ianpiper
-
Posts
26 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Forums
Gallery
Store
Posts posted by ianpiper
-
-
Does any of the other Fujinon lenses have that magic rendering the 35mm f1.4 is so loved fore?
I like my 23mm f1.4 a lot, but it has a more clinical way of seeing things. I do like sharpness, which most Fujinons offer in spades, but rendering is the most important parameter for as I do as little post as possible. I am a sucker for sooc images.
The 35mm f1.4 was my first Fuji lens - I agree with you about its special character. I'd add to it the 18mm f2, the 90mm f2 and the 55-200 zoom. Each of them is special and each is a keeper for me.
At the other end of the spectrum, I couldn't get on with the 60mm, or the 27mm pancake. Both sold on. I still have the 18-55 zoom because it is versatile, but I can't get attached to it like the others.
-
How good is the EVF in the X-T1 compared to X-Pro1? I currently own an old X-Pro1 and intend to buy the X-Pro2, but i think I'll enjoy the use of a bigger 0.77x EVF better, than the ERF+OVF. I'm using a set of six Minolta MD (W.)Rokkor lenses: 20/2.8, 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 45/2, 50/1.7, 50/1.2. I use them with a Zhongyi Lens Turbo MD - Fuji X ver.II adapter which makes them 1.1x crop and 1 stop faster: 22/2, 30/2.8, 38/2, 50/1.4, 55/1.2, 55/0.9. I now can't use fast apertures at daylight, outside as the max shutter speed of 1/4000 on the X-Pro1 is just not fast enough, and I don't intend to use any nd filters, as I hate to change filters all the time.
Would all those benefits using the newer technology of the X-T1, talking about focusing aids also, be enough of a benefit to sell my X-Pro1 and forget the rangefinder style shooting? I actually did not get the experience I wanted for manually focusing - white peaking only, bad auto WB.
If a larger bright viewfinder is important, then you won't be disappointed by the X-T1. I have both, and love the heft and general feel of the X-Pro 1, but the X-T1 has a superb viewing experience. I find the tilting LCD far more useful than I thought I would.
-
The only thing I noticed is that the tripod mount is not aligned with the middle of the lens, which I can't understand. I used to have a carry speed mount plate always installed on my Nikon body, but now the plate goes on the battery door. Also, I would need to install the plate on the reverse position (strap attachment behind the camera instead of beside the lens). Anyway..not something dramatic.. I will install the plate only when I need to use my strap or use the tripod.
I bought an Arca Swiss type L-plate from PhotoMadd - highly recommended. It's a perfect fit for the X-T1 (some of the eBay knock-offs don't fit perfectly, as I know to my cost, having had one scratch a camera base plate in the past). Once fitted you can get to the battery, cable and SD card doors, and it includes a new tripod mount which is on the lens axis. I keep it on the camera all the time, as it provides some protection and also means that I can mount it on the tripod in landscape or format configuration.
-
I moved away from a Nikon D7000 as part of my overall adoption of Fuji. I use an X-T1 and it is the best camera I've owned. Combine that with the lens quality and I think it's a combination that's hard to match (without going to full-frame, perhaps). If I could just pick one of the major benefits of the X-T1, it's the usability. All of the controls are on the outside, and the degree of function button configurability means that you can get one-button access to most things you need to get to.
-
Hey all,
I am pretty new to the form as I just bought my first Fuji x-E2 (actually still waiting for it to arrive). I am looking at getting 3-4 lenses but am really undecided on what to get? I used my canon gear for years and usually shot a bit of everything.. Landscape, portrait, second shooter at weddings.
So, if you could only have 3-4 lenses what would you have? And also what style of photography do you shoot?
Thanks for all of your help
Cheers and Happy shooting!!
Congratulations on your choice - you'll love it, I'm sure. For a long time I used just 3 Fuji lenses; the 18mm f2, 35mm f1.4 and 55-200mm zoom. Although I have since invested in many of the other lenses in the family, these are probably still my basic favourite 3. I do mostly landscape and building photography.
BTW you might wonder why the 18mm rather than the 14mm, 16mm or 10-24. It's because the 18mm is a perfect balance of size and quality. The other wide-angle lenses are much bigger and heavier.
-
Your definition of a "fine" lens and mine may differ.
Hmm. My experience of the people on this forum is that they know their stuff. And they also tend to take the trouble to check up on the products they use without jumping to conclusions about whether they are or are not broken. Didn't you even think of googling this when the second lens had the same behaviour as the first?
-
Just a heads up if anyone is buying a new XF 90mm lens through B&H. I've received two bad lenses. Best description I can give it is that the interior of the lens is physically loose.
B&H is sending a third tomorrow. No complaints with B&H's handling, but there may be a bad batch of these lenses out there.
~Z
No, that clunk is perfectly normal. Mine does it and it is a totally superb lens.
-
Here are a couple of shots I took with the XF90mm f/2 lens the other day.
Just incredibly sharp even at f/2 - almost to sharp, and can be quite unflattering!
These are B&W JPEGS from the camera with only a minor touch up in PS to remove a coupe of stray hairs, otherwise they are effectively SOOC.
Lovely images. I have to get one of these lenses.
-
I'm currently saving pennies for lenses; I'd like to make the most use of my money, so ideally I'd want to take advantage of one of Fuji's cashback offers. I've done well out of these in the past. Anyway, I know that one deal ended at the turn of the year - does anyone know roughly when we might expect another one?
-
I usually carry a Billingham Hadley Pro bag, with:
- X-T1
- X100
- 35mm f1.4
- 18mm f2
- 55-200mm
- Samyang 8mm fisheye
- Set of Lee seven-five filters
- Spare batteries for both cameras
- Spare SD cards
- Cleaning kit
- Macro extension ring
- Clip-on flash
- Emergency rain cover
Depending on what I'm doing that day, I might also have an iPad mini in the back compartment and an 11in MacBook Air inside behind the padded sections.
I suspect that the Hadley Pro might possibly exist in more than 3 dimensions, as it is a bit of a Tardis.
-
Xpro 1 now as low as $699
Is it still worth buying?
Especially when one owns a x100t and a xt1?
I read something that the old sensor in the xpro1 is better but the cameras mentioned above seems to have the same sensor? Price is so low so it is tempting but doesn't seem to have an advantage?
I'd say it is, and at just under £300 in the UK it is incredible value for money. Remarkable as the X-Pro2 is, my take on it is that its innovations will surely find their way into the next generation of X-T models, and then I'd open my wallet.
I also own an X-T1 and an X100, but there is a place in my collection for this for sure. These three are to me the real classic Fujis; each was first in its particular way, and each was hugely successful for good reason.
-
I would like to get to the bottom of the issue with opening RAW files out of Lightroom into Photoshop. Sometimes I get a message saying something like "Unable to use the Camera Raw plug-in. It is not compatible with this version of Photoshop." Sometimes I get no message, and Photoshop opens but loads no image.
I'm on a Mac, and I've tried v6.7, 8.8 and 9.3 of the ACR plugin in the folders under /Library/Application support/Adobe/Plug-ins/...
Has anyone here had a similar experience, or know of a fix?
Ian.
--
-
Hi guys,
I am new here. Just getting back into photography and wanted to go with a smaller camera than a dslr since i am more likely to take it around with me. I am just learning. I liked the fuji cause most of the controls are right on top and its mirrorless and smaller. I was pretty set between the x100t and xt1 but than I saw the x pro 2 is coming out in a couple days. Is that line better or comparable. I don't want to have to upgrade anytime soon and would like to get something pretty good.
My interests.
Street Photography
Nature Photography
Model Photography
I am hoping to purchase one either tomorrow or this week when the Pro 2 goes on sale. So any help is greatly appreciated. I don't want to make the wrong choice. Also if you guys have suggestions of cameras other than these feel free to chime in.
I've owned most of the Fuji X series cameras, and my current line-up is an X100, X-T1 and X-Pro1. These three are keepers for me - even when I move on to other cameras I doubt that I would sell any of these.
For street photography, the X100(/S/T) is compact and unobtrusive. You can carry it in a fairly large coat pocket. Usability is really good - the fact that all the controls are on the outside was one of the big things that sold me when I bought my X100. The X-Pro1 has a similar form factor but is much bigger and heavier. On the other hand it has interchangeable lenses, while the X100's options are more limited.
For nature/landscape photography the X-T1 is brilliant. It is weatherproofed, has a nice bright viewfinder and has external controls for extra things like ISO, drive setting and photometry. It is the best camera I have ever owned. The only things I can envisage improving it are the things announced for the X-Pro2 - dual slots, combined ISO/shutter speed controls, 24 MP sensor.
By the way, there is life in the old X-Pro1 dog yet, and you can buy it new in the UK for only £300. I expect that price will drop now that its successor is out. You could do worse than buying one of these and spending the money you've saved on lenses. And with the sole exception of the 60mm macro, I've had nothing but superlative performance from my Fuji glass.
I noticed several folks suggesting the XT10. I know it's keenly priced compared to the X-T1, but I've handled one and it feels a little - clunky - to me.
Summary: if you want a camera that covers the uses you set out, I'd go for the X-Pro1 if you are short of cash or the X-T1 if money's no object. If you want to start with one lens to sell you on the Fuji way it has to be the 35mm f1.4 for me - my favourite lens. If you want to travel light get the 18-55 mm and 55-200 mm lenses. If you don't mind carrying stuff and money's no object I'd suggest the 35mm f1.4 or f2, the 10-24mm f4 zoom, the 56mm f1.2, the 90mm f2, the 55-200mm and also wait for the 120mm macro that is on the roadmap.
-
I shoot manual. Manual focus, manual exposure. I never use anything other than single shot. The only button I use on my X100T is the on/off switch. Otherwise it's set up and that's that. I never use film modes either. I also never crop, and only adjust exposure and sharpness in Lightroom if needed. And I do B&W conversions there also.
OK, so the buttons I can live with. It's just not buttons laid out cheaply. The part where we grip the camera with the most pressure is where they've decided to place most of the buttons. Those buttons don't have palm rejection technology, they are just buttons. This is bad design.
My personal opinion about this, and it's jut mine and I'm happy with people telling me I'm being an idiot, is that Fuji have become confused over the product they are delivering. This is not a general consumer camera aimed at people who'd spend £500 on a dirt cheap DSLR who want P mode and all those other modes I forgot. Like a little picture of some hills of a flower on a dial. The X range started with a very honest and concise understanding of why it existed, and I feel that vision has been lost to the marketing and engineering departments who need a: more things to talk about and b: more things to talk about.
It's not a better product because Fuji really give a shit about making it a better product. They've commoditised it beyond the point where the original philosophy can keep up.
So that's why I'm sad. And it's why I bought the M262, because it does one thing really well. I'd have bought the M60 but didn't have £12k. One day though, one day I will.
Good for you. I disagree with your analysis of Fuji's approach, but how you spend your hard-earned cash is your choice, and I hope that your Leica will be your perfect camera. I personally agree with the folks at DigitalRev (http://www.digitalrev.com/article/has-leica-lost-its-mojo/NDI0NjU5NTU5), that Leica has lost its way; huge, heavy, pricey cameras with nothing more to offer than the lovely Fujis. But it's not an issue for me since I've committed to Fuji and am very comfortable with my choice.
-
Just an alert about a deal with WEX Photographic running just today, 30 November, offering 10% off Fuji X lenses. This is in addition to the Fujifilm Winter £75 cashback deal. I got the offer by email so I don't have a link, but you just order the lens and apply this code at checkout: FUJI-CM.
I have no connection with WEX apart from as a customer.
Ian.
--
-
A few months ago I asked the sales rep at my local camera store if I could use other lenses on my Fuji and he practically laughed at me, saying "Fuji is known for their glass, why would you put any other lens on your camera." Since then, I have shyed away from this topic, but now I'd like to hear what others have to say. Is it a 'sin' to put a non-fuji lens on our cameras?
OK, so then you asked this boorish sales rep to show you the Fuji XF 8mm fish-eye, the 105mm macro and the 500mm telephoto lenses? That would have wiped the smirk off his face. How rude, in any case, to laugh at a customer - bet you don't want to give him your business now, eh?
If you need something outside the range of Fuji's current offerings, your choice is to wait for them to produce such a thing or to get a third party lens. I'm very happy with the Fuji lenses I have, but I bought a Samyang fish-eye because I needed that kind of lens.
-
I've read a lot of articles about the importance of turning off OIS when using a tripod, and I've always been a bit skeptical about this. So I thought I'd carry out some tests, and I'd like to share the results.
In summary, I can see no significant difference between having OIS on or off, and I am not going to worry any more about turning it off when I'm using a tripod. Another urban myth exploded, though of course that's just for me - your experience may be different. You can see the annotated images here if you are interested: https://ianpiper.smugmug.com/Test-images/OIS-tests/
Method and materials (yes, I was once a practicing research scientist)
- I used a Fuji X-T1, firmware v4, with a Fuji 18-55mm XF lens, firmware v3.12. The tripod was a Gitzo Mountaineer Basalt model with a Manfrotto Junior geared head, adapted to have an Arca plate.
- Each picture was taken using auto-focus on the centre of the image. I used the self-timer to minimise movement.
- I took two sets of images; one with OIS on and the other with it off. For each set, I took images at f8 and f11 (the sweet spot for this lens, in common with most Fuji lenses in my experience) at 18mm, 23mm, 35mm and 55mm.
-
Hi,
I've owned the 60mm macro lens and I am with Zack Arias (http://dedpxl.com/fuji-x-buyers-guide-part-2-lenses/) on this - I hate this lens. It really isn't that sharp in my experience, it seems bulkier than it needs to be for what it does, and its auto-focus behaviour is lamentable. I think the 18-55 zoom lens is a much better performer at the high end, and that's what I use now (I can't afford the 56mm 1.2, and anyway I'm hesitant about it because of its size, as you say) at the moderate telephoto end.
Ian.
--
-
I can't see anywhere on the forum to buy or sell. Is there such a thing?
-
I have been using my trusty 18-55mm Fuji kit as a reception lens, but lately it's been having a really tough time focusing in low-light scenarios. I know that I generally shoot most of the time at 18mm at 2.8. I am wondering if the 18 f2 would be a better low-light performer? The 16mm is also an option, but if I'd prefer to save the cash and weight if possible. Any thoughts or experience with any of these?
It's an excellent lens. I find it a very usable focal length for landscape work, I think it is very sharp, and it really is a nice size on the X-T1.
-
Hey all,
I bought the x pro 1 + 35mm when it came out, followed by the 27mm pancake.
It's a great little set up, but I need(want) more out of it and I am getting sick of waiting while it looks like Sony is on the level that I am looking for.
I'm not that up on gear stuff, I buy and use what I need and I don't sweat the rest. I'm a working editorial photographer that shoots portraits and stories and I really just want to get away from carrying my Nikon shit everywhere. I have always preferred pairing a small but capable small format body with a medium format body. Pentax has given me a solid digital option for the MF, but I am still looking for a digital contax G2 - my favorite camera ever and one that I still use more than my Fuji because it is still more intuitive, smaller with equivalent lenses and the flash recycles (much) faster. I'm also just not a fan of the XT-1 body. I've always liked and felt better with the RF type design.
I'm not ready to dump the Fuji stuff, but I am also not buying any more glass (the only thing I really want is the 56mm and a smaller 35mm.
So - do you guys know anything I don't? Is there a better camera system out there? It seems like there is so much stuff out there now and I get tired of reading about it all when I'd rather go shoot. Am I really supposed to take panasonic and samsung seriously as camera companies. This is the stuff I don't want to bother with.
So this below is my wishlist, and I need to make a move - equipment wise - by the end of the year - will anything fit better? Is it time to just give it up and go Sony, or is Fuji going to put out a damned update to the X Pro that I haven't heard about?
- Smaller is better, I don't want to go any bigger than the x pro 1.
- Lowlight capability needs to be better than x pro 1 - which I find for my purposes usable to 1600. I would like to be able to get to 12800 with usable images. I handhold images and print 11x17 and bigger shot in low light, so this is important. Right now that is a bit limited by the ISO. MP count is not important so long as we're at least 16-20, but I do like the look of Sony pushing towards 35-40. Full frame/bigger sensor would be cool but not a necessity. I am still pairing this with a 645 Digital, and I use that with a tripod for the real slow stuff, but I want to minimize this more if I can.
- I need good lenses at the (full frame equivalent) 35mm, 40mm, 50 and 85-95mm focal lengths. Fuji has a great (27)40mm. Their current 35mm renders great but smaller would be better. I'd give up a stop for that, especially if they can bump up their ISO capability. Again, contax G size lenses and focal lengths are perfect. the 35/2, 45/2 and 90/2.8 on that are all I've ever needed for small format camera.
- Better flash. The contax tla200 is the perfect flash for me - the look, the coverage and the recycle times are all usable. The ef-ex20 - is there any way to hook up a power pack to it or something? It looks ok and I can deal with it, but it shoots way too slowly, and I shoot a lot of overexposed/flash portraiture. I hate using a big ass flash on top of my nikon - it doesn't look the same and it's a lot bigger, but right now I have to resort to that for most jobs. I don't have the time to wait for the fuji flash to recharge when I'm shooting someone who only has 10 min.
Right now - I feel like buying the new sony with a contax g lens adapter and tossing the old contax flash on top is the best way to go. But I don't like that idea of ditching my Fuji stuff and I like how the fuji is designed, feels in the hand, and how the sensor renders the colors. But I can't figure out a way to get the best of the Fuji stuff to function for me in the working environment that I need.
Convince me that they are working on these things and I shouldn't chuck the Fuji stuff. I would really rather keep it, but it's not as useful as I need it to be right now.
Finding the right camera for the individual seems to be an odyssey for all of us. I used Olympus cameras for two decades, but grew tired of over-complex menus and inferior (to me) image quality from the MFT sensor. I tried Nikon (7100) cameras, but the bulk and weight of these is really shocking. The epiphany (and that's not too strong a word, really) for me came one day when I was browsing in John Lewis and saw the Fuji X100. Everything I'd read, plus the initial impression, suggested that it was a bit contrived - a sort of poor man's Leica. Then I picked it up and looked more closely, and immediately got it. Simple, clever controls on the outside rather than buried in menus or hidden in modal control wheels. Dual viewfinder! Solid construction, great hand feel and usability - the camera begged to be picked up and used. Reader, I bought it (especially as it was a half-price ex-demo model!).
For a few months I struggled with the duality of the X100 against my other, "main" camera, until I realised that actually the X100 had become my main camera. I sold my other kit and have been on Fujifilm ever since (I suppose you could say I "found my girl"). I currently use an X-T1 and my venerable X100, and some of the best glass my limited money can buy. It would take something truly extraordinary to make me revisit that choice (I'd never buy a Canon or Pentax, or Sony, or Nikon).
It looks to me like you haven't found "your girl" yet, but one way to get there is to try these things in your hand. It's unlikely that anyone here will convince you one way or another; direct experience has much greater power to convince than committed product evangelists like me and others here.
Whatever you end up with, good luck. If you do decide to sell your Fuji kit, you'll find ready buyers here (I'm one of them if you're in the UK!).
Ian.
--
-
I like what I've seen so far. I like the zone AF and I don't miss the macro mode (ridiculous idea in the first place). I don't know what else was in the update, and I don't care. I really like the fact that Fuji takes some care over looking after its existing customers - some competitors would just advocate buying a new camera.
-
Trying to pick a new bag for my X-T1. My Kelly Moore Thirst Relief bag is falling apart and also a little too big for a mirrorless system, I think. I currently only have the X-T1 and a 35mm F1.4 but I plan on having a 16 and 56 as part of this kit as well so something that fits this comfortably. Some of the contenders are the Ona Prince Street if I want to go expensive or the Thinktank Mirrorless Mover 30i if I want to go cheap.
But...I'd like to look for a high quality bag from another maker. I looked at smaller companies like Wotancraft as well. There are tons of bags from small shops in Europe and Japan that look great but I haven't found one that looks and fits the way I want yet.
Have you looked at the Millican bags? There is a model that has Fuji branding:
http://www.homeofmillican.com/christopher-the-camera-bag.html
I don't have one myself (I use a Billingham Hadley Pro) but I've handled one in a shop and it seems really good quality. If I lost my bag I'd consider one.
Ian.
--
-
I've used a Biliingham Hadley Pro for my kit for a few years, and it still looks like new. I always have the following in it:
- X-T1 body
- X100
- 35mm f1.4
- 18mm f2
- 55-200mm zoom
- 7.5mm Samyang fisheye
- EF-20 flash
- 3 spare X-T1 batteries, 3 spare X100 batteries
- A few spare SD cards
- Cleaning kit
- MCEX-16 extension ring
- Spare Arca Swiss plate
If I need computing power too I can also fit in an iPad mini in the rear zip compartment and a MacBook Air 11" in the gap at the back of the main bag. When I want to carry Lee 7five filters I clip an Avea 5 bag on the end.
The Billingham bags are phenomenal.
Looking to jump into the Fuji system
in Newbie / Self Introduction
Posted
An excellent combination. I owned several X-T2 cameras and the 10-24 is a good match for this body size. Also, although this range has evolved to the X-T4, the improvements are not huge over the X-T2. So this seems like a good choice for an introduction to Fujifilm. Best of luck!
Ian.