Two months with the X-E1

Fine images, thanks for sharing.

Nice to see what X-E1 is capable of...

I'd like to pick up the 60 and the 56mm down the line to complete a 14, 35, 56, 60 macro kit, but how are you finding it not having the 18-55 anymore?  I like mine, I think i'd be happy with all primes, but the versatility sometimes is really great.

Matz03 wrote:

I'd like to pick up the 60 and the 56mm down the line to complete a 14, 35, 56, 60 macro kit, but how are you finding it not having the 18-55 anymore? I like mine, I think i'd be happy with all primes, but the versatility sometimes is really great.

I only used the 18-55 in London, I had an X100 as well and that got 99% of my wider focal length use. I imagine the 35mm will be a almost permanently attached to my X-E1 now, with the 14mm and 60mm only being called upon for specific things.

57LowRider wrote:

That's a very nice Flickr set. Rather lays the belief about the camera's limitations to rest.

IMHO, this post attests to the photographer's skill to work around his gear's limitations, rather than to a lack of limitations per se.

It's the old adage time and time again: every choice constitutes a compromise, so choose whatever works best for you.

57LowRider wrote:

Roy van der Woning wrote:

57LowRider wrote:

That's a very nice Flickr set. Rather lays the belief about the camera's limitations to rest.

IMHO, this post attests to the photographer's skill to work around his gear's limitations, rather than to a lack of limitations per se.

It's the old adage time and time again: every choice constitutes a compromise, so choose whatever works best for you.

I agree, where there are apparent limitations, the cure is in other ways of working, and the ability to do that largely comes from skills and experience. This set shows that the apparent limitations are not insurmountable, far from it. If it shows that we have to engage a bit more, that's no bad thing.

Exactly. If anything, that kind of engagement adds to the experience, particularly when shooting for fun. I don't shoot professionally, and as long as a camera's shortcomings don't flat out prevent me from getting the shots I want, I just consider them part of the equation.

That is not to say that an X-E1 cannot be used in a professional capacity, just that this application imposes requirements that I don't feel subjected to. No mouth-foaming brides on my doorstep if I miss focus on one of my shots. 

All in all, these are exciting times for photographers and although I don't own an X-E1, I am keeping a keen eye on the system's progress.

Roy van der Woning wrote:

Exactly. If anything, that kind of engagement adds to the experience, particularly when shooting for fun. I don't shoot professionally, and as long as a camera's shortcomings don't flat out prevent me from getting the shots I want, I just consider them part of the equation.

I fully agree with this, I get far more of a buzz taking a sports shot with this than I did when I had a Nikon D90 / 70-200 2.8 VR, that thing would lock on without breaking a sweat and never let go, the little Fuji is far more hands and in many ways brings together everything I've learned from the past 10 years taking photos.

I've played around with Micro 4/3 gear extensively, used a 5D for sports etc, none of these would ever be recommended for the sorts of shots I take, but they can all do it quite comfortably. Reading a lot of stuff on he web, you would never get that impression.

jhorse wrote:

Hi, stunning set. Skill as a photographer very evident. I went to the Festival of Speed last year and with a D300s could not match these images. As one on the verge of buying a X-E1, would you let us into a little PP'ing secret? Software you are using, technique, etc. Many thanks and thanks for sharing.

My PPing secret is that there is very little PPing. I shoot in JPEG, transfer to my iPad, crop/straighten and maybe adjust colour (or convert to B&W) in Snapseed, then upload straight to Flickr. I can't remember the last time I used a PC/Mac. Average time spent on an image is about 30 seconds.

I hate editing, so the Fuji has been perfect, great colour JPEGs straight from the camera, and responds well to a quick B&W conversion.