C’est Fuji ça, non?
One of the purposes of this blog is for me to regularly post pictures I’ve taken and write about them. Hopefully, these will be informative, but largely it’s intended as a learning process for me, to encourage me to take more and better pictures, but also to think about what works in an image and what I find challenging. So with that in mind, here’s the first one. Continue reading “Art Science Museum, Singapore”
I’ve been using Canon cameras for a number of years; I had a EOS 30D and later updated to a full-frame EOS 6D. I liked them both and still own the latter one. But I found I wasn’t using it as much as I felt I should, largely because of the size. A DSLR is a bit too big to just put in your bag, so taking it out for a trip around town was kind of a hassle. The first 6D also had a small number of focusing points and the dynamic range isn’t great, even though the full-frame sensor allows you to recover a lot of detail. But I really wanted something smaller, lighter, faster and with a higher frame rate. So about eight months ago I made the switch to the Fujifilm system. I got a Fuji X-T2, which I’ve been using almost exclusively since. What triggered this was seeing a Fuji X-T20 that a friend had on loan. I’d never used a mirrorless camera, and the retro styling, small size and image quality was really appealing. But what really sold it for me was the size and quality of the lenses. These are generally much more manageable than the Canon behemoths and really nice to work with. I first learnt to shoot using Minolta film SLRs, so having the aperture ring on the lens itself was instantly appealing.
I considered the XT20, but there were a few things that made me choose the X-T2 instead: weather sealing, a readily accessible ISO dial, focus point selection joystick and the possibility of adding a battery grip. Having used the X-T2 for a few months, I’ve also come to appreciate three things that I really like about the Fuji system. The electronic viewfinder, which at first I thought was a bit of a gimmick, is actually fantastic to use. I’ve started switching it to black and white, which I think helps a lot with composition at times. Secondly, the ability to adapt a wide range of lenses considerably widens the range of options, particularly if you’re on a budget. I’ve recently tried the Samyang 85mm f1.4, which is a great portrait lens. I got this with a Canon mount, so with the aid of a cheap adapter, I can use it on both cameras. And although many of these third party lenses are manual focus, being able to use manual focus assist modes within the electronic viewfinder makes it much easier to use them. I’m also experimenting with the Laowa ultra-wide 9mm f2.8, and if I can get anywhere close to these sample shots from Jonas Rask, I’ll be pretty happy. But finally, and most importantly, for me the X-T2 blends just the right combination of portability, gadgetry and nostalgia to make great photography fun again.
The Fuji Canon 