Mike K

Kleo   X-PRO1 & 56mm f1.2
 
 
 
 

A Forum can't exist, without a proper thread about cat shots Here is mine, during a winter walk with my cat. Feel free to share your cat-shot
 
X-T1 + 18-135 @ 135 + Crop

Hi,
 
Let's try an group the reviews for the new camera here...
 
As an X-photographer, I shot an X-100F for a few weeks and my review can be found here:
http://bjornmoerman.blogspot.dk/2017/01/first-look-fujifilm-x-100f-review.html
 
Always happy to answer questions here or on my blog.
Regards,
BJORN

X-Pro1 & 35mm f2

I'm with you on this. 
 
I've been using Lightroom for years with my Leica M8 & M9, I had also purchased Iridient some years ago, which I used only occasionally.
 
Since moving to Fuji last year I've been using Iridient almost exclusively, I can't even remember when I last used LR. As you've mentioned in your post, I've found Iridient overall better and less "cumbersome" to work with. They deserve to be supported.

#2- Hand held  1/20sec f5.6 ISO 200 @ 400mm
 

I ordered the new Fuji 100-400mm from Amazon DE last Friday and it was delivered this morning.
 
It was a grey rainy day today, really not great for photography. In any event, I immediately mounted the lens on my X-Pro1 and tried a few random shots around here. 
 
Very briefly, my first impressions:
Image quality is outstanding. Hand held at 1/15sec or 1/20sec is no problem, the OIS works beautifully, there's no motion blur, images are pin sharp. Auto focus is silent & relatively fast  -I need to still try this on moving subjects.  I'm doing a safari in Botswana in early April, it will be a good opportunity to test the lens properly.  
I've been waiting for this lens, so I could make a final decision on selling my Leica R APO 280mm f4. After a couple of hours of playing, the decision's been made, the Leica is going tomorrow...
 
Images are all straight out of camera Jpegs no PP:
 
#1- Hand held  1/15sec f5.6 ISO 200 @ 100mm

I suppose the relic model is not much different than the X-T1 graphite. I paid extra for that cause I like how it looks like my old film cameras (various people have mentioned when seeing me with it that you don't see film cameras much anymore). Somehow a relic model seems like cheating though. 
 
Leica can have 2 levels of relic model... the ones that look worn, but look worn in the same way, then the customized worn look where each one is differently worn. 

Or you can use it and put it through its paces; my M9 has been all over Africa, Antarctica and India with me over the past 7 years.
 
It went to Leica to have the sensor replaced, FOC. While it was there they offered to also replace the top cover at a cost of several hundred Euro.
 
I declined, I figured that they should rather be paying me a premium for my cover plate, seeing that they're using these cover plates on the Lenny Kravitz version, and selling them at a rather inflated price!

#2- Hand held  1/20sec f5.6 ISO 200 @ 400mm
 

I have no problem with it as I cut my photographic teeth on analogue cameras with dials like this, it can be a little challenging when shooting shutter priority to read clearly upside down but on the whole it is fine and it adds to the retro styling and does have a practical purpose that allows instant view of ISO rather than through a menu.
 
There will always be those who do not like it but I bet many do and Fuji have obviously canvassed many photogs before adding it as well as getting feedback from the 100+ X- photographers who tested the prototype and to date I have not read any of their reviews that list it as a negative.

Issue finally got resolved and that official US Fuji Dealer accepted return and sent full refund.
 
They didn't discover yet what went wrong and why I received this bad sample, but I glad it's over.
 
I feel sad that my first experience with XF 50-140mm was so bad. I was inspired by it's size and build quality, silent and quick autofocus, noticeable OIS.
Only about 10 happy minutes : ) Then it converted to 10 days of nightmare.
 
I'm so tired of this case, that will skip trying to buy other XF 50-140mm. Maybe it's not a right time for that. Maybe next year.
Probably I'll buy old and used Nikkor 80-200mm 2.8 Mk-III + adapter.
 
Many thanks to everyone for your support! It really helped me to stay calm, using your wise hints and communicating to the seller in a right way.

Personally, I really like the Super Takumar 105mm F2.8 with a focal reducer, it really gives a smooth bokeh in my book.
 
This exemple is about as unprocess as it can be:
 
Super Takumar 105 F2.8

Pentax Takumars, yes, very good lens.
 
My 100mm macro f4 ( 1:2) is one of the sharpest lenses that one can use on a mirrorless camera and certainly capable to rival with my 60mm macro  (1:2 too) 
 
Used properly (here with my lens turbo II) it too is capable of great bokeh at a fraction of the price of more contemporary , here a couple of tulips shot at f 8 minimum of post processing in the one with the triangular background to enhance the structure a little bit.

My X-E1 with the cheap K&F adapter using a beat up $20 Super-Takumar 50mm F1.4, probably at about F2.8 or so. 

That lens woks great on portraits. There are many versions of it and much variation from copy to copy. I am sorry to hear that you weren’t happy about yours Johan. I was just lucky with this, a lens with no coating and riddled with some  little transparent impurities on the lens rear elements which might be droplets of something or even minuscule specs of glass dust, they are translucent.
 
So much for “ clean" lenses!
 
The depth of field is not only shallow at a relatively open aperture ( and much more completely open), but  as you will see it is very sharp at 2.8... but only where it was focussed ( eyebrows and eyes) but tip of the nose and ears are out of focus.
 
As for price, yes, it is true that some lenses which you can use on mirrorless cameras ( such as the Olympus) are very expensive now while a few years ago you couldn’t give them away, but there are still many street markets and charity shops where you can luck out, yet, especially in central and East-Europe there were truck loads of these more humble lenses, although they have their own rarities as well, but I am not a collector, and some people kept them well and used them until not so long ago on analog cameras, instead of having been chucked out as many did in the West.
 
So, yes, all manner of “ zebra” lenses are NOW sold at relatively high prices ( always lower than a new lens) simply because they are old and look the retro part and you get the paradox of people shooting with the latest technology in “ film” ( camera bodies are in fat the film you shoot with)  and the oldest one in glass.
 
So people argue the maximum result obtainable from a raw converter and then use the camera with one of these lenses. But that is another thread altogether.
 
I am not proposing to use these lenses for everyday photography, although yesterday, I took a portrait of my father in law and just before he was just sitting with my wife talking about  his administration that my wife helps him with and I quickly shot a picture of them two together which was very nice indeed.
 
By the way the adapter that I’ve used in this case is a “ dumb” adapter ( one that doesn’t do anything els than adapting bayonet with the M42 thread of the lens) by K&F. So the  full frame focal length equivalent of a 50mm is 80mm, which makes the humble 50mm one of the ideal focal lengths for a portrait although for some reason now people have taken to shoot portraits with much longer lenses.
 
 
 
 
 
 

In the last few days some members have been showing their enthusiasm for their new bokeh monsters which they bought, and why not?
 
After all we are all proud of our purchases and there’s nothing wrong in showing them off on this forum, it’s one innocent pleasure we all take next to our hobby or professional interest.
 
I did wonder though if I would ever find any reason, in my heart and or pocket, to buy a very expensive new lens in order to get the creamy “ bokeh” which all manner of people talk about these days.
 
Of course buying a lens that has an incredibly open aperture value could be done in order to shoot things at the limit of visibility because of incredibly low level of light, but, given the incredible performance at high ISO of modern camera I rather doubt that that is necessary, so one buys these lenses for the effect they give, which isolate the subject for the background.
 
So I shot a picture of two with my cheap ( and I really mean cheap charity shop prices category! ) Göerz Meyer Orestor f 1.8 ( at 2.8) with the K&F adapter.
 
Yes it is an old lens, and yes it doesn’t have the same feel of a modern lens but it ain’t half bad!
 
Given the results I am rather happy with this bokeh 

Being used to such dials from "back in the day," I think it will seem to suck less after you get used to it.

I'm not saying there are no problems. Just saying it's not easy to put out a camera without faults. It's easy to be critical and for some it's a way of life to be critical.
 
You know a lot of PRO 2 owners it seems. My PRO 2 seems to be an exception  in that it works great.

Download Fujifilm X-Pro2 Bug-Fix Firmware ver.1.01 Now ! http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/firmware/x/xpro2/index.html

X-Pro1 & 35mm f2

I use a filter on my X100T, since I noticed the lens is prone to suck in dust and there would be no way to fix that...
 
I always use lens hoods.

Just adding to this post; along with my X-Pro2 which arrived 2 days ago, I also purchased a Fuji X70.
 
I'm really taken by this little gem of a camera, palm sized, perfectly pocketable, discrete and with great image quality.
Great for an everyday, everywhere camera.
 
The pics of Kleo and the Daffodil are straight out of camera Jpegs no PP. The full size quality of the images is unbelievable.
 
 

I have just tested Iridient Developer vs Lightroom and Capture One Pro and I must say that the result from iridient is amazing. It is sharper, cleaner and overall better than both. I am declaring my opinion because before I have tried this I was really curious about the results. I hope they can stand against the giants like Adobe. Having said that I will go ahead and buy it to support them.

The Fujifilm X100T Teardown :: Look Inside the X100T : http://www.fujirumors.com/the-fujifilm-x100t-teardown-look-inside-the-x100t/