Friend o' TOP Jeffrey Goggin sent along a picture of his current everyday outfit:
He comments, "If I ever had to pick one camera to use for a really long time (never say 'forever' when it comes to electronic devices!) then the X100S will be it...no hesitation, no regrets."
The companion WCL-X100 wide-angle converter, a lens hood, IR filter, and a slew of batteries are in the small belt pouch. Along with the compact tripod—which he needs because his major interest is long-exposure night photography—it all fits in a messenger bag. Fully loaded it weighs less than five pounds.
Lately he's been experimenting with high-speed flash work made possible by the Fuji's leaf shutter, such as this photo of his 78-year-old father doing his daily physical therapy walk (he broke his hip back in December and is still recovering. Right, they're already wearing shorts and T-shirts in Scottsdale, Arizona).
"I carry this camera with me pretty much every time I leave the house. It's also my street photography camera of choice when I'm in NYC, and I photographed with it extensively on my Salton Sea outing last December despite having a couple of much bigger guns along as well.
"Honestly, I continue to be amazed by the performance of this camera in all respects."
Mike
(Thanks to Jeffrey)
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
David: "Jeffrey, I was just watching a video review of this camera.... What's the thingumajig thumb rest on yours? And what setup do you have for high-speed flash?"
Jeffrey Goggin replies: The thumb rest is a Thumbs Up EP-5S from Match Technical and it really improves the camera's ergonomics so far as my large hands are concerned. (Yes, there are many less expensive alternatives around, but this one fit my hand best, so was worth the money to me.) As for which flash I'm using, I have a Fuji EF-42, which I don't necessarily recommend, but am using because I already had it on hand because I bought it two years ago with my X Pro-1. For this photo of my father, though, I used the built-in flash of the X100S...it's not powerful, as on-board flashes go, but I'm finding that it's often just powerful enough.
Shameless plug while I'm here: Feel free to check out my photo-blog and see some of the night (and other) photography I've been doing with this and my X-Pro 1 of late.
Elisabeth Spector: "Jeffrey—Thanks for providing the link to your blog. I'm normally not a huge fan of night photography, but I think that's because most night photography I’ve seen a.) is in color, with a very limited (and eventually tiresome IMO) palette, often with yellow casts from sodium vapor lights and b.) rarely seems able to display any conscious effort to capture, and capitalize on, light and form. Your night images don't suffer from either problem! Black and white certainly seems the way to go, and the tonality and processing style are both very much to my taste. Secondly, and more importantly, your images make fabulous use of light to accentuate the geometric forms of your subjects as well as to create compelling compositions (wonderful, balanced abstract areas of stark whites and inky blacks). To me, the images seem to be much less about the literal subject matter, and I think that’s the reason they are so successful.
"It's fascinating to me how these night photographs are the inverse in many ways of daytime images, with the negative space being dark instead of light, and with the light sources belonging to/emanating from the subjects themselves rather than coming from some remote source like the sun. I can't remember the last time I saw a group of images that made me see things in a whole new way—a way that made me really stop and think (and smile in appreciation of having discovered something new and beautiful). This really made my day."
Scott: "You know, all this hubbub about camera size is a bit overblown. I would love to have the image quality of my D800 in an easily pocketable camera, but there are times when it's nice to have a big, heavy camera, especially if you do long lens work. I'll probably feel differently when I'm older, but for now, I don't really mind carrying my D800 with 80–400mm when I'm chasing wildlife through the mountains, and I usually bring at least a few other lenses 'just in case.'"
Mike replies: Your view is a minority one, but it's worthwhile being reminded of it. I even knew a photographer who preferred big cameras—the bigger the better. He just liked 'em. He carried a Bronica GS-1 as a walk-around camera way back when—not the biggest of the medium-format beasts, but a big medium-format beast all the same.
Jeffrey,
I was just watching a video review of this camera...
What's the thingumajig thumb rest on yours?
And what setup do you have for high-speed flash?
Posted by: David | Wednesday, 09 April 2014 at 01:54 PM
For day-to-day go-anywhere, I have a very similar setup now. Not quite as small, but in the same league size-wise. It's a Fujifilm XP-1 with the 18-55mm (27-85 equiv) lens only. This is truly exceptional for a zoom lens. I carry a Fuji EF42 flash, a couple of filters and a Canon close-up lens, spare batteries, all of which goes in a Domke messenger bag. I don't often carry a tripod, but for this camera I have a lightweight Manfrotto in a separate bag that looks about the same size as Fabio's. I haven't sold my bigger stuff yet, but I do intend to prune it significantly!
Posted by: John | Wednesday, 09 April 2014 at 02:43 PM
David,
There are a few companies making "thumbs-up" style grips for the X100 and similar cameras. They range in price from about $12 to north of $100. I am not sure which one is in the photo, but I will tell you that they make a huge difference when handling the X100. I ditched my neck strap for a point and shoot wrist strap, and with the thumb rest carrying the camera around is effortless. It's definitely worth checking one out.
Posted by: BH | Wednesday, 09 April 2014 at 03:30 PM
All I can say is that front of lens converters must have come a long way since the 70's if they can be used for serious work now.
Posted by: John Robison | Wednesday, 09 April 2014 at 05:32 PM
There are several "ergonomically similar" cameras of varying sensor sizes, but every time that I think there might be a winner for me, I discover that there is no image stabilization (IS) built into the cameras.
I don't do tripods, and need it for low-light situations.
(For example, I'd love to have a Sony A7 for my drawer full of Leica glass. But no IS.)
Might as well keep using my Canon t2i with the Sigma 30mm f:1.4.
Posted by: Bil Mitchell | Wednesday, 09 April 2014 at 08:43 PM
"Already wearing shorts and T-shirts in Scottsdale, Arizona"
Truth is, that's pretty much year round attire. :)
Posted by: Brad Burnham | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 02:09 AM
The best compliment I can give you about your photographs: I am deeply envious of this work and its qualities, start to finish.
Posted by: tex andrews | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 04:28 AM
With respect, another guy who rocks the Fuji X100s and early on opened eyes to its potential is David Hobby at strobist.
Posted by: cgw | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 12:49 PM
And the tripod is...?
Posted by: Andrew Kirk | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 01:27 PM
Thanks for the link to the blog. Very nice work.
But I have to ask, what tripod is that in your kit? Thanks.
Posted by: Gato | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 01:40 PM
@ all who asked:
The tripod is the Benro Travel Angel, Model No. CT0681T. The legs and center post are made of carbon fiber, the complete setup weighs only 2.5 lbs, it extends to 61", and folds/disassembles to approx. 16.5" ... alas, it wasn't inexpensive and has now been discontinued, with nothing similar in their product line to replace it. Oh, and it also converts to a 48" tall, 1.25 lb monopod with just a hex wrench, which has proved handy a few times as well.
FYI, if you can live with a shorter (51") tripod, the Mefoto Backpacker is a good alternative for a lot less money.
Posted by: JG | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 02:37 PM
Very nice work at the blog, Jeffrey!
It's still early days with my own personal X100s, but so far I'm very impressed. I did try an inexpensive thumb rest to see if I liked the concept, but they are not for me. If you keep your thumb stationary and use the shutter button for all focus commands they are great, but I rely too much on having my thumb mobile for focusing tasks (command button for EVF zooming and AEL/AFL lock button) for them to work for me.
Posted by: Ken Ford | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 06:34 PM
Jeffrey, just curious: How on earth is the WCL-X100 worth it when it costs $300+ and only gets you an additional 6mm of vision?
Otherwise, great post--thanks!
Posted by: Tman1966 | Thursday, 10 April 2014 at 10:48 PM
The tripod looks very similar to my Benro Travel Angel. There are lots of variants with different number of leg sections and leg diameters.
Posted by: Michael | Friday, 11 April 2014 at 07:55 PM
@Tman1966:
"Value" is a tricky concept, as everyone judges it using a different scale. Personally, I find the WCL-X100 well worth the money because it adds a second focal length to my X100S outfit, which makes it more versatile hence useful for my purposes. You might consider a 28mm lens to be roughly the same as a 35mm lens, whereas I see them as two completely different lenses offering two very different perspectives. For the same reason, I will add a TCL-X100 (50mm teleconverter) to my outfit as soon as it's released, although it remains to be seen whether it'll fit into my present belt pouch with everything else. My fingers are crossed!
Posted by: JG | Friday, 11 April 2014 at 11:49 PM
Mike,
On the 'what's in the bag' theme, here is an interesting website that features just that!
http://inmybag.net
Posted by: Jeff Dalzell | Saturday, 12 April 2014 at 09:11 AM