Fuji XT-30iii Meanwood Walk

I took the new camera out of a proper walk, to get a better understanding of what it can do – there’s so much to learn! While I am reasonably expert at Digital Photography any new device, and one that is different from what I am useful will always take some time, but it is so much fun learning.

It’s clear that, while it does of course have RAW capabilities this camera is aimed at in camera work – something I have shied away from as the in camera rendering of (my, slightly dated) DSLRs is slightly flat. I Have for a while I think passed off in camera filters (outside of phones/instagram) as a gimick, while often creating such effects in post, but I think this gets a good balance and the film simulations do draw from Fuji’s extensive provenance here to allow subtle bu creative expression. Of course this does come with complexity, one small thing that frustrates me, is that there’s no way to tell from the Exif Data which recipe has been used. Most of these I think I stuck with the stadard Provia Recipe, though I think a few I slipped on to Velvia. To an extent this is academic as I have edited these in lightroom. I think going forward my next steps are to spend some time exploring each settiing in more detail to see how these come out, with the aim to building my knowledge on getting good out of the camera shots. I’ve not even touched RAW yet! Though some of my ain in this is about using the capabilities of this camera for the exact purpose of minimising processing backlog.

I started my walk up past Monkbridge Green and through the Tannery development towards Meanwood Park.

I skirted Tetley Field to the path that ultimately joins Weetwood Mill Lane – a small track I have so far not actually explored. I’ve tried to get a few varied compostions, exploring both close up and landscape shots. Even with a maximum f.3.5 I’me quite impressed with the subtle blur from shooting close against a distant background.

From here I walked up the trail, and then (on recomendation from a dog walker) up into The Hollies towards Whale Rock to capture some of the amazing ornimental plants.

Up round Whale Rock was quite magical with the flowers and the steps on the woodland path, and the rather intense sunlight was dappled gorgeously through the trees. This camera really does capture colours and textures nicely.

I spent a bit of time in the feild, palying with the film simulations, which I will again post later. And of course the waterfall and rocks in the woods.

All in all, I am very impressed. I am not sure I will get rid of my DSLR (This was always probably a no go, as I am a hoarder) as at times I love the simplicity of shooting RAW and working in post, and at the moment there are lenses I cannot duplicate on the Fuji. But I do think this has been a good investment, it is fun, amazingly sophisticated and portable. I’m still getting used to many things, and how to get the ebst from it, but I have to also note that it has a good 12 years of development in sensor and image processing technology over my Canon, which is very clear from what it can do.