Fuji System

[Bill Pierce]

I know there are many folks on this forum that use Fuji gear because the X-Pro and X100s offered a bright line finder in a digital camera at a much lower cost than Leica. Here’s an interesting summary of the system to date.
http://dedpxl.com/fuji-x-buyers-guide-part-1-cameras/
http://dedpxl.com/fuji-x-buyers-guide-part-2-lenses/
http://dedpxl.com/fuji-x-buyers-guide-part-3-accessories/

 

[Out to Lunch]

With regards to your third installment I am immediately more than skeptical:

"The great thing about Fuji X cameras is how small they are. The bad thing about Fuji X cameras is their batteries are small as well. Smaller batteries = less juice. This used to be quite an issue with the original x100. If I was going to be out shooting with that camera all day I always had four to five batteries with me".

In my experience two batteries with the X-100 would give me approximately 700 shots. If we have to believe the author's need of 5 batts a day, he'd be shooting 1,750 pictures a day - 145 pictures an hour for 12 hours straight? I don't think so.

 

[scott kirkpatrick]

Wandering a bit from the Fuji articles, I ran into his description of using Fuji's Instax tiny wireless printer to hand a "Polaroid" to someone he just shot on the street or in a cafe. Has anyone else tried this? Fuji's cameras do it in one step, but any upload to your phone app makes it possible in two steps. Anyway it seems like a great thing to have.

scott

 

[YYV_146]

With regards to your third installment I am immediately more than skeptical:

"The great thing about Fuji X cameras is how small they are. The bad thing about Fuji X cameras is their batteries are small as well. Smaller batteries = less juice. This used to be quite an issue with the original x100. If I was going to be out shooting with that camera all day I always had four to five batteries with me".

In my experience two batteries with the X-100 would give me approximately 700 shots. If we have to believe the author's need of 5 batts a day, he'd be shooting 1,750 pictures a day - 145 pictures an hour for 12 hours straight? I don't think so.

I think it depends on how much you use the EVF...With the EVF on all the time I got some 250 frames out of my X100 on one battery. 5 batteries would net ~1200 pictures, which isn't crazy if you're doing street photography or shooting events.

Anyways, nice articles.

 

[willie_901]

With regards to your third installment I am immediately more than skeptical:

"The great thing about Fuji X cameras is how small they are. The bad thing about Fuji X cameras is their batteries are small as well. Smaller batteries = less juice. This used to be quite an issue with the original x100. If I was going to be out shooting with that camera all day I always had four to five batteries with me".

In my experience two batteries with the X-100 would give me approximately 700 shots. If we have to believe the author's need of 5 batts a day, he'd be shooting 1,750 pictures a day - 145 pictures an hour for 12 hours straight? I don't think so.

I did a 4 hour interiors photo shoot with an X-T1 and the Fujiifilm Camera Control Remote App. This means the Camera's WiFi was constantly on and the camera was always in Live View. I used three batteries.

Without the Camera Remote App for a similar gig I use 1 to 1 1/2 batteries over a three hour period. I use the flip-out LCD to fine tune compose as the camera is usually well below eye level on a tripod. I also review often to check for inappropriate effects from off-camera strobes. For typical gigs (~ 2 hours) I only need one battery. I have own five OEM batteries and one Watson third-party battery for (two X-Ts and a X-Pro 1). I had to abandon (recycle) a different third-party battery because it would swell to a larger size during use and I decided something wasn't right.

I carry five batteries for these gigs. For other work (X-Pro 1) I carry 3 batteries for a full day's outing. I rarely need two batteries. This is similar to the X100 I eventually sold.

 

[SausalitoDog]

Wandering a bit from the Fuji articles, I ran into his description of using Fuji's Instax tiny wireless printer to hand a "Polaroid" to someone he just shot on the street or in a cafe. Has anyone else tried this? Fuji's cameras do it in one step, but any upload to your phone app makes it possible in two steps. Anyway it seems like a great thing to have.

scott

Scott-

I've been using one since Christmas with an X100T and it's great for just what you describe - fits easily in a pocket and lets you offer something to make people feel good about allowing you to photograph them...also works great with iPhones 🙂

Small print, but nice polaroid type image - people LOVE getting one.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[pete hogan]

Well done summary for sailing into the Internet wind.

 

[SausalitoDog]

Bill-

I've been using an X100T...Fuji's latest pocketable with an APS-C sensor. It's amazing. Electronic shutter speed up to 1/3200 with built in 3stop ND filter allows shooting in almost any bright light at f2. The leaf shutter lets you flash sync up to 1/2000. It's really well made (not exactly Leica but very nice) and with the lens shade off, fits in most jacket pockets. The xtrans sensor really produces fine images beyond what you expect from APS-C size (some compare it it's IQ to Nikon D800, though that's a bit much 🙂. It's really amazing technology and quality in this very small package.

I use one of the larger ICL fuji's as well, but not nearly as much as I have used the x100 series. It really takes me back to the days with a Nikon S2 and only one lens. I had a 50mm then and always lusted for a 35mm...now I'm seeing what I missed in the 60s 🙂

Tom

 

[emraphoto]

With regards to your third installment I am immediately more than skeptical:

"The great thing about Fuji X cameras is how small they are. The bad thing about Fuji X cameras is their batteries are small as well. Smaller batteries = less juice. This used to be quite an issue with the original x100. If I was going to be out shooting with that camera all day I always had four to five batteries with me".

In my experience two batteries with the X-100 would give me approximately 700 shots. If we have to believe the author's need of 5 batts a day, he'd be shooting 1,750 pictures a day - 145 pictures an hour for 12 hours straight? I don't think so.

i shot two X100 cameras covering the conflict in Syria off and on for two years. 1 camera at work and one should misfortune befall the first. i would cycle through 4-5 batteries daily.

 

[noimmunity]

Wandering a bit from the Fuji articles, I ran into his description of using Fuji's Instax tiny wireless printer to hand a "Polaroid" to someone he just shot on the street or in a cafe. Has anyone else tried this? Fuji's cameras do it in one step, but any upload to your phone app makes it possible in two steps. Anyway it seems like a great thing to have.

scott

LG makes one that is much smaller than the Fuji one (about the size of an external HD), and the film is less expensive, to boot. The instant photos are probably about 20% smaller in size than those that come out of the Fuji.

Because of the size and economy, I chose the LG model and have been very pleased.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I must be unusual insofar as I tend to use digital cameras as if they were film cameras with regards to the amount of frames I shoot. I still shoot 80-90% film and, therefore, pretending that there's only 36 on a roll in my X-Pro1 and X100 isn't a problem.

Of course, if I was shooting professionally I would, almost certainly, take a lot more frames and improve my statistical chances of getting just the right shot. I still have a couple of spare batteries, though, as a habit formed in the early days of digital when batteries were pretty cr*p; one in the camera, a spare in the bag and one charging...

 

[Glenn2]

Bill, I was one of the first to use the X100. As soon as I saw the details and the fact that it had a real optical finder my pre-order went in.
I was in the planning stage for a trip to India and wanted something in way of a digital backup to my M4. I thought long and hard about a digital Leica, but finally rejected the idea. Way too expensive for a senior travelling alone to be carrying in dicey areas. I'm also a wide angle junkie and the 21mm Super Angulon isn't the best on digital. Also shooting with the Leica means lens changes in the field under less than ideal (dusty) conditions. Never figured out why Leica never offered some sort of sensor shaker to help with dust. Most current DSLRs have it, and from my experience it works.

The Fuji certainly impressed me, so much so that I upgraded to the S model when it came out. Think I'll pass on the T version for now, but will be looking forward to a future XPro-2 if they build one, look out Leica.

Am finally starting to post a few images from last India trip to my gallery here. Interesting to compare digital and film results. At times I shot the same subject on each camera. Films used were Fuji Pro400H and good old Tri-X in 1:1 D76 . The Fuji got along fine for batteries, took three and was never caught short. What's a problem is the battery level gauge in the viewfinder. It gives very little warning that you're almost out of power. In fact as soon as it moves off full I tend to swap batteries.

Glenn

 

[Vince Lupo]

Wandering a bit from the Fuji articles, I ran into his description of using Fuji's Instax tiny wireless printer to hand a "Polaroid" to someone he just shot on the street or in a cafe. Has anyone else tried this? Fuji's cameras do it in one step, but any upload to your phone app makes it possible in two steps. Anyway it seems like a great thing to have.

scott

I just sent my Instax printer back to B&H for a refund after having had it for a month. Liked the concept and size, hated the results. Personally, I felt embarrassed to give these little prints out, they just looked so bad. I have since bought a Canon Selphy CP910 -- true, it is larger than the Instax, and the Wi-Fi does not work with the X100T, but it has an SD card slot (so I could even use it with my Monochrom), it can be used with a battery pack (though that setup does cost more than the printer itself), but it gives you a 4"x6" print that looks really great, whether b+w or colour.

So what I might lose in compactness, I definitely gain in image quality. Plus, the $172 for the Instax vs the $89 for the Selphy doesn't hurt either.

 

[SausalitoDog]

Bill-

I was just thinking that you might really enjoy one of the neat tricks with the Fuji (and probably others as well). I shoot raw only but I set the EVF to a BW setting. This allows me to literally SEE in BW! If I flip the switch to OVF, it's obviously back to color.

It's just amazing to see the image in BW before you touch the shutter !!!

Tom

 

[GaryLH]

Though it is rare i use HDR ... A neat rick that i use is for HDR (pseudo)...use iso bracket. It takes only one shot, but inside the camera it processes your -,0,+ iso shot. When u get home, let your HDR software handle the combining it all.

The only issue is the Fuji allowed bracket range. Worst case is to take two shots.. First using a -2 exposure index and the last using index of of +1. I only use this one when I don't have anything moving in the shot.

I normally expose for the brightest highlight and recover shadow detail later unless the dynamic range so great, I think I will need to use HDR. As I said pretty rare for me.

Gary

 

[GoodPhotos]

I read those articles last night and agree with him on a number of points, but he also completely dismisses the XC lenses and the XA-1. I got the XA-1 as my first MILC and find it a wonderful little rig. Since fully investing in the Fuji system and selling off my Nikon system, I've made the XA-1 a defacto X100 with a 27/2.8 and a Voightlander 40mm finder. It is even smaller than an X100t AND I've got a tilt screen that we'll have to wait for the X200 to get!

 

[GoodPhotos]

I would like a leaf shutter though. Hopefully the X200 will still have that and will have a tilt screen. I'd sell my XPro1 for that in a heart beat.

 

[lukitas]

I'm cheap, and a poor boy, so I got the XE-2. With the kit lens.

I love that I don't have to think about where the major controls are. The EVF is ok, not perfect, but good enough. Focus peaking helps, but it is not as precise as an optical rangefinder. I set the camera to viewfinder only, with eye detection on, and I try to keep the EVF in the light when walking around, to save batteries. I have yet to shoot more than a hundred pictures on a full battery. Not really a problem, I always have a second battery to hand, and as I try to keep my film habits - Chimping is verboten, haram, not kasher, an abomination; and I have to try and get the shot right the first time - I can easily shoot three days on a battery.

A very nice camera that gives me most of what I want, and sometimes a little bit more.

Cheers!

 

[MCTuomey]

I've used Fuji's xt1 for my club and event shooting for the past year or so. Leaving the Leica gear at home a lot. Xt1 + 56/1.2 has given me some of my best club images recently, shooting at ISO 6400, in dark venues, the xt1 files are only matched by the monochrom.

Will probably adopt Fuji X for club, event, portrait, and general. Reduce my M and Canon kits accordingly.

 

[rogue_designer]

I've been shooting the XPro1 as my primary street/walkaround camera since selling my last Leica. It's fantastic. The only thing I don't like is the lack of a small, fast 24mm lens (to get a 35 equivalent - summicron's and Canon LTM 35/s spoiled me).

The Fuji 23 1.4 is huge... the CV 25mm is perfect sized, but f4... I don't know of anyone who makes a small fast 24/25 for less than the cost of my car.

I want them to take the one off the X100t and make it available for XF mount... then I'll be totally happy.

Regardless, it's been great - I carry one extra battery, and one extra card in a small pouch in my pocket most days - or at most a small domke bag with two more lenses. That plus using an eye-fi card to make wireless transfers when I want them...makes it a great daily carry.

I'll probably track down an XPro2 when it comes out. Even if they never give me my tiny 24/2