Fujifilm X-T1

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image courtesy: riflessifotografici (X-T1 + Zeiss 32mm). See more shots at riflessifotografici

– the X-T1 was rated best mirrorless camera at thewirecutter.com: “We researched 13 different mirrorless cameras and spent several days shooting with the top contenders to find the Fujifilm X-T1 is the best mirrorless camera you can buy right now. It has the best manual focus of any camera you can buy right now, plus an impressive 16MP APS-C sensor that produces clean, detailed images (even at high ISOs) that truly set it apart from the competition.”

– Jonas Jacobsson: “I would like to share with you (and the Fuji community) an amazing trip to Norway and Lofoten in particular. We bought an “Explore Norway” ticket with the airline Wideroe so we could travel within Norway for two weeks. Our main attraction was Lofoten, and it did certainly not disappoint. I went there with my Fuji X-T1, 14mm, 18-55mm, 35mm and 55-200mm and did my best to capture as much as I possibly could! It turned out quite well I must say and even good enough to impress official Fujifilm Sweden, who decided to feature my story as well! Very honored by this of course. You can see the story + photos over here https://jonasjacobsson.exposure.co/explore-norway-parttwo. If you just want to enjoy the photos you can do that over att my portfolio site right here http://www.jonasjacobsson.co/portfolio/travels/lofotennorway/.”

– Does your camera have a soul? That’s the question at justinnystrom and his article “Rediscovering Something Old in Something New: Thoughts About My New Fuji X-T1 and Life.” From the article: “”It looks like it is from the ’80s.” That was the first thing my wife said about my Fuji X-T1 as I excitedly handed it to her. She didn’t mean it as a compliment. The blow to my enthusiasm, coming as it did right after my post-unboxing high, was a little like deflating one of those hotdog shaped air packs with a pocket knife. “No, this is completely awesome,” I protested. But she was right. We were both right. The Fuji did look like a camera from the 1980s, and it was precisely one of the reasons I bought it.”

– Arlindo Namour Filho: “I shot this Bridal Editorial with my little Fuji X cameras (X-T1 and X-E2) and Fujinon lenses (23mm, 35mm, 56mm and 55-200mm) and would like to share with our Fuji Lovers. All in native BW, all the power of the X Trans sensor. Hope you like it.” www.ehnamour.com.

– Joe Ng Photography: “I am back from my vacation and just covered the Vancouver Tennis Open on last weekend with X-T1.  I was quite dispapointed with the AF-C but I managed to find a way out with AF-S.  Please find below the blog I shared my experience.” Read and see more here at joengphotography. From the article: “With the 55-200mm lens mounted on, acquiring its initial focus was slow even on a bright sunny day. Yes, I know this camera isn’t designed for professional sport photography but I presumed that it would be able to pick up some sporting shots like tennis since it isn’t as fast paced of a sport as something like hockey. The focus had an accuracy of around 40-50% using the AF-C mode. The challenge was that you wouldn’t know which 4 or 5 frames out of the 10 were in focus, so you just might miss a peak moment.”

– Chris: “I’ve just posted a new article on F-Sunny, showing 4 months of model portrait shooting with the X-T1 and X-Series Lenses.” Read and see  more at f-sunny: “Clients and models have been blown-away by the results from this ‘little camera’. They have plenty of other images to compare with, from every camera manufacturer you can imagine. But time and time again, they return to the Fuji X-Series images, and smile, and ask for more of the same please.”

– Life without a Mirror (continued) at joshmcleodphotography: ““I honestly believe Mirrorless Cameras are the future and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the DSLR become all but extinct in the not too distant future. As mirrorless cameras get better and better I can see no logical reason why DLSR’s will continue to exist. I earn my living and shoot 99% of my work with a mirrorless camera. The quality of the product that I deliver to my clients is as good, if not better, as its ever been. For me, there is no looking back, and life will, for the foreseeable, continue without a mirror!!!”

– The streets of Tokyo with the X-T1 and X100S at gaborimages: “I haven’t blogged for a while now, but loads of things happened in the last couple of months. Couple of photo shoots, weddings, holiday, new website and a new camera… What, new camera? Oh, yeah. I finally said good bye to my Canon kit and got an X-T1 with a 56mm lens to accompany my X-Pro1 and X100s. Wasn’t an easy decision, but time will tell. So far I’m loving it, but because I have plenty of editing to do, I haven’t spent huge amount of time with it.”

– Things I wish I would have known- Part 7 at vicsfujixblog: “I had already set up both my Fujifilm X-T1‘s with a minimum shutter speed of 1/160 sec and a high ISO of 3200. To tell you the truth I was so frustrated, hot and tired that I didn’t care. I set them both to auto and kept checking the viewfinder and it seemed to be working. This simple adjustment, which is made even more simple by the dial on the X-T1, really helped the rest of the time I was shooting. Now, I can really see the value of using Auto ISO at certain times.”

– The Fujifilm X-T1 in Iceland at photomadd: “I saw some fantastic photographs posted into my Facebook Fuji group along with a nice write-up of using his Fujifilm X-T1 on his trip to Iceland.  I asked Belfast based amateur photographer Mark Allen if he wouldn’t mind me sharing his thoughts on here and he was good enough to agree.  Mark is yet another photographer who would normally have been using his Full-Frame Nikon gear on a trip like this, but has made the switch to the lighter mirrorless system from Fuji.”

– Pleasures & Rewards of Using Fujifilm’s XT-1 for Stills Footage at planet5d: “I recommend the XT-1 and these two lenses [admin: 10-25 and 56] very highly indeed and look forward to trying out more Fujifilm and Fujinon X-series lenses and X-Trans-equipped cameras. I look forward to the day when Fujifilm will improve its X-series cameras’ moviemaking features too. Imagine shooting HD footage with Provia, Velvia or one of the other film simulations applied!”

– X-T1 In-Progress review – conclusions at giannigalassi: “As for image quality, the Fuji X-T1 delivers awesome color files, rich in detail and resolution (even richer when using prime lenses), perfectly white-balanced (it’s definitely the best camera I have ever used in this regard), with the most natural and pleasant skin tones. Out-of-camera JPGs are so finely tuned that obtaining the same results from RAWs is a very difficult (if not impossible) task.”

–  Controlling a Fuji X-T1 with the Fujifilm Camera Remote WIFi APP at aboutphotography.

– Sony a7S Astrophotography Review (vs X-T1) at petapixel.

– Shaping The Light with Karl Bratby at richardhurstphotography.

– Fuji X-T1 Photographer Experience at neocamera: “This superb camera handles nearly all photographic opportunities well. It keeps managing to produce a high-ratio of keepers compared to other advanced digital cameras, proving that this mirrorless than can hold its own against modern DSLRs. The fact that the EVF is so large lets.”

– Sebastien Egger: “I’am a Swiss Photographer and a big fan of the Fuji’s XF system. I have a X100, X100’s, XPro1 and one XT1 with the 14mm, 21mm,56mm,fisheye Samyang 8mm and many more ;-) … I share my photographic work in this tumblr website: http://fujixpro.tumblr.com/”

– Seam Marc Lee: “A simple cinemagraph test I made using the XT1 + 23mm – vimeo”

– Why the Fuji X-T1 is NOT my Photoshop camera at glyndewis: “I totally LOVE the Fuji X-T1 and I know this will sound weird but I can think of no other way to explain it but … I feel it delivers 100% as a camera for Photography but not for Photoshop.”

– A Month in Italy with the Fuji X-T1 – What Worked and What Didn’t at daveburnsphoto.

– My work with the X-Pro1 & the X-T1 at fujixpro.

– “Back in the Spring I visited Italy with the family. It was my first big trip DSLR-free, traveling just with the Fuji X-T1 and X100s. It was so pleasant not lugging around heavy gear all trip.” Read and see more at rodneyboles.

– Review | 20 Countries with Fujifilm X-Series Cameras at blamethemonkey: “I’m very happy to be working with, not only the Fujifilm X-Series Cameras and XF lenses, but also the bright minded people who develop the technology. While I can’t share any specific details about the future product rollout, I can say for certain that I’m extremely excited about the future of Fujifilm cameras. With all the awesome advancements in camera technology on the horizon, it’s truly a wonderful time to be a photographer!”

– Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Camera Review: Fast Shooter at tomsguide: “The Fujifilm X-T1 is a capable camera that, thanks to its weatherproofing, easily matches an outdoor lifestyle. Plus, this shooter is fast enough to capture at least moderate action for those who want a speedy but relatively compact camera with interchangeable lenses. However, you should look elsewhere if you want to shoot a lot of video, as quality is sub-par. Overall, though, we’re really taken with the X-T1’s still image quality, speed and low-light capabilities. For a broad range of shooting, in fair weather and foul, the X-T1 will serve you well.”

– Josh McLeod: “Here is a link to the blog post/results from shooting with the Fuji X-T1 and various lenses:” Read it at joshmcleodphotography: “I mentioned in Part 1 that the MFT lens line up is one of the most mature and comprehensive of the mirrorless segment. The Fuji lens line up, although not as mature is still remarkably good. It has lenses for pretty much all shooting situations and Fuji are also continually developing new lenses. In terms of optics, the Fuji lenses would have be some of the best in the business. My favourite lens is the Fuji 1,2/56mm (85mm equivalent) which is perfect for my portrait work. With a max aperture of F/1,2 I am able to get pretty much the same DOF control as I would on a full frame DSLR. I regularly shoot wide open the images are spectacular. Its sharp wide open and the out of focus areas (or Bokeh) are smooth and creamy. This is one of my favourite lenses of all time.”

– Kaushik Parmar: “Hi! I did Time Lapse video with my X-T1” Watch it here. […] And also see new pictures which I clicked by my X-T1, this is my exclusive page wherin almost all photos are taken by Fujifilm X series cameras like X100, X100S and now newer pictures are with X-T1.”

– Enrique Meza: “Just wanted to share a recent personal project I worked on. It involved my office life it was shot on the XT1 using a C stand and the wifi feature of the camera.” See more here at mezafilms.

– Taking the X-T1 into the deep blue at fujifilmblog: “Overall, the X-T1 and 10-24mm set up exceeded my expectations. I knew it would follow subjects well but I thought that shooting through water would probably lower the hit rate. However, the only factor that affected this was human error. With a specifically designed underwater housing, this camera and lens set up would be a brilliant choice for any underwater photographer, with its small size, clear controls and superb image quality.”

– Wedding with the X-T1, X100S, 56 and 35 at jonasraskphotography. For his X-T1 review click here: “THE EVF IS SO AMAZINGLY GOOD IT MAKES MY WANT TO SHED A TEAR SOMETIMES!”

– Fuji X-T1 vs Fuji X-E1 at jwctp: “When I first turned on my X-T1, my mouth dropped when I experienced how fast the AF was. Then I realized I didn’t even have High Performance mode on. I didn’t even get the latest lens firmware to take advantage of the Phase Detection pixels! Once I did that, the AF became even faster. So if you have an older Fuji model, like the X-E1 or X-Pro 1, and are wondering if it’s worth it to upgrade to the X-T1, yes it is. It is absolutely worth it.”

XF 18-135mm

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– Review at admiringlight: “The Fuji 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR is the first super-zoom lens for the Fuji X-Mount, and the first Fuji lens to feature weather sealing.  When combined with the excellent close-focus ability, the lens has the versatility to serve as an all-in-one take anywhere sort of optic, and for the most part it succeeds here.  Fuji has put in an incredible image stabilizer that will get you close to 5 stops of extra handholdability, the range is incredibly useful, and it makes a perfect companion for the times you just don’t want to bother changing lenses.  The lens is also optically quite good, though it falls short of outstanding.  Color and contrast are fantastic, and even the bokeh is quite nice. The 18-135mm is capable of producing images with very good central sharpness as well, even wide open.  Where it falters is at the edges, especially near 18 and 135mm, where there’s softness that remains even after stopping down.”

–  Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 Fujinon lens test (PART 2) at bjornmoerman: “As always is the case for a lens with a broad focal range like the 18-135, it is all about compromises; it does a lot of things OK, but nothing 100% perfect… No criticism but pure photography physics!  Is the 900,-USD price tag too high? Well one obviously is paying for the weather sealing, but a 600 to 700,-USD range would have put it more in line with the exciting zooms like the great 18-55 and 55-200. The fact that unlike other XF lenses, it is manufactured in China instead of Japan, doesn’t help to defend its somewhat higher price point neither…”

– The Japanese site mobile01 posted its review here (translation).

– A nostalgic trip to the Abbotsford Airshow with the Fujifilm X-T1 and the XF 18-135mm lens at kalejf: “The XF18-135mm lens worked wonderfully with the X-T1, and as you can see the image stabilization worked wonders in very low light situations.”

– Field Test Images at outbackphoto.

TCL-X100 / WCL-X100
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 – Okinawa with the Fuji TCL-X100 at thomasalanphoto: “Besides the slower focusing, the only negative for me is the way the camera feels in my hand now. The TCL does throw off the balance of the camera, so I’m not sure I would enjoy shooting with it for extended periods of time. This may just be me, however your mileage may vary. Is the Fuji TCL-X100 perfect? No. Focusing is sometimes slower depending on the environment. Does it deliver exceptional quality? Yes. I could not tell the difference in color or clarity compared to the built-in lens.”

 Rokinon (Samyang) 8mm Fisheye Version II / Samyang 12mm
pre-order: BHphoto

 – The Old Forge ~ Fuji X & Samyang 12mm F2.0 at surroundinglight: “I’ve got quite a few of these images to go through. I might add a few more to this post later. To finish with I have to re-iterate that the Samyang 12mm NCS CS F2.0 has worked tremendously well with my X-E1. The lens is a keeper and I would go as far as to say it’s better than some of the far more expensive wide angle lenses I’ve owned in the past. Sure it’s manual, and so there’s no autofocus, but on a 12mm I don’t think it’s an issue at all. The Nano-Crystal coating is helping to produce wonderful shots. It has been a revelation and I can’t wait to get out with it again!”

–  User Review: Samyang 12mm f/2.0 (Fuji X mount) at fotozones: “My verdict is that this is a keeper. I will take some interesting images over the next few days and add them to my impressions.”

 XF 56mm f/1.2
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 – Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R review at amateurphotographer: “Lenses with this sort of specification are usually very costly, including the Canon example for full-frame sensors, and Panasonic’s Nocticron for micro four thirds, and, at around £900, this X-series unit is too. It is, however, slightly less well endowed with specialist glasses, in possession of a less rounded iris and less rounded out-of-focus highlights – things that are important to photographers who like wide-aperture lenses. It is, though, a good portrait performer, decent value for money, and will keep X-Pro1 and X-T1 customers very happy for a long time. Now Fuji needs to introduce shorter top shutter speeds and lower ISO settings to cope with the amount of light this 56mm f/1.2 gathers, so we can use it wide open outside too!”

– Fuji 56mm f/1.2 at prometheus.med.utah: “Even if image quality were absolutely equal between the Canon 85mm f/1.2 and the Fuji 56mm f/1.2, this size and volume (Fuji lens is ~55% of the volume of the Canon) argument alone is a compelling reason to pick the Fuji lens.  For any traveling photographer, weight and volume are your enemy and the smaller your gear, the fewer hard decisions you have to make regarding gear to take with you, particularly when flying”

– Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R – Little Review in German at gambajo (translation).

XF 10-24
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 – Review | The Fujifilm XF10-24mmF4 R OIS at leighmiller: “For stills there is some barrel distortion at the wide end but nothing severe. Most of that is easily handled in post processing, just leave a little room on framing if needed. This shot of my living room (impromtu photoshoot for a model, hence the mess) required very little work in Adobe Lightroom 5.5 to get things straight.”

– A visit to a Jacobean gem at paulmellingphotography: “So any niggles from my day out with the 10-24mm?  Only one and that relates to the lens hood which I find to be a bit loose. If it is not quite fitted right you get vignetting in the corner of the picture and I found it moved too easily.”

 X-E2
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 – Fuji X-E2 at ISO 25600 at stanleyleary: “If you even find yourself in situations where the room is so dark that you need to shoot at a high ISO, be sure your camera can go as high as the Fuji X-E2 which at ISO 25600 really made these photos possible.”

– ON to 2014 — relocation & my new Fuji XE-2 Mirrorless camera at jackgrahamphoto: “Listen, there are still needs for Nikon D800’s, Canon 5DMKIII etc. — don’t get me wrong. And for some events and locations, I’ll still shoot my Nikon. But the Fuji XE-2 mirrorless will (for me) be more than I need for about 80% of my work … and now my camera bag is almost the same weight as my tripod and ball head!”

X100S
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image courtesy: jeremeytheronkirby

– Fuji X100S samples at jeremeytheronkirby.

– Fuji X100s Proves Jimi Hendrix Wrong (more ramblings from the street) at streetshooter.

. Fuji x100s How I love to hate thee at sebimagery: “If you think you’re in the market for an x100s…I say don’t hesitate.  But understand what you’re getting into.  Don’t expect it to be a 1DX, or D800E.  Regardless of what you read online….it won’t make you a better photographer.  It’s not the DSLR killer some say it is.  It’s not a Leica.  It is what it is, it has many flaws, and it might not be for you.  For me it’s still the only camera I’ve truly lo”

– Shooting on 6th Street: Comparing the Fujifilm X100S to the Leica M at atmtxphoto: “The Fuji is now my primary camera, until, inevitably, I get another. For now it’s working great and as you can see, more than capable of creating late night urban photographs.”

– Magnum Photographer David Alan Harvey in the streets of Korea with the Fuji X100 (not the “S”) at iso1200.

X-E1
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 – Iceland with the Fuji XE1 / Fuji Travel Photography at colinnichollsphotography: “All the photos here were shot on 2 Fuji XE-1’s the size and weight of these cameras make them great for travel and the image quality is just incredible, at no point did I feel the need for anything more that the gear I had and would be happy to travel anywhere in the world with just this small bag of gear.” For his article “Geek Night” / Fuji X-E1 & X100 Event Photography in Manchester click here.

– Street Photography Pairs with the Fuji X-E1 at thomasfitzgeraldphotography.

– Streetphotography with the X-E1 in China at am-fotografie: “This year I had the great pleasure of spending 3 weeks in China. Not sticking to one place, but travelling through this vast and beautiful country. As I wanted to travel light I opted for the Fuji X-E1 with the 18-55mm, backed-up by the Fuji X100s. Anyhow, I took a lot of pictures of the locals and here is a brief B&W selection. Some of them are shy, others are happy, some are young and some are old. Others are painfully poor…but does it mean it should not be recorded?”

– Fuji X System Hands-on : The Fuji X-E1 at antonionunes: “I must say that Fuji has an incredible implementation for an APS-C sensor camera. Noise is on par with my full frame cameras; and much, much better than the APS-C DSLRs I’ve used.”

X-PRO1
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– X-PRO1 vs. D800E vs. DP2M at vkphotoblog: “After reviewing hundreds of files all I can say that image quality is less dependant on the modern sensor size but rather on a good lens, shooting discipline (tripod!) and post processing skills. Another observation was that Sigma DP2M is yes, a “one trick pony”, but if you know what you are doing you will be rewarded with mind blowing IQ.”

– Fuji X-Pro 1 with Helios 44M 58mm f2 M42 Lens at damianbrownphotography: “Well check the shots out… look for the out of focus areas in particular, the bokeh. That’s the point of this lens!”

–  X Pro1 in Chettinad – a liftstyle lost in time at pbase.

– The Streets of London with the Fuji X-Pro1 at timdobbsphotography.

IBELUX 40mm f/0.85

BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS

IBELUX review at lensrentals: “This is a unique bit of glass. Okay, it’s not a “bit,” it’s a huge chunk of glass. My negative expectations have been completely discounted by a little objective testing. It’s built better than I expected. It’s optically better than I expected. It has far less variation than I expected. My hat is off to the designers at IB/E Optics and the manufacturers at Shanghai Transvision. Very nicely played, gentleman. Very nicely played, indeed.”

lenses

– Review of the 55-200 at photozone: “The Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS is a very harmonious offering. It may not excel in quality but it has only few weaknesses. The Fujinon is pretty sharp across the zoom range and entire image field – even at max. aperture. The low amount of lateral CAs also contribute to the subjective quality perception. Due to the system’s image auto-correction, neither distortion nor vignetting are relevant to the average user. Under the (RAW-)hood these two characteristics are not as quite as perfect though. The quality of the bokeh is just average for a lens in this class.”

– Fujinon XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS – Review / Lens Test Report at photozone: “The Fujinon XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6-7 OIS is a good performer in relation to its price level. The results are mostly sharp in the image center. The corners aren’t quite as snappy in the upper range but let’s be fair – you don’t tend to place the main subject of your scene into the extreme corners anyway. The level of CAs is pretty good at the extreme ends with a weak spot (135mm) in between. Distortions and vignetting are taken care of by the automatic image correction. However, the original characteristics are quite a bit worse though – especially in terms of light falloff.”

– Vancouver and the Fujinon XF 27mm at stephenip: “In all honesty, I didn’t really miss the X100S (which my wife was using) during our trip. On a few occasions, I would’ve liked to have the built in ND filter on the X100S or to be able to shoot at f/2. But in general, the X-T1 and XF 27mm worked out very well as my light, general purpose, walkaround kit.”

– Fuji XF 27mm a great little guy at ledesmaphotography: “A few days ago, I scooped up an XF 27mm 2.8 (silver) to pair of with the XE2 and I couldn’t be more delighted. Initially, I had wondered if it would give me the same experience as I had with my previous X100/s and I most say, it does. The XF 27mm transform your Fuji XE2/1/XT1/XPRO1 into an X100/s like experience.”

– Review | Fuji’s XF 23mm f/1.4. With A 35mm Full Frame FOV, Is It A Rival For The X100S? at slrlounge: “It [X100S] has the same focal length, sure, at f/2 it’s a stop slower, and by all accounts the lens performance isn’t as spectacular as the dedicated 23mm 1.4, but then again this lens is around 75% of the price of an X100s. And with the X100s, it’s an entire camera, with a significantly smaller profile, that’s ideal for the streets. It also has a leaf shutter, built-in ND filter, and given how close the lens elements are to the sensor, is likely to give far greater macro capabilities. I suspect, however, you wouldn’t go wrong either way”

– Fuji XC 50-230mm lens at paulsamolukphotography: “The Fuji XC 55-230 mm lens is really a thing of beauty when you consider the value for the money. This is especially true if you can pick one up on sale like I did. The image quality is great, build quality is ok (definitely not cheap feeling) and it is a great addition to your Fuji X system. One of the biggest benefits for me was the weight of this lens. It makes it a breeze to carry with you on longer hikes and you will not sacrifice the image quality. So should you buy one? If you are looking for a long lens for your fuji x system camera, i can’t help but to recommend this lens as a great choice.”

RAW-processing

 – Steve Gahm: “I do a fair amount of my image processing on Linux and my favorite application for this has been DarkTable.  Unfortunately, Darktable does not support X-Trans images and has stated for that they will not be adding X-Trans support given they are a small team and do not have the resources to dedicate to it.  Therefore I purchased Photo Ninja to process my X-Trans files.  I still use Darktable for an old Nikon E5400. But, now DarkTable has just recently added an experimental branch to support X-Trans.  Here is the link.
http://www.darktable.org/2014/08/using-x-trans-cameras-with-darktable/. Darktable runs on most Linux/Unix system and Apple OS-X.  Chyeck the “Install” page to see what systems they support.”

– “Hello, I’m Alexander Svet – professional photographer and Phase One Certified Professional. I and my team have created Film Styles Set for Capture One. This is a set of 100 color and b&w styles for Capture One. We had worked on this styles more than two years, it was “long run”, but we have very good reviews from our customers. You can find all the details and sample images at http://captureonestyles.com.”

– Adobe has released a guide for moving from Aperture to Lightroom here.

– Processing Fuji X-Trans RAW files with Adobe Lightroom 5.4 video at youtube. (spotted by lepidi-photo)

 Acessories

– New soft-release buttons for Fuji X-T1 at lolumina.

– New compagnon-bag for mirrorless cameras here.

– All Thumbs: The Lensmate Thumbrest for Fujifilm X100s at thepalinode.

– Review: Handgriff MHG-XE für Fujifilm X-E2/X-E1 at oz50 (translation): “The MHG-XE handle Fujifilm for the X-E2 is very well done and for me one of the most useful accessories to the camera. The camera is significantly more stringent and is thus better for longer shootings. The feel is greatly enhanced by the metal and the handle adjusts to the rest of the design, without attracting unpleasant. The handle is approximately 100 euros not a bargain, but the investment is worthwhile in my opinion.”

Switch to the X

– New system in my bag at fotografiainc: “So what I did, I traded one medium priced (I said ONE) Leica tele lens that was not selling fast enough for Fuji X-pro1 and two prime lenses (14mm/2.8 and 35mm/1.4) and some essential accessories… Basically got the core of my new system for a great deal. Two lenses are equivalent of my usual focal lengths (21mm and 50mm). Getting used to field of view with new Fuji X glass was no brainier. Quality is there and then some! I have to say, I don’t miss Leica glass…”

– Johnny shot an entire wedding with Fuji gear… “and it was an amazing experience“. See the shots at johnbogannam.

– Paul Schlemmer is a very young and talented photographer that earns his money from photography. He chose the Fuji X system. Read why at inmybag.net: “So why Fuji you ask? Don McCullin said “I only use a camrea like I use a tootbrush. It does the job” and I like the analogy very much. For me, Fujifilm cameras are like a Curaprox of the camera industry: (editors note: curaprox is a company making superb quality swiss toothbrushes & aren’t as well known as Paul thinks, so the analogy doesn’t work that well ) Sexy and playful. It’s easy to have relationship with them on both sides. They are made be people who really gives a sh*t about industry and about us. That’s why I love them as much as a man can love his, ehm, tool.” You can also read Paul’s other article there: “25 amazing photographs and how they were lit”

– One year after switching to Fuji at nguyn: “Working with Fuji has totally changed my vision of how I see things and how I shoot them. It’s not only about specs, neither its image quality nor its design, Fuji cameras have something more, « un je ne sais quoi ». There’s a kind of magic in it, a real soul. You’re not only taking a picture, you feel it, and also, you’re not only a witness of the moment, you’re part of.”

– 22 photographers explain why they went mirrorless at mirrorlessons. Many chose the X-system for their switch.

– Reasons to Stick to Your DSLR Over Mirrorless Camera at thephoblographer.

a little bit of everything

– “Hello. I just wanted to share with your readers a new facebook group I started. The group is called “Mirroless Portrait and Wedding Photographers”. I know there are a number of working professional photographers who have made the switch completely to mirrorless. This is a place where working mirrorless pro’s can share information about their work and the challenges associated with being an early adopter of mirrorless camera systems. The group is new and I would love if you would be able to share it with your readers. Thanks Eric Williams” facebook group mirrorlessportraitwedding.

Fujifilm HS50 EXR

 Fujifilm FinePix HS50 EXR Review at photographic-central: “Without hesitation my opinion is that the Fujifilm FinePix HS50 EXR is the best superzoom in its category that is on the current market. Other cameras in this class may offer you unique advantages (especially Panasonic’s’ FZ200 w/constant aperture), and, perhaps those are wholly worthwhile to you alone to purchase them. But when you’re objectively looking at an all in one package, I don’t think this one can be beat today.”

Instax Share SP-1 Printer
[purhcase here]

Sharing The Joy of Photography at fstoplounge: “No matter how many times I’ve printed with this device, I’m still very excited about seeing the print developing by itself. It’s an even more magical experience for the people you are giving it to, who are most probably going to see this for the first time.”

Still a few X-M1+16-50 left at Newegg for the insane price of $399! Check it out here.

Photographic Projects

image courtesy: spoon-tamago

– Zack: “Famous flower artist Makoto Azuma recently sent a bonsai plant into space (see here). The camera used to record the amazing journey? A Fuji X-T1. If you look at the photos on his blog (http://azumamakoto.com/?p=5051) about 3/4 down the page you can see a daylight shot of a camera hanging upside down in front of a bouquet of flowers, with the unmistakeable button layout and eyecup of the X-T1. How’s Outer Freakin’ Space for a test of weather sealing? If you need further proof, Fujifilm is listed as one of the sponsors for the shoot.”

– Life’s a Florida Beach at kagecollective. Kagecollevtive also added their 8th member, Kevin Mullins, from the UK. They now have members from Canada, the US, the UK, France, Belgium, Denmark, Scotland and Australia. Read more here at http://www.kagecollective.com/kevin-mullins-joins-kage.

– Origami Collective: “Hello Patrick, Its Jorge from Ledesma Photography just wanted to pass on that I’ve founded an all inclusive Fujifilm Photography Collective titled Origami Collective. Our focus is Street, Travel, and Documentary Photography. Our current roster of Photographers includes: Brian Kraft, Neill Soden, Sam Burton, Jorge Ledesma, Marco Larousse, Damien Lovegrove, Gianluca Polazzo and perhaps a few other Fujifilm X Photographers as well coming real soon.”

– You can now visit X-shooter’s Paul Crespel (streetphotography – GotchaStreetPhotography book) permanent (and free) exhibition in Milan. For more details about this exhibition and the upcoming ones, check out his blog here. He also shared with me his stream of thoughts. I’m sure you’ll find some controversial ideas in this paper, but since I like unpopular statements, I’ll share the whole PDF file here on my dropbox account. From the use of Photoshop and Post-Production to the definition of “professional” photographers and much more. Here an excerpt from the chapter IS PHOTOGRAPHY ART?:

“For me, photography is not art. Photography is “theft”. Nothing more. The photographer simply “steals” an image of something that is already in front of him or her using a mechanical device, much like using a photocopying machine. Arguing that adjusting lighting, creating the right pose, etc., is art, is unfounded… it is simply the technician using his acquired skills of the trade to do his job correctly and to the customer’s satisfaction.”

XF 18-135mm

Pre-orders: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / – EUROPE: wexUK / wexDE / PCHstore

– First Look at the Japanese site camera.itmedia.co.jp (translation).

– Wandering Around the Area with a New Lens at brandonremler: “It’s great to have a new lens to use on my walks around town.  The new XF18-135mmWR is a nice range for daylight walks when a large aperture isn’t as critical.  This is the first lens in the Fujifilm line up to include water resistant features matched for the X-T1 body. The lens is image stabilized so if I need to go to a lower speed I was easily able to hand-hold.”

– Samples at the Japanese site dcfever.com (translation).

– slrlclubreview posted a series of videos on youtube. Check out the OIS here, AF test here, and the flare resitance here.

X-T1 or X-E2?

– FujiFilm’s Mirror-less Madness: Hands on with FujiFilm’s X-T1 and X-E2 (Firmware 2.0) at photofocus: “I know I already covered this, but if I had to get one, I’d get the X-T1, in fact, I’m very much contemplating replacing my 5D with this camera. I say that mainly for my style of shooting and how much I typically access settings on the fly. I also like having the security of weather-sealing. Those who are familiar with what I write know that I’m not a big fan of the dust here in Vegas. I don’t need a flash, but many of you do or would prefer it. To those, I’d recommend the X-E2 to you. There are some extra features that I enjoy that are on the X-T1 that aren’t on the X-E2: dual view mode (lets you see the big image and a smaller magnified view for manual focusing), bigger electronic viewfinder, two wheels to adjust settings (one on the back and one on the front), a little more real estate for a grip and a flip out LCD (just cool to have, although I never use them).”

 Fujifilm X-T1
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– Zack Arias’ X-T1 review Yep. It’s A Fuji at dedpxl: “I have zero regrets about selling all of my Canon gear and going Fuji. Zero regrets. I do miss the longer telephoto but, lo and behold, what just got announced for the lens lineup? A 90mm f2. I wonder who could have requested that over and over and over again? This camera can hold its own for just about anything but professional sports photography. It’s a fantastic travel camera. It would be great for events and weddings. It is lovely for portraits. Wouldn’t mind a faster sync speed than the 180th that it has but I jump to the x100s or the Phase when I need that fast sync. […]  PS – Dear Fuji. I’m still wanting an X-Pro2. Don’t forget about that. I would, however, trade the X-Pro2 for an X medium format. Just sayin’.”

– Fuji X-T1 and 18-135mm Water Test video at youtube here.

– X-T1 Autofocus performance in one splash at instantart: “Here I tried 10 sessions of shots, and in 7 of the I keeper 5/6 photo evey 10, and in three of them the Fuji can’t lock focus at the right time, but when it starts to lock the focus it is like a machine gun.”

– Why I Bought A Fujifilm X-T1 at masonmarsh: “The camera is a joy to use, the images flawless as long as they don’t include foliage. I can carry it all day and never tire of using it. It has wifi, so I can travel with it and an iPad and leave the laptop at home. It eats batteries, but they are small and cheap. It has silly buttons and aperture rings, but they aren’t so bad. For most of what I want to do, the Fuji is my camera of choice. It’s far from perfect, but it just might be perfect for me right now. That Canon bag is so damn heavy!”

– Kelly Simonz’s Blind Faith – live at Tokyo Kinema Club at matthiaslambrecht: “I shot the concert with my Fuji X series gear, using the X-T1 with the XF 56mm/F1.2 and the X-E1 with the XF 14mm/2.8. I was curious if the Fujis would hold up to a real world stress test like this, and it’s almost anticlimactic how little trouble I had. The older X-E1 has some autofocus issues in the dark, so I stuck the wide angle on it to reduce the amount of focus hunting; and the X-T1 nailed most of the shots without any problems. As usual, quick access to ISO / shutter speed / aperture dials was a lifesaver.”

– Fuji X-T1 visits a french coastal town at wimarys: “I often shoot landscapes and have found the color palette excellent and the lenses on par with anything produced by Nikon. Thanks to the excellent color registration of the Fuji XT1 16 megapixel X-Trans CMOS II sensor, there is plenty of information in thee RAW files for you to play around with afterwards. You’ll be able pull lots of shadow detail out too as long as you stay under ISO 1600”

– Life with a Fuji X-T1 at anthonyowenjones: “Whilst it’s possible to read into this that this is just a reflection of the truism – the best camera is the one you have with you (and there is a large element of that) it’s slightly more than that.  I am taking my camera out a lot more not just because it’s easier to do but because I also have more confidence it’ll be worth my while.  Somehow my X-T1 has made photography fun again and if photography is fun, then I’m more likely to take photographs.  Which is, really, how it should be.”

– On vacation with Fujifilm X-T1 + 14mm + X100s at larsauthen: “So – what will be my travel setup next time, for travelling as light as possible without missing anything? Two camera bodies for sure, the X100s and X-T1. The 14mm is a no brainer, that one has to come with me. The XF23mm I will leave at home because of the X100s focal lenght. The 35mm will stay home too most likely. The 56mm will come with me of course. Maybe, just maybe, I will get a 55-200mm lens too. But then again – it all begins to get heavy. So, we’ll see.”

– Civil War Reenactment 2014 at photonate.

– Stockografie und die Fuji X-T1 in Peking at stockografie (tranlsation).

– steves-digicams review: “I have to give Fujifilm a lot of credit for creating a unique digital camera design in the X-T1, the company’s latest mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The Fujifilm X-T1’s overall design contains a host of dials and buttons that allow you to make changes to the camera’s settings without ever having to scroll through a series of menu commands on the display screen. This design gives the X-T1 a retro look that will remind you of film SLR cameras from a few decades ago. Certainly experienced photographers will love the ability to change the shutter speed and ISO settings through dedicated dials, rather than through on-screen menus.”

– Light, Form, Function – Breaking Symmetry at bokeh-monster.

– Fuji X-T1 (with 35mm) Doubts at rachelrufferblog: “The first is that I have the 35mm lens, which from my research is one of the first lenses Fuji came out with for the X system. So it is SLOW. And quite loud. I’m really not a fan. It also does a lot of back and forth trying to focus, even if the focus was basically where it should have been and maybe just needed fine tuning. Yep. Let’s focus all the way to 0.1 m and back again. Unbelievably frustrating.”

– Wedding Photojournalism with the Fuji X-T1 at albionrow: “The bottom line is that this is a camera that has changed the way I work. Not in huge ways, but in a myriad of smaller ways, that all add up to a feeling of refreshed creativity and, I think, a better result for my clients.”

– What’s in the Bag – Italy for a Month at daveburnsphoto.

TCL-X100 / WCL-X100
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 – Review at markkitaoka: “Also since the TCL-100 is a teleconverter, no EXIF data exists to alert Adobe Lightroom of the lens correction data which defaults to 23mm. I’m hoping that they can take the Lens selection information we change in the Fuji menu and use that selection to correct any lens aberrations in the program. Other than those two little niggles, I highly recommend the TCL-100 for anyone who wants 15mm more reach or loves taking 3/4 portraits with the X100 or S models.”

– Fuji TCL-X100 review Part 1 at thomasalanphoto.

– Canon 1DX with Sigma Art 50 vs. Fuji X100s with TCL at markkitaoka: “For those who may be sneaky, I’ve removed the EXIF data. It’s quite remarkable what the little Fuji paired with the TCL X100 can do. After all it’s only about a $6,049.00 difference at suggested retail! Smile or no smile, which is which?”

Zeiss Touit 50mm
Pre-order at Adorama and BHphoto

–  Zeiss Touit 50mm f/2.8 macro lens – hands on review at aboutphotography-tomgrill: “In terms of sharpness, this is a professional grade lens, sharp everywhere, even in the corners with wide open aperture — exactly what I would expect from Zeiss. For anyone seeking an exceptional macro lens for a Fuji X-series or Sony Nex system camera, this is it. If you are thinking of adding this lens to your system, I suggest you put yourself on a pre-order wait list soon. Once photographers discover the quality of this lens, it is going to sell out quickly.” For his shoot-out Zeiss 50 vs Fujinon 56 click here.

Rokinon (Samyang) 8mm Fisheye Version II / Samyang 12mm
pre-order: BHphoto

– Samyang 12mm f/2 NCS CS review at musicphotographer: “The Samyang 12mm f/2 NCS CS quickly became one of my favourite lenses, and they did a great job with this lens, keeping the price low and at the same time keeping the build quality on a very high level. The image quality it’s simply superb for such a lens from f/4 onwards, and very good even straight from f/2. If  you love to shoot landscapes at nighttime and you have a mirrorless, that’s a dream lens for you, but in general it’s a great lens for any landscape photographer, having the advantage to have good image quality and a very fast aperture.”

XF 56mm f/1.2
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– Fujifilm Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2 R Lens Review at findingrange: “If you need a short-tele lens, there is not a doubt in my mind that the XF 56mm F1.2 is a “must-have” for the X Series system.  At F1.2, it’s a very fast lens,which not only allows you to isolate your subject and surround it with a creamy background, it also allows you the flexibility of using a lower ISO setting in dim lighting.  But it doesn’t stop there; the XF 56mm F1.2 performs superbly when stopped down, which only adds to its versatility.  The compact dimensions and it’s relatively lightweight construction for a lens of this focal length and speed make it very easy to carry anywhere. Lastly, this is a very well built lens.  If you’re in the market for a short-tele, don’t hesitate to buy the XF 56mm F1.2.  In my opinion, I think this is seriously one of the best X Series lenses currently out.”

XF 10-24
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– The Fuji 10-24mm – one month at paulmellingphotography: “I’m no pixel peeper so I couldn’t tell you if this lens is as good as others when you enlarge the image by 500 percent or whatever. If you want the ultimate quality for advertising or the like then you have plenty of options.  I can’t imagine any situation where the quality of these images will let me down unless it’s due to user error.”

X-E2
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– Street Photography in Zürich mit der Fujifilm X-E2 & Fujinon XF 18mm at oz50 (translation).

X100S
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– Voyage, Voyage with the X100S at olafblog: “Why the Fuji X100S? We have written extensively about this gem of a camera and why, in our view, it is still the best digital camera on the market. The greatest appeal lies in its size, simplicity and fixed lens. I walk around looking innocent and people don’t even notice when I take photographs. Many view me as a non-threatening tourist with his little point-and-shoot.”

–  Omar Z. Robles: “I wanted to share this blog post about my recent experience shooting an entire wedding with my fuji x100s. Thanks. For images and post visit the folioing link: omarrobles”: “Shooting exclusively  with the x100s allowed me to get in and out of places all around the city, swiftly for almost over 8hrs. And yet, I was not feeling overworked. I had so much energy, I even ended up editing the whole wedding that same night. Oops, I almost for got to mention, I also shot the whole thing in JPEGs, yes I did. This shortened my editing immensely. Now, just the  day after, the couple can happily enjoy their images and I can go back to more shooting and creating.”

X-PRO1
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– Standing on Higher Ground at littlebigtravelingcamera: “In my case it also helps with the viewpoint. Sometimes I feel I’m too tall for a good shot in Asia because I’m not shooting at eye level. For that reason alone I hope that the Fuji X-Pro 2 will have a tilt screen. If not I think I will get the X-T1.” For the article “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” click here.

– Fuji X Pro 1 – Street Photography at streetframe: “I bought the Pro 1 just as the X-T 1 was weeks away from the shop shelves, I wouldn’t swap it for the world. You see there is function, if your shooting sports then perhaps other cameras should be in your bag, maybe there are better cameras for all sorts of things, but I shoot street style, I want my camera to look the part, be discreet. I want the camera to inspire me, I want to feel like I know the secret to enjoying my photography, I want to be part of a scene that excites me.”

– London with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 at rachelrufferblog.

lenses

– Andre Heid: “I wrote an article about how to increase the magnification Ratio of the XF60mm lens.” Read it at lichtklicker.

– Fujifilm Fujinon XC 16-50 mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS review at lenstip: “Taking all the pros and cons, presented above, into account, the purchase of the tested lens for its suggested price, amounting currently to 1699 PLN, would be ludicrous. Fortunately nobody has to buy it separately as it is offered with the Fujifilm X-A1 and X-M1 cameras if you pay a little bit extra. It cooperates very nicely with both of these bodies, providing a quite universal focal length range – especially that wide angle of view, which you cannot find in 18-55 mm instruments. What’s more, it generates sensibly sharp photos no matter what focal length you employ. It would be foolish to demand more from a kit lens, added almost for free to a camera body.”

– Fujinon XF27mm pancake lens! at oncamphoto: “The shooting experience is really unique, you can shoot one handed, it fits inside your coat pocket, you can just relax about your shooting & not feel that pressure to perform or shoot everything you see. It feels less serious to carry & i think that reflects on your mindset when you head out to shoot, you really enjoy yourself.  Its actually that setup that you will just love carrying & if you see something interesting the 27mm is going to deliver without a doubt.”

– Long lens love affair – Fuji X-T1 and the 55-200 at andygallacher: “It’s also a piece of kit that doesn’t take up too much room or look too intrusive, an important factor for me given some of the places I end up in. It’s not a lens that screams ‘expensive’ and it certainly isn’t a back breaker. But the Fuji 55-200 certainly is well made and more importantly has produced some lovely images on both the X-Pro1 and X-T1.”

– Fujifilm 27mm Love at flixelpix: “This isn’t a technical review but more of a hat tipping to a lens that serves me very well but rarely gets any credit on the pages of FlixelPix. At around £350 it is one of Fujifilm’s most cost effective lens that offers remarkable image quality, compact form factor at amazing value for money. If you are looking for a low cost lens that offers both versatility and a compact form factor then look no further than the Fujinon 27mm.”

 Acessories

– [shoplink 23904]MHG-XT[/shoplink] Large Hand Grip for Fuji X-T1 at nathangilmer: “I am a big fan of this grip and love using the X-T1 more than ever. Pictures of it on my X-T1 with the 23mm f1.4 are posted below.”

Iridient 2.4.4

– Iridient Developer 2.4.4 was released and includes one Fujifilm specific fix for potential crashes with some EXR HR mode RAF images from the Fujifilm F600EXR. This bug likely impacted several other EXR compact models as well, but was reported specifically from an F600EXR user. This update also fixes a recently introduced bug which would cause the ICC output profile to not be embedded properly when exporting to JPEG. The new Iridient Developer 2.4.4 version can be downloaded here: http://iridientdigital.com/products/rawdeveloper_download.html

Instax Share SP-1 Printer

Fujifilm Instax Share SP-1: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / [shoplink 23847 ebay]your eBay[/shoplink] / DigitalRev (worldwide shipping)

In the firmware update, the X-A1, X-M1 and XQ1 got direct instax Share WiFi support. So there is no need to upload the images first on your phone and from there on the printer. Why this feature didn’t made it into the X-series best seller X-E2 and X-T1 is a mystery for me.

However, is the [shoplink 23847]Instax Share SP-1 printer[/shoplink] worth the money? Here are two reviews about it.

1) ephotozine recommends this printer because of his compact size and good prints and concludes that “the Instax SP-1 is quite a unique little wireless printer, that’s highly portable and works with any smartphone with wireless capabilities. It’s quick to print, and no-fuss, credit card sized Instax images are great to share with friends and family right there on the spot.  Film is relatively cheap to buy at around £12 for two packs of ten photos, and the beauty of the wireless printer is that all your friends can use the printer from their respective smartphones, allowing you to capture your day from all angles. A great product that will no doubt make the younger generation very happy.”

2) Mehrdad’s review can be read in German at qimago (translation). From the (google translated) conclusions: “The Instax Share is a great toy and brings a certain flair to the images. We have installed in our home a little photo wall. Visitors, family events, Selfies, the favorite pictures of my wife and find their way to this wall. The Instax Share It’s now not only faster but somehow with a certain flair.”