CAPTURE NEW HORIZONS

Nearly six years ago in May 2014 I visited Park Cameras in London and purchased my first zoom lens for the Fujifilm X-Series, a XF10-24mm f4 wide angle.  This lens has been my constant companion when working on various projects over the years and I cannot fault the results that I get with this superb piece of glass.   In 2019 Fujifilm launched the XF8-16mm f2.8 and as an X Photographer I have been asked on numerous occasions why I haven't bought the wider and faster zoom and sold the 10-24mm.  Well, in this feature I will explain my reasons. Arctic Tern Attack, Isle of May, Scotland Fujifilm X-T1 + XF10-24mm f4 - 1/1600s @ f5.6 ISO200 - focal length 10mm BACKGROUND In April 2014 I bought the Fujifilm X-T1 to go alongside my X-Pro1 and X100 that I had been using since 2012.  It was then I decided to move completely to Fujifilm, selling all of my full frame Nikon gear by August of that year.   There were two lenses in the Nikon range t...

Welcome back to the MacLean Photographic blog.  Sorry I have been absent for a while but I have been busy working on several projects for various clients.  Now is the time to bring the blog back on line and I hope you will join me over the next few months. Since passing the COPTRZ drone course in January 2019 and receiving the Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) I have been busy putting together some projects to build up my experience and portfolio. This week I launched the MacLean Photographic Drone Services pages on the website giving visitors more details on the services on offer and some examples of our work undertaken over the past 12 months. A key part of this showcase of our work is the Show Reel, a two minute video showing some of the highlights from the past year. You can also view the Show Reel, and all our other videos, on the MacLean Photographic Vimeo channel . One of the plans I have during this ...

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...

As a sports photographer I have been waiting in anticipation of the new Fujinon XF200mmF2 for three years.    In October 2015 I sat in a meeting room in Fujifilm HQ in Tokyo and explained to the product development team why Fujifilm needed to produce a fast telephoto prime lens.   I had been asked to test the prototype of the XF100-400mm zoom lens the following weekend at Fuji Speedway at the World Endurance Championship event and it was a very nice addition to the Fujinon line up,    However I, and many other X-Photographers, still underlined the need for a fast telephoto prime lens with the powers that be at Fujifilm. CLICK HERE to read the full article ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BLOG BY VISITING THE ADVERTISERS ON THIS PAGE By clicking on the adverts you are helping support this blog - thank you. ...