Thoughts From My Camera: May 2012

Friday, May 25, 2012

Weekly Email - 5-25-12 - Little League Action

Part of any profession or hobby is practicing your craft. This is a key component to improving your abilities as well all know. With photography there are so many great subjects to shoot. Some are static and some are action. The two have very different aspects to capturing the right moment. Tracking focus and freezing action are key sports components. You need to be in the right place, hopefully have some good equipment and of course great lighting is a bonus.

This week I tried my hand at a baseball game with my 5DIII and 70-200. The combo worked well but you can always use a bit more telephoto length. A 300mm lens would have been great for tighter shots.

Have a great holiday weekend.

The exposures here were made in Manual at ISO 320 - F/4 @ 1/1250th (approx).

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Fujifilm X-Pro1 Quick Shots

We all know the marvels of depth of field. Some understand it optically and some of us understand it empirically. Either way there is a difference between an F stop and a bus stop as the old saying goes.

Here is a quick look at the power of an F 1.4 to isolate a subject and then when you stop down to F 11 how the scene changes. I'm not looking to school anyone on the marvels here of bokeh or even go down there now - just a quick DOF look. The other images I wanted to bring up are the ones with the violin player. It's amazing how changing your position in a scene can dramatically change the impact of the image. Give it some thought and move around. Or as Jay Maisel always says - shoot - shoot - shoot and then turn around 180 degrees and shoot some more (paraphrasing Jay).

Jay Maisel May 23, 2012

X-Pro1 w/ 60mm


ISO 2000

I am an employee of FUJIFILM North America Corporation.
The statements, comments and opinions expressed here represent my own, personal views and are not endorsed by, or affiliated in any way with, FUJIFILM North America Corporation or its affiliates.
bremler@fujifilm.com

New Fujifilm M Mount Adapter for X-Pro1

FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced that it will release an M-Mount Adapter for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera system, specially made to enhance the experience of taking photos with the professional X-Pro1 digital camera. The all new M-Mount Adapter is designed to expand the lens selection of the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera system, and give photographers a wide range of shooting capabilities.
“Since the introduction of the FUJIFILM X100, Fujifilm has made a commitment to expanding the functionality of the X-Series, and today we are very pleased to offer customers a premium accessory that they can truly be excited about – an M-Mount Adapter for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1,” said Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging and Electronic Imaging Divisions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “We listened very carefully to our customers about their desire for an M- Mount for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1, and we are proud to announce that this accessory will be available soon for everyone.”

Precision Made M-Mount Adapter
Similar to the FUJIFILM X-Pro1’s exacting design standards, the precision made M-Mount Adapter is engineered to deliver superb results for discerning photographers.
The M-Mount Adapter is comprised of three parts: an aluminum mount for the body, a stainless steel mount for the lens, and an aluminum central tube. This construction enables an accurately-maintained distance of 27.8mm from the lens mount to sensor, which is crucial for delivering high quality and high resolution images.

The camera side of the M-Mount Adapter features an array of electronic connections that automatically pass information to the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 body based on pre-registered lens profiles. With firmware version 1.10 or later, this information is transmitted by pressing the Function button on the side of the adapter, which allows users to access the M-Mount Adapter Settings menu on the rear LCD.

While attached, the M-Mount Adapter still allows users to enjoy the benefits of the FUJIFILM X-Pro1’s extraordinary Hybrid Multi Viewfinder. The Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor both offer a 100% field of view, and the Optical Viewfinder (OVF) displays a bright frame corresponding to the focal length in use.
M-Mount Adapter Provides Ultimate Control
The FUJIFILM M-Mount Adapter provides ultimate control by allowing users to create and fine tune lens profiles through the X-Pro1’s Mount Adapter Settings menu. This menu allows X-Pro1 users to profile up to six lenses. There are four pre-sets for 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm lenses, plus two optional settings for additional optics.

With the Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter attached, profiles can be user-defined, based on distortion, peripheral illumination and color shading corrections.

Three levels of distortion correction are also available to combat barrel distortion on wide-angle lenses, and pincushion distortion on telephoto lenses. Users can select from Strong, Medium or Weak correction, or simply turn any correction off.
Peripheral illumination controls the amount of darkening at the four corners of an image. Eleven levels of correction can be applied from +5 to -5 (including “0”) with users given the choice of darkening the corners of the image to emphasize a central subject or lightening edges for more even illumination across the frame.
Finally, color shading correction allows each corner of the frame to be color corrected to combat any shift in color between the center and edges of the frame. Corrections can be made to red/cyan color shading and blue/yellow color shading from -9 to +9 relative to the green channel.

FUJIFILM M-Mount Adapter key features

• Three-piece aluminium and stainless steel construction

• 27.8mm lens mount to sensor distance

• Electronic connections and Function button

• Compatible with Hybrid Multi Viewfinder

• Lens profiles and corrections available through Mount Adapter Setting menu (firmware version

1.10 or later must be installed for using above features)

The M-Mount Adapter will be available in June 2012 for $199.99.

Got to try the adapter out for a few minutes in NYC with the Leica 21mm. Waiting eagerly for the release and ship date.

List of compatible lenses

Last Updated Date : May 2012
	Mount	Lens	Results
Leica	M	Super-Angulon 21mmF4	No
Leica	M	Super-Angulon 21mmF3.4	No
Leica	M	Elmarit M21mmF2.8　ASPH.	Yes
Leica	M	ELMARIT-M 24mmF2.8 ASPH.	Yes
Leica	M	Elmarit M28mmF2.8 (3rd 1979-)	Yes
Leica	M	ELMARIT-M 28mmF2.8 ASPH.	Yes
Leica	M	Summilux M 35mm F1.4 (1st 1961-)	No
Leica	M	Summicron M 35mm F2 (1st　1958-)	Yes
Leica	M	Summicron M 35mm F2 (2nd　1969-)	Yes
Leica	M	Summicron M 35mm F2 (3rd 1980-)	No
Leica	M	SUMMICRON-M 35mmF2 ASPH.	Yes
Leica	M	Summaron M 35mmF2.8	Yes
Leica	M	Noctilux 50mmF1	Yes
Leica	M	Sumilux 50mmF1.4 (2nd 1961-)	Yes
Leica	M	SUMMILUX-M 50mmF1.4 ASPH.	Yes
Leica	M	Summarit 50mm F1.5	Yes
Leica	M	Summicron 50mm F2 (1st 1954-)	Yes
Leica	M	Summicron 50mm F2 (4th 1979-)	Yes
Leica	M	Elmar 50mm F2.8 (1st 1957-)	Yes
Leica	M	Elmar 50mm F2.8 (2nd 1995-)	Yes
Leica	M	Sumilux 75mmF1.4	Yes
Leica	M	Elmarit M90mm F2.8 (2nd 1980-)	Yes
Leica	M	Elmar 135mm F4	Yes
Leica	L	Summaron 3.5cm F3.5	Yes
Leica	L	Elmar 5cm F3.5	Yes
Leica	L	Elmar 5cm F2.8	Yes
Leica	L	Sumarit 5cm F1.5	Yes
Voigtlander	M	ULTRON 28mmF2	No
Voigtlander	M	NOKTON classic 35mmF1.4	No
Voigtlander	M	NOKTON 35mmF1.2 Aspherical VM 2	No
Voigtlander	M	NOKTON 35mmF1.2	No
Voigtlander	M	NOKTON classic 40mmF1.4	Yes
Voigtlander	M	NOKTON 50mmF1.1	Yes
Voigtlander	M	HELIAR classic 75mmF1.8	Yes
Voigtlander	L	ULTRA WIDE-HELIAR 12mmF5.6 Aspherical 2	Yes
Voigtlander	L	SUPER WIDE-HELIAR 15mmF4.5 Aspherical	Yes
Voigtlander	L	COLOR-SKOPAR 21mmF4	Yes
Voigtlander	L	SNAPSHOT-SKOPAR 25mmF4	Yes
Voigtlander	L	COLOR-SKOPAR 28mmF3.5	Yes
Voigtlander	L	ULTRON 28mmF1.9	Yes
Voigtlander	L	COLOR-SKOPAR 35mmF2.5	Yes
Voigtlander	L	ULTRON 35mmF1.7	Yes
Voigtlander	L	COLOR-SKOPAR 50mmF2.5	Yes
Voigtlander	L	NOKTON 50mmF1.5	Yes
Voigtlander	L	HELIAR 50mmF2	Yes
Voigtlander	L	HELIAR 50mmF3.5	Yes
Voigtlander	L	COLOR-HELIAR 75mmF2.5	Yes
Voigtlander	L	APO-LANTHAR	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Distagon T*15mmF2.8 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Distagon T*18mmF4 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Biogon T*21mmmF2.8 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	C Biogon T* 21mmF4.5 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Biogon T*25mmF2.8 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Biogon T*28mmF2.8 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Biogon T*35mmF2 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	C Biogon T*35mmF2.8 ZM	No
Carl Zeiss	M	C Sonnar T*50mmF1.5 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Planar T* 50mmF2 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Sonnar T*85mmF2 ZM	Yes
Carl Zeiss	M	Tele-Tessar T* 85mmF4 ZM	Yes
RICOH	L	GR28 28mm F2.8	Yes
RICOH	L	GR21 21mm F3.5	Yes

Yes : possible
No : not possible

Notes

* A separately sold L-M conversion adapter is necessary when using the L Mount lens.
* When using the retractable lens, do not let the lens move in/out with the adapter attached.
The camera and the lens may be damaged.
* This list of compatible lenses actually confirmed by Fujifilm is provided for your reference.
Since the lens may be deteriorated due to individual difference or aging, or its form may have been changed due to damage, usability of all lenses of the same type is not guaranteed.
Please make your own judgments when actually attaching the M Mount lens.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Weekly Email - 5-18-12 - Freedom Rises

Click to enlarge

Many of us have watched the Freedom Tower rise from the pit of the World Trade Center.

Recently it was announced that the building is now the tallest in NYC, surpassing the Empire State Building. Next year when completed it will be the third tallest in the world, with the spire soaring to 1,776 ft.

The other tallest buildings in the world are in Mecca and Dubai. There are so many great angles to view the NYC skyline from and this one is looking south from Bethune Street and the West Side Highway.

Fujifilm X-Pro1 with 35mm lens ISO 500 - F/5.0 @ 1/140th approx. 8pm

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Fujifilm X100 WCL-X100 Wide Angle Adapter Lens

Fujifilm X100 SE Black with WCL-X100 and 49mm Super EBC filter

http://youtu.be/YoVkPl9EJfs

Fujifilm has announced a new wide angle conversion lens for the X100 premium compact camera.
Manufactured in Japan, the WCL-X100 is comprised of four premium glass elements in three groups, designed to keep aberration to a minimum and also includes Fujinon's unique Super EBC coating.

The WCL-X100 converter attaches directly to the camera and increases the field of view from a 23mm (35mm in 35mm equivalent terms) to a 19mm (28mm in 35mm terms) optic.
Fujifilm has attained the same image quality up to the maximum aperture F2 as the original lens quality without the wide-conversion lens because the newly developed firmware is designed to set various corrections for the wide conversion lens, such as distortion, peripheral brightness, and lateral chromatic aberration. Firmware version 1.30 is here now and the WCL-X100 is coming soon.
Firmware 1.30

To use the lens converter, owners of X100 cameras will need to update the firmware to version 1.30 or later, which will provide the option to select the WCL-X100 use by the Fn or RAW button. The X100 includes options to apply image processing to images taken with the converter to reduce image distortion, ensure balanced illumination and reduce chromatic aberration.

The lens of X100 was designed with high performance in mind. Distortion and peripheral illumination are corrected to an optimum level.
The WCL-X100 consists of three groups of four lenses which are made of glass. It has a 49mm filter thread.
Some conversion lenses are rear conversion types which are designed for a telephoto angle conversion lens for a DSLR camera and those may lower the brightness. On the other hand, the WCL-X100 conversion lens is made as a front conversion type and the F value can be kept the same. Aperture values up to F2 can be used. In the case of rear conversion type, F number becomes darker in relation to the power of the lens.

X100 and WCL-X100 with 49mm Super EBC filter

Like the lens of the X100, increasing the F-number realizes higher sharpness also with the wide-conversion lens attached. (The best F-number for the sharpness is from F4 to F5.6.)
In the case of shooting with the OVF, a set of frames showing the range of recorded area appears in the four corners instead of the frame rim (equivalent to 80% of the frame field of view). With AF frame compensation ON, the AF frame with parallax compensation appears according to an icon to check the focus. This is included in the new firmware. A menu selection will be present to choose the WCL-X100.

Available for the X100 and X100 SE Black

FUJIFILM has worked carefully with the glass elements and software to match the characteristics of both the X100 and the X100 with the WCL-X100 lens. The design has realized high resolution as if the combination of X100 lens and the conversion lens were a single lens unit.

49mm filter threads

Also, the image taste of X100 lens, such as "Bokeh", can be kept even with WCL-X100 attached.
With the wide-conversion lens option ON, the focal distance shown in Exif information will be 19mm. Images in RAW files are shown after compensated with the WCL-X100 and the bundled SILKYPIX software will automatically convert the images with the compensation in the wide conversion lens option.

When using the WCL-X100, full functionality of the X100 remains, including the auto-focusing speed and 10cm macro distance. Also compatible with the hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder, the converter is manufactured from the same materials, textures and colors as the X100. When using the built in flash vignetting could occur so an external flash is recommended.