Making the move from a DSLR to the Fuji X pro system.
I see lots of questions regarding moving from a DSLR to the Fuji X pro system, whilst I have moved fully into the Fuji camp and have been extremly happy with my choice, many will be somewhat disappointed with the system. The Fuji Xpro 1 is a visual delight, and engineered to a really high standard, the image delivery is incredible, colour accuracy is superb. The recent firmware upgrades are a welcome addition, (these really should have been implemented a long time ago). Just having the ability to quickly change focus area on the thumbpad is joyous.
I usually see the grumbles about autofocus speed to be the main gripe, and one that leads folk to stay with the DSLR. However if you persevere and learn how to use the camera, learn how to overcome its focus issues, you will be so pleased with the image results. Once focus is found its totally bang on. I have always loved Fuji for their approach to applying their knowledge gained in film development, and applying this to their digital camera systems. The jpegs are faultless, I looked at raw files and found no real gains to be had by using raw mode, this applies only to my thinking and I am not wishing to create a raw/jpeg debate. It suits my workflow.
I remain totally in love with the system, but sometimes get quite infuriated at Fuji seemingly lack of understanding when it comes to camera ergonomics. Why produce a lovely little handgrip, that leaves you no access to the battery/card chamber, go figure!! Generally speaking the niggles I have with this little beauty are forgiven when I see the results from the Xtrans sensor printed as a 40x30 print.
Lenses that have so far been introduced on the Fuji roadmap, have been fantastic, the 14mm is an absolute gem of a lens. The 55-200 is fast becoming my favourite although slow focus maybe an issue with street shooters, once focus is found its bang on the money. I have shot 2 weddings with the new lenses as well as the 35mm 1.4 and have not found the little X pro 1 wanting. It causes quite a stir when guests see you toting this around.
My carry round kit also includes the tiny little Fuji Ef20 flash gun, which being quite small complements the X pro 1 so well. For a little flash it produces some stunning results and for £79 is quite a steal. The flash has bounce too, and if you whack the iso up enough you can get very well lit pictures using the bounce. All my groups at sundays wedding were lit using this little guy. Just remember though it only takes 2 aa's so runs out of juice quite quickly. I used some nimh 2800s and they lasted pretty well.
An image taken on a bright sunny day with the Fuji EF20, these yellow poppies were shot a 1/250 @f16 Iso 200, the 35mm is pin sharp.
The 55-200mm continues to impressbackground rendering is so smooth.
Dandelion head shot at 200mm 1/250@ F7.1 Iso 200
White Gerbera 200mm 1/[email protected] Iso 200 backlit by a sinking sun. Just the right amount of depth of field
A recent outing to the Yorkshire Dales yielded some lovley images courtesy of the 14mm and 55-200 mm lenses
The limestone grykes at Twistleton Scar highlighted by Crepuscular rays. 14mm 1/1600th@f11 iso 400
Sheepswool caught in barbed wire 14mm 1/[email protected] iso400
Thornton Force Ingleton 55-200 mm 1/60th@f13 iso 100 handheld
Thornton Force Ingleton 55-200 1/60th@f13 iso 100 handheld
I will leave you with some recent pictures taken in the White peak part of Derbyshire, along the road to the village of Earl Sterndale
A tree clings to the side of Wheeldon Hill 55-200 1/[email protected] iso200
Late evening light over Wheeldon Hill 14mm 1/680@f22 iso 200
Chesnut Trees at the end of a meadow. 1/220th@f11 iso 200
Shooting with the Fuji 55-200 mm
A rather big box arrived at the gallery this morning, furiously cutting through a million miles of tape and plastic air bags, lay my new lens, the 55-200 mm. It looked impressive and had a nice heft, not too heavy not too light. Quickly grabbed the X pro, locked into place nicely. Initial thoughts are very well made feels and looks good. The balance of the camera is quite even. Did the firmware upgrade, and had a play. Image quality is awesome, no I'm not bullshitting this glass is good, I would say a tad sharper than my 70-200 f2.8 vr2. Contrast is good too. The hood is nice and large and thankfully not a tulip one.
The image stabilization works very well, however I think it will suck the hell out of the battery. Zoom ring is a trifle stiff but the aperture ring is a delight positive clicks. Not impressed by not having the aperture markings on the lens, this is a faux pas to me, you read the aperture in the viewfinder. I like to use it by setting it beforehand without having to raise the camera to my eye. The OVF is a waste of time so it's EVF only with this baby attached. The light this evening is fabulous so I'm off to give it a workout.
Well after spending a couple of hours out in the lanes. I am more than impressed by the image quality,and all round handling of the X pro 55-200 combo. Some of my shots tonight were direct into the setting sun testing out its flare handling, very very good, one of the flaws in my Nikon 70-200 was side flare, the Fuji lens showed none of those issues at all. That said the lens does struggle with focus, sometimes on seemingly easy to focus subjects. Macro focus is good I've never had a 300 mm focus so close. Overall I would score the lens 9/10.
My lens roadmap is complete, the Nikons are being retired. Next up another body i think an XE 1, and leave the 55-200 on that.
An update:
I shot a wedding yesterday, over the course of several hours, using mostly the 55-200mm and the 14mm, both lenses produced excellent images.Battery life remained the same so the OIS zoom does not seem to use vast amount of power. Some images from the test shoot the other night, if you have any questions please leave a comment.
Millstones and Meadows with the Fuji 14mm
My new wide-angle has arrived, my 18mm was never really wide enough, so took the plunge and bought the 14mm F2.8.
The build quality as usual is first class, nice weight, all metal contstruction, feels nicely balanced when attached to the camera. The aperture ring has full and half click stops. First gripe, the aperture ring is way too loose, and can easily be caught whilst shooting. The manual focus ring is nice and has a great feel. A bonus with the ring is that it switches from Af to Manual focus by pushing the ring forward or pulling it back. Overall the quality feel of the lens, the distance markings and the depth of field scale, reveal a superb attention to detail by Fuji.
So whats it like to use in the field, one word FANTASTIC. It's pin sharp, with a great depth of field, shooting either in af or manual mode is easy, set it up for zone focus, or hyperfocal and it gives you the depth of field to make quick street shooting a breeze. A minor nitpick is the lens hood, just a little bit too big and shows up a little too much in the viewfinder, when shooting with the OVF. However minor niggles aside, it is a great lens, delivers punchy sharp images with great IQ. All I need now is the big zoom and I will be totally setup. Some images taken with the 14mm and the Fuji Xpro 1.
A light so perfect
I was out climbing at Bamford Edge last weekend, and witnessed the most fantastic light over the landscape. The sun was behind some quite dramatic clouds. Every so often part of the hills would be lit almost with a giant spotlight. I shot several frames but wasn't happy, and then out came the flashlight again and lit the scene below. A black and white conversion created all the atmoshere I wanted.
I have printed this as a 30 x 20 and the quality of the file from the xp1 is fantastic, the subtle rendering of the midtones above the bridge in the middle of the image is fantastic and shows every little nuance. God the Fuji X pro is a delightful machine.
Snowdrift sculptures and winter landscapes
The last couple of days has left us under quite a volume of snow, made worse by the strong easterly winds. The snow drifts and cornices the wind has created is amazing. Some pictures from this morning taken with the Fuji X pro 1 mainly wide angle and used a ND filter to counter the brightness of the sky and give the overall scene a little more balance.
