Fujifilm
“I was picking up the X-H1more than theNikon. Last summer, I changed completely over toFujifilm”
ABOVE Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta, San Quirico d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy. Fujifilm X-H1, XF16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR at 40mm. Exposure 1/320sec at f/11, ISO 200 RIGHT Bandstand. Fujifilm X-H1, XF10- 24 f/4 R OIS at 11mm. Exposure 30secs at f/6.4, ISO 800 BOTTOM RIGHT Chernobyl at night, Ukraine. Fujifilm X-H1, XF8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR at 8mm. Exposure 13secs at f/2.8, ISO 3200 BELOW Portrait. Fujifilm X-H1, XF50- 140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR at 66mm. Exposure 1/250sec at f/3.2, ISO 640
killed me – and I was meant to be on holiday. The following year I went to The Photography Show at the NEC and bought myself a Fujifilm X-Pro1 with XF18mm f/2 R and XF27mm f/2.8 lenses. I loved using that camera and the quality of that first-generation sensor was amazing and gave images a certain look. I ran both systems – using Nikon for my paid work – but I found myself taking out the X-Pro1 when I was going out or on holiday. I simply loved the experience of using it. Then in 2018, I went along to the Photography News and Fujifilm Photo 24 event in London. I loved every minute and I’d do it again tomorrow if I could. For Photo 24, I took along my X-Pro1 because I knew Fujifilm was operating a loan scheme so I thought I’d try a few lenses. In the end, I borrowed an X-H1with battery grip and XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR. When I picked it up, oh my god, that was the decisive moment. Up to that point, what had put me off Fujifilm cameras was that they were small and I have chunky hands. But with the bigger X-H1, especially with the battery grip fitted, it ticked all the boxes and that XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR is very sharp – it’s a beautiful lens. An image taken on that camera/ lens combination won me £1500 worth of Fujifilm kit at Photo 24
and I picked the X-H1 as my prize. I continued to run both Fujifilm and Nikon systems after that, but found I was picking up the X-H1 more than the Nikon. Last summer, I decided to change to Fujifilm completely. For lenses, I’ve got the XF8-16mm f/2.8 R LMWR, which is phenomenal, the XF16-55mm f/2.8 R LMWR, XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR and XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. I also have the XF10-24mm f/4 R OIS, which I bought for the simple reason that I love wide-angle lenses and at the time that lens was the only wide option. I still have it and use it for video, which I’m doing more and more of. Shooting a greater amount of video was another a reason for opting for the X-H1. I like to keep my photographs as real as I possibly can and don’t do too much editing. I shoot JPEGs and from the X-H1, I find I don’t have to do much to them. The quality is there. I tend to stick with the Provia Film Simulation mode, because it has a natural film look and if I shoot black & white, I set the Acros mode. If I do this, I will shoot Raws to be recorded to another card in case I want colour images later. I’mmore than happy with what I’ve got and the Fujifilm system does everything I want it to do. If it ain’t broke, there’s nothing to fix.
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20 Photography News | Issue 79
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