed, in the pitch black being grumpy and tired, needless to say we had one or two heated exchanges whilst we made our shelter.
After a much needed sleep we awoke to problem number two, the campsite has no lights at night (which is a good thing) so we just pitched up finding a spot lit by car headlights. Only problem was we had set up our camp about 5 metres from the toilet block. Hastily moving our camp had one or two campers shaking heads at our ineptitude.
Alpine Moon Nikon D3 70-200mm
The campsite and surrounding mountains were simply breathtaking, waking up early doors and seeing the moon light up the peaks of the Tour Noir, and Mont Dolent was something special. The weather for the entire duration was endless days of high pressure, blue sky and sunshine. In fact apart from the first morning it never rained.
Alpine walking I can quiet honestly say, is a huge toil, for one I'm not that fit, and two not appreciating how tiring, walking up hill in hot weather and the resulting scarcity of oxygen is, it makes for a long day.
View of Le val Ferret Fuji x100
For one of my trips I went up to Cabane de La Neuve which sits high above the valley at over 2700 metres. This is pretty close to 9,000 feet, not quite like romp up Tryfan or the Lakes. It takes effort, something I really felt aware of during the 4 hour upward slog. The access to the cabin is via a 60 foot climb via chains up a groove in the rock, interesting ! and not for the faint of heart. After taking in the views and an hours rest, I decided to try and get up to the Col de Tour Noir at around 3600 metres, however changed my mind when I saw some of the crevasses en route, and hearing the boom and crash of falling rocks, decided to give it a miss and headed back down to the campsite.
Pointe des Six Niers and the Glacier De L'a Neuve. Late afternoon. Nikon D3 16-35mm
The spiky tops of the Javelle Ledges and a tribute in the rock. Fuji X100
Taking a breather Fuji x100 selfie The peak to the right is Le Tour Noir.
Shadow play Fuji x100
High on a hill etc etc Fuji x100
Mont Dolent and the L'Aiguille de L'Amone leading to across to the Javelle ledges. Fuji X100
A room with a view Cabane de L'a Neuve.
From a photography point of view, I really cursed the D3, of course its a great camera, but it weighs as much as a small child, and with fast glass 2 small children, tabbing uphill carrying that is seriously debilitating. I was so glad I took the Fuji, it delivers so much in such a small form, what more could I have wished for...... A fuji 14mm maybe.
To be continued........