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First Look: Fujifilm X30

PRE-ORDERS (and support FR)

Today you can support my work here on Fujirumors. If you choose to pre-order it using one of the shoplinks in this post, FR will get a small commission on it. It won’t cost you a single penny extra on your X30. Thanks in advance to those who decide to support this FR… because it’s your support that keeps this blog running.

Fujifilm X30: USA: BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS / BestBuy /   EUROPE: wexUK / wexDE / PCHstore /

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First Look: Fujifilm X30

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

The Fujifilm X-E2: Beyond the Manual – Rico’s X30 Sample Images – X30 Specs

[UPDATE: if you want to read this first look in German, click here]

With the release of my new ebook in the X-E2 finally out of the way, I’m happy to preview Fuji’s first “third generation” X camera: the Fujifilm X30. This is a weirdly interesting device: When it comes to features and usability, it is Fuji’s most advanced camera to date, easily leaving the X-E2 and even X-T1 behind. So even if you aren’t interested in buying or using a compact camera with a 2/3″ sensor, this camera is worth a look, as its new features will also appear in future X-series models with larger sensors.

SOOC JPEG

Click here to access my album of 100 sample images taken with prototype and pre-productions cameras using beta firmware. These samples also include several sets comparing all eleven film simulations.

With the exception of a missing built-in ND filter, this little camera isn’t holding back with features that will please many X enthusiasts.

Here we go: The X30 features the same “real-time”, 2.36 M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) as the X-E2 (with only 0.005 seconds display lag), a 920 K-dot tilting LCD (twice the resolution of the X20), a multi-purpose lens control ring that can serve as a focus, aperture or shutter speed ring, a much improved user interface, better WYSIWYG capabilities (what you see is what you get) that include DR200%/DR400% previews, a dedicated RAW shooting mode, fast hybrid tracking AF, improved Instant-AF, multi-point Single-AF, six user-configurable Fn buttons, a fully configurable Quick menu, vastly improved movie/video options with full manual control, a critically improved JPEG engine with a new “Kodak-like” film simulation called Classic Chrome, wireless remote control and Instax printing, interval shooting for time-lapse photography, optional AF frame and spot metering frame coupling, ± 3 EV exposure compensation in manual mode when Auto-ISO is active (“misomatic”), and several more small but welcome improvements that make our life much easier. Phew!

Of course, the X30 is still using the same Fuji-engineered and Toshiba-built 2/3″ X-Trans sensor as its X20 predecessor, so if cameras with a sensor size below 1″ are beneath you, don’t bother reading any further. Or maybe do bother, because everything new that’s described in this preview will also be featured in Fuji’s upcoming APS-C camera models. So on second thought, this may just be the preview you’ve been looking for.

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

miXed zone: X-T1 best mirrorless camera (thewirecutter), RAW-processing with DarkTable (Linux), 18-135 reviews and more

Fujifilm X-T1

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image courtesy: riflessifotografici (X-T1 + Zeiss 32mm). See more shots at riflessifotografici

– the X-T1 was rated best mirrorless camera at thewirecutter.com: “We researched 13 different mirrorless cameras and spent several days shooting with the top contenders to find the Fujifilm X-T1 is the best mirrorless camera you can buy right now. It has the best manual focus of any camera you can buy right now, plus an impressive 16MP APS-C sensor that produces clean, detailed images (even at high ISOs) that truly set it apart from the competition.”

– Jonas Jacobsson: “I would like to share with you (and the Fuji community) an amazing trip to Norway and Lofoten in particular. We bought an “Explore Norway” ticket with the airline Wideroe so we could travel within Norway for two weeks. Our main attraction was Lofoten, and it did certainly not disappoint. I went there with my Fuji X-T1, 14mm, 18-55mm, 35mm and 55-200mm and did my best to capture as much as I possibly could! It turned out quite well I must say and even good enough to impress official Fujifilm Sweden, who decided to feature my story as well! Very honored by this of course. You can see the story + photos over here https://jonasjacobsson.exposure.co/explore-norway-parttwo. If you just want to enjoy the photos you can do that over att my portfolio site right here http://www.jonasjacobsson.co/portfolio/travels/lofotennorway/.”

– Does your camera have a soul? That’s the question at justinnystrom and his article “Rediscovering Something Old in Something New: Thoughts About My New Fuji X-T1 and Life.” From the article: “”It looks like it is from the ’80s.” That was the first thing my wife said about my Fuji X-T1 as I excitedly handed it to her. She didn’t mean it as a compliment. The blow to my enthusiasm, coming as it did right after my post-unboxing high, was a little like deflating one of those hotdog shaped air packs with a pocket knife. “No, this is completely awesome,” I protested. But she was right. We were both right. The Fuji did look like a camera from the 1980s, and it was precisely one of the reasons I bought it.”

– Arlindo Namour Filho: “I shot this Bridal Editorial with my little Fuji X cameras (X-T1 and X-E2) and Fujinon lenses (23mm, 35mm, 56mm and 55-200mm) and would like to share with our Fuji Lovers. All in native BW, all the power of the X Trans sensor. Hope you like it.” www.ehnamour.com.

– Joe Ng Photography: “I am back from my vacation and just covered the Vancouver Tennis Open on last weekend with X-T1.  I was quite dispapointed with the AF-C but I managed to find a way out with AF-S.  Please find below the blog I shared my experience.” Read and see more here at joengphotography. From the article: “With the 55-200mm lens mounted on, acquiring its initial focus was slow even on a bright sunny day. Yes, I know this camera isn’t designed for professional sport photography but I presumed that it would be able to pick up some sporting shots like tennis since it isn’t as fast paced of a sport as something like hockey. The focus had an accuracy of around 40-50% using the AF-C mode. The challenge was that you wouldn’t know which 4 or 5 frames out of the 10 were in focus, so you just might miss a peak moment.”

– Chris: “I’ve just posted a new article on F-Sunny, showing 4 months of model portrait shooting with the X-T1 and X-Series Lenses.” Read and see  more at f-sunny: “Clients and models have been blown-away by the results from this ‘little camera’. They have plenty of other images to compare with, from every camera manufacturer you can imagine. But time and time again, they return to the Fuji X-Series images, and smile, and ask for more of the same please.”

– Life without a Mirror (continued) at joshmcleodphotography: ““I honestly believe Mirrorless Cameras are the future and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the DSLR become all but extinct in the not too distant future. As mirrorless cameras get better and better I can see no logical reason why DLSR’s will continue to exist. I earn my living and shoot 99% of my work with a mirrorless camera. The quality of the product that I deliver to my clients is as good, if not better, as its ever been. For me, there is no looking back, and life will, for the foreseeable, continue without a mirror!!!”

– The streets of Tokyo with the X-T1 and X100S at gaborimages: “I haven’t blogged for a while now, but loads of things happened in the last couple of months. Couple of photo shoots, weddings, holiday, new website and a new camera… What, new camera? Oh, yeah. I finally said good bye to my Canon kit and got an X-T1 with a 56mm lens to accompany my X-Pro1 and X100s. Wasn’t an easy decision, but time will tell. So far I’m loving it, but because I have plenty of editing to do, I haven’t spent huge amount of time with it.”

– Things I wish I would have known- Part 7 at vicsfujixblog: “I had already set up both my Fujifilm X-T1‘s with a minimum shutter speed of 1/160 sec and a high ISO of 3200. To tell you the truth I was so frustrated, hot and tired that I didn’t care. I set them both to auto and kept checking the viewfinder and it seemed to be working. This simple adjustment, which is made even more simple by the dial on the X-T1, really helped the rest of the time I was shooting. Now, I can really see the value of using Auto ISO at certain times.”

– The Fujifilm X-T1 in Iceland at photomadd: “I saw some fantastic photographs posted into my Facebook Fuji group along with a nice write-up of using his Fujifilm X-T1 on his trip to Iceland.  I asked Belfast based amateur photographer Mark Allen if he wouldn’t mind me sharing his thoughts on here and he was good enough to agree.  Mark is yet another photographer who would normally have been using his Full-Frame Nikon gear on a trip like this, but has made the switch to the lighter mirrorless system from Fuji.”

– Pleasures & Rewards of Using Fujifilm’s XT-1 for Stills Footage at planet5d: “I recommend the XT-1 and these two lenses [admin: 10-25 and 56] very highly indeed and look forward to trying out more Fujifilm and Fujinon X-series lenses and X-Trans-equipped cameras. I look forward to the day when Fujifilm will improve its X-series cameras’ moviemaking features too. Imagine shooting HD footage with Provia, Velvia or one of the other film simulations applied!

– X-T1 In-Progress review – conclusions at giannigalassi: “As for image quality, the Fuji X-T1 delivers awesome color files, rich in detail and resolution (even richer when using prime lenses), perfectly white-balanced (it’s definitely the best camera I have ever used in this regard), with the most natural and pleasant skin tones. Out-of-camera JPGs are so finely tuned that obtaining the same results from RAWs is a very difficult (if not impossible) task.”

–  Controlling a Fuji X-T1 with the Fujifilm Camera Remote WIFi APP at aboutphotography.

– Sony a7S Astrophotography Review (vs X-T1) at petapixel.

– Shaping The Light with Karl Bratby at richardhurstphotography.

– Fuji X-T1 Photographer Experience at neocamera: “This superb camera handles nearly all photographic opportunities well. It keeps managing to produce a high-ratio of keepers compared to other advanced digital cameras, proving that this mirrorless than can hold its own against modern DSLRs. The fact that the EVF is so large lets.”

– Sebastien Egger: “I’am a Swiss Photographer and a big fan of the Fuji’s XF system. I have a X100, X100’s, XPro1 and one XT1 with the 14mm, 21mm,56mm,fisheye Samyang 8mm and many more ;-) … I share my photographic work in this tumblr website: http://fujixpro.tumblr.com/

– Seam Marc Lee: “A simple cinemagraph test I made using the XT1 + 23mm – vimeo

– Why the Fuji X-T1 is NOT my Photoshop camera at glyndewis: “I totally LOVE the Fuji X-T1 and I know this will sound weird but I can think of no other way to explain it but … I feel it delivers 100% as a camera for Photography but not for Photoshop.”

– A Month in Italy with the Fuji X-T1 – What Worked and What Didn’t at daveburnsphoto.

– My work with the X-Pro1 & the X-T1 at fujixpro.

– “Back in the Spring I visited Italy with the family. It was my first big trip DSLR-free, traveling just with the Fuji X-T1 and X100s. It was so pleasant not lugging around heavy gear all trip.” Read and see more at rodneyboles.

– Review | 20 Countries with Fujifilm X-Series Cameras at blamethemonkey: “I’m very happy to be working with, not only the Fujifilm X-Series Cameras and XF lenses, but also the bright minded people who develop the technology. While I can’t share any specific details about the future product rollout, I can say for certain that I’m extremely excited about the future of Fujifilm cameras. With all the awesome advancements in camera technology on the horizon, it’s truly a wonderful time to be a photographer!”

– Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Camera Review: Fast Shooter at tomsguide: “The Fujifilm X-T1 is a capable camera that, thanks to its weatherproofing, easily matches an outdoor lifestyle. Plus, this shooter is fast enough to capture at least moderate action for those who want a speedy but relatively compact camera with interchangeable lenses. However, you should look elsewhere if you want to shoot a lot of video, as quality is sub-par. Overall, though, we’re really taken with the X-T1’s still image quality, speed and low-light capabilities. For a broad range of shooting, in fair weather and foul, the X-T1 will serve you well.

– Josh McLeod: “Here is a link to the blog post/results from shooting with the Fuji X-T1 and various lenses:” Read it at joshmcleodphotography: “I mentioned in Part 1 that the MFT lens line up is one of the most mature and comprehensive of the mirrorless segment. The Fuji lens line up, although not as mature is still remarkably good. It has lenses for pretty much all shooting situations and Fuji are also continually developing new lenses. In terms of optics, the Fuji lenses would have be some of the best in the business. My favourite lens is the Fuji 1,2/56mm (85mm equivalent) which is perfect for my portrait work. With a max aperture of F/1,2 I am able to get pretty much the same DOF control as I would on a full frame DSLR. I regularly shoot wide open the images are spectacular. Its sharp wide open and the out of focus areas (or Bokeh) are smooth and creamy. This is one of my favourite lenses of all time.”

– Kaushik Parmar: “Hi! I did Time Lapse video with my X-T1” Watch it here. […] And also see new pictures which I clicked by my X-T1, this is my exclusive page wherin almost all photos are taken by Fujifilm X series cameras like X100, X100S and now newer pictures are with X-T1.”

– Enrique Meza: “Just wanted to share a recent personal project I worked on. It involved my office life it was shot on the XT1 using a C stand and the wifi feature of the camera.” See more here at mezafilms.

– Taking the X-T1 into the deep blue at fujifilmblog: “Overall, the X-T1 and 10-24mm set up exceeded my expectations. I knew it would follow subjects well but I thought that shooting through water would probably lower the hit rate. However, the only factor that affected this was human error. With a specifically designed underwater housing, this camera and lens set up would be a brilliant choice for any underwater photographer, with its small size, clear controls and superb image quality.”

– Wedding with the X-T1, X100S, 56 and 35 at jonasraskphotography. For his X-T1 review click here: “THE EVF IS SO AMAZINGLY GOOD IT MAKES MY WANT TO SHED A TEAR SOMETIMES!”

– Fuji X-T1 vs Fuji X-E1 at jwctp: “When I first turned on my X-T1, my mouth dropped when I experienced how fast the AF was. Then I realized I didn’t even have High Performance mode on. I didn’t even get the latest lens firmware to take advantage of the Phase Detection pixels! Once I did that, the AF became even faster. So if you have an older Fuji model, like the X-E1 or X-Pro 1, and are wondering if it’s worth it to upgrade to the X-T1, yes it is. It is absolutely worth it.”

XF 18-135mm

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– Review at admiringlight: “The Fuji 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR is the first super-zoom lens for the Fuji X-Mount, and the first Fuji lens to feature weather sealing.  When combined with the excellent close-focus ability, the lens has the versatility to serve as an all-in-one take anywhere sort of optic, and for the most part it succeeds here.  Fuji has put in an incredible image stabilizer that will get you close to 5 stops of extra handholdability, the range is incredibly useful, and it makes a perfect companion for the times you just don’t want to bother changing lenses.  The lens is also optically quite good, though it falls short of outstanding.  Color and contrast are fantastic, and even the bokeh is quite nice. The 18-135mm is capable of producing images with very good central sharpness as well, even wide open.  Where it falters is at the edges, especially near 18 and 135mm, where there’s softness that remains even after stopping down.

–  Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 Fujinon lens test (PART 2) at bjornmoerman: “As always is the case for a lens with a broad focal range like the 18-135, it is all about compromises; it does a lot of things OK, but nothing 100% perfect… No criticism but pure photography physics!  Is the 900,-USD price tag too high? Well one obviously is paying for the weather sealing, but a 600 to 700,-USD range would have put it more in line with the exciting zooms like the great 18-55 and 55-200. The fact that unlike other XF lenses, it is manufactured in China instead of Japan, doesn’t help to defend its somewhat higher price point neither…”

– The Japanese site mobile01 posted its review here (translation).

– A nostalgic trip to the Abbotsford Airshow with the Fujifilm X-T1 and the XF 18-135mm lens at kalejf: “The XF18-135mm lens worked wonderfully with the X-T1, and as you can see the image stabilization worked wonders in very low light situations.”

– Field Test Images at outbackphoto.

TCL-X100 / WCL-X100
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 – Okinawa with the Fuji TCL-X100 at thomasalanphoto: “Besides the slower focusing, the only negative for me is the way the camera feels in my hand now. The TCL does throw off the balance of the camera, so I’m not sure I would enjoy shooting with it for extended periods of time. This may just be me, however your mileage may vary. Is the Fuji TCL-X100 perfect? No. Focusing is sometimes slower depending on the environment. Does it deliver exceptional quality? Yes. I could not tell the difference in color or clarity compared to the built-in lens.”

 Rokinon (Samyang) 8mm Fisheye Version II / Samyang 12mm
pre-order: BHphoto

 – The Old Forge ~ Fuji X & Samyang 12mm F2.0 at surroundinglight: “I’ve got quite a few of these images to go through. I might add a few more to this post later. To finish with I have to re-iterate that the Samyang 12mm NCS CS F2.0 has worked tremendously well with my X-E1. The lens is a keeper and I would go as far as to say it’s better than some of the far more expensive wide angle lenses I’ve owned in the past. Sure it’s manual, and so there’s no autofocus, but on a 12mm I don’t think it’s an issue at all. The Nano-Crystal coating is helping to produce wonderful shots. It has been a revelation and I can’t wait to get out with it again!”

–  User Review: Samyang 12mm f/2.0 (Fuji X mount) at fotozones: “My verdict is that this is a keeper. I will take some interesting images over the next few days and add them to my impressions.”

 XF 56mm f/1.2
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 – Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R review at amateurphotographer: “Lenses with this sort of specification are usually very costly, including the Canon example for full-frame sensors, and Panasonic’s Nocticron for micro four thirds, and, at around £900, this X-series unit is too. It is, however, slightly less well endowed with specialist glasses, in possession of a less rounded iris and less rounded out-of-focus highlights – things that are important to photographers who like wide-aperture lenses. It is, though, a good portrait performer, decent value for money, and will keep X-Pro1 and X-T1 customers very happy for a long time. Now Fuji needs to introduce shorter top shutter speeds and lower ISO settings to cope with the amount of light this 56mm f/1.2 gathers, so we can use it wide open outside too!”

– Fuji 56mm f/1.2 at prometheus.med.utah: “Even if image quality were absolutely equal between the Canon 85mm f/1.2 and the Fuji 56mm f/1.2, this size and volume (Fuji lens is ~55% of the volume of the Canon) argument alone is a compelling reason to pick the Fuji lens.  For any traveling photographer, weight and volume are your enemy and the smaller your gear, the fewer hard decisions you have to make regarding gear to take with you, particularly when flying

– Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R – Little Review in German at gambajo (translation).

XF 10-24
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 – Review | The Fujifilm XF10-24mmF4 R OIS at leighmiller: “For stills there is some barrel distortion at the wide end but nothing severe. Most of that is easily handled in post processing, just leave a little room on framing if needed. This shot of my living room (impromtu photoshoot for a model, hence the mess) required very little work in Adobe Lightroom 5.5 to get things straight.”

– A visit to a Jacobean gem at paulmellingphotography: “So any niggles from my day out with the 10-24mm?  Only one and that relates to the lens hood which I find to be a bit loose. If it is not quite fitted right you get vignetting in the corner of the picture and I found it moved too easily.”

 X-E2
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 – Fuji X-E2 at ISO 25600 at stanleyleary: “If you even find yourself in situations where the room is so dark that you need to shoot at a high ISO, be sure your camera can go as high as the Fuji X-E2 which at ISO 25600 really made these photos possible.”

– ON to 2014 — relocation & my new Fuji XE-2 Mirrorless camera at jackgrahamphoto: “Listen, there are still needs for Nikon D800’s, Canon 5DMKIII etc. — don’t get me wrong. And for some events and locations, I’ll still shoot my Nikon. But the Fuji XE-2 mirrorless will (for me) be more than I need for about 80% of my work … and now my camera bag is almost the same weight as my tripod and ball head!”

X100S
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image courtesy: jeremeytheronkirby

– Fuji X100S samples at jeremeytheronkirby.

– Fuji X100s Proves Jimi Hendrix Wrong (more ramblings from the street) at streetshooter.

. Fuji x100s How I love to hate thee at sebimagery: “If you think you’re in the market for an x100s…I say don’t hesitate.  But understand what you’re getting into.  Don’t expect it to be a 1DX, or D800E.  Regardless of what you read online….it won’t make you a better photographer.  It’s not the DSLR killer some say it is.  It’s not a Leica.  It is what it is, it has many flaws, and it might not be for you.  For me it’s still the only camera I’ve truly lo

– Shooting on 6th Street: Comparing the Fujifilm X100S to the Leica M at atmtxphoto: “The Fuji is now my primary camera, until, inevitably, I get another. For now it’s working great and as you can see, more than capable of creating late night urban photographs.

– Magnum Photographer David Alan Harvey in the streets of Korea with the Fuji X100 (not the “S”) at iso1200.

X-E1
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 – Iceland with the Fuji XE1 / Fuji Travel Photography at colinnichollsphotography: “All the photos here were shot on 2 Fuji XE-1’s the size and weight of these cameras make them great for travel and the image quality is just incredible, at no point did I feel the need for anything more that the gear I had and would be happy to travel anywhere in the world with just this small bag of gear.” For his article “Geek Night” / Fuji X-E1 & X100 Event Photography in Manchester click here.

– Street Photography Pairs with the Fuji X-E1 at thomasfitzgeraldphotography.

– Streetphotography with the X-E1 in China at am-fotografie: “This year I had the great pleasure of spending 3 weeks in China. Not sticking to one place, but travelling through this vast and beautiful country. As I wanted to travel light I opted for the Fuji X-E1 with the 18-55mm, backed-up by the Fuji X100s. Anyhow, I took a lot of pictures of the locals and here is a brief B&W selection. Some of them are shy, others are happy, some are young and some are old. Others are painfully poor…but does it mean it should not be recorded?

– Fuji X System Hands-on : The Fuji X-E1 at antonionunes: “I must say that Fuji has an incredible implementation for an APS-C sensor camera. Noise is on par with my full frame cameras; and much, much better than the APS-C DSLRs I’ve used.”

X-PRO1
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– X-PRO1 vs. D800E vs. DP2M at vkphotoblog: “After reviewing hundreds of files all I can say that image quality is less dependant on the modern sensor size but rather on a good lens, shooting discipline (tripod!) and post processing skills. Another observation was that Sigma DP2M is yes, a “one trick pony”, but if you know what you are doing you will be rewarded with mind blowing IQ.”

– Fuji X-Pro 1 with Helios 44M 58mm f2 M42 Lens at damianbrownphotography: “Well check the shots out… look for the out of focus areas in particular, the bokeh. That’s the point of this lens!”

–  X Pro1 in Chettinad – a liftstyle lost in time at pbase.

– The Streets of London with the Fuji X-Pro1 at timdobbsphotography.

IBELUX 40mm f/0.85

BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS

IBELUX review at lensrentals: “This is a unique bit of glass. Okay, it’s not a “bit,” it’s a huge chunk of glass. My negative expectations have been completely discounted by a little objective testing. It’s built better than I expected. It’s optically better than I expected. It has far less variation than I expected. My hat is off to the designers at IB/E Optics and the manufacturers at Shanghai Transvision. Very nicely played, gentleman. Very nicely played, indeed.”

lenses

– Review of the 55-200 at photozone: “The Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS is a very harmonious offering. It may not excel in quality but it has only few weaknesses. The Fujinon is pretty sharp across the zoom range and entire image field – even at max. aperture. The low amount of lateral CAs also contribute to the subjective quality perception. Due to the system’s image auto-correction, neither distortion nor vignetting are relevant to the average user. Under the (RAW-)hood these two characteristics are not as quite as perfect though. The quality of the bokeh is just average for a lens in this class.”

– Fujinon XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS – Review / Lens Test Report at photozone: “The Fujinon XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6-7 OIS is a good performer in relation to its price level. The results are mostly sharp in the image center. The corners aren’t quite as snappy in the upper range but let’s be fair – you don’t tend to place the main subject of your scene into the extreme corners anyway. The level of CAs is pretty good at the extreme ends with a weak spot (135mm) in between. Distortions and vignetting are taken care of by the automatic image correction. However, the original characteristics are quite a bit worse though – especially in terms of light falloff.”

– Vancouver and the Fujinon XF 27mm at stephenip: “In all honesty, I didn’t really miss the X100S (which my wife was using) during our trip. On a few occasions, I would’ve liked to have the built in ND filter on the X100S or to be able to shoot at f/2. But in general, the X-T1 and XF 27mm worked out very well as my light, general purpose, walkaround kit.

– Fuji XF 27mm a great little guy at ledesmaphotography: “A few days ago, I scooped up an XF 27mm 2.8 (silver) to pair of with the XE2 and I couldn’t be more delighted. Initially, I had wondered if it would give me the same experience as I had with my previous X100/s and I most say, it does. The XF 27mm transform your Fuji XE2/1/XT1/XPRO1 into an X100/s like experience.”

– Review | Fuji’s XF 23mm f/1.4. With A 35mm Full Frame FOV, Is It A Rival For The X100S? at slrlounge: “It [X100S] has the same focal length, sure, at f/2 it’s a stop slower, and by all accounts the lens performance isn’t as spectacular as the dedicated 23mm 1.4, but then again this lens is around 75% of the price of an X100s. And with the X100s, it’s an entire camera, with a significantly smaller profile, that’s ideal for the streets. It also has a leaf shutter, built-in ND filter, and given how close the lens elements are to the sensor, is likely to give far greater macro capabilities. I suspect, however, you wouldn’t go wrong either way

– Fuji XC 50-230mm lens at paulsamolukphotography: “The Fuji XC 55-230 mm lens is really a thing of beauty when you consider the value for the money. This is especially true if you can pick one up on sale like I did. The image quality is great, build quality is ok (definitely not cheap feeling) and it is a great addition to your Fuji X system. One of the biggest benefits for me was the weight of this lens. It makes it a breeze to carry with you on longer hikes and you will not sacrifice the image quality. So should you buy one? If you are looking for a long lens for your fuji x system camera, i can’t help but to recommend this lens as a great choice.”

RAW-processing

 – Steve Gahm: “I do a fair amount of my image processing on Linux and my favorite application for this has been DarkTable.  Unfortunately, Darktable does not support X-Trans images and has stated for that they will not be adding X-Trans support given they are a small team and do not have the resources to dedicate to it.  Therefore I purchased Photo Ninja to process my X-Trans files.  I still use Darktable for an old Nikon E5400. But, now DarkTable has just recently added an experimental branch to support X-Trans.  Here is the link.
http://www.darktable.org/2014/08/using-x-trans-cameras-with-darktable/. Darktable runs on most Linux/Unix system and Apple OS-X.  Chyeck the “Install” page to see what systems they support.”

– “Hello, I’m Alexander Svet – professional photographer and Phase One Certified Professional. I and my team have created Film Styles Set for Capture One. This is a set of 100 color and b&w styles for Capture One. We had worked on this styles more than two years, it was “long run”, but we have very good reviews from our customers. You can find all the details and sample images at http://captureonestyles.com.”

– Adobe has released a guide for moving from Aperture to Lightroom here.

– Processing Fuji X-Trans RAW files with Adobe Lightroom 5.4 video at youtube. (spotted by lepidi-photo)

 Acessories

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– New soft-release buttons for Fuji X-T1 at lolumina.

– New compagnon-bag for mirrorless cameras here.

– All Thumbs: The Lensmate Thumbrest for Fujifilm X100s at thepalinode.

– Review: Handgriff MHG-XE für Fujifilm X-E2/X-E1 at oz50 (translation): “The MHG-XE handle Fujifilm for the X-E2 is very well done and for me one of the most useful accessories to the camera. The camera is significantly more stringent and is thus better for longer shootings. The feel is greatly enhanced by the metal and the handle adjusts to the rest of the design, without attracting unpleasant. The handle is approximately 100 euros not a bargain, but the investment is worthwhile in my opinion.”

Switch to the X

– New system in my bag at fotografiainc: “So what I did, I traded one medium priced (I said ONE) Leica tele lens that was not selling fast enough for Fuji X-pro1 and two prime lenses (14mm/2.8 and 35mm/1.4) and some essential accessories… Basically got the core of my new system for a great deal. Two lenses are equivalent of my usual focal lengths (21mm and 50mm). Getting used to field of view with new Fuji X glass was no brainier. Quality is there and then some! I have to say, I don’t miss Leica glass…”

– Johnny shot an entire wedding with Fuji gear… “and it was an amazing experience“. See the shots at johnbogannam.

– Paul Schlemmer is a very young and talented photographer that earns his money from photography. He chose the Fuji X system. Read why at inmybag.net: “So why Fuji you ask? Don McCullin said “I only use a camrea like I use a tootbrush. It does the job” and I like the analogy very much. For me, Fujifilm cameras are like a Curaprox of the camera industry: (editors note: curaprox is a company making superb quality swiss toothbrushes & aren’t as well known as Paul thinks, so the analogy doesn’t work that well ;-) ) Sexy and playful. It’s easy to have relationship with them on both sides. They are made be people who really gives a sh*t about industry and about us. That’s why I love them as much as a man can love his, ehm, tool.” You can also read Paul’s other article there: “25 amazing photographs and how they were lit

– One year after switching to Fuji at nguyn: “Working with Fuji has totally changed my vision of how I see things and how I shoot them. It’s not only about specs, neither its image quality nor its design, Fuji cameras have something more, « un je ne sais quoi ». There’s a kind of magic in it, a real soul. You’re not only taking a picture, you feel it, and also, you’re not only a witness of the moment, you’re part of.

– 22 photographers explain why they went mirrorless at mirrorlessons. Many chose the X-system for their switch.

– Reasons to Stick to Your DSLR Over Mirrorless Camera at thephoblographer.

a little bit of everything

– “Hello. I just wanted to share with your readers a new facebook group I started. The group is called “Mirroless Portrait and Wedding Photographers”. I know there are a number of working professional photographers who have made the switch completely to mirrorless. This is a place where working mirrorless pro’s can share information about their work and the challenges associated with being an early adopter of mirrorless camera systems. The group is new and I would love if you would be able to share it with your readers. Thanks Eric Williams” facebook group mirrorlessportraitwedding.

Fujifilm HS50 EXR

 Fujifilm FinePix HS50 EXR Review at photographic-central:Without hesitation my opinion is that the Fujifilm FinePix HS50 EXR is the best superzoom in its category that is on the current market. Other cameras in this class may offer you unique advantages (especially Panasonic’s’ FZ200 w/constant aperture), and, perhaps those are wholly worthwhile to you alone to purchase them. But when you’re objectively looking at an all in one package, I don’t think this one can be beat today.”

Instax Share SP-1 Printer
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Sharing The Joy of Photography at fstoplounge: “No matter how many times I’ve printed with this device, I’m still very excited about seeing the print developing by itself. It’s an even more magical experience for the people you are giving it to, who are most probably going to see this for the first time.”

miXed zone: XF 18-135, Zeiss 50mm and more

XF 18-135mm

Pre-orders: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / – EUROPE: wexUKwexDE / PCHstore

– The tourist lens: XF18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens for work and play at doncraigphoto: “This lens is perfectly suited as a travel/all-around lens. Particularly for shooting outside. The relatively slow maximum aperture creates some limitations for shooting indoors in low light. That said, the image stabilization is really fantastic, so if you are not shooting fast-moving subjects, you can capture in-focus images, in poor light, at very slow shutter speeds. The image quality it produces is also fantastic. Both of these features are at least as good, if not better than, the other two Fujinon XF zooms. I came away from my day of shooting with the XF18-135mm lens very impressed.”

 Fujifilm X-T1
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image courtesy: olafblog

–  The Canadian Rockies with the Fuji X-series (X-T1, 14mm, 56mm and X100S) at olafblog: “We went away for a photo trip to the spectacular Canadian Rockies and we worked hard (waking up at 3:30 AM everyday!) to get you the best imagery possible. We have a lot of material to share with you – including our latest thoughts about gear and processing.” For his post  Along The Cowboy Trail with the X-T1 click here.

– John Nevill: “Hi, As a bird photographer for many years and a Fuji X-System user since their inception, I thought your readers might be interested in my real world samples of using the XT-1 and XF55-200 to track birds in flight! http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnnevill/sets/72157645435375231/ It aint a Canon 1 series and one needs to be somewhat predictive with regards to where the subject is in the viewfinder due to refresh lag, but it copes admirably! Regards

– X-T1 review at wired.com: “WIRED: Great image quality with natural colors and skin tones. Weatherproof body with quick access to practically every setting. Excellent eye-level viewfinder and manual-focus helpers. Fast autofocus and peppy continuous-shooting mode. In-camera RAW-conversion tools. The kit lens is great for a kit lens. Extensive bracketing modes. Solid Wi-Fi features. TIRED: Battery life is only OK. No built-in flash (but it does come with a little detachable one). Steep learning curve for novices. Expensive for its sensor size.”

– Images with the X-T1 and the 55-200, 18-55 and 10-24 from the Avril Lavigne and Backstreet Boys concert in Mansfield, MA on June 20, 2014. See them here at pbase.com.

–  Fujifilm X-T1 at ahigaphotography: “This camera changes the game completely. Taking lifestyle images has become a much more fluid process where shooting is no longer interrupted by checking the exposure or focus on the back LCD. I tried out face detection autofocus and now I’m sold. No longer are the days where I need to focus and recompose my shot. I just frame my buddy in the viewfinder where I want her and let the camera do the rest.”

– Vincenzo Sagnotti: “Hello Patrick, I would be happy if you were to publish my shots realized with Fuji X-E2 and X-T1 and some links of my article related to my personal impressions about Fuji equipments, are in italian language but is possible to translate directly in my pages by the plugin. Articles and sample galleries links are the followings: X-T1 impressions (translation) / X-E2 impressions (translation) / X-E1 impressions (translation) / XF55-200 impressions (translation) / XF35 impressions (translation).  My history with Fujifilm begins in July 2013 when I bought a Fuji X-E1 + 18-55mm kit, I loved this camera so much that actually I’ve sold all my Pro Nikon equipments (D700 + Tamron 24-70 f2.8) to buy a Fuji X-T1 + 18-55mm, 35mm and 55-200mm. I shot in jpg format, this is so incredible, full of details and color tones. In post-production I use yet Capture NX2 + Nik Efex Pro.”

– Matthias Lambrecht: “I got the opportunity to shoot a live concert with the X system last week, and I was impressed how well both the X-E1 and the X-T1 performed under these conditions. Again, it’s not really news that these are fantastic cameras, but here’s some filler in case you have a slow day for news anytime soon :)” See more here at matthiaslambrecht.

– Josiah Patterson: “Just wanted to share a recent shoot I did with the Fuji X-T1“. See here at siahphoto.

– A Caesarian Birth; Life Story at the-owl: “Really, for something like this you need to have gear that is deadly silent, responsive and reliable.  So I chose to shoot this entirely on my X100S with a selection of images shot on my X-T1 with the XF 56mm lens attached.”

– Marrakech – street shooting with the Fuji X-T1 at the-random-photographer.

– The Fuji X-T1: It’s a Winner at ianplant: “Let’s talk image quality. The lenses are tack sharp and fantastic performers. The dynamic range of the images far exceeds what I’m accustomed to with my Canon RAW files. Unfortunately, Adobe’s RAW processing of Fuji files leaves a lot to be desired. The Fuji files have a painterly, mushy look to the details. I highly recommend using Iridient Developer. There is a seamless connection using Iridient Developer and Lightroom so your workflow changes slightly.

photographylife X-T1 review: “Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with the X-T1, which I will be replacing my Fuji X-E1 with later this year. At $1,299 it is obviously a pretty big jump from the $999 X-E2, but it is definitely worth it for me. As I have already pointed out, the EVF alone makes this jump worthwhile, without taking into account weather sealing and other new and useful features. In addition, I often find myself shooting in adverse weather conditions when travelling, so the weather sealing on the X-T1 is a huge plus, allowing me to concentrate on photography rather than worry about damaging gear.

– X-T1 review at musicphotographer: “When I tested this camera on a specific area, live music photography, it didn’t disappointed me, and as a general purpose camera it’s perfect. Again, it’s not a camera for every type of photography, it’s a camera made for street photographers and it works well in other fields, but if you are a sport photographer for example, just look somewhere else. The look and feel is great, the dials on the top plate are handy as hell and the image quality – apart a few glitches – is amazing. DSLRs are still the king of the castle, but mirrorless cameras like the Fujifilm X-T1 are getting very close, and if Fuji will ever make a camera with this body and a full frame sensor, they’ll definitely get the crown. But for the moment, if you are looking for a lightweight alternative to a DSLR, this camera is a killer one, and definitely worth any cent you spend on it.”

– Mariage & Fujifilm X-T1 at k-pture (translation).

– FUJI X-T1: Has Mirrorless Finally Gone Pro? at echenique: “The Fujifilm X-T1 pretty much hits all marks except for the dual card slots. I have used it successfully in the field and in the studio. Gotten paying gigs with it and even have four photos taken with it hanging in a museum this summer. So to answer the original question, “has mirrorless finally gone pro?” To me, it has. Well done, Fuji.”

– Fujifilm X-T1 Review write-up from the real world at photomadd: “What I really wanted to tell you by the end of this was that the X-T1 isn’t worth the extra money over buying an X-E2 as internally it is pretty much identical.  From the offset that was what I had fixed in my mind, but having used the camera for a while now I can’t do that.  The more I use this camera the more it impresses me leaving me no option other than to say an emphatic yes, it really is worth buying over all the other X-Series models.  All the small improvements add up to a much more useful camera overall.  The X-T1 is definitely much more viable as a working professional camera for a much wider range of professionals than any other X-Series model

– Jonas Jacobsson: “I shot my first wedding with the X-T1 last weekend and just got the images up on my webpage! In addition to the album (which you will find here (http://www.jonasjacobsson.co/portfolio/weddings/carina-manuel/) I also did a “behind the scenes” post on the blog-page for those interested.”

– The Fuji switch part I: landscapes! at benjacobsenphoto: “Since switching to fuji I haven’t had a single moment where I’ve regretted the switch.  In fact as I sit here and look at my images from recent months (since the 10-24mm arrived) I find myself thinking my work is better if anything -vs- when I have my full frame canon setup.  Now I’m the first to admit it’s the photographer, not the camera but the point here is the fuji system isn’t holding me back one bit.  I’ve noticed I have less issues with “dragging” my gear places to get interesting shots and I’m shooting more often.”

–  Fuji X-T1 Review at mahmoodsalam: “I was very pleased with what the Fuji xt1 is; indeed it has many advantages over the x100s and the xe1 as far as performance is concerned; however if you are accustomed to shooting with a rangefinder style camera, your experience will drastically change, I understand that Fuji has designed this camera for DSLR oriented shooters and this is why it gets a completely different design compared to its other siblings.”

– Fujifilm XT-1 and Motocross at brianwhite: “Honestly I’ve been a bit doubtful on the Fujis abilities. I’ve used to X100 and XPro-1 and neither were even close enough to being sports cameras. But that’s not really why you would own one. They are more the jazz record to your drum and bass. The XT-1 however seems to be getting closer, maybe a nice solid breakbeat. It’s still got a lot of quirks, especially coming from a Canon DSLR system. The EVF is a fraction jagged and the shutter lag is still ever present. It’s faster than the old models, but still you have to fire the shutter a little before you are hoping to frame the image. Not much, just a little. The frame rate is stunning at 8fps and the images are always great straight out of the camera.”

– Fujifilm X-T1 and the streets of Berlin at macingosh.

– Photographing with the Fujifilm X-T1 in Paris at daveburnsphoto: “Paris is full of infinite photographic opportunities and anyone who loves street and cityscape photography should make it a point to go one day. There is a lot of ground to cover there so plan your camera gear wisely. I wondered if shooting with the X-T1 in Paris would perform well and give me great image quality – without a sore back at the end of the day. When the week was over, I was satisfied I had my answer. I found the X-T1 system perfectly suited to shooting in Paris. Hmm…I wonder if it would work well on one of my safaris…”

– thoughts on the X-T1 at rpe.me: “I adore Fujifilm’s X-T1. It has a rock solid build and I didn’t think twice about stuffing it into my pack or tossing it into the back of the SUV with all my camping gear. The controls are logical and easy to use, and the tilting rear screen is uber useful. But even with all the X-T1 love, I’m going to stick with my X-E2 for the time being. Why? First, I really like the rangefinder look and feel of the X-E2.

–  New photos of abandoned buildings taken with the Fuji X-T1 at carlodigiusto: “I used the Fuji X-T1 and the 14mm f/2.8: a perfect match for this kind of photography. The objective is really free of distortion and thanks to the electronic level in the viewfinder of the X-T1 is easy to shoot keeping the sensor parallel to the walls of the room. All the photos are taken without a tripod and they needed just a slight correction in Lighroom 5 to get precise lines.”

– Fujifilm X-T1 Review: A Canon User’s Perspective at mirrorlessons: “So, will I sell all of my Canon gear and go Fuji full time? Not at this stage. I continue to use both cameras heavily if not 50-50. But let’s just say that Canon had better be working on something very special. Word is that they are, but that’s been the rumour since the Nikon D800 came out! By the time the Fujifilm X-T2 has come out we’ll know how – or perhaps if – Canon will have responded to the incredible range of cameras that Fujifilm are coming out with.”

– Out flirting with the Fuji X-T1 again….. at olyallthetime: “I went north with my Fuji X-T1, an old Fuji X-M1 as my pocket cam and handful of lenses. I am still flirting with this camera. I wanted to give it one more go to test the focus ability and continuous autofocus capabilities shooting my daughter’s soccer tournament.  In short, I don’t like it for events. I like it considerably less than my EM1. However, for still shooting and some specific types of shooting like people and portraits, I prefer it.  I’ll admit that “It” could be the lenses available for the X system. They truly are spectacular and really give a specific feel and wonderful skin tones.”

– Reuben: “I’ve been following your site for about 6 months as I’ve been preparing to enter the world of Fuji. I know you occasionally post roundups of news/reviews/photo sets, so I’m sending you a recent set I did in the Bruce Peninsula (shot on an X-T1 and XF27) for consideration. Keep up the great work!” Check out reub.exposure.co.

– Evan: “Hey! I am working on a photo project called the Sthlm Subway Portrait Project. From the site directly: “The Stockholm Metro is comprised of three lines that connect people throughout the city.This is a ongoing project documenting these people that represent these tracks. ” Basically in Sweden we have three lines, red green and blue. Each have a distinctive  style usually associated with them. I just go about there taking portraits of people and picking their trains. All the shots were done with a Fuji XT-1 and the 35mm. You rarely see nice portraits done with proper light, so it’s a neat little insight of what can be done. You can check out the site here: http://www.sthlmspp.com/

– X-T1 vs X-E2 comparison in German at digitaler-augenblick (translation): “Since the X-E2 provides no real size advantage and no real weight advantage, it is my opinion only a compromise and I would always tend to the X-T1 and this also rather recommend knowing that this is about 500 euro more expensive case of an instantaneous market price. For this fee you can get the much larger viewfinder, swivel display and the better service. For this you get the additional option to mount a battery grip and the weather resistance of the housing. Moreover, one does not feel that this can one quickly slip out of hand at the X-T1. My opinion, are for the X-E2 only two reasons, firstly, the significantly more favorable purchase price (since it has been significantly reduced recently) and the cooler unobtrusive style.”

– Olympus OM-D E-M1 vs. Fujifilm X-T1 at mirrorlessons: “The OM-D E-M1 and the X-T1 are certainly the two best mirrorless cameras to date along with the Panasonic GH4, but regarding the latter I am still reviewing it so I cannot compare yet. I can certainly say that both cameras can be used for professional work as they feature great image quality and very high quality lenses.”

– Blurring the Lines – Twisting with the X-T1 at fujixsystem: “Using the X-T1 for this technique is a joy.  You get to see how it is working right away in the viewfinder without having to take the camera down from your eye.  Just a 1.5 second preview is all you need to see if the twist is too much or too little for the action in front of you so you can adjust the speed of twist to get the desired effect.  And of course keeping the camera to your eye means you don’t see the other photographers there looking at you as if you are completely mad as you twist and turn for every image…”

– Review | The Fujifilm X-T1 PART I  at leighmiller: “The first on that list, AF Speed and Accuracy has come a long way from the X-Pro1. It’s definitely faster as compared to previous bodies and helped in no small part by the newest lenses from Fuji which are faster and smoother as well. Like most cameras the XT-1 struggles as the light get’s dimmer but not unusable and better than the X-E1.”

– Discovering Hidden Gems with the X-T1 at craigrobertsonphoto: “I have also been shooting since the beginning of this year with Fuji’s new X-T1. I am in love with this camera and I’m going to be so bold to say it’s THE best camera I’ve ever owned.”

Zeiss Touit 50mm
Pre-order at Adorama and BHphoto

–  Review: Zeiss Touit 50mm f/2.8 Makro-Planar T* (Fuji X) at admiringlight: “Optically, the lens is predominantly exceptional.  It’s extremely sharp at all focus distances, provides some of the best contrast and color of any lens I’ve used, and produces gorgeous bokeh close up.  Add to this the outstanding CA control and you’ve got a truly outstanding optic.  The only real downside optically is the fact that the bokeh gets somewhat busy at further focus distances. The major downsides to the lens are all in operation. […] The lack of a focus limiter causes some major problems with autofocus in the macro range, and can further slow the autofocus when shooting indoors at all focus distances.  The fact that it’s only a 50mm lens that uses internal focus also means that the working distance at high magnifications is extremely short, making it a difficult lens to work with for extreme closeups of insects. The usability concerns aside, the Zeiss 50mm macro is an excellent lens.  While I would prefer a longer macro lens, it’s a great option for 1:1 shooting on the Fuji X cameras and a great addition to the Sony E-Mount as well.  While the lens isn’t cheap at $999, given the optical quality, it’s not an unreasonable price.  It’s the best of the Touit lenses in my opinion and a top-notch optic all around.  Well done, Zeiss!

TCL-X100 / WCL-X100
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– A tale of two tele’s – Fuji’s Teleconverters at jasonpitcher: “Question is, should you buy one, or both of these converters? If one, which one? I can’t answer that. I can say that if you need them, you shouldn’t be disappointed in what they can deliver. You may get annoyed by forgetting to switch the firmware correction over occasionally, but unless you are a rabid pixel peeper, both of these units are complements to the x100 / x100s. I love the simplicity. For my minimalist travel kit, I’m delighted to have them. As I practice more, I will remember to switch the firmware, but in the meantime, photoshop to the rescue (at the time of writing, ACR beta has the TCL-x100 profile). I’d still prefer to get the profile applied in-camera than trying to figure it out later, because I will not remember if this was shot with or without the converter.” For his article about the WCL click here.

– Aksam Z Dar: “Hi Patrick, We have done a review of 50mm Teleconverter for Fuji X100/X100s on your website and social platform. Would appreciate if you can share it on your website and social media platforms. regards, Aksam“. Read more at dubaiphotoclub. From the conclusions: “TCL-X100 is an excellent addition to the accessories for X100s.  If you travel a lot, put it in a bag along with your X100s and a WCL-X100 wide-angle converter and you don’t need heavy gear to carry with you.  With the summer vacations starting in UAE, this is the perfect time to grab one piece to complement your X100/X100s.”

– Review: Fujifilm TCL-X100 Converter Lens at bigheadtaco: “The TCL-X100 telephoto conversion lens is a great accessory for anyone who has the Fujifilm X-100(s) cameras. It’s great having a compact non interchangeable lens point-and-shoot camera, but sometimes it’s necessary to have different focal lengths. Instead of dragging around a second camera, all you need is to buy this high quality telephoto adapter lens for your X-100(s) and you’re ready to go. Use it for medium telephoto images, great for waist-up portraits, decent isolation-bokeh shots, and across-the-street images.”

– TCL-X100 50mm for the x100/s at neillsoden: “The converter does not seem to lose any quality or light when used. Much like the wide angle, it performs great and the results are absolutely nothing to complain about. I did find that the AF performance dropped slightly when used, but it was still workable in most cases.”

– Fuji TCL-X100 A new perspective for your Fuji x100s at fabyandcarlo: “I love the Fuji x100s for its amazing qualities and for being perfect for documenting a story; however, from time to time I miss the possibility to get closer, to alternate wide shots with details. With the Fuji TCL-X100, I am given the possibility to do it, to switch my field of view and my approach in few seconds. It is true that a normal camera with two lenses would be the same, but because the x100s is my camera (and I am not interested in changing it), the Fuji TCL-X100 is the perfect companion to allow me to give different feel to my images. If you have a x100s already, I would not hesitate to suggest this tele adapter to allow you more variety.
And for its price, is absolutely worth it.

 XF 56mm f/1.2
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 – Fuji in Europe Part 19 – Street photography in Nuremberg at miksmedia: “This was again another perfect time to test the Fuji XT1 and the 56mm f1.2 lens.  After shooting with this combination before, I really liked the way it behaved on the streets.  It’s fast focus worked almost flawlessly, and I really like the look the Fuji 56mm f1.2 can capture.  Also I like the fact that I don’t have to be in someones face, and can capture the natural behavior, with out being seen.  I’m not hiding behind bushes or buildings, but because the Fuji 56mm lens has enough reach that I’m not spotted by the subject right away.  Also because the Fuji XT1 has an articulated LCD screen, I don’t have to raise the camera to my eye, thus making me even more unseen.  Absolutely perfect for great street photography.”

– Fuji X-T1 & 56mm f1.2 – Amber Tutton at richardhurstphotography: “I made the switch over to Fuji and the X-T1 and X-Pro1 bodies, much to the aghast of some and haven’t looked back. I am so happy I made the change. Not only is all my kit lighter to carry but I’m achieving far better results than I was previously, anyway I digress so back to the day.”

– Julia and Tim – Lifestyle shoot in Nottingham at karlbratbyphotographer: “I like to do my pre wedding / get to know you shoots close to the wedding as the fun we have together is remembered on the wedding day and as we have seen each other recently I’m not turning up as a stranger, more as a friend. For those photographers that follow these were all shot with the Fuji XT-1 and 56mm f1.2.

XF 10-24
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 – Fuji XF10-24mm Lens at losingit: “So, a nicely versatile lens which is well worth adding to your collection if you’re a Fuji X user. I’ll need to play with it a bit more, but I’m already considering selling the 14mm lens on the quite sensible grounds that it doesn’t get used enough.”

– First impressions of the Fuji XF10-24mm at paulmellingphotography: “The lens feels well built and this is reflected in the weight but it feels ok attached to my x-pro1 and I think this is a lens that I will be using a lot.  My other favourite lens is the 55-200mm and I can see myself using these two lenses for most of my general day-to-day shooting.”

– Change your focal length, renew your vision: Using the XF 10-24mm f/4 in Turin at mirrorlessons: “I found that this lens really forced me to slow down and think about the various elements of my composition. It often took a few tries to figure out which elements positively contributed to the image and which were extraneous.”

– Motocross. ATV. 2014-06-28. (Fujifilm X-M1+Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS) at photomax78 here and here.

– XF 10-24mm f/4 ultra-wide to wide angle zoom lens, and the primes that fall within its focal range at fujivsfuji: “I like having it in my aresenal, but I will truly never take it with me unless I’m specifically going out to shoot. It’s too large for a walk about lens, but it will always be in my bag when I travel as then when I kick into wide-angle high gear.”

– The Fuji X-Series and a trip to Cornwall at paulmellingphotography: “The pictures here were taken on the Fuji X-Pro1 with mainly the new 10-24mm f4 and the X-E1 with the 55-200mm attached. The reason for the two bodies was that it enabled me to cover a wide range of shots without changing lenses in what can be a fairly dusty environment with all that sand swirling around.

– Japanese review at dime.jp (translation).

X-E2
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–  Anton Raves: “Hello Patrick, You can find a few of my testing (have only had my X-E2 for 4 months now, along with the 23mm f1.4 and the 56mm f1.2) images at: http://www.coolphotography.nl/gallery.php?category=Fuji_X-E2. As well as a very few first thoughts here:  http://www.coolphotography.nl/blog.php?item=2014_03_19_A_Fujifilm_X-E2_Camera. Greetz!”

– Fuji X-E2 and Minolta 50mm Macro at mingart: “If you looking for an inexpensive Macro lens and don´t mind to focus manual, you should give this one a try or even go for the Minolta 100mm f/4 Macro MD with the 1:1 extension tube. How different does the Minolta performs compared to Fuji´s XF-60mm Macro lens? There are just two different lenses and you need to try to find out, which one you prefer in regards of handling and colors they produce.”

– Review: Fuji X-E2 | The Mistress at slrlounge: “Admittedly, I wanted to like this camera. I wanted it to be what it turned out to be. What is that? Well, brilliant, and flawed. It has character in its looks, and in its performance, and it lacks some things I wish it had. I think the addition of an articulating screen would be good, a better performing EVF proximity sensor, maybe even be made more of metal even at the expense of some weight.”

 X100S
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 – X100S tested at adventureseekers: “Believe the hype, this well designed and equally well executed imaging device is exactly as advertised; functional, modern and technologically impressive in a small package. The camera is ideally suited as a second or third body for the acting photographer or the only camera for hobbyists and travel enthusiasts.There may be better ones out there, but we like this one based on how strong of a player Fuji is currently with it’s compact camera series including the XT-1 that’s available.”

– Fujifilm X100s for still life ohm-image: “Very swiftly, the X100s is becoming my favourite camera. It’s easy to use, light, and fun. I wish it had half-stops on its exposure dial. I wish its lens focused on helicoids rather than a ratcheted motor. I also wish that Fujifilm target professional journalists rather than casual users by expanding into a line of cameras with compact/speedy lenses of different focal lengths. 23mm is wider than I typically use. But whatever. The X100 is what it is. And most of the time, it works just fine.”

– Fuji X100s 830nm Infrared and Long Exposures at markhilliardatelier: “Another nice thing about the X100s is the fact that it has aperture priority mode with a shutter speed up to 30 seconds and a BULB MODE that goes up to 60 minutes!   Where the X100 really excels is the fact that is gives a count up timer in the viewfinder or on the back LCD panel for timing your bulb exposure!”

– NicolasM: “if you’re interested here’s is a page from my blog about my journey to Croatia with my X100s”. Read and see more at nicolasm.4ormat.com.

– Fujifilm X100s in Akihabara at ohm-image.net: “Very quickly, the X100s has become my favourite digital camera. It is small, and for the most part, elegantly designed. Attach a Thumbs Up style grip and it is nearly as hand-holdable as a film rangefinder.”

– Same lens different purpose? X100s vs. 23mm F1.4 at bencherryphotos: “Both products are absolute stellar. The only person who can truly answer this is you, as it entirely depends on your situation. Do you already have a X-Series camera and lens(es)? Then the 23mm F1.4 will be a welcome addition to your kit bag for particular shots. Or are you looking for a lightweight camera that you can carry anywhere that can cover the vast majority of things? Then the X100s is a wonderful camera that makes you think creatively and, for me personally, has dramatically improved my photography.”

– Fujifilm X100S – Fotografia di viaggio, Londra, by Andrea Livieri at andrealivieriphoto (translation).

X-E1
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– London cityscapes and abstracts with the Fuji XE-1 and Redged tripod at lizzieshepherd: “I had travelled light, bringing down my Fuji XE-1 camera with the 18-55 and 55-200mm lenses. I had a full size Lee filter kit with me – I’d love the diminutive Lee Seven filter system but its bigger brother works just fine… This was all packed into an F-Stop Shibata shoulder bag. I also had Redged travel tripod with me. I own the TSC-27 tripod – a very light but reasonably sturdy 4 section tripod that extends to a good height – with the excellent Arca P0 ballhead on top

– More Thoughts on the Fuji X-E1 at markschuelerphoto: “The X-E1 is enough. The X-E2 is cer­tainly enough. For a short bit, and for the first time since I started seri­ously pur­su­ing image-making, I have reached some sort of Zen place where I don’t feel the need to com­pul­sively spend money on incre­men­tal tech­no­log­i­cal improvements.”

– Aleksandar Dimitrov: “I had to take pictures of cement factory not far from Grenoble, France. I was not lucky to be there when machines don’t run, so lot’s of fine dust covered mine X-E1 + 18-55 lens. I carefully hoovered my gear and I didn’t have any issues with it so far. One can see the full story on my blog http://adphoto.fr/.”

X-PRO1
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 – Street Photography Course in Budapest and a Fuji X-Pro1 at streetphotographycourses: “I am becoming more and more impressed with my Fuji X Pro 1 its performance in these very harsh conditions have really impressed me. At times it was really hot to handle due to the searing heat and direct sunlight, but once again it never missed a beat. I’m also really impressed with the performance of the two lenses I took with me today, the very small Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 pancake lens  and the Fujinon XF 18mm F2 R lens optics on both are superb.”

– Taury Iskandar: “Hi Patrick, My name is Taury Iskandar, would love to share some of my photos taken with X-Pro1 & 35mm lens. Here’s a link to my flickr album. A Nikon user since I started photography back in high school, but borrowed my friend’s X-Pro1 late last year and fell in love with it. I’m looking forward for X-Pro1 successor!”

– Driving around Europe at karimhaddad: “It was another epic trip and I’m glad I had my Fuji X-Pro 1 with me. For all intents and purposes, it was probably my last trip with a lovely camera. I have no graduated to the X-T1 (and I’m back to using my 5D)… more on that later.

– Sabbath Town: Black Sabbath x Fuji X-Pro at suberashi.

X100
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– Art Codron: ” I was in the San Francisco Bay area last week. I confess that the majority of the pictures I took were with an Olympus OMD EM10 (GASP!) as I wanted to keep things as mobile and light as possible. I really struggled internally weather to take my X-T1 kit or not. Being it was a family trip, I went with the OMD based on the size advantage. However I brought along my recently purchased used Fuji X100 in case my shoulder grew tired of carrying the OMD kit or if I god forbid suffered any mechanical failures. I shot a few hundred shots with the OMD and the results were pretty good. It’s a solid camera. I can’t complain. However I took out the Fuji X100 one of the days as I wanted to travel ultra light and had the most fun photographically speaking (big surprise LOL). The single focal length lens really forces you to be more “engaged” with your subjects. Overall, the camera has a much more tactile feel. It’s like a sports car…it gives you back what you put into it. While I did get frustrated a few times wanting a longer lens, it was just so much fun to shoot with. I also feel that the Fuji shots have that little something extra that makes them scream off the page more than those shot with the OMD. Here is a link to a Flicker set with some of the shots. https://www.flickr.com/

various lenses

– Carl Zeiss 12mm f/2.8 T* Review at whatdigitalcamera here and Carl Zeiss 32mm f/1.8 Review at whatdigitalcamera here.

– The 60mm Macro at mapcamera (translation).

– Focus speed: Zeiss Touit 32 vs Fujinon 35 video by Stocko grafie (youtube video). Read the entire review here (translation).

– Samyang 2.0/12 CS (Fuji X) … part 1 in German at retrocameracs (translation).

– Fujifilm + Zeiss = Vancouver //Kanada | Mehrdad Abedi at qimago (translation).

Accessories

– A quick mini-review of the super inexpensive Vello RS-C1II remote release, used with the Fuji X-T1 at admiringlight: “The RS-C1II works flawlessly with the X-T1 and my other Fuji cameras with a mic jack. It’s also pretty well built and the cord is a nice thick gauge.  Considering you can purchase 5 of these Vello remotes for the price of one Fuji RR-90, it’s an absolute no-brainer.  Frankly, due to the more flexible cord, I think it’s a good idea for Fuji X-E1 and X-E2 owners to use this remote switch instead of a cable release as well.

– Gear and accessories – this is how I accessorize my Fuji at jaysonoertel: “Since ditching my DSLR, I’ve quickly adapted to the beautiful world of mirrorless.  I’m traveling lighter, getting phenomenal image quality, and have an arsenal of some of the best glass I’ve ever used.  Now that I’m set with my X-T1, I added a few accessories that make my experience even better.”

– Using the Manfrotto 241V and Fujifilm X-T1 on a Car Photo Shoot at macleancomms: “The reason I bought the Manfrotto 241V was to use on this long drive to get some different angles while I drove.  Using the Fujifilm X-T1 I was able to control the camera through the Camera App on my Google Nexus Tablet. I placed the Manfrotto in several positions on the car, either on the glass or on the bodywork and the vacuum pump built into the 241V provided the grip needed to keep the camera in place and steady.  Speeds were kept to below 50mph but if the Manfrotto did lose grip the camera would’ve been on the road so I used the Peak Design leash and used it as a safety cord when the camera was mounted on the outside of the car.”

– Remote Shutter Release for Fuji X-E2 (and others) at lightwith: “If you’re looking for a way to remotely trigger your Fujifilm X-E2, X-E1, or any other Fuji camera model that is equipped with the “mic/remote” socket (as well as Canon SLRs), look no further, the [shoplink 22828]Yongnuo RF-603[/shoplink] C1 2.4GHz Wireless Flash Trigger/Wireless Shutter Release Transceiver Kit works like a champ, costs next to nothing, and will also remotely trigger your flashes.”

a little bit of everything

– V Opoku: “So we are half way through the year already, damn – time flies! Here is a snapshot of my 2014 so far ; a mixture of wedding and travel photography: http://vopoku.com/2014-year-so-far/  Will be great if you want to share it, and if any of your readers have questions relating to wedding photography with the fuji x series , they can freely shoot me an email and I will get back to them ASAP :) Also, after over a full year’s exclusive use of the fuji x-series for weddings and travels, I will be putting together my report shortly. I will let u know as soon as it is ready. Regards, V.”

–  Fujifilm Walk In The Park | Photowalk at The Evergreen Brickworks at leighmiller.zenfolio.com: “We had a great turnout of people to the Fuji photowalk event at the Evergreen Brickworks…or the “Old Brickworks” for you Toronto photographers who remember the days of sneaking strobist shoots there back in the day.”

– Traveling with the Fuji X-System around the world at laithmajali: “My love affair with these cameras started when I purchased the X-Pro 1 and I started putting it through the tests, the camera’s form factor was great, it was light, the lenses were beautiful and it allowed me to shoot in the streets unobtrusively. Little did I know that my next purchase will become the camera I used on a daily basis. The x100s right away became my favorite, it was smaller, it was quieter, it produced really good images considering its size and price. Now many people may not want a camera with a fixed lens, but for me this was a joy. It forced me to get closer, both the focal length and its non existent noise got me real close to my subjects without them noticing, I was even able to pack it in a small bag I was carrying while I performed Ummrah in Mecca. After I was done, I pulled the x100s and made a couple of photos to remember that special day, my first visit to Mecca. I don’t think I could have gotten myself to pack any other camera and shoot without being noticed.”

–  Cruising with the X-Series at cliftonbeard: “The Fujinon lenses really are excellent and it is a great experience to get genuine sharpness at f1.4 and f1.2, along with deadly accurate focus.  Although not tiny, the lenses are small and light compared to the 800-1000g monsters on SLR cameras and 2 fast primes easily fitted in the Ona along with both bodies.  Some aperture rings are a bit looser than ideal, but I love the traditional and to me intuitive, way of changing aperture.”

First Look: XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

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PRE-ORDERS (and support FR)

Today you can support my work here on Fujirumors. If you choose to pre-order it using one of the shoplinks (AmazonUS, BHphoto, Adorama, wexDE, wexUK & Co) in this post, FR will get a small commission on it. It won’t cost you a single penny extra on your gear. Thanks in advance to those who decide to support this blog… your support will keep this blog running.

PRE-ORDERS

XF 18-135 pre-orders: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama – EUROPE: wexUKwexDE / PCHstore

LIVE BLOGGING HERE

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First Look: XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr sets

Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1 – The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual

After postponing the date at least twice, Fujifilm is finally announcing its highly-anticipated 18-135mm weather resistant zoom lens for the X-T1 and other X-Mount system cameras, promising very good image quality and world record breaking 5 stops OIS performance at a reasonable price (799 EUR  incl. VAT here in Germany). All this in a more compact package than its Canikon competition (EF-S 18-135mmF3.5-5.6 IS STM and Nikkor 18-140mmF3.5-5.6 G ED VR).

I was able to shoot with a prototype and an early pre-production sample of the lens in May and June, also testing it at two recent Fuji X Secrets workshops south of Nuremberg. Since all my current workshop offerings are sold out except for one remaining slot for our workshop in Berlin on 20JUL, I have decided to offer another workshop in the Nuremberg area on 9AUG. Registration is now open.

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

miXed zone: “travel lite, travel smart, travel X”, Iridient update, Zeiss 32 and 12 first impressions and more

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Zeiss deal at BHphoto here and Adorama here

IRIDIENT

– Brian released Iridient Developer 2.4.1 with a number of improvements and bug fixes. One Fujfilm specific bug fix was for the X100S when shot in 1:1 aspect ratio in-camera which resulted in Iridient Developer 2.4 using an incorrect crop origin when loading these RAF files with the default options. This issue may have effected other models too, but Brian only had reports of problems with the X100S. The full release notes for 2.4.1 can be viewed here. The new version can be downloaded here.

TRAVEL

Travel Lite, Travel Smart, Travel X at michaelmcqueen: “if your looking to travel some place in the distant future I can most definitely recommend you think about what you want out of your travels in terms in making images, do you need to pack lite? do you need that bulky DSLR? there are better solutions out there and I highly recommend the X.”

X-T1 or DSLR

– Is the Fuji X-T1 as good as my 5d3 / D800? at mikecroshaw: “I’ve seen some pretty outrageous claims from the pro DSLR crowd about how bad the Fuji autofocus is.  One guy claimed he could only shoot still life with the fuji, for everything else he needed his DSLR.  Well I’m sorry, but that guy just fails at using the XT-1.  Of course its not as fast as a pro DSLR..people expecting it to be are, frankly, deluded.  But unless you are a professional sports or wildlife photographer, or just suck at taking photos without machine gun speed autofocus, its fast enough.”

–  Can the Fuji X system replace my DSLR system? at gambofoto: “In most of the comparison shots I prefer the look of the Nikkor 85mm.  Possibly because of the extra focal length.  Carrying the cameras around definitely goes to Fuji.  Handling- Fuji.  Enjoyment in use goes to Fuji.  Confidence while doing a paying job?  Well that depends.  I truly love the quietness and stealth of the Fuji cameras and had a lot of success in the last weddings I shot.  However the Nikon provides one of those intangibles by seeming to be faster in AF and thus more confidence inspiring.  Notice I say seemingly.  In the past I have experiences plenty of problems with AF and the Nikons.  And where I feel I miss shots with the Fuji, because of AF, I also get shots I don’t think I would gotten with the Nikons.  So I guess the answer to the original question is not clear cut, at least not for me.  With that said the rest of my Nikon kit will remain for the immediate future, but for how long?  It might not be clear in the above text, but I must say the [shoplink 21554]56mm[/shoplink] is one great lens.  It has been over a month now that I have had this lens and the longer I use it the more that I have come to appreciate it.  It just continues to surprise me how exactly sharp it is, even wide open.  Of all the fast lenses that I have owned, I will say that, this one is the best at wide open.”

– Fuji X-T1 and the ‘mirrorless inferiority complex’ at soundimageplus: “Yet again there are more recent posts about how people sold everything, bought a mirrorless camera and achieved photographic and personal nirvana, how the DSLR is dying, dead or really rather poorly and a heavily touted current Camera Store video that comes up with the staggering discovery that us idiots who don’t work as assistants in camera shops couldn’t possibly have discovered for ourselves, that mirrorless cameras have really quite fast AF. To me all this smacks of a ‘mirrorless inferiority complex‘.”

 Fujifilm X-T1
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– Fuji X-T1 for wedding photography at phildweddingphotography. There review includes a nice list with the Advantages of the X-T1 compared to a full frame DSLR and the Disadvantages of the X-T1 compared to a full frame DSLR.

“Over the next few years, with the right camera body, I think they can take a large part of the DSLR market. They have the viewfinder. They have the lenses. They have the sensor. They just need to concentrate on the list above and also speed of use for common actions like exposure changes (not a deal breaker for me, but it is for others).

For me, I’d happily pay an extra 20-30% on top of the price of the X-T1 to get everything I need and I suspect may pro photographers will feel the same, having been used to DSLR prices.”

– Fuji X-T1 vs Nikon Df: which is the best retro-style camera? at digitalcameraworld: “It may not be quite as versatile as the Nikon camera, but the Fuji X-T1 is capable of very high quality results. Modern features such as tilting touchscreen, the ability to shoot video, the electronic viewfinder and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity (for remote control and speedy image-sharing) make it a real winner. The Fuji X-T1 is the winner in our Nikon Df vs Fuji X-T1 comparison.

– X-T1 does fashion at johncaz: “Overall, I was really impressed by the X-T1 and its ability to not only do what my Nikon’s had offered in the past, but actually offer me new ways of creating images. Placing the camera on the ground with face detection ON and the screen flipped out was such a treat, look at the image of Michalis doing pushups with granny walking past! That was wide open and face detection nailed him.”

– Fujifilm X-T1 – Does it make a good travel camera? at richardberryphotography: “So does it make a good travel camera? I definitely think it does! Especially for those wanting creative options and convenience through the use of zoom lenses. With the added bonus of weather sealing and the rugged magnesium alloy body you can’t really go wrong.”

– Fujifilm X: gestalt or bust at ohm-image: “What I appreciate about Fujifilm’s X series is cohesiveness. There isn’t another camera manufacturer in Japan that cares as much about operational design, about physical layout, or about culling specific users from the larger customer base. Their cameras polarise. That is how it should be.”

– Fujifilm X-T1 from my X-Pro1 – how does the upgrade hold up? at kwaibun: “Overall, the X-T1 is one of the best you can get for street photography and vast variety of serious usage. Fuji has done it right in just 2 years. The only direct rival will be Olympus OMD-EM1, which i found equally, if not more, attractive as well: primarily its unbeatable, close-to-DSLR snappy focus and responsiveness. its 5-axis IBIS which effectively allows you to use lower ISO, compensating the higher ISO noise and lower resolving power disadvantage of m43 sensor. (some reviews said it’s similar but I still quite convinced Fuji is better, and for sure better in terms of high ISO performance)

– Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Camera Review at digital-photography-school: “I can confidently state that a student with this camera system would probably find learning the basics a bit easier than with a standard digital SLR camera system if for no other reason than the live histogram available in the electronic viewfinder and the easy to access, logically laid out controls. Further, for the seasoned user, the X-T1 body and lenses make a great combination for producing high-quality professional results.”

– Fujifilm X-T1: Technology in a Headlong Rush at jjsemplephotography: “Fuji, among all the leading brands, seems to understand the customer very well. And that’s why I like the closed loop of camera bodies, lenses and accessories being made by the same company and sold at a reasonable price. Guess it comes with being an Apple devotee. In the meantime, I’ll go back to making myself a better artist, now that Fuji has given me some of the best tools available.”

– Trusting the Fuji X-T1’s Panoramic Mode at macleancomms: “The new X-T1 also has a panoramic mode which is on the drive selector, located on the top panel under the ISO dial (see top image).  I have tried this function on several occasions and I can report that this is a lot more user friendly than the function on the X-Pro1 and X100.  More importantly I haven’t had a misaligned shot yet and I have found myself trusting the system more and more.”

photographymonthly: “The fact that the X-T1 looks as good as the pictures it takes is part of the attraction. It’s the perfect blend of new technology and old school charm. If the thought of giving up your beloved DSLR scares the pants off you, don’t worry, it does me too. But I’m seriously thinking of investing in an X-T1 to run alongside my professional Nikon gear. I’ve dipped my toe in the water with the X-Pro1 and I’m finding I’m using it more than I thought I would. The more time I spend with the X-T1, the more I’m convinced it’s the way forward.”

–  The Palouse – A Visual Journey with the Fuji X-Series – Part 2 at olafblog: “the Fuji X-T1 large viewfinder was such a joy to use. Being able to see the final composition, colours and exposure makes a huge difference. The days when I had to look at the back of the camera to check the photo are gone.”

– Fuji X-T1 Review: The Best X-Series Camera at ishootshows: “it’s simply fun to shoot with the X-T1. It’s well built without feeling like it’s made out of precious metal mined from space rocks. The camera does what you want, when you want it. It’s fast. The RAW files are gorgeous. The lenses in the X-Series lineup are the kind of glass that beg to be shot wide-open.

– Fujifilm XT-1 review at danielbader: “Pound for pound, the X-T1 is one of the most enjoyable cameras I’ve ever used; whether it’s the most practical is another story, but I think it’s worth the price of entry.”

– Gianni Galassi: “I’d just like to inform you that the third chapter of my in-progress Fuji X-T1 review is online“. Read it here at giannigalassi.

– Is the Fuji XT-1 as good as my 5d3 / D800? at mikecroshaw: “kept my DSLR until I was sure I could rely on the fuji for all my work, and I think if you can afford it, this is the way to go.  It’s not a complete system or a DSLR killer..yet.  But for me, and for a lot of people, its now good enough to use without having a DSLR there as a backup.”

– Sigma DP2 V Fujifilm X-T1 at christianfletcher: “And to let you know, I paid for my X-T1 and I paid for my Sigma. Also I am no expert so don’t think this is a fair test of both cameras. I shot a toy dinosaur with both cameras, the focal lengths are slightly different but I tried to get everything else as similar as possible. I still think in this crude test the Sigma came out on top. Saying that you will not use it for lots of things you would use the Fuji. The Fuji loves low light, the DP2 Merrill is scared of the dark (so I have read, not tested that theory myself yet)

– Fuji X-T1 in the hands of a woman and a Boudoir Photographer at fabyandcarlo: “I could honestly go on and on, but the moral of the story is that I have not touched a Canon camera since buying my new Fuji T-X1. I have not even looked at it. I have ditched Canon forever and I just know that I will never look back again. I Love love love my Fuji X-T1.”

– Review: Fuji XT-1 camera neilvn: “The images looked superb, even with my misgivings about over-sharpened JPGs and the aggressive noise reduction. Even though Fuji is known for excellent skin tones, I would still recommend shooting in RAW to be able to fine-tune the images.”

– AF-test at mirrorlessons: “A couple of weeks ago, The Camera Store released an interesting comparison video between the four MILC cameras that claim to have the fastest AF in the world. The Fujifilm X-T1 proved to be the least efficient of the four. Is it bad? Well, we actually found that the X-T1 is very capable. And if we analyse it a step further, the next models could be terrific regarding AF.

– Toronto beach model shoot with Fujifilm X-T1 & SLR Magic 35mm T0.95 lens at kittle: “You should try to select lenses that compliment your personal style and help you create photos that you love.  I really value shallow depth of field above all so I’m super happy buying this hyperprime.  If you don’t need the speed and value sharpness above all else, Fuji’s 35mm f1.4 is likely a much better fit for you and is a lot cheaper, smaller and lighter as well.

– Tip – Andrew Van Beek Reviews Fuji X-T1 at fundysoftware: “With all of the cons listed above one might get the impression that the X-T1 is not that great. Truthfully, there are people who don’t like it and have returned it. I’m on the opposite end of the scale where none of the quirks really bother me. If I had to pick one area that would be great to improve it would be everything to do with focus. This would include the focus speed as well as how to choose a focal point. That said, the X-T1 is currently my favorite camera of the over 30 that I have ever owned. Despite this, I don’t feel like I can get rid of my full-size DSLRs, so the X-T1 strongly complements rather than replaces my other cameras.”

– Jonas Jacobsson: “This time I have some great street photography from a very special event here in my hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. The event is called “Andra Långdagen” and it’s just a melting pot with all kinds of people, all kinds of cultures and a everything in between coming together for one day of complete mayhem! It’s kind of hard to explain in words – it must be experienced! Or via my images of course! I rarely praise my own work – but this time I’m very happy with the results. Do have a look! (All photos taken with the X-T1 and the XF 35mm)” jonasjacobsson.

ZEISS TOUIT

The Zeiss 32 and 12, save $800, at BHphoto and Adorama.

– Zeiss Touit 12mm & 32mm First Impressions at street-photography-workshops: “I really enjoyed my time with the Zeiss Touit twins. Both exemplify outstanding image quality, high-quality build, great feel and excellent balance. The 12mm manages distortion astoundingly well–probably better than any super-wide lens I’ve ever used, and it’s very sharp wide open. The 32mm has a beautiful, almost classic rendering that tempted me greatly. But since I already owned the Fuji 35mm f/1.4, I didn’t buy it. But with the current deal on these lenses, they are a must-buy! Whether you own the Fuji X system or the Sony NEX/Alpha (E-Mount) system, you cannot go wrong.

 Samyang 12mm
BHphoto

– Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS Review at lonelyspeck: “Optically, the Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS is very good.  It’s very sharp at almost all f/numbers, even sharper than the much more expensive Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8. I have no reservations recommending it to anyone looking for a nice sharp lens. For astrophotographers, its excellent coma performance, fast aperture and an ultra-wide field of view make it a prime tool for shooting the stars.” the reviwer mention an “astrophoto lens rating system”. Le link is this one.

– Samyang 12 mm f/2.0 NCS CS at lenstip: “The Samyang 12 mm f/2.0 NCS CS of course can’t be called a flawless lens; still you can forgive a lot a trailblazer. If you take into account its very sensible price you would be hard pressed not to recommend it. In fact I personally found the Samyang so good that, instead of sending it back to the distributor, I asked for the invoice and bought it. The lens will stay in my arsenal and I am going to use it for landscape photography and wide-field astrophotography. I don’t doubt it will perform very well.

 XF 56mm f/1.2
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–  Review: Fujifilm XF56mm vs XF18-55mm? at bigheadtaco: “The XF56mm F/1.2 prime lens is a beautiful lens for those who need this focal length and wants shallow depth of field for portraiture or subject isolation. I wish it had OIS (optical image stabilization), and a manual focus and DOF scale like other Fuji primes. Other than these two small complaints, the lens is perfect for what it is. If I had a studio and used the X-series cameras as my primary tool (the X-T1 has a built in PC terminal for studio fash triggering), I would definitely have the XF56mm in my arsenal of lenses. The XF18-55mm zoom is the do-it-all lens. It’s not specialized, but it can pull anything off with very good image quality. You won’t get the bokeh that you can get with a F/1.2 lens, but you do get OIS and also a compact and light package. I enjoyed my time with the XF56 and wouldn’t hesitate to shoot with it again. If you need a portrait lens with decent bokeh, this is the lens for you.”

XF 10-24
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 – First Impressions of the Fujinon XF10-24mm f4R OIS at macleancomms: “The price reflects the premium quality of this lens and at £849 it cannot be considered cheap but it is good value for money. By comparison Nikon’s two f4 wide angle zooms, the full frame 16-35mm and the crop frame 12-24mm, both have a street price at around the same level and, while the Nikkors are capable of producing top quality images, neither of these offer the same angle of view or build quality of the Fujinon.”

–  Review: Fujifilm 10-24mm f4 R OIS at arnyzona: “Likes:finally an ultra wide in the x-mount, the all-metal construction, Image quallity, no barrel distortion, no chromati abberations, no vignetting. Dislikes: Heavy, The max aperture isn’t the best for low light / night photography, Expensive, Flimsy plastic lens hood, 72mm filter threat (most wide angles use 77mm filters, but nothing a cheap adapter can’t fix)

– Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS Wide Angle X-Mount lens – First Impressions at photomadd: “this is yet another fantastic lens from Fujinon and when I can afford one I’ll be adding it to my collection.  It is certainly one that I can highly recommended to anyone wanting to fill that ultra-wide angle gap in the Fuji range, especially landscape and architectural photographers.”

– “I had a fifteen minute opportunity to capturing the castle during a family visit to the coast. I was only able to capture six images in total so I am considering these photos to be test shots given the extra struggling of capturing during the mid afternoon sun. Using the Fujifilm X-T1, the 10-24mm lens and the lee filter system I decided to try some long exposure photography.” Read more at flixelpix.

– Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4R OIS Zoom Review at mikemander: “The chromatic aberration is actually very minimal and for landscape photos, I rarely feel the need to correct for the slight bit of barrel distortion it shows at the wider focal lengths. I still feel it is a bit weak at the long end (over 21mm) and definitely recommend shooting with the amazingly good XF 23mm f/1.4, if you own one.”

– More X-T1 + 10-24mm samples at upperplayground.

X-E2
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– Brian: “We had a very pretty day in Chicago – sunny, 80 °Fs , and low humidity. I walked around for two hours with my gear (X-E2, 12 mm, 23 mm, and 50-230 mm glass) and snapped a bunch of photos. Here are my favorites.”

– Fuji X System Wedding Review at jessejamesphotography: “I have always shot weddings with a 2 body system. Im proud to say I haven’t taken 1 single photograph with my D600 this wedding season. The X series has completely replaced my need to use a DSLR as a 2nd body. And honestly, I enjoy the files out of the XE-2 more then what my Nikon D3s produces. When it comes to portraits I grab the Fuji and the XF56 lens now and leave the D3s in the bag. Just amazing!”

– The Fujifilm X-E2: a Landscape Photographer’s Perspective at michalography: “The X-E2 is a pretty good little camera, albeit with a number of annoying handling nags. I would be willing to forgive some of the handling problems if the image quality were up-to-par for my landscape work, but ultimately the X-trans sensor is unacceptable for me. Sadly, my landscape work has turned me into an obsessive pixel-peeper: I demand good detail from my RAW files, and the X-E2 doesn’t deliver in that regard.”

– 6 Months of Mirrorless Photography at lightwith: “Wrapping up here, I’d say I have no regrets ditching my big guns and moving to a mirrorless platform. After only six months I have such a sentimental attachment to my camera now I couldn’t imagine taking pictures without it. I simply love my X-E2 and the amazing images it gives me every time I use it. Even when I’m not shooting, I’m thinking about shooting and I can’t wait to pick up my camera and point it at somebody.”

 X100S
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  – Cactus V6 With Fuji X100s at jasonpitcher: “At the end of the day, these are probably my favourite triggers. My PW setup is good. Very good. But I’m keeping that dedicated to my Nikon system. PW of any type, on an X100s, are just radio triggers and these offer more flexibility. No TTL, of course, but to be honest, I don’t like TTL much anyway.  They are a bit cumbersome, I wish they were half the size for portability. If (when) I add an X-Pro 1 to my arsenal, these will suit perfectly – especially as the X-Pro 1 doesn’t have a built in flash to use as an optical trigger. I hate wires between the camera and flash, so these will add some interesting abilities to that system.”

–  Fujifilm X100s Review at roninphoto: “I’ve been more than pleased with my purchase of the X100s.  I would even go so far as to say this camera has changed the way I view photography and make images.  I’ve since spent time with the X-Pro1 and have purchased the X-T1 and a few fast primes.  My DSLR’s have been collecting a lot of dust as of late and it feels great not to be hauling around a boat load of gear!”

– First hands on experiences with a Fuji X100s at mattevansphotography: “overall this is a fantastic camera. Sure there’s a few niggly bits like the short battery life, soft images when shooting wide open and weird skin smoothing at high iso when shooting jpegs. But nothing that would seriously put me off this camera. All the important things are there, high iso performance, fast lens, image quality is excellent once stopped down beyond f4, the images are sharp and its a devilishly good looking camera.”

– Review of the Fujifilm x100s for Street Photography at erickimphotography: “The Fujifilm x100s is the ideal companion for street photography, travel, and just taking with you on a regular basis. In terms of the value, you can’t beat it in terms of bang-for-the-buck.”

– San Francisco and an Amateurs review of the Fujifilm x100s at folkloredesign.

– Review of the Fujifilm x100s and Tips for Street Photography of Eric Kim at youtube.

X-E1
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– Bradley Hampson: “Hi Patrick. I see lots of tests of our favourite gear, but I took it to an extreme last April. I was waiting for my X-T1 (in transit) and thought, heck, why not see what it takes to make my trusty X-E1 retire? I did not want to break it, I love it, but I wanted to really see its limits… Check it out, if you think it’s of interest feel free to share as you see fit. http://bradleyphoto.ca/projects.

– Wonderful Copenhagen, part 2 at lightpriority: “The great thing about the Fuji system for travel photography is that it’s so compact and lightweight compared to even a small DSLR setup – crucially while still producing top notch results. It’s taken awhile for mirrorless cameras to reach this point, but now I know there’s no going back.”

X-PRO1
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– Two Years on a Bike With the Fuji X-Pro1 at theradavist: “It has been over two years since I switched over from Canon DSLR to the Fuji X-Pro1 and I haven’t looked back. I’ve traveled all over the world with this camera. I road from Paris to Lausanne with her slung around my back. I’ve shot photos for commercial clients and for publications. This little camera has more than met my expectations as a professional use camera.”

lenses

– Fuji XF35 f/1.4 and XF60 f/2.4 – A Street Photography Review . . . at streetphotographyblog: “The biggest and most unexpected revelation though was the XF35. Sure I was well aware of the superb image quality, but for me the speed with which focus could be achieved, the overall tactile feel and all round usefulness of the focal length, means this lens will be mounted more often than first imagined. Previously I had anticipated that the XF60 would account for 90% of my shooting. It now looks as though this figure could be more like 50-50.”

– Review: Fujifilm 60mm f2.4 Macro (X series) at thephoblographer: “Fujifilm’s 60mm f2.4 X series lens isn’t really a macro lens per se due to the fact that it doesn’t focus down to a 1:1 ratio; but it can surely focus closely. Besides checking out little things under the lens, you can turn it into a kick ass portrait lens when the right lighting is applied. Its sharpness isn’t spectacular, but it isn’t at all horrible either. Overall though, we’ve been more excited about other lenses from Fujifilm. And this one isn’t particularly making us drool as much.”

– Carlo Milani: “I want to share with our Fuji friends a portrait shooting taken with XT-1 and the 55-200“. See it at milani.info.

– Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4: Great ‘Xpectations at betterphotography: “There is absolutely no doubt that the Fujinon 23mm f/1.4 is a stunning piece of optics. It does sound a little repetitive to say this—almost every Fuji XF lens we’ve tested has had us searching for new adjectives. But in a growing lineup of excellent lenses, the 23mm seems to be one of the very best.”

RAW-conversion

 – Michael:

“Hey… This in no rumor. You are talking a lot of iridient developer. This is a good raw converter, for sure. But you should give a look to apples aperture. This a also a very very good raw developer and storage solution for the fuji x-t1.

After the mess with adobe lightroom i am very happy and satisfied with aperture. The colors are very nice and natural, just with standard settings. i don’t have to adjust something, for making good pictures. sure, you CAN adjust anything you like, but you don’t have to. ;)

You have to do just one tiny step:

In Raw-Adjustment of the Camera you should adjust the controller “Details” from 0 to 50 to get that very sharp and crispy images, that the fuji x-t1 can deliver. save this setting as standard setting for that camera and you are good! You have to do it just one time.

I deleted lightroom from my hard drive after getting familiar with aperture. the workflow is fantastic! The pictures are also very natural and crisp, even without provia, velvia etc. settings. You don’t have to switch between your library and developing, as you have to in lightroom. that makes my workflow much easier. You have a good database, you can share to fotostream, flickr, Facebook and smugmug, you can even access and edit this online storages. Database is library based, so aperture creates a big library with original (Masters) and working copies of your pictures. nothing can be deleted or lost!

Maybe you can take a look at Aperture by Apple an recommend it to your readers… I am fascinated by that app!

The fuji x-t1 rocks!”

– A Look at Replichrome II from Totally Rad at thomasfitzgeraldphotography: “In my opinion VSCO gives a much stronger effect than Replicrome. In someways it’s probably more like what people are expecting, but I’ve always found the contrast a little much on it. I would often have to adjust the shadow and highlight levels. Which you prefer is kind of a subjective choice though and it depends on your tastes. Personally I do prefer the look of VSCO film, but then I’ve been using it a lot longer and that’s just my personal opinion anyway. You may prefer Replichrome’s more subtle approach.”

 switch to the X

– Fuji X series, how I got here! at smithographer: “The fuji’s are light and compact, have exceptional image quality, have extremely sharp lenses that are very well built, and are simple and easy to use free of gimmicky features. Most importantly though, I actually want to shoot again. The X-PRO1 actually brought back that feeling I had when I was studying photography. Its impossible to put into words what that feeling was but there is a certain excitement and sense of wonder. This was in the days of film mind you where you were not certain of your results, you didn’t have that instant feedback we have in the digital era.”

– Going mirror less – Switching to Fuji X at sftwins: “Wow. Big news. Still can’t believe that I actually did it. A few weeks ago I sold my entire Nikon DSLR equipment and have switched to the Fuji X system. After 20 years of being a loyal Nikon customer I finally decided to take a step into the future. Over the years, I had amassed a collection of lenses, flashes and small tools such as remotes, batteries etc.. Nikon had never let me down. As a matter of fact, I simply loved my Nikon D800. It is an amazing camera with probably the best possible image quality out there in the market. But it was time to move on and I am actually very happy that I switched to the Fuji x system. In this post I want to share a few thoughts about making such a drastic switch.

tips

– Tips for street Photography at artphotofeature.

X-E2: Behind Firmware 2.00

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X-E2 DEAL

The X-E2 body is currently $62 off at BHphoto (+ 4%reward), AmazonUS and Adorama (+ 4% reward) / The silver X-E2 kit is $100 off at BHphoto (+4% reward) and AmazonUS .

_ _ _

X-E2: Behind Firmware 2.00

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr sets

Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro1 Reading Samples (65 free pages)

Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1 – The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual (coming soon)

Berlin Calling!

The German version of my new eBook The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual is finally entering production. As you may guess, the delay was due to Fuji issuing firmware 2.00 for the X-E2 today. Luckily, I was able to get my hand on an early copy of the firmware, and after a week of testing, I feel comfortable telling you what this update is about – and what’s still missing.

Don’t have the new firmware, yet? Click here to get it.

As I am now working on the English version of the eBook, I am also adding two new dates to my Fuji X Secrets workshop schedule. That’s because except for two open seats at the Beginners Workshop on 31MAY in Nuremberg, all other Fuji X Secrets workshops are currently sold-out. So on 19JUL and 20JUL, we are going to Berlin! If you live in the area or happen to be there on this summer weekend, let’s meet in person and experience a “real-life version” of X-Pert Corner!

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X-E2 Goes X-T1

While the X-T1 is pretty popular these days, I also really like my X-E2. As a matter of fact, it’s still my favorite X-Mount camera to date. So I’m glad that Fuji keeps making it better.

The main improvement in firmware 2.00 is bringing the X-E2 on par with the X-T1 regarding display lag time. With the new firmware, the camera’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) display lag is now 0.005 seconds, matching the X-T1’s highly touted Real Time Viewfinder.

Minimizing the display lag helps with action shots, as the lag between actual and perceived reality (through the EVF) is shrinking. Basically, this helps you pressing the shutter just in time instead of missing crucial moments. In addition to that, the X-E2 viewfinder now offers the same low light performance as the X-T1, maintaining a high frame rate of at least 50 fps.

Essentially, the X-E2 becomes a faster, more responsive camera.

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

The Fuji X-gear IN & OUT of stock check!

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Which Fuji X-gear is IN or OUT of stock at the moment? And where can you find it? Here is an overview.

The X-T1 is still mostly out of stock. Same for the 56mm. And after the latest Fuji X-deals, many XF lenses are still a rarity on the market.

USA IN STOCK CHECK

X-T1 body: AmazonUS (1 left via third party) / DigitalRev
X-T1 kit: Pictureline / [shoplink 23995 ebay]eBay 1[/shoplink] / [shoplink 23996 ebay]eBay 2[/shoplink] / DigitalRev /
XF56mm: AmazonUS / [shoplink 23999 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] / DigitalRev
XF10-24: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Pictureline / [shoplink 23997 ebay]eBay 1[/shoplink] / [shoplink 23998 ebay]eBay 2[/shoplink] / DigitalRev
XF23mm: OUT OF STOCK
XF55-200: AmazonUS / Pictureline /
XF27mm (black): Pictureline /
XF27mm (silver): BHphoto / AmazonUS /
XF 35mm: OUT OF STOCK

First Look: Fujifilm TCL-X100 Teleconverter for X100(S) Cameras

Fujifilm TCL-X100 Teleconverter for X100(S) Cameras

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

TCL-X100 Sample Images Set – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr sets

Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro1 Reading Samples (65 free pages)
Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1 – The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual (coming soon)

Hello Again!

It’s been a while, as I have been busy wrapping up my new eBook The Fujifilm X-E2 – Beyond the Manual. The German version of the manuscript will enter conversion later this week, and I am currently working on the English version.

When a member of the German Fuji X Forum inquired about workshops covering Fujifilm X-series cameras, one user suggested me to offer one, though I honestly didn’t expect much interest, given how small the Fuji universe still is. Turns out I was wrong: The first three Fuji X Secrets workshops each sold-out within just a few hours.

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We kick-off the series with a Beginners Workshop on 31MAY, followed by two “standard” workshops in Nuremberg on 7JUN and 14JUN, then two more in Heidelberg on 28/29JUN. Here’s a list for those of you who might be interested and are based in Germany or nearby countries (even though we have participants that come from as far as Australia). There’s a fair chance that we’ll tour other cities (such as Berlin) after summer break. As I am going to spend a few weeks in Santa Barbara, CA in late November and December, I’d like to offer one or two workshops there, as well. Stay tuned.

X100(S) Turns Into a Mini System

When Fuji displayed a telephoto conversion lens for their X100 and X100S cameras at CP+, it was a dream come true for many X-Philes who had kept asking for such an option since this camera’s inception. Adding 19mm (wide-angle conversion lens WCL-X100) and 33mm (telephoto conversion lens TCL-X100) options to the fixed 23mm lens of the X100(S) turns the camera into a three lens mini system with silent leaf shutter operation and fast flash synchronization speeds.

X100S with standard 23mmF2 lens

X100S with 19mmF2 WCL-X100

X100S with 33mmF2 TCL-X100

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

Finally! X-T1 + 18-55mm in stock NOW at AmazonUS (1 left) and Adorama! XF 10-24 on ebay!

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It was a long wait, but finally also the X-T1 with 18-55 kit lens is in stock at AmazonUS here ( sold out just ONE left, sold via third party at normal price) and Adorama here (+4%reward) and at top rated ebay reseller [shoplink 23682 ebay]cameraspot[/shoplink]

The body is easier to find. A limited number is available at AmazonUS here (via third party at normal price), at Adorama here (with 4% reward) and Pictureline.

The XF10-24 is available in a limted number at AmazonUS (sold via third party at normal price) and at top rated ebay reseller [shoplink 23672 ebay]popflash here[/shoplink] + [shoplink 23673 ebay]samyscamerainc[/shoplink].

The XF 56mm f/1.2 is still out of stock or $50 more expensive at AmazonUS via third party reseller.

Fuji X-T1: [shopcountry 21553] Fuji XF 56mm: [shopcountry 21554] Fuji XF 10-24mm: [shopcountry 20414]  photo d_zps8e13fc57.jpg

miXed zone: The rise of mirrorless?, Fujifilm X-T1 reviews and more

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The rise of mirrorless?

According to the figures published by the CIPA here, compared to February 2013, this year Japanese companies shipped 33,7% more mirrorless cameras and 12,3% less DSLR cameras! This trend can’t be seen in North America, where the mirrorless market is still suffering and decreasing. But keep in mind that, overall, the camera sales wordwide dropped by 34,5%.

via Mirrorlessrumors / phoblograher/imaging resource/amateur photographer

Fuji X-T1
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image courtesy: brianfletcherblog

 – Brian: “Hi Patrick. I recently ditched all my Canon gear (5D Mk3’s plus L glass) for the X series of bodies and glass.  I shot my first Wedding with them a couple weeks ago, if you would like to take a look.  I used 2 X-T1’s and the 23mm and 56mm.” See more here. Brian also send me this text:

“The bride is a friend of mine and it was very mellow, relaxed day.  I am really excited to try it out in a more traditional wedding setting and I have no doubt that it will perform admirably.  I have done enough weddings to know what is going to work and what isn’t and the X-T1 will work for the way I shoot.

For dancing, my assistant was providing off-camera light and I didn’t have any issues focusing, really.  It wasn’t spot on every single frame, but neither were my Mk3’s.  The biggest difference for me was when I did use some flash on my camera for a few shots, you have to switch to Single shot mode, but it causes you to shoot more conservatively instead of rapid file style like with my Mk3’s.  It may not be ideal for some wedding photographers, but for someone like me, it is a welcome change.  I don’t want to miss any moments, for sure but I also don’t want to be going through 6k images after a wedding anymore.

The ONLY time I got a bit frustrated was when I was trying to get some family formals in open shade with the mid-day sun blasting down behind the subjects, and the camera wouldn’t lock focus at all – I assumed it has to do with the lack of contrast/focus issue that already has been discussed.  I just switched to manual with focus peaking and got it, but it definitely was a little frustrating.  I am confident Fuji will fix this with a firmware update someday.”

– Fujifilm X-T1 – Sport assignment at joengphotography: “I had an assignment to shoot an indoor track race for Gastown Cycling, a local cycling club in Vancouver, BC Canada. I wanted to put the X-T1 to use with the 55-200mm on the field and try testing its limits. […] The performance of the continuous focus tracking was very similar to my Nikon D700 once the subject was locked.

– Full write-up on using pro wireless flash with the X-T1 at f-sunny.

– Comments and Comparisons About the Olympus E-M1 in Comparison to the FujiFilm X-T1 at thewanderinglensman: “The Olympus, in my subjective judgment, focuses faster in the “S” mode.  Also, in my judgment, the X-T1 focuses better in the “Tracking” mode.”

– Full Review: Fujifilm X-T1 and XF 10-24mm at bigheadtaco: “If I had to choose right now between the two, I would choose the X-T1 over the X-E2. The main reasons for this is because of the improved and larger EVF, the articulating screen, and the dedicated ISO dial.”

Fuji X-T1 Review: Fuji X system starts getting serious at darrenobrien: “The Fuji X-T1 is quite a camera, it is fast, responsive, quick to focus and that EVF is stunning.  The image quality is the typical, high standard, Fuji offering.  The images from the X-T1 are possibly the best I have seen from a non-full frame camera, same goes for the ISO performance.”

– Fuji X-T1 Review: The ideal travel photography camera? at danielkcheung: “the X-T1 is a very sound camera. Technically there is not much wrong with it (apart from perhaps that issue of NR applied to smudged foliage thing). I have enjoyed using it extensively. Most of my complaints can be resolved with time. For casual use, I think the X-T1 ticks all the boxes.”

– A day with Fuji – part 2 – X-T1, 10-24mm f/4 and 56mm f1.2 lenses – Fuji ‘Full frame’?? NO!!!!! at soundimageplus: “And I’m becoming more and more convinced that Fuji are most definitely becoming one of the great lens makers. Plus they seem to be getting better. The 23mm f/1.4, 10-24mm f/4 and 56mm f/1.2, their latest, are terrific lenses. Close to the best I’ve ever used. And yes that includes Leica, Zeiss, Nikon and medium format lenses as well.”

– The Fujifilm X-T1-the wheel comes full circle at thistonybridge: “Fujifilm’s philosophy of better pixels, not more pixels, appears to be paying off. While it uses a 16.3Mp X-Trans II APS-C size sensor, properly captured and post-produced files are capable of generating high quality A1 prints with exquisite resolution and micro-detail. Subtle mid-tone separation is still no match for the creamy tonalities from a D 800 or Phase 1, but it comes close. Damned close. Use Photo Ninja and you will be blown away by the quality of the files.”

– Fuji Xt1 autofocus speed at thebigpicturegallery: “Using the 55-200 zoom I aquired focus and hit the shutter, I shot 10 frames in total and only the last 2 frames showed oof, due to losing focus as the birds dropped into the water. Pretty amazed at this set, given the 55-200 is not the easiest lens to work with. The tracking works a treat. It was fortunate I guess  that the 2 birds stayed at a similar distance to each other. Hope you find some interest in this wee test.”

– Sebastian: “Hi Patrick, for many of us the X-T1 has already been out there for six weeks now. Hence, I thought the period of grace and praise might be coming to an end and started creating my wishlist for firmware updates and hardware improvements for the upcoming “X-T2” ;-) I published the first part which tackles firmware issues at my newly created blog which I will mainly devote to suggestions of this kind.” Read it here at sonop.

– X-E2 vs X-T1 at the Japanese site trendy.nikkeibp (tranlsation).

– X-T1 at camera.itmedia (translation).

– review at the Polish site optyczne (translation).

 XF 56mm f/1.2
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image courtesy: thedigitaltrekker

– A few thoughts of the Fujifilm FX56 mm F/1.2 R at thedigitaltrekker: “It is everything that X-Photographers had hoped for and more. It is fast, sharp and gives your photos the bokeh you come to expect from an f/1.2 lens. If there is any problem with this lens it is the lack of a fast shutter speed on any camera it was intended for. My rating on this lens is 5 out of 5 stars. Fujifilm hit this one right out of the ballpark!”

– Scharf, schärfer, Fujinon xf56mm (sharp, sharper, 56mm) f1.2 at qimago (translation).

– First pictures with the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R Lens at soundimageplus: “Though just as a little teaser, it’s fast, it’s sharp and no lens has any right whatsoever to be this good at f/1.2. Forget Leica, Zeiss and yes I am actually going to write it, Nikon (and I already have forgotten them) Fuji are incredibly good at making lenses for cameras.”

– 56mm compared to the 60mm at fujivsfuji: “Well, if you want to shoot a lot of portraits, need fast focusing, or you’re a shallow depth of field nut, the answer is obvious, you want the 56mm ƒ/1.2. If you want a more versatile, lighter, smaller lens that is a little slower in every way, but costs just over half as much, the FUJINON XF 60mm ƒ/2.4 Macro is an excellent option.”

– plenty of pixel peeping at slrclub (translation).

XF 10-24
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– A few thoughts of the Fujifilm XF10-24mm f/4 R OIS at thedigitaltrekker: “Overall, I am pleased with this lens. I am frustrated that I only had it for a few days and didn’t have a chance to try it out on a landscape or some other more traditional use of a lens of this type. The lens does fit into my style of shooting and I will be purchasing it as soon as more stock arrives here in Malaysia. It is really wide and deliverers the images you can expect from a 10/15mm lens. My biggest gripe is that it is rather slow. Even with OIS at f/4 this lens doesn’t allow the camera to shoot faster shutter speeds, and so more chance of motion blur is guaranteed. With that said, I would give this lens a 3.5 out of 5 stars.”

– Hands on review at Tom Grill’s website aboutphotography: “I went into this test expecting many of the typical disappointments associated with super-wide angle zoom lenses — corner softness, rectilinear distortion, heavy vignetting. Instead I came away with even more respect for the folks at Fujifilm for making such an excellent lens with virtually none of the aberrations that usually plague this breed of zoom. This truly is one of the best super-wide angle zooms I have even used, and well worth its modest price of $999.99.

– Jeroen de Jong: “Last weekend I picked up a XF 10-24mm so that I can use my new X-T1 also for landscapes. During my first series of testshots I made this beautiful picture, which I wanted to share with Fujirumors. It made immediately to Flickr explore (12000+ views and over 350 faves).” See them here.

benjacobsenphoto XF10-24 images.

–  Fuji 10-24mm f/4 zoom and Photoshop lens ‘corrections’ at soundimageplus. Check out also this article here.

X-E2
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 – Apollon: “Hi Patrick. I love your website! I am writing to ask if you could kindly share a set I’ve posted on FlickR on Costa Rica, taken with the Fuji X-E2 and a variety of lenses: Canon FD 300 4L, Fuji 55-200, Fuji 56 1.2, Fuji 27 2.8, Fuji 14 2.8 and Bower 8mm 2.8. I have tried to demonstrate the beautiful Fuji colors in a variety of photographic situations.” And here is the Flickr link.

X100S
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– X100S musings, a camera for old man? at jasonpitcher: “I hate to say it, but I’m really starting to prefer the Fuji X system for most of the stuff I do. I like the body style of the rangefinders over the SLR form factor. There has been a lot of buzz around the new X-T1, but that camera doesn’t appeal to me. It’s a small DSLR shape and if I want to use a camera like that, I’m going to use my D800, dodgy eyes or no.”

– Macro Photography with Fuji X : x100s + Raynox-250 at kstphotography: “Since I started using the Fuji X system a few months ago, I often come across people in various forum asking if Fuji X system is good for macro and what lens or accessories should they use? I have decided to write a few articles about this with some pictures I took using different set up.”

– Gene Smirnov: “Hey, Hope all is well. I couldn’t find how to submit images, but I recently used x100s for an advertising shoot for Converse. AD: http://www.genesmirnov.com/PORTFOLIOS/In-Print/4/ One of the additional shots. http://www.genesmirnov.com/PORTFOLIOS/Music/96/ I was shooting a mini promo doc (http://www.genesmirnov.com/MOTION/Ruby-The-Hatchet/1/) about this band Ruby The Hatchet, using Canons and x100s was very very handy when I had to shoot some stills. At some points I would have my shoulder video rig on and then it would take a few seconds to be able to switch to x100s and keep shooting action due it’s compactness.”

– Fujifilm X100S and Sony A7 Comparison at stephenip: “Mainly that for how and what I shoot, the APS-C sensors on the X100S and X-Pro1/X-T1 are good enough. Based on the results of my completely unscientific comparison and the fact that I rarely make large prints, I really can’t find any reason to consider a move to Sony. It’s not that the Sony A7 (and A7R which I haven’t used) aren’t great cameras. It’s just that for my needs and preferences, the Fuji X Series cameras and lenses simply suit me better.”

– X100S review at framework.latimes: “Professional photographers and serious photographers alike will find this camera hard to put down, a great little walk around that’s more than just a pretty piece of neck candy. The X100S inspires your inner street photographer and will take you back to the golden era of photography, when photographers took their sweet time to make photos and the cameras were precision instruments of reverence and potent power.

– Fuji X100s + [shoplink 12893]WCL-X100[/shoplink] Wide-angle adapter at soundimageplus: “Optically it’s the usual Fuji standard, i.e. very good indeed. Sharp to the corners and as you can see the distortion in the brick wall shots is very well controlled. These add-on adapters are supposed to be terrible, but then Fuji tore up the rule book on lenses some time ago.” For his article “The rather beautiful Fuji X100sclick here.

– The Kaza Fuji X100S combo case review at mrare: “Overall I’m pretty happy with the case because of the design and the quality of the material. If I were to wish for anything, it would be a slightly larger opening on the bottom for the door, a smaller option for those without needing the room for a lens hood, a revised design to accommodate a thumbs up and to ditch the loop on the back of the case to attach to your belt loop.”

X-E1
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 – Fuji X-E1 review at musicphotographer: “This camera is obviously not for everybody, and it does not replace your heavy duty DSRL, but instead it completes your kit, it’s the camera to bring always with you and have no regrets when it comes to image quality, it’s not perfect, as I mentioned several times the sensor is great but with some flaws, but despite some of the camera limitations, I enjoyed every single time I used it, and it actually surprised me more than once for what this little camera is capable of.”

X-PRO1
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– Sergio Sorrentino: “Hi Patrick, thanks for the great work on fujirumors, I’m following you since 2012. I’m a professional wedding photographer, based in Italy. I used to shoot my works with a 5D Mark II and a 1D MarkII. Last summer, sold the huge 1D, I finally bought a X-Pro1 with 35mm for using as second camera with my 5D Mark II. Well, I was so happy for the images I obtained that recently I sold the 35L which was my main lens and bought the 23mm f/1.4R. The next step will be buying another X-Series camera (X-E2 or X-T1) and the 56 f/1.2 and the complete switch will be done! Here’s the full article on my website.”

– X-PRO1 on a rainy day in New York at aboutphotography.

X100
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– Fuji X100 at kbesios: “After a long time, today I am posting a few images taken with the Fuji X100 camera. My relationship with the X100 has gone from various stages. At one point, I reached a step before selling it, but thankfully, I decided to keep it. The last firmware update has transformed it to a much much better camera and this is something that no other company has ever done to a discontinued model (at least to the level of update Fuji did).”

Fuji and Flash

Geoff: “Hi. Have there been any tips about an upcoming flash system? I was reading about the meeting that David Hobby, Zack Arias, David Mullins, and Bert Stephani had with Fuji. It would have to be a massive coincidence for three of those chosen to meet with Fuji to be three of the most popular bloggers re. off camera flash use.  The fourth is a wedding photographer who would also benefit from a pro flash system. I’d be interested in hearing others’ thoughts on this. It seems like a glaring hint, to me, that Fuji would invite those three people for a meeting, yet I haven’t seen others discuss the implication that Fuji must/may be working on a new flash system. I wonder if you would consider posting this observation for discussion.  Thank you.”