For many years we shot photography on Canon cameras.
Fuji mirrorless is the way of the future!
Changing camera systems is a big deal for photographers.
Most will do it no more than 2 or 3 times in a career.
You not only have a major investment capital wise, but emotionally. With use the camera becomes an extension, and you grow used to the nature of the images it produces.
But time moves on, and Canon being have been slow to adopt the new tech do benefit photographers. Large DSLR systems are no longer needed to produce high quality results.
Fuji gear is lighter than Canons, but they have equal resolution. Their controls are more traditional, and the photography they produce is indistinguishable for the work we do. And they cost less.
Whilst I was nervous at the idea of the move, worried that client would see a difference, or would not feel I was “Professional enough”, that has not been the case at all.
Add to this a superb selection of smaller and lighter lenses, and there is little not to like.
New cameras means new software!
In addition to adding Fuji cameras to the company with the attendant lenses, we have also moved part of our photography post production onto a new software!
Since 1993 I have been using Adobe photoshop, but with the new Fuji system raw files not being dealt with very well by photoshop, we have also brought in Exposure X3, which has also sped up a lot of the basic work we have done in photoshop, having a faster workflow with a different approach to editing from photoshop.
So, hows it going then?
There is no doubt that changing from a DSLR system to mirrorless system is a bit of a shock.
The way you think about what your seeing is different, the controls and options are different.
A big professional DSLR is in reality a fairly simple beast. There is a logic to the controls that stretch back to almost the start of photography.
Mirrorless is different.
You need to control the basic photographic functions, and how images are actually presented to you as you shoot.
So instead of just seeing images on a ground screen, you now have the ability to see images as they will be recorded. In theory.
Whilst many controls are the same, and Fuji have excellent manually adjustable traditional controls for the basic functions of the camera, the myriad of options can be bewildering.
So that takes some getting used to. The camera is as much computer, as camera.
In addition Fuji uses a different demosaicing system on its chips than most manufacturers, which again, takes some getting used to.
After a year of Fuji cameras, its safe to say its all good!
With lots of client projects under my belt, I’m now comfortable with them, and can work as quickly as before.
In fact, picking up a DSLR now feels very strange, with its dark viewfinder and its bulk.
With three bodies and 7 lenses, I have cut in half the weight of gear. And instead of a wheeled bag, I’m back to a Domke.
Plus connectivity is better. I can send images directly from the camera to my iPhone or iPad wirelessly.
And after 6 months use Fuji gave us all a present. They put out a free firmware update which took the video capabilities from 1080p, to full 4k.
Looking to the future, Fuji are offering equipment which will be able to fully replace all of our Canon gear. With new BSI chips and excellent video, we look forward to using Fuji not only for photography, but also video.
I think however the best thing about the change is the reaction from people who see me using them. One 14 year old commented that I was totally “On Fleek.”
What’s not to like about that?
If your in need of some great corporate photography, Get in touch!