The Fujifilm Paradox

 

I love Fuji. I've had an X-T3 and X-T30 in the past and currently have an X-H2s & X-T5.  On top of this, I also own several of their top tier lenses. I have sold off all my other photography gear, including full frame Canon bodies. It's fair to say, I'm all in on Fujifilm. This isn't to bash the brand. 

  I also want to note that I'm writing this to people who know the Fuji system. I'm not going into detail about everything. This is written with the understanding that the reader has preexisting knowledge of the Fuji system and its current state of affairs. 

  I've noticed some odd things about Fuji cameras and their users. This all started a few weeks back when I realized that I liked the X-h2s (or rather the X-H2 PASM body style) better than the X-T5. 

  Initially, I was disappointed with Fuji's decision to crown the new H2 line of cameras as "flag ships". I felt it went against everything the brand claimed to be and that distinction should have gone to the XT line. After all, the XT cameras really put the brand on the map and are responsible for its loyal following. (Sorry X-Pro Users, I will never understand your love for that painful to hold Leica wanna-be, I don't get it and never will.) 

  I bought the X-H2s first as it was the first of the new bodies released and I needed the "S" version over the regular H2 because I shoot a lot of sports. It is important to note that all camera manufacturers are selling two bodies now that have different purposes. The reason behind this, I believe, is so they can make more profit as a pro photographer would, in most cases, need both a camera built for speed and one built for resolution. 

  At this time, there were rumors that the X-T5 would be released soon and that camera would be designed as a "photography first" camera. Essentially the same as the H2, but with the classic retro dials. Having used the XT3 and loving the it, I couldn't wait for the XT5 and ordered one as soon as it was released. I felt it was a better camera in style and execution than the H2 line. 

  For the next year, I primarily used the XT5 for everything excluding sports. But then, something happened in the last few months. I hadn't picked up my H2s since last football season and when I did, I noticed how much quicker it was to shoot with than the XT5. 

  

It's important to note that I shoot mostly in full manual. 

  

I've always found that the X-T line was a bit awkward to shoot in manual.  I find this weird as one would think with all the analog dials that it would be the better option to shoot manual. But that really isn't the case. In fact, to shoot in manual pretty much negates needing an exposure compensation dial, since you would handle that with one of the other aspects of the exposure triangle, usually ISO. 

  In the last few years, auto ISO has been perfected. I remember a time when the auto ISO function, didn't really pick the best ISO or would fluctuate wildly. Now it is extremely reliable. So much so, that most people, from my experience, shoot with auto ISO. Technically, I'm not shooting fully manual if I'm using Auto ISO and therefore, I also don't need the ISO dial. 

  That brings us to the third dial. Shutter speed. This and the aperture ring are really the only settings I change most of the time; which means, I'm not really shooting manual like I think. In actuality, I'm only shooting two/thirds manual. This is an important realization, because one, it lessens the need for the dials like I had originally thought. And two, most people that swear by the dials shoot in aperture priority which is really shooting two/thirds auto. 

  In addition to this, I found it cumbersome to adjust the dials on the XT5 while looking through the view finder. I think it is because the XT5, while the same size as the XT3 I had, somehow feels cramped. This makes me have to pull the camera away from my eye and look down at the dials to adjust. This not only takes me out of the moment and slows me down, but it is a total pain in the ass in the dark or in low light situations. 

  The top screen on the H2 line is easier to see in almost all situations, and also has a light for dark environments. Making the H2 line much quicker to operate in the moment without even taking into account the PSAM dial or custom modes. 

  Of course, the H2 is bigger and this is viewed by most Fuji purists, as a negative. However, most of them, myself included, find the need to add a grip to the X-T line of cameras. I believe the pushback most users expressed over Fuji removing the battery grip accessory from the X-T line, had more to do with the need for a grip to compensate for poor ergonomics than it did as a useful battery extension. This is an odd thing you find in the Fujifilm universe. Everyone seems to push for small / smaller cameras but then they go and put a grip on them. This is stupid. I don't understand this thought process at all. 

  Since I have both the X-T5 with an aftermarket grip and the X-H2s, I can say for certain, that looking at both cameras together, the H2s is only very slightly bigger than the X-T5 when the X-T5 has the hand grip. Like a quarter of inch longer and maybe one eighth taller. Really, nothing significant.  

  I find myself thinking that the only real, in use advantage of the X-T5 over the H2 is the tilting LCD screen. The H2 should have had a tilt screen like the H1 and the X-T5. In every other way, the H2 is the better camera, including build quality and weather sealing. 

  I haven't decided 100% if I'm going to trade in the X-T5 for an H2. The purist in me says no, but the everyday photographer, says yes. 

A Quite Ride

  

We drove in silence, listening to the radio in the hot sun. The highway danced and melted in the distance, something you would see in June or July, not late September. The air was dense and not crisp like it should have been, yet there was still a hint of Winter in the distance. The thick atmosphere made the colors muted and faded like an old photograph.

I look at him singing along to the music just under his breath. He’s on the cusp. He’s not sure if this is cool to do or not, so he stays low, just in case. In a year, this will be gone. He’ll think he’s sure it’s not cool. He’ll be self-aware. He will stay quiet and ruminate, taking it all in. I love that he is blissfully unaware for now. Happy. The kind of happy you can only be at twelve, going to the store, to buy a new video game.

Driving Lessons for Stupid People - A Manifesto

 

I would like to say (because it’s trendy at the moment) “I don’t know who needs to hear this…….”, but I do know. It’s you. Yes you, the person parked in the left lane doing the speed limit. Let’s get something straight right off the bat. In America, there is no speed limit in the left lane. Period, end of story. This is not up for debate. It is a fact. I don’t care what the signs say, I don’t care what the tyrant politicians say, I don’t care what the cops say. Good drivers know that you don’t drive the speed limit in the left lane. Yet, there are those that for some strange reason haven’t figured this out, or they have and refuse to accept it. Either way, we’re going to get to the bottom of it right now.

1. The proper way to drive in the left lane, regardless of what state you’re in, is to constantly accelerate. It’s that simple. You just go and keep going. If you come upon another car, they need to speed up, or they can move over and let you by. If another vehicle comes up upon you, it’s your responsibly to either speed up or get the hell out of the way. This is the golden rule of the road.

1a. The golden rule’s younger sister - I’ve seen this posted numerous times on social media, so it’s good that it’s getting out there. And that is, if more than one vehicle passes you on the right, you are the problem. Move over to the right lane. This goes for any lane that you are traveling in. If you’re being passed on the right, you are going to slow for traffic. And yes, traffic sets the average speed limit, not the sign on the side of the road and not you. Traffic and the highway are a great metaphor for life. You can’t control it and it doesn’t care about you. Play along and fall in line and you’ll make it. Fight it and you will lose. Every. time.

2. Yield. It is a simple word with a slick looking graphic. It means, “to give over possession of as in defeat or surrender.” In other words. You lose. If you and I are on a road and you see a yield sign, it quite literally means that I’m better than you and that I have the right of way. It means that you have nothing going for you and should just stop. It means when you merge on to a road, I don’t have to move. You, having the yield sign however, do have to slow down and maybe even stop completely, but I’m free to hold the lane all day. I know this is tough because we all think we are important, but we’re not. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll not be a dick and move over when I see you merging, if you promise to also not be a dick and slow down instead of gunning it off the ramp. Deal?

3. Braking on a highway should be reserved for when you actually need to stop or come damn close to stopping. The vast majority of the time, on a highway with no traffic lights, you should brake by letting off the accelerator and coasting. This means paying attention to traffic and obeying what the other drivers have determined to be the speed limit (see 1a). Unless of course you’re in the left lane (see #1). Hitting your brakes causes a domino effect and leads to backups and fender benders. This is never more evident than when watching a tailgater. The tailgater will speed up and hit the brakes causing everyone behind him to do the same often leading bigger problems.

4. Turn signals. For the love of god, use them. But use them wisely. There is a right and a wrong way. The right way is to put your turn signal on early and before you apply the brake. The wrong way to use them is to hit the brakes first, wait until you’re at the turn then put them on for a second. When I’m behind you, I have no idea why you are slowing down. If I’m not paying attention, I may have to swerve around you so that I don’t hit you. Or if I think you’re just an idiot, I’ll just pass you. But as I do, you might turn into me. This can all be avoided by putting the turn signal on first. Then applying the brake.

5. Lost. It happens, the GPS doesn’t work or is flat out wrong. Your phone disconnects, you lose the signal, or you’re just not sure where you are. Do not slow down. Do not randomly pull over. The world doesn’t exist around you. No one cares that you’re lost. Don’t make your problem everyone else’s problem just because they happen to be on the road with you when your GPS shit itself. Maintain your speed (or acceleration #1) and wait until there is a parking lot or off ramp for you to pull over.

6. Fill in the gap. At a red-light, a stop sign, or in general traffic. Do not stop and leave a gap between your car and the one in front of you. Pull up. There are people behind you that might need to make turn or are stuck in the previous intersection because you’re taking up too much space.

These are just some of the rules of the road. They are not my rules. I didn’t invent them and there are plenty more. This is how people actually drive. Most of this list is simple common sense, or it should be. If nothing else, following the above advice may help you avoid being the victim of road rage. If you don’t agree, that’s fine. I don’t actually care. But next time you’re on the road doing ten miles above the speed limit and being tailgated or passed on the right, don’t ask what is their problem, instead, remember this list and move over to let them by because their pro