Metz just released the full information about their new Fuji compatible Metz Mecablitz M400 here. As reported here, it supports HSS and TTL.
EF-X500
Here is an information, X-T1 owners should be aware of before buying the EF-X500. Asked by X-shooter Alexander, the Fuji Guys answered in the comments to this video:
“Wireless TTL control is not possible with the X-T1. As we understand it, the processor of the X-T1 can not handle the necessary processing, and therefor there will not be a firmware update to enable wireless TTL on the X-T1.”
I remind you that the launch of the EF-X500 has just been postponed again to mid-November.
I’ve heard this first from an anonymous source a couple of days ago (thanks), and I can now confirm it also via trusted source (thanks again): the Medium Format Fujifilm will have an interchangeable viewfinder!
So what’s that? It sounds like the intercheangable viewfinder we find on the PhaseOne XF, where you can attach a waist level viewfinder (verical tilting) or a standard viewfinder. Of course the PhaseOne solution is for Optical Viewfinders… now you just imagine the same with EVF’s.
See the PhaseOne XF Video below to get a more clear idea.
Ok folks… I’ve stopped to keep track of how many time the EF-X500 has been postponed. I just let you know that it happened again. It was supposed to hit the market in late September, but Fujifilm postponed it further until mid November.
google translated: Recently, it had been guided 2016 September 29 (Thursday) Release, for high-end multi-function external flash “clip-on flash EF-X500”, the time to the quality evaluation of the development than originally expected final stage because you are required, we have decided that I am allowed to postpone released in the 2016 November 17 (Thursday).
I bet a bottle of wine that we are lucky if it comes sometimes in 2017!
The good news: as reported in my dedicated Flash post earlier today, Metz announced the Metz Mecablitz M400, a real alternative to the EF-X500, since it supports TTL and HSS for Fujifilm X-series cameras.
UPDATE: Metz will launch the METZ MECABLITZ M400. HSS and TTL Fujifilm X Compatible. More here (translation)
Fujifilm & Flash… a long (and often painful) story. However, over the last years, we have seen some improvements, and some companies, like Nissin, started to support Fujifilm X-series cameras.
But it’s when you think that things go better, that Fuji is able to make it worst again ;)
In fact, with the launch of the X-T2, Fujifilm also introduced changes in the flash protocol to support the EF-X500 flash system. New protocol… and hence flashes that work on the X-T1 are now no more supported on the X-T2.
The good news is: everything can (hopefully) be fixed with Firmware updates.
Tony Northrup continues his X-T2 coverage on Twitter. This time he compared the Fujifilm X-T2 with the Sony A7rII and Nikon D810 dynamic range/shadow recovery capabilities.
The Nikon D810 is the winner, but Tony Northrup was “shocked” when he realized that the APS-C Fuji X-T2 performed better then the Sony A7rII. See his Tweet here.
UPDATE: As Rico said in the comments:
“Tony was shooting the T2 at ISO 100, giving it a head-start of 1 EV. […] OTOH, the shutter speed of the T2 is faster than the 7rII. Another big no-no […].
DR testing is all about setting the different cameras to identical ISO/F/SS levels under a calibrated light source, then pushing the underexposed results up to normalized brightness levels with a RAW converter. THEN compare noise and artifacts, and make sure that your RAW converter doesn’t try to be too “smart” by applying different hidden input profiles.”
Oh, and after the critics regarding his recent X-T2 Vs. Canon 5DS-R comparison (where the X-T2 turned out to be sharper), he repeated the test in studio, no backlight, tripod, whatever… whatever he did, the images of the X-T2 (scaled to 50MP) are always sharper. Tweet here.
And yet another X-TransII camera has been discontinued by Fujifilm… and it’s Fuji’s most successful camera so far: the Fujifilm X-T1! Go to Fuji’s official Japanese site here, and you’ll read that the “production has ended“.
The only X-TransII cameras still in production at this stage, are the Fujifilm X100T, the Fujifilm X70 and the X-E2s.
Fuji X-T2 (scaled to 50MP)+50-140 vs Canon 5DS-R+70-200. Not a lab test, but blown away by the sharpness
Must be the result of Fuji’s magic trinity: Awesome Glass + X-Trans sensor + X-Processor!
EYE DETECTION
Here is Tony Northrup’s comment on Twitter regarding Eye Detection:
Fuji X-T2 & 50-140 vs Nikon D7200 & Sigma 50-100 f/1.8. Fuji wins again. Eye detection only works ~60%
AF-SPEED
And how does the AF perform? Here is Tony’s comment on Twitter:
Shot a soccer game with the @FujifilmUS XT-2 + 50-140 f/2.8. LOVED it! Slower focus than a D500, but silent, higher frame rate, EVF.
Please Note that Tony didn’t test the X-T2 with Vertical Grip attached. So I allowed myself to make a comment on Twitter, reminding Tony that the Vertical Grip not only gives more juice to the X-T2, but also improves it’s performance.
Some numbers:
Without vertical grip, the EVF of the X-T2 is in black-out for 65% of the time (at 5fps). However, with the vertical grip set to boost mode, the EVF of the X-T2 is in black-out for 57% of the time.
That’s a difference of 8%.
During black-out, the camera is busy with the creation of the digital image, and can not make any AF-tracking measurments. This means that, with the Grip attached, the camera has 8% more time to calculate data and track the subject… and 8% in sports photography can make the difference between a keeper and an out of focus image.
I know Tony Northrup puts all his effort and a lot of time in his reviews. I just allow myself this little note, so that his test can be even more accurate… and the AF of the X-T2 that he already loves, will eventually make him even happier :-).
And thanks to Ken (twitter) for the links he send me via Twitter
X-shooter and FXF member Matthias46 was out for an official work with his brand new Fujifilm X-T2. His job? Photograph a Hockey Game. I’ll let you see the images here at the Fuji X Forum and just share his feedback regarding the AF-speed:
“First official work. I’d say is pretty pretty good. I need more experience in tweaking the Autofocus to my liking, but with the Universal one the behaviour is really good! Never used my Canon 1Dx that i brought as insurance.”
If you have any questions for Matthias46, drop them here.
Another one, who seems to be extremely satisfied with the X-T2 AF-performance is Bob Roman. In his video he says:
“I took a sequence of pictures of Samantha. It was a burst of 54 images using the XF56mmF1.2 @ f/1.2. I had the camera in face/eye detect [NOTE: this disables the faster Phase Detection], continuous Autofocus, and this burst of 54 images, 51 were in focus!
Now she was walking towards me, not a particularly difficult task, but what’s important to notice is that I was shooting with the XF56mmF1.2 lens, not one of the fastest AF-performers amongst the Fuji lenses. I was also shooting wide open at 1.2! As you can see, the camera performed exceptionally well! [NOTE: This performance has been achieved without vertical battery grip]”
Ok guys, I slowly start to be cautiously optimistic, that the Fujifilm X-T2 Autofocus is really quite a big step forward compared to the X-T1.
These is the last week to take advantage of the USA Fuji X Deals. NOTE 1: BHphoto offers 4% Reward on the X-deals. Check out the Overview at BHphoto. NOTE 2: If you want the XF23mmF1.4 or XF27mm, you better buy it at Adorama, since you will get also a $100 Gift Card
XF 23mm(save $250 + $100 Gift Card):Adorama XF 27mm (save $100 + $50 Gift Card): Adorama
