Switching to… or discovering the Fuji X: “Photography is fun again!” – FR readers stories

Did you read the last “switching to the Fuji X” post (read here). Still not convinced to switch? So here is part II of this mini-series. And if you also have a “switch story” to tell (or rumors ;)), just share it with Fujirumors.

have a great weekend
Patrick

P.S. Rico is waiting for the Zeiss lenses and the Silkypix update to come, and he’ll write about it in the next X-pert corners. Mastering the FUJIFILM X-Pro1” (Kindle Edition) (Apple iBook Store) (German version).

Vincent:

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Hey Pat,

I wouldn’t say I have a “switching to Fuji” story but rather I made a discovery – I discovered a gem and that happens to the [shoplink 11923 ebay]X-Pro 1[/shoplink].
My Nikon set up was stolen around 10months ago, and during that period, I couldn’t find the passion to shoot unless it was a commissioned job.
For those jobs I borrowed friends Canon‘s ([shoplink 11332]5D2[/shoplink]) whilst I kept my eyes on the latest Nikon offering ([shoplink 11833 ebay]D800[/shoplink]), but none of them excited me in the slightest – I know that the DSLR’s would get the job done but after about 10months out of the game, I wanted something that would excite me, something that was different, I wanted a new challenge.

Whilst looking into the [shoplink 11923 ebay]X-Pro 1[/shoplink], I can recall thinking, “I am about to do something that could go amazingly well or horribly wrong” I shoot weddings full-time!
But I like taking risk – that is just who I am – if what you want to do doesn’t excite & scare you at the same time, then it is probably not worth it.
So I pulled the trigger and now I shoot fuji exclusively.

With these, I can go back to basics ; To learn more about this craft that we all love, to learn more about composition, framing, reciprocals etc.
With these I can shoot, shoot, shoot, make mistakes, learn, make more mistakes, learn, grow and develop.
If I am going to develop to become a good photographer, these will be the tools that will aid me to do so; they make we want to explore and take images; Photography is fun again!

As stated above, I am not sure it is a “switching to Fuji” story but I am glad I am now on Fuji and I am also glad that I cam across FR.

You probably help more people than you know! The X-PRO 1 is awesome, FR is awesome and I think you are awesome too (Maybe not as much as the X-Pro) Haha.

Feel free to stop by the blog: http://vopoku.com/mariage-en-france-isabelle-florent-preview/

Regards,
V.

Vincent

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paris photo wed2_zps33650726.png

Matti:

“Hi. I made the transfer to the Fuji X series when the X100 first was introduced promting me to soon switch entirly from using Nikon full frame and have a wonderful photography life finally compatible with my reflexes and third eye.
I travel a great deal to Japan and also run an exclusive book publishing label producing limited edition photobooks on subject matters like Irezumi (traditional Japanese tattoos) and Zen buddhism. I apply a zen outlook towards photography and have a blog where I write about it. The Fuji X-PRO1 is the ideal camera system for a person like myself and since I made the switch a few of my colleagues have done the same. I am currently working on a photobook showing my Fuji X work and will be heading back to Japan in October in order to document further for this project. I follow Fuji rumours on a daily basis and value Your work greatly! If interested you can have a look at my Fuji X work at www.senjuphotography.com
Kind Regards
Matti

Matti

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Josh:

“First of all, I love your blog! I check it several times a day, as I have become a complete Fuji X-Series nut. I just wanted to send you links to a couple galleries of photos I took with my X-E1 on a weekend in San Francisco. I used both the [shoplink 11322]35mm[/shoplink] f/1.4 and the [shoplink 11339 ebay]14mm[/shoplink] f/2.8. All photos were shot in RAW and processed in LR 4.4. San Francisco in Color and San Francisco in Black & White.
FYI, I sold all my Nikon gear for the Fuji X-Series, and I couldn’t be happier.
Thanks!

Josh

San Francisco photo sanfrancisco_zpsf8a816e7.png

Devin:

“Hi Fuji Rumors, Thank you for this amazing and informative site. I’ve been following every updates ever since i have ordered my X100s. I have been shooting Asian wedding professionally for the last 5 years. My current equipments are the Canon 5dm2 with some of the L lenses. But now with the X100s, i could totally use it as a 2nd camera at a wedding. And never again will I need to bring my dslr to a vacation. The X100s is totally my first choice for travel photography. Just wanna share some pics taken at a friend’s wedding with the X100s. It will be awesome if you think my shots are worthy to be shared on your site. To me, the X100s is not only built for street or travel photography, it’s also built for wedding photography :) Thanks, Devin” See Devin’s wedding shots here.

Devin

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It’s a fact! Triple win for Fuji at the TIPA Award 2013 (X-E1, X20, XF14mm)

Important recognition for Fujifilm. TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) assigned awards to X-E1, X20 and XF 14mm. Read the award winner list here.

“The annual meeting of the Technical Image Press Association to vote for the best photographic and imaging products in 2013 was held on 20 April 2013 in Hong Kong. This year at the TIPA General Assembly 27 member magazines and the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC) of Japan voted for the best product in each category. The General Assembly selected the best photo and imaging products in 2013 in 40 categories. TIPA has member magazines from nine European countries plus Australia, Canada, China, South Africa and the USA.”

Best CSC Expert: [shoplink 11888]Fuji X-E1 (specs&price)[/shoplink]: “The APS-C CMOS sensor-size16MP Fujifilm X-E1 harkens back to analogue design and handling with, for example, actual engraved number dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation control. The exposure modes are photographically oriented with a few rendition presets, but there is no emphasis on scene modes. Inside the magnesium die-cast top and front cover body sits a sophisticated X-Trans CMOS sensor with the ability to record up to ISO 6400, with up to +2 “push”, as well as stills in RAW format and H.264 (MOV) video with stereo sound. One of the most impressive features is the brilliant 2.36 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder.” (see here)

Best Expert Compact Camera: [shoplink 11890]Fuji X20 (specs&price)[/shoplink]: “The Fujifilm X20 features a 12MP, 2/3-inch CMOS sensor with ISO sensitivity up to 12,800. The camera’s Fujinon 4X zoom (28-112mm equivalent) starts at a fast f/2 and only loses one stop to f/2.8 at the maximum focal length, plus allows for focus as close as 1 cm. The X20 allows for manual zoom and manual focusing during video recording and numerous user controls as well as 8 “advanced” filters plus a “Motion Panorama360″ function. Hybrid AF is fast and reliable plus there’s a Focus Peak Highlight function on the 2.8-inch LCD screen. Lens shift image stabilization is built-in, as is a handy pop-up flash.” (see here)

Best CSC Prime Lens: [shoplink 11339 ebay]Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R (specs&price)[/shoplink]: With equivalent coverage of 21mm (35mm format), the Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R is built with 10 elements in 7 groups and includes 2 aspherical elements and 3 extra-low dispersion elements, plus incorporates a 7-bladed diaphragm. Designed with Fujifilm cameras in mind, the lens has a short back focus distance which helps eliminate vignetting and delivers a bright, high-resolution image to corners. The lens barrel features distance and depth of field scales to aid in pre-focusing and hyperfocal distance techniques. Stops are in 1/3EV increments (19 in all) with a minimum aperture of f/22, and focus can be made as close as 0.18 metres (0.6 ft).” (see here)

Fuji X-E1: [shopcountry 11888] Fuji X20: [shopcountry 11890] Fujinon XF14mm [shopcountry 11339]

XF 55-200 climbing the rankings! + Zeiss Touit sample shots

 

 

You can see some more Zeiss Touit sample shots here at systemkameraforum (translated version).

Preoder the 55-200: BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / AmazonUK / DigitalRev / PictureLine (USA) / PCHstore Brussel

Pre-order the Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 lens (Adorama / BHphoto / Uniquephoto / PictureLine (USA) / PCH Brussel)
Pre-order the Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 lens (Adorama / BHphoto / Uniquephoto / PictureLine (USA) / PCH Brussel)

Zeiss Touit 50mm f/2.8 expected availability October 01 at B&H

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BHphoto expected availablity for the 50mm f/2.8 Zeiss lens is October 01 (click here). The price is not yet available.

Pre-oder the 55-200 at BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS, DigitalRev, PictureLine (USA), PCHstore Brussel

Pre-order the Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 lens (Adorama / BHphoto / Uniquephoto / PictureLine (USA) / PCH Brussel)
Pre-order the Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 lens (Adorama / BHphoto / Uniquephoto / PictureLine (USA) / PCH Brussel)

Zeiss Touit (vs Fuji XF) sample images and feedback (PCH store Brussel)

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Michel from PCH store in Brussel shared with me his Zeiss samples. You can check more at his facebook page. You can pre-order these lenses at PCH Brussel here. He’s not a pro gear reviewer nor pro photographer, but he told me that he made a comparison between the 12mm Zeiss and the [shoplink 11339]14mm Fuji[/shoplink], and between the 32mm Zeiss and the [shoplink 11712 ebay]35mm Fuji[/shoplink].

“To be honest I do not see something that strikes me, the files look similar, maybe the Zeiss 12mm is a bit smoother and not as sharp, or maybe it is more creamy than the 14mm Fuji, and maybe the 32 Zeiss is a bit sharper, or has better micro contrast? I can not tell really the differences. What is sure is that the Zeiss Lenses are beautiful to see and play with, I like the focus ring a lot, it’s a better feeling than the one of the 35mm. The aperture ring is a bit too smooth for my taste, and one can easily change the aperture without noticing it. It happened to a lot of shots during the comparison, were I had to be careful and check every time the aperture ring cause it had moved […] After testing the 2 lenses 32&35, I found them equally fast, providing that the xf35 has the latest firmware. It’s difficult to say which is faster. The Zeiss on the other hand seems a bit less noisy and the focus seems smoother, I would say not so mechanical. But these are subtle differences. I did not have two bodys to compare.  The Quality of the Zeiss is beautiful, the feel is georgeous, I like them, but image quality wise, they do not seem to be better than the Fuji’s. Only precise tests will tell from the usual Photozone and the likes what the truth is […] Another thing, I’m testing now the Zeiss 32mm, and in manual focus mode, like the Fuji’s, you can still get AF when pressing the AE-L/AF-L button”

For the PCH comparison shots (Fuji vs Zeiss full resolution samples) you can check this dunkelkammer post here.

Pre-order the 32mm f/1.8 lens (Adorama / BHphoto / Uniquephoto / PCH Brussel)
Pre-order the 12mm f/2.8 lens (Adorama / BHphoto / Uniquephoto / PCH Brussel)
XF14mm [shopcountry 11339] XF35mm [shopcountry 11712]

Zeiss 32 f/5.6
zeiss 32 f5.6 photo Zeiss32F56_zps584b6210.jpg

Fuji 35 f/5.6
Fuji 35 f5.6 photo Fuji35F56_zpsf53c6420.jpg

Zeiss 32 f/1.8
zeiss 32 f1.8 photo Zeiss32F18_zpsb1190a67.jpg

Fuji 35 F/1.8
Fuji 35 f1.8 photo Fuji35F18_zps269ba75b.jpg

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