Oh… if only the Fujifilm X-T2 would ship as fast as it focusses :(
Best Mirrorless for Wildlife Photography
From all the mirrorless cameras available right now at the market and tested by Mat from Mirrorlessons, which one is the best for wildlife and bird photography?
In his (as usual) well written and honest comparison, Mat says that the Fujifilm X-T2 has
“the best AF performance and settings I’ve tested out of all mirrorless cameras” [Also the IQ] istop notch“.
“excellent concerning sharpness, autofocus speed and optical stabilisation”
And yet, the Fujifilm X-T2 is not the number 1 mirrorless choice for wildlife photography, mainly because
live view only goes up to 5fps
the camera grip is not really designed for big lenses
no fast prime lenses – we need to wait for the long rumored XF200mmF2
So, at the end, it’s the Olympus OM-D E-M1 mark II to get the award for the best mirrroless camera for wildlife and bird photography. But make sure to read the whole comparison at mirrorlesscomparison.
And yes, I guess we will see the Sony A9 in the list too, once it is available for real life testings.
It is a rainy Sunday here (of course, always at weekend!), and since I stuck at home, what better thing to do, then to check out winners at this years’ “Oasis Photocontest“, which some consider the “Oscar” for nature and wildlife photography?
The name, Simone Raso, sounded familiar to me. I checked FujiRumors and saw I featured his video, where he photographed Cristiano Ronaldo & Co during a Champions League soccer game standing on the sideline with his X-Pro2 and XF100-400.
So I checked the EXIF data of this image, and well, it’s an X-shot, Fujifilm X-T2 with Fujinon XF100-400 to be more precise.
This image got the “honorary mention” at the Oasis Photocontest. Congratulations, Simone. Keep up delighting us with you X-shots :)
It’s definitely worth to head over at oasisphotocontest website and check out all the images. There is so much truly inspiring work over there. Don’t miss it.
2017 National Geographic & PDN Photo Annual Contests
Also National Geographic has its “Travel Photographer of the Year (2017)” running now. Entries are open. So feel free to join with your X-shot :). Check out travel.nationalgeographic.com
2017 PDN Photo Annual have been assigned too. Check out the winners at shutterloveonline.
Fujifilm Awards & Curiosity Recap
Fujifilm cameras aren’t new to important recognitions, such as photography awards or cover images for important newspapers.
Sure, it’s the photographer and his vision that creates the image. But hey, at least we can say that Fujifilm cameras are no limitation for real PRO work. Here is a short overview:
Fujifilm X-T2 distracted a French presidential candidate during his interview (story here)
Only the Fujifilm X-System Breaks the DSLR Hegemony World Press Photo Awards (story here)
Fujifilm cameras already made the cover of the TIME magazine (story here)
Fujifilm cameras snapped the image that won the World Photography Arts&Culture Award 2015 (story here)
Fujifilm cameras are good enough for God’s work (story here)
Fujifilm cameras captured America’s most hated man (story here)
Fujifilm cameras made the front page of the Wall Street Journal (story here)
The X-VIRUS is spreading: Rock Star Brandon Boyd (Incubus) takes Selfie with his X-PRO1! – (storyl here)
The Fujifilm XF10-24 is one lens I always lusted after. I also almost bought it, but at the end went for the smaller and much cheaper Samyang 12mmF2.
Regarding the XF10-24, I remember how it was launched just a two months before Fuji’s first weather sealed camera, the Fujifilm X-T1. At that time, here on FujiRumors I already told you that a the WR X-T1 would come in January 2014. So, when Fujifilm decided to launch the XF10-24 in November, we all hoped it would be weather sealed… but it wasn’t.
Now, I know that there are tons of X-shooters out there enjoying this lens day after day. But if you are like Jim, and bring it out into some really tough conditions, then you might be interested to read to rest of the story :)
Why That Fujinon XF 8-16mm WR Can’t Come Soon Enough
Now, Jim is completely in love with the X-system. He loves the image quality, the form factor, the size, the usability, the dials… just everything. He says it “fits my style of photography”
But he also says that “photography is adventure” and that it is “completely unaccetable” that the only wide angle zoom lens in the Fuji system is not weather sealed.
In fact, after a while shooting in the very wet and humid waterfall envoriment, he couldn’t take pictures anymore, because “the lens gets wet and causes a lens communication error“. He says this is not the first time it happens to him. That’s why he owns two of these lenses and changes them, when one stops working. And once at home, he has to dry the lenses.
Jim apparently reads FujiRumors, since he knows about the XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR lens, which will come in early 2018 (I’ve shared the first rumor back in May 2016 (!) here). But he said he’s not sure he can wait that long for the XF 8-16. Hence, despite him loving Fujifilm’s image quality and usability, he is considering to switch to another brand.
At our immense future APS-C lens poll, with over 11,000+ voters, the XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR is the most wanted out of the 30 lenses in the voting-list.
Just a curiosity, on the way back, he uses a Beta version of an App, called “The Really Good Photo Spots“, which I think he’s developing right now. Based on your location, it shows you the best spots to photograph in your area.
Of course, Jim is using the XF 10-24 in an enviroment it is not planned to be used (rainy/wet conditions). But if he wants to get the shot he wants with a Fuji camera, then he currently has no other choice than to go with the XF10-24. The next widest weather sealed lens in the Fuji line-up is the XF 16mmF1.4…. and evidently not wide enough for certain landscape photography.
So, Jim might do well to switch, because Fujifilm currently does not offer the lens he needs the most… unless he is willing to dry his two XF 10-24 for a few more months, until the XF 8-16 will be out.
Or, maybe, just use a plastic bag around your lens in the meantime ;)
And What About You?
So what about you? Do you own the Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 OIS? Did you have the same experience as Jim? Are you also waiting for the weather sealed XF 8-16mm F2.8 WR or are you just fine with the Fujinon XF 10-24?
Feel free to drop you thoughts and considerations in the comments :)
If you were lucky enough to attend the Photokina 2016 (like me), you will have noticed that the by very far busiest booth was the one of Fujifilm. So it was clear to me, that Fujifilm must have done many things right over the last year, in order to attract all these people.
So it’s not really a surprise, that the latest Fujifilm products are highly awarded. I’ve already reported how:
the Fujifilm X-T2 got the Gold Award at DPReview (story here)
14 Fujifilm products won the IF Design awards (story here)
the Fujifilm GFX got the DPReview Gold Award (story here)
the Fujifilm X100F earned the DPReview Gold Award (story here)
17 Fujifilm products won the red dot design award (story here)
the Fujifilm X-T20 got the DPReview silver award (story here)
Only the Fujifilm X-System broke the DSLR Hegemony at World Press Photo Awards (story here)
at the DPReview Awards 2016, DPReview declared the Fujifilm X-T2 and Nikon D500 “Way in Front of the Rest” (story here)
the Fujifilm X-Pro2 Best Professional CSC and XF100-400 Best CSC Zoom Lens won the EISA Awards (story here)
Well, Fujifilm now sets another record. At this years’ TIPA Awards (2017), it is the most awarded camera company out there, with a total of 5 awards for:
As usual, at such competitions, there is an award for basically every brand out there. But it might be still significant, that Fujifilm is the most awarded brand.
Michael Schnabl: image was made on one of my “Fine Art Portrait” workshops …
shot with Fuji X-T2 and XF 56mm
ISO 200 / f/2.8 / 1/200
Photo: Michael Schnabl photography
Model: Federica Martinazzi — at Fotopraxis-Fotoworkshops
_ _ _
NOTE :: HOW TO SEE THE IMAGES
To see, add and vote images click on “Photos” and then “See All“
Here are the most liked images of the Fujirumors facebook page… and keep it up, share and vote your absolute favorite X or G 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 photo page (click “See All”). You can vote, share & comment the images there.
NOTE: The next selection will start from those images shared starting from April 3!
A few spaces left for Rico Pfirstinger’s Fuji X Secret Workshop at the end of May / beginning of June on the wonderful EU Island of Guernsey. If you speak German and love Fuji, the head over to selectedtravel and grab your place now.
Aquatech Underwater Housing for the Fujifilm X-T2 Review at fstoppers and the results of the shoot at the India Street Photography During the Holi Festival at vinsonimages
How To Edit RAW Digital Photos From The Fuji X-T2 In Adobe Lightroom CC: Tips For Photo Editing at Jared Polin Youtube
Fuji XT1/XT2 Quirks – Why Do I Get those dark bars in my images? (and other quirks) at THOR*tography youtube
My 10 Favorite Features in the New X-T2 Firmware Update at danbaileyphoto
With The Fuji X-T2, Can You Now Standardize On ISO 800? What Do You Gain And What Do You Lose? at thewanderinglensman
Fix our attention on focal fixed lenses. Mix with the Fix(es) at photodanielm
Acessories / Flash / Bags
“Serene Automation have released Beta firmware for their RoboSHOOT MX-20 radio triggers, making them the first to provides TTL and HSS compatibility with Fuji X cameras and the popular Godox / Flashpoint R2 flash system, including strobes like the XPLOR 600, and eVOLVE 200.” via flashhavoc via Serene Automation
TTL and HSS with Godox for Fujifilm X cameras (beta preview) at J.L. Williams youtube
Fujifilm sets its highest record with 17 products won the globally-prestigious Red Dot Design Award
In recognition of the designs and performance of diverse products including FUJIFILM GFX 50S, Medium-format mirrorless digital camera and FUJIFILM X-T2 the mirrorless digital camera.
Holger Glaab: Berlin, Potsdamer Platz. Fuji X-T1, XF10-24 F4R OIS @30 sec, F13, ISO 200 + ND-Filter and some PS-Editing – shared here the the Fujirumors facebook photo album
Cover Stories
Even North Korean Soldiers shoot Fujifilm. See more at washingtonpost. Besides the camera, the real story is that a North Korean soldier got inches from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
What is the dynamic range of the Fujifilm GFX 50s? We look at how to set up and use a Sekonic 748dr light meter with the GFX. The set up can be used for all makes of cameras at Lewis Von John youtube
GFX review (and the 3 GF lenses) at the French Magazine chassimages (translation) – NOTE: it’s a magazine, you have to purchase it (or the online version)
14 Fujifilm products won the IF design award 2017… and it’s a record for Fujifilm. Below you can read the list of 13 winners. 1 is still not officially announced, so it is missing in the list.
If I should place a bet, I’d say it’s the Fujifilm Instax Square. The square film has already been announced last year and has been displayed at photokina, as you could see in my photokina report. Fujifilm also already launched a special instax square page. But the camera itself is still a mystery.
UPDATE: The 14th product is the FUJIFILM BL-7000/VP-7000 you can see at Fujifilm’s design page.
The French site Le Monde De La Photo published its first report about the Fujifilm GFX.
It’s just an early first look, but for those interested in “independent” reviews, this is one of those.
They also published a nice graph (see image above), where they list the sharpness of the various GF lenses. Most of the time they perform “superlative” (dark blue) to “excellent” at any aperture, focal length, from the center to the corner. Only the zoom lens, the GF 32-64, is only “good” (green) at 46mm and F4 in the corner.
It seems Fujifilm is about to release on the market some really amazing lenses… again :-)
Here some excerpts (google translated:
LENS PERFORMANCE: The dive was calculated on the basis of standard style Jpeg, as Raw conversion software was not yet available. Overall the sharpness is always of high level, from very good to superlative according to the focal length and the openings. Only the corner area is sharply recessed at the focal length of 46 mm on the zoom, in all cases the dive is superlative over the field at medium apertures. The vignetting is never annoying and the chromatic aberration almost invisible, the only small defect noted is a cushion distortion (-0.15%) a little strong on the 120 mm macro that can be used to make reproductions of Works of art or documents, a little post-processing will be required.
AUTOFOCUS: the contrast detection autofocus is very precise but not always ultra reactive, and the continuous shooting at 3 frames second is not really targeted sport but sufficient to capture Changes of attitude of a model in portraiture.
ISO: On our “Nesie” basic test with a maximum sensitivity of 12,800 Iso, there is little degradation of the structure of the image, with the rise of a very light grain observable at 100% screen but quasi- Invisible on a glossy A1 paper print. The contours will nevertheless be a little less sharp than at 6 400 Iso, a grade that does not present more granulation than an average film format 100 Iso
Karen Hutton tested the GFX for a couple of days under tough conditions… and she shared some really amazing images.
“The dimensionality, the depth of field, that “certain something” that makes you feel like you can step into each image… all of that sang from each photo, straight out of camera! What kind of wizardry WAS this??
The GFX just gives everything an epic sort of feel“
Read all the article “YES! Worth The 35 Year Wait” and see the amazing samples at karenhutton.
Markus Klinko & Koala
(clearly the new ‘state of the art’ for fashion)
FR-readers will know Markus Klinko quite well. He is the photographer behind the amazing David Bowie exhibition and I shared his work several times on FujiRumors and the exhibition is still on world tour. You can discover more about the David Bowie exhibition and Markus’ work at markusandkoala.
Markus is also currently testing the GFX, along with his photo partner Koala, and he send me the link to this video he made on assignment with the GFX. Markus is impressed by the GFX, as you can read below from the email he wrote me. And he also allowed me to share some samples you can download
I would say that for me, the GFX is clearly the new ‘state of the art’ camera system (for high-end advertising, fashion and celebrity portraiture type work). I would go as far as saying it is the best camera ever built, and I would expect it to become a ‘game changer’ in the industry. Here are some samples from the RealRyder campaign that you are welcome to share. DOWNLOAD HERE
![[Photo]](http://www.fujifilm.com/news/img/news/n170404/pic_02.jpg)
![[Logo]](http://www.fujifilm.com/news/img/news/n170404/pic_01.jpg)
![[Logo]iF design award 2017](http://www.fujifilm.com/news/img/news/n170313/pic_01.jpg)
