CAPTURE NEW HORIZONS

As a Fujifilm X Photographer working in the field of motor sport I am very proud to help Fujifilm develop new cameras and lenses that helps them produce high quality products.  Since my last blog nearly a year ago, Fujifilm has launched the XF200mm f2 with the matched 1.4x converter, which now gives the X Series a top class fast telephoto prime lens that can compete with the 'big boys' on a level playing field. I tested the 200mm prior to it's launch and I was the first photographer in the UK to purchase this lens last autumn.  Over the past nine months I have used it extensively, usually on my X-T3, and I haven't once regretted putting my money where my mouth is; it is a superb piece of glass and the best Fujinon XF lens by far! I am always interested in seeing what the other manufacturers are doing and last year Sony launched the FE 400mm f2.8 G Master lens, the lightest 400mm f2.8 on the market.  Because the Sony system is full frame, the XF200mm f2 fitted wi...

Today (6th September 2018) Fujifilm have unveiled their latest flagship X Series camera, the X-T3, the successor to the X-T2.  The T3 comes with a new 26.1MP X-Trans sensor and new processor, the X-Trans CMOS 4 and X Processor 4, which takes the AF and Video performances of the camera to the next level. I had the opportunity to test a pre production version of the X-T3 alongside my X-T2 and X-H1 at Silverstone for two days last month and while I didn’t get the opportunity to fully test all of the new functions on the new camera, it certainly delivers in the areas that I need for my work as a sports photographer. The AF was certainly quick and accurate when shooting trackside at Silverstone, especially with the new XF200mm f2 prime lens.  The X-T2 and X-H1’s AF is already excellent, so the X-T3s increase in speed will probably not be noticed by the average X series user but the X-T3 was certainly quicker to lock on and track a car moving at speed. TO READ T...

The XF80mm f2.8 macro was unveiled last year and is the first 1:1 macro lens for the Fujifilm X Series.  With an equivalent 120mm focal length, this lens can double up as a short telephoto / portrait lens as well as magnify small objects. As someone who does a little bit of macro work I was intrigued to see if the 80mm was a better option than the 90mm f2 Fujinon prime which I use with extenders to allow me to shoot macro shots. There is a cost factor here as well.  The 90mm f2 is £879 compared to £1249 for the 80mm on the Fujifilm UK online shop, so does the 80mm justify the extra £370?  I suppose it depends on the amount of macro work you do. There are two obvious advantages that the 80mm has.  First it has OIS, the first XF prime to have this, and it can also accept the 1.4x and 2x converters, also the first prime lens to do this after the 50-140mm and 100-400mm zooms. As a portrait lens the 80mm is fantastic, but it isn't an f2 and this is where the 90m...

Towards the end of 2017 Fujilove asked me to become a regular contributer to the Fujilove.com website writing a minimum of one article per month. In January 2017 I wrote an article comparing the X100F to the new Fujifilm XE3 that I used on a trip to the Christmas Markets in Dusseldorf and in and around my home here in Dunbar.  This was to compare the two cameras as a small but flexible travel camera. What was the conclusion?  Well if you CLICK HERE you'll be able to read the article and see what I thought was the best 'bang-for-buck'. Let me know what you thought about the two cameras in the comments below or on the article page on the Fujilove.com website. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BLOG BY VISITING THE ADVERTISERS ON THIS PAGE By clicking on the adverts you are helping support this blog - thank you. ...

For the next two weeks I will be testing the full range of Fujifilm's f2 lenses and have the brand new 50mm Fujinon prime as part of this test.  The test will be conducted at the Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France, where I am working on the European Le Mans Series weekend, and in Mexico City for the first of the five long haul events for the FIA World Endurance Championship.  This morning I went for a walk in the pitlane to record the teams setting up the garages ahead of tomorrow's track action.  I fitted one my Fujifilm X-T2s with the 50mm f2 and the other X-T2 with the Fujinon XF23mm f2, which I first tested in Mexico last year. The Fujinon XF50mm f2R WR is a very compact lens, with a small 46mm front element, and is significantly smaller than the XF56mm f1.2 lens.  The AF is very quick, the aperture ring is nicely weighted and the lens is also weather resistant.  The quality of the images is as you would expect from an XF Fujinon lens, very s...

Scotland's Captain John Barclay is tackled by Welsh Fly Half Dan Biggar Fujifilm X-T2 + XF100-400mm f4.5/5.6 - 1/800mm @ f5.6 ISO2000 (zoom 400mm) For the past month I have photographed three top flight rugby matches to put the Fujifilm X-T2 and the Fujinon XF100-400mm f4.5/5.6 through their paces.  After shooting at the Scotland v Ireland international (4th February) and Sale Sharks v Wasps Aviva Premiership matches (19 February), the final test was last Saturday (25th February) when I was on the touchline for the Scotland v Wales RBS 6 Nations international at Murrayfield. Shooting in a stadium environment, even in daylight, provides some unique challenges on the lighting front.  Even with the floodlights switched on, the challenge for any photographer is to keep the shutter speed high enough to capture the action while keeping the ISO as low as possible to minimise the sensor noise.   Can the X-T2 and the XF100-400mm shoot fast action sports i...