X-Pro1 v3.10 : Satisfaction & Hopes

One of the most important firmware updates for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 is released on Dec 5th 19th and it looks like the camera is finally complete. Although v3.0 was a very welcome update recently that gave us quicker focus and focus peaking (amongst others), this new firmware v3:10 gives us some great new features, one of which should have been in the camera from day one. Here’s a list of what's new. I've included a list of four things I would like to see in a future firmware at the bottom of this post.

1. We can now edit file names in the camera. So instead of your files being named DSCF*** you can now choose your own letters. Four letters if you shoot in the sRGB colour space and three if you shoot in Adobe RGB. This is great if like me, you have two X cameras that have shot a similar amount of frames. Files from both cameras can now live in one folder.
2. Improved RAW file conversion. After converting a RAW file in camera, instead of being left at the JPEG, it now goes back to the original RAW file
3. See the exposure setting in live view and histogram.
4. Change of numbering for images shot using continuous shooting mode. Before the upgrade, only the first image was displayed full screen and the others were shown smaller at the bottom right of the screen and the file number was set to S+7-digit number. With the new firmware, all shots are shown in full screen and the number sequence is the same as if they were shot in standard single shot mode.
5. Aperture and shutter speed can now be changed once AE Lock has been selected.
6. Minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO. This is the best feature of this upgrade and one that should have been in the camera from day one (as it was in the X100). When selecting Auto ISO, we can now set Standard ISO, Maximum ISO and Minimum Shutter Speed.
7. Improved cover range and accuracy of the bright frame in the OVF. The position of the bright frame with parallax compensation during AF Lock, the shooting area can be checked, even after letting go of the shutter button (not available in EVF only cameras like the X-E1 and X-E2.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IN FUTURE FIRMWARE UPDATES

Exposure Compensation in Manual Mode with Auto ISO. Sounds strange, but I'd like to be able to use Auto ISO but be able to manually choose aperture and shutter speed. Yes you can do that right now, but auto ISO kicks in and makes Manual Mode act pore like Full Automatic. Meanwhile the EV Comp dial is doing nothing.

Loose the Basic setting in the Custom Settings Menu (1st position in Q). This serves no purpose and is a source of confusion. No matter what Custom Setting is selected (C1-C7), Basic will always be displayed the next time the Q menu or Custom Setting menu is accessed. Kill it Fuji!

I'd still like to be able to select Macro from the Fn button or the Q Menu and free up the four way pad on the back so it can always be live for selecting focus points (like on Nikon DSLR's), no need to activate the function, just move one of the four switches

On the X-Pro1 and X-E1, make the AF Button on the bottom left side a second Fn Button. Allow this to be used for Macro (see above), AF-L, AE-L and all the other functions attached to the original Fn Button.

The Death & Life Of The Fujifilm X100

The release of firmware 2.0 for the X100 was a very welcome present from Fuji that a lot of people thought wouldn't happen. They've replaced the X100 for the X100s, so why would they update an older model and give it a bit of what entices people to upgrade. Because they're Fuji, that's why.

So on the morning v2.0 was released, I got ready for the upgrade by playing around with the focus so that I could compare the difference after upgrading. I got my Fuji branded 4gb card that I keep just for firmware updates and reformatted it in the camera. I put an original Fuji battery, fresh from a full overnight charge, into the camera. I then put the downloaded file on the SD card (checking that the file size matched the download page) and placed it into the camera. After the ritual was complete and I started the update. I placed the camera on the desk to avoid pressing anything and watched the progress bar on the LCD move from right to left. But just after about quarter of the way through, the LCD went dark. It had never done this before, but I left it for a few minutes incase it was a new way updates worked. Nothing, Nada, Wala. I picked my X100 up and lightly half pressed the shutter button, expecting to see the camera coming out of sleep mode. The write lamp on the back blinked red and I knew something was wrong. I turned it off and then back on, but the same thing, nothing but the blink of a light on half pressing the shutter. My X100 was dead. This was an ex-X100

A couple of shots of Hong Kong International Airport from the X100. No hassle from security with this camera.

After sending a tweet to Fujifilm UK, I got a phone call from a nice man from the Service Department, who said it would have to go in to be looked at. After the weekend a box arrived from Fuji. I packed up my X100 and waved it goodbye. In my mind, I imagined the full town lining the street and throwing flowers on the Royal Mail van as it moved slowly through a prearranged route, but people have no respect these days!

My trusty X100 returned a few days later when major brain surgery had been performed and v2.0 firmware had been installed. It was back, but it wasn't the same (I did say major brain surgery for Fuji's sake). My X100 meter was way off and everything was over exposed by two stops. The preview image in the viewfinder was also very blue. I dragged the beast outside and chained it to the barn. Slowly I raised the shotgun up and took aim, my finger trembling on the trigger. The X100 flickered it's EVF screen at me and I could see the glint in it's lens. I went to the shed and bent the barrels of the shotgun in a vice, so that I could never be tempted again.

Luckily, Fuji had some sort of glitch in firmware 2.0 and they released v2.01 a few days later. Although the problems I was experiencing had nothing to do with the glitch in v2.0, the update to v2.01 gave it a reset and the meter and EVF were back to normal. But like The Six Million Dollar man, the X100 would never be the same. Start-up is quicker, Auto Focus is quicker in all situations, it now has Focus Peaking and Manual Focus has gone from the worst of my three Fuji cameras to probably the best. The main reason being that the focus ring only needs to travel a short distance, rather than the multiple rotations it did before the update.

A big thanks to Fujifilm UK for their first class customer service. It's second to none. Customer support is also amazing, with updates that take our cameras from great to amazing! Not many companies produce updates for legacy products.

This is the camera that I shot the photo above with, and won Professional Photographer of The Year in 2012 (News category), but I don't think I would enter any competitions with it after the v2 firmware. It probably wouldn't pass a drugs test...too many steroids in that little X100 now!

Freedom Through Photography :: Part 2

The second phase of Freedom Through Photography is underway with the first of the videos and an advertorial in Digital Camera Magazine. David Cleland drew the short straw and had to get up at 4:30 to go out into the beautiful Lake District hills (only the first part was a short straw). Of course, David done a stellar job and between his relaxing accent and the great work  of the Video crew, this is a chill out experience. David (Cleland), Andrew (James) and I were there at the invitation of Fujifilm UK and Millican to promote two new bags made for the Fuji X range and the Freedom Through Photography campaign. It was a fantastic weekend with fantastic people and one of those times that you wish you could go back and savour the full thing even more.

Click on these links for more information. More on this project. David Cleland (Flixelpix) Andrew James Fujifilm UK Home Of Millican Digital Camera Magazine

Autumn Frost :: More from the Fuji 23mm

The first real frost of winter hit this week and it collided nicely with all the colours of autumn. The sun had just came up and it was a good time to grab more shots with the Fuji XF 23mm f1.4 R. Check the last post to read my first thoughts on the lens, or click HERE. I haven't been able to do what I'd call a propper shoot with the lens yet as I've got two jobs in the post production stage that I need to complete ASAP. I thought these photos went well together as they have the same composition and are all shot with the Velvia film simulation. I've been shooting the Fuji X Series since day one, but I think this might be the first time I've used Velvia. I wasn't getting the rich colours in the camera that I was seeing with my eyes, so I popped it into V mode and it done the trick. I'm loving this lens, but I have a problem with petal style lens hoods. I don't care much that the hood is plastic, but I think a lens hood should be even so that you can sit the lens down on a flat surface. Then you can change lenses and swap the bottom caps easier. It's not a problem when working out of a bag, but when using flat surfaces it's essential!

Fujifilm XF 23mm f1.4 :: Mofo & Mopho

The XF 23mm f1.4 R is probably the most eagerly awaited lens of the X-Series (or is that just me). I'll get out and about shooting with it soon and post more real world photos soon. But due to a heavy editing schedule and the need to get this post out, I thought I'd just grab a few of my instruments and fire off some shots. First up is the Mopho from Dave Smith Instruments, a fantastic little old school mono synth from the original designer of the legendary Prophet 5 back in the day. This little synth is as creamy and buttery as the 23mm f1.4 (see how I pulled it back on track:o).

I'm sure you've read elsewhere that the build quality is superb on this lens and it absolutely is. But it's one of those products that you need to hold in your hands to get just how pukka it is. Lenses for the X Series have moved into a version 2.0 phase. The original three lenses (and the two zooms) are fantastic (the 35mm f1.4 is a modern day classic) and the built quality is very high, but the 14mm was a higher quality build and the 23mm is definitely from the same mould. The mould for this one is definitely bigger though, and the 23mm dwarfs the other lenses in girth. It's one fat beehatch of a lens and all though not as large, it reminds me of the Nikon 85mm f1.4G, short and fat.

Like the 14mm, this too has the push pull focus ring to switch from Auto to Manual Focus. It's worth mentioning something here that I haven't read about the 14mm or 23mm (though I might have missed it). If you're a back button focus shooter, things are a little different now. On the other X Series lenses, if you put the camera into Manual Focus the AFL/AEL Button would act as auto focus and then you could tweak with the focus ring. Things have changed with the new style of lenses and it's one more thing you have to get your head round when shooting on the go.

The focus ring on the 23mm (and 14mm) is not continuous like the other lenses, it travels from one end to the other and stops (just like old school lenses). It's still fly by wire, but this new glass works like a lens should, which means you don't keep turning the ring after you've reached minimum focus distance or infinity. But here's the thing; if you switch to manual focus on the camera body, you can use the back button to focus, but the focus ring is locked. If you work it the other way and instead of switching to manual mode via the camera body, you pull the focus ring back, the AFL/AEL button doesn't work as a focus button. I shoot in manual focus a lot and I really miss the ability to flick the back button to get the focus close and then tweak it with the ring. But the up side to this new design, is that the Manual/AF selector on the camera is a quick way to switch between trigger finger focus and back button focus (as long as the focus ring is pushed forward into the AF Mode).

The 23mm feels perfect in your hands, especially on the X-Pro. But the quality of this lens is just stunning and Fuji has done a fantastic job in producing a lens that is more than the sum of it's parts. The 35mm f1.4 has always had the edge over the other X Series lenses, but the 23mm has a look that is just as special and I can't wait to use it on a real shoot. I'm a documentary photographer and this is a lens to tell stories. You get a great perspective with an old school 35mm, just the right amount of foreground to background without a load of distortion. It's also a lens that you can move in close and still get a great look without peoples faces getting all bent out of shape. The 18mm f2 can be a little wide for my liking, but this new 23mm foots the bill.

So the 23mm f1.4 has been worth the wait. The 56mm f1.2 should be out early 2014 and if it's in the same league as the 23mm it will be stunning. I shoot with two bodies a lot and the 23mm on the X-Pro1 and 56mm on the X-E1 will be a great partnership. I'll have more photos from the 23mm in the next few days on this blog as well as Twitter and Facebook. I'll also shoot some street photography and post them on 35mmStreet. I'll leave you with the horn, or rather, two horns. My Selmer Tenor and Yanagisawa curved soprano, two amazing saxophones. If you've got the horn and still not satisfied, take a look at Project Jazz on this here site.

Freedom Through Photography

I was asked by Fujifilm UK and Millican bags to head to the beautiful Lake District in England to shoot with the X-M1 and test drive a new range of bags that Millican have designed specifically for the X-Series camera system. A weekend of photography in the stunning landscape of the Lake District with the chance to try out a bag designed for Fujifilm cameras that wasn't even on the maket at that point (breath). It took me about 2 seconds to make up my mind. But the icing on the cake was that photographers David Cleland (FlixelPix) and Andrew James were also on board.

The film crew grab a bit of footage of my bag and X-M1. I grabbed a shot for the photo at the top of this post.

Each of us were to be filmed over the weekend by the crew above (Giles, Andrew & James). We were each given an assignment. David, being so lucky, had to get up at 4am and shoot landscapes. Have a look HERE for some of his shots. Andrew followed a sheep farmer for a day and in my opinion was a bit too eager to get there. If you want to know what a sheep dog on drugs looks like, click HERE to see some of Andrews shots. I was given three assignments for my sins, but the third one was called off on the Sunday due to a change in weather. My first subject was Des, an elderly gentleman who's had an amazing life from World War II to fell running, rock climbing to Lake District Mountain Rescue. His stories were amazing and I could have stayed with him all day.

My second subject was Al, a rock climber with a passion for bouldering. He was an absolute star and kept going longer than the Duracell Bunny. His show of strength and skill was amazing to watch and he gave blood sweat and skin to this project. All that capped of with the fact he was a really nice guy.

Freedom Through Photography

For me, the concept of Freedom Through Photography is about throwing a small X-Series camera and a couple of lenses in a rugged bag (Millican of course), getting out there and loose yourself in the craft. Photography gives you freedom by escaping day to day life and losing yourself in whatever is in front of your lens. At least that's how it is for me. With a camera in my hands, I'm in the zone, lost in whatever I'm shooting. It doesn't matter what you shoot, street photography to landscapes and everything in between...photography is therapy, or at least it should be!

Millican is all about getting out into the landscape and enjoying the freedom of the countryside. Founders Jorrit and Nicky built their company around the spirit of real life cave dweller Millican Dalton, a mountain guide in the Lake District who originally escaped corporate life in the south of England in favor of an outdoor life in one of the UK's most beautiful landscapes. It was really refreshing to see the founders of a company who are as interested in the lifestyle as much as the products.

Fujifilm X-M1 & X20

The first two shots in this post were taken on the X-Pro1, but all of the others are from the X-M1. It took a bit of getting used to not having a viewfinder on this body, and the controls are a little different. But the quality of the images are just as good on this camera as they are on the X-Pro1 or X-E1. The tilt screen turned out to be very handy and I did get to use the built in wifi, a feature that will become standard on all cameras fairly soon IMO. But judge for yourself how capable this little camera is from the images on this post. The colour shots were processed in Lightroom and the black and white shots in Silver Efex Pro.

I didn't take a huge amount of photos with the X20, but I was impressed with the solid feel and build quality of it. I carry my X-Pro1, X-E1 or X100 with me all day every day, sometimes all three together. But if I was in the market for a quality point and shoot, this would be the one.

Millican Bags for the X Series

There are two bags and two inserts available. The one I tested, and still using, is called Christopher and the smaller one is called Robert (Millican name all their products after their friends). The bags are some of the highest quality I have seen (and like most photographers, I've used lots). The materials used and the craftsmanship is world class and will last for many years. They have a good amount of pockets for storing mobile phones, cables, portable hard drives etc, and also include a handy rain cover in a zipped pocket at the rear. Christopher can even hold an 11" Macbook Air and an iPad at the same time in a separate compartment from your camera gear. The main compartment can be used as one large open space or with the felt insert. The larger insert (included with Christopher) can hold an X-Pro1 (or smaller) facing down with a lens attached and two lenses in front compartments, all separated by the felt. They way I tend to use the insert is to flip it on it's side in the bag after I have removed the camera. I can then swap lenses easily and the insert keeps them in place and scratch free.  It's amazing how much gear can be packed into Christopher! I have 2 bodies, 5 lenses, an 11" Macbook Air and an iPad in mine right now, and there's still plenty of room for accessories.

The People

I met lot's of great people over the weekend. From fellow photographers David and Andrew, to Fujifilm's Katie and David. Jorrit, Nicky, Sophie and Emily from Millican, Angela from Digital Camera Magazine and film guys Giles, Andrew and James. A fantastic bunch that I hope to work with again some day.

What Next

Look out for short films on David, Andrew and myself rolling out over the next month or two and maybe a spot on Digital Camera Magazine.

It's A Wrap

So get out there and experience your own Freedom Through Photography and share your photos with #freedomthroughphotography. The new range of bags for the X-Series are available direct from www.homeofmillican.com or from the following.

• John Lewis, Oxford Street, London
• Peter Jones, Sloane Square
• John Lewis, Stratford city
• John Lewis, Cheadle
• John Lewis, Southampton.
• And at www.johnlewis.com

An Early Christmas :: The Fujinon XF 23mm f1.4

Fujifilm have officially announced the imminent arrival of the XF 23mm f1.4 R. This is the one that I, and I know a lot of you, have been waiting for. With that classic 35mm field of view (full frame), this latest X system lens is perfect for street photography and documentary photography. But not just that, it will also be at home shooting anything from environmental portraits to Landscapes.

I've never quite got into shooting street with the X-Pro1 or the X-E1. The 35mm f1.4 (53mm FF) is too long and the 18mm f2 (27mm FF) is a bit too wide for me. The X100 has stayed as my trusty street camera, but this new lens might change that, although I love the way the X100 with the lens hood feels in my hand when I'm out shooting on the streets. I think an X100s is on the cards at some point.

Like the 14mm f1.4, the 23mm has a depth of field scale near the front of the lens that makes it easier to use for zone focusing. It has 11 elements in 8 groups and includes 1 aspherical element. Aperture ranges from f1.4 to f16 and moves in the usual 1/3rd stop intervals. It has seven rounded diaphragm blades and a filter size of 62mm. The best part is that it's only 63mm in length and weighs 300g, so it must be one of the smallest (full frame equivalent) 35mm f1.4 lenses around. Price in the UK is looking like £849 and it should be available in October this year.

Asia 2013 part 3 :: My Favourite (Travel) Things

Fuji X System Cameras (iPhone photo)

This one is really obvious, But I stands out the most when traveling just how fantastic it is to be shooting the Fuji X system. There’s no way I could have brought three cameras and the equivalent to a 35mm, 50mm, and a 27-84mm. The 35mm being fixed to the X100, but if I was shooting a DSLR system, it would be a 35mm f1.4, which is not a small lens. It’s amazing to see all these moms and dads running around with big DSLR’s because they think that’s how you get great photos.

Fujinon 18-55mm f2.8-f4

This was a last minute thing before I left. I’m a prime lens shooter, but I went for the 18-55mm for three reasons. 1). The longest Fuji lens I had was the 35mm. 2). I have the 18mm f2, but I get mixed results with it, I can’t put my finger on it, but sometimes it looks fantastic and other times  3). A zoom is just so much more versatile as a travel lens. The variable aperture bugs me and I’m not used to lenses that extend, but it’s definitely been the go to lens on this trip (so far). I was using it on the X-E1 and body and lens work well together, but it is a bit front heavy. It feels much better on the X-Pro1. But if you own an X-E1, don’t let it put you off.

Apple Macbook Air 11”

I bought the 11” Macbook Air for this trip and I’m so glad I did. I originally intended bringing a Windows laptop, then had the bright idea of buying a smaller Netbook as it would fit in the ThinkTank Retrospective 7 and I wouldn’t need to bring a bigger bag. That idea got out of hand and I ended-up buying the 11” Air. I have it set-up exactly like my iMac, so it’s so easy to edit and organize. The 11” Air was a good choice and I’m glad I bought it. I bought the 128gb version with 4gm of RAM for £600 second hand. It was the current model until Apple announced the latest updates a couple of weeks ago) and in mint condition. The downside of the 11” version is the omission of the SD card reader and the 3rd USB port.

Kingston MobileLite G3 SD Card Reader

So I bought this little card reader on Amazon for very little money and I just love it. It’s simple and does what it says on the tin. It does feel a bit wobbly when the covers are extended at each side (one to cover the USB plug and one to cover the card(s) if you choose to keep them in), but it’s solid when the covers are pulled back and in use. The G3 has slots for both SD and Micro SD cards and takes up very little room in even the smallest camera bag.

Think Tank Retrospective 7

The Retrospective 7 is great for travel or as an everyday camera bag. I have a few dislikes about it (as I do with any bag). The side pockets are too tight for my liking and I’ve ended up using them for the included raincover in one side, which I’ve used and really glad it’s there, and wetwipes and travel cards in the other. I’d liked to have a bit of elastic on one side at least to accommodate a water bottle. On the up-side for travel, being so tight makes it harder for thieves to get at. My second gripe is that the inner compartment should have a few pockets with Velcro lids to keep small items like batteries, card readers, lens cloths, headphones etc... But apart from that it’s a great travel bag that doesn’t look like a camera bag. If you haven’t seen my post on packing for this Asia trip, take a look HERE to see the contents of my Retrospective 7, it holds a lot of gear.

Oh, and one final thing...

Micro Fibre T-Shirts

I bought three of these t-shirts in a sale for £5 each. They’re lightweight and absolutely crease free. At the end of a day, I simply wash one in the shower and it’s dry in the morning and looks like new. These shirts are an essential item of clothing for traveling light.

Asia 2013 part 1 :: Equipment & Packing

This is part one of a series of blog posts about traveling to and shooting in Asia. The destinations being Hong Kong, Macao & The Philippines.In this first part I'd like to go through the gear I'll be taking, how I'll be carrying it and what I'll be using to carry it. So I'll start with my camera bag of choice lately. But before I get to the goods. If you're on twitter and would like to follow my tweets and blog posts, I'll be using #dcpAsia . I'll also be posting street photography on my 35mmStreet blog.

I chose the ThinkTank Retrospective 7 for it's worn look and because it doesn't stand out as a camera bag (unless you're in the know). I bought it two or three months ago and have been using it every day since, mainly to get it looking even more used. I went for the Pinestone version as again, it looks more worn that the blue or black. The main reason I chose the Retrospective 7 was that I can fit my 11" Macbook Air in the back pocket (the bag is designed for the 11" Air), and my iPad in the inside pocket. Most of the contents of my bag are what I carry around every day and because I shoot the Fuji X series, I can pack a pretty amazing kit in a small bag. I'll put a list below of the gear that I'm taking on this trip & then I'll give an idea of the reasons for my choices. This trip is a mixture of personal and project. I'll be shooting for an NGO in the Philippines, going to children's orphanages in two different cities. The results of that project will appear on The Kage Collective website in August or September. I'll also be shooting plenty of street photography and of course, general travel stuff too.

• ThinkTank Retrospective 7 (contents)
• Fuji X-Pro1
• Fuji X-E1
• Fuji X100
• Fujinon 35mm f1.4
• Fujinon 18-55mm f2.8-f4
• 5 x Pateries for the X-Pro1 & X-E1
• 3 Batteries for the X100
• Casio Point & Shoot
• Hotshoe adaptor to mount the Casio on the X-Pro1
• Apple Macbook Air 11"
• Apple iPad 2 (Wifi only)
• Apple iPhone 4 & Earpods
• iPad Camera Connection Kit
• USB3 Card Reader
• USB3 4 Port Hub
• Zoom H4n Audio Recorder
• SD Card pouch with 10 SD cards (mixture of 16GB & 8GB)
• Western Digital Portable Hard Drive
• Manual Cable Release
• Flashwave III Transmitter & Receiver
• Fuji EF20 Flash
• Moleskine Notebook
• Hong Kong City Guide
• Sony Headphones

I've thought long and hard which of the three Fuji cameras to take. The X-Pro1 was always my first choice, but it was a toss-up between the X-E1 and the X100. When I shoot a project, I like to use two cameras and the X-Pro1 & the X-E1 go so well together. But I know I'll be shooting loads of street photography (especially in Hong Kong), and the X100 is my weapon of choice (the X100s will eventually make it's way into my bag...I think). I was planning to take the 35mm f1.4 and the 18mm f2, but I'm leaving the 18mm behind in favor of the 18-55mm f2.8-f4. The variable aperture is a bit of a bummer, but the IS could be useful, and with the 56mm f1.2 not out till 2014, this will give me a handy telephoto focal length (83mm in full frame speak). Plus I could set this to 23mm and leave it there, so that I get my favorite focal length of 35mm on one of the two bodies.

• Hold Luggage Gear
• Joby Focus Tripod & Ball Head
• CineSkates wheels for the Focus Tripod
• Battery Chargers for All cameras and Apple devices
• Small shoot through umbrella
• Extendable (Lastolite) hand held poll for flash and umbrella

The Joby tripod will be used for night shots in Hong Kong and the CineSkate wheels will turn the tripod into a dolly for shooting video. I'm intending shooting video and recording audio with the Zoom H4n, but it won't bother me if I come back with neither. It's just an idea. I would have loved a GoPro Hero 3 for this trip, but the trip is self financed and with this also being a family trip too, it's expensive.

So that's about it for part 1. The first part of the trip will actually be London, which although has China Town, is not really Asia :o)

Stay tuned, follow me on Twitter @derekclarkphoto and remember to add a search field on your Twitter program of choice for #dcpAsia .

My Bag Is Featured On Japan Camera Hunter

My Street and Documentary camera bag is featured on Japan Camera Hunter's 'In Your Bag' feature. I'm number 390 in this long running feature. You'll find a list of what's inside my bag, plus a bit of information too. Click here to see my bag Japan Camera hunter, AKA Bellamy Hunt is the man to contact if you're looking for quality cameras and equipment. Bellamy sources great gear from in Japan (where he's based) and ships it all over the world. Looking for a Leica M2? Bellamy's your man.