Monthly Archives: April 2017

Shot at Old Car City  X-T2 / 18-135 in Acros with a red filter

 

I got a bunch of email questions about the previous blog entry so I thought I would answer them!

 

Question:  When do you prefer to use the X PRO 2 and the single focal length lenses?

 

Answer:  First, it is the tactal experience, I simply love hand holding the X PRO 2 with any of the single focal length lenses, second for some subjects the quality of the glass just screams with wonderful images!!!  60mm Macro below!

 

 

 

 

Question:  I notice you don’t have either the 18-55 or the 16-55, I remember you had and sold a 16-55,  why do you own neither one?

 

Answer:  Actually you are right, I own the 18-135 which covers the range of both   It is slower and maybe just a very tad less sharp, but enormousely useful and plenty sharp enough.  I had both and found I rarely used them after getting the 18-135.  From time to time I am tempted to re-purchase one of the two, if I did,  it would be the 18-55,  if I find a good deal on one I would still like to have it for travel.  The image below should kill all debates over if the 18-55 is “sharp enough”!!!

 

 

 

Question:  How would you use the 16mm f 1.4 for greatest affect?

 

Answer:  Actually the image below, is a great exanple of extreme shallow depth-of-field and close focus ability of the 16mm!  These kinds of lenses help us make a statement that can’t be accomplished with any other lens!

 

 

 

 

Question:  I read a test report on E PHOTO Zone that said the 18-135 was not very sharp, any comments?

 

Answer:  I read the same report and I generally have a great deal of trust in their test reports, I think they are very fair minded and thorough.  One thing I know is that all lenses vary in quality on rare occasions.   If they had tested five lenses I would bet  a bunch that the other four would have gotten much higer scores.  I truly beleive and know that  the two I have owned are both very sharp and of the highest quality, proof below!

 

 

 

 

Question:  I’ve considered the 100-400 but wonder if it is really that good?

 

Answer:  To be honest, I felt the same,  I really worried about if a zoom of that much range could be good enough for critical work.  When I tested it for Fujifilm, I was astounded.  The image below was the one that sold me!

 

 

 

 

So at least that is a few, more to come!

 

Blesssings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

One last point, we worry too much about the gear!  Guess what this was shot with?

 

 

How about the original Fujifilm X10, a $600. high quality point and shoot!  Hand held no less!

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re tired of seeing my latest plans for packing gear, just skip this one, but don’t hope that this madness will end soon!!  I finally figured it out.  You buy gear, and more gear and more and finally you have more gear than will fit in even the largest bag that any two men can lift!!!!  O.K. it’s not quite that bad, but you do end up with a lot “specialized” things that won’t fit in a resonable size bag.  For me a rasonable size bag can’t weight more than 30 lbs.  That is the limit of what I’m comfortable putting in the overhead bin.  So the most recent plan is as follows.  If I go somewhere and expect to shoot a wide variety of subjects, like a nature workshop or travel assignment I will take my rolling Think Tank Advantage bag that weighs in at 29 lbs (illustrated above).  It contains the following  gear:

 

2 – Fujifilm X-T2s  (one with Power Booster)_

The folowing lenses:

14mm f 2.8

10-24 f 4

23mm f 1.4

18-135 f 3.5-6.6

56mm f 1.2

60mm Macro f 2.4

55-200 f 3.5-4.6

200mm Micro Nikkor f 4

100-400 f 4.5-5.6

1.4 Teleconverter

 

For  coverage of from 15mm to 840mm and Macro work!

 

 

 

The second bag is a Lowepro Flipside Sport 10L AW that hold my “Speed System”  This would be used where single focal length lenses and rangefinder type cameras work best; travel, street, people and family  images.  This is also my go to system when working in low or available light.  This bag weighs in at only 10 lbs, and contains:

 

2 – Fujjifilm X PRO 2 bodies

16mm f 1.4

23mm f 2

35mm f 2

50mm f 2

90mm f 2

 

For a coverage of from 24mm to 135mm

 

All bag plans are simply experiements and using them in the field will tell if it is the right combination and what, if anything, is missed in the field.   Just to be specifiic I also have a 8mm fisheye, 27mm f 2.8 and 35mm f 1.4  and when driving I will have them salted away, but none made the cut to be a primary tool in these two bags.

 

Hope that was helpful, if not forgive me for my never ending obsessions!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

We had our first Summit in the Smokies and we  had a terrific group, and they had a great time!  Unfortunately they did not have  the conditions above!!!!  It was the worst early April I’ve ever seen.  Streams were flooded, the foliage was not really out at all, but our group soldiered on.  Jack and I have another group at the end of April and the conditions should be much improved.  So why tell this story!?

 

Because as a nature shooter you know conditions can often be something less thana what  you wanted, what do you do?  You do what my folks did, they went out and found something selse to do, and did it well!!!

 

This is the joy of having great students in a gerat location….  When they do what real photogrpahers do!  They work it out!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim