For any photographer moving from zooms to using primes as well, with a strong interest in portraits, the 85mm lens is your best choice. If you're a fan of Fuji, then the equivalent focal length would be the 56mm optic. And if you're a fan of Fuji, then you will already know that their lenses are razor-sharp. To test the Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 R (B&H / Amazon), I photographed one of my favorite models, Anastasiya, using the flood of light from the billboards in Times Square. While not a thorough lens review of the Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 Read more inside...
The Fuji X-T2 (B&H / Amazon) is one of the most likable cameras I have ever handled, and up there with the best cameras. Ever. Fuji made immediate impact with their Fuji X-100 camera, which had sexy retro appeal, especially with the optical viewfinder. Since then, Fuji has released cameras which retain that kind of appeal, which culminated two years ago in the Fuji X-T1 - a camera which also really impressed me, as mentioned in my review: Fuji X-T1 camera.
Now we have the Fuji X-T2 which in some ways, is a considerable jump up from the Fuji Read more inside...
During my visit to South Africa, two of my friends, Jerry & Linde, arranged a surprise for me - an early-morning ride in a hot-air balloon in the Magaliesberg area. This was a first time for me - and I have to wonder now why I had never done this before - it is exhilarating! (This must be old news for those who have done this before.)
With this entire 2-week visit to South Africa, I decided to forego all the heavier, bulkier camera gear, and only take my Fuji X100s (affiliate). It's a specific decision where I forego the versatility of getting Read more inside...
Pentax used to have a slogan that said simply, 'Just hold a Pentax'. Such was their confidence that they could win you over with a Pentax SLR. Just hold it, feel it and you will already like it. A lot! For me, that mantle could be placed on Fuji these days. With the X-series cameras, they've built up a range of cameras that are very appealing. They look good. They feel good ... and they give stunning results.
Yes, I am somewhat of a Fuji fanboy. But then, I love quality products. I'm a fan of that. My walkabout camera is the sexy Fuji X100s that I carry Read more inside...
The way that Fuji implemented manual focus mode on their cameras, turn them into possibly the best manual focus cameras around. Now some will say the most recent series camers' AF is so good that you don't need manual focus. However, I'm not convinced of that. The AF is pretty good, but there are times (such as with strong back-lighting), where even the top cameras of any brand would struggle. Then manual focus can be a huge help. And it makes sense to be familiar with the manual focus options on your camera.
Anyway, here is why I think the way that Read more inside...
One of the most compelling cameras in recent years, was the Fuji X100. It had a slick retro look, solid build, and some interesting features such as the hybrid optical viewfinder. The camera looked quite sexy slung over your shoulder, and felt great in your hands. But it had a few flaws. Sluggish handling at times, and more crucially, erratic auto-focus. It tended to grab the background when focusing in low-contrast light. I loved my Fuji X100, but eventually sold it because of these frustrations.
Well, the Fuji X100 was updated with the Fuji Read more inside...
review: Fuji X100 camera - photo shoot with a model
First of all, for those who haven't heard of the Fuji X100 (affiliate) yet, it is a beautiful retro-looking rangefinder-mimicking 12 megapixel digital point & shoot camera (with a fixed 35mm equivalent f2.0 lens), that gives remarkable image quality. That about sums it up.
For all those reasons, quite a buzz developed around this camera. Quite unlike anything since ... oh, the Leica X1. Or the Olympus Pen EP-2. Or the Sony NEX-5. There was greater excitement building up around the Fuji X100 though than other cameras, Read more inside...
Being impressed so far with the image quality from the Fuji X100 (affiliate), based on my initial impression of the camera, I was tempted to put the camera to a real test. A test where we remove the luxury of using the camera just as a walk-about fun camera. Instead, I wanted to shoot an event where there are real expectations from the images. With that idea in mind, I asked around if any of my wedding photographer friends would consider using me as a freebie 2nd shooter, where I would use only the Fuji X100 as my Read more inside...
initial impression: Fuji X100 - not quite the review yet
The Fuji X100 (affiliate) must be one of the most eagerly awaited cameras in recent times. The camera just looks beautiful. Retro-cool. With initial reports being mostly very favorable, I was quite keen to get my hands on one of these. The photograph above of Alyssa, (one of our models), was lit by LED video light. Now, when using video lights for photography, you're dealing with wide apertures and high ISOs. An immediate challenge for a camera. And the Fuji X100 excelled. The image above was from the in-camera JPG, Read more inside...
