James Wong Photography & Blog: August 2015

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Simplicity of Xpro-1

In my own opinion, this is the finest in terms of handling and looks compared to the rest of the X series interchangeable cameras.

After buying the new "outdated" Xpro-1 body with 2 lenses package 27mmf2.8 and 35mm f1.4 in July 2015, I have used it and done about 1000 shots from recent trips to Indonesia and London. I love it's handling and the simplicity design it has.

I started to use the original X100 in 2012 but sold it to make way for the m4/3 system and later a "short lived" Nikon D600 fullframe system. I got myself into the Fujifilm system after my D600 was destroyed from a seawater accident in Gold Coast and never looked back. My first lens interchangeable X camera was the XE-1 which is a lower end of the Xpro-1. During that time, due to the pricing, XE-1 is a very logical body to start with. With the Xe-1, I started to build up my lens system from the 18-55mm to 55-200mm, 35mm and later the Zeiss 12mm + 32mm f1.8 super combo sale. When the XT-1 were introduced, I decided to skip it due to my preference to "rangefinder" look body. I bought a XE-2 to replace the XE-1. The XE-2 is quite high-end, it comes with wifi and faster focus/ write speed than the XE-1. The EVF refresh rate for XE2 is also very impressive. After the new firmware update recently, it has the latest Classic Chrome film simulation and time-lapse function that the latest X cameras have. What makes me stick to Fuji is due to mainly the image quality and the company's commitment to their clients for updating the older cameras with newer firmware to prolong it's value and technology.

However, I personally find the XE-2 is just a high-tech box with no soul. I later bought a old X100 and enjoyed more than the XE-2. The shots it came out from the X100, I felt more towards them and has a story to it than the technically strong XE-2.

Soon, I realised that having a older tech camera has it's advantage. With lesser choices (functions) to choose from, I can focus on thinking how to frame the photo, I bring out more often with less worrying of damaging it as it is much cheaper now. I am able to appreciate the original film simulation like the Provia,Velvia, Astia or just B+W without worrying if the new classic chrome will be better or should be used. For downloading to Iphone/Ipad direct, I uses the wireless SD card to do it. And without the wireless connection to my Iphone to do remote control, I have one less worry about taking care of another gadget while I am shooting in the harsh outdoors.

Xpro-1 was the next step from the original X100. With the 27mm pancake lens, the Xpro-1 is a alternative as a X100 to me. In many ways the Xpro-1 is similar to the X100. The viewer mode to change LCD/EVF/eye sensor on the XE-1 and Xpro-1 should be retained for the newer models. The newer models like XE2, the options to change to EVF/LCD mode, one have to dig into the menu.The OVF/EVF options on the Xpro-1/X100 a plus point compared to all the other EVF only X camera. The Xpro-1 also show me that chasing the technology is not the ultimate goal in photography but instead it gave me a joy while I have to think more on how I get my photos with the lenses I have.

With this, I will be waiting excitingly for the next Xpro model. I hope the simplicity will be preserved for the next model.

Here are some shots taken from the Xpro1 w 12mm or 27mm or 35mm.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Fishbomb V2 from Undfind

This small little pouch is a great product. I saw it at a local online shop selling it and decided to try it out. Sometimes you may want to keep your little accessories like SD cards, batteries, filters in a safe place in the bag but also demand to have easy access to it. While cameras bags do provide little pockets for such accessories, accessing it and putting back may take more effort.

This little pouch looks like a luggage tag, slim and not obvious. 4 SD cards and 2 or 3 camera batteries can be inserted at one time. The locking mechanism is a simple Velcro system and is very secure. Filters and lens extension tube can be inserted too.

You can choose to attached the pouch on your belt or bags(as shown) The little product provides an additional option for the way I put my accessories securely and works well with my ONA bowery.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

London with Xpro-1

Packing up a into the Ona Bowery bag with Xpro-1 , pancake lens 27mm and a tele-zoom 55-200mm, I am off to London for a incentive trip from my company I represented.

The pancake 27mmf2.8 lens when mounted on the Xpro-1, it became a similar setup as a X100 (fixed 23mmf2 lens). The Xpro-1 body is slightly taller and thicker than the X100. 27mm is abit tighter in view compared to the 23mm. Although the x100 has a brighter F2 lens, most of X100 users know that at aperture f2 on X100, the image do suffer some flare/image softness. So most of the time when X100 was used, it is set at f2.8 at default. The 27mm lens has no aperture ring and the setting is done by the back dial on Xpro-1. The 27mm never disappoint in terms of sharpness and in do gave the image depths.

The ONA bag is now my all time favorite camera bag for mirrorless. I have used the Billingham Hadley Pro, Thinktank Retro 5, Lowepro Slim Sling and the various Domke bags. I find the one locking clip from the Ona bag Bowery is still the best. It is easy and fast to lock in after taking out the camera which is important when you are out shooting as you just want to focus on shooting instead of making sure your bag is secured. The Hadley pro, you need to pull and "squeeze" in the leather strap to lock it. The Domke bags, the clips can be quite tight and pushing in and out, will cause the locking rings to have deep scratches. The Thinktank retro bags are too heavy and the material on it is too rough for comfort.

The ONA's shoulder strap is smooth and just like the car seat belt, easy to move around the shoulder. It is in summary a joy to carry and use. The size is just nice for my 1 body and 4 lenses Fuji setup.

Here are some of the street shot I had with my Fuji Xpro-1 and 27mm (90% of the time is used) and 55-200mm. For travelling, a 27mm view on a 1.5 APS-C sensor is a balanced angle of view in my own personal view. Not too tight and not too wide.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

FujiFilm Xpro1 & XF1 on a Mission Trip

As the main goal of this trip is to bless the poor & needy from the neighboring country, lightweight and small set-up is necessary. So I brought the Fuji Xpro1 body and 2 lenses (35mmf1.4 and 12mm zeiss). The Fuji XF-1 (compact camera) was brought along as a back-up and can easily slot into one of the small pocket on the ONA bowery bag. With this setup, I can carry the bag the whole day without any sore shoulders.

The XF35mmf1.4, is a magical lens. The image output is simply stunning. 80% of the time, I had the 35mm stuck on the Xpro1. As I am used to the X100 , 23mmf2 view, the 35mm is kind of "tight" view to me. And as I have no other choice of a "normal" view lens, I got to get myself used to it. This lens got me thinking more and moving back & forth to compose the shot.

The 12mm is used on some landscape shot and group shots. The aperture of f2.8 is useful here due to some indoor low light situation.

One of the shot , showing the man climbing into a boat while his dog was watching, I love it and is made by the compact camera XF-1.

Here are some of the shots I have made during the trip,