Fujifilm X30 - retro?

Fujirumors's hosting of Rico Pfirstinger's X30 First Look article is a breath of fresh air in an often-stale Expert Corner. One thing about the article puzzles me, though. That is Rico's use of the word retro. 

“The X30 is currently Fujifilm’s most advanced camera, combining premium build with retro elements and a flexible and mature user interface. But is it worth 549 Euros incl. VAT? With X-M1 double-lens kits already selling for 100 Euros less than that, I expect the street price of the X30 to adjust downwards rather sooner than later. Yes, it’s a fantastic camera with great handling and performance, but it’s still a compact camera with a 2/3″ sensor. The IQ is great, but at higher ISOs, it can’t match Fuji’s entry-level APS-C cameras. That said, if the price is right, the X30 is a clear buy for those who are looking for a compact camera for grown-ups that doesn’t look and handle like a toy, but like something more substantial.”

As far as I can see, the only thing retro about the X30 is its belonging to the X series, which uses dials for certain controls. Anyway, good read.

Fuji Rumors: First Look: Fujifilm X30

Fujifilm X30 - a portent of things to come

By now, you have heard of Fujifilm's new X30 compact camera. Its bold lines and moulded grip pay homage to the X-Pro 1.  While it has lost its iconic OVF, its general unification of X-camera design elements is a good thing. The X series, as a whole, has little to unify it other than round dials. 

The X30 inherits the following from the X-T1 and X-Pro 1

- tilting LCD (X-T1)
- WiFi connectivity (X-T1)
- 2,36M dot EVF (X-T1)
- 3,0 inch LCD (X-T1)
- Weight (423g: X30 including battery; 440g: X-T1 including battery)
- front function button (X-T1)
- Easy to press rear buttons (X-Pro 1)

Raising the bar for functionality across the series is good. So is firming up design elements. Making a large compact camera with a teeny tiny sensor, however, is scummy. So, too, is yet again re-arranging button layout. No self-proclaimed premium camera manufacturer has changed hardware interface elements so often. 

Picking up an X100/s and then operating an X-Pro 1 or an X-T1 or an X30 is nearly as frustratingly fractured an experience as going from Sony to Fujifilm. Unifying skin-deep design cues are a good idea. Constantly switching haptic interfaces, and switch-swapping iconic selling points such as OVFs, are not. 

Ω is somewhat hopeful that Fujifilm will finally settle on a single, unified hardware interface.

Flash pass-through thumb grip for Fujifilm X100/s and X10/20

Awesome (though old) thread by Fuji X Series member, CarlosV, who commissioned Michael Bass to design a flash pass-through thumb grip for the Fujifilm X10 and X100s. 

Full thread: Custom modification: Thumb grip with flash "pass through" for x10 and x100. The CV special!

The People's Front of Judea win EISA award for best mirror slapstick

Too many categories, an embarrassing number of winners, and far too much congratulating; the EISA awards wear exclusivity to the same degree that The People's Front of Judea hates the Romans.

If anything, EISA award cameras like the X-T1 and D4 simply to receive the inbound traffic from posts like this.

Ashtyn Joyce Trider: a new X photography website

DPReview member and Fujifilm X user, Ashtyn01, has just launched the bare bones of what I think will become a beautiful photographic narrative. The few photos on her site show a willingness to explore and create. Hopefully, she will help improve the growing base of X photography out there.

Head to www.ashtynjoice.com to see her explore. 

Nikon Rumors: D750 coming

And despite being rather firmly planted in the Fujifilm camp, I'll admit that a well-done 7x0 series tugs at my heart strings.

As you can imagine, NR's Nikon 750 post has already spawned hundreds of comments.

Tom Grill: Nikon D810 review

Tom Grill is one of the dudes transforming sterile lifestyle photography with nice, friendly light. His recent review of the Nikon D810 is a worthwhile read for anyone thinking of move to Nikon's latest hi-resoultion full frame dSLR.

The entire review is hosted at Nikon Rumors: Nikon D810 camera hands-on review.

You will never see Hong Kong like this

Rooftop explorers, Vitaliy Raskalov and Vadim Makhorov, recently visited Hong Kong. The images they came away with are breathtaking. 

Original article: Hong Kong