It's Been A Year Now ...

Derek Smith • 4 January 2023
It has been just over a year now when I sold all my Olympus cameras, and lenses, and bought into the Fuji camera system with the purchase of a second-hand Fuji X-T3, and a second-hand lens the XF 35mm f/2 Fujinon, both delivered on Christmas Eve 2021. Adapting from the Olympus system has taken a while, getting used to the controls, and the colours has been a bit of a learning curve, but I am very pleased to have made the switch of camera systems. 

Both of my Fuji cameras are X Mount APS-C mirrorless cameras, and the lenses are interchangeable between them. I like to think of my lenses as “tools” to achieve a particular result, each of my lenses has a focal length, or characteristic to capture a scene.

Fuji X-T3 – This is my principal camera, always feeling great in my hand, it is my workhorse, I have got used to the 26 MP APS-C X Trans sensor now, although it was quite a learning curve in the beginning. The analogue dials on the camera make for a great user experience, before turning the camera on I can set the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. The Manual, Single, or Continuous focus can also be selected via the front switch. As an example, during a recent photo shoot in a studio, equipped with studio flash soft boxes, I was able to set the ISO 160, aperture f/8, and 1/125 shutter before even switching the camera on. It was then a matter of adjusting the power on the flash units to obtain the correct exposure. The camera handles well, is water resistant, and dustproof. The features that I particularly wanted, that the Olympus didn’t have, was the focus point joystick, and the UHS II dual SD cards. Not especially worried about SD card failure, but it helps my image editing workflow to have the cards set to record .jpeg on one, and RAW on the other. The “D” pad on the rear of the camera, and the various buttons are all configurable.

Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4 lens – This stabilised lens is nearly always mounted on my Fuji X-T3, it’s an extremely good camera / lens combination. With the lens having a versatile full frame equivalent of 24-120mm, and a constant f/4 aperture throughout the zoom range, the lens performs well, focuses close to a subject, and produces high quality images in all weathers.

Fujinon XF 70-300mm f/4 – 5.6 lens – My telephoto zoom, stabilised, with an impressive performance, producing near macro close focus images. The lens compliments the 16-80mm zoom, making an ideal “twin lens” kit with the Fuji X-T3, coping with most scenarios including landscapes, and wildlife, the lens is also weather resistant and dust proof.

Fuji X-T20 – My “backup” camera, with a 24MP APS-C sensor, so much of an improvement ergonomically over the Sony A6300 I previously owned. Using this in combination with the Fuji X-T3 / XF 16-80mm zoom lens, and a prime lens mounted on the Fuji X-T20 to avoid lens changes. On recent outings this arrangement has served me well, using a wide-angle lens mounted on the X-T20, and the zoom lens on the X-T3. The Fuji X-T20 is also a great travel camera, being physically smaller, and lighter than the Fuji X-T3, with a useful “pop-up” flash. Because the Fuji X-T20 has only a single SD card slot, I usually take images in .jpeg format, with auto ISO selected as it lacks a dedicated ISO dial. All the buttons, and dials are configurable, so I have the AF-L button set to turn on the WiFi for image transfer, and the AEL button set to control the ISO, the “D” pad is configured the same as on the X-T3 camera for ease of switching between the cameras.

Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens – It may seem strange to have two 24 – 70mm full frame equivalent zoom lenses, but this is smaller, and lighter than the XF 16-80. This is the Fuji “kit” lens, but has far better resolution, and brighter aperture than most comparable “kit” lenses supplied by other camera manufacturers. The lens is stabilised and makes an excellent pairing with the Fuji X-T20.

Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 – In my opinion nothing beats a good prime lens, I enjoy my portraiture, and this lens is one of the best I’ve ever used. The lens is an unusual focal length, at about 75mm full frame equivalent, but I find this to be an ideal focal length especially for indoor, or studio shoots, I normally use this lens wide open at f/2 for natural light photoshoots. The lens is tiny, lightweight, and weatherproof.

Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 – Possibly my least used lens, nothing wrong with the lens, it’s a gem of a lens, tiny, lightweight, and weatherproof. Most of the photography experts recommend a “nifty fifty” 50mm focal length, and this 35mm is a full frame 50mm equivalent, and was the first Fuji lens I bought. I just don’t find that the 50mm focal length suits my photography, I had a 25mm (50mm equivalent) Olympus lens, but preferred either the Olympus pancake 17mm f/1.8 (34mm equivalent), or the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens (90mm equivalent). 

TT Artisans 27mm AF f/2.8 – My newest purchase, an "autofocus" third-party lens, I needed a small “pancake” lens to make the Fuji X-T20 a truly “pocketable” camera. I have been delighted with the size, and performance of this lens, it’s not the sharpest lens I own, but at just £160 brand new I have no complaints. The focal length is just right at a 40mm full frame equivalent, and I’ve been able to use this for street photography. For travel as part of a lightweight system, I will have the Fuji X-T20, the XF 18-55mm zoom, and this the TT Artisans 27mm lens. I used the Fuji X-T20, and the 27mm lens, shot wide open at f/2.8, at the Buffet & Quiz night, obtaining some interesting “impromptu” shots of members, the images were very pleasing, taken in only the room lighting, the auto ISO of 3200 still produced a quality image, and that for me is a real testament of the Fuji camera system.

Samyang 12mm AF f/2 – I deliberated between buying the Fuji 10-24mm zoom wide-angle lens, or a wide-angle prime lens. I had a manual version of this lens with my Sony APS-C camera and was impressed with the image quality, just never used it much. I’m well pleased with this lens, at an 18mm full frame equivalent focal length, I have extensively used this lens for landscape photography, and it has been a real boon for the church photography project.

So that is the summation of my Fuji camera system, I’m very pleased with the image quality, and usability of the cameras, and lenses. Routinely I would select a camera, and lens combination to suit the task. The Fuji X-T3 camera, 16-80mm, and 70-300mm lenses for wildlife. For landscapes the Fuji X-T3, the 16-80mm zoom, the Fuji X-T20 with the Samyang 12mm. Portraiture, must be the Fuji X-T3, the 50mm prime, the 16-80mm zoom, and the Fuji X-T20 with the 35mm prime lens, giving options to suit indoor room sizes, or outdoor locations.

The big advantage of any interchangeable lens camera of course, is being able to tailor the lenses needed to suit the intended genre of photography.
 

Louth Photographic Society

by Derek Smith • 29 October 2026
The planned event for the evening was to have been a showing of the N&EMPF Exhibition prints, but unfortunately the link for the prints was not available. Instead Harry, and I had both prepared a talk on our respective camera systems. Many regular readers of my musings will know that I had lost my photographic “mojo” earlier on in the year, I was reassessing my photographic style, and camera equipment to recover my enthusiasm, so it was that I sold all of my OM Systems cameras, and lenses, and unknown to most in the club bought a Canon EOS R7 APS-C camera, and 4 lenses as a complete kit. Learning a new camera system has made me reconnect with photography, and begin enjoying my hobby again. In the first half of the meeting last night I talked about my journey, my camera system, and showed some of the images taken with my new outfit. After the break Harry showed some of his excellent, and inspiring macro fungi images, taken with his Canon EOS R6, and a Sigma macro lens. It was an interesting evening, and hopefully everyone enjoyed the evening, and learned something about Canon mirrorless cameras.
by Graham Harrison • 25 October 2026
Good Morning All The Autumn colours at Sedbergh was one of my entries which sum up the time of year. Last week at the club we held our monthly print competition, with the categories of "Mono" and "Open". There was a very good entry with 27 prints in each subject, well done to Derek Smith for a first in the Mono and Robin Begley for a first in the Open, all the results are on our website. This week, Wednesday 28th October, all being well, I am informed that the N&EMPF Exhibition print show was a bit behind schedule, it will hopefully be finished by now but if not, Derek will let us know, and we will do mini lectures instead. Derek, and Harry have prepared mini lectures on their favourite camera systems, if a couple of other members could prepare a mini lecture on the same theme that would be most helpful. The LPA POTY deadline date is nearly upon us; they are panels of three prints as we discussed last Wednesday. If you want to enter either attend the club PDI competition on 1 st November at Nettleton village hall or bring your prints in on Wednesday and hand them to a member who is going and will take them for you. Regards Graham
by Derek Smith • 22 October 2026
Our Society held a print competition last night, the set subject category was "Mono", whereby the prints were black and white, or single tone images. The "Open" category prints consisted of any subject of the authors choice, and the judge for the evening was Grahame Dunkin. It was an exciting competition, with 27 prints in each category, the standard was incredibly high, giving Grahame a difficult time of determining the points for each print and choosing the top three prints in each category. Grahame judges very well, he giving a relaxed, and helpful critique of each image. The website Competition page has been updated with the results of the competition. Our next meeting will be held on the 28th October, and should be a showing of the N&EMPF Exhibition prints, however if the Exhibition prints are not available, I would ask members to think about giving a talk on their "Favourite Camera Systems" just showing what they shoot with, and providing a few sample images.
by Graham Harrison • 18 October 2026
Today was the LPA Battle finals day at Nettleham, it was the last one in its present form, and six clubs including Louth made the final. The judge was Alan Young from Rolls Royce camera club, Derby. Alan was quite straight to the point and as he said there were so many good prints in the competition, he wouldn't be marking low and would have quite a task giving scores to the best ones. Alan was quick to see anything he didn't think was right with the prints and was looking for more than just a record photograph. Louth had a very good start with our first three prints being held back, it then didn't go so well but we did have six hold backs altogether which were Sleeping-David Whitehouse 18 points, Morning sun Whitby-Dave Turner 18 points, Hairy shield bug-Graham Harrison 17 points, Evening light Chapel St Leonards -Tony Gaskins 17 points, Cosmos-Harry Kerman 17 points and Evening Light Whitby Harbour -Tony Gaskins 18 points. 1 st place - Axholme - 256 2 nd place - Cleethorpes - 255 3 rd place - Scunthorpe - 248 4 th place - Grantham - 246 5 th place - Louth - 244 6 th place - Lincoln - 242
by Graham Harrison • 18 October 2026
Good Morning, All, Last week at the club Steve West gave a presentation on the history of Louth's cinema's, Steve started at the beginning in 1896 with the original Louth Photographic Society being involved with showing films in what was thought to be Westgate Fields. Steve went through all the other locations ending up with just the one cinema now on Cannon Street. There is a report on our blog page. This week, Wednesday 21st October, we will hold a monthly print competition, with the categories of "Mono" and "Open" judged by the LPA president Grahame Dunkin. There are just over 50 prints to be judged so should be a very good night. Today (Sunday 18th) is the LPA Print Battle final at Nettleham, the judging starts at 1pm. Regards Graham
by Derek Smith • 15 October 2026
Last night, Steve West gave a fascinating illustrated presentation on the long history of cinema, and stage plays in Louth. In the late 1890s some films were shown at various locations, in 1910 a “tent” cinema was showing films on Westgate Fields. During 1913 a site was purchased of 2 retail units, on Eastgate, the retail units were demolished, and the Palace cinema / theatre was constructed on the site ready for opening in 1914. During the interwar years many plays were staged at the Palace, and Steve has collected many of the original programs from this era. The current Playhouse was constructed in Canon Street in 1921 in the “art deco” style, some poor quality housing was demolished to make way for this new cinema. The Playhouse, and the Palace both continued in operation until 1960 when the Palace was sold, and the building was converted into a Fine Fare supermarket. During the 1970s when Bingo became popular, part of the Playhouse was used as a Bingo hall, with the reception area restyled to suit the new usage. The Playhouse was converted into a multi-screen cinema when purchased by the Parkway Cinema group in the mid 1990s. Louth is extremely fortunate to have retained a viable cinema in the town, many thanks to Steve West for a very polished presentation.
by Graham Harrison • 11 October 2026
Good Morning All Sand racing starts again this week at Mablethorpe, this Sunday is practice day, times are on their website. Last week at the club we held a local competition, with the categories of: "Straight out of the camera" and "Open", there was a very good entry in each subject with Tony Gaskins having the task of judging the unedited ones and Robin Begley judging the Open. There is a full report on our website but well done to Harry for first place in the Straight out of the camera and Keith Rossington for first place in the Open. This week, Wednesday 14th, Steve West will be our speaker, talking and showing PDI's on the subject of the Louth cinema. The following week will be a print competition, with the categories of "Mono" and "Open", you need to bring your prints in this week and send an email to Dave Turner with your titles. Regards Graham
by Derek Smith • 8 October 2026
At our meeting last night we held a PDI (printed digital image) competition, with the categories of "Local Unedited", and "Open". As this was a members competition one of our members judged the competition, Tony Gaskins was our first judge for the "Local Unedited" category, these were .jpg images taken straight from the camera, without any editing, apart from the resizing for projection. Presenting an image such as this in a competition is quite a difficult task, the photographer has to ensure that the correct exposure is chosen, the composition, and subject matter has to be precise, everything done in camera. Normally for competition entries, a degree of post processing would be involved, simple edits like toning down highlights, or even removing extraneous objects from a scene, emphasising a moody sky, all not allowed. Tony Gaskins did an excellent job with his judging, providing clear and concise critique of the images presented, he "held back" 8 images for further consideration, awarding higher points, and finally choosing the top three placements. After the break it was Robin Begley's turn to judge the "Open" category, as these were post process edited images the standard was higher than the unedited images, but surprisingly not markedly so. Robin is potentially hoping to become a N&EMPF approved judge, and he had a different style, able to suggest edits that could have improved an image, again his critique was clear and concise communicating well with members. Robin chose 8 images for further consideration, awarding higher points, and finally selecting the top three placements. It was a fabulous, and interesting competition with excellent images, many thanks to both our judges, it's not an easy job, probably nearly as bad as being a referee in a football match!! Many thanks to both our judges, well done.
by Graham Harrison • 4 October 2026
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by Derek Smith • 3 October 2026
Roger Hance Memorial Lecture 16th October