ANDREW BYRNE PHOTOGRAPHY

warning: this post is a bit camara nerdy… there’s photos below though :)

So, for a good while now I’ve been tempted by the ever improving Fuji X-Series range of mirrorless cameras. I dipped my toe in 2 years ago with a second hand X100. My first ever blog on this site was actually shot entirely with it. I even brought it on my first wedding shoot as a second camera. It’s a great little system but it’s not without its flaws. Despite those flaws I loved (and still love) taking pictures with it, I had definitely caught the Fuji bug.

It took another 2 years to get to this point, the release of the X-T2. The DSLR killer. The mirrorless system that had pros switching from their tried and true Nikon and Canon big hitters. So, finally I scratched that itch and bought myself an X-T2 and a 23mm lens (so basically the X100 on steroids) a few weeks ago. I haven’t had as much time to play with it as I would have liked but below are some the first photos I’ve taken with it. It’s a beauty of a camera to handle with all those physical buttons and dials putting every control within quick reach without distracting from taking photos (also it looks awesome). As with the X100, whatever magic Fuji put into their sensors, it just takes stunning images. I know good gear doesn’t make a good photographer but I’d take the images that come out of the X-T2 any day over my D7200 (which is still great camera of course).

My biggest worry moving to Fuji was the autofocus speed, the X100 for all its greatness is sloooow. In a way it was great, it made me slow down a bit and think a bit more, but gradually it became more of a hindrance. I was so used to the superquick D7200, and so afraid of taking a step backwards, that I read every single review I could get my hands on. A review by RAWPodcast (check them out) was the final nudge that tipped the balance. From my own experience now, I don’t even know why I was concerned. It’s faster than my D7200 and the images in low light knock it out of the park as far as I’m concerned. No contest.

Another great thing is the electronic viewfinder. The X100 refresh rate was quite slow, the X-T2 is pretty much smooth and uninterrupted. Also, it’s so cool seeing live what the image will look like, letting you make small adjustments to get it the way you want. It’s a small thing but makes such a difference. Oh also, it’s so quiet. One thing I have grown to hate about the D7200 is the shutter noise, especially when trying to be all ninja stealthy at a brides house or at the wedding ceremony. Ninjas don’t go around with a mechanical typewriter all clackity clack ;) The X-T2 though, it’s not silent but it’s far gentler.

Really, I can’t wait to get shooting a wedding with this, but the first 10,000 photos or so out of it are going to be mostly of my daughter… who’s due aaannny day now… whenever you’re ready… batteries are charged, memory cards are empty :D

In the meantime, I’ve had pumpkin carving, walks in East Cork and coffee in the city to keep me snapping.