Me and my shadow
You might be happy to know I put a Fujicron on the Fuji and a leash on the dog and took them for a walk yesterday evening. Exposed about 40 perfectly dreadful, junky pictures of nothing which are not worth a half second of anyone's attention. All my pictures are just so much the kind of picture I would take. Don't ya hate that? But it made me feel better so I'm glad I went. Butters was more productive...he sniffed and sniffed until he found just the spot and then cut a deuce. My chops are so rusty they're almost frozen. But the camera sure is fun to shoot. We got home and I spent a happy hour poking amongst YouTube videos of how to set up this-and-that on the X-H1. Got a few more things sorted to satisfaction.
Did anyone buy an X-H1 when it was on closeout? It got all the way down to $999 if memory serves. It strikes me as a simply amazing camera; virtually everything on it is well thought out and beautifully implemented, and works smoothly and effectively.
One thing I noticed yesterday that I had never noticed before is that the full-stop detents on the lens are ever-so-slightly more detented than the one-third stops in between. You can actually tell with your eyes closed if the lens is on a full stop setting. Who thinks of that?
All things considered, the Fujicron (I have the 35mm ƒ/2, and keep meaning to get the 23mm ƒ/2) is a very practical lens. Doesn't put a foot wrong as our British friends say. It's small and portable and the ƒ/2 maximum aperture is reasonably fast. It performs beautifully. It's weatherproof, has a real aperture ring, and autofocuses quickly and silently. The hood is tiny but effective. It doesn't even cost much. What more could anybody reasonably want in a lens?
Mike
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Michael J. Perini: "Well that was a refreshing post, and you even 'sound' happier.
"As you well know, like any other skill, when you lay off for a while you get rusty. Once the camera handling becomes second nature, the rust falls away fast. Speaking from personal experience, I am always surprised at just how fast 'rust' forms on all those 'hand/eye/brain' interchanges. Two years ago I was as close to the top of my form as I have ever been. I carried a big camera everywhere and pictures were made before the camera got up to my eye to press the button. On a cold January day I was putting the plow on my truck when suddenly I thought I heard a shot and found myself on my back in the snow in an awful lot of pain. Turns out, there was no shot, I had simply torn the quadriceps tendon in my right leg. My kneecap was suddenly four inches too low. Twelve weeks in an immobilization cast, 16 weeks of rehab and the reward for that was a problem in the other knee.
"Slowly getting better, but now my pictures suck. Not all, just most, and I can see I'm not sharp. It really is just regularly doing the work that gets you sharp. You still know all the stuff you knew, you know how things work, and you know how to look. It's the execution that slips. I made the first good one in a while this week, and it positively lifts you, changes your expectation, even makes you feel a little less...old. Same camera, a favorite lens, and time working....do it until the camera and lens disappear and it is just you and all that possibility.
"As Nike says, just do it. Every good one lifts you. What is more, the process lifts you. I'm a huge believer in Jay Maisel's 'go out empty.' We've nothing to lose but the malaise that comes from not working."
Mike replies: Wow, so sorry to hear about your tendon. That's tough. Wishing you the best with that, and thanks for the good comments and encouragement.
Steve Biro: "I got the X-H1 with grip for about $1,100 a couple of months before the price dropped to $999. I don't know if the rock-bottom price included the grip or not. But I'm not complaining. I usually use my larger, heavier Fuji lenses on the X-H1—mostly the XF 16–55mm ƒ/2.8 and 90mm ƒ/2. But the XF 23mm and 35mm ƒ/1.4 primes are on the short list as well. My lighter zooms are usually found on my X-T3 and the Fujicrons on both the X-T3 and the X-Pro2.
"I'm quite happy with my Fuji gear. But I'm still trying to decide if I want to sell the X-Pro2 in order to buy an X-Pro3. And don't get me started on whether I should consolidate the X-H1 and X-T3 for an X-T4, with IBIS."
Mike replies: Fuji did me a big solid by giving the X-T4 a flip-out video-style screen. I much prefer the X-T3/X-H1 -style flip-up viewing screen, which I think is one of the best things Fuji has engineered, so it means I don't have to consider "flipping" to an X-T4. Otherwise that might be nagging at my brain too.
I bought the XH1 with the vertical grip and extras at the $999 last year. Planned on an update of my GH4 that I've used at my guitar shop (and taken over 100k photos and hundreds of videos with). I still haven't quite got the look I want with the Fuji, but it took me a long while to get the GH4 sorted to make the photos I wanted also. Eventually the Fuji will become my guitar camera probably until I retire (if that ever happens).
Posted by: jerry | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 05:24 PM
Suggestion: dump the hoods that come with the 35/2 and 23/2 and buy the optional Fuji vented hoods. They are superb, metal, beautiful, Leica-like from when Leica made this type of hood. They're kinda expensive for what they are but I think they're worth the price. Those lovely little Fujicrons deserve hoods like this.
Posted by: Dogman | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 05:46 PM
We Three: My Shadow, My Dog and Me
Posted by: Hélcio J. Tagliolatto | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 06:45 PM
Hey, Mike, I bought two of the X-H1 kits last summer, and should have probably gotten three. I use them every day for work -- well, okay, these days "work" is an odd concept. (I'm shooting birds at the feeders with a 100-400 and the 1.4x converter -- keeps me moderately sane.)
The X-H1 is an excellent all-around camera. It's not as enjoyable to shoot as my X Pro 2 bodies, and the image quality doesn't touch the GFX100, but it'll handle any most assignment with aplomb. Glad I got them, even better on sale. I think I can finish out my career with them.
Posted by: Ken Bennett | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 07:47 PM
I too bought the XH1 on $999 closeout. I started with an XPro2 and the 35mm "cron" but couldn't resist the XH. Once I tried the XH and saw the the improvement in the EVF over the Pro2 I knew I'd get a Pro3 when it was announced. Now I use both. The XH is a very very good camera and that shutter, wow super silky smooth and quiet.
I can't at all understand people who complain it's large. It isn't even large with the grip but I still have and use FF Nikon D3/4's. Those are large. What did those people shoot before, Minox?
I have all three Fujicrons now and also bought the 35mm 1.4 I had rented from LensRentals. I know, two of the same length lenses but they are different and the Pro3 really does focus that lens faster than the XH.
Keep it up with the XH. It's only complicated if you make it that way.
Posted by: Neil Swanson | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 07:58 PM
I bought two, both open box or demo when I managed to sell my X-T1's. I really miss the exposure compensation dial; the X-H1 is somewhat clunky by comparison - twiddling the dial is likely to depress it, setting it partway to where I want it. Lens hoods and EVF - I don't know what's making it so hard for me to use a polarizer but I find it clumsy and hard to set. And that's the worst I can say - it's a great tool. Usually I go out without the grip or an extra battery. No power, wrong lens? No worries, no job on the line.
Posted by: Zave Shapiro | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 10:07 PM
For my daily constitutional I walk over to the local park and take a few laps. Yesterday I found that someone had placed colorfully painted rocks at each corner of the park and on each rock is hand painted a single word… Strength, Trust, Faith, Hope…
Someone in the neighborhood is sure looking out for the rest of us. Thank you, whoever you are. I think I’ll take my camera on my walk tomorrow.
Posted by: Jim Arthur | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 10:10 PM
"cut a deuce" is a new one for me.
Posted by: Robert Roaldi | Thursday, 09 April 2020 at 10:32 PM
Lovely post about your walk, cheered me up.
Posted by: Martin D | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 01:13 AM
My old camera mostly died back at the beginning of February, so I got a new one just before the lockdown - and consequently barely used it since. Just enough to realise that everything is just slightly different, which makes it rather counter-intuitive to use, which will take a lot of time to overcome.
Posted by: Mike K | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 06:02 AM
"You might be happy to know I put a Fujicron on the Fuji and a leash on the dog and took them for a walk yesterday evening."
I am. And you've reminded me that I must do the same later (but without a dog).
"All my pictures are just so much the kind of picture I would take."
You know as well as I do that people who practice their craft diligently do not create a masterpiece every day. Or even every other day.
Posted by: Simon | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 06:21 AM
That detents detail is just lovely. This is why Fuji is regarded as the "new Leica". The tiny glass cover for the Leica M3 frame counter is a magnifying glass, to make the numbers easier to read. Who thinks of that indeed.
Posted by: Sroyon | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 09:09 AM
Every time I get tempted by a Fuji I remember their proprietary raw file format and move on.
Posted by: Dori | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 10:24 AM
I agree with everything you said about the X-H1. It is a great camera, and I was fortunate enough to get one in truly like-new condition, with the battery grip, for a price that was almost too good to be true from an individual seller.
I will never need another camera. (Which, of course, doesn't mean I will never get one!)
Posted by: Dave Jenkins | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 10:54 AM
I did take advantage of the $999.00 X-H1 sale price last year and I am so glad I did. I find the need for IBIS more often these days due to nerve damage and aging.
In hindsight, it was a great move, as the screen design changes Fujifilm implemented in the V4 XT do not appeal to me at all. It seems they decided to appeal to Youtubers, forsaking the Stills photographer with that decision.
For the first time in a long time, I was able to resist the temptation to upgrade to the latest models. My cadre of 24mp Fujifilm bodies have enough resolution, and the XH-1 IBIS completes the set. It also has the same higher resolution EVF as the current models - another plus!
Posted by: Mark Kinsman | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 10:55 AM
Hi Mike. What a smile inducing post!
You can delete this next part if you wish. It's just for fun.
I've been playing around with some old songs as time killers.
This is to the tune of World Without Love by Peter And Gordon…..
I’ve been locked away - - and surely I will stay,
here inside, where i’ll hide, from that bad virus.
I don’t care what they say, I won’t live in a world full of germs
Birds sing out of tune - - and rain clouds bring more gloom,
that’s OK, here I’ll stay, without getting dressed.
I don’t care what they say, I won’t live in a world full of germs
So I wait, and in a while
I will see the grandkids’ smile
They’ll FaceTime, I know not when,
When they do it’s great, so listen once again…
Stay safely away - - waiting for the day,
when it’s safe, for us all, to go out again.
I don’t care what they say, I won’t live in a world full of germs
Posted by: James | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 11:07 AM
..."What more could anybody reasonably want in a lens?"
How about a nice subject to see through said lens.
Happy Easter!
Posted by: Gijs Langelaan | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 12:50 PM
"Did anyone buy an X-H1 when it was on closeout?"
I did, and it was directly attributable to your TOP article describing how much you liked the X-H1!
So, I got the X-H1 body, the battery grip, and three batteries. The IBIS is everything I hoped it would be, and the X-H1 is the only camera I've used since I got it.
Still, my "perfect" Fuji camera would be an X-E4, featuring IBIS and tilt screen. The word is, though, that there won't be any more X-E's made, so there's one I won't have to buy...
Posted by: Gary R Mortensen | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 01:23 PM
Love that lens.
Posted by: Mike | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 01:56 PM
"It strikes me as a simply amazing camera; virtually everything on it is well thought out and beautifully implemented, and works smoothly and effectively.
Well, yeah. If memory serves, I've been posting to that effect here for over 2 years now.
It's also...durable and rugged. Trust me, I know.
I bought mine at the full retail price the month it shipped in Q1, 2018. No regrets whatsoever. Mine has been used for everything from motor racing to architectural to dance photography.
IMHO, one of the best cameras Fuji has ever made and that I've ever used.
Posted by: Stephen Scharf | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 02:14 PM
Hey Mike,
I quite like the photo of the shadows of you and Butters out for a walk: simple, unpretentious, nothing "arty" about it, just, well, "sweet."
It doesn't get much better than that … (IMHO, YMMV)
Posted by: Richard Howe | Friday, 10 April 2020 at 03:49 PM
@James: "World Without Love" was written by Lennon & McCartney, although never recorded by them. Peter Asher (of "Peter and ...") was the brother of Paul McCartney's girlfriend, Jane Asher.
Posted by: Scott | Saturday, 11 April 2020 at 01:08 PM