I’ve Bought a Fuji GFX 50S II for Landscape Photography

I’ve been using Fujifilm X Series cameras for a number of years now and they have served me really well. I like their build quality, I own a number of XF lenses which I really enjoy using and very importantly they help produce lovely photographs. Quite a few months ago now I decided that I required a second camera and I wasn’t short of options or possible contenders. Considering my love for the Fuji X Series cameras, and the lenses that I already had, some of the latest X series models really appealed to me. I gave a lot of thought to the X-H2S, X-H2 and the X-T5. To be honest I would have been happy with any of these cameras and I do hope to own one in the future. However when purchasing my latest camera I had one goal in mind and that was to purchase the camera which I thought was best for my needs and ultimately the best for landscape photography.

Photograph captured using my GFX 50S II.

I spend most of my time doing landscape photography but I also have a love for, and spend a lot of time doing, wildlife photography. I consider myself to be a photographer but I also record video as well. Considering all of this, if I had wanted a camera that could do all of these really well then one of the X series models would have been my best choice. As already mentioned though I wanted to purchase a camera which would be used for landscape photography the majority of the time and that led me to the Fuji GFX line-up of cameras. It is my opinion that these medium format cameras are a fantastic choice for the landscape photographer; amongst other things they capture tremendous amounts of detail, they can capture significant dynamic range in a single exposure and images taken with these cameras show beautiful tones and colour. Not everyone may need or benefit from these features but for those who could then the GFX cameras should help deliver them.

With a number of choices available I ended up purchasing the Fuji GFX 50S II. I felt that the 51.4MP offered by this camera would be ample for my needs and in a camera which I’d be using 99% of the time to take photographs video capabilities did not concern me. Having a camera body offering up to 6.5 stops of image stabilisation suggested taking some shots handheld would definitely be an option and having a LCD screen which tilts in 3 directions was sure to be very useful for me when photographing landscapes.

I’ve now been using the camera for many months and have captured a lot of photographs with it. This short blog article is definitely not a review but I am happy to say I am delighted with my choice. Ultimately we need to buy gear which is right for us and I am confident that I have. If you’d like to hear a bit more about why I bought the Fuji GFX 50S II and listen to my advice and suggestions when it comes to buying cameras then you can watch my YouTube video here. But what about my X Series camera? Well my Fuji X-T3 remains with me and will still be used. Ultimately I’d like to upgrade it to one of the newer X Series models but that is for the future …

Fuji XF 150-600mm Lens - First Wildlife Shoot, First Impressions and Full Review

The Fuji XF 150-600mm lens, box and accessories.

Having used the Fuji XF 100-400mm lens extensively for my wildlife and landscape photography I was very excited to hear about the launch of the Fuji XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens. While I had no complaints about the super telephoto lens that I already owned, in my mind the Fuji XF 150-600mm would offer me a number of benefits:

1. Longer maximum focal length

2. Internal zoom

3. Less reliance on a teleconverter

4. Even better image quality in some scenarios due to newer lens design and less use of a teleconverter

With this in mind I pre-ordered the lens, received it at launch and headed out to see what wildlife I could find to photograph. Below is a female Chaffinch which is one of the first images I captured using the new lens. The first image shows my preferred crop (a minor aspect ratio change from out of camera), the second is a smaller crop of the same image to show more of the detail on the bird:

When reviewing this initial image in my editing software I was very pleased with the sharpness and detail that was captured. Unfortunately the “internet” versions shown here are lower quality than my RAW files but hopefully they show some of the capabilities of the lens.

While on location with this lens I was using the Fuji X-T3 camera body. Most of my time was spent photographing static birds as there was lack of birds in flight that were suitable subjects. In the static scenarios I was presented with I felt that the autofocus found my subjects quickly and accurately and this helped me get a number of photographs that I am pleased with. As any wildlife photographer will know, small birds perched on a branch, object or on the ground can still prove difficult for both photographer and camera due to their small size, foliage and other obstructions, changing light and because they often don’t stay in the same spot for long. In my very limited opportunities to photograph birds in flight again I felt the camera and lens combination did a good job; although I was only out to test the lens I was able to capture some sharp images of gulls that flew past. I would love to try the Fuji XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR with the newly released Fuji X-H2S camera as I feel this combination may offer some benefits for wildlife photography, focusing and tracking birds in flight etc.

A young Great Spotted Woodpecker captured on Fuji X-T3 and XF 150-600mm lens.

Throughout my first shoot I felt that my new lens performed very well and I was comfortable using it handheld for most of the time that I was out. It comes with a strap which is very comfortable and the lens is well balanced which is an asset for both handheld and tripod use. The zoom ring is nice and smooth, as is the aperture ring which has a nice soft click to it as it is turned. On my first shoot I did not use the focus ring as the autofocus worked very well for my needs. At the front of the lens are four focus control buttons which I found quite useful and I am sure these will get a lot of use from me when photographing wildlife.

Chaffinch captured on Fuji X-T3 with XF 150-600mm lens.

Towards the end of my shoot dropping light levels resulted in me having to use higher ISO values to get the correct exposure on my photographs. With a camera such as the X-T3 this is not such an issue as it once was and I was still able to capture very good quality images. The following image of a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was captured using ISO 2500. In wildlife photography terms this is not an excessively high ISO but it was still a reasonable test of image quality on the Fuji X-T3 with the XF 150-600mm lens. Having looked closely at the image I am really pleased with the result, the noise is very manageable (thanks to the camera sensor) but what I was most keen to inspect was the detail captured on the bird at this ISO level. The fine, small details have been captured sharply - a very good result considering the overcast conditions and my camera settings.

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker captured on Fuji X-T3 with XF 150-600mm lens.

Overall I am very pleased with the Fuji XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens based on my first shoot. It is a very manageable weight considering the focal length it covers, and due to the internal zoom it feels well balanced. In my opinion it has helped produced some very sharp and detailed images with pleasing colours and I am looking forward to using it again soon.

I have produced a video showing my first shoot with this lens which is available on my YouTube channel Wayne Robertson Photography. You can watch the video by clicking here. Also, a few weeks after my first shoot, I’ve now published my full review of the Fuji XF 150-600mm lens. My review contains lots of information about the lens and shows 27 photographs and 7 videos captured using this lens. The review is available to watch here. If you’d like to see my future wildlife and landscape photography shoots with this Fuji lens then be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Landscape Photography with the Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens - Super Telephoto Landscape Photography

Many photographers will own a telephoto lens for their landscape photography but a super telephoto lens definitely offers some additional and exciting opportunities. I use the Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens for both wildlife and landscape photography. I suspect most Fuji users purchase the lens for photographing wildlife or sport but it’s a fantastic lens for landscape photography too.

Atmospheric mist across the landscape. Captured with Fuji X-T4 and Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens.

With the versatile focal length range extending to 400mm I can pick out compositions in the distant landscape which would otherwise be unobtainable. However it is not all about zooming in to the distant scenery, a long focal length is is also very useful for photographing small sections of a landscape, or isolating a single subject such as a tree or much smaller parts of a scene such as a few leaves on a branch.

Beautiful light on a distant section of the landscape. Captured with Fuji X-T4 and Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens.

The standard downside to many super telephoto lenses are their size and weight. Normally I will make an informed decision to carry only the Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens when I feel it is the best lens choice for what I want to photograph on a specific day. Compared to other super telephoto lenses I have owned I find its size and weight to be very manageable.

If you’d like to see how I spend a day with my Fuji X-T4 and Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens, see the images I capture, and hear some tips for landscape photography with a super telephoto lens, you can watch a video I have created on my YouTube channel here.

Fuji X-T4 and Fuji XF100-400mm Lens - First Wildlife Photography Shoot

Ever since switching to the Fuji line of cameras I have had my eye on the Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens. As someone who loves wildlife photography this lens seemed perfect for my needs offering a great focal length range which can be extended further by using one of the compatible Fuji teleconverters.

I’m happy to say that I have now purchased this lens along with the Fuji XF1.4X teleconverter; when using this teleconverter the lens has a maximum focal length of 560mm on my X-T4 which is fantastic for photographing wildlife. Note: when using the teleconverter the aperture becomes F6.4-8.

For my first shoot with this lens I headed out on an evening to try and find some roe deer to photograph. The conditions were quite challenging with a strong wind blowing and of course the ever decreasing light as the evening headed towards sunset. I found some roe deer near a corn field which made for a wonderful setting for photographs as the corn blew in the wind. Despite the aforementioned challenges the lens performed really well and I was able to get some photographs that I was very pleased with. Excited to try the lens more I headed out again the following morning and captured some nice photographs of deer in the golden morning light.

So what do I think of the Fuji XF100-400mm lens based on my first few hours using it? I’m very impressed with the lens. Obviously I can’t yet speak about it in a long term capacity but the build quality seems excellent and I found the size and weight very manageable for a lens offering this focal length range. I am very happy with the image quality - the photographs I took show great detail and look very pleasing. When using the 1.4X teleconverter I found the loss in sharpness to be minor and this makes the teleconverter a great choice when the extra focal length is beneficial.

If you’d like to watch the video I made of this shoot which includes plenty photographs taken with the lens and teleconverter, and also video footage captured using the lens, then be sure to checkout the video here on my YouTube channel.

Short-term Review of the Fuji X-T4 Camera

As I write this article I have now owned my Fujifilm X-T4 for just over three months, I’ve used it a lot mainly for photography but also for creating video too. It seems like the perfect time to sum up my initial thoughts and experiences with the camera so let’s get started…

Out of the box the newer model still feels very well made but also feels more comfortable to hold in the hand due to subtle size and design changes. The familiar Fuji dials on top for changing ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation are still present and I appreciate the new switch which enables me to change between shooting stills and video quickly and easily. A high degree of customisation is possible allowing the photographer to specify which action various button presses on the camera perform, and also actions can be assigned to swipe gestures on the rear screen.

The New Rear Screen

A new feature on the X-T4 which has proven divisive is the rear screen which is now fully articulating. I can definitely understand the mixed opinions on this…

My Fuji X-T4 with the new design rear screen

I really liked the screen design on the X-T3, I felt it was perfect for photography. However it is important to me that I am able to use my camera to record video too, and because some of that is recording myself it is a significant benefit to be able to see the screen and my composition, exposure etc. when I am facing the camera. With the X-T4 that is now possible. So for that reason alone I do prefer the new screen design over what was previously available on this line of Fuji cameras. In addition to this the screen itself is better, although I could not compare it side by side with the X-T3 I feel the higher resolution is making it easier for me to check my photographs are in focus and to see finer details when looking at a composition.

BUT it is not all perfect… A common problem with this design of screen is that their range of motion can be restricted when using a L bracket. Many landscape photographers use a L bracket and they work much better alongside the type of “tilt” screen found on the X-T3. As I write this a few companies are selling L brackets but I have not yet found a X-T4 specific one that is the ideal solution - manoeuvrability of the rear screen is restricted to some degree on all models. This is definitely a drawback and a frustration but not a fault of the camera itself. L bracket issues aside I really like the new screen for my needs.

IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation)

Another new feature on the X-T4 that I am finding really useful is IBIS. As someone who spends most of his time capturing landscapes with my camera on a tripod I don’t think this is an essential feature, but I’ve definitely used and benefited from it over the last few months. I’ll continue to use my tripod the vast majority of the time but having IBIS has encouraged me to take a few more shots (when suitable) handheld. I have made a few videos on my YouTube channel Wayne Robertson Photography testing IBIS on the Fuji X-T4, and also one discussing how IBIS helped me in two ways to capture a specific photograph. Feel free to watch those to get a lot more information on this topic.

IBIS Videos:

Fuji X-T4 IBIS Test For Photography - How Good Is It?

Fuji X-T4 IBIS Test For Photography With Fuji XF14mm Lens

How IBIS on the Fuji X-T4 Helped Me Capture This Photograph

Fuji X-T4 IBIS Video on my YouTube Channel

Autofocus

I’m finding that autofocus on the Fuji X-T4 works very well for me when taking photographs but I would like to see a performance improvement when I’m in front of the camera recording video of myself. The X-T4 offers both face detection and eye detection which have the potential to be very useful for people like myself when recording video, however I find they are currently (at the time of writing) not working quite as well as I’d like. When using continuous autofocus the camera seems to have a tendency to occasionally lock onto a subject which is not a face or eye. Fuji has released a number of firmware updates for the X-T4 which appear to have improved the autofocus in this type of situation, and it’s certainly not bad, but if it could be improved just a little bit more I’d be delighted. As is it still performs well and the X-T4 is an excellent camera for producing high quality video.

Final Thoughts

Prior to purchasing the X-T4 I used the X-T3, the experience of using both cameras is very similar but I feel the X-T4 is definitely an improvement overall. How much of an improvement it is depends on your own individual needs but for mine (using it mainly for photographing landscapes and wildlife and video creation) it was definitely a worthwhile upgrade. I’ve been getting some great results when photographing wildlife (more of that to come in future videos on my YouTube channel) and the overall size and weight of the X-T4 partnered with a suitable lens makes it a great and manageable setup for wildlife photography.

Some Photographs I’ve Captured With My Fuji X-T4:

The improvement in battery life over the X-T3 is noticeable and very welcome. Although the sensor has not been upgraded for the X-T4, image quality when partnered with my Fuji lenses remains excellent and it takes photographs that I am very pleased with. I find the look and feel of Fuji cameras to be very welcoming and it makes them a pleasure to use and in that respect the X-T4 is no different - it is an excellent camera which helps produce fantastic photographs and video and lets us enjoy the experience while doing so.

I've Switched to the Fuji X-T4

When I learned that the Fuji X-T4 was to be released and I read its specifications I thought it would be an excellent camera. However, due to having very recently bought a Fuji X-T3, I didn’t think I would buy one. Due to some unusual and unexpected circumstances I have ended up buying a X-T4, if you’d like to hear the story behind this and see my first images and video taken with my X-T4 you can watch the video on my YouTube channel here. In that video I also cover some of the main features of the X-T4 that I feel will benefit my photography and video making.

Due to the current virus situation I am unable to head out as normal and take landscape images so I can’t yet use the X-T4 as I would like. However I have been trying the camera indoors and in my garden and so far I am very impressed. It has built upon the very solid foundation of the X-T3 and added some new features which personally I will find very useful. In terms of shape and size the design changes are subtle yet noticeable and it feels a little bit more comfortable to hold and use. I feel very much at home with using the camera coming from the X-T3.

Some of the main features that have stood out to me so far are:

• The Rear Screen - although I really liked the X-T3 screen, overall the X-T4 design is more useful to me because I record video. Also the higher resolution means it is nicer to look at and helps when checking focus etc.

• New Battery - longer life, less changing batteries and I won’t need to carry as many batteries.

• IBIS - I spend most of my time doing landscape photography and nearly always use a tripod, but IBIS now means that there will be times I can get the shot I want handheld.

• Improved Autofocus - this will be very useful in my wildlife photography and for video making.

• Mechanical Shutter - it is now quieter, has a longer lifespan and has higher FPS in continuous shooting mode which will benefit my wildlife photography.

• Stills and Video - clearer separation of stills and video and the settings and preferences for each.

• Timer Settings - it is now possible to store your timer settings which I couldn’t do on the X-T3 e.g. the camera can optionally remember, even when switched off, that I had the 2 second timer activated. It is possible that Fuji could add this to the X-T3 in a future firmware update.

Be sure to watch my first X-T4 YouTube video linked above if you’d like to hear some more of my initial thoughts on the camera and see my first images and video.

#fujifilmx_uk #fujixt4 #fujifilm

The first image I captured with the X-T4 and XF16-55 lens in my garden.

From Canon 5D Mark IV to Fuji X-T3 - Why I Changed Camera

After using my Canon 5D Mark IV for over 3 years I decided it was time to change camera, and I purchased the Fuji X-T3. This wasn’t a decision I made lightly, and it was one I pondered over for many many months. The Canon 5D Mark IV is an excellent camera and with it I had a number of excellent lenses, unfortunately with that comes a lot of weight which isn’t ideal when walking long distances for landscape photography. Also mirrorless technology brings a lot of new features which I felt could benefit my photography, for example the EVF, seeing the histogram in the viewfinder and much more.

One of the first images I captured when testing the Fujifilm X-T3.

So eventually I bought the Fuji X-T3 and two lenses as my initial purchase and began a test period where I put the camera and these lenses through their paces. I wanted to ensure I would be happy with the camera and the quality of images it and the lenses produced. The short answer is that I am.

If you’d like to know the full details of my change, the lenses I’ve bought and why, what I think of the image quality and see some of the first images I captured with the Fuji X-T3 then you can watch my video on my YouTube channel here.