X-PRO 3 DR Black report from the cold North Kamchatka ski trip

[Jasko014]

I received my DR Black on 12.12. for the trip, which started on the same day, so I learned the menus and camera handling on the board of the plane. I was on backcountry ski touring on north of Kamchatka peninsula and it was very cold and windy, temperatures were between -25 to -30 degrees celsius. I took two cameras for every case, if one goes out because of the cold, X-PRO 3 and SONY RX1-R. X-PRO 3 battery did behave extremely well, I did make 347 shots in one afternoon and after shooting the battery did show 4 out of five lines (80 percent). In the attachment some photos from the trip.

What do I like especially on X-PRO 3:

1) Quality of file in RAW and JPG;

2) CLASSIC NEGATIVE color profile;

3) How light and good it is in combination with Fujinon 35/2, which is fantastic little lens;

4) AF is much improved in comparison to XT-1;

5) Battery life;

6) shooting using OVF;

What I do not like:

1) Camera is not so scratch resistant as they said or the quality of painting is suffering; Some color already off on the edges of the top plate, although I was extremely careful with the handling of new camera;

2) Switch ON/OFF switches on and off much too easy. Handling the camera in the gloves did result in switch on the camera when putting it into the camera bag between shooting. Is it only me or still somebody else has a problem ?

3) Exposure compensation dial turns too easy. I did fix it with the tape on the position of -1/3 during the whole trip. The X-PRO 3 overexposes in my case. Same was on my XT-1.

All in all nice little camera with the best color engine I experienced till now.

Happy shooting everyone.

Jaka

 

[chrismosk]

[No message]

 

[Wezre]

Some really stunning work. Especially love the shots of the mountain and the fox.

 

[Truman Prevatt]

I received my DR Black on 12.12. for the trip, which started on the same day, so I learned the menus and camera handling on the board of the plane. I was on backcountry ski touring on north of Kamchatka peninsula and it was very cold and windy, temperatures were between -25 to -30 degrees celsius. I took two cameras for every case, if one goes out because of the cold, X-PRO 3 and SONY RX1-R. X-PRO 3 battery did behave extremely well, I did make 347 shots in one afternoon and after shooting the battery did show 4 out of five lines (80 percent). In the attachment some photos from the trip.

What do I like especially on X-PRO 3:

1) Quality of file in RAW and JPG;

2) CLASSIC NEGATIVE color profile;

3) How light and good it is in combination with Fujinon 35/2, which is fantastic little lens;

4) AF is much improved in comparison to XT-1;

5) Battery life;

6) shooting using OVF;

What I do not like:

1) Camera is not so scratch resistant as they said or the quality of painting is suffering; Some color already off on the edges of the top plate, although I was extremely careful with the handling of new camera;

At -25 to -30 deg C, paint and metal have going to have different expansion/contraction properties. I'm not surprised it is showing some "bronzing" on the edges.

2) Switch ON/OFF switches on and off much too easy. Handling the camera in the gloves did result in switch on the camera when putting it into the camera bag between shooting. Is it only me or still somebody else has a problem ?

Yea I could imagine issues with the switch on my Pro2 or H1 not being all that robust with gloves and the EC dial not being optimal with gloves

3) Exposure compensation dial turns too easy. I did fix it with the tape on the position of -1/3 during the whole trip. The X-PRO 3 overexposes in my case. Same was on my XT-1.

All in all nice little camera with the best color engine I experienced till now.

Happy shooting everyone.

Some nice shots.

--
"If you learn only methods, you’ll be tied to your methods, but if you learn principles you can devise your own methods." Ralph Waldo Emerson
___
Truman
www.pbase.com/tprevatt

 

[Jasko014]

Thx !!!

 

[Jasko014]

Thank you Wezre !!!

 

[Jasko014]

I received my DR Black on 12.12. for the trip, which started on the same day, so I learned the menus and camera handling on the board of the plane. I was on backcountry ski touring on north of Kamchatka peninsula and it was very cold and windy, temperatures were between -25 to -30 degrees celsius. I took two cameras for every case, if one goes out because of the cold, X-PRO 3 and SONY RX1-R. X-PRO 3 battery did behave extremely well, I did make 347 shots in one afternoon and after shooting the battery did show 4 out of five lines (80 percent). In the attachment some photos from the trip.

What do I like especially on X-PRO 3:

1) Quality of file in RAW and JPG;

2) CLASSIC NEGATIVE color profile;

3) How light and good it is in combination with Fujinon 35/2, which is fantastic little lens;

4) AF is much improved in comparison to XT-1;

5) Battery life;

6) shooting using OVF;

What I do not like:

1) Camera is not so scratch resistant as they said or the quality of painting is suffering; Some color already off on the edges of the top plate, although I was extremely careful with the handling of new camera;

At -25 to -30 deg C, paint and metal have going to have different expansion/contraction properties. I'm not surprised it is showing some "bronzing" on the edges.

I thought the same, was really cold.

2) Switch ON/OFF switches on and off much too easy. Handling the camera in the gloves did result in switch on the camera when putting it into the camera bag between shooting. Is it only me or still somebody else has a problem ?

Yea I could imagine issues with the switch on my Pro2 or H1 not being all that robust with gloves and the EC dial not being optimal with gloves

XT-1 switch on is more robust.

3) Exposure compensation dial turns too easy. I did fix it with the tape on the position of -1/3 during the whole trip. The X-PRO 3 overexposes in my case. Same was on my XT-1.

All in all nice little camera with the best color engine I experienced till now.

Happy shooting everyone.

Some nice shots.

Thx Truman.

 

[Tom Schum]

2) Switch ON/OFF switches on and off much too easy. Handling the camera in the gloves did result in switch on the camera when putting it into the camera bag between shooting. Is it only me or still somebody else has a problem ?



Jaka

I love this shot!

On/Off switch design is quite like the one on my X-E1. It is very easy to use and easy to turn on without thinking.

The switch in my X-T3 is much better, but might be difficult to turn on with heavy gloves.

I remember my X-T100 had an even better switch, but it would be near impossible to turn on with heavy gloves.

Compromises, compromises. Have you thought about grinding it down? Just joking!

--
Tom Schum
Copper: Mankind's favorite electrical conductor

 

[Jasko014]

Thx Tom,

this is highest active volcano in Evrasia, called Klyuchevskaya, 4875 m above sea level.

I did, HAHAHA.

Jaka

 

[Foxjet]

Hi Jaka,

Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos from your adventure in such a beautiful place.

 

[Jasko014]

Thank you Richard. Welcome.

 

[The Davinator]

Beautiful. Love Fuji color

 

[Jazz1]

Beautiful shots!!! The colors are so rich.

I am sorry to learn about the wear on the camera even though it has a Dura coating. Mine just arrived, so I’ll be checking for that issue.

 

[a_c_skinner]

Nice images. Truly. Were you sleeping in heated accommodation and taking the camera out warm each morning? Did you try to keep it warm during the day or was it just out or in a cold bag?

I ask as I am off to arctic Finland soon. The coldest it has been when I've been there is -34, but -10 to -20 is commoner.

 

[Jasko014]

Thank you ! Me too.

 

[Jasko014]

Thx, take care.

 

[Jasko014]

Andrew, 3 days we were without heating and I had a camera in cold bag, old Tamrac Model 515. Before put it back into 515 Tamrac bag after shooting, I put it into additional layer, a Polartec Arcteryx face wind mask. l carried additional batteries in an inner pocket of my Goretex 800 down jacket.

Wish you a good trip to Finland.

Jaka

 

[Jasko014]

Andew, this was nest for my X-PRO 3 in the cold.

 

[a_c_skinner]

That is impressive, both your fortitude (we will be warm at night with short ski trips on prepared loipe) and the camera. I'll quote this the next time people ask about cameras in the cold as citing my experience is considerably less impressive.

I've been to Finland on many occasions and always had a small camera in a ziplock bag in a pocket. Most recently a Fuji X-E2 with a small prime lens and never had trouble in the -20 to -10 range but it was starting out warm and only out for a few hours.



(Stitched from many frames with the 60mm macro)

--
Andrew Skinner

 

[Jasko014]

Thank you Andrew. Conditions were often like that )).