The Rig

/
The Rig.jpg

I’m honoured to have been asked to contribute to “The Rig,” a kickass project by Jorge Ledesma.

If you don’t already know, The Rig is a series of interview-like posts where Jorge asks Fujifilm-based photographers to share their camera and gear setups. I’ve always enjoyed reading the write-ups, and I’m very pleased to be among such good company.

Jorge asks participants to provide a creative selfie. Given what I’m most known for on the internet as it relates to Fujifilm, the image above was the only appropriate way to execute it. As a little something extra for Fuji vs. Fuji readers, below is the music that goes along with it. Enjoy.

Grips, ergonomics, and the E-M1

/

With the X-T1 hitting the streets,1 a lot is being written about how it compares to the Olympus OM-D E-M1. I don’t own an E-M1, and I’ve done little more than try it out in the store, but I had an opportunity to directly compare the grips of the two cameras immediately after one another pretty extensively. Here are my findings.

Fuji Fujifilm X-T1 MHG-XT1 Hand Grip.jpg

My opinion on one-handed grip ergonomics in order of preference is:

  1. Olympus OM-D E-M1
  2. Fujifilm X-T1
  3. Fujifilm X-T1 with Fujifilm hand grip

Yep, the E-M1 comes out on top for me in grip comfort. One thing worth noting, I don’t have large hands. I suspect that most people with hands about my size and smaller would prefer the E-M1 because the grip fills the palm nicely. I’ve heard from people with larger hands that the grip protrudes too much for them.

One option excluded from the list is the X-T1 with the Vertical grip. As noted in my review of the X-T1, I actually prefer the ergonomics of the vertical grip, so it would be tied for first place with the E-M1. The X-T1 with Fujifilm’s Arca Swiss compatible handgrip is awkward for me. It adds too much, but folks with larger hands will really appreciate it, as seen below. For them, the grips adds just enough for all fingers to wrap comfortably around the camera.

Yes, there is a hand grip under that meat hook

Yes, there is a hand grip under that meat hook

On a decidedly less cerebral note, there’s no question the the X-T1 feels better than the Olympus. The camera is just somehow nicer to hold. It feels more premium. I’m not quite sure what to make of this as both bodies have magnesium alloy frames. Perhaps Fujifilm’s external material simply has a better feel to it.

Things change a little when you start trying to access all the buttons within range of your right hand. The E-M1’s “Multi Function” and “Record” buttons are perhaps the worst offenders. When I hold the camera comfortably, I can’t access those buttons without using my left hand to steady the camera while adjusting my grip to access those buttons.

Fuji Fujifilm X-T1 vs OMD E-M1.jpg

The X-T1 simply does not have this problem. In fact, the only Fujifilm camera I’ve used that does is the X-E2 which has an AF point selection button that’s a little tough to access with the camera held comfortably or without moving it from your eye.2

Ergonomically, it will come down to preference. It’s an extremely subjective issue, but I believe there are ways of doing things that are just wrong. Sony’s A7(r) is a good example. Gripping that camera naturally results in having to pull your index finger uncomfortably to get to the shutter release, no matter what size your hand is. This leaves you with discomfort in your finger, or adjusting your grip more vertically to get the shutter release in line with your finger, which results in lots of hand/grip shimmying.

The last comment I’ll make on the whole X-T1 vs. E-M1 debate (in this post) is the glaringly obvious, yet superficial issue of appearances. Can there be anyone on the planet who thinks the E-M1 is a good-looking camera? As much as our rational minds tell us function trumps form, the reality is, fashion matters. I don’t think Fujifilm would be where they are today if the X100 and X-Pro1 didn’t look as good as they do.3 We all want a camera that looks cool to a degree. For some it matters less than others, but for me, the E-M1 is ugly enough that I wouldn’t want to own it as my primary camera. The good thing is, Fujifilm’s function is now keeping pace with their outstanding tastes in form. People who want a DSLR inspired compact can finally have the best of both worlds.

  1. Everywhere, but Canada it would seem. ↩
  2. Here’s hoping the next firmware update for the X-E2 lets us configure all Fn buttons like the X-T1 does. Shame about the labels, but nothing a little Sharpie action can’t fix. ↩
  3. Something they should keep in the very forefront of their minds as they conceive the X200 and X-Pro2. ↩

ISO Unlocker

/
X-T1-ISOunlockerInstall.jpg

It’s an interesting bit of kit if you don’t want to be fumbling with the ISO dial on your X-T1. I’ll probably fund it just because it’s cool, and I’d like to see more stuff like this for Fujifilm gear, but I don’t know how much I would use it. Fujifilm cameras have taught me to embrace things the camera can decide for me a little more. I was an ISO holdout for years—always feeling I needed to control it—while being strictly an Aperture Priority shooter. Now I find I’m either in Aperture Priority with everything else set to auto, or full manual. However, when shooting manually, it’s always during very precise, carefully considered shooting. I’m almost never so desperate to change my ISO that holding the button would be an irritant whereas having my ISO changed inadvertently would be.

To sum up, it’s great stuff like this is available, but I think Fujifilm got their dial locking as “right” as they possibly could have. Nikon, on the other hand...

“Should I buy an X-T1?”

/

The age old question. Brand spankin’ new camera comes out with a brand spankier new one rumoured to be on the way. Do you buy the new X-T1 hotness or wait for the next new hotness?

The answer to this sort of question ultimately comes down to what you can afford—no to mention your appetite for the constant torrent of upgrades, which we’ll mostly leave out from this post—but one thing I find slips the minds of a lot of photographers (and their Significant Others) is the real cost of any camera gear.

Your cost - What you sell it for = Actual cost

This brings me to a question I was asked on Twitter shortly after posting my review of the X-T1 that I imagine many Fuji fans are pondering as well:

If I have an X-Pro1, should I (buy the) X-T1 or hold for the X-Pro2?

For me, it’s an easy question to answer, but let’s talk it through for fun. The earliest of X-Pro successor rumours say end of 2014 for an announcement with a ship date in early 2015. That’s a full year away. A year of enjoying the very best Fujifilm has to offer before you decide if the X-Pro-Whatever is actually the camera you want. The X-T1 is a massive upgrade over the X-Pro1 and X-E1, even with the firmware updates Fuji keeps throwing at them.

Of course, there are two ends of the spectrum in how you approach upgrade cycles with a bunch of variances in the middle:

  1. Upgrade early and often: You’ll always have the latest and greatest, which is nice, and the best1 your chosen camera platform(s) has to offer.
  2. Stick with what you know: Upgrade only when you absolutely have to. Your camera will be an extension of your hand and eye, and you will attain omnipresent supergalactic oneness with your photography.

Both are valid. I’m ever trying to find the right balance between the two. I think there’s a special case to be made for at least two Fuji bodies:

  1. The X-Pro1: It has been out an awfully long time, and was their first interchangeable offering. A great deal has changed since it came on the scene and Fujifilm cameras have improved significantly. Conventional wisdom is to skip a generation when upgrading, but I doubt many people who owned Nikon D1’s passed on the D2 line of cameras. Thus, I wouldn’t blame anyone for taking an X-T1 steppingstone along their path to the X-Pro2.
  2. The X100: It, and the X100S share a lot of functionality. Selling an X100 to fund the purchase of an X100S will not leave you fumbling with controls as you struggle with a learning curve. You’ll just have faster focus and better overall image quality. Not to mention a black version for the same price.

The one upgrade I think some people could have passed on is the X-E1 to X-E2. I imagine those who waited for the X-T1 are feeling pretty good about their decision right now, and they still have a very capable camera that will produce the same image quality2 as the new(er) X-E2. As a matter of fact, all my tripod-based photography is still done with an X-E1 because I haven’t wanted to pay the exorbitant shipping costs to get a Really Right Stuff L-plate. You see? Balance.

Back to the question at hand

Should you buy the X-T1? If you have an X-Pro1 or X-E1, my answer is, if you can afford it, yes. No question. It’s a massive upgrade over what you have and the glowing reviews are well earned.

If you have an X-E2, that all depends on whether or not you need a weather sealed body. If you don’t, the X-E2 will continue to suit your needs very well. Even better pretty soon it would seem. Focus is quicker on the X-T1, but it’s pretty darn swift on the X-E2 as well.

Whether you have an X-E2 or X-T1, if you think the X-Pro2 is what you’re really going to want, sell your current body when it comes out and buy it. Surely the couple hundred dollars you might lose on the sale is worth a year of use. Think of it as an extended rental. The bottom line is, it’s tough to make a bad decision with Fujifilm’s latest body lineup. They’re all going to produce great images. Your choice comes down to performance. And remember:

Your cost - What you sell it for = Actual cost

  1. Save for launch bugs and lemons like the D600. But those are the minority and largely avoidable with how thoroughly reviewed Fujifilm’s gear is before it’s been released. ↩
  2. Particularly those who shoot RAW. JPEG shooters will miss out on the Lens Modulation Optimizer benefits of the X-E2, but in my experience, it hasn’t been anywhere close to a deal breaker. I’m still holding out hope that Fujifilm will open these up to Adobe along with their Film Simulations. ↩

X-T1 vs. X-E2 size

/

In my X-T1 review, I showed an image comparing the X-T1 with the 27mm f/2.8 to a X100S to demonstrate how small a package the X-T1 could be with the right lens attached. However, there’s been some confusion surrounding the size of the X-T1 compared to Fujifilm’s other cameras, particularly the X-E line.

No, the X-T1 is not approaching DSLR sizes. It’s essentially a slightly thicker X-E camera with a hump, and more of a grip. Here are some additional images to help illustrate the differnce.

Front view. Pretty much the same. Only the viewfinder is making the X-T1 a little taller.
Side view. The thickness is most apparently from this side as it include the X-T1’s more substantial grip. In other words, the worst case scenario.
Back view. Not a whole lot more to see here compared to the front view.
Top view. More thickness and the grip. 
Bottom view. 

Bottom view. 

Unless you have both cameras on hand, you’ll hardly notice a difference in size, if at all. You will notice a slight difference in weight, and a significant difference in feel. As mentioned in my review, the magnesium X-T1 feels better in the hand.

X-E2, firmware updates, and full frame Fuji

/

This just happened.

Fantastic reporting from DPReview, and well worth the time to read it. Here are a few stand-out items for me:

...we will release new firmware for the X-E2 soon which will improve the refresh rate of the EVF bringing it to the same level as the X-T1 and also add an interval shooting function.

I’m still kind of stunned. I’ll have more to say about this, but it brings a comment I made on Twitter further into light:

Clearly the answer to my question as it relates to EVF performance is “nothin’.” If a firmware update can bring this sort of functionality to the X-E2, I can’t help but wonder if the same is possible with the X100S, as it too sports the EXR Processor II. It’s entirely possible the actual EVF hardware is the limited factor though, rather than the processor.

There was some internal debate about the X100 update, and some people within Fujifilm didn’t think we should upgrade a discontinued model but we decided to do it anyway.

Whoever doesn’t think these updates should happen should kindly be asked to leave the building. As of this moment, Fujifilm’s USP (unique selling proposition for the non-marketing nerds) is their ongoing, unmatched support for their cameras. Some would argue it’s their retro styling, but that hasn’t been the case for years now, and can be very easily copied. Others would say it’s the X-Trans. Well, other cameras are ditching the OLP filter, and great images can can be made with non-X-Trans sensors.

What can’t be easily copied or manufactured is the tough decision and time to invest in updates like these. This isn’t what brought me to Fujifilm, but it’s a huge part of why they are my platform of choice. Yes their optics are great, their colour rendition is (arguably and subjectively) unmatched, but waking up this morning to find a “free” update like this coming my way is what gets me really excited. Not just for me, but for all Fuji shooters.

Our research shows that the attachment rate for a high-end camera like the X-Pro 1 is around 3.8, whereas cameras like the X-A1 it’s more like 1.2. With low-end cameras people often just stick with the kit lens.

This is interesting and no real surprise. It lends further credence to my views on Fujifilm cornering the premium compact market. The differences between Japanese and Western owners is also of interest. It seems as though we—through Fujifilm North America/UK—have a strong voice in the usability changes Fujifilm continue to make. The partnership vs. dictatorship that is all too common with Japanese brands is really great to see.

We also need to refresh our lens lineup.

And:

At the moment we’re focusing on the APS-C format but in the longer term, after we’ve completed our lens lineup… I can’t deny the possibility.

Wait, what? “Refresh”? There’s a lot of mixed messaging going on here as he mentions the need for Fujifilm to slow down and make their line-up less confusing in the preceding sentence. I’m very intrigued to know what this entails. It certainly sounds as though full-frame is in the pipeline, if not already behind a reinfirnced, key-card-access-only steel door in Japan.

The last thing I’ll note is, if you want an X-T1, it sounds like you better get your preorder in posthaste. Demand is twice what Fujifilm were anticipating. Now would also be a good time to get into a new X-E2 with its currently discounted price.

Fujifilm X-T1 Review

/

After over a week of use, a couple thousand frames, and well over 5,000 words, my Fujifilm X-T1 review has finally been posted. This is certainly my most comprehensive review to date, and I think one of the more comprehensive reviews to hit the web so far.

I dived deep into the nitty gritty of the camera, how it compares to Fuji’s other offerings, other mirrorless offerings and beyond.

Read More