Why You Should Dust Off Your Old Camera
Using My Fujifilm X-Pro1 Again
As a camera reviewer, I am often caught in a battle of what to review next. What is the latest and greatest piece of photography gear out there? What sparks my interest? How do I get my hands on this gear? At times this is exciting but often it is also daunting with a perpetual cycle of getting new stuff.
I know many photographers go through these motions, especially during the slow times of the year. While you wait to book gigs in the spring and summer months or when you plan for travel we inevitably start looking for ways to update our photography kits.
Looking for new gear and how it can improve things for you is okay, but only to a certain degree as we often tend to underestimate and forget the quality of the gear we already have.
Car under covers on a gloomy spring day in Vancouver
Fujifilm X-Pro1, XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4
Acros Film Simulation
Hidden Gems in Your Camera Bag
Without knowing for sure, I anticipate exciting camera and lens announcements in 2023 but things seem to be quiet at the moment. A calm before the storm perhaps.
Last week I did not have any new gear to review and decided to take my 11-year-old Fujifilm X-Pro1 out for a walk on a somewhat dreary spring day.
While I traditionally would use this camera with an equally old XF 35mm f/1.4 R, I decided to see if I could ignite a spark and new life into this old camera by using my newest lens, the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR instead.
I am sure you have a lens or camera which hasn’t seen the light of day in a while. Dig it out, dust it off, and take it for a spin.
Barista at Gigi Blin Market Cafe in Vancouver
Fujifilm X-Pro1, XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4, Acros film simulation, 4 x 3 aspect ratio
Try a New Way of Post Processing
To this point, I have been processing my X-Pro1 files in Lightroom as I have a few old presets saved. In Lightroom, you can also apply film simulations from your RAW files whereas Capture One does not recognize these.
Instead of my usual routine, I decided to edit using Capture One. For the black-and-white images in this post, I would use Capture One built-in presets such as panchromatic or yellow filter presets. I would also reduce contrast to -10 and sometimes lift the shadows a bit.
The color images in this post are based on the Fujifilm Provia and are almost “straight out of camera” with minor white balance, contrast, and dynamic range adjustments.
You can read more about film simulations here:
It’s almost time to change from winter to summer tires
Older vs. New Sensors and the Megapixel Race
The first thing we photographers usually are asked is; “How many megapixels does your camera have"?
In part, it’s our own fault. I am as guilty as any of chasing megapixels but not blindly and for any cause. It is great to have lots of megapixels for landscape photography or wildlife photography where you crop extensively and still have usable images of birds at further distances.
For most other things we should ask ourselves if we really need the 61 megapixels in the latest Sony A7R 5 or 100 megapixels in the Fujifilm GFX 100S. Yes, these are nice cameras but will swiftly take a good chunk out of your savings account.
With my X-Pro1, I have a mere 16 megapixels to work with which is fine for street photography, portraits, or almost anything unless you print big or need to crop.
I always feel like a road trip when I see one of these VW camper vans
Fujifilm X-Pro1, XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4, Acros film simulation, 4 x 3 aspect ratio
Borrow or Rent Gear
Another way to break the perpetual buying cycle is to borrow/exchange gear with your photography peers. I have often done this or gone on a photo walk with a friend where we exchange lenses or cameras for a short while.
Renting is another option that I use more and more. Check out options for this in your local area or use one of the national services like lensrentals.com in the US or Vistek in Canada. In Vancouver, I use Beau Photo mostly.
This is a fantastic way to either confirm whether a product is for you or if you just imagined that it would be. In any case, it can also be a source of inspiration and a way to approach photography differently.
Final Thoughts
Digging out my aging X-Pro1 and taking it for a spin has certainly reminded me that this 11-year-old camera is still capable of producing nice images. Now the rest is up to me.
Often, and I am guilty of this myself, we tell ourselves that getting a new camera will make us better photographers. And yet we know it’s not true.
I am not against new cameras and when the time is right, there will be a new camera or lens out there calling my name. But at times I don’t mind slowing things down a bit to consider when and if I need the latest tech in order to create better photos or if I should just get out there more and snap away with the gear I already have.
My approach to new gear is often this. I consider what I can do with it and where it will take me. Will it get me out more? If so, then that is a good thing. If it is just a case of having the latest and greatest I believe it is wise to take a deep breath, perhaps sleep on it, and take an old camera or lens out for a spin before making any buying decisions.
The photos in this post are made using the following photography gear and editing tools.
Links to my reviews and sources:
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR
Fujifilm Film Simulation Samples
