Fujifilm
First I took the X-T3 on a visit to our local coastguard helicopter station. To get used to it, I left it in Programmode for most of that session, and it coped admirably in the dim hangar. I was concerned about the lack of image stabilisation, but that proved foundless. Shots were nice and sharp, possibly as, knowing there was no IS, I was more cautious, setting up properly and keeping an eye on shutter speed. Later that day we got some sun for the first time in weeks! So I took the opportunity to visit a favourite location of mine with access to disused railway vehicles and industrial buildings. There I switched to manual and really got into the tactile nature of operating this camera. The old-school dials and aperture ring were fantastic to use and so quick to adjust. I quickly got to know which function was which by touch, with no need to look at the top plate. Combined with the revelation of an electronic
viewfinder it made this methodical type of photography completely joyful! Low sun, no-one else around and a powerful yet simple camera, what could be better? My final outing was to a local cyclo-cross race, where I certainly got to test the X-T3’s weather sealing. It was subjected to some very heavy Scottish rain and a lot of mud flying around, and it most certainly is weatherproof ! Any anxiety about the battery-life was also unfounded. On a single battery it covered about 500 shots, and with an additional two batteries in the grip I took in excess of 1000 shots with around half power still remaining. The EF-X500 flash also withstood a downpour, and was still running normally on a single set of Duracell AA batteries at the end of a four-hour shoot. The race conditions were tough for any kit – low light, moving subjects both far off and near to the lens, and a pervading grey mist in
52 Photography News | Issue 75
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