Mathieu

Mirrorless on the Job – Episode 2: Why the Fuji X100s is the perfect second body

22/10/2013 By Mathieu

Back in July, I published the first article in the Mirrorless on the Job series. In the article, I shared my experience as a professional photographer who uses mirrorless cameras for work with a specific focus on the OM-D E-M5 by Olympus.

As you can guess from the title of this second episode, I also use the Fujifilm X100s on the job, but in this case I have a different story to tell. While the E-M5 switch was premeditated because I was looking for an alternative to my DSLR, the incorporation of the Fuji into my workflow was almost a natural yet unexpected transition. When I first bought it, I was sure that I would only use it for personal purposes but I ended up carrying it with me at all times, often using it alongside my E-M5 as a second body and sometimes even as my primary body for some assignments. This unexpected combo has given me a lot of surprise and satisfaction in the year I’ve been using it.

So how does the X100s complete the gear I require for my work?

Sony’s Full-On Full Frame Attack: The A7 and A7r are made official!

16/10/2013 By Mathieu

There has been such an onslaught of rumours over the past few months about Sony’s plans to make a Full Frame interchangeable lens mirrorless camera that many of us were even beginning to wonder if all this talk was simply a clever ruse of Sony’s to get people talking about the brand.

When Low-End Doesn’t Mean Low Quality: A Fujifilm X-M1 Review

16/10/2013 By Mathieu

The release of the Fujifilm X-M1 marks an important step in the X line for the Japanese firm. Up until now, Fuji has concentrated its efforts on high-end interchangeable lens models such as the X-Pro 1 and high-end compact cameras such as the X100/s and X10/20 line. With the X-M1, Fujifilm has expanded its product line to include low-end mirrorless cameras and puts itself in direct competition with products like the Sony Nex-5/6 series or the Samsung NX300.

At the time of writing this article, the X-A1, Fujifilm’s newest entry level model, has just been announced and the QX1 (same sensor as the X20) is also on the way. Some have criticised Fujifilm for spending more time on cheaper cameras instead of updating their high-end models, but that is going to change soon with the imminent announcement of the X-E2. Also, while the release of all these new models may lead us to think that Fujifilm wants to imitate other brands and saturate the market, in my opinion it is a simple consequence of a company wanting to increase its earnings. Actually, if you think about it, Fuji started the opposite way: the first models were for professionals and advanced enthusiasts and it has now turned its attention to the rest of the market, which of course cannot be ignored.

Simply, what Fujifilm is doing is filling new low-end cameras with technology that has been tried, tested and approved by professionals. I won’t dig more into Fuji’s marketing strategy because it isn’t my domain, but if we are to take anything away from this discussion, it is that the X-M1 may seem like a compromise for many things but not the most important aspect, image quality.

A Sunny Afternoon at Lake Como: A Panasonic Lumix GX7 Gallery

12/10/2013 By Mathieu

As many of you know, our Panasonic Lumix GX7 finally arrived last week but constant rain and busy work schedules postponed my first real contact with this exciting new camera. Finally, yesterday, the bad weather took a break in Northern Italy and we seized the chance by spending our afternoon around the beautiful Lake Como. It was also the opportunity to show Heather’s brother Nick, who was visiting from Canada, one of the most beautiful areas of Lombardia.

From Film to Digital to Smartphones: Steve McCurry’s new project in partnership with Sony Italia

10/10/2013 By Mathieu

The other day, one of our readers, Gianluca, sent me the latest video he made for Sony Italia. He told me about the wonderful experience he had shooting in New York with Steve McCurry, and who wouldn’t believe him – McCurry is one of the most interesting photographers you could ever have the chance to meet. On top of that, he was also the protagonist of the video Gianluca was shooting.