~1200mm~ Quick Review of the Fuji 2.0x Teleconverter with Fujinon XF100-400

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Preface:

About a year ago while hiking in Zion Utah, I came across a big horn sheep herd, I took some pictures with the Fuji 90mm at far too close a distance (around 4 meters), since then I’ve been hooked and keen on trying out wildlife photography as a pastime. This is what has led me into the point I am at now, with a Fuji 100-400mm a 2x teleconverter and a cropped sensor, equating to ≈ 1200mm

Equipment: Fuji X-Pro2, Fuji 100-400mm, Fuji 2x TC

Look and feel:

The combination is very easy to use, it’s still light, although too long for most bags, and wildlife begs for your camera and lens to be ready and set up, with hood on and camera setup it makes this a large, yet light package.

Durability:

Hiked through the mountains of Yellowstone Nation Park for 10 days, got rained on very hard (way to much for comfort) and the combination kept up with nary a problem in sight. It seems to be apt for the job.

Sharpness:

Well this is tricky, the Fuji 100-400 is sharp, but at the 400mm end it’s not as sharp, the setup although fantastic for shooting hand-held, isn’t bright enough to keep ISO down and shutter speeds up, not to mention swinging 1200mm is tricky at best and your movement is amplified greatly and you can overwork the Optical Stabilization quickly with quick jerks and movements, but I got really good results hand-held @1200mm’s without wearing myself out because of weight and size, I would call that a good give and take.

Image Stabilization:

It’s hands down amazing, it’s not magic, you can’t swing this combination and hope for the best, but I spoke with many photographers all of which were posting against something or had tripods, at the distances we were sharing my photos were more clear, and usually much closer.

Reach:

1200mm can be shot handheld with ease, and its much easier to fill up the frame at safer distances.

Auto Focus:

It works, and I know this sounds rather silly, but you have to spend a lot of money on the DSLR side to get 1200mm to autofocus (from what I know). It’s actually pretty fast and accurate in good light. It’s amazing to think that it is contrast based to be honest.

Conclusion:

I couldn’t be happier with this combination, I’m truly hoping that fuji comes out with a 300mm f2.8, I would buy that setup in a heart beat. As is though, Fuji is really moving quickly with filling in all the gaps with lenses, they are making wonderful optics and they truly work well and are a pleasure to use.

Fujinon XF100-400: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP / PCHstore / WexUK
Fuji 2.0x TeleConverter: USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama

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Skin Tones – Fuji 56/1.2 vs Sony 85mm GM, Canon 85/1.2 L, Zeiss Batis 85, & Panasonic Leica 42.5/1.2

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By Rick Birt of Romeo Bravo Photo

Like most serious photographers, I mostly shoot RAW.  However, both my wife and I have clients that just want jpgs straight out of the camera.  This wasn’t a problem with my wife’s old Canon 1Ds mkII that I first started with, but it was with my Sony a7R II.  The out-of-camera (OOC) jpg files produce less than desirable skin tones. I know about the glorious Fuji colors, and I use Fuji simulations in some of my post-processing.  After reading numerous glowing reports about Fuji OOC jpg colors, I decided to rent a Fujifilm X-Pro2 with a 56/1.2.  I’ve also read great things about Olympus jpg colors so I added an Olympus Pen-F with a Panasonic Leica Nocticron 42.5/1.2.

I wanted to judge skin tones in both OOC jps, and after processing RAW files in Lightroom (my version of Capture One doesn’t recognize the new Fuji RAW).

So, I grabbed my wife, and fellow photographer, Kelly Williams and we shot all Saturday afternoon.

So lets look at the OOC jpgs…

Fuji X-Pro2 with Fujifilm 56mm f1.2:

OOC Fuji Provia
OOC Fuji Provia

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First Look: Fujifilm X70

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Fujifilm X70: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP / PCHstore / WexUK / AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

First Look: Fujifilm X70

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

Rico’s X70 Full-Size Sample Images

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Size Does Matter: The tiny Fujifilm X70 was inspired by the Ricoh GR II. Beyond their pocketable size and weight, both cameras share a Sony-built APS-C sensor with 16.3 MP, a 18.5mmF2.8 lens and plenty of street cred as premium compacts that you can carry with you all the time.

The X70 also incorporates the spirit of the X-series: a solid design with dials for everything, the functionality and image quality of the popular X-T10, and a very well-made lens. It also premieres a tiltable display with touch control for quick focusing, instant shutter release and intuitive image playback.

A black X70 (pre-production) pretending to be weather-resistant

Initially, the X70 was supposed to be introduced in concert with the X-T1 in early 2014, but Fujifilm shelved these plans in favor of the underrated X30. Of, course, the new X70 of 2016 embodies all the major goodies and features that have been developed in the past two years: the new AF system with more sensitive PDAF pixels, AF zones and “3D tracking”, Classic Chrome, a new and improved user interface and now even a touchscreen.

Click here for full camera specs and here for full-size sample images.

The X70 is available in black and silver versions

Main features include…

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First Look: Fujifilm X-Pro2

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Fujifilm X-Pro2
USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP /   AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

 

 First Look: Fujifilm X-Pro2

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

Rico’s X-Pro2 Full-Size Sample Images (NEW: now also with Lightroom CC RAW samples)

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A New Hope: The retro-styled X-Pro2 kicks off Fujifilm’s next generation of enthusiast X-series cameras, based on a state-of-the-art 24.3 MP X-Trans sensor and a much more powerful processor. At first, everything seems strikingly familiar, but a closer look reveals that quite a lot has changed.

A Fujifilm X-Pro2 after a few days of light use

Four years after the introduction of the X-Pro1, Fujifilm is finally ready to open a new chapter in their book of mirrorless cameras. At first glance, the X-Pro2 looks just like its predecessor. However, it’s a different story on the inside (click here for full camera specs and here for more than 150 straight-out-of-camera and Lightroom CC RAW conversion sample images).

X-Pro2 with XF35mmF1.4 R

New features include…

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First Look: Fujifilm XF35mmF2 R WR

 

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First Look: Fujifilm XF35mmF2 R WR

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

Rico’s XF35mmF2 R WR Full-Size Sample Images

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X-T10 with optional handgrip and XF35mmF2 R WR
(shot with X-T1, XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4x TC WR)

At first glance, adding a XF35mmF2 prime to an already existing lineup of XF35mmF1.4 and Zeiss Touit 1.8/32 offerings looks like an unusual choice. But then again, the new XF35mmF2 R WR is slimmer, lighter and less expensive than its internal competition. It’s also weather resistant and tailored to the hybrid viewfinder of the X-Pro1 (and its highly anticipated successor).

Size comparison: Zeiss Touit 1.8/32, XF35mmF1.4 R and XF35mmF2 R WR
(shot with X-T1, XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4x TC WR)

Despite its attractive price tag, the XF35mmF2 R WR is made in Japan with a high build quality and an all metal exterior. The aperture ring may very well be the best I’ve ever encountered in an XF lens, and I also like the handling of the focus ring. To me, they feel “just right”.

X-T10, XF35mmF2 R WR, f/3.2, Lightroom

With 9 rounded aperture blades, the XF35mmF2 R WR delivers pretty smooth bokeh. The minimum focus distance (MFD) is 35cm, so you can get close to your subject. However, similar to the X100/S/T, shooting wide open at or near MFD can lead to some dreamy softness. It disappears as soon as you stop down to f/2.8 or f/3.2.

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