the “unfair” comparison: X-E1 with 55-200 vs Canon 5D Mark III with 70-300 (and in stock at AmazonUK and US)

IN STOCK: A limited number of XF 55-200 is now in stock at AmazonUK here (shipped and sold by AmazonUK) and also three at AmazonUS, but via third party reseller here (you have to pay $100 more to purchase it).

Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892] photo stacks_image_6736_zps6c4ee6df.jpg

image courtesy: martin-doppelbauer

Martin made a quite unfair comparison between the [shoplink 12881]X-E1[/shoplink] with [shoplink 12892 ebay]XF 55-200[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 13457]Canon EOS 5D Mark III[/shoplink] with [shoplink 13458]Canon 70-300 IS L[/shoplink]. “But yet, Fuji claims itself to achieve the image quality of a full-frame camera. So let’s see“. You can read the whole comparison here (available in English and German). Some extracts:

“In direct comparison, I could not detect any significant drawback in the focus speed compared to the Canon 70-300 IS L at least in static, high contrast scenes. To run the focus from infinity to close range takes similar time on both optics. I already have noted the limitations of the X-E1 when recording fast-moving objects (birds in the air, or motor cycling, but also: Crawling babies head from the front) elsewhere. Because both the focus point and the viewfinder image freeze after the first shot in continuous shooting mode, there are little to no chances to get a good picture in such situations. Here, the DSLR is still unbeatable (and the EOS 5D Mark III shines in particular with its uber-autofocus anyway).

Somewhat disappointing is the vignetting of the XF 55-200 at maximum aperture. At least you can correct this well by software.

For a comparison of system resolution, I have run the X-E1 and the XF 55-200 against the EOS 5D Mark III with the excellent 70-300 f/4-5.6 L IS USM. Not quite a fair comparison, as I admit frankly, because the Canon lens costs easily twice as much as the Fuji zoom. And we don’t even talk of the camera body […] Compared with the EOS 5D Mark III, however, Fuji’s zoom has a significantly lower resolution. The Canon 70-300 L resolves about a third more lines across the board, occasionally even 50% more. An equivalence to the Canon full-frame system is beyond question.

The XF 55-200 […] convinces with a very solid overall performance. Across all focal lengths and apertures it has a good sharpness with minimal chromatic aberrations without significant weaknesses. Sure, it can not keep up with a very good full-frame camera and lens. But this is outweighed by price, weight and size.

Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892]

image courtesy: martin-doppelbauer

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Zack Arias: “Life without DSLRs”… X100S follow up review

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image courtesy: Zack Arias

Zack Arias announced it a couple of weeks ago, when he tested the X100S: “DSLR is dead”. And now, how is his life without the DSLR? What changed in Zack’s photography after he switched to Fuji? See his shots and read the whole blog post here. And if you plan to switch too, check out the X-superkit deals.

“I was recently asked on my Q&A blog whether I was switching to Fuji just to be different and not because they are better. I replied saying it is part of the equation. Not a large part. Not even half of the part, but yeah, that’s part of it. Who has a DSLR these days? Everyone. Moms, grandpas, clients, kids, that guy in accounting, everyone. Nikon this. Canon that. […]

It’s mostly a mental departure from how I’ve done things for a long time and how much of the rest of the photography world works. It makes a difference with my clients and subjects as well. DSLRs are so generic these days that when you show up with something different like a Fuji or a medium format people take notice. They ask questions. These cameras start conversations. When I shot DSLRs I always heard about what camera my client or subject had. “Oh. You shoot Canon. I have a Nikon.” Etc. Etc. And then those conversations would take place. Not any more. “Wow. What is that? I’ve never seen one of those.” is now the opening line. […]

When you change those tools there’s a mental change as well. The retro styling of the Fuji cameras isn’t just for show. There’s a reason cameras have been set up like those for decades. There’s a very practical reasoning behind dedicated aperture dials on the lens and shutter speed dials. I can “feel” where my settings are.

I say all of this to say I’m emotionally connected to my Fujis. I’ve never been emotionally connected to a DSLR. Ever. That connection matters. It’s not on a spec sheet. It can’t be tested in the lab. I look at my Fuji cameras and I want to go shoot. I want to make photos. They don’t belong in a bag. They belong on in my hand.”

Fuji X100S: [shopcountry 12883]

Nikon A vs X100S (ISO) + Video comparison: X100S vs NikonA vs RicohGR

1) Cameralabs compared the [shoplink 12883]X100S[/shoplink] with the [shoplink 13071]Nikon A[/shoplink] and we have (again) a clear winner: the X100S with his X-Trans sensor:

“Compared with the COOLPIX A, at the lower ISO settings, the X100S looks a little sharper, but in noise terms there’s little to choose between them with the COOLPIX A’s 100 ISO crop a close match for the X100S’s 200 ISO. At 400 ISO it’s still a pretty close call, but at 800 ISO it looks to me like there’s noticeably more noise in the COOLPIX A crop. At 1600 ISO there’s clearly more texture in the wall, the text panel looks softer and the edge detail is beginning to crumble on the COOLPIX A crop where the X100S is still holding strong.

But read more and see all the ISO-comparison shots here at cameralabs.

No need to tell you which images comes from the X100S X-Trans sensor ;)

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2) Mike Kobal posted his video comparison of the [shoplink 12883 ebay]X100S[/shoplink], [shoplink 13071 ebay]NikonA[/shoplink] and [shoplink 13349 ebay]RicohGR[/shoplink] at his website here.

Zeiss Touit vs. Fujinon XF

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback) – Rico’s Flickr sets – Touit 1.8/32 samples – Touit 2.8/12 samples – Touit vs. Fujinon comparative samples (Flickr Guest Pass) – Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro1 reading samples (65 free pages)

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Carl Zeiss Touit 1.8/32, Fujifilm X-E1 (ISO 200, f/2, 1/1200s), RAW, Lightroom 5, DxO FilmPack 4

Why would a business-savvy lens manufacturer like Carl Zeiss decide to introduce two prime lenses for X-Mount cameras that compete head-to-head with already existing, smaller and cheaper Fujinon offerings, while at the same time ignoring obvious gaps like a fast 23mm lens?

It’s a Sony

The answer is: they wouldn’t. And they didn’t! The new Zeiss Tout 1.8/32mm and 2.8/12mm prime lenses are quite obviously targeted at customers of Sony’s NEX camera system. They perfectly fit into Sony’s current lens lineup, and their design is pretty much in line with the sleek NEX appearance. A fast 23 mm lens to satisfy the cravings of the X-Mount crowd? No such luck, because Zeiss and Sony already offer such a lens (a 1.8/24) for NEX. This is apparently all about what Sony NEX customers want and need.

 
DSCF7301 - f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Touit 2.8/12, Fujifilm X-E1 (ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/480s), RAW, Lightroom 4.4

So the X-Mount versions of the Touit lenses were clearly one of those “me too” decisions. But why did Fuji go along with it and invite a formidable competitor like Carl Zeiss into their home, not only offering full technical support and cooperation, but even co-marketing the Touit lenses? I know the real answer but don’t want to spill the beans just yet, so let’s just say that Fujifilm is making money with each X-Mount Touit lens that’s sold. They also like the Zeiss brand’s premium image and the resulting image transfer to the Fuji brand. After all, Panasonic also loves to put a Leica logo on their cameras and MFT lenses.

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

XF 55-200: full size samples and impressions

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image courtesy: sgoldswoblog

1) FR-reader Simon sent me his impressions of the new Fuji XF 55-200. Read it all and see his shots here. Among the others he says that:

“[…] it has a faster maximum aperture than similar lenses and looks lightyears ahead than similar mirrorless lenses (OK, I jest, but it is much better than the equivalent lens for Sony’s NEX system) in image quality. […] focus and aperture rings are firm and move nicely. […] The OIS on this lens is excellent […] The autofocus speed is, well, average, just like the rest of Fuji’s lenses. It can be quick but it can occasionally fail to focus even in bright light. This larger issue is in low light when it struggles to focus at all. But, let’s be honest, it’s still a relatively slow lens and my Nikon 70-300 can struggle for lock or accuracy in similar light. […] I am very happy with the sharpness from this lens. […] You can probably see it in some of these shots but the bokeh is excellent for this kind of lens. […] What I am seeing is a good bit of light fall off at the edges. This does seem to be automatically corrected in jpeg, but at least in Aperture, it isn’t automatically corrected […] This isn’t one for sports, or birds in flight, but for every other long lens purpose it is very good to excellent. Given its bokeh and and faster aperture, it makes an excellent back up portrait lens.

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XF 55-200 in stock status check: USA:  Adorama / BHphoto / AmazonUS / DigitalRev / Uniquephoto / Pictureline / Europe: AmazonUK / AmazonDE / PCHstore Brussel / Worldwide ebay: slidoo

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2) FR-reader Roland posted a first impression blog post on the new XF 55-200mm with a few full size samples here.

“Nothing definitive to say yet other than the initial impression is quite good. Lens construction is very good and solid and up to the same standard as other XF lenses. It is the biggest XF lens so far, but still a reasonable size lens and small compared to typical DSLR telephoto zoom. […] I have not updated the camera firmware yet when I tried out the lens yesterday, but autofocus speed seemed to be quite satisfactory.”

3) And, as noted in the comments, Rico added a few SOOC JPEGs at Flickr here too.

have a great weekend
Patrick

image courtesy: rolandrim

“This shot was taken at 200mm ISO6400 f4.8 and 1/40sec. Resolution seemed very good at 200mm even at ISO 6400.”

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