Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses

Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun.

Is it OK to take pictures in the harsh light of midday in the tropics, you bet ya.

I have always had a fascination with getting images at the most difficult times of the day. Harsh light is always a problem but can be used to make interesting images.

California 2022

fujifilm, Lenses, photography, pictures, Travel

Had to make an impromptu trip to Los Angles, California to assist a friend of mine back for medical treatment at the VA Hospital in Long Beach. A long trip on New Years Day. Decided to hang there for a few days before returning home. Took a few pictures visiting Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Manhattan Beach

Only had my travel gear with me, Fuji X Pro2 and a XF 50mm f2 for these shots of Surfers.

Venice Beach

Fujifilm XT3 + XF 55-200

cameras, fujifilm, Lenses, photography, pictures, Travel

Have not used this lens in a while and I really don’t know why as it is a fine lens with great sharpness and contrast especially in the middle apertures f5.6 to f11,

Over the Water

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures

Took a trip on the ferry over the Tonle Sap river today to get out and make some pictures. Using my Fujifilm XT3 and an XF 16-80 f4 OIS WR zoom. The lens is new too me so was really just giving it a workout.

This is a fine walk around and travel lens, no real need to carry anything else.

The VILTROX 23mm f1.4. Astounding value.

Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures

Certainly not the most expensive 23mm f1.4 lens on the market but what a good little performer IMHO, good contrast and sharpness and works very well with my Fuji X Pro3.

Fuji XF 16-80 f4 OIS WR

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts

Fujinon xf16-80mmf4 R OIS WR has a maximum aperture value of F4 throughout the focal length of 16-80mm (equivalent to 24-122mm in the 35mm film format). This lens has a minimum shooting distance of 35cm over the entire zoom range, which gives a maximum shooting magnification of 0.25x. The compact and lightweight lens weighs only 440G which is approximately 40% lighter than an equivalent lens for a 35mm format system. When attached to an x-t3 the kit weighs only 979G and 823G when combined with x-t30, making it the ultimate travel combination. This new standard zoom lens features 6.0-Stop OIS, meaning you can comfortably shoot in a wide variety of situations from a Night scene or indoors without worrying about camera shake.Just upgraded to this lens and it looks and functions extremely well giving great images. Very pleased. Yet to try it on my X Pro3 but balances well on the XT3.

Always Clamouring for New Gear

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography

Some people always seem to be wanting to upgrade to ”a better” camera because it has newer features or a bigger sensor. I truly find it hard to understand. When I find a camera lens combination that does what I want it to do, I tend to stick with it for a long time and ignore all the new gadget, bells and whistles. The images below, taken today, on what many would say is an obsolete camera, Fujifilm X Pro1. This camera still is capable of excellent quality. Yes it does not have all the ”features” of the newer cameras but it does what it says on the box, takes amazing quality images.

I also took out with me today my ”old” Canon 5D Mk2, another machine that is able to produce high quality images. Its robust and heavy and slower to use that the newer cameras but who cares, it produces images that I enjoy at a price that I can afford, why would I upgrade.

The need to upgrade continually to the next ”best” camera, is a phantasy invented by the camera makers to enable them to sell more cameras, not to enable you to make the best pictures IMO. If you need to upgrade for a specific reason, and can afford to do so, then by all means go for it but think about,clearly, what you need to produce the images that you (and others) may enjoy.

Leica Q2 Monochrom Full Frame Compact Digital Camera

cameras, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, public

Would I buy one even if I could afford it, the answer would probably be YES.

$6,195.00

47.3MP full-frame black-and-white CMOS sensor Captures amazing stills and 4K video 3-inch TFT LCD monitor with touch control 3.68MP OLED electronic viewfinder with eye sensor Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE connectivity ISO range of 100-100,000 Fast and accurate AF Compact, fully weather-sealed body Compatible with Leica FOTOS app Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens. It certainly has an impressive specification, but would I need it. I have never handled the camera but have used Leica cameras in my film days and know just how well constructed they are, but is this just overkill, a rich mans toy. Watch the review below.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/videos/photography/hands-on-review-the-new-leica-q2-monochrom

Enjoy your Photography

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures

I just enjoy making pictures of my little adopted person. He really plays to the camera, which makes it fun. These taken with an Fuji X Pro2 + XF 50mm f2. He’s a beautiful kid but also a terrible 2 ….