noimmunity
scratch my niche
I posted this on the Fuji X forum and would like to share it with my friends on RFF. I've been away for several weeks and it is nice to "see" you all again.
I spent several weeks traveling in Taiwan, participating in the annual festival of independent music known as "Spring Scream 春吶" at which many of my Taiwanese friends' bands were playing, followed by the "Urban Nomad Film Festival". During the space of these events, I captured about 2,500 frames, and got to know the X-Pro1 very very well. During the daytime hours, I mostly used my ZI loaded with Provia, switching between a C Sonnar 50/1.5 and a Leica Elmar 24/3.8. As most of the action happened at night, through to the wee hours of the morning, the X-Pro1 was my main workhorse. The camera fitted a need with which I have lived for many long years for a camera capable of excellent night and low light use. For the kind of intimate event use to which I put my cameras, a DSLR would, for me, have been totally inappopriate. The size factor of the X-Pro1 combined with its OVF enabled me to use the camera the way I have always used my rangefinders--at distances where I can interact directly with the subjects while maintaining direct eye/voice contact (due to the off-center OVF), with the inestimable advantage of producing excellent images in levels of ambient darkness that my rangefinders never could touch.
I don't have any tricks to share. But I happen to love the jpeg images the X-Pro1 produces when set to ISO 25,600 on the Nh film simulation setting.
Here are some examples to share:
This couple is the dynamic duo behind Shaw Productions. If you're in the New York area and want to make the event happen, look them up!
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Event-makers by areality4all, on Flickr
Here is the first of many examples of a capture at high ISO, this time using the Velvia simulation.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Bass-ic intimacy by areality4all, on Flickr
This image was captured inside a tent, with the only light source coming from the laser inside the tent, as well as the ambient lights outside.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Break on through to the other side by areality4all, on Flickr
This one was also shot at ISO 25,600...
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Remembering by areality4all, on Flickr
I also took many on-stage photos of bands. When positioned correctly, the X-Pro1 can produce extraordinary action shots.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Funky Brothers by areality4all, on Flickr
FLARE (from the stage lights) was, however, a HUGE problem. I was using the 35/1.4, with hood. In any shots with stage lights directly in the rear of the frame or above the frame, even outside the frame, man, the flare just killed me. For obvious reasons, I have not included an example here. Such flaring is the ONLY major complaint I have about the XP1+35/1.4 combo.
Here is an example of the look the camera gives when set at ISO 25,600 with film simulation set to Nh. I find this look EXTREMELY attractive, and found myself using it even when the lighting situation might have called for lower ISOs. In this instance, however, the high ISO was absolutely necessary.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Urban Nomad by areality4all, on Flickr
A fine example at ISO 6400. Airy Liu is the lead singer and one of the songwriters for Funky Brothers. A very charismatic figure!
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Airy Liu, lead singer of Funky Brothers by areality4all, on Flickr
Here is a photo taken at ISO 25,600 inside of a tent with no other illumination than a lighter. In spite of the blown highlights, the image captures a huge amount of character, in the moment. Native monochrome jpeg.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
The look by areality4all, on Flickr
This is another ISO6400 image taken during an on-stage jam session.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
The beat by areality4all, on Flickr
The black and white images from the XP1 seem to have a vibrancy that I haven't seen elsewhere. Zamake is an immensely talented aboriginal songwriter-singer from the Paiwan tribe of Taiwan, and a lead singer for the aboriginal band, Totem.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Trading songs and stories by areality4all, on Flickr
I was very happy with the metering on this image, all things considered, taken under a tent during daytime with harsh tropical sunlight filtering in from outside.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Szmalioushiou by areality4all, on Flickr
Clearly the AF mechanism is not the "fastest gun in the West", but it CAN keep up with kids IF the photographer stays focused on the way the situation is developing.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
C'mon! by areality4all, on Flickr
Those Fuji colors!
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Wanna see? by areality4all, on Flickr
I've been shooting these kinds of events for about five or six years now, yet have always had to deal with the frustrations of the limits of black and white film. Given that DSLRs are a no-go for me (they would be great for shooting bands, but not for shooting candids of participants), the X-Pro1 definitely gives me something for which I have been waiting a very very long time.
If only Fuji could come up with a lens that is as flare resistant as my Zeiss ZMs!!!
I spent several weeks traveling in Taiwan, participating in the annual festival of independent music known as "Spring Scream 春吶" at which many of my Taiwanese friends' bands were playing, followed by the "Urban Nomad Film Festival". During the space of these events, I captured about 2,500 frames, and got to know the X-Pro1 very very well. During the daytime hours, I mostly used my ZI loaded with Provia, switching between a C Sonnar 50/1.5 and a Leica Elmar 24/3.8. As most of the action happened at night, through to the wee hours of the morning, the X-Pro1 was my main workhorse. The camera fitted a need with which I have lived for many long years for a camera capable of excellent night and low light use. For the kind of intimate event use to which I put my cameras, a DSLR would, for me, have been totally inappopriate. The size factor of the X-Pro1 combined with its OVF enabled me to use the camera the way I have always used my rangefinders--at distances where I can interact directly with the subjects while maintaining direct eye/voice contact (due to the off-center OVF), with the inestimable advantage of producing excellent images in levels of ambient darkness that my rangefinders never could touch.
I don't have any tricks to share. But I happen to love the jpeg images the X-Pro1 produces when set to ISO 25,600 on the Nh film simulation setting.
Here are some examples to share:
This couple is the dynamic duo behind Shaw Productions. If you're in the New York area and want to make the event happen, look them up!
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Event-makers by areality4all, on Flickr
Here is the first of many examples of a capture at high ISO, this time using the Velvia simulation.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Bass-ic intimacy by areality4all, on Flickr
This image was captured inside a tent, with the only light source coming from the laser inside the tent, as well as the ambient lights outside.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Break on through to the other side by areality4all, on Flickr
This one was also shot at ISO 25,600...
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Remembering by areality4all, on Flickr
I also took many on-stage photos of bands. When positioned correctly, the X-Pro1 can produce extraordinary action shots.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Funky Brothers by areality4all, on Flickr
FLARE (from the stage lights) was, however, a HUGE problem. I was using the 35/1.4, with hood. In any shots with stage lights directly in the rear of the frame or above the frame, even outside the frame, man, the flare just killed me. For obvious reasons, I have not included an example here. Such flaring is the ONLY major complaint I have about the XP1+35/1.4 combo.
Here is an example of the look the camera gives when set at ISO 25,600 with film simulation set to Nh. I find this look EXTREMELY attractive, and found myself using it even when the lighting situation might have called for lower ISOs. In this instance, however, the high ISO was absolutely necessary.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Urban Nomad by areality4all, on Flickr
A fine example at ISO 6400. Airy Liu is the lead singer and one of the songwriters for Funky Brothers. A very charismatic figure!
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Airy Liu, lead singer of Funky Brothers by areality4all, on Flickr
Here is a photo taken at ISO 25,600 inside of a tent with no other illumination than a lighter. In spite of the blown highlights, the image captures a huge amount of character, in the moment. Native monochrome jpeg.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
The look by areality4all, on Flickr
This is another ISO6400 image taken during an on-stage jam session.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
The beat by areality4all, on Flickr
The black and white images from the XP1 seem to have a vibrancy that I haven't seen elsewhere. Zamake is an immensely talented aboriginal songwriter-singer from the Paiwan tribe of Taiwan, and a lead singer for the aboriginal band, Totem.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Trading songs and stories by areality4all, on Flickr
I was very happy with the metering on this image, all things considered, taken under a tent during daytime with harsh tropical sunlight filtering in from outside.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Szmalioushiou by areality4all, on Flickr
Clearly the AF mechanism is not the "fastest gun in the West", but it CAN keep up with kids IF the photographer stays focused on the way the situation is developing.
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
C'mon! by areality4all, on Flickr
Those Fuji colors!
Resized to 74% (was 1024 x 683) - Click image to enlarge
Wanna see? by areality4all, on Flickr
I've been shooting these kinds of events for about five or six years now, yet have always had to deal with the frustrations of the limits of black and white film. Given that DSLRs are a no-go for me (they would be great for shooting bands, but not for shooting candids of participants), the X-Pro1 definitely gives me something for which I have been waiting a very very long time.
If only Fuji could come up with a lens that is as flare resistant as my Zeiss ZMs!!!
rbelyell
Well-known
these are fabulous shots, showing off not only the xpro's capabilities, but the photographers as well. jon, let me ask, did you try using your leica glass on the xpro, and if so, what was yourvexperience?
tony
tony
noimmunity
scratch my niche
I'm waiting for the Hawk close focus adapter, so I haven't tried any M lenses on the XP1. I wanted to get the C/Y adapter while I was in Taiwan, but my itinerary made that impossible.