Fuji On my Blog: My Review of the Fuji X-System

John

You make a very compelling case for the Fuji system. Just to chip in, I have owned two exceptional Fuji film cameras, the GSW690 and for a short time the newer GF670w. Although I have now abandoned film I can say that both these cameras sported exceptional lenses, indeed I maintain the GSW690 has probably one of the best lenses in the world.

So, it does figure that Fuji are more than capable of creating an excellent marriage of digital and lens technology.

The evidence is in your photographs.

LouisB
 
John,

Excellent review. Well written and lovely pictures.

Years ago, the boss of our writing crew said to me: "The mind can absorb only what the seat can endure."

IMHO, you've hit the right balance between information and entertainment.

As to the pictures, many were what I've come to expect (and enjoy!) from you -- ubex, decaying civilization, etc. You surprised me with the blues club pictures: the "feel" of live performers really comes through.

As to the "Sunrise over the tower," this is blatant copyright infringement on "my" style :D I'm the guy doing the colorful sky shots (you're the guy doing shots of the end of the world as we know it, remember?), and it is particularly distressing that you did it better than I do ;) Seriously: well done!

I'm guessing, based on your review, that the Fuji system is not for me . . . but I really do love the results in that sky shot . . . so maybe some additional consideration is in order.

Anyway, put a Gold Star on your chart or a smiley face on your cubbie; ya done good!

I hope you had an excellent Christmas.

Cheers, Jock
 
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year John. I left my comment in your blog: I am tempted, but the X-E2 is expensive, and the X-M1 and X-A1 lack viewfinders. Is it easy to see the X-M1 screen outside? in a sunny country like Portugal?
 
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year John. I left my comment in your blog: I am tempted, but the X-E2 is expensive, and the X-M1 and X-A1 lack viewfinders. Is it easy to see the X-M1 screen outside? in a sunny country like Portugal?

Hi, Luis -- I'm working my way through websites but I think I'll answer this both here and there because it's a good question and something I didn't cover.

Fuji's displays will get real bright. The "Q-Menu" on all the cameras (at least on all mine) has a brightness control for the LCD that is at "0" from the factory. I find that +5 is adequate with outdoor shooting for framing and what not and you can see all the indicators on the display like the histogram. So I think you would be okay.

WARNING: Don't forget to turn it back down for darker conditions. If you tend to pay more attention to the look of the image on the LCD to make adjustments (as I have sometimes) you'll find when you get home that a lot of your images are quite dark -- because you adjusted the EV comp down a lot because the image looked too bright. However, the reason it looked too bright is that you had the LCD brightness jacked up, not the exposure, lol. Just a word to the wise from someone who has done that very thing.

And a very Merry Christmas (belated I guess) and a great New Year to you as well!
 
John

You make a very compelling case for the Fuji system. Just to chip in, I have owned two exceptional Fuji film cameras, the GSW690 and for a short time the newer GF670w. Although I have now abandoned film I can say that both these cameras sported exceptional lenses, indeed I maintain the GSW690 has probably one of the best lenses in the world.

So, it does figure that Fuji are more than capable of creating an excellent marriage of digital and lens technology.

The evidence is in your photographs.

LouisB

I have an old Fujica AZ-1 (the old screw-mount SLR's that preceded the ST series) and it's a great piece. I actually want one of those nice Fuji medium format cameras just to have it -- I doubt I'd shoot it much, lol. But I won't spend the money on it -- but I think they are great.

Thanks for the encouraging comments! Hope your holiday season is going gangbusters.

John,

Excellent review. Well written and lovely pictures.

Years ago, the boss of our writing crew said to me: "The mind can absorb only what the seat can endure."

IMHO, you've hit the right balance between information and entertainment.

As to the pictures, many were what I've come to expect (and enjoy!) from you -- ubex, decaying civilization, etc. You surprised me with the blues club pictures: the "feel" of live performers really comes through.

As to the "Sunrise over the tower," this is blatant copyright infringement on "my" style :D I'm the guy doing the colorful sky shots (you're the guy doing shots of the end of the world as we know it, remember?), and it is particularly distressing that you did it better than I do ;) Seriously: well done!

I'm guessing, based on your review, that the Fuji system is not for me . . . but I really do love the results in that sky shot . . . so maybe some additional consideration is in order.

Anyway, put a Gold Star on your chart or a smiley face on your cubbie; ya done good!

I hope you had an excellent Christmas.

Cheers, Jock

Jock, you're a kind and Godly man. I don't think my picture is better than any of yours -- but if it is it's to God's credit! Seriously, I've not seen a sky like that too often in my life in the morning. It was a rare day. I have a sunset I got in the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Roanoke Island when there was a wildfire on the mainland to the west, out over the water. The color is stunning and I don't expect to ever get a picture like that again either. Sometimes nature just surprises you!

My blog post was probably a bit long. I know some folks didn't read it all -- I think it might have been better broken up across a couple of posts, but oh well, lol.

Great Christmas and I hope you had the same! As a somewhat dopey comedian named Bobcat Goldthwaite used to say: "Thank you for encouraging my behavior!" :D
 
Nice review (I read it all, LOL).

I wonder what diffrences you find, if any, to m43 - after all it's quite a switch.

Or is it just the feel & handling of the camera that has grabbed you?
 
Nice review (I read it all, LOL).

I wonder what diffrences you find, if any, to m43 - after all it's quite a switch.

Or is it just the feel & handling of the camera that has grabbed you?

Thanks!

For me it is the sum of several things though each by itself might not be compelling.
  • The handling as you mentioned
  • Sensor acuity without the AA filter
  • The extra "forgiveness" of the larger sensor though it only matters on extreme material. Full frame of course would be even better, but this is the "sweet spot" to me.
 
I'm curious about what you feel are the differences in the sensors between the x100 and x100s. I've read where some people think that the sensor in that is better than the X-trans but haven't had anyone say why they feel that way.
 
I'm curious about what you feel are the differences in the sensors between the x100 and x100s. I've read where some people think that the sensor in that is better than the X-trans but haven't had anyone say why they feel that way.

The looks *can* be different enough, I really feel the "look" can be achieved that you want in post processing. Most of what the X-Trans gives is "more" which is easy to adjust. However, some people want a softer look out of camera and the conventional sensor certainly delivers that. I think just working with the in-camera JPG adjustments on the X-Trans can yield something more like a Bayer sensor if that's what you want.

Personally, I prefer to shoot my material with the X-Trans sensor, but if you handed me an X100 and said "that's all you can shoot" I'd go shoot and not be worried. Both cameras are great.

The differences go beyond X-Trans though as the X100S has LMO (which if you shoot at like f/16 makes a difference in sharpness in JPG's) and it has phase detect autofocus which makes a big difference in decent light -- not so much in low light if any.

In terms of "bang for the buck" I think the old X100 still has it. The lens is excellent and with the latest firmware it's so much better than it was when released.
 
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