Taking pictures on a casual walk

 

Baby Red-belled Black snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus. Taken on a walk near Discovery Lake at Springfield Lakes, SE Queensland. 30 March 2024. Fuji X10. 

The snake was small, but I came across an adult snake several months ago. Red belled snakes are poisonous but apparently not deadly, at least, not for adults. I prefer a camera with longer zoom for situation like this one. Usually I walk in early evening, when the light is not great, so I am dreaming about a bright 28-200mm lens a la Minolta A2 with 1" type sensor. Canon G7X has bright 24-100mm lens, and it seems it is in very high demand. Sony RX100 VII is equipped with 24-200mm lens, which is amazing considering that the camera is very compact and very light, only 302g with a card and battery. However, the lens it is rather dark at long end, f2.8-4.5, plus it expensive. Panasonic TZ220 has dark lens, f3.3-6.4.

I like adjustable monitors (rear screens) on modern cameras. Tiltable monitors are very useful for near ground shots. Fuji X10 has a fixed screen.

New reality

 

Lesser Wanderer. Fuji X-E1 with 55-200mm lens, crop. Spring mountain conservation estate, 2 March 2024.

After several bushwalks I came to a conclusion that I want a little bit more focal length and better close-up capability compared to 55-200mm  lens. The obvious candidate is Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens. XF 100-400mm might have a better lens but it is too heavy for pleasant hikes, while 70-300mm lens weight is similar to 55-200mm lens. Every XF 70-300mm review talks about "near macro" performance. I reached for a credit card, but it turned out the lens is rather rare beast. I called couple local shops, and both don't have it in stock. Amazon Australia has "temporary out of stock" notice. In one place I was told the next delivery is expected in April, but the shop has many preorders. 

This is not a new lens. It was released years ago. It is listed as the second best selling Fujifilm lens for 2022 on the Shatter Muse site, but now it is 20204. Maybe the demand is still very high, or Australia is now a forgotten island. I was surprised that some other products, for example, Canon G7X, are also apparently out of stock, and shops ask for a deposit.

Back to Blogger

Balancing Rock in White Rock - Spring Mountain conservation estate, Ipswich. 3 December, 2023. Fuji X10
 

I was very busy for several years, with very little time spent on photos. I do not follow camera news anymore. Some images are missing in this blog: I was not keen to pay flickr subscription while not doing photography, and with the new flickr policy I was over the quota. In late 2023 photo hobby was revived as picture taking, with minimal post processing.

I still use Fuji X-E1 and X10 with the original sensor. On/off switch on X-E1 required some WD40 treatment after prolonged no-use period, but otherwise the camera is fully functional including the original battery. X10 is also mostly functional, except for one wheel: it does not change settings anymore. The second wheel around four buttons works just fine.

Fuji X-E1 is usually has XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 Lens attached, which is great for distant objects. I am keen to try XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR, as it is wider and longer and somewhat better with close up shots compared to XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS. Alternatively, I can take X10 with me.

Overhanging rock in in White Rock - Spring Mountain conservation estate, Ipswich. 10 December, 2023. Fuji X-E1 with 55-200m lens. Minor crop.