2017 X Workshops :: 7 RAW Converters Compared :: Fuji Guys F-Log/X-T20 Videos :: XF50/2 First Look :: From Canon to Fuji (miXed zone)

 

2017 WORKSHOPS

I’d light to highlight a few workshops that could be interesting for you. And just to be clear: I’m not affiliated with any of these workshops. If you join them or not, I won’t make a penny out of it. However, from my own experience, I can tell you that workshops can help way more to improve your photography than purchasing new gear.

Streets of Vancouver Photography Workshop
+
Simplicity In Seeing Online Training & Inspiration

It’s a few years now, that I follow Olaf’s work with admiration. Definitely a talented X-shooters. And I’m happy to see he is now willing to share his talent not only through his images, but also to share his knowledge and experience with workshops and online trainings

  1. The Streets of Vancouver Photography Workshop, his first photography workshop ever (3 days in July). For more details, please check out his website here.
  2. Olaf also launched his educational and mentoring platform, Simplicity-In-Seeing. The platform was created to go beyond what is currently available in photography education. His focus is on the craft of seeing, on all the elements that help photographers to develop, maintain and challenge their seeing. Check out his website here.

More Workshops & Trainings

  • There is a Fujifilm “X” Photographers Travel & Nature Summits at fujifilmxphotosummits with 3 ½ days of presentations, talks etc. by 4 Fuji “X” Photographers + technical and corporate from the FUJIFILM headquarters in New York. Jack Graham and Bill Fortney also offer a few workshops over the year in USA. Full details at fujixphotoworkshops.
  • Rico Pfirstinger Workshops: Go To New Zealand (or Guernsey) to Learn How To Master Your Fujifilm Camera at Rico’s Ultimate X-Secrets Workshops 2017. More here.
  • X-Shooter Ian offers workshops and online educational. More at ianmacdonaldphotography. Vancouver Street Photography Workshop here + Toronto Street Photography Workshop here.
  • NEW – UPDATE  (NSFW): X-photographer Jiri is offering Group Nude Art Photo Workshop in Prague (click here) and 1-on-1 Nude Art Photography Courses in Prague (click here)

COVER STORIES

Fujifilm GFX

Fujifilm 100F

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Fujifilm GFX :: Amazing Dynamic Range JPEG Shadow Recovery + Bokeh + Sharpness & Just 10 Days Left to Win $3,000 !!!

GFX Buzz

If you are curious about the GFX, well, then I can’t recommend you enough to join us at the Fujifilm GFX facebook group, where 5,700+ GFX fans are having great discussions about Fuji’s new system and GFX beta testers continue to share their images, impressions and interact with the whole community.

I’ll pick out a few more GFX tidbits shared at the group… and let’s start with:

GFX Dynamic Range (JPEG)

I’ve already shared yesterday Keith’s first impressions & image samples at clubsnap. Keith is also interacting and answering the questions of the GFX facebook group in his GFX post here. Amongst the others, he shows how much details you can recover from an underexposed Super-Fine JPEG with the GFX.

GFX facebook group members can see the underexposed image here, and the recovered image here.

GFX Portrait Shot with 120mm

GFX with 120mm at the German site fineartprinter (translation) – Go to the finartprinter to see the crop

First Pictures and Impressions of the GFX with 120mm at the German site fineartprinter (translation) – Via GFX Facebook Group here. A short summary of his findings:

  • Sharpness is “convincing“
  • the lack of mirror (and hence less camera shakes) allows to achieve sharper handheld pictures at slower shutter speeds. He easly shot perfectly sharp images with the 63mm at 1/80 of a second
  • impressive 69,9 x 52,43 cm printings at a 300 dpi resolution and 87,38 x 65,5 cm at 240 dpi
  • One Image + Crop shared at fineartprinter (translation)

I would be careful with judging the sharpening for now, since it’s uploaded for the web. However, it can give an idea of how sharp the images are with the GFX, and I especially love the soft out of focus transition.

GFX Bokeh & 3D Pop

Fujifilm GFX – GF63mm: Fine JPEG, and at the smallest resolution on the GFX (4000×3000, 12 Megapixel) – shared by Keith at the GFX facebook group.

And more

Mr. Haruki GFX first impressions at the Japanese site dc.watch (translation)

 

GFX + 2 Lenses Fit Billingham Hadley Small :: 56mm Disassembly :: Olympus E-M1 II Vs. Fuji X-T2 :: X-Trans Promise & Problem (miXed zone)

WORKSHOP

  • Fujifilm “X” Photographers Travel & Nature Summits at fujifilmxphotosummits with 3 ½ days of presentations, talks etc. by 4 Fuji “X” Photographers + technical and corporate from the FUJIFILM headquarters in New York. For the workshops check out fujixphotoworkshops
  • Go To New Zealand (or Guernsey) to Learn How To Master Your Fujifilm Camera at Rico’s Ultimate X-Secrets Workshops 2017. More here.

Cover Stories

GFX + GF 32-64 + GF 63 + X70 fit Billingham Hadly Small – via Ivan Joshua Loh at GFX Facebook Group

  • Fujifilm XF56mmF1.2 Disassembly at Andrew’s Flickr
  • Olympus OM-D E-M1 II vs. Fujifilm X-T2 – The complete comparison at mirrorlesscomparison
  • X-Trans: The Promise and the Problem at medium (NOTE: I share this article, because it is creating quite a buzz. Experienced X-shooters will know to take it with a grain of salt. The waxy skin tones problem, for example, is no issue at all in RAW and significantly reduced with X-TransIII. Moreover, Iridient has proven to be superior with the demoisaicing than Darktable (used in this review). X-TransIII now also gives better results overall, due to the reduced distance between the repeating RGB patterns, reducing certain types of artifacts and improving the results with Adobe. Also, unlike stated in the review, Fujifilm NEVER said that X-Trans “eliminates” moiree, they say it “reduces” it.)

Fujifilm GFX
USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm 100F
USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm X-T20
USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm X-T2

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Zack Arias GFX or X-Pro2 Dilemma ** XF50 Vs 56 Comparison ** GFX Video Panning ** X100F / X-T20 & More

Fujifilm GFX

ZACK ARIAS DILEMMA

Zack Arias is caught in a dilemma… should he sell all Fuji X gear to get the Fujifilm GFX and X100F?

“Currently I have two systems: The Phase One XF100 and my Fuji cameras. […] My only backup solution to my Phase is my Xpro2. It can get the job done but when you are hired to shoot medium format it would be nice to have a medium format as a backup if needed. There are times I’d like a smaller medium format kit and I think the Fujifilm GFX and the Fujinon GF32-64 will be a perfect solution for that.

I could sell ALL my Fuji gear and buy the GFX and the new X100F. I have thoughtfully considered that and it is still an option on the table.

Simplify Zack. Simplify. Zen. Flow like water. All that shit.

Full Phase kit. GFX for back up. X100F with wide and tele adapters? Rent other stuff as needed? That sounds good too. That Xpro2 though. I do love that camera so much. I’ve shot a lot of stuff with it. […] Xpro2. X100. Three lenses. Three flashes. One bag. Stuff that keeps me awake. Trying to find the signal in all of this noise. […] What do y’all think of all this bulls**t?

You can read the full article “2017 Goal :: Simplify My Gear” at dedpxl here.

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

MORE ABOUT THE GFX

GFX High ISO test at cameralabs

  • Fujifilm GFX 50S review – overview of features and quality at cameralabs youtube (in short: absolutely fantastic details! Lots of details also in high ISO. Easy to use handheld)
  • Non Stop Fujifilm GFX Discussions, Videos, Images and more at the 5,100+ members strong GFX Facebook Group here
  • Fujifilm GFX 50S FullHD Video (Panning) at ePHOTOzine youtube
  • Thomas Heaton says the only mirrorless camera he wants is a Fuji GFX 50S at Thomas Heaton Youtube (min 27:49)
  • Fujifilm GFX50s Launch at Althorp House ~ 21 Pictures at prophotonut
  • GFX challenges with Knut Koivisto at Fujifilm Global Youtube
  • GFX First impressions at fotopraxis in German here (translation)
  • Fujifilm GFX launch: Hands-on with the GFX, X-T20, and X100F, plus more questions answered! at imaging-resource
  • Fujifilm GFX 50s test photos at letsgodigital
  • Japanese site dc.watch shares GFX and accessories product images here (translation)
  • Fujifilm GFX50 upgrade rant the best Low Cost Medium Format mirrorless camera i want so bad at The Movingicon Youtube
  • Support for compressed Fujifilm GFX 50s raw files figured out for fastrawviewer and rawdigger

Fujinon XF50mmF2 WR

50 Vs. 56 Vs. 60

Some people asked for XF50mm Vs XF56mm comparisons in the comments. Well, I’ve found one at ivanjoshualoh here.

If you want the super-shallow DOF, then the 56 is the way to go. However, at F2, the 9 aperture blades of the XF50mmF2 (and 60) give overall nicer round balls
effects of the fairy lights. Used outdoor, though, with foliage in the background, the XF56mmF1.2 APD wins due to a creamier bokeh.

Compact, affordable, weather sealed, fast focus and a smooth bokeh make the XF50mmF2 WR probably the overall winner to me.

More at ivanjoshualoh here

Fujinon XF50mmF2 WR: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm X100F

Fujifilm X100F: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-T20: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm GFX: “Remarkably Clean Images at ISO 12,800 […] Manual Focus too Much Spinning on Lens” + Shutter Sound/AF Video

Dale Sood & Gary Goldberg from Vistek had 24 hours with the Fujifilm GFX. Not much time, but they tested it as long as they could, even deep in the night out in the streets at -10 degrees. It appears to me that they are trying to give their honest feedback, showing samples and crops, and also pointing out some Cons.

Here are some excerpts… and please pardon me, but the GFX is such a new and exciting piece of gear to the photography industry, that I will cover it properly here on FR.

You can be sure: good or bad feedback, I will share it all.

  • AF in studio: AF was perfect for Gary when shooting with the model. He focusses on the model’s eye, and the camera did a great job with nailing it.
  • AF in Low Light Night Street: Dale used it in low light on the street, and his experience was, as expected, different. In low light it struggled certainly more, but he says it’s always harder for every camera to focus in low light. (NOTE: remember it’s an early beta firmware)
  • Focus peaking: Dale switched to Focus Peaking. But he complains that there is a lot of spinning on the lens to get the focus. (NOTE: also here consider it’s an early beta firmware)
  • Sharpness: Just watch the video, guys :)
  • ISO Performance (min 6:42): The reviewer has experience with other leading Medium Format brands, and he says he rarely pushed ISO over 3,200, because he wasn’t happy with the results. He assumed it would be the same with GFX. He shot on the street at night, and had to push at ISO at 3,200 and for one shot even at 12,800. On the back of the camera 12,800 looked great. But he thought “there is no way this going to look good on the computer“. So he brought the file into the computer and said “I should have shot at ISO 12,800 more often. How clean it is at 12,800 is remarkable” :) . At 6400 the images are very usable right out of the box, without having to apply any grain reduction in post.
  • Battery Live: at -10 degrees, he shot the entire night, without even draining one battery.
  • Conclusions: It can keep up to the hype. It’s going to be a game changer

Full Hands-on review at Vistek Youtube

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro