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Puma Cat

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  1. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from BujiWuji in Weather sealing necessity? xt2 vs xt20   
    Just in the name of accuracy here, folks, none of the cameras under discussion are specified by their manufacturers to be "weather sealed". They are specified to be "weather resistant". I see folks using the term "weather-sealed", and it's inaccurate terminology.
     
    Weather-sealed and "weather-resistant are not the same terms or specifications, at all.  This difference in terminology and, more to the point, engineering specification is important, and the reason its that none of these cameras are warranteed for repair for any ingress of water, water vapor, or moisture.
     
    Adzman808's comments that the cause of failure modes resulting from moisture ingress is usually corrosion is also accurate, and can take take weeks or months to develop. Since the spread of corrosion in electronics is insidious, there's no way to repair the camera; and it generally has to be scrapped. This is another reason that manufacturers will not warranty the camera to be weather-sealed or against the ingress of moisture. 
  2. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from dm477 in Fuji X-H1 – Your Opinion   
    I'm going to add my initial impressions article rather than starting a new thread. Apologies in advance to Mike G and Rand whom have seen these posts in other fora. 
      I should preface my comments below that I bought my X-H1 specifically for my professional motorsports photojournalism work, so my comments should be considered from that context firmly in mind, specifically with respect to my discussion of the engineering requirements and design embodiment of the X-H1, so lets get down to reasons why Fuji built this camera:    One of the things I've been posting about on various photo-fora is how much more robust the body on the X-H1 has been engineered to accomodate long, heavy, prime telephotos and the new MK-X Cine lenses. Fujifilm did considerable engineering to strengthen and, most importantly, stiffen the frame and lens mount to be able to mount long, heavy, prime telephotos and the new Cine MK zooms. These "devices", as Fuji refers to them, put a considerable tension load on the lens mount, and thus the lens mount needs to be designly sufficiently robustly to support these loads.   Here's an example: note how much thicker and "beefier" the "support/stiffening ring" around the lens mount is on the X-H1 compared to the X-T2.     The other thing I noted today is that Fuji moved the button for releasing the lens from the lens mount to further away to make it easier to disconnect larger (and wider in diameter) lenses. This little change is a big win for me, as it was difficult at times to actuate the lens release button on the 50-140 and 100-400.   Why was this done? Back in early 2017, when Fujifilm engineers were asked if they were going to develop a 200 mm f/2.0 or f/2.8, replied, "A 200 mm f/2.0 would require an entirely new camera body". The engineering work documented in the white paper from Fujifilm on the development of the frame  fully supports that statement. From the Fujifilm X-H1 development white paper:   "Let's examine the X-H1. The product planner requested the developers to make the body more robust so that new devices could be installed and the expected camera performance could be realized. In order to make the body more robust, the frame, which is made of magnesium alloys, needed to be strengthened by adding extra thickness. The frame is 125% thicker for X-H1, meaning that the frame has almost doubled in volume (1.25 x 1.25 x 1.25 = 1.95). The strength of the frame is almost twice as strong.   Portability and lightweight are the charm of the X Series. This should always be taken into account even when considering an exterior design that is more robust. The designer examined the frame closely and learned where the stress is most/least applied and where the extra strength is most/least needed. With the study, the following structure with pillars jointing the exterior part has been realized, which helped minimize the effect on body size."     "The development continued. There are certain parts of camera body that needed extra consideration. For example, front body important in terms of ergonomics and operability, but the impact on weight is huge if the entire front body were simply 125% thicker. Another extra consideration was given to the mount. In near future there will be lenses that weigh more than 2kg."(that's 4.4 pounds, guys, that a big-assed, heavy lens)     Continuing from the Fujifilm development white paper: "Considerable load would be applied to the mount. The mount needs to withstand the weight of the lens. Photographers move around when they are at work, so additional stress would be applied on top of the lens weight. To withstand the stress, the mount part is reinforced ribs as shown below. The mount itself is thickened (note: per my photograph above) and the ribs gives additional support."   The diagram below from the Fujifilm development white paper depicts the reinforcement rib in the camera frame. The bright white lines are steel (not magnesium) reinforcement ribs and pins to provide the requisite stiffness for supporting these tension loads while still maintaining the optical tolerances (which are at the micron level). These are not insignificant engineering challenges and accomplishments.      More on my practical experience follows  in the subsequents posts.  
  3. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from Rand47 in Fuji X-H1 – Your Opinion   
    I'm going to add my initial impressions article rather than starting a new thread. Apologies in advance to Mike G and Rand whom have seen these posts in other fora. 
      I should preface my comments below that I bought my X-H1 specifically for my professional motorsports photojournalism work, so my comments should be considered from that context firmly in mind, specifically with respect to my discussion of the engineering requirements and design embodiment of the X-H1, so lets get down to reasons why Fuji built this camera:    One of the things I've been posting about on various photo-fora is how much more robust the body on the X-H1 has been engineered to accomodate long, heavy, prime telephotos and the new MK-X Cine lenses. Fujifilm did considerable engineering to strengthen and, most importantly, stiffen the frame and lens mount to be able to mount long, heavy, prime telephotos and the new Cine MK zooms. These "devices", as Fuji refers to them, put a considerable tension load on the lens mount, and thus the lens mount needs to be designly sufficiently robustly to support these loads.   Here's an example: note how much thicker and "beefier" the "support/stiffening ring" around the lens mount is on the X-H1 compared to the X-T2.     The other thing I noted today is that Fuji moved the button for releasing the lens from the lens mount to further away to make it easier to disconnect larger (and wider in diameter) lenses. This little change is a big win for me, as it was difficult at times to actuate the lens release button on the 50-140 and 100-400.   Why was this done? Back in early 2017, when Fujifilm engineers were asked if they were going to develop a 200 mm f/2.0 or f/2.8, replied, "A 200 mm f/2.0 would require an entirely new camera body". The engineering work documented in the white paper from Fujifilm on the development of the frame  fully supports that statement. From the Fujifilm X-H1 development white paper:   "Let's examine the X-H1. The product planner requested the developers to make the body more robust so that new devices could be installed and the expected camera performance could be realized. In order to make the body more robust, the frame, which is made of magnesium alloys, needed to be strengthened by adding extra thickness. The frame is 125% thicker for X-H1, meaning that the frame has almost doubled in volume (1.25 x 1.25 x 1.25 = 1.95). The strength of the frame is almost twice as strong.   Portability and lightweight are the charm of the X Series. This should always be taken into account even when considering an exterior design that is more robust. The designer examined the frame closely and learned where the stress is most/least applied and where the extra strength is most/least needed. With the study, the following structure with pillars jointing the exterior part has been realized, which helped minimize the effect on body size."     "The development continued. There are certain parts of camera body that needed extra consideration. For example, front body important in terms of ergonomics and operability, but the impact on weight is huge if the entire front body were simply 125% thicker. Another extra consideration was given to the mount. In near future there will be lenses that weigh more than 2kg."(that's 4.4 pounds, guys, that a big-assed, heavy lens)     Continuing from the Fujifilm development white paper: "Considerable load would be applied to the mount. The mount needs to withstand the weight of the lens. Photographers move around when they are at work, so additional stress would be applied on top of the lens weight. To withstand the stress, the mount part is reinforced ribs as shown below. The mount itself is thickened (note: per my photograph above) and the ribs gives additional support."   The diagram below from the Fujifilm development white paper depicts the reinforcement rib in the camera frame. The bright white lines are steel (not magnesium) reinforcement ribs and pins to provide the requisite stiffness for supporting these tension loads while still maintaining the optical tolerances (which are at the micron level). These are not insignificant engineering challenges and accomplishments.      More on my practical experience follows  in the subsequents posts.  
  4. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to addicted2light in Getting the Medium Format Look > Utopy on small sensors ?   
    If you want an 85/90mm the Canon 85/1.2 FD should supposedly be really really good.
     
    But if I were you I'd go for a longer lens, like a 180 or a 200/2.8 (assuming you have the space to back up, obviously).
     
    This because the medium format look depends as much from the thin dof than from the compression given by a longer focal length.
     
    Please keep in mind that you might want to have the tip of the nose in focus as well (it's a matter of taste, but I certainly do), and if so shooting at f/1.2 will not feasible, and you'll probably need at least f/2.8 anyway.
     
    And lastly for the best results (not for a tight portrait, though) I'd use the "Brenized method": http://ryanbrenizer.com/category/brenizer-method/
     
    It's the only way IMO to achieve a proper mf look on small sensors (small = not medium format, so Sony/full format as well). I've shot mf for years (still do), so maybe I'm a bit overcritical, but just using a shallow depth of field it is not gonna cut it.
     
    EDIT: I just noticed you listed "80Mp" as one of the features of the Sony sensor that could help with the look. Sorry, but megapixels have nothing to do with this. The "look" is only linked to the physical dimensions of the sensor, regardless of the resolving power. A 20 years old 6 megapixels medium format back can still produce "the look" effortlessly!
  5. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from spongeee in 100-400 lens   
    The one I rented was tack sharp.....very happy with the results. 
     

     

     

     

  6. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from ViewMode in Has Steve Huff "Lost It"?   
    It won't be competing against the 1Dx and D5 unless it has big, fast glass: 300 and 400mm f/2.8, 500/f.4, 600/f5, etc *and* a level of support like Canon provides at major events. I was shooting at a MotoGP years ago at Philip Island, and the Canon support team there had a replacement battery closure latch....which they replaced for free, of course. They also let me check out a 500/f4 for an afternoon. 
  7. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from ViewMode in Has Steve Huff "Lost It"?   
    Another point for consideration. I shot with my X-T2 for my last pro race for the year, and 11FPS was WAY more than enough frame rate to my meet needs. In point of fact, I shot about 3x more frames that I usually do with my Canon; and had to discard 2/3 of the images, not because they were soft, but because I don't need 10 shots of a car apexing a corner. Even with the 10+ FPS that current pro DSLR bodies provide, the fact of the matter is, most sports pros don't shoot that way at all; they shoot like a Navy Seal for the most part, 2-3 frames per subject/per shot, not 8 or 10 or 14. In the vast majority of situations, they only need one shot of an athlete, a racehorse, a race car doing something at any given instant, not 20. Their photo editor only needs one, too. They don't have to, and don't want to, shoot "spray and pray" style. I can see how amateurs need this approach to get a "keeper" but all they are doing is ending up with way more frames needed that have to culled and stored, and a lot more shutter actuations necessary to get the shot. 
     
    On the whole, it all adds up to a LOT more images than necessary and a LOT more actuations on the shutter. This doesn't get talked about much, but the shutter durability is one of the top requirements for a professional using pro bodes. 
  8. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to MSW in To those upgrading to X-T2 from X-T1, worth it?   
    I think the the following is and will be true for any of the new bodies:  the 24mpx sensor is a big improvement over the older 16mpx for several reasons but to me the most important is the improvement in dynamic range.  It's ver obvious to me when I compare processing in LR.
  9. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to Tom H. in Why does this camera have a top display?!?!   
    Actually that's good practice. More people should do that. It removes the emotional attachment you may have had to a certain moment and allows you to judge the shot more for how good it actually is.
  10. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from Mike G in Initial impressions of Luminar   
    Just downloaded my copy of Luminar on release yesteday. So, far, I really like it. Here are a few images that I have processed with it. 
     
    Here's the original image; the Grand Tetons from the Snake River overlook. This is an X-T1 image. 
     
    A "nice" photo, but the light is suboptimal as it is about 9 AM; overall a little flat, though. 
     

     
    Same image with Bi-Color Toning with the "blue" (cooling) and "yellow" (warming) filter in Luminar. I applied the toning so that the blue would come down to the base of the mountains, and then used the yellow to add some warmth to the trees and riverbank in the foreground.  I also used a filter mask and lightened the sky a little so it would not be so intensely blue. 
     

     
     
    Another Luminar image using the Mild Image Enhancer standard preset. I lightened the saturation of the sky also with an Exposure Filter Mask. 
     

     
    A portrait of dancer Shelby Jenkins at Silo City, Buffalo, NY (Urbex workshop I took in September, 2015), X-T1 and 18-55 at f/3.6, 1/60th sec. 
    Here I used the Vignette filter, and reverse selection where I bumped the exposure on Shelby a fraction of an EV. Natural window light illumination. 
     

     
    Pigeon Point Lighthouse, south of Half Moon Bay; Mild Image Enhancer at 68%
     

     
    Sunset at Pigeon Point, Foreground Enhancer at approx. 70%
     

     
  11. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to Tikcus in Fujifilm X100F Rumors   
    This is not a major deal breaker for me.(although not likely to buy one just yet)
    When i'm out shooting street, it is NOT Raining
    If it does rain when i'm out, camera goes into my pocket/bag.

    ​The X100 series is a sealed unit, unlike the X-mount cameras, there is not a big hole in the front. My NON WR X-T10 and all my non WR lenses have never died because they got a little wet.
  12. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to HendrikOsula in landscapes with fuji x   
    Lonely Cabin @Saarejärve, Estonia by Hendrik Osula, on Flickr
     
    X-T2 + 90/2
  13. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to Dis in landscapes with fuji x   
    Solt lakes of Russia. X-T1, XF 10-24, XF 18-135
     

     

     

     

     

  14. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from MartinP in Fujifilm GFX Rumors   
    Very cool! Not just getting the check out the GFX, but I would have loved to have had a dinner conversation with Kunio San. 
  15. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to Iansky in 100-400 lens   
    No complaints about mine, it is razor sharp and superfast to focus, I also use mine 90% of the time handheld and have used it for BIF / Airshows and track work all with satisfactory results so no complaints.
     
    Here is a link to a motocross event I covered with it and these are under 300pix images from large Tiffs:
     
    http://571photography.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/moto-cross.html
  16. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to pez in 100-400 lens   
    My 100-400mm zoom is amazingly sharp and fast to focus. I use 99% hand held.However, I do understand the long distance problem, UV kills sharpness. I live in a hot climate and panoramic photos with any lens are a problem.  Editing can help.  Great photos posted.
     
    I did have a Nikon 200-400 zoom {big bucks} on a D3. XT1/XT2 with 100-400mm results are so much better and the hardware is so much easier to handle which goes a long way in getting good results.  My only regret in changing from Nikon to Fuji is the money I have effectively thrown away.
  17. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from Iansky in 100-400 lens   
    The one I rented was tack sharp.....very happy with the results. 
     

     

     

     

  18. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to Nick05 in X-T2 and 18-55mm   
    It partially depends on how you use the camera. Obviously the X-T2 offers improvements, but the X-T1 is a fantastic camera. If you need video, the faster AF, and/or the much easier to adjust focus point adjustment, you should go with the X-T2. If not, the X-T1 would be a good choice. I had bought the X-Pro2 earlier this year and got used to the joystick and better AF. I can't go back now.
  19. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from Neil_42 in 100-400 lens   
    The one I rented was tack sharp.....very happy with the results. 
     

     

     

     

  20. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from glospete in Initial impressions of Luminar   
    Just downloaded my copy of Luminar on release yesteday. So, far, I really like it. Here are a few images that I have processed with it. 
     
    Here's the original image; the Grand Tetons from the Snake River overlook. This is an X-T1 image. 
     
    A "nice" photo, but the light is suboptimal as it is about 9 AM; overall a little flat, though. 
     

     
    Same image with Bi-Color Toning with the "blue" (cooling) and "yellow" (warming) filter in Luminar. I applied the toning so that the blue would come down to the base of the mountains, and then used the yellow to add some warmth to the trees and riverbank in the foreground.  I also used a filter mask and lightened the sky a little so it would not be so intensely blue. 
     

     
     
    Another Luminar image using the Mild Image Enhancer standard preset. I lightened the saturation of the sky also with an Exposure Filter Mask. 
     

     
    A portrait of dancer Shelby Jenkins at Silo City, Buffalo, NY (Urbex workshop I took in September, 2015), X-T1 and 18-55 at f/3.6, 1/60th sec. 
    Here I used the Vignette filter, and reverse selection where I bumped the exposure on Shelby a fraction of an EV. Natural window light illumination. 
     

     
    Pigeon Point Lighthouse, south of Half Moon Bay; Mild Image Enhancer at 68%
     

     
    Sunset at Pigeon Point, Foreground Enhancer at approx. 70%
     

     
  21. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from George_P in X-T2 rips through the Indy Car Race at Sonoma Raceway!   
    Thought you guys would like to see some pit lane shots from the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma from last weekend. 
      Simon Pagenaud   Pagenaud holding until pit lane is clear   Takuma Sato   James Hinchcliffe   James "Hinch" Hinchcliffe   Scott Dixon   Dixon gets a push out of pit lane...   Will Power exits pit lane...
  22. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to JpP in Ken Rockwell X-T2 Review... X-T2 not really for Pro's   
    You're blaspheming  !!!  Shame on you !!! Don't you know (surely you do know) that ...
     
    ... Ken Rockwell is the Chuck Norris of photography
    Ken Rockwell's camera has similar settings to ours, except his are: P[erfect] Av[Awesome Priority Tv[Totally Awesome Priority] M[ajestic]
    Ken Rockwell doesn't color correct. He adjusts your world to match his.
    Sure, Ken Rockwell deletes a bad photo or two. Other people call these Pulitzers.
    Ken Rockwell doesn't adjust his DOF, he changes space-time.
    Circle of confusion? You might be confused. Ken Rockwell never is.
    Ken Rockwell doesn't wait for the light when he shoots a landscape - the light waits for him.
    Ken Rockwell never flips his camera in portrait position, he flips the earth
    Ken Rockwell ordered an L-lens from Nikon, and got one.
    Ken Rockwell is the only person to have photographed Jesus; unfortunately he ran out of film and had to use a piece of cloth instead.
    When Ken Rockwell brackets a shot, the three versions of the photo win first place in three different categories
    Before Nikon or Canon releases a camera they go to Ken and they ask him to test them, the best cameras get a Nikon sticker and the less good get a Canon sticker
    Once Ken tested a camera, he said I cant even put Canon on this one,thats how Pentax was born
    Rockwellian policy isn't doublethink - Ken doesn't even need to think once
    Ken Rockwell doesn't use flash ever since the Nagasaki incident.
    Only Ken Rockwell can take pictures of Ken Rockwell; everyone else would just get their film overexposed by the light of his genius
    Ken Rockwell wanted something to distract the lesser photographers, and lo, there were ducks.
    Ken Rockwell is the only one who can take self-portraits of you
    Ken Rockwell's nudes were fully clothed at the time of exposure
    Ken Rockwell once designed a zoom lens. You know it as the Hubble SpaceTelescope.
    When Ken unpacks his CF card, it already has masterpieces on it.
    Rockwell portraits are so lifelike, they have to pay taxes
    On Ken Rockwell's desktop, the Trash Icon is really a link to National Geographic Magazine
    Ken Rockwell spells point-and-shoot "h-a-s-s-e-l-b-l-a-d"
    When Ken Rockwell went digital, National Geographic nearly went out of business because he was no longer phyically discarding photos
    For every 10 shots that Ken Rockwell takes, 11 are keepers.
    Ken Rockwell's digital files consist of 0's, 1's AND 2's.
    Ken Rockwell never focus, everything moves into his DoF
    Ken Rockwell's shots are so perfect, Adobe redesigned photoshop for him: all it consists of is a close button.
    The term tripod was coined after his silhouette
    Ken Rockwell never produces awful work, only work too advanced for the viewer
    A certain braind of hig-end cameras was named after people noticed the quality was a lot "like a" rockwell
    Ken Rockwell isn't the Chuck Norris of photography; Chuck Norris is the Ken Rockwell of martial arts.
    Ken Rockwell never starts, he continues
  23. Like
    Puma Cat reacted to Aswald in Ken Rockwell X-T2 Review... X-T2 not really for Pro's   
    Yes, I've seen your racing shots. Pretty impressive.
     
    I find that in good light, the T2 is about 20-30% faster than the T1 in most AF areas. However, where it really trumps over the T1 is low light and low contrast situation......and when the booster battery grip is in use.
  24. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from Francisco Evangelista in Ken Rockwell X-T2 Review... X-T2 not really for Pro's   
    In my experience the X-T2 is much more than a slightly upgraded X-T1. I don't know if you've shot with one in a professional context, but I shot my last pro motorsports race entirely with an X-T2 last month, something I could not have done with my X-T1. Whether that meets your requirements for the significance of an upgrade, that's up to you to determine, horses for courses, as they say. All I can say is my pro Canon gear is going up for sale...
  25. Like
    Puma Cat got a reaction from frankinfuji in Some product photography with the X-T2   
    Finally got some time to do some product photography with the X-T2...
     

     

     
    Shot with two Yongnuo 560III and a Yongnuo 560-TX wireless flash controller, speedlite soft boxes. 
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