Fujifilm Philippines has invited the media and bloggers on their product launch for the latest X-series Digital Cameras last October 25, 2012. This was the first ever Fujifilm PH event. Even though it was storming outside, there was a guaranteed audience since this is something new to be unveiled.
Fujifilm was one of the pioneers in the Photography industry from the time when film was the “IN-THING”. They were one of the leaders who produced not only the films but also the cameras and the printing machines that develop them on photopaper into the sizes of prints you would need.
Now, they enter into a different field, the arena of DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.
They have launched their X100, X10 and their highly acclaimed X Pro 1 last year. They now come up with a new lineup of handy cameras built for the traveler which is sleek, compact, lightweight yet powered enough to capture the moments. With their own technology called “THE FUJINON LENS”, it promises to give you a different experience in using their digital cameras.
Fujifilm has 3 made 3 setups for us to have the Fujifilm X-perience. The 1st one is a 2-light setup , strobe and steady light with a mounted remote trigger shooting a model. 2nd setup is a low-light with another model, and the 3rd setup is a macro setup of a dummy with jewelry for close-up shoot.
It was quite peculiar at first since the eyepiece was not centered but found at the left most side of the camera. This was actually keeping the whole camera off your face and just letting you put your eye in the finder. It uses a digitally-enhanced finder different from the standard SLRs that are images straight from the mirror. It makes you feel like watching a tv program in a tiny hole. The illumination is made possible through a mini LCD. The orientation of the buttons are also different from you ordinary touch and feel, which in this case, the photographer needs to be accustomed with.
It made feel like shooting from a still camera with my 135mm noting that the body was made of magnesium frame with a classic look. It has the sharped-cut edges seems like times of the world war journalists use shining in silver metal. What makes it different is that it had the aperture settings at the front side rim of the lens. This really made me feel like the old times. You can easily twist and change aperture settings without reaching through your menu.
Now comes the real test, shooting with the 3 setups.
Shooting with the compact camera was strange for me since I had really big hands. The camera was 90% off my face since the digital viewfinder. When I put my right eye into the finder of the X Pro 1, it was illuminated. Aside from the multipoint focus, you only get to see 1 golden yellow focusing point at the center, and turns red when there’s an error or it has not locked on a subject well.
It was really a different feeling. It’s like putting the new into the old stuff. You know you are handling a digital camera but without the weight factor and also the size is greatly reduced. The result on the display screen looks great. I wish there was a printer beside me to see the true color output.
The second set was for low-light. This was a challenge shooting with an incandescent bulb only. I think it was the X100 that was on my hands. The camera is set at f/1.4 where I would be testing the bokeh. Fujifilm boasts of this shot of a train in Japan where it was taken by one of its Fujinon lens with no flash. The blowup print looks great without or very minimal noise that’s hardly recognizable by the eye. The display looks great! Still I recall that missing photoprinter could have proved it again. It captures an excellent image. So far, so good. I really love to have a copy of the shots I made using the Fuji X100, X10 and XF1 but I came with a compact flash card DSLR. Gosh, I sure wished I had one!
Last but not the least, 1:1 macro shot. This close encounter will really be good for a photographer’s backup gear since macro lenses are only designed and built for that single purpose. So having a compact camera can be a nifty trick.
What amazes me is that the hotshoe for the flash is universal. Meaning you can use your canon and Nikon flashsets and still be able to use them.
So I guess the ultimate manufacturer and author of film technology has made a right decision in putting their hand where the money’s worth. Overall design, performance, value for money, weight and functionality, you would have second thoughts on what to bring on your next trip abroad moving away from the bulky, heavy and long lenses also considering the weight that you have to limit on your cargo for the airplane.
It seems the tests have somehow proven the claims and awards given to Fujifilm as it speaks for itself.
**This is a sponsored post.
