False Bird of Paradise

Photo: December 28, 2011 | flickr

The False Bird of Paradise, or Lobster claw, Heliconia rostrata, in Brisbane Botanic garden at Mt. Coot-tha. The photo was taken with Fuji X10 on tripod, at iso 100, F3.6, exposure compensation -0.7 (but red channel was ever-exposed anyway), exposure 1/25 sec. The background was edited in GIMP a little bit: the brightness was reduced in a couple places, and blur was applied. The original image is on my flikr page. The unedited 100% crop from the original JPEG is posted below. 

Craneflies with Fujifilm X10

Photo: December 30, 2011 | flickr

I have not used compact cameras for years, and forgot all the fun of point-and-shoot that is always with you. This morning I had ~20 minutes of free time in a small park at Chapel Hill and went to take pictures of unknown flowering vine with Fuji X10. I spotted a pair of mating craneflies on the same vine, and took several pictures in supermacro mode (iso 400, F4.0, 1/75 sec for picture above). The depth of field is quite amazing for F4.0. The insect is Tiger Crane Fly, Nephrotoma australasiae (Tipulidae family) which is quite common in Brisbane, or similar species. As usual, non-modified 100% crop of the original image is posted below.

Another cranefly image on my flikr page.

Fujifilm X10: RAW or JPEG?

 I spent more time with the SILKYPIX software and RAW files from Fuji X10 but without obvious progress. The converted images are soft and dull compared to out of camera JPEGs. So, I ended up with GIMP and color adjustment in OOC JPEG. I may play with SILKYPIX a little bit more but it seems that shooting RAW with X10 is not usable option for me right now. It is not a deal breaker for me, the JPEGs out of camera are good and have smaller size compared to RAF files (RAW images from X10). 

There are several threads on SILKYPIX in Fuji X10 group on flikr, and it seems that other people also have similar problems with the RAW developer. To be fair, several experienced users of SILKYPIX from this group are reasonably happy with quality of RAW to JPEG conversion.

On the top is OOC JPEG, and at the bottom the same image tweaked in GIMP. I don't like the resulting colors :( The shot was done at twilight at iso 400, F3.6.

Shooting RAW with Fujifilm X10

One of the selling points of Fujifilm X10 is ability to shoot a RAW images. Just a brief intro: sensors in digital cameras convert light into electric signals, and the signals are processed into picture such as JPEG. The RAW files contain output from sensors, and it is possible to develop JPEG image later from RAW file. The benefits are very significant. The RAW files can be developed with different parameters such as color balance, noise reduction, exposure compensation and some others. Because image processing parameters can be applied later, it is does not matter much what parameters (such as a white balance) the camera had at time of shooting. Obviously, JPEGs also can be edited in Photoshop or GIMP but RAW files have more information than JPEGs, and the results are generally better. Shooting RAW comes at some cost: RAW files are big, and the development of RAW images requires a dedicated software.

Today I used the X10 at somewhat challenging light, and decided to write RAWs as a back up. It is very easy implemented on X10: push the dedicated RAW button and the camera will take next image both as JPEG and RAW. It is possible to set up RAW shooting but I used the RAW button.

My initial impressions from X10 RAW files are rather mixed. The files are big, over 19 Mb. For comparison, Olympus E-30 with the same pixel count produces ~12 Mb RAWs. It seems that the SILKYPIX converter produces crop(?) of the image compared to out of camera JPEG (OOC JPEG). The difference is not big but I am surprised that the proprietary software produces different image. Even more surprising, the pixel sizes of OOC JPEG and JPEG developed from RAW are identical, 4000x3000 pixels.

The default parameters of  the SILKYPIX converter result in very soft(?) JPEG. I guess it can be adjusted to the same level as OOC JPEG but I just not familiar with the SILKYPIX software.

Update: I checked the latest release of UFRaw, RAW converter plugin for GIMP, and it does not support X10 :(

Orbs that ruined my images and life

Photo: December 19, 2011

Shortly after the release of the Fuji X10 camera early adopters became aware about so called "white disc" problem, or orbs. It seems that the sensor in the X10 can bloom under intensive light and produce white discs or spheres. There are insane number of discussions on various Fuji forums dedicated to this topic. For me it is not a big issue, but for other people it might be. I bet that in the photo above even at A4 size the orbs wouldn't be visible. Shooting at high iso (400) and with high dynamic range (400%) will reduce orbs, and Fuji will address this issue by firmware upgrade. 

useful links for Fujifilm X10 users

This post contains links to useful information on Fujifilm X10 camera. I plan to add more links in the future.

Hidden features of X10: discussion on flikr.
This thread is one of many Discussions in Fuji X10 group. It seems that at time of writing it is the biggest and the most active group for this camera.

Reviews of Fuji X10 (actually, opinions of photographers about the camera, not tech reviews):
The Luminous Landscape
Digital Outback Photo
Serious Compacts

How to deal with the "white discs" problem (hopefully the software upgrade will make this link redundant).

bugs with Fujifilm X10

Photo: December 26, 2011 | flikr

Photo was taken with Fujifilm X10 in the Springbrook national park, SE Queensland. Tech: supermacro, iso 400, exposure compensation -0.3, F4, shutter 1/12 sec (handheld). The supermacro mode on Fuji X10 is limited to 28mm (equiv.), so it is not really bugs-friendly but still usable. The image above was cropped from the original file and downsized ~ two times. The bug is small, about one centimeter. Below I included unedited 100% crop from the original image with my thumbnail as a scale. Click on image to see the bigger size.
 

Supermacro on Fujifilm X10: iso 400

Photo: December 23, 2011 | flikr
Another example of supermacro shot with Fujifilm X10. It was cloudy, so the shot was at iso 400, F5, 1/180 sec. Below is 100% crop from the original image.

Filters on Fujifilm X10

Fujifilm X10 camera has a very bright lenses with very big front element. It is good idea to put UV filter for protection, especially if you take pictures on a beach or play with supermacro mode. In supermacro mode camera can focus at very shot distance, and if you are really close you may hit the subject with the lenses. It does happen to me a couple time on windy weather. Unfortunately, adapter and hood combo from Fuji costs about 80 Australian dollars, which is a lot, so I opted for a generic step-up ring (40mm to 49mm) and thin 49mm UV filter. Please note that for the photo above I unscrewed both the step-up ring and filter to get the labels on the top, so the whole assembly is even more compact. The step-up ring goes in freely and sticks to the lenses firmly. There is a catch, unfortunately. I also got clip-on lens cap, but the thread on the filter is very narrow, and the cap hits the filter. I wish I can get old-style cap, similar to what Fuji provides with the camera. The standard filter will make the whole thing a couple mm longer but the cap will fit perfectly.

I may try 40mm UV filter if I can get one. In this case camera will be even more compact, and it would be possible to use the original cap from the camera.

Update. I added one image of the camera with the step-up ring and filter mounted on extended lens (camera switched on), and photo of lens thread next to step-up ring and filter stacked together.

On the photo above both the step-up ring and filter were unscrewed a little bit to show the labels.

Red color in Fujifilm X10

This shot of Crimson Bottlebrush, Callistemon citrinus,was taken with Fujifilm X10 at iso 250, F5, 1/550 sec, low noise reduction. To my eyes, the noise is essentially nonexistent (click on image below to see 100% crop). However, the regions with red color show little details. In some places the filaments and styles were not separated but merged into one red area. The red channel was slightly overexposed/clipped in this image, and this is very common problem with red flowers. Personally I would not worry about this: digital cameras have problems with red color, and I do not print my pictures at big size. 

Supermacro on Fujifilm X10

Photo: December 23, 2011 | flickr
African Iris, Dietes bicolor. Supermacro mode on Fujifilm X10. Minor crop of the original image. Shot at iso 100, spot exposure metering, exposure compensation +0.7, F3.6, noise reduction low. I changed the levels in GIMP a little bit. Below is unedited 100% crop from the original image (click on image to see the 100%).

Fujifilm X10: part 2 (handling)

I want to praise Fujifilm for X10 design. It is very handy photographic tool. The X10 is my first Fuji camera, so both menu and logic behind it is new for me. After several days of shooting I can say that it is very thought out camera. For me the implementation of zoom is the selling point for the camera. You rotate the zoom ring on the lenses, and you got the right position instantly! No going back and forward with buttons trying to get the right framing. I wish the direction of zoom will be opposite but I will get used to it at some point. I mainly use Aperture priority mode and change iso a lot. Pressing the Function (Fn) button on the top of the camera allows change iso with wheels or four-way controller. The other very useful buttons are focus point selection (AF) and exposure mode (AE). I don't want pre-focus re-compose in supermacro mode, and X10 menu allows very fast selection of the focus point. I am quite happy with Auto white balance on X10, but it is handy to have dedicated button. The four-way controller is very handy, too. It turned out that I very often switch between normal and supermacro mode using Macro menu. Obviously, Exposure compensation dial on the top of the camera is very handy. I have not used RAW and/or buttons. I tried AEL/AFL, and it seems that it is better implemented compared to Olympus E-30. It just works, while I still have not figured out how to use it properly on Olympus. For my type of shooting I can changes crucial parameters on X10 with the same speed as on my DSLR camera.

There are several things I don't like. As I wrote earlier, I would prefer to have a bigger grip. The X10 is just small for me. I mean the right side of the camera. It has a small grip and rubber-like thing at the back, so it is not slippery. But it is less comfortable to use compared to DSLR cameras. I guess I have long fingers :) In addition, a bigger grip would allow a bigger battery. NP50 does not last for long. I got a spare generic battery, and thinking about getting one more.

The logic behind display button (DISP BACK) is rather strange. I wish it would just switch the screen on and off but it is not so simple. X10 has several screen options (about five including off). Pressing DISP BACK changes the screen option to the next option. In order to switch it off you need to press this button or four-way controller several times. Not really good. I usually use the same screen option for framing. So, switch it on and off is the only thing I really need. I guess it will be easy to program any other button to select different options of live preview as it is implemented in Olympus E-30.

Fujifilm X10 vs Olympus E-30

Size does matter. On the left is Olympus E-30 with Zuiko 14-54 F2.8-F3.5 (equivalent to 28-108mm). On the right is Fujifilm X10 with focal length (equivalent) 28-112mm and F2.0-F2.8, nearly full stop brighter than Zuiko. The cameras are on A4 paper sheet. Olympus has UV filter, and X10 has 49mm UV filter with step-up ring. The maximal iso on both cameras  is 3200 but the X10 has boost mode and can go higher, and I prefer high iso shots from the X10. I also like depth of field on X10, especially at wide angle and supermacro mode which is fun to use. Video is also handy to have.

Actually, the X10 is somewhat small for my hands. I would prefer to have a bigger grip (with bigger battery). The camera size (depth) is essentially determined by lens, so adding a grip would not affect portability but it will improve the battery life.

Just in case: I doubt that the X10 will replace Olympus E-30 for me. I suspect that with long exposure at base iso the pictures will be better on Olympus, which has better details in shady areas. Another factor is 50-200 F2.8-F3.5 SWD, my favorite lenses at the moment, with better background separation and very useful focal length.

Fujifilm X10: part 1

My first posts will be about Fujifilm X10. I bought this camera as a replacement for my wife's Fujifilm A700. She wanted a small camera with video, preferentially Fuji (she likes the Fuji colors). On other hand, I eyed high end compacts for quite a while to complement Olympus E-30 with something smaller and not that heavy. In meantime Fujifilm announced X10. Bright lenses, big sensor (for compact camera), optical viewfinder, external control (buttons, wheels) and high dynamic range/high iso modes were very tempting. On top of it, price in Australia for this camera was comparable to price in US (kudos to Fuji!). I bought it from the Photo Continental as soon as it became available in Australia. Now we negotiate within our family who take the camera for a day :)

It turned our that many of my expectations for X10 were not true. For example, I have not expected such good low light / high iso performance. It is not without problem in this area but it is really amazing. I have impression that X10 produces better high iso photos than my Oly E-30. NOTE: this is just my impression, I have not measured the noise, and I suspect that something strange is going on with my E-30. However, the shady areas with a lot of details are very mushy in my photos from the X10, especially if underexposed. It is not an issue for me, it is still makes a nice pictures, and I do not print my photos at A3 size. I suspect it is a common problem of modern compacts with small sensors and high pixel count.

It also turned out that I use the rear screen for framing and shooting more often than expected compared to my previous experience with compact cameras. The viewfinder is still very useful especially on sunny day but I use it less than anticipated. I made a very short neck strap and use it as a stabilizer when shooting with rear screen. Quite handy, and I am happy with the results. Also, my eyes do not sore even after long shooting session with X10.

The supermacro mode is limited to wide angle, which is equivalent to 28mm of 35mm format. It is fun to use with flowers or static things but it is less useful for insects and anything moving. Got me right, I am spoiled by Olympus implementation of supermacro mode. It is still possible to take pictures of tiny bugs with Fuji X10 (100% crop) but it does require patience. It is definitely very useful mode, especially with combination of excellent high iso performance, and it turned out that I use it more than expected. It is just fun to use.

Why this blog

I enjoy taking pictures. I also read a lot about digital cameras, and this activity consume a significant amount of my time. So, I decided to turn it into public blog, for many reasons. Blogging is active process compared to reading. Hopefully it will improve my writing skills (English is my second language). It can promote my photographs and provide some feedback. Colleagues and friends sometime ask me about cameras, and hopefully the blog will be useful to other people. 

The blog evolves in time, and my current intention is to keep it as a web site, so some pages will be edited, or deleted.

I.V.