Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: gerafotografija on March 31, 2013, 06:11:11 pm

Title: A pocket-friendly backup camera and a solution for getting film-like JPEGs
Post by: gerafotografija on March 31, 2013, 06:11:11 pm
Hi All, I have been trying to find a decent pocketable camera to have with me at all times, that doesn't totally suck IQ-wise.

After much too much research, I decided to take the plunge and try the X-20 when my local camera shop got a couple in this week. To make a short story even shorter, it is really working out surprisingly well.

The first few images I captured made me a believer in the way Fujifilm seems to use the latest technology and in-camera processing to its fullest in the X-series. Here's a link to a review after my first 24 hours (http://gerafotografija.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/fujifilm-x-as-a-replacement-for-tri-x-film/) with a very well designed and functional pocket cam that seems to be ignored in favor of its big brother (the X100s).

As a side note, I also found a solution to my hankering after the look of classic push processed Tri-X Pan film. I suspect that as long as I am willing to limit myself to prints in the 8x10 and 8x12 range, the OOC JPEGS from this little 2/3" sensor will not let me down.

Here are some examples from yesterday at Muir Beach.
Title: Re: A pocket-friendly backup camera and a solution for getting film-like JPEGs
Post by: HarperPhotos on March 31, 2013, 08:53:38 pm
Hello,

I have just up graded from a Fuji X10 to the Fuji X20 and the improvement across the board is fantastic.

I am very pleased with all the improvement Fuji have implemented in the X20.

My only negative is that I can not put a UV filter directly on the lens to protect the front element. I have written to Fuji about it with no relay from them so if more X10 and X20 owners write to them they might make a filter.

There is power in numbers.

Cheers

Simon
Title: Re: A pocket-friendly backup camera and a solution for getting film-like JPEGs
Post by: gerafotografija on March 31, 2013, 09:43:47 pm
Hi there, I picked up the X10 lens hood with adapter for 52mm filters and it works OK. I only use a polarizing filter occaisionally, since the hood itself protects the lens from coming into contact with anything if I'm reasonably careful.

My local camera shop has some very knowledgable folks and one mentioned that you can actually get a 40mm (or maybe he said 42mm?) filter to fit, but the thread pitch is slightly different so you have to force it on a bit.

Actually though, the adapter that comes with the hood is only a sliver of double- threaded metal ring. So, it works as an adapter for 52mm filters and then you can put the hood back on over the filter(s) – effectively giving you double the protection.

This was all definitely not clear to me at first, and I'm still not sure I understand the reason for the adapter other than an extra $60 for Fuji.

If you get that accesory, you also might as well splurge for the thumb rest and shutter button extension. At least for my hands, they make the ergonomics of the X-20 just perfect.

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: A pocket-friendly backup camera and a solution for getting film-like JPEGs
Post by: gerafotografija on April 01, 2013, 07:18:15 pm
My only negative is that I can not put a UV filter directly on the lens to protect the front element. I have written to Fuji about it with no relay from them so if more X10 and X20 owners write to them they might make a filter.

I took a closer look and the adapter ring is actually a stepper. So, it is probably needed to avoid vignetting from filters at the wide end of the lens' zoom range. Just a guess, but they probably didn't want a step up ring to be a permanent part of the lens housing, so they added it as an accessary.
Title: Re: A pocket-friendly backup camera and a solution for getting film-like JPEGs
Post by: HarperPhotos on April 04, 2013, 10:30:57 pm
Hello,

Came across this website which looks like just the filter I was looking for for my new silver Fuji X20.

http://www.japanexposures.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=502

Cheers

Simon


Title: Re: A pocket-friendly backup camera and a solution for getting film-like JPEGs
Post by: gerafotografija on April 06, 2013, 01:17:01 am
Is anyone else having problems with the Fuji lens hood and stepper ring getting very tightly stuck, to the point they can't remove the hood or change filters in the field?

I am not sure , but it seems to be happening to me much more with the X20 with the X-10 lens hood assembly than on any other camera equipment I have owned.