Daily Archives: April 4, 2014

Nikon users have been fond of speaking about the “Holy Trinity” a term I have an issue with, on  a faith basis, but, o.k. back to the point.  The Nikon gang is completely right, the 14-24, 24-70, and the 70-200 are the three “go to” lenses for that system.  They are exceedingly sharp, made for hard use, and cover the most useful range.   I’ve covered this before, but I’m shooting the Fuji X System in order to reduce the weight of my working bag for field use.  The image above is the system I have adopted, for now, I say for now because some more lenses are due to be released by late this year and they could re-shuffle.

 

Let me explain why this set of lenses, I’m about to describe, is  what I need to work for all the kinds of things I photograph.   I believe every lens kit needs four things; a wide angle lens, or zoom that allows you to stretch the area included in the frame and helps give the feeling of sweeping perspective.  Next, a mid range lens or zoom that allows a view of the scene what we think of as normal, the approximate perspective of the human eye.  Then we need a moderate telephoto or zoom that draws the subject in, and isolates it.  A telephoto also shortens perspective and draws the viewer in.  Lastly I love to shoot tight, very tight, even close-up to greater than life-size!  So I have described four different needs and I have them in the four lenses illustrated above.

 

For the wide angle area I have the new Fuji 10-24 f 4 OIS, it is reasonable in size, has Optical Image Stabilization and a constant f 4 maximum aperture.  I might also add,it  happens to be the sharpest wide angle zoom I’ve ever used, period.  My current mid range zoom is the 18-55  f 2.8/f4 OIS.  It is very compact and exceedingly sharp!  The best print I’ve ever made, a 3 foot by 3 foot print from the central 12 mega pixels of the 16 mega pixel X-Trans sensor, it has been mistaken, on close inspection as being from a medium format digital camera!   Now the rub is a 16-55 f 2.8 is coming soon.  I would love the extra stop of speed, and the slightly wider low end, but not sure just how big  the new lens will be, we will see!   The moderate telephoto zoom is the 55-200 f 3.5/f 4.8  also a OIS lens. It is very sharp and well made and honestly I have no complaints, but I am looking forward to the new 50-140 f 2.8 OIS (75-210 equiv.).  Once again the size and weight will be the deciding factor then.  Remember the entire reason for this switch was WEIGHT!   Lastly, I need to have a way to shoot close, currently Fuji only offers one Macro lens, a 60mm (equiv. 90mm).  It is exceptionally sharp, and has a fast f 2.4 maximum aperture.  Until something longer comes along it is working great.  I would love a 105mm Micro, but we will deal with that if it ever happens!

 

Now, I didn’t go through all this because I thought you might be dying to know what I own or use, no, I did it because I believe that once you settle this lens questions you can get down to business of making images.  I want everyone to know the thrill of finding things they love to photograph and then get in the zone.  That can only happen when you forget about the gear, and connect with the subject and the light!

 

Think about it….

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

The wrenches were made with the 18-55.  Yes, this is the shot that was blown up 3X3!

 

Shot with the 60mm Micro.

 

 

Shot with the 55-200 lens.

 

 

Great Room in my home with the new 10-24 OIS zoom @ f16 and 10mm (15mm equiv.)