Photographing the Belgian National Day with Fujifilm Gear – Guest Post by Olivier Polet

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guest post by Olivier Polet – website

I am 57 years old and I have been a press photographer in Belgium for over 30 years.

Like every year, I reported on the parade of July 21, 2024 for the Belgian national holiday in Brussels. This annual report is often an opportunity to renew my archives of the royal families by taking beautiful portraits of them.

When Fujifilm asked me to become their ambassador, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I exchanged my old guns for lighter Fujifilm equipment.
My Fuji equipment: two X-H2S bodies, the traditional optics and also the famous XF 150-600 mm

This fabulous optic allows me to take portraits of members of the royal family with beautiful ambient light.

I placed the 1.4X multiplier on the optics which allows me to work at 1260mm!

I must first of all say that the autofocus, which was sometimes a little hesitant, seems very efficient to me since the latest firmware version. There is no more hesitation, the focus is direct.  Small drawback, the aperture… at 1360 mm I have to work at a diaphragm of f:11 at 1250 iso. For a speed of 1/100. I use a lightweight monopod. The subject does not move and this speed is enough.  I often run the reports through the Topaz software which increases the sharpness and allows for higher sensitivity subjects to remove slight noise. Although the noise is less and less present at high sensitivity with the XH2 S, the Topaz software allows you to work at high sensitivity without any fear.

Another positive point is the lightness of this lens and its stabilization which brings a lot of comfort to shooting.

In addition, the optical unit moves internally which provides additional comfort when shooting!

If we publish the aperture, this optic in 24/36 conversion allows us to cover focal lengths from 225 mm (without the 1.4X) to 1260mm with the 1.4X. With the multiplier. An absolute weapon in many situations which allows me to compete with my colleagues and produce often different images.

It is without hesitation that I take this lens as soon as I can, which remains light for its focal length and which brings me different images.

I work in RAW and develop them with Capture One software.

You can see more picture on my web site: www.photographe-polet.com

All this pictures are done front of the king’s palace in Brussels during the national parade.
The distance between the photographers and the royal family is approximately of 70 meters.

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Manfrotto NP-W235 Battery for Fujifilm

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Manfrotto is now offering its own third party battery for Fujifilm cameras, the Manfrotto NP-W235 for Fujifilm cameras.

I do use third party batteries and I know many of you do too.

However (and that’s valid also for other companies as far as I know), if you use third party batteries in your Fujifilm cameras, and that third party battery is cause of a problem (for example it swells up and gets stuck in the camera), then, even if your camera is under warranty, you won’t get the problem fixed free of charge. On the other hand, if you use the original battery, for as long your battery is under warranty, every problem caused by the battery itself to the camera will give you access to free warranty repair.

That’s why, if you want to go the 100% safe route during the time you camera is under warranty, you might want to stick with original batteries, so if any problem happens caused by the battery, it will be fixed under warranty.

In all my years using third party batteries, I had my first third party battery fail last year, where my Patona swelled up in my X-E3 and I had to fiddle around to get it out. Luckily my X-E3 did not get any damage, but if it would, I would not have been able to fix it under warranty.

If your gear however is out of warranty anyway, that is less of a problem.

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RUMOR: Fujifilm X-M5 Coming with Film Simulation Dial

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When the first rumor about the film simulation dial hit the web, I probably was one of the few to find it a good idea (for certain cameras).

I won’t elaborate why now, but I will refer you to this article here.

I understand that this dial is polarizing, but ultimately I got quite some feedback from readers who did start to use film simulations more often due to the fact that they have such quick and intuitive access to them thanks to the dial. So for some this dial is definitely welcome.

And today we can tell you this: the film simulation dial won’t be a one-time only experiment and therefore unique to the Fujifilm X-T50.

In fact, I have been told that also the upcoming Fujifilm X-M5 will feature the film simulation dial.

Now, I do not know how it will be implemented. The original Fujifilm X-M1 had a PSAM dial and an unmarked dial, so maybe the film simulation dial will replace the unmarked dial? I have no answer to this but I will let you know as soon as I can.

What is sure according to our sources: the film simulation dial is there.

But as much as I find the film simulation a good idea (for certain cameras) my top hope is that the Fujifilm X-E5 (yep, there will be one ;)) will have this dial here.

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Sigma 100-400mmF5-6.3 Removed from Sigma’s X Mount Lens Offering Webpage

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Back in September 2023 Sigma did announce the Sigma 100-400mm f/5.6.3 for Fujifilm X mount.

And until a few weeks ago, the lens was also always listed at the official Fujifilm X mount Sigma lens page here.

Well, as spotted by a fellow FR-reader (thanks), the Sigma 100-400mmF5-6.3 has now been removed from the Sigma X mount lens selection page.

There is still the dedicated product page up here, but as you can see from the screenshot above, the lens is out of stock for all mounts, except for L-mount, which is in low stock.

The question now is if Sigma is phasing out the Sigma 100-400mmF5-6.3 and if they plan to release a replacement in the near future.

I have no answer to any of these questions, but if there is anyone out there who has it, feel free to contact me.

Anyway, if you are interested in the Sigma 100-400mmF5-6.3, it is currently available with a $100 discount at BHphoto and if the removal from the Sigma website means anything, then this might well be the last units you’ll find new on the market.

It would be a pity if this lens would have been discontinued, since it is a great low budget alternative to the Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6.

Sigma X Mount Lenses

List of Sigma APS-C Lens Patents

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Fujifilm X-E5 Wishes, Fujicaflex TLR GFX, X-M5 Hopes, X50 Revival, GFX 50S III Needs – FR-readers Wishlist Corner

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FR-Readers Wishlist Corner

It’s time to dedicate some space here on FujiRumors to your wishes and ideas as far as future Fujifilm cameras goes.

Hence, down below are a few emails with Fujifilm camera wishes I have received.

And yes, I have also received lots of non-camera wishes, which I will share in another future FR-reader wishlist roundup.

As for the rumors… guys, don’t worry… there will be plenty of them. ;)

Oh… and the Fujifilm X-E5, Fujifilm X-M5 and Fujifilm X50 you see above are all just renderings I made. But if somebody out there has the real images (of any upcoming camera or lens) and wants to share the joy with the FR-community, feel free to drop me a message.

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