Posts Tagged ‘Olympus’
Fuji X100 ~ Review: A Love Returned, Nostalgia Reclaimed
Fuji X100 Review
Introduction
I really only want to write once about the amazing Fuji X100. I will satisfy that intention by approaching it from two aspects:
- As somebody who recently moved from an SLR system; replacing his setup with just the Fuji X100 (most of the technical comparisons are against my previous Canon equipment, some might consider this the wrong approach as the Fuji X100 isn’t an SLR replacement, but it is what it is).
- As somebody who wanted to get back to the simplicity and joy of using a rangefinder camera (this was after having previously flirted with a number of them over the years, in particular a pair of Contax G2′s).
Image by Flickr User Nokton
So you’re reading this, there is no doubt you’re already well informed about the Fuji X100. Especially if you have been a regular reader of this blog. I’ve posted so much news, reviews and general information about the Fuji X100. I’ll dispense with in-depth tests, image results, pixel peeping and weighty comparisons. You will have read them elsewhere. I’ll re-post some of the links if I feel I can’t add anything to what has already been published.
As we all know, the excitement started in September 2010 at the Photokina Trade show. When I first saw the X100, I thought it could give back to me a bit of my nostalgia for handling a film camera, while at the same time I also thought, finally this is what many photographers have been asking for; a digital sensor wrapped around the beauty and character of a rangefinder camera.
Image by Flickr User Tingan Bow
It didn’t surprise me that it would be Fuji who were bringing a digital rangefinder to market. Fujifilm were always a little different with their innovations, releasing cameras now and again that were a bit odd; making us sit up and think for a moment. They did it with the GF670 (medium format film camera) and the Fuji W1 (a 3-D camera).
Olympus PEN
Even though I shoot with a 1Dsmk2 and a 5D, I still yearn for an Olympus camera. I use to own the Olympus E420 and a few quality lenses. It is the size and innovation that interests me, ever since Olympus announced the MicroFT standard, it was only a question of time when they would release a rangefinder type camera. I think the market needs that capability, not everybody needs to shoot with a large SLR, and Leica is never going to fill that space. My dream camera would be a digital Contax G2, but that isn’t likely for the foreseeable future.
This announcement is great news and the camera’s abilities are incredible for something that big. My only complaint is the lens lineup at the moment and the lack of some fast primes. But overall it is a new system, and I’ll be keeping my eye on it.
I’m parting with my Olympus gear :(
When I started this website I was using an Olympus setup for my photography. I use to own Canon before that and now with the photography I do, I don’t feel Olympus is right for me, so I’m moving back to Canon. I’m unhappy to say I’m moving back to Canon. I’ve enjoyed my Olympus gear while I had it, but I can’t put up with the low f stop and lack of DOF. The gear I own has been great to use but with my line of photography it just doesn’t give me that buzz as my 5D did. So I’m going back. On my blog is the review for the Leica lens and I’ll be keeping it up online since it gives me so many hits but other than that I’m waiting for the 5D to plunge in price.
Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything terribly wrong with Olympus, when I bought my E420 with 25mm Leica lens + 12-60mm, I came out on top because the gear was cheaper than the Canon alternatives. But now the Olympus gear is going on ebay.
Having got to use the Olympus system I found that the size of the system was a bonus and I enjoyed that, though sometimes the E420 was too light when attached to a heavy lens and had a flash mounted on the top (hence the grip). The speed and menu layout of Olympus’s cameras are great and intuitive as well, the only downside was the lack of DOF, poor iso performance (I never used the E420 past iso 200) and the inability of lenses offered by Olympus to go higher than F2.8 (yes the Leica was f1.4 but in 35mm terms it was equal to f2.8).
One thing I really liked about the Olympus is the wireless flash, it works so well, much better to me than the 5D with the 580 mk2. I’ve been having issues with it in open spaces which wouldn’t faze the FL-36. Shame pity I can’t carry that over with me! I’ve put my gear on ebay for those interested. The links are here for the E420 and the 12-60mm Zuiko.
I was going to keep the 12-60mm because it is a really good piece of glass, I bought it for the 12mm focal length and once I get my hands on the canon 24mm f1.4 L, I won’t ever use it which is a shame.
Not having bought into Olympus I wouldn’t have learned this and I have made some great photos while using it and I have no regrets. As I said, the E420 with grip, FL-36 and 12-60mm will be on ebay later at some point.
Panasonic/Leica 25mm Lens Overview
- Part One (Introduction)
- Part Two (Lenses and Test Info)
- Part Three (Olympus 17.5-45mm Kit lens)
- Part Four (Olympus 12-60mm Zuiko lens)
- Part Five (Panasonic/Leica 25mm lens)
- Part Six (Minimum focusing distance)
- Part Seven (Panasonic/Leica 25mm lens – DOF, Sharpness)
- Part Eight (Panasonic/Leica 25mm lens – aperture comparison images, f1.4 & f2)
- Part Nine (Conclusion)
Panasonic/Leica Random Images (Part 8)
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- f1.4
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- f16
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- f1.4
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- f1.4
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- f2
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- f1.4
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- f1.4
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- f2
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- f2
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- f1.4
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- f2
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- f1.4
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- f1.4
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- f1.4
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- f1.4
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Specular Highlights 2
Specular Highlights 1
Panasonic/Leica 25mm (Part 7)
Here is where the review begins to get interesting, it’s just Panasonic/Leica images here on in! Sunday was a terrible day for weather so I was confined to my house and back garden for most shots. Sorry!
I was interested in the Depth of Field and the Chromatic Aberration if the lens would produce any. Which it did, slightly at higher f-stops in the centre and to the sides at lower f-stops. I took some random images as well for a later part in this review and it does so up slightly in other images, again it disappears at lower f-stops. It must be noted that I can’t see any CA unless I zoom really close in so I’m not concerned so much about it, but your reactions may very.
There was no need for me to create crops of these images as the zoom function illustrates well the details I’m talking about. I’m trying to not comment too much as I want the images to speak for themselves.
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- f1.4
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- f4
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- f8
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Panasonic/Leica 25mm (Part 6 of Leica lens test)
Minimum focusing distance
In this part I just wanted to quickly illustrate the minimum focusing distance with each lens using their highest aperture. I used a pencil as a guide, this is where the 2 zoom lenses shine in effect because their focusing distances are shorter than the Leica. The 12-60mm especially so.
Images with the 1A and 1B are related to the kit lens. Images with 2A and 2B are concerned with the Leica, images 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B are concerning the Zuiko 12-60mm.
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- 1A
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- 1B
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- 2A
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- 3A
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- 4A
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- 4B
