0%

Book Description

In this book, X-Pert Corner columnist and workshop mentor Rico Pfirstinger teaches you all about the capabilities of the Fujifilm X series lineup of cameras, which he’s discovered through years of in-depth research, experience, and experimentation. No matter which X series camera you own—whether it be the X-T3, X-H1, X-T2, X-Pro2, X100F, X-T20, X-E3, GFX, or any other Fuji X series camera—Rico cuts to the chase and provides a plethora of tips and practical instructions not found in user manuals or anywhere else. With this knowledge, you will be able to take full advantage of your X series camera.

The Fujifilm X series boasts amazing features, but some users may require an adjustment period if they are new to these cameras—even photographers who have been lifetime DSLR shooters. This guide will help you to quickly feel comfortable using your camera so that you can achieve excellent results.

Rico reveals many hidden features, functions, and procedures, so photographers of every level—beginners, enthusiasts, and experienced pros—will learn new and better ways to use their Fuji X series camera to its full potential. Beyond beneficial practices for all X series shooters, Rico also covers advanced concepts, such as the capabilities of Fujifilm's ISOless sensors with Dual Conversion Gain, and offers solutions for common issues, such as inaccurate focus or RAW conversion artifacts.

Topics covered include:

• Firmware upgrades, lens issues, OIS and IBIS • Menus shortcuts, Custom Settings, My Menu, Quick Menu, and Fn buttons • Mirrorless exposure metering • Maximizing dynamic range • ISOless photography • Autofocus settings, challenges, and strategies • Film simulations, white balance, and JPEG settings • RAW conversion (internal and external) • Flash photography • And much more…

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Table of Contents
  5. 1. Your Fujifilm X System
    1. 1.1 The Basics (1): Things You Should Know About Your Camera
      1. Tip 1: RTFM! Read The Fuji Manual! Versions in different languages, updates, and supplements are available online.
      2. Tip 2: Things you should know about spare batteries and third-party knock-offs.
      3. Tip 3: Battery chargers and travel adapters
      4. Tip 4: Where to find the latest firmware
      5. Tip 5: Tips for updating your firmware
      6. Tip 6: Wireless firmware updates using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
      7. Tip 7: Which memory cards to use
      8. Tip 8: Working with dual card slots
      9. Tip 9: Resetting the frame counter and assigning a new image starting number
      10. Tip 10: Use High Performance or Boost mode!
      11. Tip 11: Keeping the camera sensor clean
      12. Tip 12: Do-it-yourself sensor cleaning
      13. Tip 13: Sensor cleaning and IBIS
      14. Tip 14: Pixel mapping
    2. 1.2 The Basics (2): Things You Should Know About Your Lenses
      1. Tip 15: X-mount compatible Samyang lenses are just like adapted lenses!
      2. Tip 16: Zeiss Touit lenses
      3. Tip 17: Decoding XF18–135mmF3.5–5.6 R LM OIS WR
      4. Tip 18: OIS and IBIS
      5. Tip 19: OIS and motion detection: what’s going on?
      6. Tip 20: How the XF23mmF1.4 R, XF16mmF1.4 R WR, and XF14mmF2.8 R are different
      7. Tip 21: XF56mmF1.2 R: APD or not?
      8. Tip 22: Using the Lens Modulation Optimizer (LMO)
      9. Tip 23: Things you should know about digital lens corrections:
      10. Tip 24: X100 series and X70: Using wide-angle and tele conversion lenses
      11. Tip 25: Using teleconverters
      12. Tip 26: Macro extension tubes
      13. Tip 27: Use the included lens hood!
      14. Tip 28: Lens protection filters—yes or no?
      15. Tip 29: 39mm filters can be tricky!
      16. Tip 30: Switch off the camera when exchanging lenses!
      17. Tip 31: Lens sample variation and how to deal with it
    3. 1.3 The Basics (3): Useful Accessories
      1. Tip 32: Optional handgrips
      2. Tip 33: Off-camera TTL flash with a Canon OC-E3 TTL extension cord
      3. Tip 34: Possible issues regarding Canon TTL flash devices
      4. Tip 35: Remote shutter release option
  6. 2. Using Your X Series Camera
    1. 2.1 Ready, Set, Go!
      1. Tip 36: Recommended default settings for your X series camera
      2. Tip 37: Avoiding the camera menus: practical shortcuts for your X camera
      3. Tip 38: Suggested Fn button assignment
      4. Tip 39: Recommended My Menu and Quick menu configuration
      5. Tip 40: Always shoot FINE+RAW or NORMAL+RAW!
      6. Tip 41: Compressed or uncompressed RAW files?
      7. Tip 42: Picking a suitable image format
      8. Tip 43: The magical half-press
    2. 2.2 Monitor and Viewfinder
      1. Tip 44: Make use of the eye sensor!
      2. Tip 45: Instant review
      3. Tip 46: The DISP/BACK button can be tricky!
      4. Tip 47: WYSIWYG—What You See Is What You Get!
      5. Tip 48: Using the Natural Live View
      6. Tip 49: Using the LCD touchscreen
    3. 2.3 Exposing Right
      1. Tip 50: Choosing the right metering method
      2. Tip 51: Linking spot metering to focus frames
      3. Tip 52: Using the live view and live histogram
      4. Tip 53: Auto exposure (AE) with modes P, A, and S
      5. Tip 54: Using manual exposure M
      6. Tip 55: Using aperture priority A
      7. Tip 56: Using shutter priority S
      8. Tip 57: Using program AE P and program shift
      9. Tip 58: Playing it safe with auto exposure bracketing
      10. Tip 59: Long exposures
      11. Tip 60: Long exposures in bright daylight
      12. Tip 61: ISO settings—what’s the deal?
      13. Tip 62: What you should know about extended ISO
      14. Tip 63: Auto-ISO and minimum shutter speed
      15. Tip 64: Auto-ISO in manual mode M: the “misomatic.”
      16. Tip 65: Extending the dynamic range
      17. Tip 66: Extending the dynamic range for RAW shooters
      18. Tip 67: JPEG settings for RAW shooters
      19. Tip 68: Extending the dynamic range for JPEG shooters
      20. Tip 69: High-contrast scenes: Using the DR function to the benefit of RAW shooters
      21. Tip 70: Using the DR function for high-key and portrait photography
      22. Tip 71: DR versus DR-P
      23. Tip 72: Dual Conversion Gain and how to use it
      24. Tip 73: Creating HDR images
      25. Tip 74: HDR: the handheld way
      26. Tip 75: Electronic shutter (ES), electronic first curtain shutter (EFCS) and flicker reduction
    4. 2.4 Focusing with Your X Series Camera
      1. Tip 76: CDAF and PDAF: what’s the difference?
      2. Tip 77: AF-S or AF-C?
      3. Tip 78: Single Point AF vs. Zone AF vs. Wide/Tracking AF
      4. Tip 79: Selecting an AF frame or AF zone
      5. Tip 80: Choosing a suitable AF frame or AF zone size
      6. Tip 81: Manual focus and DOF zone focusing
      7. Tip 82: Manual focus assistants
      8. Tip 83: Using the Focus Check magnifier tool
      9. Tip 84: Using Instant AF-S and Instant AF-C
      10. Tip 85: Using AF+MF
      11. Tip 86: Pre-AF: a relic of the past
      12. Tip 87: Using face detection and eye detection
      13. Tip 88: Using AF-Lock and AE-Lock
      14. Tip 89: Using AF-ON (back-button focusing)
      15. Tip 90: Focusing in poor light
      16. Tip 91: Macro: focusing at close distances
      17. Tip 92: Focus Bracketing
      18. Tip 93: Focusing on moving subjects (1): the “autofocus trick”
      19. Tip 94: Focusing on moving subjects (2): the focus trap
      20. Tip 95: Focusing on moving subjects (3): autofocus tracking using Single Point AF, Zone AF, or Wide/Tracking AF
      21. Tip 96: Using AF-C custom settings
      22. Tip 97: Focus priority vs. release priority
      23. Tip 98: Focusing in good light: What could possibly go wrong?
    5. 2.5 White Balance, JPEG Parameters, and Raw Conversion
      1. Tip 99: Custom white balance: a little effort can go a long way.
      2. Tip 100: Infrared photography
      3. Tip 101: Changing color tints with WB SHIFT
      4. Tip 102: White balance and monochrome images
      5. Tip 103: Using film simulations
      6. Tip 104: Using the GRAIN EFFECT
      7. Tip 105: Contrast settings: adjusting highlights and shadows
      8. Tip 106: Skin tones and noise reduction: smooth or with texture?
      9. Tip 107: Color saturation
      10. Tip 108: The COLOR CHROME EFFECT
      11. Tip 109: B&W ADJ.: adding color tints to monochrome images
      12. Tip 110: Color space: sRGB or Adobe RGB?
      13. Tip 111: Using custom settings (usage profiles)
      14. Tip 112: Working with the built-in RAW converter
      15. Tip 113: Working with X RAW STUDIO
      16. Tip 114: Comparing external RAW converters
      17. Tip 115: Sharpening RAWs with Adobe Lightroom
      18. Tip 116: Using Iridient X-Transformer
      19. Tip 117: Displaying EXIF metadata
    6. 2.6 Flash Photography
      1. Tip 118: Flash photography in modes P and A: slow shutter speed limits
      2. Tip 119: Controlling the surrounding-light component
      3. Tip 120: Controlling the flash-light component
      4. Tip 121: Front- versus rear-curtain flash synchronization
      5. Tip 122: Flash synchronization: where’s the limit?
      6. Tip 123: Red-eye removal: a two-step affair
      7. Tip 124: Using TTL-Lock
      8. Tip 125: Tiny slave: the Fujifilm EF-X20
      9. Tip 126: Grand master: the Fujifilm EF-X500
      10. Tip 127: Good alternative: the Metz M400
      11. Tip 128: Serious bargain: the Godox X system
      12. Tip 129: Generic third-party flash units
      13. Tip 130: Getting started with on- and off-camera flash photography
    7. 2.7 Using Adapted Lenses
      1. Tip 131: Finding the right lens adapter
      2. Tip 132: Adapting third-party lenses
      3. Tip 133: Exposing with mechanically adapted lenses
      4. Tip 134: Focusing with mechanically adapted lenses
      5. Tip 135: Fujifilm M-mount and H-mount adapters
      6. Tip 136: Quality considerations
      7. Tip 137: Speed Booster: miracle or trick?
      8. Tip 138: Electronic smart adapters
    8. 2.8 Wireless Remote Control and Tethering
      1. Tip 139: Using the Camera Remote app
      2. Tip 140: Streaming the live view via HDMI
      3. Tip 141: Tethered shooting via USB or Wi-Fi
    9. 2.9 Anything Else?
      1. Tip 142: Forums, blogs, magazines, and workshops
  7. Online References
3.85.241.10