XF 55-200 in stock at kenmorecamera (ebayUS)
You can now purchase Fuji’s latest zoom lens at the top rated plus ebayUS reseller kenmorecamera for the normal price of $699,95 here.
notified by dealsrunner.com
Fuji XF 55-200mm: [shopcountry 12892]
miXed zone: The Valley of Ghosts, X-talk, X-reviews and Iridient Developer
image courtesy: soundimpageplus (in the middle Iridient, at the bottom Photoshop)
1) Now also soundimageplus joined to the group of photographers who use Iridient to process their X-Trans RAF files (click here). [check also this FR-post here and vote the poll] Among the others he says that:
“You will clearly see how much more detail and sharpness there is in the Iridient Developer version, which is just from the X-E1 preset. The ACR file has sharpening added but still produces a softish ‘smeared’ result. The advantage of Iridient Developer over Aperture is that it is slightly sharper and still keeps the colour noise and moire under control. If you have a Fuji X camera and a MAC,, give it a try. I think you will be impressed.”
2) FR-readers Olaf and Kasia visited the Valley of The Ghosts with the X-PRO1 and X100S… don’t be scared, if you click here, you’ll just see some beautiful shots. All images were processed with Iridient 2.1 and LR: “Iridient Developer is new software, which supports the X-Trans files really well (the best demosaic so far?). We will share more about this in the upcoming posts.”
image courtesy: Olaf & Kasia
X-talk
– The Lens Wipe contacted me at the FR-facebook page and told me: “We did an interview with Kevin Mullins who uses the X-series cameras extensively in his wedding photography. Though it would be interesting for you guys. The Lens Wipe is on iTunes or just use this link.”
X-M1
X-M1 (body only or with 16-50mm) – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline EUROPE: DigitalRev / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA
XF 27mm – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline EUROPE: DigitalRev / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA XC 16-50: WexUK / PCHstore
– Ahead of their full review ephotozine published some samples shot taken with the X-M1 using the 16-50 lens here and the 27mm lens here.
– A 2 minute X-M1 preview video at the digital camera world here.
X100S
[shopcountry 12883]
– X100S and infrared at digitalrelish here. “With the release of the X100S and its enhanced high ISO performance offering the possibility of going tripod-less whilst using an IR filter, I set off for a week away in the English countryside. I wasn’t disappointed with the results from the camera. The combination of a higher resolution 16MP X-Trans sensor for more detail, the improved high ISO performance for less noise […]”
– Matti Sulanto was on the streets of London with his X100S and XF1. The text is in Finnish, but the images are universal… see them here.
X20
[shopcountry 12884]
image courtesy: eyalg
– eyalg posted his well made X20 review here: “Autofocus in most conditions and situations is very fast. Instantaneous almost. Even in low light, the X20 manages to lock focus better than I expected, even when taking into account that it’s a high-end compact. In macro mode, AF is generally to slow to catch an insect without effort. I had to make several attempts to shoot a bee or a spider up close. […] Battery life is surprisingly better than advertised. I was able to take about 600 shots before having to charge the battery – that’s more than twice the official number.”
– Read thephoblographer‘s review of the X20 here: “The Fujifilm X20 is a great choice for the discerning street photographer and photojournalist. Despite its diminutive size, it packs a punch that shows itself in post. With a beautiful design and powerful innards, the X20 will get you the images you need. Just remember to get your mind out of manual focusing with this, but if you find that you absolutely have to, a tripod would be a good thing to have on hand.”
– X20 or X100S: “As you can see, the X20 and X100s are very different cameras, even though they share many similarities when it comes to design and technology such as the X-Trans Sensor. The diverse lens system and a different sensor size are the key elements that separate these two cameras from each other. It goes without saying that the X100s has been designed with professional photographers in mind, while the X20 is aimed more at the amateur/enthusiast who wants upgrade from a simple point-and-shoot.” Read it all here at mirrorlessons.
– karimhaddad posted his thoughts about the X20 (or “X-junior“) here. The conclusion: “Even though I didn’t really need it, I’m still happy I bought this fun camera. It’s portable, although not small enough to fit in your pockets – unless you have some really big pockets. For you ladies, it’s small enough to fit in some of those purses you use. Most importantly, it takes some very nice pictures and gives the photographer many options to choose from. There may be some similar sized cameras that take better pictures, but I haven’t used them. I’ve played around with the X20 enough to know that it’s a great piece of kit. In many ways, the X-junior is my new walkaround.”
image courtesy: karimhaddad
lenses
– admiringlight tested the 12mm Zeiss Touit lens. The eternal question, Zeiss 12 or Fuji 14? And it’s again the Fuji! Read the whole review here.
– the German digitalcamera.de tested the new Zeiss Touit lenses. Read it here (translated version).
– Fuji 55-200 mm on a 720nm IR converted X Pro 1 at markhilliardatelier here: “As you can see as you get to f/11 we start to develop a small hot spot, but nothing that cannot be fixed. Above f/11 the lens becomes unusable at the wide end.”
– Hand on the 55-200 at mirrorlessons here: “In short, the 55-200mm is a very nice lens but I would never buy it. If you, however, feel it is the kind of lens that could meet your needs, you can check out additional photos below and the first article I wrote about his lens.”
– A car race and the 55-200. See the results here at nicolaslambert in French (translated version). From the verdict: “Is it possible to take pictures of sports with its new Fuji telephoto? Yes, but …I think that to make a bet at the correct point, one must understand how the work of AF Fuji and therefore target areas with a contrast. For example, in this case here, a sticker with the lettering, the number … ”
FinePix HS50EXR
[shopcountry 14383]
Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR review at photographyblog. “As Fujifilm make a big play of in their marketing, the HS50EXR really is an all-in-one camera that will cope with virtually everything that you can throw at it, from macro photography to extreme close-ups of sports and nature. It also successfully mimicks the handling of a typical DSLR camera, with the obvious advantage of not having to carry several big, heavy and expensive lenses to achieve anywhere near the focal range that the HS50EXR offers out-of-the-box.“
photographyblog XF 55-200 review
Fuji XF 55-200mm: [shopcountry 12892]
It’s online, the full photographyblog XF55-200 review. They assigned 4 out of five stars and recommend this lens. Check out the whole text and the samples here. Some extracts:
“[…] very quiet linear motor. In practice, we found the auto-focus to be fairly fast, pleasingly quiet and without too much hunting in low-light. Thanks to the IF mechanism the front of the lens does not rotate on focus, which is very good news for anyone looking to use the lens in conjunction with a polariser or graduated neutral density filter. […] pleasing bokeh […] offering an appealing combination of good image quality, excellent construction and handling, and fair value for money. Both centre and edge sharpness drop off as you progress through the zoom range, though, requiring the user to stop down the lens to get the best results. […] very good images, especially at the wider end of the focal range.”
ephotozine XF55-200 review
image courtesy: ephotozine
ephotozine assigned 4 out of 5 stars to the XF55-200. The PROS of this lens are, according to ephotozine: Excellent performance at 55mm – Low distortion – Good build quality – Very effective optical stabilisation – Fast linear focusing motor. The CONS: Drop off in sharpness as lens is zoomed towards telephoto – May be a little pricey when compared to equivalent lenses for other systems. Check out the whole review, the graphs and samples here.
Fuji XF 55-200mm: [shopcountry 12892]
P.S.: As some of you already noticed, you can now scroll Fujirumors using the arrow keys.
You can follow FR on facebook, twitter and subscribe the RSS feed.
cheers
Patrick
miXed zone: “the best camera is…?”, X-reviews and Iridient
image courtesy: Dave Kai Piper (X-PRO gallery)
– the best camera is…? Dave Kai Piper has the answer. Read it here! (Dave also updated the X-PRO Gallery here)
X-M1
X-M1 (body only or with 16-50mm) – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline EUROPE: DigitalRev / WexUK / PCHstore
XF 27mm – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline EUROPE: DigitalRev / WexUK / PCHstore XC 16-50: WexUK / PCHstore
– Techradar hands-on review can be read here: “Its build quality is still high, but it’s a considerably smaller and more portable camera. It also has a mode dial instead of traditional controls, which may be more attractive to relative newcomers to photography as well as those looking for an alternative to a DSLR. However, those who want to use the camera with a lens with an aperture ring can do so.”
X100S
[shopcountry 12883]
– Steve’s digicame X100S review here: “The Fujifilm X100S is a great update of the X100 they released in 2011. With increased performance and image quality, a fantastic camera has been greatly improved. This is one of the leading cameras when it comes to Fuji’s innovation and quality. It’s still a rangefinder style camera with a fixed 35mm equivalent lens, designed specifically for enthusiasts who want a rangefinder-type model. With a MSRP of US $1,299.99, the limited versatility and huge price tag take this camera out the running for most people, but if a rangefinder model with excellent image quality is what you are after, this is a must see.”
– X100S video review at shuttertastic here… how good can it capture some crazy skaters? He states that DR and RAW can compete with high end DSLRs.
–expertreviews posted his X100s test here: “It might seem like a predictable conclusion that this is the best compact camera we’ve ever reviewed. After all, it’s also the most expensive. For once, though, the law of diminishing returns doesn’t apply – it’s vastly better than anything else we’ve seen. While the beautiful design and retro exposure controls make it easy to love, its ingenious viewfinder and stunning low-light image quality mean it has the goods to back it up.”
image courtesy: expertreviews (ISO 12800)
X20
[shopcountry 12884]
X20 vs [shoplink 13127]Sony RX100[/shoplink] at pixelogist here: “When testing it [X20], I wanted to like it, I wanted to keep this camera, this camera that handles that much better than the Sony RX100, that looked better, and all that – and wanting it so much, I didn’t completely realize its faults: the slow AF at night, the poor high ISO performance when compared to the Sony, and so on. Now that I have, I’ve ‘re-decided’ on the Sony RX100, and that’s what I’m keeping.”
ZEISS
Zeiss Touit 12mm [shopcountry 13645]
Zeiss Touit 32mm [shopcountry 13646]
– The Phoblographer used the Zeiss lenses at a wedding (on a beach) with the Fuji X-PRO1. (click here): “Overall, these lenses performed great and even though the 32mm f1.8 suffered from a jamming issue, it wasn’t a big loss to my shooting capabilities. But it’s surely something to consider as the last thing you need to be worrying about at a wedding is your gear.”
FUJINON
Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892]
Fuji XF14mm [shopcountry 12888]
– 8.8 out of 10. That’s the rating of the XF 55-200 over at photoreview here: “On the X-E1 body the review lens provided fast, quiet and smooth autofocusing. Manual focusing was also smooth and it was relatively easy to focus accurately in manual mode with either the viewfinder or monitor. Autofocusing speed was similar to the 18-55mm lens’s and reasonably fast in bright conditions and with contrasty subjects. Some hunting occurred in very low light levels and, occasionally, with subjects where the contrast range was relatively small. […] Lateral chromatic aberration was negligible throughout the aperture and focal length range […] Distortion was low enough to be negligible throughout the zoom range. Vignetting was also negligible. No in-camera corrections for either aberration are provided by the camera but, it seems, none are necessary.”
– What a nice place to think about the 14mm lens… Trinidad & Tobago! See Karim’s shots and read his thoughts here. From the conclusions: “This is a great lens, although I’m still not sure that I wouldn’t have been better off with the 18mm. I’m all about the image quality, and it seems the 14mm might lag slightly behind in that regard. But the extra width and other features make up for the slight difference in sharpness between the two lenses. The images shot with the 14mm look great and they’re virtually free of distortion. Manual focusing is very smooth, and the sliding ring that reveals a distance and depth-of-field indicator is a very useful feature.”
X-PRO1
[shopcountry 12882]
– Yes, he did it! roughly365 shot a whole wedding with the X-PRO1. Read his experience here: “So in conclusion…. The Fuji X-Pro1 is an amazing camera… When I next do a wedding it will be in my hand for a very large portion of the day, such a great tool for this kind of job. Its size really helps you be less intrusive and capture some subtle moments. I would always have my DSLR over my shoulder too as there are times you really need one. But this is a real James Bond Walther PPK of a camera, I love it.”
Iridient
There is more (positiv) feedback about Iridient at this German website here and at the Spanish site fotoactualidad (translation).
image courtesy: fotoactualidad (1-Iridient / 2-silkypix / 3-ACR)
XF1
[shopcountry 12885]
– The XF1 is more than just beautiful. At least according to the imaging-resource review: “While the XF1 is not meant for everybody — there are better, more straightforward “vanilla” compacts that are easier to use and take more consistently good shots — it’s an undoubtedly nifty and advanced tool for photo enthusiasts (and not just the Fuji fanboys!) who demand something special from their cameras. The XF1 should also score big with casual shooters who not only want to attract oohs and ahhs when they carry it around town, but also want a camera that, on auto pilot, will take well-exposed shots with high dynamic range. Add up the Fuji XF1’s sexy appearance, fast and fun operation, immense customizablity, dynamic image quality and special shooting modes, and you have a solid, if unorthodox, enthusiast-level compact camera. It’s one that definitively earns a Dave’s Pick.”
– “The Fujifilm XF1 is one of the nicest-looking point-and-shoots available and it performs well, too. But its photos and features might not please some enthusiasts.” This is the bottom line of CNet. Read the whole review (with video) here.
First Look: X-M1 with New Kit Zoom and Pancake Lens
Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback) – Rico’s Flickr sets – X-M1 sample images – Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro1 reading samples (65 free pages)
Click here to read Andy Westlake’s excellent preview of the X-M1 on DPR – Click here to jump directly to my set of sample images taken with my pre-production camera and lenses
Edit [16/9/13]: Added additional findings to the “pro” section of this article.
Edit [1/8/13]: Added plenty of new samples, both JPEG and RAW (Lightroom & Silkypix) to the Flickr set. Updated Pro/Con comparison with X-E1.
Edit [30/6/13]: Added several SOOC JPEG portrait samples taken with the X-M1 and the two new lenses to the Flickr set.
Edit [29/6/13]: Added my experiences using an USB adapter to get RR-80 remote controls to work with the X-M1
Fujifilm’s new X-M1 mid-range system camera is targeting users and fans of premium compact cameras (like the Sony RX100 or Fujifilm X10, X20 and XF1) as well as users of entry-level DSLR cameras who do not want to compromise on image quality, but prefer a small, lightweight and still affordable package. It’s important to recognize that the X-M1 was at least as much inspired by the Fujifilm X20 and XF1 as was by its older and more expensive system camera sibling, the X-E1.
In other words: This is as much a smaller X-E1 as it is an APS-C sensor sized system camera version of the XF1 or X20. Believe it or not, but the X10/X20 is actually a little bit larger than the body of the X-M1.
A Little Bit of Everything
This turns the X-M1 into kind of a hybrid system: It features the mode dial, scene modes, additional AF modes (including face recognition and pattern tracking), an additional OIS mode and the “art filters” of Fuji’s premium compact and bridge cameras. At the same time, it records images with the same 16 MP APS-C X-Trans sensor found in the larger and more expensive X-Pro1 or X-E1.
In terms of image processing, the tiny X-M1 even surpasses its bigger siblings with the faster EXR Processor II engine already known from the X100S and X20, with conventional 12 Bit RAW image recording. This turns the X-M1 into a pretty responsive camera (at least in Fuji terms). A 95 MB/s SD card (such as a [shoplink 13681]SanDisk Extreme Pro[/shoplink]) certainly pays-off when used in concert with this camera. It takes the X-M1 just about 2 seconds to copy 3 FINE+RAW images from its internal buffer to the card. With its modest burst rate of 5.6 frames per second, this means that the camera can shoot 13 frames in a row at full speed, even though the buffer is just large enough to hold 10 FINE+RAW images at any given time.
Welcome to Plasticland!
miXed zone: X-reviews… and X-E1 with tilt screen! :)
shared at the Fujirumors facebook page
X-E1 with tilt screen!
Tilt screen, Yes or No? For those who’d like to have it, FR-reader Ken developed this solution: “It’s simply a small rectangle mirror taped to the bottom so it can be angled. Great for low angle shots.” So, spend a few dollars and upgrade the X-E1. ;)
thanks Ken
X100S
– Kevin has the X100S since a couple of months now. He published a blog post with his considerations. Low light performance, X100S or X-PRO1, with [shoplink 12893]WCL-X100[/shoplink], JPEG vs RAW, Custom settings, X100S and wedding photography… there is a lot to read and see here.
– Fstoppers X100S review can be read here: They liked: “Great Image Quality / Leaf Shutter / Plenty of Features / Manual / Focusing Options / Beautifully Designed” They disliked: “Complicated Menus / Bad Low-Light Focusing / 1/3rds Stops system for Aperture and Shutter Complicated”
– X100S review at cameralabs here: “While the biggest changes are of course the new sensor, improved AF and upgraded viewfinder, there’s a raft of smaller improvement and enhancements like faster start-up time, faster continuous shooting with a larger buffer, 1:1 aspect ratio, and a protective coating on the viewfinder. There are some minor niggles; the problem with unresposive buttons persists and the X100S can be difficult to wake from sleep. the new 1080p60 movie mode is a welcome addition, but movie shooting otherwise still feels like a bit of an afterthought. And though it supports Eye-Fi cards, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS would be a welcome addition. But it’s hard to be disappointed in the X100S, it’s a superb camera that’s, highly capable, beautiful to look at, and a pleasure to use.”
X20
pcmag X20 review can be read here. From the conclusions:
“The Fujifilm X20 is an improvement over its predecessor, another camera that we liked. It’s got the same big optical viewfinder, but it now displays current shooting settings and visually confirms focus lock. There are plenty of physical controls, and a hot shoe if you’d like to use an external flash. It’s still easy to block the viewfinder when adjusting the zoom, and if you’ve got clumsy fingers like mine you may end up smudging it with frequency. The X-Trans sensor lives up to its promise of producing images with a more natural, film-like grain; but at this point in time, Lightroom struggles a bit with noise reduction of Raw files shot at ISO 1600 and above. We really liked the X20, but it doesn’t manage to edge out the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 as our Editors’ Choice for premium compact cameras. The RX100 has a larger 1-inch image sensor that gives it a one-stop advantage in terms of image noise control, records images at 20 megapixels, and it’s noticeably smaller. But if you value the optical viewfinder and manual zoom control, and if you can afford it, the X20 will pay you back with excellent images.“
– Read the test of expertreviews here.
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 is a better video camera, and its even brighter f/1.4-2.3 lens makes up for its slightly smaller sensor to put them roughly level pegging for photo quality. The LX7 is also quite a bit cheaper, at around £330. However, the X20’s superb optical viewfinder, superior controls and sumptuous design mean it doesn’t seem overpriced. So while the LX7 remains our favourite premium compact camera, the X20 deserves nothing less than five stars.”
X-E1
– Steves-digicams comprehensive X-E1 review here: “The Fujifilm X-E1 is an outstanding ILC camera that is designed more for the photo enthusiast, rather than the average person. It has an outstanding set of features and hardware that provide amazing image quality and low-light performance, with relatively good shooting performance.”
– jrbernstein X-E1 review can be read here: “The X-E1 packs a lot of punch in a very small, mid-priced, interchangeable-lens, EVF camera. It get’s you 90% of the way to a X-Pro1, but at a decent cost, size, and weight savings. However, in my mind, the lack of optical viewfinder would make this a tough sell to full-time pros, like myself. […] ”
– Dan Bailey flew out to the Knik Glacier and shot landscapes with the Fujifilm X-E1 under Alaska evening light (click here): “I’m finding the XE-1 to be a real joy to shoot with, and I think that it’s an really great camera for shooting landscapes. It’s got great resolution and the XF lenses give gorgeous, crisp images.”
lenses
Photos and short commentary. Downtown Toronto with the X100s, X-E1, 18-55, 55-200. Check it out here. “This gear is so light, small and flexible! I’m no street photographer but I have been inspired by what I have seen from others. This gear-set lends itself to being mobile and discreet. Low light performance is excellent and JPG’s out of the camera are excellent. I shot both RAW and JPG and actually liked the JPG’s better. Fun factor is high.”
image courtesy: misturphotography
55-200 @ 67mm F/3.6 1/50 sec ISO 400
– Here are Bert Stephani first impressions of the 55-200: “The lens seems very well constructed, the build quality seems to be very similar to the excellent 18-55. […] The zoom action is very smooth and with the right amount of friction. I will however need some time to get used to a tele zoom that physically changes length (and therefor also balance) when zooming after years of working with the internal zooming Canon 70-200 L IS 2.8. […] The autofocus is completely silent and reasonably fast as long as there’s enough contrast in the area you want to focus on. I expect to see a firmware update soon to improve the AF in more difficult circumstances. […] The optical quality is excellent“
image courtesy: Bert Stephani
Zeiss Touit
– At Sulantoblog you can read the 12mm Zeiss Touit review: “In my opinion the Zeiss Touit 12 mm f/2.8 is an excellent lens, but it makes sense for Fuji only if 14 mm is not wide enough. For Sony Nex the Zeiss will be very interesting option, because there is really no alternative if you want a super wide E-mount lens.”
image courtesy: sulantoblog
Fuji XF14mm
– admiringlight posted the sull XF14mm review here (with the shortest “con” list they ever posted :) ) From the conclusions: “The lens is very sharp from wide open and extremely sharp to the very furthest reaches of the corners when stopped down. Chromatic aberration is controlled extremely well, and perhaps the most surprising element is the near total lack of distortion. About the only thing that bugs me about the lens is the relatively loose aperture ring, which is far too easy to accidentally knock out of your desired aperture position. It’s very odd, too, as the aperture rings for Fuji’s other lenses are nowhere near as loose as the one on the 14mm. However, in the grand scheme of the lens, it’s a minor inconvenience on what is otherwise just a stunning optic.”
XF 55-200: promotional video (with Max Angeloni) + hands on (Jim Siano)
Fuji XF 55-200: [shopcountry 12892]
1) Well, normally promotional videos aren’t the most exciting thing to watch. But this time Fujifilm has chosen Max Angeloni (riflessifotografici) for the promotional video of the 55-200. Just one sentence to present himself, another one for his city Rome, and then you will see Max working with the XF 55-200 in real life and many different conditions: interior shots, on the street, in the studio, in low light, you’ll see crops and hear about the strengths of this lens etc (Max really knows his job!)… and it’s all packed in a 2 minutes and 44 seconds snappy video and soundtrack appositely composed for this promo by Andrea Camilletti! Really not bad for a promotional video. But check it out by yourself by clicking here.
2) Jim Siano hands on the 55-200 here: “It is very sharp […] Much has been made of Fuji’s focus speed with the X-series of cameras… DSLRs are light speeds ahead. At least on a positive note, the accuracy of the autofocus is great. […] I can wholeheartedly recommend this lens for anyone with the X bodies that needs a zoom. As long as you are not anticipating shooting sports, this is a superb piece of engineering. And at US$ 699, it is incredible value.”
miXed zone: dcraw 9.18, best of… and reviews
dcraw
Marius: “Hi Patrick, Just wanted to let your readers know that the latest dcraw (v9.18) has support for X20 and X100s. Thus far this is only solution for the few folks using Linux exclusively. It’s possible this support will be included in Darktable and RawTherapee soon. Thanks for all the interesting bits on your website.” They told me that interpolation for all X-Trans sensor cameras is much improved.
Best of…
– Who’s the king of the advanced compact cameras according to techradar? It’s the [shoplink 12883 ebay]X100S[/shoplink]. “Its image quality is also good, but it is surpassed by that of the Fuji X-Pro1, which is capable of producing pictures that aren’t far off those from some full-frame cameras.” Check it here.
– And techradar has also the answer to the following question! Which of these 6 high-end compact cameras is the best? The competitors are the [shoplink 12884]X20[/shoplink], [shoplink 13127]Sony RX100[/shoplink], [shoplink 13128 ebay]Panasonic LX7[/shoplink], [shoplink 13129 ebay]Nikon P7700[/shoplink], [shoplink 13130 ebay]Olympus XZ-2[/shoplink], [shoplink 13131 ebay]Canon G15[/shoplink]. Discover the winner here.
X100S
[shopcountry 12883]
– henrysmithscottage took his X100S and X-PRO1 to a trip in Baltimore. Read his considerations about these cameras here: “I have noticed, that compared to its predecessor the X 100, the X100s appears to have a decreased battery life. This had been annoying to me before the trip, but I learned that if you keep the camera off (and not rely on the auto shut off feature), that the battery life was quite tolerable. I did not need to change a battery over the three days of the trip (probably shooting 150 frames).”
– NY ist the Mecca for street photography, and rileyjoseph took some shots there with the X100S and X-PRO1 that you can check out here. “So will I be selling my dSLR and only using my X00s + X-Pro1? No. I will keep it for the times that I need a full frame, faster AF camera with the availability of a tilt shift lens. Primarily for when I am going to make a specific photo that would require it. It is a great tool. Great and heavy.”
– Roel has the X100S since two months now. Did he regret selling his X100? “As I started off saying in this article, I don’t want to have any regrets in life. Although I regretted selling my original X100, I have no regrets in purchasing the X100S and I will keep it in my bag until one of us dies. It is an excellent fixed lens camera and I am sure it will give me many years of great service and images. Fujifilm has done a good job with their X series cameras. In the beginning, new products (X10, X100 and X-Pro1 specifically) had a number of problems that needed to be sorted out, but now it seems that recent releases (such as the X-E1, X20 and X100S) have very few, if any initial issues – plus the Fujinon lenses are exceptional. That is good news for all of us in the Fujifilm camp and I encourage them to keep innovating and listening to user feedback.” Read the whole review and see his shots here.
lenses
Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892]
– Tom Grill posted his hands on review (with many downloadable hi res image samples) of the new 55-200 here:
“Looks like Fuji produced another winner with the 55-200mm for its line of zoom lenses. It shows true professional qualities: no distortion, solid build, high resolution, image stabilization, and quick focus. This is a lot for a lens with a $699 price tag, much better than most zooms I have tested in this price range, and even better than some costing several times as much.”
image courtesy: aboutphography
– photogenykstudios posted his 55-200 impressions and samples here: “At $699 its not near as cheap as the 55-200 variations from Tamron, Sigma and Sony. It is far better built though, and is stabilized. The IQ is also in a different league from the budget zooms. Its closest rival would be the [shoplink 13385]Canon 70-200/4[/shoplink]. The Canon is faster at the long end (barely), has less range, and costs more, so again the Fuji wins here.”
– sgoldswoblog tested the Zeiss Touit 12mm lens here.
“The 12mm has some bad features compared to the Fuji 14, it has softer corners at wider apertures, it isn’t optically corrected for distortion and it is expensive. There is no question that fans of the 20-21mm focal length shouldn’t really go for the Zeiss. So it’s a Turkey? No way, it’s a very fine lens with some different design choices from the Fuji, that’s all. If you want the widest possible UWA then go for this lens. By definition it is wider but it is also a fine lens in its own right and I still suspect the centre is a hair sharper than the Fuji.[…] The only reason this lens doesn’t deserve superlatives left and right is the existence of the Fuji 14mm. If the Fuji didn’t exist or was a little bit more average, the 12mm would be a must buy lens, as it is it’s a very good lens that’s not as good primarily because of variations in sharpness in the corners. However there is no question in my mind that a person wanting the widest lens available shouldn’t hesitate in buying the Zeiss instead of the Fuji 14.”
image courtesy: sgoldswoblog
Zeiss Touit 32mm in stock status check: USA: Adorama / BHphoto / AmazonUS / Uniquephoto / Pictureline / Europe: AmazonDE / ebayUK / PCHstore Brussel
Zeiss Touit 12mm in stock status check: USA: Adorama / BHphoto / AmazonUS / Uniquephoto / Pictureline / Europe: AmazonDE / ebayUK / PCHstore Brussel
the “unfair” comparison: X-E1 with 55-200 vs Canon 5D Mark III with 70-300 (and in stock at AmazonUK and US)
IN STOCK: A limited number of XF 55-200 is now in stock at AmazonUK here (shipped and sold by AmazonUK) and also three at AmazonUS, but via third party reseller here (you have to pay $100 more to purchase it).
Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892]
image courtesy: martin-doppelbauer
Martin made a quite unfair comparison between the [shoplink 12881]X-E1[/shoplink] with [shoplink 12892 ebay]XF 55-200[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 13457]Canon EOS 5D Mark III[/shoplink] with [shoplink 13458]Canon 70-300 IS L[/shoplink]. “But yet, Fuji claims itself to achieve the image quality of a full-frame camera. So let’s see“. You can read the whole comparison here (available in English and German). Some extracts:
“In direct comparison, I could not detect any significant drawback in the focus speed compared to the Canon 70-300 IS L at least in static, high contrast scenes. To run the focus from infinity to close range takes similar time on both optics. I already have noted the limitations of the X-E1 when recording fast-moving objects (birds in the air, or motor cycling, but also: Crawling babies head from the front) elsewhere. Because both the focus point and the viewfinder image freeze after the first shot in continuous shooting mode, there are little to no chances to get a good picture in such situations. Here, the DSLR is still unbeatable (and the EOS 5D Mark III shines in particular with its uber-autofocus anyway).
Somewhat disappointing is the vignetting of the XF 55-200 at maximum aperture. At least you can correct this well by software.
For a comparison of system resolution, I have run the X-E1 and the XF 55-200 against the EOS 5D Mark III with the excellent 70-300 f/4-5.6 L IS USM. Not quite a fair comparison, as I admit frankly, because the Canon lens costs easily twice as much as the Fuji zoom. And we don’t even talk of the camera body […] Compared with the EOS 5D Mark III, however, Fuji’s zoom has a significantly lower resolution. The Canon 70-300 L resolves about a third more lines across the board, occasionally even 50% more. An equivalence to the Canon full-frame system is beyond question.
The XF 55-200 […] convinces with a very solid overall performance. Across all focal lengths and apertures it has a good sharpness with minimal chromatic aberrations without significant weaknesses. Sure, it can not keep up with a very good full-frame camera and lens. But this is outweighed by price, weight and size.
Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892]
image courtesy: martin-doppelbauer
