Digital question

[nongfuspring]

Heaps of good tips in the thread, though one thing to add is that if you'd like the option of more readily usable files alongside the ones that have flatter tonal profiles for editing there's a film simulation bracketing function that you can access under the "drive" menu. I also wouldn't worry too much; Fuji JPEGs have 11 stops of DR at ISO 200, which is actually more than some negative film - in other words the JPEGs are actually pretty malleable

 

[FrankS]

Wow, thank you! Tonnes of useful info here!

 

[paulfish4570]

i know my camera is only an x100, but i habitually shoot -1/3 to -1 f stop to hold highlights, and bracket when possible.

 

[MCTuomey]

Huh. Yeah. I just treat it like transparency film. Shoot a lot and eventually you start to understand and drive the camera/"film" behavior to where you want.

Sorry for the obscure comment - my weak attempt at humor. I was trying to reflect the wide gulf between your shorthand jpg and Will's complex suggestions (latter being acknowledged by Will).

Frank's at the very beginning of developing a digital workflow while having considerable experience making fine analog images. So, his taste and powers of discernment are advanced while his digi toolset (both hard and soft) and experience are limited. Tough position. What I do or have found to be true for my stuff is probably of limited relevance, if any t all.

My modest and respectful advice to Frank would be to shoot groups of images, varying the most important jpg parameters under just one film emulation choice (Astia or either of the Pro Negs are good to start): sharpness, noise reduction, highlight, shadow. Read them out to the iPad, view and judge. Get a baseline preferred group of settings. Only then go on to DR and under/over exposure adjustment. Got to start somewhere and start simple.

 

[FrankS]

Thanks Mike. I'm going slowly here, giving my brain time to rewire and create new connections. Digital certainly is freeing with its instant feedback and reduction of labour in obtaining an image. With the instant feedback/verification, (and because I'm just starting out) I'm okay letting the camera do many of the auto functions. Heck, before this I was still focusing manually. Now it's jpeg, auto focus, aperture priority, auto DR, auto iso ...

 

[MCTuomey]

I hear you Frank. I started down the digi trail nearly 10 years ago myself. Left film abruptly, and I shot for a long time using just canon jpgs with minimal post-processing (crop, tweak exposure or contrast, save for web/print) for years. No need to learn it all in a new york minute. As others have said, the fuji in-camera jpg engine is wired pretty well, and is a very fine place to start, if not finish post-processing.

 

[Oscuro]

Sorry for the obscure comment -.....

Frank's at the very beginning of developing a digital workflow .....

My modest and respectful advice to Frank would be to shoot groups of images, varying the ....

No apologies required, MC. All good. All good. And a very clear and coherent analysis of F's situation.

The neat thing is that what ever approach is taken, as long as it involves picture-taking and reviewing, eventually stuff starts to move in the direction that is desired.

 

[MCTuomey]

No apologies required, MC. All good. All good. And a very clear and coherent analysis of F's situation.

The neat thing is that what ever approach is taken, as long as it involves picture-taking and reviewing, eventually stuff starts to move in the direction that is desired.

+1 well said

 

[paulfish4570]

not my thread but i have greatly benefitted from settings advice here with my x100. you couldn't tell it on compressed images in the RFF gallery, but i am MUCH happier with what i'm getting now. thanks, guys, and thanks to frank for starting this thread ... 🙂