For the past few years, I've been using my Gitzo Series 1 Mountaineer as my primary tripod. It served me well when my primary camera body was the Fujifilm X-T2, X-T3 and X-H1. Once I bought the GFX 50S to use alongside my X-H1, I became acutely aware of the tripod's shortcomings. The Gitzo Mountaineer Series 1 GT1542 is an excellent tripod. Combined with the lightweight Arca-Swiss p0 head, the tripod weighed in at just under 3 lbs and featured a very slim profile when folded down. The 25mm max leg diameter contributed to this slim profile, and while it works well with entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless camera bodies, the slim legs are just a bit too thin for a heavier, professional level body like the GFX 50S. Most people with a larger, heavier camera would be perfectly served with any Gitzo Series 1 tripod, as they only need it for single shots in adequate lighting. In my case, I use it primarily for landscape photography, astrophotography, night photography, etc... situations that require long exposures and/or multiple exposures for stacking, exposure blending or panoramas. This requires greater demands on my tripod as any movement between shots can ruin an exposure. It becomes difficult, if not impossible, to work with multiple, misaligned exposures in post-processing, thus a lighter-weight tripod can cause problems as any flexing will result in misalignment. While I haven't gotten rid of my Series 1 Gitzo, I recently bought a Gitzo GT3542 Series 3 Mountaineer.
Medium Format Digital for Enthusiasts?
Now is an excellent time to get into medium format digital. However, there are a few things you need to know about it. Ignorance to these facts can result in an extreme level of dissatisfaction and regret if you don’t know what you’re getting for what’s inarguably still a large chunk of change. You’ll also need to honestly evaluate what sort of photographer you are and your expectations. While all of the technological and photographic principles are the same, medium format is a whole different beast.
Why I Bought a Fujifilm GFX
I'm obviously not a professional photographer. Now, some may take that to mean an enthusiast has no need for a "professional level" camera, but that is entirely untrue, even on a general level.
What the GFX offers is resolution. 50.1 megapixels of it. What I offer my camera is a crippled body, unable to get the most from any camera body. I can not hike as far, climb as high or go as long as an average photographer. I also cannot drive due to the medications I need to operate from day to day. Because of that, the GFX's resolution returns to me an ability lost by my inability to drive: repeatability.
Amazon Strikes Again…
So, just like what happened with the deal on the Gitzo Mountaineer GT1542 + GH1382QD kit, I got a price alert on a Gitzo Traveler GT1555 + GH1382TQD kit for 45% off the advertised price of $989. So I bought it, because I have no self control.
What If: Could Fujifilm Go APS-H In The Future?
Fujifilm proudly declared they would not be going with a 35mm sensor size in the future, for one, believing that it's a bit redundant since they currently cover APS-C and cropped medium format. There are significant benefits to both formats: the former covers a Super35 area and is currently fast enough for excellent video capabilities that consumer level 35mm cameras are currently unable to match, while medium format has a level of detail and low light capability that exceeds all current 35mm format sensors.
Back to my Nerd Roots: Upgrading my iMac
After 7 years, it was finally time to replace my mid-2011 21.5" iMac with something larger and more powerful. The transition to using Adobe Lightroom to process my photos, and the slow performance even when exporting JPEGs from the original RAW files was the driving factor toward making the purchase. It's my declining eyesight that convinced me to go with a 27" iMac over another 21.5" model, not to mention the lack of user-accessible RAM in the current 21.5" iMac.
V4.0.0 Kaizen Firmware for Fujifilm X-T2 is Out
It's on like Donkey Kong! On the way out this morning to Wallace Falls for a shoot and the news shows up on my twitter feed. I know I shouldn't mess with the firmware at this hour right before a shoot, but the excitement over the list of improvements got to me. Autofocus improvements, especially the increase in sensitivity down to -1EV is exciting...
The Benro Adventure 2 Carbon with B2 Ballhead
I’ve just bought my second “travel” tripod and I spent far more than I was expecting. the Benro TAD28C ended up being my primary tripod due to it’s well rounded feature set, despite it's size.
Alternative Lens Hoods for Fujifilm X-Series Lenses
JJC, Haoge and Vello have come to market with their own line of metal lens hoods that closely match Fujifilm’s optional designs but significantly undercutting them on price. I review three of them.
90 Days Later With My Fujifilm X-T2
Beginning with a Fujifilm X-T20, a cold, wet November hike to photograph Twin Falls enlightened me to the benefits of a weather sealed camera. It was then durability surpassed convenience in priority and I bought my Graphite Silver Edition X-T2. 90 days later, I feel I’ve spent enough time with it to render a proper judgment, so here’s my own review of what I’ve experienced and ultimately learned.
AT&T’s “Next” Upgrade Program is a Total Scam
AT&T just announced a new program to allow morons to upgrade to a new device every 12 months. first, here's how it works: choose any device at full retail price, pay for the device in monthly installments over a 20 month period, at the 12 month point, you may return the device to cover the... Continue Reading →
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