The Xpro-1 has been my go to camera for personal use for some time now. While I have used it at several weddings over this past year I have not made it my main camera until this past weekend on Friday (10/18/2013). In my previous post at a wedding earlier this year I captured some incredible images and processed lightly in photoshop to Black and White.
This time was a little different – I knew the capabilities of the camera. It has this amazing ability to capture a wider dynamic range and this being a very sunny day I wanted to see how it would do capturing a white gown in such a contrasty situation. I also wanted to compare the white balance to my Canon 5DIII captures.
My findings and now general assumptions are that the Xpro-1 is able to capture a more natural white balance, low chromatic aberration at low F-stops and the ability to capture a wider dynamic range. I have also found that my thought process during most photos with this camera are a little more planned rather than the spur of the moment capture I am usually doing with the Canon’s. Composition is also a little more accurate as I love the ability to level the camera in the viewfinder.
The Settings – Through most of the day I had the camera set to F1.4, Auto Shutter, Auto ISO 6400 with the 35mm F1.4 lens. I also relied more on manual focus with backbutton auto focus when needed. I had the file format set to Raw and full size JPGs. While I love the JPGs in the photos below I found that the dynamic range in the raw files to be nothing less than incredible. All Standard (zero) settings for Shadow, highlight, and Noise reduction but with sharpening set to +1. Finally the film type set to Std.
This photo kind of blew me away – capturing the blue in the sky while also capture all the details in front of the gown from the unlit room.
This amazing light was bouncing off the floor from the window to the left.
Here is the Raw Capture that in JPG did not have a lot of detail in the clouds. The Canon had almost nothing in the clouds –
Additional images from the wedding –
Fuji Xpro-1 with the Kenko Infrared filter
Detail shot of the Cake – SOOC JPG – with the Phottix Transimitter and off camera flash to the right bouncing against a wall (Canon 580 EX in Manual Mode)
During the Toasts – with the Phottix and off camera flash (SOOC JPG)
Back Flash with the Phottix and 580 EX.
Canon 430 EX on the Fuji Hot Shoe (yes it fires) pointed to the wall behind me SOOC JPG.
Craig David Butler 
WOW! Stunning shots. You must have a very happy client! The X Pro 1 is a very capable camera in the right hands.
Regards,
Alan.
Fantastic captures! I agree that the dynamic range is one of the biggest advantages of the X-Pro1. You mentioned that you used aperture priority with auto-ISO. In that case the camera will choose 1/52 as the shutter speed. How did you manage with that slow shutter speed? I really hope that Fuji will implement shutter speed selection with auto-ISO in next FW.
Awesome white balance too. Skin tones are fabulous. Really love the photo of the bride shot from behind. znice eork!
How did you light photo #6? The one is my favorite..
Stunning imagery, I loved them all. Jonnenaarala says:
“In that case the camera will choose 1/52 as the shutter speed. How did you manage with that slow shutter speed? I really hope that Fuji will implement shutter speed selection with auto-ISO in next FW.”
Same question here, could expand on this please, thanks.
JL
Yes I don’t like the 1/52 min shutter (wish it was more like 1/80). This is usually OK for me. There was quite a bit of light even though it did not look like it.
Thanks Jeff, she was quite stunning. The detail of the files the camera puts out it amazing.
This is mostly natural with slight manipulation in Photoshop. It was strong sun coming through on the left on a gold tone carpet. I saw how the light was hitting my assistant as she was checking her camera standing in the same spot. The shadowing on the wall shows the bounce from the floor and a slight shadowing coming back to the left which I believe was off the Dresser next to her.
I have found with the Xpro-1 – I move and think much more like I did with film. What I mean is in today’s world it is typically capture first then correct but with the Xpro-1 I find I am getting it right and the creating the capture. I hate to think that it is slower but in a certain sense it is with the end result being far better. I still have the 5DIII on hand if anything starts moving really fast but I have found with manual focus and back button focus that I am pretty quick and less intrusive. One mother mentioned that it was more like having another one of us / a family member around.
Thanks for the insights Craig. I really need to try the back focus method.
A bit of a wish list – while I do have the fuji 42 flash it is kind of consumer grade so it rarely comes out or is with me on the day of the wedding. I have been messing around with Phottix transmitter and receivers for work at the reception and off camera. In practice It just isn’t as fast as the Canon 600ex-RT system. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a TTL Radio Transmitting system, but considering how long it took Canon to get it right and considering Fuji’s direction I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I hope possibly a third party could put something together like Radio Popper but I don’t think that will happen with Fuji’s Niche market share. But one can always hope. Until then I guess I will be looking at a new meter.
Great series and your client must love these too, great job controlling the lights and capturing all the key images of the event, I love your back lit shoots, someday i’ll be able to shoot like you ;), TFS
Love your images! I too got rid of my canon SLR and now shoot only with my XPro-1 and X100
The images are so film like arent they?
Thanks Mark, yes the images are very film like – I love that. It almost feels like coming home ie. it just feels right. As a side note a short while ago I printed images from the Fuji and Canon 5DIII at varying ISO’s all the way up to 25600. I asked people if they could tell the difference between the images as they looked so similar. Everyone was shocked at the how good at 11×17 the 25600 images looked.
How do you handle the low light party pictures with that setup? Especially the intros and people dancing. I would be interested to see some of those. You did capture some great images for them.
I just posted a few more images from the day. The intros I had my second shoot so there are none from the Fuji
Another great additional set it just proves how capable the X series is.
I stopped weddings this year due to personal issues and have a couple of family weddings next year. Its going to be my Xpro -1 all the way!
Craig, how do you find the AF for reception shooting. Is it an issue for anything other than formal dances? Great pics.
Steven, I found that slower moving situations are good with the back but (af-l) button works great. I do have image review off so the camera is ready to shoot immediately after capture. Doing grab shots of people dancing are difficult as the movement is often to fast to focus.
I have just received an X-E2 and the focus is much faster. I will be trying that on my 12/7 wedding for much of the day.
Thanks Craig, I’m interested to hear your opinions.
The X-E2 is a much more responsive camera in my initial time with it. The 60mm 2.4 lens had such a difficult time focusing on the Xpro-1. While I loved the focal length I was forced to use the 35mm 1.4. The 60mm, with the Firmware update, on the X-E2, focusing is very quick. I am really looking forward to using it.
Be honest, this may be done with any APS camera hands down.