FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (196mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec, ISO160)
One year ago we visited a bird park close to where my mother in law lives. Now we came here again.
Back then it we visited the park so that my mother in law could try out here Nikon Z6. This time it was time to check out the new camcorder she got as a birthday present. She used to shoot video a lot in the past so she was very happy with her new toy. Where she struggles is the computer side of things. Some more training sessions are required I guess.
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (174mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec, ISO160)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (196mm, f/4, 1/900 sec, ISO160)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (126.8mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO160)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (70mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO160)
Of course I know that the Nikon Z6 is a perfectly capable video camera too but the point is: my mother in law doesn’t and I don’t blame here. I also always forget that my cameras can take videos too. If I shoot a video it’s always with my iPhone. But camcorders have other advantages too. The sensor is much smaller so focus is less critical and most of all reach is fantastic. The Panasonic camcorder we got her goes from 29,5 mm all the way up to 600mm. She loves long lenses so she was very happy with that. We also brought the Nikon Z6 with us just in case but she shot only with her new toy.
In the beginning we had troubles to figure out when we were recording. She handed my over the camera for me to try so I focused on the bird and hit the red button. I later found out that she didn’t stop the recording but I did. This went on for the next two to three enclosures. We recorded nothing except the walks and talks in between the what should be the recordings. Eventually we figured out our mistake and had a good laugh. What else can you do?
Like one year ago my main task was to support my mother in law with her new camera. How well that went I just told you but of course I also brought my camera to take some pictures. This time I also brought a long lens or the longest lens I currently own. Last year my longest lens was the XF 35/1.4 R. This time it was the XF 50-140/2.8 WR that I shot with the 1.4 TC attached. Much longer than the 35mm but at the end 200mm in total is not that long at all even on an APS-C sensor. That’s why some images are slightly cropped.
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (196mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (196mm, f/5, 1/640 sec, ISO160)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (126.8mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec, ISO1250)
Above I mentioned that some images are slightly cropped. Before I switched to digital photography I used to shoot slide film for many years. With slide film there is no cropping. What you capture is the final image. My first DSLR was the Nikon D1. A great camera with a 2.7MP camera. Again: no cropping since the resolution was already very low. My X-Pro3 has 26MP so there is some room to crop.
And of course because the XF 50-140/2.8 WR is tack sharp. Even if shot wide open, even with the 1.4TC attached! When it came out I was disappointed that it wasn’t a 70-200/2.8 but I understand why Fuji did it that way. Fuji didn’t want to compromise on its performance on the long end and rightly so. A professional, fast tele zoom is used on its long end a lot and shot wide open most of the time. There is no excuse, it has to perform and the Fuji does. It is an excellent lens.
All perfect then? Not exactly! Subject isolation and Bokeh could be better. It’s clear that if the size of your subject in your image is the same 140mm lens produces less subject isolation that a 200mm lens. The APS-C sensor doesn’t help either of course. This lens can’t produce an image 70-200/2.8 can produce on a full frame body. There is no way to deny that. But regarding size and weight this compares to a 70-200/4 lens on full frame and with those the Fuji compares very well. I used to own the Canon 70-200/4 L IS and later the Canon 70-200/2.8 II L IS. While the Fuji only has the subject isolation of the 70-200/4 it has the sharpness and optical quality of the 70-200/2.8.
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (154.8mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO400)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (196mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO250)
I’m a photography person but I now can see that video can be great fun too. Video has also improved dramatically. I remember the early days because two of my friends used to shoot video in the late 80s and 90s. Regarding technology we live in amazing times though in movies I still prefer the look of analog film.
It was a great day in the bird park. My mother in law truly enjoyed the time and she managed to bring home some great footage once we discovered to double check for the red light during recording.
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (196mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO2000)