The Fuji X Files

I've fallen in love with the Fujifilm X cameras! Having recently purchased a used X-E1 to get a 'taste' of the system (to replace my Pen E-P3 as my mirrorless travel camera), I'm now gorging myself on all the x-trans Fujifilm goodness I can handle! Motukeikei Beach, West Coast.  Fujifilm X-E2 with Fujinon 16-50mm. f8 @ 1/140th, ISO 800. (RAF file processed in Lightroom) I'm definitely in the 'honeymoon' phase, willing to overlook any faults that the system may have (surely not), to focus instead on all the amazing positives. Of which, I believe, there are many. As I said earlier, and wrote about recently  here , the Fujifilm X-E1 is my 'toe in the water'. I've used it on a couple of landscape outings so far, and have been so amazed and impressed by the images it produces, that I've gone and got an X-E2! They are so cheap (relatively speaking) body-only, that I just couldn't say no - and to be honest, I was also curious...

I'm seriously loving using the Fujifilm system - especially the custom film simulations. In this post I'd like to outline my C2 custom setting recipe - my version of Fuji Acros. Lake Mahinapua Jetty. Fuji X-E1. f/5.6 @ 1/350th, ISO 200. C2: "Acros" Jpeg Fuji Acros just happens to be my favourite black and white film. It's a beautiful, tonal, fine-grained film, that I shoot in my film cameras whenever I can. I was gutted when Fuji discontinued it in 2017, and then elated when they said they would be bringing it back in 2019! They have also introduced an Acros film simulation into their latest digital cameras - but only in the latest with the third generation processor. It doesn't look like it can, or will, be released in earlier camera models, since the Acros 'special sauce' requires the latest processor to work. Darn! So what is a guy to do? Hey, I know... why not make my own 'Acros' film simulation recipe? What a great idea! And s...

Last weekend (as I write this) promised beautiful sunny weather, so I was very keen to get out and use the Fuji X-E1. I decided to head to one of my favourite spots to shoot - Lake Brunner at Moana. I'm glad I did. Early morning at Lake Brunner Jetty. Fujifilm X-E1 with Fujinon 16-50mm. f/10 @ 1/6th sec, ISO 200. Cokin ND + ND Grad It was a beautiful - picture perfect morning, and I was very excited to be out with a new camera, creating a new vlog for my Youtube channel. You can see the vlog about the morning here . In my limited time shooting with the X-E1, I've been super impressed with the 16MP x-trans sensor. I want a lightweight travel camera that I will also be happy to use for more 'serious' photography should the need arise. From what I can tell so far from using the X-E1 briefly on a couple of trips, this could very well be the answer to my prayers. I set up for the image above with the X-E1 on a tripod, and used a couple of Cokin ND filters in a ...

Well hello, hello. As incredible as it may seem - and I can hardly believe it myself - after almost six and a half years of absolutely no activity, this blog finally has a new post! I began the Fuji X (10) Files (as it was called then) way back in February 2013, to chronicle my move from DLSR's to the Fujifilm X10 compact camera. It was not, however, a roaring success, and I sold the camera after only a few months and ten blog posts. It was a lovely little compact camera, but the very early EXR Fuji sensor was plagued with conversion problems i.e - third party software struggled to convert the RAF (Fuji RAW) files. That eventually got sorted, but I also personally struggled to 'downsize' to the very compact X10 after a lifetime spent using SLR-style cameras with interchangeable lenses. I liked the 'idea' of a compact camera, but quickly discovered the reality didn't match the ideal.  Over the ensuing six years I've moved around camera systems a lot. So...