Fuji Fuji HS50EXR #2: if at first you don't suceed, buy, buy again... (img heavy)

Yeats

All-Pro
Location
New Jersey, USA
Name
Chris
In our previous episode of "As The Superzoom Turns", it seemed I had settled on the Fuji SL1000. The Nikon P510 had a horrible, slow, EVF and didn't shoot RAW. The Canon SX50 produced fine images, but the grip was tiny and the EVF was even tinier. The Fuji HS50 handled wonderfully (compared with the others), but the IQ wasn't as good as the Canon or even the Nikon, the lens had decentering issues, the LCD had a loose connection... *sigh*. So I got a Fuji SL1000. No fancy-pants EXR sensor, but actually slightly better IQ than the HS50. Large grip, good EVF... *BUT*... the EVF blanked out for 2 seconds after every pic, the zoom switch sometimes refused to operate, and when shooting a dark subject (like a blackbird) the center of the frame appeared purple. Not good.

So, I decided to give the Fuji HS50EXR another try.

The one I received a couple days ago doesn't seem to have an QC issues. Everything works. This go-around, I decided to try shooting RAW in Fuji's EXR D-Range mode. The idea behind EXR D-Range (Deranged?) is to "bin" the sensor's pixels, increasing dynamic range and reducing noise. The resultant image is 8MP rather than the sensor's native 16MP.

The worst aspect of EXR mode is that shutter speed and aperture cannot be adjusted, and ISO can only be selected in ranges (100-400, 100-800, etc). This can be problematic when shooting wildlife, as one generally wants to keep the shutter speed as fast as practicable.

Here are a few shots, in EXR DeRanged mode, slightly adjusted tone curve, resized and sharpened:

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squirrel DSCF0057 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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squirrel DSCF0059 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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squirrel DSCF0064 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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squirrel DSCF0070 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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squirrrel DSCF0072 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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squirrel DSCF0076 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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grackle DSCF0080 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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grackle DSCF0081 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

This last one was shot in standard (non-EXR) aperture-priority mode:

View attachment 68549
swan DSCF0002 by Yeatsy, on Flickr


Next time I'll try the EXR "High ISO & Low Noise" mode, which is another 8MP mode, designed to reduce image noise. This one does allow you to select a specific ISO, though not aperture or shutter speed.
 
Really nice work by you, with a camera that seems to be up to the task. If you think you're going to make our PA-NJ meet-up, maybe I can bring the G5 with 100-300mm for you to try.

Yep, I'll be there with the Fuji. I'd love to check out the G5 + 100-300 combo if you have the chance to bring it. :)

exf binning for DR is tough to beat

As I'm finding out! :) Just wish I could set the ISO or shutter speed, though.
 
what mode are you shooting in?

The command dial is set to EXR.

I have 3 choices: 1. Resolution Priority (that's the full 16MP) 2. High ISO & Low Noise 3. D-Range Priority (I've been using that one) It allows me to set an ISO range - I use 100-400 - but that's it, everything else is automated by the camera.
 
The command dial is set to EXR.

I have 3 choices: 1. Resolution Priority (that's the full 16MP) 2. High ISO & Low Noise 3. D-Range Priority (I've been using that one) It allows me to set an ISO range - I use 100-400 - but that's it, everything else is automated by the camera.

ok try shooting in A, S, or M modes, medium resolution, you can then do DR400, have full EXR and control over ISO and other parameters too
Nothing Special: How to Shoot a FujiFilm EXR Camera – HS50EXR, F900EXR, F800EXR, XF1, X-S1, X10, Z1000EXR, HS30EXR, F750EXR, F770EXR, F660EXR, Z900EXR, F600EXR, F605EXR, HS20EXR, HS25EXR, Z800EXR, F550EXR, F505EXR, F500EXR, F300EXR, F80EXR, Z700EXR
Kim gives great advise on EXR
 
Thats what Fuji is known for, the good ol smearies. I used to shoot my F550EXR in RAW, I used EXR mode a few times but did not gain more from that than going with instinct for settings as situations cropped up.

true, however I tend to shoot mine at ISO 400 and lower to avoid this
 
I'd say the EXR modes need to be used judiciously. The image resolution gets halved, and also you cede an awful lot of control to the camera. But the usefulness of EXR is apparent in the set of squirrel shots I posted. There were some deeply shadowed areas - in fact, the first squirrel shot was so backlit that the critter was virtually black. For any of those squirrel shots, had I exposed for the squirrel the sky would have either blown out or been a pale cyan, given the limited DR of a small sensor. Using the EXR DeRanged mode, the camera managed to avoid clipping both highlights and shadows.

If I were shooting a scene that didn't include such extremes, I'd use regular ol' Aperture Priority, utilize the full 16MP resolution.

Here's a couple more samples. A blackbird in the shade, with a brightly lit background.

View attachment 68618
blackbird DSCF0131041 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

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blackbird DSCF0124034 by Yeatsy, on Flickr
 
I'd say the EXR modes need to be used judiciously. The image resolution gets halved, and also you cede an awful lot of control to the camera. But the usefulness of EXR is apparent in the set of squirrel shots I posted. There were some deeply shadowed areas - in fact, the first squirrel shot was so backlit that the critter was virtually black. For any of those squirrel shots, had I exposed for the squirrel the sky would have either blown out or been a pale cyan, given the limited DR of a small sensor. Using the EXR DeRanged mode, the camera managed to avoid clipping both highlights and shadows.

If I were shooting a scene that didn't include such extremes, I'd use regular ol' Aperture Priority, utilize the full 16MP resolution.

Here's a couple more samples. A blackbird in the shade, with a brightly lit background.

View attachment 68621
blackbird DSCF0131041 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

View attachment 68622
blackbird DSCF0124034 by Yeatsy, on Flickr

crystalline sharpness
I use full resolution for moon shots and times, like you when I do not need DR
 
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