Let’s start this week with a curiosity (don’t worry… the rumors and X-Pro2 reviews will follow soon ;) )

If you ever wondered what it means to be an “X-photographer”, what he/she has to do (or not) for Fujifilm, if he/she get’s paid by Fuji and how you become a Fuji X Photographer, then you might check out Nathan Elson’s latest youtube video.

In short: their main goal is to give honest and constant feedback to Fujfilm about their products.

They do not get paid for their feedback by Fujifilm, but they can have a discount on X-gear they purchase and if they need a lens/camera for a limited time, Fujifilm gives them the requested X-gear for free.

And what do you have to do to become an X-photographer? Check it out in this video.

UPDATE: Nathan mentions 3 criteria you should fulfill, in order to become an X-photorapher. #1 is to be a Full Time Pro. This might be valid for Fujifilm NorthAmerica, but it seems that in other countries Fujifilm deals differently with it. X-photographer Dennis Radermacher is not a Full Time Pro (as he tells us on facebook here)

P.S.: And since people now and then ask me if I, Patrick, get paid by Fujifilm: The answer is “NO“! Not a single penny. And not even discount on Fuji gear I buy. And if I have to repair something, I pay full price for it. I don’t get any kind of special treatment. No free sensor cleaning, no invitations to special events, nothing (they don’t really like me ;) )… and it’s good so, because I feel free to write articles like this one.

have a great start in this new week
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter

HUGE Fuji US-X Sale now also at BHphoto & Adorama (save up to $400)

Nissin officially announced the Nissin i60A flash. Specs summary via flashhavoc.

“Although the i60A will be available in Canon, Nikon, Sony, Micro 4/3rds, and Fujifilm, mount versions for on-camera TTL use, all versions will cleverly include Canon, Nikon, and Sony, TTL radio slave modes for off camera use (with corresponding Air 1 Commander units).

A higher guide number – 60m (ISO 100 / 200mm) 24 – 200MM Zoom Color LCD Display HV Battey Port Built-in 2.4GHz NAS Radio Receiver

All into a package that’s not much larger than the original Nissin i40, and should still appeal to many mirrorless and compact camera owners“

Google Translated from the original Japanese press release:

FULL SPECS

Milan Miki Denkovski‎: Week 5/52 Topick “Portrait” My lovely wife. Stuck being my subject again. I am so glad she is a great sport about my photography. I always loved how my wife looked wearing this coat, hence the inspiration. This was shot outdoors with a reflector in front and underneath. I wanted to minimize the shadows from her fur collar . A ring flash would have been much better but I don’t own one. I envisioned this in a square format. Next week “Food out of Context”. No Idea what that means or what I will shoot. https://flic.kr/p/CVyWSj

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Here are the most liked images of the Fujirumors facebook photostream… and keep it up, share and vote your absolute favorite X-shot… and here is how to do it:

1) SHARE & DESCRIBE: go to the Fujirumors facebook timeline and submit your favorite X-shot (and a short description) in the timeline by selecting “Photo/Video” .
2) VOTE & COMMENT: All the images will be displayed at the Fujirumors facebook photostream. You can vote & comment the images there.

NOTE: The next selection will start from those images shared starting from February 15!

Enjoy the X-shots

Push the READ MORE Button to see more Top Liked Images

– – – NSFW – – –

Cameras, that snapped the First Prize Images at the World Press Photo 2016
Graphic by the Spanish site Quesabesde

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Ok, I’ve just told you here, how an image, taken with the X-Pro1, made the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

Of course it’s just mere luck, because we all know that X-gear is no PRO gear… I mean, no Full Frame, No IBIS… no Good!

But I have to report again, that despite the evident limits of the X-system (that make it basically unusable for serious work) X-shooter Mário Cruz was able to Win the First Prize of the World Press Photo (Category “Stories”) using the old and obsolete (and now super-cheap) Fujifilm X-Pro1!

Moreover, as noticed by the Spanish site quesabesde, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 is the only mirrorless camera with intercheangable lenses that snapped a winner image at the World Press Photo 2016… and it has NO back-illuminted sensor!!!

DSLRs (and especially Canon) dominate the ranking… but it’s the Fuji X-Pro1 to keep the MILC flag flying ;)

Fuji X-series cameras already made the cover of the TIME magazine (story here), won the World Photography Arts&Culture Award 2015 (story here), were good enough for God’s work (story here), captured America’s most hated man (story here), made the front page of the Wall Street Journal (story here) and more…

Ok, now I’ll go out and blame my X-gear for the pictures I can’t take ;)

once again, have a GREAT weekend
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter

HUGE Fuji US-X Sale now also at BHphoto & Adorama (save up to $400)

We all experience it every day, how our skills & creativity are castrated by the terrific limits of the X-gear we use. Taking good picutres without back-illuminted Full Frame sensor and IBIS is sheer impossible.

However, for some strange reason, it sometimes happens that images taken with Fuji X-series cameras make the cover of the TIME magazine (story here), win the World Photography Arts&Culture Award 2015 (story here), are good enough for God’s work (story here), capture America’s most hated man (story here), win the Wold Press Photo Award 2016 Category Stories (story here) and much more!

This time it’s X-shooter J. David Ake (instagram), who managed to snap the cover of imporant US newspapers (including the Wall Street Journal) with his old and crappy Fuji X-Pro1 + XF50-140mmF2.8.

“By day I’m AP Washington’s photo chief. Most of my time is spent wrangling other photographers pixels, but every once in awhile I get to capture one or two of my own. Monday was such a day. I stopped on my way into work to make the flags at the Washington Monument at half-staff honoring the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Scalia.

I carry the Fujis as my personal walk about gear, and I shot this image with an X Pro-1 w/ a XF50-140mm f2.8 zoom lens. Exposure was 1/250 @ f8 rated at 320 iso. The old rule about f8 and be there still lives!

I just thought you too, might enjoy seeing the little camera that could, get it done.”

I really wonder why X-gear is used by worldwide famous photographers like Annie Leibovitz (here), Ara Güler (here) and plenty of other Artists, Musicians, Photographers, Scientists, Sportsmen, Princes, Directors (see also the famous X-shooter thread)… and how can Kevin Mullins and many others out there earn their bread & butter with it?

Ok, I’ll now go out and take some crappy shots with my X-gear… maybe it will make the cover of the local monthly magazine of my small village ;)

enjoy your weekend
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter

Both, the Fuji X-Pro1 and the XF50-140 are part of the huge USA Fuji X Instant Rebate Program of these days.