BanHup Teh Photography » photosafari

My impression of the Fuji X-Pro1

Banhup Teh — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:09:35 +0000

I seldom blog about my opinion on any cameras. However I must share with you my impression of the Fuji X-Pro1 simply because my search for a lighter, more compact camera has finally ended. Will this replace my ever-trustworthy Nikon D3? Unlikely. Will I use it for some serious work? You bet! It is indeed a worthy backup camera. Read on if you like to find out why.

35mm @ f/1.4 ISO 200 1/2000s

Please note that I am not sponsored by Fuji and I paid for this camera and the lenses with my own money. I have nothing to gain whatsoever by writing my impression on this new camera.

Having cleared that up, let me tell you how I have been using my Nikon D3 to give you a better idea what I need from the X-Pro1. The D3 was, up to now, my only camera (unless you want to consider the iPhone 4S a camera) together with a good collection of lenses – Nikon 24mm/1.4, 85mm/1.4, 17-35mm/2.8, 24-70mm/2.8 and 70-200mm/2.8. I shoot exclusively in available light of which the brilliant (pun intended) high ISO performance of the D3 comes in really handy. I use the D3 whenever I run workshops and photo-safaris. After a while it became increasing obvious that carrying the weight of the gears became a chore – I noticed I was bringing along less and less lenses. This triggered my search for a more compact and lighter camera. Also notice that I have not upgraded to the D3s (and now the D4) for the same reason as well as the fact that their improvements are surplus to my requirement. And I don’t shoot video! Of course I won't know what will happen when Gear Acquisition Syndrome kicks in.

My search for a lighter camera system started a while back. Besides the weight issue I also need a camera that I can carry with me everywhere I go. And be able to use it for every occasion. I found that my D3 did not see much action even during important family events – I seem to reach for the iPhone 4S during such times (see the potential of the iPhone 4S camera here).

My other important requirements for the new camera are that the IQ must be near what I am getting from the D3, preferably allow interchangeable lenses and must be user-friendly. I have tried the Canon G9 and played with many lighter cameras including the X100 and none has attracted my attention until now. The rest is history.

For the record I bought the X-Pro1 together with the 18mm/2, 35mm/1.4, a spare battery and recently ordered the Kipon Nikon F mount adapter.

So what is my impression? I am not a very technical person and I don’t even need many functions that the D3 has to offer. All those technical mumbo-jumbo do not bother me a wee bit. What I am more interested in is how the X-Pro1 performs in real life situations especially vis-a-vis the D3. If it fits my way of usage, it is a good (enough) camera. If it has the IQ to go with it, it will be a great camera. Anything more will be a bonus. Simple as that.

To those of you who want to pixel-peep there are plenty of sites that will give you all the pixel-peeping images your heart desires. It is not my aim here. By the time you finish reading my post more of this images would have been added around the web. What you’re going to get from me is my personal impressions of this little marvel and how I’m using it. I will also show you what I can achieve with it in the days to come especially after my one-on-one workshop next week.

Not many people nowadays will get excited when we talk about high ISO performance. This is an expected spec of all new cameras, a given. More so from a high-end camera. No photographer should accept anything less. Given the lighting conditions that I like to shoot in where shooting beyond ISO 6400 is the exception rather than the rule, I must say that I am more than happy with the performance of the X-Pro1. The Auto ISO 3200 option is cool. I would have no qualms using this. The following images are some high ISO shots to support my view.

Colours 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/210s

Fish 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/210s

Patterns 18mm @ f/2.8 ISO 1600 1/50s

Reluctant son 35mm @ f/1.4 ISO 3200 1/30s

Bar 18mm @ f/2 ISO 6400 1/60s

Some people lament the fact that the X-Pro1 does not come with a built-in flash. Photographers like me who shoot exclusively in available light welcome this omission with open arms – we do not want to pay for something that we will never need.

Now let’s get to the point as to why I love the X-Pro1.

Firstly, it’s weight or the lack of it. Relative to the D3 this camera seems like defying gravity…it is so light that I almost do not notice it is there when I am carrying it. Even with the 35/1.4 attached. Must be the muscles I have developed carrying the D3. This doesn’t mean that it is poorly built. On the contrary. I would have liked it to be weather-shielded though. Perhaps that is a consideration for X-Pro2. The same goes for the lenses.

What about user-friendliness? For the D3 I will normally check and adjust if necessary the White Balance, the Aperture (mainly shoot in Aperture Priority), the ISO and the Exposure Compensation. I shoot with Matrix (Multi in the case of the X-Pro1) metering all the time hence that would be a one time setting for both the D3 and the Fuji. Adjusting these parameters is easy though slightly different in the case of the Fuji. No big deal.

To get Aperture Priority all I need to do is set the Shutter speed dial to A and then adjust the Aperture ring on the lens to the appropriate size. Convenient and quick.

Setting the White Balance and ISO can be done either via the Shooting Menu or the quick access via the Q (Quick menu) button. Again convenient and a non-issue. From what I have tested so far, I find the Auto White Balance very accurate, more so than that from the D3. And I would have no hesitation in setting the ISO sensitivity to Auto ISO 3200.

Finally the sixty four million dollar question – how good is the Auto Focus? I have read the various reviews in the net with so many differing views. It is nothing like trying it out firsthand. Remember I am coming from an experience of great focusing with the D3 and some quick focusing lenses. To me the X-Pro1 is fast enough for the work I do i.e. portraiture in available light and travel photography. The focusing mechanism has its quirks but I think it is not something that cannot be overcome with practice. I must admit that it is sometimes not very accurate but it never fails to amaze me how at other times it manages to achieve focus so well even at f/1.4. Luck of the draw or user error to be blamed?

I do not have any experience using an EVF until now. As such I would say too much other than the fact that I love it. Anything new especially when it helps is always a welcome addition. I especially like how I can zoom in to check on focusing accuracy during Manual focus mode.

Do I have any dislikes of this camera? There are some but those are outside my requirements e.g faster focusing and wider lenses, more accurate focusing, better access to changing the focusing frame etc. It would have been nice if they were there which would be a bonus. Since it does what I need it to do as is, I am willing to overlook them.

Oh yes, the RAW converter. I shoot 100% in RAW. I hope Adobe will come out with a RAW converter soon. Meanwhile I shall shoot in RAW + jpeg.

The above then is my first impression. I will be putting it through its more serious paces mid next week when I will be using it exclusively during a one-on-one workshop with a serious hobbyist from Australia doing (and processing) available light portraiture. If it performs as expected, it will be THE camera system I will bring with me on my photo-safari to Hanoi-Bac Ha-Sapa in early April. Finally a dream come true? Only time will tell.

Dusk 18mm @ f/2 ISO 400 1/300s

Reflection 18mm @ f/2 ISO 400 1/80s

Lines 18mm @ f/2.8 ISO 400 1/70s

Artist 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/240

His pride 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/250s

Bokeh 35mm @ f/1.8 ISO 200 1/680s

Coming next week – Fuji X-Pro1 at an available light portraiture workshop.

The Passage

Banhup Teh — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:52:05 +0000

Something new that I just processed which I thought is worth sharing. This was taken during the photo-safari to Siem Reap, Cambodia at end of last year – at Ta Prohm, the same ruins where Tomb Raider (starring Angelina Jolie) was filmed. It is shots like this that make me yearn to go on another photo-safari soon.

The Passage

Peek-a-boo

Banhup Teh — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:34:13 +0000

Playing with children is my forte given the training that I have gone through. This is the same child I met in Chengdu, China when I was there last year. He was a bit apprehensive when we first met and I soon got him to open up.

Taken at f/1.4 with my Nikon 24mm Aperture Priority ISO 400 1/60s.

Peek-a-boo

For those who may be interested, my next photo-safari will be to Northern Vietnam on the Hanoi-Bac Ha-Sapa route. This safari is now open for registration. You may see the details here.

By the big, big tree

Banhup Teh — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:17:26 +0000

Again taken during my last teaching photo-safari to Siem Reap. It was an amazing and fascinating sight to see these trees as part of the ruins.

Talking about teaching photo-safari, I am in the mood for some new destinations starting with the Hanoi-Buc Ha-Sapa route (Vietnam) some time in April or May 2012. If you are keen to join me on a eat-drink-sleep photography trip, drop me a line here and I will keep you in the loop. Thanks.

By the big, big tree

Mama, shed a tear for me

Banhup Teh — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:00:14 +0000

This shot was taken during my teaching photo-safari to Siem Reap late last year. We were on our way out to Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia, when we passed through this fishing village. What a great place for my type of street portraiture!

Taken with the Nikon D3 + 24-70mm/2.8 aperture priority @ f/3.5 ISO 400 i/400s.

Mama, shed a tear for me

Bali, a never-ending story

Banhup Teh — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:29:25 +0000

I have lost count of the number of times I have been to Bali. For the past few years, I have been there at least once a year – sometimes even twice in a year! Despite that I never seem to get enough of this magical island. When one has nice food, really friendly people coupled with so many shooting opportunities, what else can a photographer ask for? This is especially so if one is into people photography.

I organised a photo-safari to this paradise last July where a group of keen enthusiasts joined me with this eat-sleep-drink photography event. It was a shoot in the morning, a short rest in the afternoon (when lighting was too harsh to do any photography anyway) and more shooting till sunset followed by post-processing sessions every evening. One can only imagine what fun we had!

Here are a few shots from the trip to share. I have updated my All about Bali gallery slideshow with shots from this photo-safari. Please feel free to view that gallery which I will be updating daily when I have the shots processed.

Action

Splash

Cast away

Reflect

Fly away

Trapped

Banhup Teh — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:45:22 +0000

Another shot taken at the village that led us to Tonle Sap. This was taken on our return trip from the lake. We stopped by a village that makes hammock weaved from water hyacinth fibres. While negotiating how many we should purchase (to help the local 'economy' going) I got this boy to pose for me among one of the hanging hammocks. We eventually bought four (one for me even though I have no use for it). Wait, I can use it as one of the many props that I have with me!

Trapped

Back to the ‘future’

Banhup Teh — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:25:51 +0000

Yes, I have come back to reality. This is because going to Siem Reap, meeting the people there and experiencing their way of life is like going back in time. It reminded me of what it was like about half a century ago back in Malaysia. And Malaysia is still just a developing country!

Anyhow it was a great experience for all of us who were there for this photo-safari. We were at the temple ruins which included Ta Prohm, the film set for Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie, and the nearby villages especially those at Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. We had, as can be expected for all my photo-safaris, many shooting opportunities during the day and post-processing sessions in the evenings. I am sure all the participants have some great shots to share…I know I do.

For a start, allow me to share with you a shot of these 2 sisters that we met at one of the villages on the way out to Tonle Sap. Life is simple but hard for these people. We helped in whatever way we could by giving the children gifts e.g stationary, and purchasing their goods even though these might not be of much use to us.

More photos to share when I have processed them.

Siem Reap, here I come!

Banhup Teh — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:20:47 +0000

One more day and I will be off to Siem Reap, Cambodia on my (very likely) last teaching photo-safari for the year. Having organised and taught in 2 previous photo-safaris this year (Myanmar – March and Bali – June), I think it is time I start something different to keep my interest going. You see, I get bored with routines easily hence I have thought of something exciting for the future. More of that later.

The last time I was in Siem Reap was during Crossing Bridges 5 in November 2008 where I also did my red umbrella series. This time round I have organised an exciting and interesting itinerary for the participants. For a change (didn't I say I am usually bored with routines?) I have planned a more structured teaching program especially during the post-processing sessions in the evenings to get the participants more involved. They will have assignments daily which will be reviewed and critiqued.

Finally, since I will be away for this photo-safari from 16th-20th and since I am not sure if I will have access to the internet, please be patient if I did not reply to your emails or inquiries. I assure you that I will reply them at the earliest instance once internet access is available. For that I thank you for your understanding.

And for that, allow me to share with you a shot of Pak Gulem taken during my last photo-safari to Bali.

Taken with Nikon d3 + Nikon 24/1.4 Aperture Priority @ f/2.2 ISO 200 1/125s.

Will I do pre-wedding photography?

Banhup Teh — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:06:47 +0000

Someone once asked me this very question and I gave a very non-committal answer. I now know deep down inside me I will take up that challenge one day. Yes, one fine day….

During the Bali photo-safari recently, I met multi-award wedding photographer Keda Z. Feng at one of my frequent haunts in Bali. With his permission (both to shoot some and to post these) I grabbed a few shots. A very special 'thank you' to Keda for this opportunity and the permission to share these. Here is how I would like to see the shots.

Click image to view large.