X-pro3 & state of the digital camera

[jsrockit]

I think if Fuji X-Pro or Leica M ever gained mainstream popularity, you guys wouldn't feel so special anymore 😀

Maybe when I was younger... but it isn't about that anymore for me. After trying so many cameras, I just know what I prefer... what shape I prefer, what IQ is enough, what size and weight I prefer, what price I am willing to pay, etc. It just happens that the X-Pro is my preference. It's the only camera that I just keep using and do not sell.

I don't know where it's all headed or why, but I speculate that people have started to make the connection between the environment and personal lifestyle choices. In any event, I think supplies of many items are constrained right now: I note that as of 7/8, B&H's prices on Sony's A7R IV and Fujifilm's GFX50R are actually higher than they've been in some time.

Wow, you are right...

 

[Dogman]

Of all the x-pro3 reviews I've seen on the internet, I found this one to be particularly interesting - https://youtu.be/O4zWII0GvE4

The x-pro3 is a super controversial camera, but has a legion of pretty enthusiastic fans. I used an x-pro1 for some time, and it remains my favourite digital camera for most of the reasons he lists - uniqueness in a market that is saturated by dozens of versions of the effectively the same product. Digital leicas have the same appeal, at several times the cost - out of reach for the average person perhaps.

At a time when the digital camera market is swiftly declining, camera companies are scrambling to reorganise their lineups, compete with the smartphone, and respond quick enough to ever changing trends in how we make and see images, is it possible that specialized cameras like the x-pro3 are key to regaining what the standalone camera used to represent?

The X-Pro3 doesn't do much for me--just a bit too "gimmicky" if that's the right word. The XP2 and XP1 have greater appeal so that's what I use. More power to those who like the XP3 but I like OVFs and the XP3 doesn't have as useful a viewfinder to me and that rear screen....

I expect that in the future virtually all standalone cameras will be specialized. The average family camera these days is the smartphone. That's settled without question. It's only a specialized group of people using cameras today and I expect that be even more the case. Those of us still taking pictures without using our smartphones will be looked upon as eccentric.

 

[Brian Atherton]

...Those of us still taking pictures without using our smartphones will be looked upon as eccentric.

You may be right…

Saturday I was out with three friends country walking and using my M6TTL with 2015 expired Agfa 200 colour neg film. One of my friends - a 36 year-old - was fascinated by my film camera and wanted to know all about the process, having never used film and knew nothing about it.

I really was taken aback and stumped for a while that a 36 year-old genuinely knew nothing about film. Granted he’s not ‘into’ photography and just uses his mobile’s camera, but even so… 😱

 

[giganova]

Met a Magnum photographer on top a glacier in the Argentine Andes a few months ago why had two worn (as in no black paint left) X-Pros dangling from his neck. He said X-Pros are the only cameras he uses. That made me think.

 

[dee]

I have been hankering after an X-Pro2 body , but with some traumatic times behind me , I considering getting out of the camera rat race [ though a working rat X-Pro2 wouldn't go amiss LOL] and being satisfied with the X-Pro1 and X-T 1 , both beyond my modest abilities ... even down to the gem like X-T100 , just because ...
The x-Pro2might happen , but the GAS has dissipated somewhat .
dee

 

[Huss]

Met a Magnum photographer on top a glacier in the Argentine Andes a few months ago why had two worn (as in no black paint left) X-Pros dangling from his neck. He said X-Pros are the only cameras he uses. That made me think.

That he was sponsored by Fuji?

 

[giganova]

That he was sponsored by Fuji?

No, he wasn't.

 

[jsrockit]

But but Pros don’t use Fuji! 😉

 

[gavinlg]

But but Pros don’t use Fuji! 😉

😛 Ohh that's right.

I'll add as well that the World Press Photo winner image for this year was taken taken with a Fuji, and there were more Fuji's represented in the World Press Photo pooling than Nikons (they were only second to Canon).

 

[Ko.Fe.]

The x-pro2 is cracking value second hand at the moment. It's worth noting that the x-pro3's viewfinder is actually bigger and better as long as one is using the 23mm or 35mm lenses - otherwise it may have less functionality for others.

The other thing to note is that sports photographers are actually a pretty small group within the industry (and definitely none of them are using x-pro's). I know several editorial and commercial photographers and journalists that either use X-pro's as second or main cameras, and certainly the wedding industry loves them too.

I actually see the x-pro3 as an 'advanced amateur' device - and I would predict that's where a lot of the sales in standalone digital cameras will go in the future. Users that aren't necessarily professional, but want a camera that is specialised and gives them an experience different to that of a phone or a 'Swiss army knife' camera.

My very first trip abroad was to Switzerland. We were first Russian in small hotel. In same hotel NATO like solders were staying. ExFSU enemies. One evening, in the bar, I talked with one. It appears in Switzerland every male has to go for service. My drinking partner was dentist. He was frustrated.

At the end of the trip we went to local ammo store were those in service have to buy guns by themselves. And two of us purchased Swiss Army officer knifes like this:

The exercise they have to go while in service camp is to spend three days on the trees. This knife is perfect for it. For else, it is low quality knife.

Here is what I'm finding much more versatile and better quality.

Original Leatherman tool.

First time I read comparison with Swiss army knife was years ago from young fella about his Canon 7D. To me it was overloaded with over complicated features camera.

Just like this:

https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-victorinox-swisschamp-xavt.htm

 

[jsrockit]

https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-victorinox-swisschamp-xavt.htm

This perfectly describes many digital cameras...

 

[emraphoto]

😛 Ohh that's right.

I'll add as well that the World Press Photo winner image for this year was taken taken with a Fuji, and there were more Fuji's represented in the World Press Photo pooling than Nikons (they were only second to Canon).

I’ve always found the ‘Pros use and don’t use’ comments kind of funny.

Canon and Nikon became so prolific and visible as that’s what was in the gear pool for major outlets.

I have encountered BBC crews overseas using iPhones, I know folks who use 4x5s, Hasselbads, Fuji, Olympus, Leica, Sony and on it goes. These are folks shooting for very big outlets, producing work most of us see every day. I know a NatGeo regular who currently shoots a trio of Mamiya Six. I know the local CBC producer and her whole crew uses iPhones.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I’ve always found the ‘Pros use and don’t use’ comments kind of funny.

Canon and Nikon became so prolific and visible as that’s what was in the gear pool for major outlets.

I have encountered BBC crews overseas using iPhones, I know folks who use 4x5s, Hasselbads, Fuji, Olympus, Leica, Sony and on it goes. These are folks shooting for very big outlets, producing work most of us see every day. I know a NatGeo regular who currently shoots a trio of Mamiya Six. I know the local CBC producer locally and her whole crew uses iPhones.

BBC/CBC are companies burning hundreds of millions tax payers dollars on equipment which is inside of their main buildings.

Mobile phone rig in use by local media:

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This perfectly describes many digital cameras...

I think next winner should be with utility allowing to disable, build as much of menus as possible.

If camera like some Fuji X cameras has ISO, shutter, aperture and exposure compensation on dials, it would be handy to have only WB, AF mode / points selection and flash compensation in menus. And nothing else. This would be true Leatherman tool.

Well, I could do it with Canon 5D series dials and buttons only already. Perhaps, Fuji X series are the same. But utility to disable menus I don't need would be helpful.

Canon has API, SDK for Wi-Fi cameras control available already.

 

[Brian Atherton]

...But utility to disable menus I don't need would be helpful...

I’ve been advocating for this for a long time.

Why can’t I delete or offload all of the crap (Helen’s new favourite word) that I don’t want or need from camera menus, and customise the menus in my camera in the way I want?

I can do this on my iPhone, MacBook and PC.

Yes, I can ignore the stuff I don’t want (and yes, I know about the custom menu) but it clutters up the menus unnecessarily for me, and in effect the manufacturer is being inflexible - arrogant, even - on insisting on the way I use my camera.

Bottom line… it just rankles with me. Rant over.

 

[Ste_S]

Met a Magnum photographer on top a glacier in the Argentine Andes a few months ago why had two worn (as in no black paint left) X-Pros dangling from his neck. He said X-Pros are the only cameras he uses. That made me think.

David Alan Harvey said a few Magnum photographers use the X100 now.

The Fuji connection should probably be taken in context though; Fuji sponsored Magnum for the Home project semi-recently.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMUUWQpuYOhiYAsKgTqTdQ

 

[jsrockit]

David Alan Harvey said a few Magnum photographers use the X100 now.

The Fuji connection should probably be taken in context though; Fuji sponsored Magnum for the Home project semi-recently.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMUUWQpuYOhiYAsKgTqTdQ

This is true, but DAH used Fuji before this project. Many of the others probably only used them during that project. That said, it can’t be a stretch that a few well known photographers would have the X100 series as their compact camera.

 

[gavinlg]

https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-victorinox-swisschamp-xavt.htm

Hilarious and great analogy - I used to love the Swiss army knives as a kid, but at some point I realised they're actually not that useful for anything. Leathermans are far more useful.

Now, what does it say about me that I mainly use one of these (in carbon steel):

This perfectly describes many digital cameras...

Yes, and after a while the Swiss army knives all start looking the same. Something like a mercator k55k or a Higonokami is way cooler.

I’ve always found the ‘Pros use and don’t use’ comments kind of funny.

Canon and Nikon became so prolific and visible as that’s what was in the gear pool for major outlets.

I have encountered BBC crews overseas using iPhones, I know folks who use 4x5s, Hasselbads, Fuji, Olympus, Leica, Sony and on it goes. These are folks shooting for very big outlets, producing work most of us see every day. I know a NatGeo regular who currently shoots a trio of Mamiya Six. I know the local CBC producer and her whole crew uses iPhones.

It's always seemed to me the 'pro camera' thing is a sort of justification for amateurs to spend $$$ on expensive gear. If I recall correctly you have used some pretty unorthodox and unassuming cameras on serious work as well John.

 

[gavinlg]

I think next winner should be with utility allowing to disable, build as much of menus as possible.

If camera like some Fuji X cameras has ISO, shutter, aperture and exposure compensation on dials, it would be handy to have only WB, AF mode / points selection and flash compensation in menus. And nothing else. This would be true Leatherman tool.

Well, I could do it with Canon 5D series dials and buttons only already. Perhaps, Fuji X series are the same. But utility to disable menus I don't need would be helpful.

Canon has API, SDK for Wi-Fi cameras control available already.

I completely agree with this too - I've never owned a Leica digital M but they seem to me to have the best menus, meaning the least amount of unneeded crap in them.

 

[shawn]

I completely agree with this too - I've never owned a Leica digital M but they seem to me to have the best menus, meaning the least amount of unneeded crap in them.

Leica's don't have a lot in their menus but the menus themselves are kind of a mess. Things hidden here or there (to keep the top level simpler) and they aren't consistent with how you use the buttons. The different levels of options (depending upon which button you go into the menus with) is a little weird too.

Fuji has a ton in their menus (cameras are extremely configurable) but after you set it up the way you want you really don't need to go into the menus at all. You can map all the common items to hard buttons or put it in the quick menu.

For relatively simple and straightforward menu I think Sigma's have the best setup.

Shawn