Last weekend Perth experienced one of the largest photo events of the year, Photo Live Expo. This year was my third year in a row that I have attended the ever growing event. There were a large variety of exhibitors in the main hall. All your big camera brands were present (Fujifilm had a nice central location in the hall). Photographic associations, education centres and photo accessory businesses were also on hand. Tripods, bags, filters etc. It was a great show floor. I was there was the morning and it was full of energy. For the first time this year they had a whole section dedicated to videography gear too.
Another great part of the event was the photo walks, workshops and guest speaker sessions. While I didn’t go to a guest speaker session this year, for the last two years I’ve been and I’ve always found them very inspiring and insightful. Next time I would like to give one of the longer form workshops a go, they seemed fairly interesting. This year I finally made it to the Fujifilm photowalk. It was one of the first sessions at 9am, bright and early on a Sunday morning. It was great to catch up with some familiar faces from the Fuji X Aus group as well as meet some new Fujifilm shooters. The walk was led by the talented Fujifilm X Photographer Dan Avila and Fujifilm Australia Head Trainer Warwick Williams. Both Dan and Warwick were very generous with their knowledge. Thanks to Fuji X Aus and Camera Electronics several of us even managed to try out some Fujifilm gear for the photowalk!
I was excited to try out the Fujifilm X-T3 camera body, the 23mm f1.4 and the 16mm f2.8. The X-T3 was definitely more responsive than my little old X-T10. X-T3 files also seem to be of better quality too (presumably from the better sensor!). I mainly used the 16mm f2 during the photowalk and I wasn’t used to such a wide field of view. As it was a relatively short walk, I didn’t get to experiment fully with it. It was great to try out shooting some group shots and also architectural shots with it. The 23mm f1.4 was great in the expo hall. As I was used to the 23mm focal length already, it was very easy getting used to that field of view.
I got to chat to other Fuji X Aus members during the photowalk and on the expo floor. As well as meet some of the staff from Fujifilm Australia and other vendors. Here’s our favourite Perth Fuji X Aus reps, Chong and Gus at the expo.
If you’re from Perth and have yet to check out Photo Live Expo, be sure to do so next year. Thanks for stopping by today.
J.
While I think I’m finally settled on the camera body (X-Pro2), I still need to buy a couple more lenses, and I’m still unsure which one to go with for the wide-ish angle, 23mm f2, or f1.4, or the 16mm f2.8…
I reckon it’s going to take me quite some time before I figure that one out. It’s difficult to find the sweet spot between size and image quality.
Hi Benoit, yeh there are so many options! it depends on what you’re interested in shooting? what do you like?
I found the 16mm f2.8 quite wide for street shooting. the 23mm f2 is my go-to lens day to day. I went with the f2 instead of f1.4 as the f2 is much more compact!
I shoot mostly urban/travel photography, and do occasional portraits of my family. My go to lens is usually a nifty-fifty, and I’ve always loved the 35mm 1.4, but I recently got to shoot more with a 23mm (35 equivalent) when I got my X100S and I have to say it’s a fun focal length to use too.
I think you’re right, the compact aspect of the f2 is much more in line with what I’m looking for out of the Fuji X line.
That’s very similar to what i shoot too, i reckon you’ll enjoy the 23mm f2! both 35mm f1.4 and the 23mm f2 are my favourite primes… tough choices between the two!