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flysurfer

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  1. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Xenon100F in My vintage X70 (not for weak hearted)   
    Make sure to apply multiple scratches to the lens in order to also get a nice organic vintage look on the images themselves.
  2. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from bru in Fujifilm GFX Blows Lab Samples "The Best Lab Images We Have Ever Seen” – Imaging Resource   
    No surprise if you ask me. I have a bunch of reservations about the GFX, but IQ isn't one of them. This beast is as ISOless as they come, dynamic range is through the roof. A 4 stop push in Lightroom from ISO 100 to 1600 virtually gives the same result as a native ISO 1600 shot of the same scene with the same shutter speed and aperture. You simply won't be able to spot any meaningful difference.
     
    I have made ISO samples from 50 to 102400 with 4 different RAW converters (Lightroom 6.9 beta, Silkypix Pro 8, Iridient 3 and the built-in camera processor), and it's certainly short of amazing what Fuji's own processing extracts from this sensor. I reckon the new sensor wiring is responsible for a really low read noise output (hence the ISOless capabilities and unmatched DR). 
     
    My research also shows that pretty much all RAW converters that claim GFX support need recalibration when it comes to extended ISO numbers (Lightroom is beta, so I'm not holding this against Adobe, but Silkypix and Iridient already claim official support).
     
    My findings also show that RAWs can seemingly handle a healthy deal of overexposure compared to the in-camera JPEG, which means that you can extract even more DR if you manage to meet the sensor's actual saturation limit, which may well be 1 full stop above the JPEG highlight warning threshold in the camera's histogram and "blinkies" display. Of course, further tests are needed, but that's one reason why I'm flying to Malta Tuesday night.
     
    I am writing up a small article in German (Fuji X Secrets) and in English (X-Pert Corner) that should help illustrate my findings. 
  3. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from fugu82 in I finde the lack of 50mm f2 reviews disturbing   
    The XF50mmF2 R WR is a great lens. I have nothing to complain about. It's similar to the 23mmF2, and I recommend it w/o reservations. I remember publishing sample images and a bokeh comparison many weeks ago. 
     
    I haven't published a (p)review so far. Nobody pays anything for any of those (not even bribes or gear or broken promises), and one of my New Year's resolutions was to scale back on "Fuji X Charity". Hence also no First Looks at the X100F or X-T20 (which I also like even though neither of them is perfect). That said, the X-T20 offers very good value and pretty much sits on a sweet spot.
  4. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from yvandermeer in I finde the lack of 50mm f2 reviews disturbing   
    I have already seen plenty of positive comments and nice sample images from users in the sister X forum. Some markets are usually earlier than others, so that's certainly a possibility.
  5. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Mb.kinsman in I finde the lack of 50mm f2 reviews disturbing   
    Ending every year with a Fuji-related negative 5-digit balance has to stop in order to avoid going broke. So I'm simply shifting priorities. The  reviewing activity is now relegated to my spare time, and there's little of that when Fuji puts out 4 new products at once. I am confident that there will be opportunities to write up interesting free stuff, but my timing is now based on available spare time and not on Fuji's product announcement dates. The weeks around these announcement dates are usually pretty busy with a lot of non-exciting but actually paid work coming in, and I have two (or maybe 3 or 4) additional Fuji X book projects ahead of me, each in two languages. The past years have indeed been charitiy with regards to my bottom line. My English might be insufficient, but charity is giving money for a (good) cause, right? I love to contribute to the community, but it shall not cost me my existence. My family and my bank account kept telling me that I needed to scale that back. I have no interest in becoming a paid shill or setting up a websites filled with ads and reflinks and donate buttons or paid premium content. Beyond forums and blogs, I also like to interact with real Fuji X users, so I run my home workshops "at cost" to open them to as many people as possible. Folks seem to appreciate that, that's why every available weekend between February and June has already been booked, and I'm already developing a new (third) workshop format for the second half of 2017. Of course this also means that my weekends are quite busy. It's either a workshop weekend, or I am traveling (Malta in March, California in April) to produce sample images with new gear like GFX. Of course, none of these trips are in any way subsidized or even authorized by Fujifilm. In fact, I have to buy a full GFX kit in order to have one for the planned Malta samples images in March, because Fujifilm made it clear that they wouldn't have review equipment available for me in time. So once again, my resolutions are in danger.
  6. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Mac Sinclair in GFX & f2 lenses spell the end for high end, x lenses   
    The F2 lens trio is very popular. They sell very well and users like them.
     
    That said, some of the "large, heavy and expensive" lenses also gained popularity in recent months, probably due to the availability of the X-T2.
     
    The next area to fill will probably be video, seeing that there's currently no video-optimized lens in the line-up.
     
    As for additional high-end lenses for still photography, I'm pretty sure we will eventually also see a few of those in 2018 and beyond. 
  7. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from PoulWerner in I finde the lack of 50mm f2 reviews disturbing   
    Some folks simply expect too much. In my case, several users literally demanded that I write First Looks on everything new in two languages and publish them on the day new stuff is announced. At they same time, I received complaints about books being not available or not being available in German.
     
    Luckily, Fujifilm has a large number of popular X photographers who publish plenty of First Looks. Obviously, they are compensated, but that doesn't diminish their work. I reckon the 50mmF2 had to take a bis of a back seat because it was announced on the same day along with the GFX, T20 and X100F.
  8. Like
    flysurfer reacted to batian in X100F aperture   
    Sorry, I don't get the point and give up... the autofocus works exceptionally well in Aperture Priority and is lightning fast in addition, at least with my copy of the X100F... doesn't matter if it's the first or the fifth picture. I don't recognize any significant delay at all... And I don't understand the point you mentioned with the "full auto mode". I thought we are talking about Aperture Priority... 
  9. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Patrick FR in Introducing the Tether Shooting Software “FUJIFILM X Acquire” Compatible with FUJIFILM GFX 50S   
    It's basically what the standard LR tether plug-in does, just w/o Lightroom. 
  10. Like
    flysurfer reacted to Nick05 in Has anyone here pre-ordered the GFX   
    I was talking to someone yesterday who just bought an X-T2 and your book. I don't think she had a chance to read it yet, but it was nice to hear about the support for you. I know it takes a lot of effort and I appreciate the first looks, reviews, and tips.
  11. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from adzman808 in Has anyone here pre-ordered the GFX   
    I think it's pretty obvious that a GFX version of my X-Pert Tips would end up being more expensive than previous books to offset the lower volume of the underlying product. Luckily, that shouldn't shock those folks who can afford a GFX with lenses. 
  12. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from PoulWerner in I finde the lack of 50mm f2 reviews disturbing   
    Ending every year with a Fuji-related negative 5-digit balance has to stop in order to avoid going broke. So I'm simply shifting priorities. The  reviewing activity is now relegated to my spare time, and there's little of that when Fuji puts out 4 new products at once. I am confident that there will be opportunities to write up interesting free stuff, but my timing is now based on available spare time and not on Fuji's product announcement dates. The weeks around these announcement dates are usually pretty busy with a lot of non-exciting but actually paid work coming in, and I have two (or maybe 3 or 4) additional Fuji X book projects ahead of me, each in two languages. The past years have indeed been charitiy with regards to my bottom line. My English might be insufficient, but charity is giving money for a (good) cause, right? I love to contribute to the community, but it shall not cost me my existence. My family and my bank account kept telling me that I needed to scale that back. I have no interest in becoming a paid shill or setting up a websites filled with ads and reflinks and donate buttons or paid premium content. Beyond forums and blogs, I also like to interact with real Fuji X users, so I run my home workshops "at cost" to open them to as many people as possible. Folks seem to appreciate that, that's why every available weekend between February and June has already been booked, and I'm already developing a new (third) workshop format for the second half of 2017. Of course this also means that my weekends are quite busy. It's either a workshop weekend, or I am traveling (Malta in March, California in April) to produce sample images with new gear like GFX. Of course, none of these trips are in any way subsidized or even authorized by Fujifilm. In fact, I have to buy a full GFX kit in order to have one for the planned Malta samples images in March, because Fujifilm made it clear that they wouldn't have review equipment available for me in time. So once again, my resolutions are in danger.
  13. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Phil in X-Pro2 RAW LR Conversions: Darker than JPEG   
    It's Adobe's fault, so you should open a support ticket with them. Fixed DR settings are treated correctly, btw. So only DR Auto (with DR200% in the actual shot) is affected.
     
    Fuji can't do much here, as the RAW metadata appears to be fine. 
  14. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from PoulWerner in After Firmware 2.01 update cant take RAW pictures   
    What sensitivity would that be? 
  15. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Patrick FR in Can you Copywrite images in the XT1   
    Possible with the Adobe Tethering PRO Plug-in.
     
    Should also be possible with X-T2 after future firmware upgrade.
     
    Unlikely to also come to X-T1, but cannot be ruled out.
  16. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from johant in XT-2 Glaring Omissions   
    Of course it would be possible, but it's nothing most users would want, as it would slow down the camera and increase memory needs in the camera and on the computer drive. I would not tolerate RAW files that always include large, full-size JPEG previews. So if Fuji changes this, I will call them out with regards to this "glaring error". I am very sure others will join me. 
     
    Now, if that would only come as another option (to further complicate things, which many Fuji users don't like), I could personally live with it (I'm not afraid of complex systems with many options). However, that option is already there. It's called NORMAL+RAW, and it's more versatile that forcing users to use oversizes RAW files, because we can use the full-size preview as long as we need them and then dispose of them later. Best of both worlds.
     
    So no, I don't want this feature. It's already here, as far as I'm concerned.
  17. Like
    flysurfer reacted to Patrick FR in Purple Image Error X-T2 (and X-pro 2) with backlight   
    I'm lucky, because I can recreate the grid artifacts also with my X-T1 (in this case with the 35mmF1.4 attached) :-)
     
    But a minimal adjustment by super-slightly changing the angle, and it's gone.
     
    I hear and read that this is an issue also with Olympus and other mirrorless cameras, due to the reflection of the light hitting the sensor on the rear element of the lens.
     
     
     
     


  18. Like
    flysurfer reacted to cale33 in ebook: “The Fujifilm X-T2: 120 X-Pert Tips“ Available   
    I bought it this morning and have spent the day reading and studying it.  Truly GREAT book!  Well written, informative, and deeply interesting.  I love that he put in all the shortcuts.  Push this, hold that, and zap! you override the menu.  In two days I leave on a five-month world cruise and I'm taking it with me in print form so I can make lots of notes on it.
     
    Thank you, Rico.
  19. Like
    flysurfer reacted to Patrick FR in ebook: “The Fujifilm X-T2: 120 X-Pert Tips“ Available   
    It’s finally here, Rico Pfirstinger’s latest book “The Fujifilm X-T2: 120 X-Pert Tips“. Get it… you won’t regret it!
     
    You can get it with a 40% discount by clicking on this link and using code “FRXT2” (available in PDF, ePub, and mobi (Kindle)… DRM-Free).
  20. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from PoulWerner in Fuji X-T2 raw file sizes   
    But it's not a Nikon menu.
  21. Like
    flysurfer reacted to mdm in Fujifilm GFX Rumors   
    and....?
  22. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Terence Chee in Survey: Fuji X-T2 or Fuji X-Pro2?   
    It's a necessary evil, as pretty much all major Japanese camera makers are increasing prices in August or September. The Yen is up about 15% year on year against the EUR and USD, so this is a step that has long been expected, but the companies wanted to wait how the Brexit vote turned out. Sadly, the outcome was not favorable and didn't turn around the trend, quite to the contrary.
     
    Plus, many camera models are barely available due to the earthquake. Sony already had to cancel a large European soccer championship TV ad campaign here in Germany because they didn't have enough cameras to support it. Fuji also has delivery problems, they might have to cancel the X70 before year's end in order to have enough X-Trans II sensors left to support the X-T10 until its EOL. And according to a popular rumor site, the successor for the X100T has already been pushed back to 2017 because all available X-Trans III sensors are needed for the X-T2. Btw, Sony has the same problem with the a6300 (which is no surprise, because it's basically the same sensor).
     
    In any case, planning products that don't sell well (and have a track record of not selling well) isn't the smartest thing in my book, unless you simply do not have a better plan for building different stuff that customers might actually want to buy in larger numbers. Personally, I'd focus on bringing an X-T20 to market as soon as possible.
  23. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Patrick FR in XPRO2 Firmware update Oktober 6   
    The article is now final (thanks to my editor Maggie Yates at Rocky Nook for doing a terrific job as always) and can also be accessed at X-Pert Corner here: http://www.fujirumors.com/fujifilm-x-pro2-using-firmware-2-00/
  24. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from PoulWerner in XPRO2 Firmware update Oktober 6   
    My preliminary English article on firmware 2.00 for the Fujifilm X-Pro2 is now online: https://fuji-x-secrets.net/2016/10/26/fujifilm-x-pro2-using-firmware-2-00/
     
    The article explains changes, fixes and new features and serves as a free update for readers of The Fujifilm X-Pro2: 115 X-Pert Tips.
  25. Like
    flysurfer got a reaction from Patrick FR in XPRO2 Firmware update Oktober 6   
    My preliminary English article on firmware 2.00 for the Fujifilm X-Pro2 is now online: https://fuji-x-secrets.net/2016/10/26/fujifilm-x-pro2-using-firmware-2-00/
     
    The article explains changes, fixes and new features and serves as a free update for readers of The Fujifilm X-Pro2: 115 X-Pert Tips.
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