Daily Archives: February 27, 2014

Why wait, too hot at the pool!  So here is the disclaimer, remember this is my thoughts on menus settings after one week of using the camera!!!  For only a week I think I’ve learned a lot, but keep in mind some of these first thoughts could change over time, but for now I”ll stick by them!

 

SHOOTING MENU:

BKT/Adv. SETTING :  This is where you set up all your initial BKT settings:

Mine are as follows:

AE Bkt  +/- 1 Stop

ISO BKT  +/- 1 Stop

Film Simulation BKT  Film 1   Std  (Provia)    Film 2  S  (Astia)   Film 3  B (monochrome no filter)

White Balance BKT  +/- 1

 

Auto Focus Setting  

AF Mode   Area   (the rest can be set as you work)

 

 

Advanced Filter (to your liking)

 

ISO Auto Control  (These setting take affect when you turn the ISO dial to A)

Default Sensitivity   400

Max. Sensitivity   3200

Min. Shutter Speed   1/125

 

Image Size    ( change this depending on subject shape in the Q Menu )

Default  3:2

 

Image Quality   I shoot F (Fine jpeg)  You can choose RAW or jpeg + RAW

 

Dynamic Range   I’ve found AUTO to work great.

 

Self Timer   Off  –  I assigned Self timer to the Function button FN button that says WiFi because I use a 2 second delay a lot!!!!!

 

 

Interval Timer Shooting   (only go there when I want to use that feature)

 

White Balance    Normally set to AUTO  however is easy to set in the Q menu and I do often!

 

For now I have all he following at 0

Color  0

Sharpness   0

Highlight Tone   o

Shadow Tone   0

Noise Reduction   0

 

Long Exposure Noise Reduction :  ON  

 

Select Custom Setting   is still on 1

 

Edit and Save Custom Settings :    Used when needed.

 

Mount Adapter Setting  Is set with the focal length manual focus lens you are attaching.

* I have a Kiron  (Amazon)  for attaching older Nikon lenses to the camera)  And they work great!  Especially he 200mm Micro Nikkor!

 

Shoot Without Lens  Turn to On if you attach a manual lens via adapter other wise it should be off,  (be sure to remember and turn the focus selector on the bottom left front of the body to M for manual if you are using a manual focus lens)

 

MF Assist   I like Focus Peak White  (you can try them and pick the best for you!)

 

AE/AF Lock Mode   I have mine set to:  On when pressing

 

AF-Lock Mode   AF ONLY

 

Flash Compensation   (Depends on situation)

 

Red Eye Removal   OFF

 

Movie Set-Up   Haven’t fooled with it yet, I’m not a videographer

 

IS Mode   CONTINUOUS

 

Wireless Communication   For setting up Wireless which is very exciting!  With this camera and the Fuji App, gives you about the same features as Cam Ranger!!!

 

FUNCTION SETTINGS:

 

The 8th item down is FUNCTION FN SETTINGS

This allows you to set the Function buttons for the things you do the most often, and is a great feature that makes using the camera much easier!!!

 

Just for the record here are my settings:   Yours may be different!

 

Function 1   Acrtivate focus points

Function 2   Self Timer

Function 3   Close-up focusing Setting

Function 4   DRV  (Bracket settings)

Function 5    White Balance

Function 6    Face Detection Auto Focus

 

Color Space:   sRGB  (best for Web and Ink Jet Printing)

 

Some other thoughts:

I’ve found the Velvia film simulation to be a little over saturated, except when shooting killer color on overcast day, then it rocks!!!!

 

Astia has become my favorite Color Simulation setting, the colors are rich and the overall image is slightly less contrasty.  Provia comes in second and the Monochrome setting are flat out crazy good!  I rarely need to use NIK Silver Effects Pro anymore if I get a monochrome out of the camera.   My standard set up is BKT mode film simulations, So I get Astia – Provia  & Monochrome of every single shot!  Hot dang!!!!  

 

 

 

I shoot in Aperture Priority mode (Shutter Speed knob on A)

 

This is a general tip:  The X-T1 has a great Dynamic Range in Auto, but it still is best to shoot on sunny days during the first two and last two hours of the day, and of course all day on overcast or rainy days.   Contrast is harder to control when there are hard edged shadows, though there is an exception to every rule and strong contrast can be appealing for certain subject, but not all!!

 

 

I hope these ideas will help you, the X-T1 is a very forgiving camera, but like all photographic instruments the better you know it, the better you can take advantage of it’s qualities!!

 

Please share your thoughts here too…..

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

O.K. Questions from my email!

 

Question 1  Can you describe how the color simulations are different?

 

Yes,  Velvia is very much like the Fuji film Velvia, very punchy colors, rich saturation and high contrast, blacker blacks and deeper reds, oranges, yellows, and greens.  Provia is a more accurate portrayal of color.  Good rich color but not as punchy as Velvia.  Astia is a softer lower contrast color with rich deep color, just less contrast!!  The two film palates are very much like two of negative film emulsions from Fujifilm, I never shot either and don’t use them on the digital cameras.  For everyday stuff I shoott Provia and Astia, for overcast days and rich color I shoot Velvia.  All the monochromes are killer, choose the filtered ones based on subject matter.

 

Question 2    At what ISO do you become concerned about noise?

 

I always use the lowest ISO I can.  Having said that I feel comfortable using up to ISO 3200 without a problem, I do shoot at 6400 when I need to and even though there is noise it is just very fine and no color noise!  That is one of the most amazing things about the Fuji X System cameras!  Above 6400?  Go there only if you must, I don’t!!  Well unless I saw Elvis at a truck stop!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the last few days the Holy Spirit has been speaking to my heart with a powerful message that I would like to share with you.  It all started when Sherelene, accidentally left her small carry on bag in the seat back pocket on the plane when we arrived in St Croix.  It contained her iPhone and iPad!  As soon as we discovered it was missing we figured out where she had it last and started contacting U.S.  Air.  My dear brother Jim Haverstock has been helping us back on the main land, but so far we have heard nothing from anyone at U.S. Air.  Sherelene and I have discussed the likely scenario of her electronic devices but one option always comes back, someone found them and simply said, oh goody, new stuff for me!  We hope they are being held for her by U.S. Air!

 

The second thing that spoke to me was how many buildings I’ve photographed on the island with heavy iron bars and serious locks protecting the contents of the buildings.  My attitude about the lost items and the caution of the Islanders with old buildings leads to one conclusion; we simply don’t trust our fellow man!

 

Why?  Well husband hurt wives, wives hurt husbands!  Parents hurt children, and children hurt parents, companies hurt employees, and employees hurt companies!   People, this was never God’s plan.  He said; “Love others as you love yourself”  –  “husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church”  –  “Honor you father and mother”  –  “Children respect and honor your parents.”  –  “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”   –  “Wives honor your husbands.”  –  “Give a full and honest days work to your masters (employers)”  –   “Masters (companies) respect and treat your slaves (employees) well.”   The Holy Scripture is filled with examples of how we are to treat one another.  Problem is that many of us don’t do as God told us to do, and therefore we know we can’t trust each other!  What a sad state of affairs!

 

Can this ever change?  It can with you and me!  We can determine to obey God and be that person we wish others would be.  Would that fix anything?  Yes, it would fix us, and that is what God wants, let Him worry about the other guy!!!!

 

Give it some thought…..   and now some more shots from St Croix.

 

 

Love this shot, it so speaks to this entry!!!!

 

 

Father, please help me to not be that person that can not be trusted.  Help me treat others with the same integrity that I would have them apply to me!  Help me to place my heart on you and seek your ways which are so much higher than mine.  Father help me forgive those that have hurt me, and remember what Your Son said on the cross, to forgive those that had placed Him there for they did not now what they were doing!   Amen

 

Tomorrow the last entry of the week, more St. Croix color!

 

X-T1 update:  I simply love it,  I will add the battery grip and eventually will get a second, it will be my go to camera until they come out wiht something even better, which is hard to imagine!!!  The more I shoot these Fujinon lenses the more impressed I am!  Will I get rid of my X-E2 and X100s?  I will definitely keep the X100s, I use it for different kind of work, and i may just keep the X-E2 as well, and the X-Pro-1 stays in my gear closet until the X-Pro-2 comes along, in spite of the fact that it is now my oldest, (technology wise),  Fuji camera, I still love it!!!!

 

Lastly, thanks to all my friends that have prayed for Sherelene and I on our trip, your prayers were answered in spades, we have had a great, relaxing, wonderful, anniversary celebration, it was 44 years as of Valentines’s Day!

 

I plan to do a full review of X-T1 settings early next week for all those folks that have a new one in their bag!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim