Blog Post

Transition to Fuji

Derek Smith • 12 January 2022
Transition to Fuji

My transition to the Fuji system is going very well. I have now sold all my Olympus cameras, and lenses, and the money from the sale is buying into the Fuji system. Primarily I’m buying second hand to keep the costs down, I have bought the Fuji X-T3 body second hand, to replace my Olympus OM-D E-M5 iii. It may seem perhaps an indulgence, but I do like to have 2 cameras, with the criteria that they share the same lens mount, and the same battery, consequently I have bought the small Fuji X-T20 second hand, as the smaller bodied camera to replace my Olympus OM-D E-M10 iii, I got a good deal on this from LCE in Lincoln.

For lenses, I have the Fuji XF 35mm f/2 as my prime lens, the Fuji 18-55mm f/2.8 - f/4 zoom lens, and the Fuji XC 15-45mm f/3.5 – f/5.6 (came as a kit with the X-T20). I had the Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 lens on order, as I want to do more landscapes, however I faced a bit of a conundrum as I also want to do more wildlife photography and wanted the new Fuji XF 70-300mm as well, but my pot of money from the sale of the Olympus gear meant that I couldn’t buy both. Watching YouTube a few days back I became aware that Samyang have updated the 12mm f/2 CS manual focus lens, with an auto focus redesign, now I used to have the Samyang 12mm with my Sony system, and it’s a great little prime lens. The new Samyang AF 12mm f/2 is just being released with a Fuji X mount, and so, I have cancelled the Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 lens and pre-ordered the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 X mount lens, as well as the Fuji 70-300mm f/4 lens, for much about the same cost. I will get a lot more use from the 12mm prime lens, being small, and light I can take this on holidays, short breaks, and days out with the Fuji X-T20, the lens also has the benefit of being able to focus very close to a subject allowing some very creative photography.

Two photos from a recent walk out with the Fuji X-T20, and the 15-45mm kit lens. The first is a nearby church, now because the light was behind the church I would normally use the Olympus auto HDR mode, the Fuji X-T20 doesn’t have an HDR mode, but on the drive dial is BKT 1, setting this takes 3 images, one is under exposed, one with correct exposure, and one over exposed, the technique of exposure bracketing is one that I have never used before, the images are easily combined in Affinity resulting in a pleasing result, with balanced exposure.

The monochrome photo of the gateway was taken with the BKT 2 mode and produces 3 images but this time with 3 preselected film simulations, I have chosen Velvia, PRO Neg Standard, and Acros. I am only shooting in .jpg with the X-T20, the Velvia was simply too vivid, too much bright green for my taste, the PRO Neg was more pleasing with muted colours. The Acros film simulation looked good straight out of the camera, however with my Luminar AI editing software I have a “Basic Edit” template that I have created myself (a touch of Accent AI, Structure AI, Medium Details, and Golden Hour in Landscape) and applied to the Acros simulation the monochrome effect is simply stunning – expect more monochrome images from now on!!

Louth Photographic Society

by Derek Smith 13 April 2025
Dave Turner, and I attended the LPA Fosters Challenge at Nettleham. The judge for the competition was Sue Wilson from Clay Cross. Axholme took first place with 19 points, Grimsby 2nd, and Cleethorpes 3rd. Louth was awarded 13 points, consisting of: Damselflies Mating – Graham Harrison 4pt Saltwick Bay – Tony Gaskins 4pt The Thinker – Keith Rossington 3pt Muted Swan – Harry Kerman 1pt Pier Number 9 – Dave Turner 1pt It was an interesting competition with some amazing images, a big thank you to Dave Turner for selecting the prints and submitting our entry into the competition.
by Graham Harrison 13 April 2025
Good Morning All Last week at the club member Chris Birchmore took us back in time with old photographs and a very interesting talk on one of Louth's old shops Platts stores. Platts stayed traditional for many years but as like most of the old shops eventually disappeared along with it's upside down sign. There is a blog on our website as well to look at. This week, Wednesday 16th April, we will hold our Print competition with the categories of "Curves" and "Open" to be judged by Diane Seddon of Cleethorpes. Harry is also now taking entries for the local PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Events" and "Open". Regards Graham
by Derek Smith 10 April 2025
Our member Chris Birchmore gave an illustrated talk last night titled "The Shopkeeper and his Assistant". Chris related details of his family origins, and family history in Louth, in particular his connection with Platts Provision Store in Eastgate. It was a very interesting talk which evoked many memories with those members who had themselves been raised in Louth. Many thanks Chris, the preparation, and talk was excellent.
by Graham Harrison 6 April 2025
Good Morning All With all this warm weather some insects are out and about to photograph, I took this photograph in our garden with a Sigma 105mm lens to get close in on the bee. It is another month now, so you need to think about your "Prime Time" project, if you are taking part. Last week at the club Brian McCarthy FRPS showed us his personal journey in photography, Brian takes most of his photographs in his shed building models with lighting and creating photographs that most of us would never think of. This week, Wednesday 9th April, our member Chris Birchmore who will be presenting a historical talk entitled "The Shopkeeper and His Assistant" specifically talking about a relatives memories of working for Mr. Platt the Shopkeeper. For those who have prints for the next competition, with the categories of "Curves and Open", you need to send Dave Turner a list of your entries and bring the prints in this week. Regards Graham
by Graham Harrison 30 March 2025
Good morning, All Last week we held our spring committee meeting, we discussed many topics including the new program which will be available to you all soon and did some preparation for the AGM. This week, Wednesday 2nd April, Brian McCarthy FRPS will be coming along to show us some more of his work. Brian is an ex-member of our club but has more recently been a member of Grimsby Photographic Society. You can also now start sending your print titles for the Curves and Open competition to Dave Turner. Regards Graham
by Derek Smith 27 March 2025
This year’s project is “Prime Time”, simply one photo taken each month with the same prime lens. The resulting 12 images will be shown to members on our “Project Night” next January. Why a prime lens? Well, a lens with a single focal length, a prime lens, provides a photographer with creative options. Composition of the image when using a lens such as this is essential, a photographer must choose a subject and move around that subject to obtain the photo. Every photographer should have a prime lens in their bag, and it doesn't need to be expensive. I recently switched from Fuji cameras to the Olympus / OM Systems camera ecosystem. Now, I use the OM Systems OM-1 camera with two zoom lenses and three f/1.8 prime lenses. For the “Prime Time” project, I'll creatively use the Olympus 45mm (90mm full-frame equivalent) f/1.8 lens, this lens is typically employed for portraits. This tiny, sharp lens, which captures beautiful portraits, was bought used for £149 from a reputable dealer.
by Graham Harrison 23 March 2025
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our PDI competition for March, with the categories of "Including the Moon" and "Open" judged by Mike Bennett. It was a very good night with some excellent photographs entered in the competitions, especially the Open. There were three twenty points awarded out of twenty photographs in each subject, Tony Gaskins had a very good night winning both the subject and the Open. All the results are on our website under competitions. The NEMPF PDI Inter - club competition went ahead recently, not so many clubs entered this year, I think there were only three LPA clubs who had entered, Louth came 11th, I'll leave it there. Thank you to Harry for organising our entry. This week, Wednesday 26th March it is a committee meeting for committee members only to attend. To keep you busy though you could prepare your prints for the next print competition, with the categories of "Curves" and "Open". Regards Graham
by Derek Smith 20 March 2025
At our meeting last night we held our Projected Digital Image (PDI) competition with the categories of "Including the Moon", and "Open". The judge for the evening was Mike Bennett. Mike skillfully judged the 33 submitted entries in the "Open" category, providing excellent feedback on the various images. After the break Mike appraised the 18 images in the "Including the Moon" category, this had been a difficult subject for members to photograph, and was also challenging for the judge. Congratulations to Tony Gaskins for his first placements with "Moonbell, Mablethorpe" in the "Including the Moon" category, and "Dawn, Whitby" in the "Open" category. As is usual, the Competition page of the website has been updated with the top three placements in each category, and full results. Many thanks to Mike Bennett for judging the competition, and Dave Mann for providing the refreshments.
by Derek Smith 18 March 2025
This morning I took my used OM Systems OM-1 camera, and the used Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm, f/4.8 -f/6.7 lens, recently purchased for £249, with me for a photographic walk around the nature reserve at Gibraltar Point. The weather was excellent, and I'm pleased with the resulting images of the various birds to be seen. I believe the bird reflected drinking from the pool is a Common Chaffinch, and the other bird perched on a log appears to be a Dunnock.
by Derek Smith 17 March 2025
One of our members, Richard Hildred is holding an Exhibition, and workshops in Fydell House, Boston, Lincolnshire. See attached posters for further details.
Share by: