marcelo_valente

Interesting. So you think I should leave the 18-55 at home? Won't it's versatility be missed? I do often go out only with the 35mm where I live, but I'm almost never shooting churches or large monuments. I'll travel with my wife so she might not be willing to wait around much for lens changing. I was in fact thinking of leaving the 50-230 behind and living with the fact that I would not shoot far away details. So, 18-55, 35 and 12 would be my kit. I'm just scared I might miss out on something. I never took a trip of this kind with my Fuji kit. My bag is short on space at the moment. Leaving either the 18-55 or 50-230 behind would allow me to carry all in a small bag. So I'm seriously considering leaving one behind. Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

I have an issue with the Fuji strap when I let the camera hang from the neck. At it's minimum "setting" it goes down to my belly, so when shooting from there, the aim straight on is totally off. I always get too much sky. I wonder why... Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Hahahaha great story Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

I don't know that adapter. Is it kind of what a tilt-shift lens does? Or the lens baby?

I wanted to get some thoughts on the difference of using a neck strap or a shoulder strap, like the black rapid straps. I've been wondering what would be the best solution. I have both a neck strap and a black rapid, and I know I might need to take the back rapid for longer tests, but, I wanted some other people thoughts. My thoughts are that the neck strap keep the camera "readier" to shoot. If you do street photo you can also shoot from the chest/belly (depending on how low you hang the camera). On the other hand, the black rapid keeps the camera near your hip, to the side. Also easy access to your hand, but, when shooting street you will do that movement of bringing it up to chest level and might get noticed easily. Also, I feel it bangs against your body much more, doesn't that ruin the camera in some way? Another downside is that the strap is attached to the tripod mount which makes it hard to put the camera on any surface because you'll need to put it on it's back. So, please share your thoughts/experience and preference.

Can't you do that with the miniature filter?

Thanks for the answer. I'll test it out with the plugin Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

First time testing the 12mm to see how high I can fit something in the shot. I was not very far from that building and was able to fit it in. I'ts a bit cut because I wanted to align it better. It's a 12 stories building. I guess when I go to Spain in september I'll be able to fit anything in a shot, without having to walk a lot to do it! FXE26623.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr

So, I finally got around to doing a test shot with the raynox. Here is a shot at closest shooting distance. FXE26556.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr This one, now with the raynox 250. There is also a 150 option for the raynox, but, I don't have it. This is the top flower from the three above, at minimum focusing distance with the raynox 250 FXE26551.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr

I have it and love it. Attached to the X-E2 it makes everything very small to carry around and go unnoticed. As for flare...put that with some fuji colors (velvia this time) you get something like this: Gathering of friends by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr

I have to agree Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

A little off the subject, but, a comment about flickr and family and non family pictures. I'm very restrictive when it comes to publishing pictures of my family. From all the photo sharing/storing sites around, the one I found that you have the most control over who sees what is Flickr. I've been using it since 2006 and I have about 28,5k images there. You can control if your shots are visible to public, friends, family or private. I put all my family pictures to friends and family and only the people with flickr accounts that I mark as such have access to check those images, and also download. So, I use it to share with family and friends, and put the public images as such to share with everyone else. And it also serves as a great backup, specially now that they have added mass download of albums and you can download many pictures at a time. By the way, yesterday I was going through flickr and saw that image called "Please give generously", when I saw it today following your link, hehe, what a coincidence. Where was that picture taken? Sorry everyone for the quick change of subject :-) Please go back to discussing lenses. I don't have an opinion to give because I'm currently suffering of GAS. It might be passing now since my budget from selling my canon gear has ended and the exchange rate for me has tripled in the last semester and I can't afford anything else. My kit consists of the X-E2 with the 18-55mm, 18mm, 27mm, 35mm, 60mm, 50-230mm and the Samyang 12mm. So, I can either go all primes, or all zooms :-)

Get a lester dine 105mm. I was going to get one but decided for the 60mm. It's one of the best macro lenses I've seen. Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Auto focus on macro shots is something that sometimes I don't even use because you focus mostly by moving the camera back and forth when you are very close and with shallow dof Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

i forgot about that option.Don't know how good it is. Does anyone? Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

There is a 50mm Zeiss that is 1:1 but I think it is more expensive Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Doesn't the shape of the hood influence the image quality? Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

This is a shot with the 60mm, but not the Raynox. This flower is pretty small. First shot with the Fuji XF 60mm 2.4 Macro by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr Here is where the 1:1 and longer reach was missed. DSCF5655.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr I think the one below was with the raynox. The next one is without. FXE22248.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr FXE22243.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr I'll do some test shots over the weekend. So you get an understanding. Using the raynox on the 60mm requires you to buy a 39mm filter..which can be very cheap because you will remove the glass, and a step up ring so that you can fit the Raynox. This is because when you turn off the lens the focusing element (I don't know what it's called) goes back into the lens and the step up ring will hit the side of the lens and might ruin it. So the 39mm works as a spacer to avoid this.

I used to have the 100mm on my Canon. It was 1:1 and longer, it does make a big difference.

I need to try to remember if I used the raynox or not as there is no indication.Also, when you put the raynox on, you also need to get much closer to get focus. If you are shooting a bug, it might be long gone when you get that close. Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Hahaha I'm sorry...I wrote on my phone and did not notice. Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Hey Mike, I really like the lens. What I do to get 1:1, when I want, is to put the raynox 250 on it. Easier to use then the extension tubes. The legs is slow to focus. I have an album with shots taken with it on my Flickr. Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Well, don't really know the ratio, but, here is a panoramic I did of the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Beach by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr

My thoughts exactly. I guess...out of habit.

There was a topic already with some shots taken by many people with the XC 50-230, but I could not find it today. I took my XC 50-230 for a stroll this past weekend, something I had not done before. I've had the lens for a while but did not have a real oportunity to put it to the test. So, my conclusion is that it is a pretty good lens, and if you need that extra reach, but do not want to spend all that money on the XF 55-200, you can get the cheaper, lighter and longer reach XC 50-230 with no worries and regrets. Here are some examples: First. Check out that reach! At 50MM (notice the Seisho-no-ie holy grounds to the left): FXE26346.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr AT 230mm. Well...that got close enough, and sharp enough, for me. Seisho-no-ie holy ground by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr Now a couple of closer look shots of that sail boat: (go to flicker and zoom in. pretty sharp I think) FXE26349.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr FXE26350.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr Another at 230mm. This one testing out the image stabilization. I was in a moving vehicle when taking this shot of the pretty lady riding her horse. FXE26443.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr Another at 230mm also in the moving vehicle. FXE26420.jpg by Marcelo Valente, on Flickr Well, what do you think? Good enough?