guest post by Stephane Domingues (being30yo.com)

Introduction

My name is Stephane Domingues from Paris (France) and I have been reading your blog for years and, today, I hope I can contribute to it! I would like to share with you a project on which I am currently working on with my Fujifilm X-T1: “Being 30 years old in the world”: Is it the same thing to be a 30 YO in France, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Peru or Australia?

In June 2014, my wife (Anne Hangouet, 30yo) and I (Stephane Domingues, 30yo) started, a 14 months round the world trip throughout the 5 continents.

Idea behind the project

Travelling around the world has always been one of my dreams… but I did not want to just travel… I needed a purpose… I think that the 30s are a very important age in my society (France) and I wanted to know how people, that are around my age, live across the world.

Our purpose is to decode what being a 30 year-old in different countries in the world means. Trying to understand common and specific features of one single generation around the world.

What are the similarities in our generation? How do nationality, culture, living environment… Define our own identity? How do we live as a 30-YO? What is everyday life made of? What are our values? How do we analyze our past?

What are the major striking events in our lives and in our societies? What vision do we have of the future? What are our hopes and our fears?

And to reach that purpose, we meet random human beings… aged between 29 and 35 years old and share a slice of their life…

Every portrait is made of 2 sections:

–       Interview that includes topics such as Past, Future, Striking Events, 30’s
–       Photographs: Portraits, Everyday life, Home, Eating, Important Objects,, Favorite spot, Work…

Here is the link to my website and all the portraits published so far: being30yo.com
And here is an example of a portrait.

Why switch to Fuji

I used to have a Nikon D300s, but I wanted to change it for 2 main reasons :

1) Weight and size
2) Too “impressive” for people, not as intimate I would say

So I looked at the options… I did not want to compromise on quality of pics and lenses…

I contemplated 3 options : Fuji, Olympus, and Sony.

Sony was ruled out pretty quickly because they don’t have enough lenses…

Choice was harder with Oly…

But here are the 3 main reasons why I choose the Fujifilm X-T1 (with 18-55mm, 23mm, 56mm and 55-200mm)

1) Quality of lenses and focal lengths were perfect for my project : I really enjoy the 56mm and the 23mm, fast and sharp
2) IQ
3) I have always worked with 2/3 format and don’t really like 4/3

I have to admit that I am more than satisfied with this amazing camera and these amazing lenses!

Don’t hesitate to contact me for any question using the contact form on my website, being30yo.com.

Regards,
Stéphane

[shoplink 32815 ebay][/shoplink]

[shoplink 32815 ebay]Trioplan f2,8/100 mm on ebay[/shoplink]

_ _ _

Meyer Optik is back!

At photokina 2014 they showed some protoypes of upcoming lenses, and now the surprise: at their website here they say that there will be a Trioplan f2,8/100 mm for Fuji X coming in October. They use the old lens construction combined with modern lens coatings… and it’s made in Germany! No samples, no price, but they say:

You can find samples taken with the older Trioplan at Flickr.

spotted by FR-reader Leet, thanks

The Chinese photography accessories brand MEIKE, famous for battery grips, is going to release a TTL capable flash for Fujifilm cameras (the MK320 F Speedlite) and 2 Battery Grips for X-T1.

THE FLASH

It can be pre-ordered from Chinese e-commerce site Taobao for RMB 420 ($67). From the Flash product page (in English):

High GN: 32
TTL
Manual Flash (S1/S2 mode)
Adjustable Tilt & Swivel Head
LCD Lattice screen
LED-Assistive preview focus
Metal hot shoe
Support synchronization of front and rear curtains
Memory function

I can’t find anything about HSS. Here is a video (not Fuji version) of this flash.

THE GRIPS

There are 2 grips, the MK-XT1 Pro and the MK-XT1. There is no English version of the product description, but the FujiRumors reader, who passed me the news (thanks!) said that:

– The MK-XT1 Pro comes with a IR remote with an effective range of 100m.
– Can set delay time (selfie timer?)
– Can set exposure time, time between pictures and number of pics. I guess it mean full intervalometer features.
– Both are weather-sealed, but I am not sure if the NO remote version just does not come with a remote or is simply incompatible.
– 480 RMB ($76) is the SRP (suggested retail price) for the remote version. SRP of NO remote version unknown.

THE LENS

And here is a Chinese manual Fuji lens: 33 1.6 (there is also a 35 1.7 MKII and 50 2.4) from Kaxinda. The lenses are available for a good price at Alibaba here and here.