I was all set to write a completely different article. I think it had to do with film, maybe. Not anymore. Now I'm frustrated, so I'm going to write about that instead. I love Fujifilm. I love them until I hate them. The problem is, I never really know what sort of day it's going to be until I'm out shooting.
Let me back up. I've been using Fuji X cameras off and on for the past few years, and I can honestly say that when they are working, the system is hands down the most fun digital system I've had the pleasure of using. In manual mode it's intuitive, responsive, the colors deliver, and the lenses are second to none. I get out on the job and I'm blown away every day by the images I'm getting back. And then the next day I want to throw the camera against a tree.
I think we can safely say that the Fuji system is mature. It has had time to work out most of the little quirks that plague any new system. So why can't I tether? Why does the dual card slot mechanism glitch out half the time I'm switching SD cards? Why are the TTL flashes garbage? Did I mention why in the name of the Camera Gods can't I tether?
The name of my camera is the X-Pro 2. It's not the X-Amateur 2. It's not the X-"It's 2004 and nobody tethers" 2. Get with it, Fuji! Just because the camera has a cute little optical viewfinder (that I think I've flicked on and off once) doesn't mean that I shouldn't expect a feature that's been on Canon and Nikon for over a decade. It's tethering. It's not like we're asking you to go full frame. Just make the feature available to those who may want it.
I throw a third-party flash on my little camera because I have to. Because Fuji's top of the line flash has a guide number of — wait for it — 42. A high school basketball score is 42, not a guide number for a professional system. TTL is great, grand, and wonderful, but if I'm shooting a wedding and my flash can barely light a small room, it's useless to me. Wouldn't it make more sense to have a product that pros can use to go along with your Pro camera?
Don't get me wrong here. Fuji has made leaps and bounds in the professional usability of their cameras. Autofocus is competitive, low ISO performance is good, great electronic viewfinders, boosted resolution, dual slots (when they work) are all great. Perhaps that's why it's so mind-bogglingly weird to me that they have crapped the bed so badly in the flash and tethering department.
If the status-quo remains, I'll just go back to Nikon and keep my X-E1 for fun. It's a great little camera with not a Pro in sight. Fuji, it's time to figure out who your cameras are for. Right now, I'm not so sure it's me.
Here are some answers from the FujiX Group on facebook to your article:
"Well two things - You CAN shoot tethered with the X-T1.
There is official software available from Fujifilm in the form of the HS-V5 software and if you don't like that you can use tethered shooting via the official Fujifilm lightroom plugin that is available for PC and Mac.
So this photographer should have done his homework before crying out loud.
Then there is also the fact that Fujifilm announced the introduction of the EF-500 flash system that soon will give him all he asks for. Its a pity that this flash has been delayed for the second time (first time was due to the insolvency of Metz.).
So again this photographer will soon get what he wants and there was again no reason to cry like a baby."
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"Does he actually know which camera he is using? He says -The name of my camera is the X-Pro 2. THEN he says.... keep my X-E1 for fun. ???? Nice shots though."
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look for yourself for further answers, almost nobody agrees with your article.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fujixphotography/
I shoot with an X-pro 2, not an XT1. The X-Pro 2 does not tether. I own both the X-Pro 2 and an X-E1.
Jeez, Jens, who's not doing his homework now? You got a real chip on your shoulder.
Your insults are out of line. I've worked with manual flash for 15+ years, and I'm no beginner or sluggard, but for event work, manually adjusting output of an on-camera flash is too slow when distances keep changing. I make a living shooting events, and I use manual off-camera and auto or TTL on-camera.
I couldn't agree with this article more. The writer is on point exactly. I sold all my Canon Gear 2 1/2 years ago and got a Fuji Xpro1 and XT1. I shoot with all manual Zeiss lenses,so the EVF and focus peaking are great. Being a photographer who started on film cameras in the 80s, I love the retro design of the Fuji X cameras. When they work correctly, they are fantastic cameras. On the minus side my XT1 right out of the box had a scratch on the inside of the glass on the sensor. Fuji said it was a defect and it had to be replaced. After a year my Xpro1's power distribution board went out (in the middle of a shoot!!), I had to pay Fuji Repair $225 to fix it. Now my Xpro2 that I got from B&H just 8 weeks ago has also had issues right out of the box and is currently at Fuji Repair. So as much as I love many aspects of Fuji cameras. I think they need to step up their quality control.
Waiting for the "You can't shoot professionally with crop cameras" people to make a comment...
We've already heard from the "You must shoot professionally with manual flash" contingent. They'll string me up when they find out I shoot professionally with MFT and TTL. I must be a noob. Don't tell E*TRADE, Colgate, the US State Department, or my other piddly little clients.
Flash hasn't been a problem for me. For on camera stuff, I use either the EFX20, it has TTL and it's very small, (although recycle time is slow, so not for everyone), or when I need more power I use a Nikon SB27 on auto mode, not as flexible as TTL, but works for me. I think Nissin has the i60 for Fuji now. There are options.
I having been eyeing this camera for a while. I would switch over to Sony completely if they had a usb 3.0 for tethering, With 40 megapixels tethering with a micro usb 2.0 just won't cut it for my work. Almost ALL of my clients want tethering and I also love tethering. I decided to go with the 5Ds recently after my 5dMIII was stolen bc of the USB 3.0 they decided to put in the camera. The Fuji looks great and not sure it is intended for studio tethered shooting but would be a nice plus, from what I have read FUJI does listen to it's customers and improved many things on it's newer version. So keep asking and I am sure they will improve it!!
I am thinking about picking up a FUJI here soon as a back up or walk around camera. Looks promising!!!
Is this the best all around zoom lens to buy for the fuji? Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR Lens.
What are your thoughts..
I had that lens for a bit and got rid of it. Could never get the images as sharp as i wanted.I was getting better results with the kit lens. Perhaps I had a bad copy. The 50-140 is magical, though.
Thanks, might try that down the line but I need something a bit more wide to normal. That 50-140 is like a 76-213 supposedly. Any other suggestion or are those the only zoom lens available. Any suggestions for 2 primes? Semi wide to normal?
Thanks, I am just thinking about getting a Fuji and no nothing about the lenses.
Please Fuji, ignore everything in this editorial! Do not endeavor to make the X-Pro line into a bloated studio camera. Save that for XT line. If you buy a Mini, don't be angry when you can't move a section couch with it. Different tools for different scenarios.
The X-Pro 2 is by far the most feature rich camera Fuji has made. The number of options dwarfs that of the X-T1. The bloat is already there. It is not, nor has it ever been, some pared down model for only documentary and candid photography. It is also a $1700 camera. What you're saying would make sense if I were frustrated about a camera in the X-E line, but Im not. From the beginning, Fuji has marketed this a camera that can stand toe to toe with the big boys. So blame the marketing for setting my expectations of the camera. Not me.
The flash thing seems to be blown way out of porportion. The GN of the EF-42 flash is 42 meters @ ISO100 @105mm zoom. The Canon 600RT has a GN of 58 @ ISO100 @ 105mm zoom. That is one stop. Nominally, one to two thirds of that can be compensated for by the fact the Xpro2 has a faster x-sync speed than a 5D series camera. The fact that both will likely truncate the flash exposure at full power at max x-sync, this will vary some. But the "42 is a HS basketball score" is ridiculous, as "58" or even "60" is not that much more, numerically. Disadvantage goes to Fuji, but would you make the same stink as a one stop difference in ISO performance, or the difference in f/2.8 vs f/4 or ISO 6400 vs 3200?
You have some good points here! As far as guide numbers, they can be misleading depending on the distance at which we are comparing. That said, however, almost 30% more power is nothing to sneeze at (granted the Canon flash costs 3x more).
I'm not sure how a faster sync speed compensates for less power. Perhaps I'm missing something there. Are you saying that because the XPro-2 has a faster sync speed there's less need for ND compensation? That's true, except for one major thing. The EF-42 doesn't have HSS. Even a Canon 430EX has high speed modes that would render any minor sync speed advantage completely moot.
Here's the deal: I barely ever use TTL. I mostly use bigger studio strobes outdoors. It's just the way I learned. The TTL issue is just one more straw that's piling up. I know that the way I present my points is admittedly hyperbolic, but that's how I felt when I was writing. Perhaps the most frustrating thing is that Fuji has proven to us over and over again that they can deliver. The fact that they choose not to is the worst part.
Yes, yes, yes! At last somebody tells it as it is. It is 2016 and we TETHERING! Fuji has one (un, uno, einz, 1) camera body that tethers, and even that one does not work with the tethering king, Capture One.
Please: Everybody that wants Fuji to get serious with tethering, write Fuji a letter. I did. And I use every chance I get to talk about it. Because I want Fuji to survive as a professional system, and ignoring basic needs for working in a studio (and on location) is just plain dumb.
Tether people: Make some noise!
Yeh, I would have completely switched over to Sony with the A7rII if they would have put a USB 3.0 in it. I guess they forgot a lot of photographers who shoot high megapixel cameras like to shoot tethered. Almost 90% of my clients want tethered shooting and now they are asking for it a lot even on locations which is a PIA to say the least as it is not them that have to worried about it being complicated with laptop batteries not lasting long, cables to trip over, dust etc. etc.. But hey They pay the bills at the end. If sony put's USB 3.0 in their next camera, I will switch myself.
Does anyone know whether off camera flash would work with the Yongnuo YN-622N TX controller and SB-900 on the X-T1 or X-T2 ? Would it be possible to remotely control the flash power with such a combination ?
Thanks in advance.