Waiting, Impatiently, for Another X-T1

I have three Fujifilm lenses sitting on my desk.  I have the 23 mm f/1.4, the 60 mm f/2.4 macro and the 55-200 mm f/3.5-4.8 telephoto zoom just sitting here waiting to couple with a new X-T1 kit.  So where is it?

In a previous post, I noted that I received a new X-T1 with the 18-55 f/2.8-4 kit lens and started familiarizing myself to the menus, controls, functions and taking some initial test images to ensure the lenses are working properly and just to see how the images from this camera and lenses combinations work.  I immediately liked the camera, its images and the quality of the lenses.

However, I believe the image stabilization was not working properly, with either lens, through observation and testing.  I immediately stopped using it and sent it back to B and H.  They received it but they have none in stock!  Oh no!  I will now have to wait until they get a new shipment before I receive another copy.  Such is life.  I have no idea of when they expect another shipment so I must try to practice patience, which is difficult, since the siren call of the X-T1, its lenses and images has already reached my ears, eyes and hands.

Why did I move away from M4/3 and buy a Fujifilm X-T1?

I was talking on the phone the other day with a good friend, who is also a photographer, and he asked me why, as much as I liked M4/3, the Olympus E-M1 and the very high quality of the images from that camera, did I buy the X-T1?  Thinking about it, I think there are several reasons.

First, I hate to admit it, but one of the reasons is the dreaded GAS, or Gear Acquisition Syndrome.  I know, I know.  Ridiculous.  Doesn't make sense.  But much in our lives doesn't anymore It seems we don't quite outgrow GAS, for the most part.  But, for me, photography provides a dichotomy of internal satisfaction.  The act of finding and creating interesting or aesthetically pleasing images satisfies one side of my brain–the creative side, while the technology of the craft and its gear satisfies the other side of my brain–the science/technology/process side.  I love art, but most all of my higher education has been in the natural sciences.  I need both.  My wife has always said there is something about my brain that confounds her...

Secondly, I have heard so much about the subjective color, quality and "feel" of the Fujifilm image files using the X-Trans sensor, that my curiosity has really been piqued.  I bow to curiosity and want to see for myself with my own images and with my own vision.  Is there a difference to me?  I don't know, but I will find out. Similar thoughts occur to explorers all over the world.  What is around that next bend?

Third, I had used 35 mm film cameras from 1970 until my switch to digital in the early 2000s.  The digital SLR's images have the same ratio as that of 35 mm film.  Digital SLRs were technologically different, but the resultant images had the same proportion and look as film cameras, SLRs or rangefinders, which I also used extensively.  I like the 2:3 proportion.  I have never really come to like the 3:4 proportion of the M4/3 format.  It is the format of the old standard definition, analog television sets.  It doesn't fit my world view of a satisfying image.

That being said, I used a Pentax 6 X 7 for over 20 years, which has the same format of an 8" X 10" or 16" X 20" print.  That proportion is similar to M4/3, yet different enough that I find frequently myself having to crop the M4/3 format to one of the two ratios mentioned above to achieve a personal visual satisfaction.  Silly, maybe, but that is me.  Also, I like square images.  Totally different, but a satisfying look to them.  Just not 3:4.  I'll have to keep on thinking about why.

Lastly, my goal with M4/3 was to end up with a kit for "wandering" and travel consisting of only 3 lenses. Remember, I've been trying to minimize and go small and light but keep very high quality.  I already owned the Panasonic 7-14 mm f/4 and had just purchased the Olympus 12-40 mm f/2.8 (after selling the Panasonic 12-35).  With the 12-40's very close focusing abilities and already owning a Nikon 6T achromatic dual-lens close-up filter, I would not need a macro lens.  The Panasonic 12-35 would give equal image quality, but couldn't focus nearly as close.  I could do extreme close-ups with the Olympus/Nikon combination. The third in the triumvirate of lenses which would suit my travel needs and complete the kit would have been the Olympus 40-150 mm f/2.8.  I thought this last lens would have been on sale about now or early spring.  However, I read recently that it will be delayed until 2015!  Well, that entirely throws off my kit-building exercise.  In past travel, I routinely used focal lengths from 15/16 mm (35 mm equivalent) to 300 mm (equivalent).  The Panasonic 35-100 mm f/2.8 lens only got me to 200 mm (equivalent).  With the delay of the Olympus lens, I would not be able to complete my kit before an upcoming 30-day road trip this spring.  Go to plan B.

Plan B became the Fujifilm system–conveniently.  With the upcoming introduction of Fujifilm's 10-24 mm lens, the 18-55 mm lens and the 55-200 mm lens, I could accomplish my needs and only gain a bit of size as the lenses are a bit bigger than the M4/3 lenses, with the exception of the upcoming Olympus 40-150, which looks really large in comparison to the other M4/3 lenses.  So, it is kind of a wash.

Those are my reasons for switching systems.  These reasons are personal reasons and not for any reason of deficiency or lack of quality of the format.  It is just me. M4/3 is a terrific format with a bright future.  The quality of the images, as I have written in the past, is excellent!

Those who have been reading this blog for some time realize I have a Nikon D800E and several lenses.  I won't be selling those anytime soon, nor do I wish to carry all of that larger, heavier gear when traveling.  I am fortunate to have the means to afford two separate kits of different formats and I plan to utilize the strengths of each when necessary.  Right now, the Nikon gear focuses on moving subjects better than M4/3 and I'll see the difference between Nikon and the Fujifilm X-T1.  I'll let you know.

After having written all of the above, I still love M4/3 and I think it is a great format with great gear.  If circumstances come about that I don't like or am not happy with the X-T1 after several months, I won't hesitate to go back to the E-M1 and a few lenses as my main daily camera outfit.  Time will tell.

So, I wait patiently for B and H to get another batch of X-T1s in so I can continue my evaluation of the camera and lenses as well as get to know them intimately so, as we all should when out photographing, not have to think how to change settings when we immediately need to make the changes, possibly resulting in missing a desirable image.

I'll let everyone know when the new copy arrives.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!

Dennis Mook

Many of my images can be found at www.dennismook.com.  Please pay it a visit.  I add new images regularly.  Thank you.


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