I think if Fuji X-Pro or Leica M ever gained mainstream popularity, you guys wouldn't feel so special anymore
Maybe when I was younger... but it isn't about that anymore for me. After trying so many cameras, I just know what I prefer... what shape I prefer, what IQ is enough, what size and weight I prefer, what price I am willing to pay, etc. It just happens that the X-Pro is my preference. It's the only camera that I just keep using and do not sell.
Wow, you are right...
Dogman
Mentor
The X-Pro3 doesn't do much for me--just a bit too "gimmicky" if that's the right word. The XP2 and XP1 have greater appeal so that's what I use. More power to those who like the XP3 but I like OVFs and the XP3 doesn't have as useful a viewfinder to me and that rear screen....
I expect that in the future virtually all standalone cameras will be specialized. The average family camera these days is the smartphone. That's settled without question. It's only a specialized group of people using cameras today and I expect that be even more the case. Those of us still taking pictures without using our smartphones will be looked upon as eccentric.
Brian Atherton
Well-known
You may be right…
Saturday I was out with three friends country walking and using my M6TTL with 2015 expired Agfa 200 colour neg film. One of my friends - a 36 year-old - was fascinated by my film camera and wanted to know all about the process, having never used film and knew nothing about it.
I really was taken aback and stumped for a while that a 36 year-old genuinely knew nothing about film. Granted he’s not ‘into’ photography and just uses his mobile’s camera, but even so…
giganova
Well-known
Met a Magnum photographer on top a glacier in the Argentine Andes a few months ago why had two worn (as in no black paint left) X-Pros dangling from his neck. He said X-Pros are the only cameras he uses. That made me think.
dee
Well-known
I have been hankering after an X-Pro2 body , but with some traumatic times behind me , I considering getting out of the camera rat race [ though a working rat X-Pro2 wouldn't go amiss LOL] and being satisfied with the X-Pro1 and X-T 1 , both beyond my modest abilities ... even down to the gem like X-T100 , just because ...
The x-Pro2might happen , but the GAS has dissipated somewhat .
dee
The x-Pro2might happen , but the GAS has dissipated somewhat .
dee
Huss
Mentor
That he was sponsored by Fuji?
giganova
Well-known
No, he wasn't.
But but Pros don’t use Fuji!
gavinlg
Mentor
But but Pros don’t use Fuji!
Ohh that's right.I'll add as well that the World Press Photo winner image for this year was taken taken with a Fuji, and there were more Fuji's represented in the World Press Photo pooling than Nikons (they were only second to Canon).
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
My very first trip abroad was to Switzerland. We were first Russian in small hotel. In same hotel NATO like solders were staying. ExFSU enemies. One evening, in the bar, I talked with one. It appears in Switzerland every male has to go for service. My drinking partner was dentist. He was frustrated.
At the end of the trip we went to local ammo store were those in service have to buy guns by themselves. And two of us purchased Swiss Army officer knifes like this:
The exercise they have to go while in service camp is to spend three days on the trees. This knife is perfect for it. For else, it is low quality knife.
Here is what I'm finding much more versatile and better quality.
Original Leatherman tool.
First time I read comparison with Swiss army knife was years ago from young fella about his Canon 7D. To me it was overloaded with over complicated features camera.
Just like this:
https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-victorinox-swisschamp-xavt.htm
This perfectly describes many digital cameras...
emraphoto
Mentor
I'll add as well that the World Press Photo winner image for this year was taken taken with a Fuji, and there were more Fuji's represented in the World Press Photo pooling than Nikons (they were only second to Canon).
I’ve always found the ‘Pros use and don’t use’ comments kind of funny.
Canon and Nikon became so prolific and visible as that’s what was in the gear pool for major outlets.
I have encountered BBC crews overseas using iPhones, I know folks who use 4x5s, Hasselbads, Fuji, Olympus, Leica, Sony and on it goes. These are folks shooting for very big outlets, producing work most of us see every day. I know a NatGeo regular who currently shoots a trio of Mamiya Six. I know the local CBC producer and her whole crew uses iPhones.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
BBC/CBC are companies burning hundreds of millions tax payers dollars on equipment which is inside of their main buildings.
Mobile phone rig in use by local media:
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I think next winner should be with utility allowing to disable, build as much of menus as possible.
If camera like some Fuji X cameras has ISO, shutter, aperture and exposure compensation on dials, it would be handy to have only WB, AF mode / points selection and flash compensation in menus. And nothing else. This would be true Leatherman tool.
Well, I could do it with Canon 5D series dials and buttons only already. Perhaps, Fuji X series are the same. But utility to disable menus I don't need would be helpful.
Canon has API, SDK for Wi-Fi cameras control available already.
Brian Atherton
Well-known
I’ve been advocating for this for a long time.
Why can’t I delete or offload all of the crap (Helen’s new favourite word) that I don’t want or need from camera menus, and customise the menus in my camera in the way I want?
I can do this on my iPhone, MacBook and PC.
Yes, I can ignore the stuff I don’t want (and yes, I know about the custom menu) but it clutters up the menus unnecessarily for me, and in effect the manufacturer is being inflexible - arrogant, even - on insisting on the way I use my camera.
Bottom line… it just rankles with me. Rant over.
Ste_S
Well-known
David Alan Harvey said a few Magnum photographers use the X100 now.
The Fuji connection should probably be taken in context though; Fuji sponsored Magnum for the Home project semi-recently.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMUUWQpuYOhiYAsKgTqTdQ
This is true, but DAH used Fuji before this project. Many of the others probably only used them during that project. That said, it can’t be a stretch that a few well known photographers would have the X100 series as their compact camera.
gavinlg
Mentor
Hilarious and great analogy - I used to love the Swiss army knives as a kid, but at some point I realised they're actually not that useful for anything. Leathermans are far more useful.
Now, what does it say about me that I mainly use one of these (in carbon steel):
Yes, and after a while the Swiss army knives all start looking the same. Something like a mercator k55k or a Higonokami is way cooler.
It's always seemed to me the 'pro camera' thing is a sort of justification for amateurs to spend $$$ on expensive gear. If I recall correctly you have used some pretty unorthodox and unassuming cameras on serious work as well John.
gavinlg
Mentor
I completely agree with this too - I've never owned a Leica digital M but they seem to me to have the best menus, meaning the least amount of unneeded crap in them.
shawn
Mentor
Leica's don't have a lot in their menus but the menus themselves are kind of a mess. Things hidden here or there (to keep the top level simpler) and they aren't consistent with how you use the buttons. The different levels of options (depending upon which button you go into the menus with) is a little weird too.
Fuji has a ton in their menus (cameras are extremely configurable) but after you set it up the way you want you really don't need to go into the menus at all. You can map all the common items to hard buttons or put it in the quick menu.
For relatively simple and straightforward menu I think Sigma's have the best setup.
Shawn