Yup! You've read the title correctly. I have switched to Fujifilm camera; Fujifilm X-T1 to be exact. Bye bye Olympus OMD EM1. It is not that I don't like you, but.. I have to admit that your dynamic range capability just can't compare to Fujifilm. I know... it's because of your sensor size. Other than that, you are one good all rounder camera for me...
But I still have to let you go because I'm not that rich fella driving BMW or Mercedes car living in a private apartment with private pool. To keep two cameras and maintaining both camera at the same time is just impossible for me. So I have to choose, and I have chosen Fujifilm X-T1 to replace you...
But I still have to let you go because I'm not that rich fella driving BMW or Mercedes car living in a private apartment with private pool. To keep two cameras and maintaining both camera at the same time is just impossible for me. So I have to choose, and I have chosen Fujifilm X-T1 to replace you...
I love to shoot landscape. That is my passion. OMD EM1 (for me) just don't have the capability to shoot for landscape photography. Below is the limitation that I've find out:
- Wide lens distortion - mainly because of the sensor. When a small sensor is trying to get a wide angle view, the distortion effect is too heavy for me to handle (almost the same like fish eye effect). I don't know about other people, but for me, shooting with heavy distortion effect just make me felt dizzy - especially when looking into the viewfinder.
- Dynamic range - it is because of the size of the sensor. It just can't compare with DSLR (as of today... maybe it will be better in the future though. I know it will...)
- Hot pixel issue – when shooting for a long exposure; especially 30 seconds or more, you will notice hot pixel everywhere (check my previous post about this). I’ve seen people shoot with long exposure before (via online blog) and never had any complaint about this issue, but my EM1 just can’t do it. Honestly I don’t know why; and I’m too lazy to send it to the service center to check on it. Why? Because I just bought this camera and it should work as what I wanted it to be, and suddenly I need to send it back to the service center just because of this issue? And how long do I need to wait for them to fix the issue? I just don’t have the patience to wait for it.
Other than that, It is one awesome camera! No doubt about it. If you are looking for a small mirror-less interchangeable camera that will fulfill your requirements such as portraiture, sports, macro, street photography etc.. look no further. EM1 is your camera. With wide range of lenses, plus the image quality from the lenses; you just can't go wrong with it.
For me, it just don't have the capability that I wanted to use for landscape photography. The downside listed above is more than enough reasons for me to find another camera. At first, I was aiming at Sony latest mirror-less full frame camera - the a7/a7r. But with recent flaws posted on the net such as light leak issue, hot pixel issue on a7, noisy shutter sound, plus limited choice of lenses (and most of them is expensive!).. then I've decided to pick Fujifilm X-T1.
Last weekend I've got a chance to test this camera. I've paired my X-T1 with Fujifilm XF14mm f2.8 Wide Angle Lens. At first, I'd thought about buying the XF10-24mm f4, but as I said before - I just don't like distortion effect. Since using Nikon DSLR, I am used with Tokina 12-24mm f4 lens. With Fujifilm XF14mm f2.8, I'll get almost the same wide angle view. Minus 2mm just won't make any significant difference for me.. and I can live with that.
Image below is the final results from the Fujifilm X-T1 with XF14mm f2.8:
For me, it just don't have the capability that I wanted to use for landscape photography. The downside listed above is more than enough reasons for me to find another camera. At first, I was aiming at Sony latest mirror-less full frame camera - the a7/a7r. But with recent flaws posted on the net such as light leak issue, hot pixel issue on a7, noisy shutter sound, plus limited choice of lenses (and most of them is expensive!).. then I've decided to pick Fujifilm X-T1.
Last weekend I've got a chance to test this camera. I've paired my X-T1 with Fujifilm XF14mm f2.8 Wide Angle Lens. At first, I'd thought about buying the XF10-24mm f4, but as I said before - I just don't like distortion effect. Since using Nikon DSLR, I am used with Tokina 12-24mm f4 lens. With Fujifilm XF14mm f2.8, I'll get almost the same wide angle view. Minus 2mm just won't make any significant difference for me.. and I can live with that.
Image below is the final results from the Fujifilm X-T1 with XF14mm f2.8:
Just to let you know that both image above is edited from a single raw file. I'm using Adobe Camera RAW and Photoshop CC to edit the image and no HDR tonemapping was done on those images. The final results from the raw files just blew me away. I'm astonished with the amount of information available in those raw files! Seems like Fujifilm X-Trans Sensor is the "Full Frame" sensor for APS-C camera. Full of awesomeness!!
In a nutshell, if your passion is landscape photography - look no further. Get a Fujifilm X-T1. Period. You'll get the best raw file quality comparable to FF sensor, small body and lenses that's shall reduce the total carrying weight, plus not breaking the bank on your camera gear. For wide angle lenses, you'll get two options to choose from: XF10-24mm f4 and XF14mm f2.8 Prime. Both lenses got excellent review online. If you'd ask me, I'll pick the XF14mm f2.8 because you'll need that large aperture setting especially when shooting for astrophotography (such as stars and milky way during night).
I am new with this camera, and as of today I'm still in process of learning its functionality. So, stay tune for more updates from me soon!
In a nutshell, if your passion is landscape photography - look no further. Get a Fujifilm X-T1. Period. You'll get the best raw file quality comparable to FF sensor, small body and lenses that's shall reduce the total carrying weight, plus not breaking the bank on your camera gear. For wide angle lenses, you'll get two options to choose from: XF10-24mm f4 and XF14mm f2.8 Prime. Both lenses got excellent review online. If you'd ask me, I'll pick the XF14mm f2.8 because you'll need that large aperture setting especially when shooting for astrophotography (such as stars and milky way during night).
I am new with this camera, and as of today I'm still in process of learning its functionality. So, stay tune for more updates from me soon!