Lenses

X-T1 – Shoot anywhere – The DIY store with Dale

by Dale Young March 28, 2014 Comments1

Not sure what to shoot? Neither was I yesterday, so I took to the ‘streets’ of Bedford with an X-T1 and a XF56mm lens. 

I decided my aim was to try and get some ‘shoot from the hip’ style shots. A little blend of people and interesting objects with a snap of the shutter, so where better to start than a DIY store?

We set off on our ‘adventure’ just as the rain started to fall, this was perfect for a little weather testing. I caught these images of a gentleman leaving the DIY store preparing for his departure into the ‘monsoon’. I tried to keep the shutter fast to capture his movements, on reflection I might have stopped the aperture down a touch to get a little more in focus.

X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/800 - f/2 - ISO200
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/800 – f/2 – ISO200
X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/600 - f/2 - ISO200
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/600 – f/2 – ISO200

Once inside, I was instantly drawn to the lighting department, after all, photography is all about light and so where better place to start. The XF56mm lens really gave me that perfect focal length to get in close enough to capture the mood of the lights and keep out the exterior of the store itself. I also really wanted to try out the bokeh of this cracking lens, so I shot the second one at F/1.2.

X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/420 - f/2 - ISO200
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/420 – f/2 – ISO200
X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/800 - f/1.2 - ISO200
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/800 – f/1.2 – ISO200

After we left the lighting department we had a good wander around as Marc actually needed something from the store after all! I managed to grab a few shots as we went and found the autofocus to be working very well shooting from the hip. I didn’t quite get the compositions I wanted shooting this way but, it was nothing a little cropping couldn’t solve.

X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/100 - f/2 - ISO400
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/100 – f/2 – ISO400
X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/100 - f/2 - ISO320
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/100 – f/2 – ISO320

I love looking about, trying to ‘see’ a potential photograph from an otherwise bland object, and being in a DIY store there were certainly lots of random bits and pieces to shoot. I’ve found that the XF56mm lens is a superb focal length in general but also for these close up ‘artistic angular’ shots. Here is an example of a BBQ I saw while we were there. It was the way the light fell around the chrome effect metal that drew me to take the shot.

X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/100 - f/2.8 - ISO200
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/100 – f/2.8 – ISO200

After finishing our tour of the store we actually re-visited the lighting department for one last photo…

Which you can see Marc was thrilled to be part of!

X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/100 - f/2.8 - ISO320
X-T1 – XF56mm lens – 1/100 – f/2.8 – ISO320

 

I personally think it is always a good idea to experiment with your camera angles, sometimes it’s all that’s needed to turn a shot from bland to grand! This doesn’t mean you have to stand on your head mind you! Just ‘play’, enjoy the fact you can shoot as many pictures as you like and simply delete the ones that were not good enough. No one ever has to know!

Here was the last shot I managed to grab whilst Marc was driving us back to the office, not perfectly in focus but I did shoot through the car window and edited out Marc’s head from the equation! I also desaturated the colour a little as I wanted to capture that dull, moody weather we were so very much enjoying.

X-T1 - XF56mm lens 1/500 - f/8 - ISO200
X-T1 – XF56mm lens
1/500 – f/8 – ISO200

All in all, I would say it was nearly a success, after all, I did take some pictures and Marc found what he was looking for in the store. I think the aspect I could’ve improved on was being more confident shooting the subjects on-the-fly from an eye level perspective, rather than shooting from the hip. You may have found yourself in the same situation if you have ever tried ‘street’ photography, certainly it is a blast though and definitely worth trying out if you haven’t already. Maybe in a future blog I’ll try again and see if I can improve on my skills, until then, happy snapping!

Written by Dale Young

Filed under Be Inspired Street

Guest post: Hands on with the XF10-24mmF4 R OIS

by Fujifilm EMEA March 13, 2014 Comments7

Title image: 24.0 mm (in 35mm: 36.0 mm) 1/8 sec; f/4.5; ISO 6400

By Gianluca Colla

I generally do not like to write reviews of products without a long and intensive field test. And by long I do not mean days – I mean several months.

I also don’t like writing first impressions of a camera or lens, because in a few days, even shooting many hours, I do not have enough time to get perfectly tuned with the gear I am using. I still remain a stranger and there is still the excitement of the new toy.

It’s almost like in real life, with couples. You can (almost) never tell after a first date or two if your partner will be “the one” but after several months of dating, you get a quite good idea if your relationship will go for a long run.

That’s why, although I’ve been one of the first and privileged people in the world to get my hands on the X-T1, long before it was announced, I didn’t write anything about it yet.

This was all true until one night in Yokohama, Japan, where a group of X-Photographers are gathered to speak at CP+, I went out with some friends and colleagues, and coupled the latest X-series with the Fujinon XF10-24mm F4 R OIS.

13.8 mm (in 35mm: 21.0 mm) 1/8 sec; f/4.5; ISO 6400
13.8 mm (in 35mm: 21.0 mm)
1/8 sec; f/4.5; ISO 6400

Love at first sight
I guess this is what is known as love at first sight. A perfect match. When you know there is no need to further test, or to “date” a little bit longer because you simply know it will be a long-lasting and happy relationship.

There are plenty of detailed reviews online and plenty of technical data sheet about the camera and the lens, there is no need to cover again that kind of information.

11.5 mm (in 35mm: 17.0 mm) 1/32 sec; f/4.0; ISO 3200
11.5 mm (in 35mm: 17.0 mm)
1/32 sec; f/4.0; ISO 3200

All I can say is that the camera is designed to fit perfectly in the hands and to have that kind of tactile feel that only a vintage camera could offer and is designed with a lot of technology inside but with a simple usage in mind. And the lens, is just amazing: wide open is razor sharp, it has an impressive OIS that can easily hold 5 stops, all you have to do is get out and shoot. And this is what the X-T1is made for: to simply take beautiful picture, to forget about the technical race and to focus on what should be every photographer’s main concern: making stunning images.

I want to add is this:

  • 3200 or 6400 ISO
  • 1/8th and 1/4th of a second, handheld (yes, you read it correctly, handheld – God bless OIS and the small weight of the camera)
  • f4

You judge the result your self. All of the images featured here were taken on the X-T1 with a (pre-production) XF10-24mmF4 lens and are JPEGs straight out of camera. I dare you to find me another combination like this.. 😉

10.0 mm (in 35mm: 15.0 mm) 1/4 sec; f/4.0; ISO 3200
10.0 mm (in 35mm: 15.0 mm)
1/4 sec; f/4.0; ISO 3200

—

About Gianluca

An in depth knowledge of photography has led Gianluca to travel to many diverse destinations around the world, from the Arctic Polar Circle to Africa’s deserts, from the Far East to the Amazon. Gianluca’s photographs have appeared in various publications including National Geographic Magazine, New York times, Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, CondèNaste, Bloomberg News.

His images are represented by National Geographic Creative.
His series of images from India has been projected at Musèe de Elysèee in Lausanne.

Gianluca is also a member of NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) and he has an intense lecturing and teaching activity counting various seminars and workshops: he teaches reportage at European Institute of Design of Milan, and is a Photography Expert and teacher for National Geographic Expeditions.

When not on assignment Gianluca spends his time in Switzerland and in Italy.

Click visit his website
Follow Gianluca on Twitter

Filed under Photography

Jim Marks, Fujifilm X-T1 + XF56mm lens and Yokohama China town

by Fujifilm EMEA March 4, 2014 Comments2

During a recent trip to Japan, Pro Photographer Jim Marks was able to test out the new XF56mm lens on on Fujifilm X-T1. Here’s a few example shots.

All shots here are straight out of camera JPEG images that have been resized and nothing else.

1/114 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/114 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/160 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/160 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/64 sec; f/1.2; ISO 800
1/64 sec; f/1.2; ISO 800
1/64 sec; f/1.2; ISO 1250
1/64 sec; f/1.2; ISO 1250
1/160 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/160 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400
1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 400

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More from Jim Marks

Website: http://marks.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsjim

Filed under Be Inspired Photography Street Travel

Interview with Kevin Mullins: first impressions of the XF10-24 and XF56 lenses and the X-T1 camera

by Marc Horner February 15, 2014 Comments5

We invited professional wedding photographer Kevin Mullins to come to Yokohama in Japan to speak on the Fujifilm stand at CP+ about how he started using Fujifilm products and how they help him create his distinctive documentary style approach to wedding photography.

We planned the whole thing out, even to the details of where he is to stand on the stage, however there was one slight issue that we were unable to plan for – the snow.

Heavy snowfall throughout Friday has meant that the CP+ show was cancelled today, but don’t think that means Kevin was given a day off. Instead we went out for a little walk around Yokohama and he was able to try out the new XF10-24mm and XF56mm lenses and also the new Fujifilm X-T1 compact system camera.

Here’s a quick selection of unedited jpeg shots Kevin has taken, plus a few of his initial thoughts on how each lens performed.

The FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R lens

X-E2 with XF56mm - 1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 1000
X-E2 with XF56mm – 1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 1000
X-E2 with XF56mm - 1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 800
X-E2 with XF56mm – 1/200 sec; f/1.2; ISO 800
X-T1 with XF56mm - 1/4000 sec; f/1.8; ISO 200
X-T1 with XF56mm – 1/4000 sec; f/1.8; ISO 200

“I’m really impressed with the handling of the lens, especially the speed of focus. The depth of field at f/1.2 is remarkable for an APS-C sized sensor CSC. I’m really looking forward to using it at a wedding where I’m sure it will become a permanent fixture in my camera bag”

The FUJINON XF10-24mmF4 R OIS lens

X-T1 with XF10-24 - 1/1105 sec; f/5.6; ISO 200
X-T1 with XF10-24 – 1/1105 sec; f/5.6; ISO 200
X-T1 with XF10-24 - 1/320 sec; f/5.6; ISO 200
X-T1 with XF10-24 – 1/320 sec; f/5.6; ISO 200

“Not being a regular user of a zoom lens, I was really keen to get my hands on the 10-24 and the ability to shoot as a the wide end of the zoom really introduces a new dynamic into the way we can use the X series cameras. The lens handles really well at both ends of the zoom, is very fast and the weight of it doesn’t unbalance the camera”

The X-T1 Compact System Camera

When asked about the X-T1 camera specifically, this is what Kevin had to say about it:

“I’ve been waiting to get my hands on the X-T1 for a while and I’m certainly not disappointed. Although I’ve only used it for a few hours, the viewfinder is simply amazing and the manual controls are well positioned – the camera feels really good in my hands. Well thought out features like the tilting screen, the side loading card and the vertical battery grip really make this a camera that’s going to enhance my everyday shooting”

—

About Kevin

Kevin Mullins is an award winning UK Wedding Photographer specialising in the documentary style of wedding photography. To see more of his work you can follow him on Facebook or follow his blog.

Filed under Interviews Photography

FUJINON XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS lens test

by Fujifilm EMEA November 28, 2013 Comments0
Sample 4
200mm setting, 1/2000sec at f/6.4, ISO 320
At the 200mm setting, the lens can produce frame-filling shots from the side of a track. This was taken in a public area through a mesh fence

FUJINON XF lenses are all about quality. Quality of build, quality of performance, quality of results. With prime (single focal length) lenses, quality is to be expected by virtue of their more simple optical construction. But good results are less of a foregone conclusion when it comes to zooms. Until recently, the XF55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R was the only telezoom in the Fujinon line up. It’s since been joined by the XC50-230mm f/4.5-6.7, which was launched alongside the X-A1 and is designed for mid-range X-brand models. But the XF55-200mm remains top dog by virtue of its faster maximum aperture and more solid build, making it the perfect accompaniment to the X-E and X-Pro models. We tested the lens on the latter model.

Sample 1
141mm setting, 1/1250sec at f/5, ISO 320
No problems with vibrant colours, and the level of detail is impressive, as is the car!

The first thing you’ll notice about the XF55-200mm is its impressive build quality. It looks and feels as though it’s built to stand the rigours of daily use and feels reassuringly solid in every aspect of construction. The zoom collar is both large and very smooth to use, while the manual focusing ring at the end of the lens and the aperture ring near the body are both well sized and a real pleasure to control. It comes supplied with a deep lens hood to keep a tight control on flare, plus there’s a switch to turn Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) on and off, alongside the automatic or manual aperture control switch. The OIS is worthy of note. Offering up to 4.5 stops of compensation, we found that even at the 200mm setting, we were able to shoot with shutter speeds around 1/20sec without any evidence of camera shake.

Sample 2
164mm setting, 1/20sec at f/4.6, ISO 400
Optical Image Stabilisation is excellent, this shot was taken at 1/20sec but there’s no hint of blur

With the XF55-200mm attached to the X-Pro1, the combination is neither heavy nor bulky – it’s fine to sling over your shoulder while you’re out for a walk, plus the zoom action is constructed in such a way that there’s no zoom creep, even with the lens pointed down.

A focal range equivalent to 84-305mm on a 35mm camera means the lens offers plenty of versatility. We used it for a wide range of subjects, from portraits through to sporting action. The focusing proved accurate and the out-of-focus areas were lovely and smooth thanks to the seven-blade aperture diaphragm.

Sample 3
200mm setting, 1/120sec at f/4.8, ISO 400
Regardless of focal length setting, the lens delivers high-quality results. You can count every hair in this dog’s fur

The real beauty of the lens, though, is in the quality of the results. In keeping with the Fujinon XF philosophy, the resulting images display impressive levels of sharpness thanks to the combination of high-quality optics and the X-Pro1’s wonderful X-Trans sensor. The lens also showed great consistency through the focal range and aperture settings. Whether you’re shooting wide open at 55mm or stopped down at 200mm, you can be confident of getting great results every time.

Lens tested by Roger Payne

Filed under Photography