flysurfer

I have been using zone metering in my X-T1 and other cameras for a long time. After all, my X-T1 shows me the exact zone of each part of the image in 1/3 steps between Zones 2 and 8. All I have to do is set the camera to manual mode, select ISO, aperture and shutter speed, set spot metering and point the camera's metering frame at whatever part of the image I want to zone-meter. Thanks to the 245 available zone metering frame positions and sizes, it's easy to adjust the metering frame to whatever object I want to meter. The light level scale in the EVF immediately shows me what zone the metered object will end up in: 0 equals zone 5, -3 equals zone 2, +3 equals zone 8. It's idiot-proof, so even I can use it.

My T1 perfectly shows the spot it's metering on. It's the same spot as the AF frame in Single-Point AF. So currently, I have 49 spots in 5 sizes to choose from, that's 245 different spot metering frames. I'm sure, other cameras (maybe you can name one) offer even more spot metering fine-tuning, but I'm okay with these options. Btw, the shutter speed dial of my current T1 bodies (I have two) turns too easily. I often change the SS by accident when I change the metering mode. So I'd rather like Fuji add more torque, not less. Other users have voiced similar complaints, so as it is now, Fuji can choose between three groups: those who complain the SS dial turns too easily, those who complain that it turns too strongly and those who are perfectly happy with the dial and will complain if Fuji changes anything. Of course, there's also the option to set the SS dial to T and use the front command dial to change the shutter speed in 1/3 steps from 30s to 1/32000s. Actually, that's what I mostly do with my X-T10 and X-T1v4. Lenses: Fuji already offers the best APS-C lens lineup of the industry. Just this weekend, I had a Pentax K5 shooter in one of my workshops who is already using an X30 and wants to switch to the X-T10. Why? Because even Pentax (the alleged king of APS-C DLSRs) doesn't give him the lenses he wants. But Fuji does. Of course, Fuji keeps adding lenses at a nice pace (several new additions every year). As for flash: Some top flash photographers (David Hobby, Damien Lovegrove) are using Fujifilm cameras, so it can't be that bad if you know what you are doing. Also, the Nissin i40 is a great fit, and it already supports HSS in manual mode, which can be helpful in the field. Of course, Fuji has promised to enhance flash with wireless TTL, groups, TTL-HSS, flash in Continuous mode etc. And it would already have happened w/o the Metz bankruptcy. Now, if all this is cause for terrible horror (or maybe even horrible terror), it might me better to move to a less scary place. After all, peace of mind and a calm sleep w/o nightmares are important values by themselves.

Btw, in the occasional case that I have/want to go at 220 mph, I send the RAW over to Iridient from Lightroom, process it with Iridient Reveal and Detail+ demosaicing, send a 16 Bit TIFF back to LR and add my LR processing. That would look like this in this case: I have issues with Lightroom, but detail is one of the lesser ones. My main gripes are: faulty color processing: Lightroom/ACR is sometimes missing orange/yellow color tones, which will turn into red instead. So your red/orange/yellow sunset will turn into a red sunset. adaptive highlight recovery and shadow boosting: Lightroom's only way of doing this is by adaptive tone-mapping, which is nice for some subjects but very bad for others. It's completely incompatible with the way Fuji is doing it internally with its DR function, so there are some RAW that I actually HAVE to process with Iridient just to retrieve highlights in a way that's bearable. Luckily, Iridient's "Extreme Highlight Recovery" feature works just like Fuji's own DR function, so our results will match.

For my taste, there's already too much detail/sharpness in the face, but I pushed it to the point that I could barely justify. I couldn't bring myself to add any more sharpening, and I certainly didn't aim to mimic another image. I simply processed it from scratch like I saw fit (going as far as I could w/o ruining the image), and LR got me quickly where I wanted to be. If you don't like the hair, you might want to reduce the radius, btw. Of course PN and Iridient can extract more detail, and that's also true for Bayer RAWs. They are different products, after all, and Iridient has put great effort in adding different demosaicing options and optimized sharpening algos for X-Trans. Of course, this effort does pay off (though sometimes at the expense of other image properties) It's like Lightroom is a car running 200 mph, and Iridient and PN can go 220 mph. Doesn't really matter though on a highway with a speed limit of 75 mph. Now, if I find the 200 mph car more comfortable and versatile, I'll take it any minute. Dedicated speed racers may use the 220 mph car, but they'll quickly discover that maximum speed isn't everything.

If your flash is fast enough (e.g. due to low output), 1/250s is perfectly possible.

Thanks, that's a nice portrait, so here's a quick Lightroom CC rendering of mine: Personally, that's sharp enough for me, and I'm satisfied with Lightroom's feature set, as it allows me to get results quite easily. Of course, I also own and know how to use Photo Ninja, but since PN doesn't support the DR function or any lens correction metadata (distortion correction, CA correction and devignetting), it would be an odd choice for my daily workflow. Click on the image for full-size versions.

You must be joking. Where is the RAW file from this image?

Actually, that would be Samsung. Samsung is very strong in the mirrorless APS-C market. Sony has pretty much dropped APS-C in favor of full-frame. They are moving plenty of bodies, but the camera division isn't profitable. So the question is: How long until Sony spins-off the camera division (like they already did with Vaio)?

Simple: The best and most comprehensive APS-C lens lineup in the industry. And hopefully a nice attachment ratio to keep customers locked in.

Congrats, Jon scored the last available place, so there's now an automatic waitlist. If you couldn't secure a place but are still interested in attending this or another workshop in Santa Barbara, please click here and then add yourself to the waitlist by clicking Add Me to the Waitlist. It's free, no strings attached. It simply means that you will be notified in case a place reopens, or when we can offer a second event date. Maybe I can even offer you a day of 1:1 training. After all, I'll be in Santa Barbara for about 2 weeks.

Registration is now open to everybody, and there's only one place left: https://fuji-x-secrets-santa-barbara.eventbrite.de

Disappointing.

Just another example that in order to be successful, corporations have to ignore their customers' wishes.

I thought your readers already shot down this idea in a poll. Personally, I liked it.

Doubt it. Personally, I'd rather hope they offer the best package. I started lobbying for MF in 2013. Others like Zack Arias joined in later. Toshi spoke about looking into MF in an interview earlier this year, so no wonder speculation is flying. The only thing I didn't understand is why it took so long for this to become a rumor. After all, the interview was published on dpreview—months ago.

I tell you, Fuji would be so happy if you stopped running a rumor site. I have indeed seen a handful of cameras that were planned (with renderings and key specs and all) that were shot down. I think that's normal and not restricted to the camera industry. Car makers do it, too, but at least they often show "studies" at trade shows to gauge the reaction of the media and public. Plus, you can catch an "Erlkönig" now and then. In any case, I don't think the folks who run other camera rumor sites have an easier life. Maybe Sonyrumors, because Sony seems to build EVERY single camera someone thought of anytime.

Probably, I don't know for sure, and maybe Fuji doesn't either. We will know when there's an announcement. We do know that they publicly promised us a better flash system, so we know that one is coming eventually. Until then, speculation is futile, since non-public plans change very often, sometimes due to unforseen circumstances. Think of them as "plans in progress". Only a small percentage of rumors contains customer-relevant information that is set in stone (like the leaks that appear a few weeks/days before a new product release). Everything else is subject to change and may reflect Fuji's plans at some point in time. Most of the time, when such rumors make it to the public, they are already outdated because internal plans have already changed again. Obviously, the Metz bankruptcy was unforseen. Similar fates can (and in fact did) hit other companies that produce essential parts of cameras or lenses. So more often than not, unexpected delays or feature changes may be the result of outside factors that can't be controlled and aren't publicized. Just think of the Tsunami that affected Fuji's camera factory or the Thailand flooding that affected Sony's sensor facility. There's always stuff that can go wrong when you are forced to change (or wait for) a manufacturer that builds vital components of your products.

The Metz debacle is old news (was discussed in other forums months ago) and did of course change everything. It meant Fuji had to look for a new partner. IIRC, they are now again in bed with Sunpak, which makes sense. I hope we'll get new flash features and hardware in late 2015. Folks have long been waiting for HSS, wireless TTL etc., and it will happen eventually. The Nissin i40 already supports HSS.

Never gonna happen.

As many of you know, I am going to Santa Barbara in July to write my X-T10 book and to update my X-T1 book with firmware 4. In the wake of this, there have been dozens of inquiries about doing a Fuji X Secrets workshop while I am there. With the kind help of my publisher Rocky Nook, I was able to secure a weekend to deliver such a workshop: On July 18 and 19, a select few of only eight delegates will be able to join me for an intensive 2-day class that will cover a lot of ground. I have already translated the key topics that we can discuss into English, you can find them here. If you find those topic interesting, Fuji X Secrets might be just what you are looking for. Registration will open soon (later this week). Everybody who has already sent me an email will get a heads-up from me to improve his/her chances to score one of the eight places.

I never turn it off. Since firmware 4 still lacks an AF-S/AF-C indicator, I use it as a surrogate. If A+M is displayed, I'm in AF-S.

FD also works with hats and glasses.

Film simulations are a way to differentiate between models and price bands. The A1/M1 has less simulations, even the new A2. It has Classic Chrome, but no Pro Negs. Same for the XQ2, while the X30 features the full set, as it's targeting the enthusiast segment (and is also more expensive). The next processor generation will feature new film simulations that can't be replicated in existing cameras. Of course, people won't care about such facts and still demand a firmware upgrade for their older cameras. Just like they demand a firmware upgrade to bring PDAF to the X-Pro1.

I simply use face detection / eye detection for portraits.

2.8/180mm T* MM (Made in Germany). Use it with Speed Booster Ultra.