Jim Marks Photography

Fuji X Pro 1

jim — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:17:13 +0000

Hi – have just got my hands on the X Pro 1 and its a killer little camera. Looks like they learnt the lessons from the X100 ( back buttons ! ) and have developed a very sorted system. The X mount allows you to mount any older glass you have via adaptors and, with the grip, its a delight to hold. The back screen is superior to the D4 ( am comparing as I type..), while firmware appears to be a logical upgrade to any X100 owner. But the best bit are the images, sharp, really sharp with great colours. The Fuji lenses are light and the autofocus works well with a single click. Do not try to manual focus these lenses, the M focus selector merely swaps the focus to the back AEL button and the camera is quicker than you’ll ever be. Will update in a couple of days when I’ve tested more but so far unless you need to shoot racing cars this could replace your DSLR…

Visit Britain 2012

jim — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:07:27 +0000

Here’s Britain in all its glory…behind the scenes shot on a Panasonic AF101 and hacked GH2

Ant & Dec for The Sun

jim — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:32:20 +0000

Glasses Direct

jim — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:50:25 +0000

Fuji X100

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:10:45 +0000

In truth, the Fuji X100 is the first affordable romantic camera of the digital age. Styled to look like a Leica with a still revolutionary electronic EVF viewing system this was a breakthrough camera for Fuji and appears to be the key to their whole new range from the X10 compact to the new interchangeable lens X Pro 1 system. Its the one camera that countless working photographers have bought, I got mine at Focus last year and its generated more comments than any other. It has dreadful manual focus and a back scroll button that was designed in the pub on a Friday. However all this is forgiven with a cracking sensor, great lens, high flash sync and brilliant low light performance. Top tip is to put it in manual focus mode with the AEL button under your right thumb for selecting focus – much easier !

Canon C300

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:52:25 +0000

Finally got a hands on with the Canon C300 before Christmas and it shows how dangerous it is to compare specs without actually trying the product. This was a genuine surprise, as all the prior press had negatively focused on its projected price of $20,000 and 8bit colour space. It’s very natural to hold and passes the “can I use it without a manual test ” with ease. This is combined with built in ND filters, the ability to see in the dark and cheap media and batteries. It also supports IS in all Canon lenses, another plus for low light. Unlike the Sony F3, it’s also deemed fit for broadcast (BBC) straight from the box. It’s still expensive (just below £10K) and the lack of 10bit colour and slow-mo in 1080p seems daft but this is going to be a popular camera.

Elinchrom Quadra

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:48:20 +0000

This is what I use the whole time, day in, day out. The Elinchrom Quadra really is a stand out flash product, small and yet punchy as hell. It just hits that sweet spot of being portable enough to make speed lights redundant and yet with enough power so that you leave the mono blocks at home. The flash head itself is tiny (unlike ProFoto) meaning you can sling them in your carry on luggage or on a bike. They do a very slick mini soft box and Octa and Lastolite now do an adaptor ring to fit their range. For the future it would be great to get a more advanced battery which would shrink the unit even further and maybe even a constant light LED option running off the same power source…you can but dream.