Monthly Archives: April 2018

 

I just took delivery of my new Fujjifilm X-H1 on Tuesday of last week and shot it exclusively at the SmokiesWorkshop.  Now some thoughts.

 

Should you buy one?

 

Yes, IF, you shoot in low light and need to be able to handhold at very low shutter speeds.  To my shock I was able to get tack sharp images in shuter speeds as low as 1/2 second!!!!  First gave me low noise at speeds like 6400 and now this!  It’s a game changer!

 

Yes, IF, you shoot video and want the most capable video camera yet from Fujifilm, this is the one.

 

Yes, IF,  you have a need for a camera that is very, very, very quiet, I’ve never hear any one any quieter.

 

Not Necessarily, IF, you’re looking for more image quality than your X-T2 or X-PRO 2.  Same sensor, same processor, same wonderful quality but not better, except for the 5 stop IBIS.

 

No, IF, you want the smallest possible body.  It is not much larger and  heavier than the X-T2, but it is larger and heavier.  For me it is not a big deal, in fact I like the slightly increased heft and build quality, but, your milage may vary.

 

 

CONCLUSION:   The X-H1 is a tour de force, very well built, smooth as silk in operation and the same great image quality we’ve come to love from the other 24 mega pixel Fujifilm cameras.

 

So, should you buy one?  That’s up to you, but if you do, my prediction is, you’ll love it!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Jack an I have a great Badlands tour coming up September 25th to the 30th.  This is a 5 1/2 day tour that we will enjoy the BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, CUSTER STATE PARK, THE NATIONAL GRASSLANDS, THE BLACK HILLS AND SPEARFISH CANYON, A TORU DE FORCE OF GREAT SUBJECT MATTER

The good news is we have a few spots left!  If interested, please contact Jack Graham and  [email protected].  Here are a few of the great locations we will photograph:

 

 

We would love to have you join us!  We will be staying in the Frontier Cabins while in the Badlands!

 

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ECsHYJlDw

 

Caught this on Youtube and thougt it was touching, and this guy is fantatic, enjoy!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Dedicated to Jack Graham who play trumpet with the real Frank Sinatra!

 

O.K. make believe time!  I just got a gfit of a world tour and I know I can’t take everything I own photographically, just can’t manage it all!  So if I was limited to just 5 lenses, the smallest and most capable I own, which ones would it be?

 

First, which body?  This may seem crazy,  because I don’t even own one, but, it would be the newest Fujifilm X-H1. Why?  Since I’ve not even shot it much?  Only one of my lenses of choice has OIS, so the body would make them all much more hand holdable.

 

So here was my criteria.  I wanted at least one ultrawide lens (21mm), one moderate wide angle (35mm the king of all around lenses), one normal (approx. 50mm equivilent), a fast, but portable, portrait lens (75mm to 85mm), Something that adds a range of longer focal lengths (75-300 equiv.)!

 

The 14mm f 2.8 XF is a fast incredibly sharp 21mm equivilent rectilinear wide angle lens, it’s compact and a fast f 2.8.  It’s also my night photography go to lens!  it is remarkably free of distortion too!!

 

The 23mm f 2 XF is a super sharp, compact 35mm equivalent with f 2 speed and did I mention it’s tack sharp!!!!  The 35mm lens is the choice of most shooters if they had only one lens!

 

The 35mm f 2 XF is a incredibly sharp 50mm equiv. it is a great all rounder!  Just like the 35mm this is a focal elngth that is perfect for so many shots!

 

The 50mm f 2 XF  is among the very sharpest lenses made by Fujifilm. Not only is it very compact but just super, super sharp!  This lens is so sharp, you try to find situtions to use it, it is wonderfully sharp! All of the “Fujicrons”,  our pet name for the f 2 lenses after the Leitz Sumicrons, are of the same legendary quality.

 

Finally, one zoom, the 55-200 f 4.5-5.6 XF  is very compact to be a (75-300 equivilent)!  Why not the 50-140 f 2.8 XF?  Too large, plenty sharp, but doesn’t fit the profile!  Would love for it to be the 100-400 but that would be way to big!!!

 

So, these small lenses and one only slighty large, Would give very complete coverage (21mm to 300mm).

 

So, why not all zooms?  They would be more convienent, but much slower, and the f 2 and f 2.8 lenses will work in lower light!

 

Now, I just need to win that worldwide tour!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim