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Indulis Bernsteins
Lives in
Australia
Joined on
Jul 9, 2006
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shutterdragon: Welcome improvements! I still want Fuji to support in-camera TIFF.
IN-camera TIFF would be great for those "very special"photos where you want to get the Fuji film emulation or colours
QuarterToDoom: At least Barnes & Nobel got some kahunas http://androidcommunity.com/barnes-noble-reveals-microsofts-android-patents-in-detail-20111114/
In fact there is deliberately little or no expertise applied to patent acceptance in the US Patent Office, the IP system is now set up to use the legal system to decide who is right. Expensive, fraught with the dangers of having big players bully small players just from the sheer weight of their legal armies and resources. Irrespective of the actual IP facts. Though of course it keeps armies of lawyers employed. SOftware patents are particularly difficult, as there are "obvious" ways of doing something in the same way that there are obvious ways to drive a car around a 45 degree bend, given the same car mechanics and experience with driving around a 90 degree corner.
The patents which I love are the ones which implement known technologies and approaches and just insert the words "mobile phone" into something that has been done for 20+ years over wires.
bollzy: Of course, I've just bought an X10, and the only thing I want now is this X20. Crap.
If you have a DLSR you might not want to look at this as a replacement, but as a different option for you for different situations (e.g. travel, casual, video etc). IMHO the choices you have from most compact & lower cost & lowest photo quality to highest/largest are
consumer P&S -> advanced P&S e.g. LX7 -> high end P&S (G15, X20) -> compact system cameras (X-E1, 4/3 system) -> APSC DSLR -> FF DSLR
All of these are just examples. Of course then you have "niche" cameras like the X100s and Leica etc. So you need to think about your budget, how much use you will get in different circumstances from a new choice of camera. To get something that matches your budget and needs.
Hope that makes sense.
[waited too long to edit the original ;-) ]
bollzy: Of course, I've just bought an X10, and the only thing I want now is this X20. Crap.
If you ahve a DLSR you probably shouldn't look at this as a replacement, but as a different options for different situations (e.g. travel, casual, video etc). IMHO you have
consumer P&S -> advanced P&S e.g. LX7 -> high end P&S (G15, X20) -> compact system cameras (X-E1, 4/3 system) -> APSC DSLR -> FF DSLR
All of these are just examples. Of course then you have "niche" cameras like the X100s and Leica etc. So you need to think about budget, how much use you will get in different circumstances etc.
xchert: Should I be surprised there is no full HD mode at 30fps? Seems to me that 60fps is overdoing things (by a factor of two) for many video purposes. 36 Mb/s sounds kind of frightening, IMO...
Thats 36 Mbits/sec, not 36 MBYTES/sec, so not that bad
maboule123: iPhone & Androids: THAT'S the future!!
Optics says nooooo! (Little Britain quote)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_Ty_72Qds
tron555: "IF" Fuji can live up to ALL of it's marketing hype/press release promises and not have any of their famous 'white orb' like issues, this just might be a possible upgrade candidate. Those are some VERY big claims, like 30% less noise and 20% more resolution, and that extremely fast AF time! Only time and reviews will tell the true story. I personally hope they are all true, BUT something tells me they will not be able to deliver :(
No, the Fuji firmware update for the X10 claimed to fix the orb problem, but didn't. It turned out that the only real fix was a complete sensor replacement for the 1st production run of X10 cameras.
All the way along, Fujifilm did not admit they had a problem, saying it was "normal" to get some blooming. Which it is. But not the pacman like chomps out of cars, people's heads etc that the first X10s managed to deliver. So some of the cynicism you see results from Fujifilm's own spin and cover-up. As most Fujifilm owners are keen photographers , I think they misjudged their customers. Fujifilm would have been *much* better off ignoring their lawyers and spin merchants and just admitting the problem and doing a full recall/replace for any X10, irrespective of whether the current owner had bought it new and had a receipt, or bought it from an online auction site 2nd hand.
asad137: Anyone else bummed that Fuji dumped the EXR sensor? The X10 looked compelling as a camera to stick in 6MP DR400 mode and never have to worry about blown highlights -- the perfect everyday walkaround camera -- if it wasn't for the other issues. Now they seem to have fixed the other issues, but the extended DR modes are just the same highlight protection that everyone else uses with its attendant shadow noise penalty.
With the EXR sensor you drop resolution for dynamic range. With the X-trans you can get DR400 for ISO 800 at full res, on the X-E1 this is very low noise anyway. ISO3200 on the X-E1 is like ISO 400 on the X10. So, with the X-trans you won't get blown highlights, you will just have to bump the ISO up to a practically noise-free 800. Carry an ND filter for bright sunlight (4 stop).
Compare the X10 at ISO 100 with the X-E1 or X-Pro1 at ISO 800 using the studio shot comparison widget available in any full review (not preview). Similar res/noise. The widget will always give you the reviewed camera but then pick the X10 and X-E1/X-Pro1 in the other windows and ignore the review camera. Use the JPEG images for the X-trans 'cos the raw processors aren't as good as in-camera yet (mostly). The thread spools are a good comparison point in the image.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx7/10
More about dynamic range here
http://connect.dpreview.com/previews/fujifilm-x-e1/7
cknapp1961: Tried LR about a year ago. As a 51 year old guy who grew up on Kodachrome 25 in the 70's, still develops film up to 4x5, prints up to 16x20 from B&W, started using digital in the late 90s and shoot with a Nikon D700 now, who scanned thousand of old family photos a long time ago, learned to use a DOS DB before learning to use a WP, and cringes every time I hear someone say "folder" when they mean "sub-directory, I found LR unacceptable.
I like knowing where my files physically are, under ONE primary Sub-directory making it easy to backup to a secondary or tertiary drive, sync to Carbonite, or automatically add files to my system screensaver.
I learned 12 years ago to create a sub-directory structure, YYYY MO DAY DESCRIPTIVE WORDS (up to 64 characters), using 2xExplorer (a dual-pane file MGR), ThumbsPlus (a photo browser-linked to external programs such as PS). I learned 12 years ago to save edits simply by adding a "c" (for change) to the file name.
Never lost a file or photo.
...and what do you do if you want to find all photos with Aunty Jenny for her funeral, what do you do? Ah OK just physically look at all of your photos. Not a very good use of the computing technology available to you to make your life easier I think.
A directory structure is really just a set of keywords anyway, but just very restrictive.
The sooner you make the break from physical placement to tags/keywords, the easier it is to recall just a subset of photos you're interested in.
The only use for knowing the physical placement is to make sure that your backup for photos aren't on the same physical device as the originals. IMHO. Though of course if you want to be the "family photographer" who can't find the photos of Aunty Jenny thats up to you of course! ;-)
bigdaddave: Nice article, but I don't agree with any of it.
It's daft to have one ginormous catalog for eveything and there are much simpler, easier ways of both importing and organising pictures.
Lots of comments saying "one big catalogue does not make sense". In what way? Examples?
I can tell you a way in which it DOES make sense. No matter what photo you're looking for, you never have to go looking through (and loading) multiple catalogues.
The problem is that most people who've been using computers and are used to a "file-based" organisational system naturally thing about segmenting their data (=photos) into smaller groups, due to familiarity with directories.
IMHO unless you have a disposable set of photos which you will use once then erase and never want to see again, one catalogue makes a lot more sense.
The Metadata search and smart collections does the same thing as having multiple catalogues, and is more convenient.
Rol Lei Nut: A FF rangefnder with liveview and a *great* EVF, simple, direct controls and IBIS, which can mount my Rolleiflex and Leica R & M lenses.
Autofocus is not necessary, => *as long as the EVF is good enough* (ideally I'd like the viewfinder of my Leicaflex SL, but that would be impossibly expensive to make and would preclude being able to mount all kinds of lenses).
The new Leica M is a step in the right direction, but is too expensive, has no IBIS and the EVF isn't good enough for fast *and* accurate manual focus with non-rangefinder coupled lenses.
A compact FF dslr like an Olympus OM would be nice, but it must be able to
1) mount at least all lenses designed for slrs (sigh! Goodbye M lenses....)
2) have a truly good manual focus viewfinder, something *no* dslr has managed to do yet.
What about the Fujifilm X-Pro1 or X-E1. Takes great photos. Has Leica M lens adapter (though Ken Rockwell thinks the $600 35mm Fuji lens gives the 50mm Leica lens a run for its money). Not FF but has decent EVF, and picture quality is astounding esp at high ISOs. Yes I have one on order!
bradleyg5: Pardon my French, but what a piece of junk. 11 point AF with only a centre cross point? They trying to make sure this thing doesn't compete with the 5dII or what? Why does a digital rebel get more cross points.
Canon is continuing what they started with the 300D. Give *the bare minimum* and hold back as much as possible for future models. Cripple or remove features even if they had little/no cost in order to create "model differentiation". I've just about had enough of Canon's attitude to us. Am seriously considering selling up my lenses and flash and going Nikon instead of upgrading my Canon 30D body.
audijam: i have the same conclusion for Vertax BG-11. well built but the feedback from the buttons aren't the same as Canon legit copy and yeah Vertax is of plastic so it does feel different. however....it is still great value for its price.
Yes- non-genuine vendors should be forced to make grips in different shapes. Starting with a different profile that isn't matched to the camera body (after all the original manufacturer made the camera body shape!), and they should not be allowed to include any similarities that might encourage someone to mistake it for an original manufacturer's grip. It also must have a different number of switches, and have razor sharp corners so it does not infringe on the (probably patented) rounded edges. It should also preferably not behave in the same way ("look and feel" patents). If the original grip has a push-button, then the other manufacturer must "innovate" another way to do the job- a slider switch or a rotary switch, or a "pinch switch" or a morse code key for tapping out "T-A-K-E A P-H-O-T-O N-O-W".
Cloning and reverse engineering has been the lifeblood of innovation by allowing new to build on old (in fact reverse engineering is an allowable DRM/DMCA circumvention).
bikebum: hmmm, the wait for a high end compact with a built in evf continues.... maybe fuji x11?
I have an LX-5 and the EVF is fantastic- even though it is of low quality, it just changes how you take photos. Definitely worth spending money on.
Burbclaver: Australia's top rock photographer was asked the question "A lot of music photographers get irate about the contracts you're forced to sign that take away your copyright. Is that an issue for you?"
Here is what he said: http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/3564717
Or just do what I do when faced with a ludicrous agreement when I drop my car in for a service (i.e. "we accept no liability for any damage caused, even if caused by our negligence"), I just take the contract to one side, strike out the offending section, sign and hand back. I have not been asked to sign a new one yet!
KeeChiuPeng: Fujifilm shall replace the sensor of the affected models, irrespective in or out of warranty, just like automobile makers who issue worldwide vehicle recall to assure customers of the quality they put into their products.
WHERE did you get this misleading information? For a start, there is no offifical statement on any Fujifilm web site that I can find. Secondly, they are not issuing a recall (probably because it forces them to do what they should for all customers, and for no charge, i.e. not at their whim), just "offering" the sensor "upgrade". From the past experience, Fujifilm will continue to use PR and spin to avoid their responsibility to resolve the issue.
The Fuji "cover up" and spin continues- there is no official word on their global web page (or the Australian web page) about a sensor replacement for the X-10. So I have no confidence that the replacement will be offered in Australia. Am I supposed to buy the defective camera, then hope that I get a letter?
Valentinian: looking at the test.... am I the only one to see that the orbs are still there? smaller, yes, sorrounded by reflexes, but still there....
Fuji have been badly advised by their PR and Legal departments. They could have admitted there was a problem, told everyone that they were considering what to do, then inform everyone. The BS and spin has had a massively bad effect on their valuable corporate image (how many millions in advertising/PR has now been burned by the orb issue?), and they had to spend the $ anyway to fix the issue! Until company management has the kahoonas to stand up to stupid legal/PR advice (i.e. do their job, not just rubber stamp dumb advice) then they will keep running the company into the ground. And that's not just Fuji, it seems to be characteristic of many big companies.
bassandbligh: This camera is amazing!! Haven't seen the 'orbing' issue on any of the X10's we've sold. Over 30!! Think it's something of nothing to be honest. Half of the people who dislike it, don't even own one!
Yeah well if you sold them to suckers that are not dpreview followers then even if they had a problem and rang Fuji they would be told:
1) You are the only person that is having this problem
2) All camera sensors have some bloom, the camera is working as designed
How many people are going to back down and how many people will get angry and return the camera? Most people will live with the issue, though they won't be happy.
I get the same sort of BS from my car service centre ".bad radio reception- ah well all radios are not that good. You are the only one that has this problem." (after 6 months of complaining they replaced the antenna+base with amplifier and it was fixed!). Spin and BS seems to be what businesses run on today. Just keep getting new customers faster than you p*ss off the old ones and you can Ponzi scheme your share price up, and the board can take the golden parachute before the mob of villagers storm the castle.
Valentinian: I sent to Fuji support the following email:
"I would like to buy the X10. However, how can I be sure that I get the X10 with the new sensor (the one that remedies to the "orb" problem)?
How do I recognize it? can the new-sensor-X10 be identified by the serial number? which is the starting serial number that identifies the new-sensor-X10 ?
thank you"
"The firmware issue which addresses the blooming issue"- gotta love the British sense of humour! The firmware fix... LOL... (or was "blooming being used as an adjective- i.e. the blooming fimware which blooming well doesn't fix the blooming issue).