The Fujifilm X System delivers exactly what I have always been looking for in a camera system, delivering high quality imagery while maintaining a small profile. X Series’ build and design along with its incredible function and performance bring back a purest form of capturing life around me, marrying style and substance. With the arrival of the X-Pro1, from its tank-like build quality to its incorporated film simulations, this camera replaced all my former brand camera gear. Fujifilm’s unique X-Trans sensor pairs flawlessly with a comprehensive Fujinon lens lineup, delivering tack sharp imagery full of fine detail. I’ve never shot in JPEG until I started creating imagery with the X-Pro1. In-camera dynamic range and highlight/shadow control help to retain a high level of detail, making post-production work on RAW files virtually obsolete. The JPEGs really are that good! When shooting reportage, travel and portraiture, my go-to camera is the X-T1. It just works, and does so in a very classy way.
Speaking of classy, there’s something to be said about the timeless physical characteristics of X Series cameras. From the rangefinder-style of the X-Pro bodies to the DSLR-style of the X-T1, it’s safe to say these cameras are beautifully classic and boldly designed. With command dials for ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation at your fingertips, X Series bodies offer a genuine feel. The evolution of physical design has been quiet on the outside, but evolutionary within. From the early days of the X-Trans CMOS sensor to today’s X-Trans CMOS III sensor, Fujifilm’s image quality has consistently pushed the limits of what an APS-C sensor can do. In the end, it’s all about high quality, beautiful output.
As a photo editor for Getty Images, I recognize that while image quality is critical, it’s not 100% of what makes an image great. Capturing authentic moments that appear in front of you (which the X-T1 easily does with its blazing fast autofocus) combined with the image output make for a camera system that can be revolutionary for a photographer, allowing a high level of creative control while providing consistent excellence in output. As a photographer, I realize that the camera is also half of what makes an image: the human element is inevitably a large part of the equation. Fortunately, Fujifilm has been developing a system with heart, including a wide range of lenses that has allowed me a vast range of coverage for all types of photography. My stock images rely upon sharpness, and my inner creativity desires fast lenses which Fujifilm delivers with their X-mount prime and zoom lenses. Fujinon glass is simply superb, and my clients greatly appreciate – and can see! – the image quality.
I often shoot in low light, and venturing out into the darkness for landscapes or nighttime street photography with the X-T1 has been a blast and worry-free. The files are amazing, even at high ISO. The X-T1’s rugged, weather-resistant design even made it possible for me to cover Superstorm Sandy when it hit New York City. It handled the onslaught of the wild storm like a champion.
Photography is all about epic moments and awesome experiences. Once, I took my X-T1 and X-Pro1 through the Balkans and while traveling, I was drawn to Sarajevo because of its war-torn history. I was inspired by how the city had rebuilt itself. While walking through the streets, I stumbled upon the main square: quaint and quiet. I walked alongside a man in the midst of his daily routine, feeding the local pigeons. I paused, lifted my stealthy X-Pro1, and captured him passing through the happily fed pigeons as they flew away. It was a beautiful moment of time in a city with a rich history, outputted perfectly in high quality with my light, fast, and intuitive X Series gear. Capturing moments like this with such a sense of ease is a constant remind of why shooting with Fujifilm X Series gear feels natural and rewarding.
