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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nI remember how thrilled I was by the first medium format camera I tested back then. Opening the files from that digital back, I realized that there was no turning back. Those files were almost elastic… I mean, you could bring out a huge amount of information without ruining them! I was also inspired by the medium format look: the detail, and that 3D feel. I knew then, that my approach to landscape photography would change forever, that I would develop better as a landscape photographer, and it didn’t take long to realize the truth of this.
\nHow I portrayed nature changed. I knew that every detail I saw in my viewfinder would be visible, but I was no longer afraid of including more complex subjects to my photographs.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe one thing I did not realize though, was the need for spending huge amounts of time processing every file until I was satisfied with the results. In landscape photography, it\u2019s extremely important to portray natural colors; no less, no more. Shadows, mid-tones and highlights must be correctly captured and processed to achieve this look. So I was accustomed to spending hours sitting at my computer, processing photographs.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThat changed dramatically when I tried my first Fujifilm camera in 2012.
\nI was totally happy with my medium format camera and really didn’t want to go back to small format cameras. However, I was given the chance to try a new camera from Fujifilm on one of my workshops in Svalbard, in the Arctic circle. It was a FUJIFILM X-Pro1 with a XF18mmF2 R lens. I normally don’t take many photos when I teach photography, as I am there for the students, not my own work. So having a compact camera to document the workshop was perfect – of course, I shot RAW only.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBy the time I got home from my trip, I was pretty excited about this new camera. It was easy to use and I liked its old school feel. I could not wait to open the files on my computer. The first thing that struck me was their colour rendition. I have been using digital cameras since 2006 and this was the first time I was totally happy with how naturally rendered the colors in my files were: they were exactly as I remembered them from the trip. All I did was recover some shadows and highlights, and make minor contrast adjustments. That was it!<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nIt took about 45 seconds to process each image to satisfaction. That was a long way from the hour or so I used to spend on each file from my older cameras. The dynamic range of the X-Pro1 was impressive too. But I could tell that the images were not from a medium format camera. The ingredients of the medium format look were missing: that 3D feel and detail weren’t there. I remember how I looked out of my window and started dreaming about a medium format camera with Fujifilm colors. I had no idea that it would take four long years for that dream to come true.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBut it\u2019s finally here.
\nI was lucky enough to be one of the \u201ctest pilots\u201d for the GFX system. I can\u2019t even describe how fantastic it felt to open my first files from this camera. This amazing micro contrast, detail rendering, well balanced sharpness, and that 3D feel… I had all the goodness of the medium format look with Fujifilm colors. I am still amazed at how all these photographic features fit in a camera body as small as the GFX\u2019s. The new bright viewfinder is the best I have ever seen, and you can even tilt it!<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nI am used to working with the Fujinon lenses on my traditional medium format cameras and I know that the new Fujinon lenses for GFX are the best you can get. I have used non-recommend- ed apertures like f\/22 and f\/32 to get the greatest depth of field when I tested the GFX prototype, with impressive results. Prior to this, I was never able to publish an image made at f\/32. I still wonder how the ladies and gentlemen at Fujifilm managed to achieve this, as all my results are great at f\/32. Of course you lose some of the detail and sharpness that you get at optical sweet spots of f\/11 or f\/16, but not significantly enough to affect the decision to publish these images.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe new GFX system is not only a perfect combination of a medium format sensor and Fujifilm colors, but it\u2019s mirrorless too. This was more than I dared to hope for. My traditional medium format system weighed about 7kg. This cut back on my ability to hike long distances, or carry more food and camping gear for a week in wilderness. Now with the GFX system, the maximum my camera gear weighs is 2.5 to 3kg. When your backpack weighs up to 25kg, every gram counts.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe GFX system has everything I have missed in a traditional medium format system; the best color rendition in the market, in a lightweight mirrorless body, Fujinon lenses, and well considered solutions for serious and professional photographers.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nHowever, I have another dream.
\nMy new dream is a couple of tilt-shift lenses for GFX. Imagine a landscape photo taken with the GFX…. and Fujinon tilt-shift wide angle lens at f\/11! With the tilt, I wouldn’t have to stop down to f\/32. At f\/11 I got the best compromise between sharpness and depth of field. I am imagining a print 2 meters wide with maximum detail and endless depth of field… I really hope this time I don\u2019t have to wait another four years!<\/p>\n