CAPTURE NEW HORIZONS

Almost 12 months ago I was able to test the Fujinon XF23mm f2R WR prime lens for an hour on the FIA World Endurance Championship grid thanks to Fujifilm Mexico bringing one to the circuit for me to try - CLICK HERE to see that test.  A year later I have the 23mm f2 for a longer two week test and next week I will be returning to Mexico City for the next visit by the WEC to Central America.  In the meantime I put the lens through its paces at the Circuit Paul Ricard during the first two days of the 4 Hours of Le Castellet weekend for the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup. First impressions are very positive and it is no different from the initial test I conducted a year ago.  The AF is 'snappy', the build quality is superb and the images very sharp.  There is much to like about this lens and I will report back further when I do some more testing of the 23mm, 35mm and 50mm f2 lenses in the coming days. CLICK HERE for more information on the...

This is an image of one of the wooden piers on Lake Chuzenji in Nikko Province in Japan.  This was taken just after sun up but with low lying cloud covering the mountains and the lake. The visibility was very limited and you couldn't see the end of the pier. Using the Fujifilm X100T I took the above image, getting down low so that the end of the pier disappeared into the mist.  You can just make out the mooring posts further out in the lake.   The image was converted into mono using NIK Silver Efex Pro2 software.

While I have been working at the  Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on the latest round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Mexico City I have been in contact with Fujifilm Mexico.  On race day we invited the top people from the Mexican division of Fujifilm to come along to the race to see the first WEC event in their country for themselves.   When they arrived they brought a little present for me, the new Fujinon XF23mm f2 lens for me to try for the day.  As it was race day I had only a small window of opportunity to try the lens and that was on the grid during the build up to the race.  I have tested the 23mm f1.4 on two  occasions  and love the images it produces (see review HERE ) but the size of the lens means it isn't one I would put in my camera bag. The 23mm f2 is about the same size as my 35mm f1.4 and is the same focal length and maximum aperture as the fantastic lens I have on my X100.  The 35mm equivalent focal length is ...