Posts | Dan Bailey's Adventure Photography Blog

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

The Fuji X-T1 AF Tracking Performance. How Good is it?

I’ve had my Fujifilm X-T1 for over a week now, and during that time, I’ve shot over 1,200 frames with it, covering a variety of subject matter, including landscapes, people, action, travel and the Northern Lights.

NOTE: The Fuji X-T1 with 18-55mm lens is on sale right now for $100 off.

I’m incredibly impressed with this new camera in so many ways, but perhaps the most significant advancement over the other Fuji X cameras is that the X-T1 was designed with 9 phase detect AF points on the sensor and a new predictive autofocus algorithm that locks on and tracks moving subjects at up to 8 frames per second.

This is HUGE, especially for an outdoor action shooter like myself. However, since the X-T1 has only been in the hands of few people, (I’m the first person to own one in the US), there have not been very many image examples of how well this camera’s AF system really performs. As I read some of the other blogs and forums, this seems to be the biggest concern and question for people who are otherwise interested in the X-T1, or who question whether it’s really that much better than the X-E2.

After a solid week of testing in Iceland, I’m here to tell you that YES, the new Fuji X-T1 AF system really tracks. Quite well indeed. This is what sets the X-T1 apart from the rest of the lineup. Whereas the X-100S and X-E2 both focus very fast and will even acquire moving subjects, they won’t track past the first frame. The X-T1 will.

Here are three image examples that I feel represent the capabilities and limitations of the X-T1 autofocus system. These are real world situations which would present a challenge to any camera, even a top shelf DSLR.

1. Biker – Moving Directly Away From the Camera

This is the first test that I did, using the Fuji XF 55-200mm lens. Shooting a subject that’s moving directly away from you in dim, winter light is a hard thing to capture, no matter what camera you’re using. These were shot at ISO 800 with a zoom focal length of 83mm at 1/240, f/3.5 on Continuous High mode at 8 frames per second.

I have to say that the first time I put the X-T1 on CH mode, I was blown away. 8 fps is VERY FAST! It’s as fast as any DSLR that I’ve ever owned. One thing to note, even though the X-T1 has 49 AF points, according to the manual, when you put the X-T1 on AF-C and CH mode, the camera focuses using the 9 point phase detect sensor array that’s laid out in the center part of the frame. I’m not sure if this is only for initial acquire or for full tracking, this is something that I want to ask my contact at Fuij.

In this instance, the X-T1 was able to track quite well, and I think that in the one second burst of 8 frames, it only missed one or two, (not by much) before locking on to the back fender again. Overall, pretty good. Even though the XF 55-200mm lens is not a particularly fast lens, it did pretty well during my test on the streets of Reykjavik.

2. Glacier Hiking – Subject Switching Directions

I shot this series in bright sunny conditions with the XF 14mm f/2.8, which is a fast, fixed, ultra wide angle lens. It’s my favorite Fuji glass. (Read my full review of this lens here). Exposure details are ISO 200, 1/350 at f/8.

Following really close right behind the hiker, I set the AF point so that it would grab his right foot, which was swinging back and forth with every step. This is a really good test, because when it’s planted, it’s moving much more slowly in relation to the camera position, but when he takes a step, it picks up, switches direction and moves forward in a much higher rate of speed against the camera.

In other words, it’s asking an awful lot of the camera to lock on and track a subject like this, but in the this 9 frame series at 8 fps, the X-T1 did an amazing job. It’s not 100% perfect, sometimes it grabbed the flying snow, sometimes it missed by just a bit or else grabbed the pants instead of the boot or crampon, but I have extensive experience shooting stuff like this, and considering the conditions, it did awesome.

3. Flying Birds – Erratic Movement with Defined Background

When I was reading the forums this week, a few people wanted to know how well the X-T1 would work tracking something with erratic movement like flying birds. In my test, it did about as well as any pro camera that I’ve used, which means that it was totally hit or miss. Sometimes it grabbed, sometimes it didn’t. Plus, shooting with a long lens, it’s extremely hard to even find the bird in your lens, let alone keep in there to track.

Birds against a blue sky are tough, especially when you’re using a long lens, because if it misses, the lens usually goes seeking in a sea of blue and you’ve lost the shot. Shooting against a busy background can be just as hard, because it’s easy for the lens to give up and just grab that nice, contrasty beach.

In this example, which I shot at with the XF 55-200mm lens zoomed to 123mm, ISO 400 and an exposure of 1/2200 at f/4.5. In this six frame series shot at 8 fps and varying levels of background contrast, the X-T1 nailed every single frame. Once it locked on, it stayed right there and didn’t get temped by those nice high contrast waves on the black sand beach in the background.

In addition, if you’ll notice, while the first frame has the bird close to the center of the frame, by the last shot, it’s well outside where those 9 phase detect points are located, which seems to indicate that the X-T1 will continue to track, even when the subject leaves the coverage of the phase detect array.

Final AF Analysis

For everyone who is wondering if the hype about the X-T1 predictive AF system is true, the definitive answer is yes. The X-T1 will track moving subjects and it will do it under a variety of conditions, light levels and lens choices.

Is it perfect? Hardly, but neither is my DSLR and my brand new Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens. I miss frames with that setup too. Sometimes, in AF-C mode, especially in dim light when you don’t have a clearly definable subject, the AF system “breathes” a little bit as it searches for something to lock onto. When it finds a subject, though, it grabs pretty well, and it locks really quickly in AF-S mode.

Newer mirrorless cameras have at least some phase detect points that are placed right on the image sensor in addition to the regular array of contrast detect sensors. This makes the AF systems on today’s top mirrorless cameras really fast, but until now they didn’t track. However, phase detect only works well in bright light. When things go dim, the contrast detect sensors take over.

In my mind, this is why the X-T1 is such an awesome camera and why it’s so usable for outdoor photographers who shoot things like action, sports, adventure, wildlife and people. When Fuji brought me in the loop before the X-T1 was announced, I was pretty impressed. Now that I have one in my hands, I’m blown away by what this compact X camera can do.

Check out my X-T1 full review and field test. It’s a very detailed post with lots of information and more full size image samples. Also, read this other AF tracking post where I shot dog sledding teams coming straight towards the camera.

You can also order the camera at B&H Photo, Adorama or Amazon, it’s in stock now.

Order the Fujifilm X-T1 for only $1,299 (body only) at B&H Photo or Amazon

Order the Fujifilm X-T1 with 18-55mm lens for only $1,699 at B&H Photo or Amazon

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February 11, 2014

The Fuji X-T1 AF Tracking Performance. How Good is it?

Featured Images, My Early Years

My Early Years: The Eliminator Bouldering Photo

In early November of 1995, after living in Boston for seven years, I arrived in sunny Fort Collins, Colorado with dreams of someday becoming a pro photographer. I’d been shooting photos for about five and a half years and even though I still had a ways to go before making that jump, I’d already earned a few dollars licensing my photos through the stock agency and selling prints. Nothing big, but it was enough to fuel my motivation.

My gear at the time consisted of two camera bodies, a Nikon N90 and an all manual chrome FM-2, two AF lenses, 24mm f/2.8D and 70-210mm f/4-5.6, and two manual lenses; 50mm /1.4 and 105mm f/2.5. The only one I don’t still have is my manual 50mm. Sadly, I somehow lost it in the dark on location a few years later, and I replaced it with my current 50mm f/1.8.

Shortly after moving to The Fort, I quickly discovered Horsetooth Reservoir, the legendary bouldering mecca for northern Colorado, and spent many afternoons and weekend days there honing my climbing skills and meeting new climbing friends. In fact, some of the lasting friendships that I still have I met during those early days climbing at Horsetooth.

The most popular area of Horsetooth is known as Rotary Park, which sits upon a west-facing bluff high above the reservoir, getting blasted by afternoon sunshine and providing awesome views and warm weather climbing opportunities, almost year round. Steeped in history, Rotary Park is home to some of the most famous boulder problems established by legendary early climbers like John Gill.

Some of the famous boulders at Rotary Park include The Mental Block, Punk Rock, Cat Eye Wall, Pitch Penny Boulder, and perhaps most famous, The Eliminator Boulder.

With its menacing ships prow profile that overhangs on the south side of the rock, The Eliminator is a test piece climbing challenge for everyone who drop down that first series of ledges from the parking area, scurries along pathways that wind through the prickly mountain mahogany bushes and finds themself staring up at this legendary piece of Dakota sandstone.

The mega classic boulder problem that ascends up the prow is knows as “Right Eliminator.” It’s hard right from the ground, especially if you’re short. You start by pinching the overhanging corner itself with your right hand, and then jumping to grab a sideways with your left.

If you manage to grab it, your have to quickly paste your feet on the rock in order to keep yourself from dropping off of the overhang and falling back the ground. If you’re able to hold on, continuing up the corner it’s even all that hard. Scary, but not as hard as that first move.

For many people, that first move is the crux. That’s where most of us get spit out. We’ll try over and over again, pinching and jumping, pinching and jumping… and falling off with frustration before giving it another go. How many times can your fingers last before you just can’t try anymore? Ten times? Twenty times?

There’s always another day, but usually the same thing happens. Some climbers will try that first move hundreds of times before sticking. Or not. In all my years bouldering at Horsetooth, I only managed to stick it four times. Only four times did I manage to make it to the top of Right Eliminator, and that first time I felt like I’d achieved mythical status, because that’s what it always seemed like whenever I saw someone else do it.

Like this old photo of Dave Wallace above. Shot during one of my first trips to Rotary Park in the fall of 1995, this was the first time I’d met Dave and Lance Lemkau (spotting), and watching these local Fort Collins hard men climb Right Eliminator with such confidence was like watching an explosion of greatness. I was in total awe.

I asked Dave if he’d do the problem again for my camera, and so on that fateful day, I crouched down low with my Nikon D90, snapped just when he nailed the final move and up the corner captured one of my first favorite Colorado adventure images.

Made with the 24mm lens on Fuji Velvia slide film, I have always felt that this was one of those shots that helped me define my style of being right there in the middle of the action. To me, it’s got light, color, subject, dynamic lines and a peak moment of movement in a good place in the frame. I don’t think it ever got used anywhere, but it’s always been one of my favorites and thought it would make a great Climbing Magazine cover. I submitted it, but they never bit.

Here’s another photo of The Eliminator below I shot years later which shows you the problem from a different angle.

My Early Years

This is the first post in a series called My Early Years, which profiles some of my images and experiences as a budding young photographer back in the mid and late 90s. I present this series to show you that photography is a progression and that we all have a long road of unique experiences that make up our photography life/career.

Most of the images in this series were shot on film and are thus derived from either Nikon Coolscan files or from early Kodak Photo CDs, which are still readable on Apple iPhoto.

I hope that you enjoy this look back at the much younger and much less experienced Dan Bailey. If you’d like to read more articles like this and be notified whenever I post similar features, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which also includes regular news, photography tips, industry isight and special deals.

February 3, 2014

My Early Years: The Eliminator Bouldering Photo

Camera Gear, Featured Images, Reviews and Recommendations

More Fujifilm X-T1 Sample Images

At the end of 2013, I was brought onboard to test an early version of the Fuji X-T1 firmware and produce sample images to highlight the features of this new camera. Since it was still two months away from being announced to the public, I essentially became the first person in the US to shoot with what was to become the X-T1. In fact, some of my photos have been included in the X-T1 catalog and on the Fuji X-T1 website.

With its rugged, weather sealed SLR style body, a highly evolved, predictive, 8 frames per second AF tracking system, and the vastly improved EVF, which features a 2.36 million pixel OLED display, a significantly lower lag time, and four viewing modes, the X-T1 is like the X-E2 on steroids. Fujifilm has certainly stepped up the bar with this one and given action, adventure and travel photographers a camera that can truly contend with DSLRs.

Inside, the X-T1 has a 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor and EXR Processor II, which is what has made both the X100S and the X-E2 such well received cameras. You know how much guys like David Hobby and Zach Arias rave about X100S, imagine the same quality in a more rugged body that’s designed for the outdoors.

Here are some more sample images which illustrate the image quality of the X-T1 sensor. I’ve cropped in on a few of the shots to show you the kind of resolution that the X-Trans sensor is capable of producing. Add to that, the fact that Adobe just announced updated support for X-Trans sensor cameras that will be coming soon.

Daylight

Shot in full sunlight, the X-Trans sensor does awesome. Blow it up and you’ve got almost no noise, and incredible resolution. This is why most Fuji X camera shooters don’t even bother shooting raw most of the time.

Detail

This one isn’t even shot in full sunlight, but note how much sharpness and crisp detail is captured and preserved when you blow it way up. We’re talking individual snowflakes on the pine needles. Pretty impressive.

Low Light, High ISO

In general, full frame cameras have better low light, high ISO performance, because with a bigger sensor, each light gathering pixel is bigger. However, sensor technology keeps improving. The Fuji engineers redesigned the arrangement of components around the X-T1 sensor in order to give it even better performance in lower light levels. This image below show you how well the image holds up, even at ISO 3200.

Skin Tones and People

There’s a reason that portrait and wedding photographers LOVE the X cameras, they do skin tones and people really well. This is due to both the cameras image processing engine and the quality of the glass in front of the sensor. Fuji makes some great glass, and they even make the M-Mount Adaptor which lets you use Lieca and Carl Zeiss lenses on your interchangeable X cameras.

Creative Options

The X-T1 has all the same creative filters and film simulations that are found on the other X cameras. These different looks give you a wide array of creative options that you can apply to your photography. After all, it’s supposed to be fun, right? When Adobe updates RAW support for the X-Trans sensor, you’ll even be able to preserve your selected film simulations shot on RAW images that you import into Photoshop and Lightroom.

As much as I love my X20 and X-E1, my excitement for this camera is off the charts. I am incredibly honored to have been included into the pool of a very select few people who were made aware of the X-T1 from the start, because I feel that this camera has been designed for someone exactly like me. It matches my lightweight, fast moving, fast action, out-in-the-elements style of adventure photographer perfectly and I can’t wait to get a full production model in my hands. I’ve shot quite a few mountain adventures with my X10 and X20, imagine what I could do with this!

Better yet, imagine what YOU could do with this camera. Read my initial review of the X-T1 and see the main specs here. Also, check out this more recent post of X-T1 image examples that includes links to full size versions of each image.

The new Fujifilm X-T1 is slated to ship on March 7, but you can preorder the camera now.

Preorder the Fujifilm X-T1 for only $1,299 (body only) at B&H Photo or Amazon

Preorder the Fujifilm X-T1 with 18-55mm lens for only $1,699 at B&H Photo or Amazon

January 30, 2014

More Fujifilm X-T1 Sample Images

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

First Look at The New Rugged Fujifilm X-T1 Camera

This is this one we’ve been waiting for.

Expected Ship Date: March 7

Preorder the Fujifilm X-T1 for only $1,299 (body only) at B&H Photo or Amazon

Preorder the Fujifilm X-T1 with 18-55mm lens for only $1,699 at B&H Photo or Amazon

Earlier today, Fujifilm announced their latest X model, the rugged X-T1 mirrorless camera. Designed as a premium quality, interchangeable lens camera, the X-T1 features a compact SLR style body, mechanical dials, much higher weather resistance than the rest of the X lineup and vastly improved high speed performance. In other words, the X-T1 is the X camera specifically designed for us outdoor, adventure and action photographers.

I’ll admit, I’ve known about this for awhile. Fujifilm brought me in the loop a few months ago to test out the X-T1 firmware, and when they showed me what they’d cooked up, I was really excited. They packed some incredible features into this camera, and in my mind, they addressed all of the main issues I had with the XE-1, and to some extent, the X-E2, although the 2 is a big improvement over the 1. Combined with the new rugged body design, the X-T1 looks like a very big step forward in the mirrorless game.

8 Frames Per Second with Full AF Tracking

Aside from the compact, classic design that we’ve come to expect from Fujifilm, the X-T1 features a max shooting rate of 8 frames per second with full predictive AF-tracking. That’s huge. That’s the number one game changer as far as I’m concerned. The other X cameras do 8 fps and higher, but not with AF tracking. Believe me. I’ve shot really intense action with some of the X cameras and even though they’re fast, the AF tracking just wasn’t there yet. It is now.

Combined with the 49 selectable AF point array that covers the entire frame (something that I LOVE about these cameras), and 9 phase detect AF points on the sensor, you have total flexibility about where you put your subject matter in the frame. Want it at the very edge? No problem. There’s an AF point out there. As with the other X cameras, you can change the size of the AF points to reflect your shooting situation. That’s been something I’ve enjoyed on my X-E1 and X20, and I’m glad they stuck with it on the X-T1. Read my real world AF test and see just how well the X-T1 tracks moving subjects at 8 fps.

MASSIVELY Improved EVF

Up until now, I haven’t been a very big fan of EVFs. (Another reason I LOVE the optical viewfinder on the X20.) I just like the intrinsic nature of looking directly at my subject through the lens instead of watching it on a fingernail sized TV screen. Fujifilm made vast improvements and put a 2.36 million dot OLED display that renders crisp beautiful images inside the viewfinder with a much higher refresh rate and a wide viewing angle. With a lag time of only 0.005sec, Fuji claims that it has 1/10 the lag time of any other camera on the market right now. All I know is that it’s the first EVF that I’ve been excited about using.

OLED stand for Organic Light Emitting Diode, a technology that works without a backlight and thus allows for deeper blacks and a higher contrast ratio. Inside the X-T1, it looks awesome. So much better than anything they had a couple of years ago. Not only does it show a bigger image, it has four display modes that give you shooting info, split image focusing and “portrait view,” which automatically adjusts the placement of the EVF info inside the viewfinder when you rotate the camera to the vertical position.

Also, instead of placing the EVF out there on the side, like the’ve done with all the other X cameras, Fuji went full SLR style and stuck it right up front and center. Just like a real camera. I sometimes get confused when I go back and forth between my Nikon DSLRs and my little Fuji cameras, (I often use them in tandem) and having the viewfinders all in the same place on my cameras will make things flow much more naturally for me.

Excellent Image Quality and Full HD Video

The Fuji X-T1 features the same APS-C sized 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor and EXR II Processor that the X-E2 has. The lack of an Optical Low Pass Filter and a randomized pixel arrangement on the sensor makes for exceptionally sharp high resolution imagery. Paired with the Fuji XF lenses, which are awesome pieces of glass, photos from this camera rock.

I loved shooting with the Fuji X cameras, they produce such beautiful, vibrant imagery. The X-T1 is no exception, it follows on the same trend as all the others. JPEGs look stunning, and of course, you have all of the classic film simulation modes like Provia, Velvia, Astia, Pro NEG and a host of BW filters.

Full HD video capabilities let you shoot at both 30 fps and 60 fps, and you can adjust WB and set any of the film sim modes while recording. Fuji will also have a separate stereo mic for improved audio quality.

It also has improved low light performance. The Fuji engineers have included special circuitry around the sensor that controls noise at extremely dim light levels. I shot this image below at night with ISO 6400 and it holds together surprisingly well with tight grain and a very reasonable amount of noise. Normal ISO settings range on the X-T1 range from 200-6400, and can be extended to 100, 12800, 25600 and 51200.

Tough Weather Sealed Body

An outdoor camera isn’t much good if it can’t stand the weather. The Fuji X-T1 is built with 80 points of weather sealing on a full die-cast magnesium body, which makes it highly dust and water resistant. In addition, it’s got tempered glass on the LCD. It’s also good in the cold. During my initial testing period with the X-T1, I took it down to -10F and it kept working fine.

I even left it on the back porch at those temps just to see how long it would run in bare, bitter cold. The battery finally went into the red, but that was after shooting over 100 RAW images during two different outings at 20 degrees F and an hour left sitting at zero.

Bottom line, the X-T1 is built for the outdoors. It’s made so that you can take it into the field with full confidence, which is something you’d expect from any pro quality camera body.

WiFi and Remote Shutter Release

I didn’t try this feature out, but Fuji has apparently created a dedicated smartphone/tablet app that lets you adjust shooting parameters, focus and trigger the X-T1 shutter from your mobile device. It also has a Wi-Fi button on the top deck that lets you browse and transfer images right to your device.

Classic Design and Full Customization

Image quality and performance alone isn’t what makes the Fuji X cameras special, they’re built with exacting standards on a classic design that appeals to our visual and tactile senses. The milled aluminum dials on the top deck are well thought out in terms of placement and usability. +/-EV is right there where you need it. Shutter speed changes are where you’d expect them to be, as are ISO and film transport settings.

In addition, the X-T1 has six FUNC buttons that allow you to customize the camera to fit your shooting needs. You can set any of the buttons to control parameters such as focus setting, ISO, film simulation style, image size and quality, self timer, etc… Together with the Q button, you can instantly access whatever mode you want to change.

Finally, the X-T1 has a tilting LCD screen with a 3-inch, 1.04 million pixel resolution. A tilting screen is hardly a make or break thing with me, but it does give you more options when it comes to viewing images and shooting in bright light and difficult conditions.

Overall Thoughts

I love the image quality that the Fuji X cameras offer and I love the the classic design and the high performance functionality that they’re capable of. I won’t speculate whether the new Fujifilm X-T1 will be anyone’s DSLR replacement camera, but will say that it’s a well thought out, refined offering that addresses the exact concerns of an action, outdoor, adventure, travel photographer like myself.

With fast AF tracking, a high frame rate and a compact, weather sealed body that looks, feels and reminds me of my first camera, while packing in modern electronics that match the needs of current industry trends, the X-T1 is an extremely solid offering that will get the job done, and that should have very broad appeal.

In other words, this is the X Camera that I’ve been dreaming of. It’s the camera that I’ve wanted ever since I laid my eyes on the X10, because I want quality, powerful features and style. The X-T1 has all those. If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I try to approach every subject with the same mentality, regardless of what camera I’m using. I’ve shot quite a bit of action with the X20 and X-E1. Where they do ok, the X-T1 will shine.

An Outdoor Photographer’s Dream Mirrorless Camera

I’m not a street photographer. I’m not a wedding photographer. I’m an outdoor, action and travel photographer. I drag my cameras through the dirt. I occasionally drop them and bang then against the rocks. They get dirty and scratched, and they get rained and snowed on. They get carried up mountains and shoved into backpacks and panniers.

In addition, the subjects I shoot aren’t always standing still in controlled locations. They move quickly, and often erratically, and I need a camera that will reflect the demands of my quick thinking, quick shooting, tricky light, fast moving, lightweight style of photography.

In my mind, the X-T1 fits that bill and based on what I’ve seen, it looks like it’s going to be the best mirrorless camera for shooting sports and action on the market when it comes out. It’s definitely a camera that I’d highly recommend to any outdoor shooter who’s looking for a rugged, compact camera setup.

Best part, is that it has a Very Reasonable Price Tag, only $1,299 for the X-T1 body and $1,699 for the X-T1 body and 18-55mm lens.

The Fujifilm X-T1 is slated to hit the streets on March 7, but you can preorder the camera at B&H Photo, Adorama or Amazon. I can’t wait to get mine!

January 28, 2014

First Look at The New Rugged Fujifilm X-T1 Camera

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

First Look at the Nikon D7100, Shooting in Tricky Lighting

A few months ago, Nikon released the D7100 DSLR, which was a hot-rodded upgrade from the very popular D7000. Looking at it from the standpoint of its three most fundamental features, a 24.3 MP CMOS sensor, a 51-point autofocus system and 6 frames per second continuous mode, the D7100 certainly looks like a very capable camera.

I finally got my hands on one this week and I must say, even this longtime D700 guy who’s still waiting for a true D700 replacement from Nikon, was impressed with how it felt and performed in my hands.

Taking it out with the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII and the 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 ED VR lens, I figured I’d put it to the test and throw it up against some very tricky lighting. Ok, I’ll be honest. I had ulterior motives. The sun finally came out yesterday, and after a month of clouds and rain in Anchorage this January, I just wanted to go stand in some honest to goodness sunshine. It just so happened that doing so gave the the opportunity to see how well the D7100 performs while shooting against strong sunlight.

Let’s run through what I feel are the 3 main strong points of the D7100.

The Sensor

The 24.3 MP CMOS DX sensor on the D7100 is crazy good. For me, it pretty much dispels the notion that you need a full frame camera for shooing in low light. Shooting into this really bright scene below presents some really tricky challenges. The highly reflective snow will throw off any camera meter and since it’s backlit, the entire subject is in shadow. Even with the incredible contrast, the D7100 is able to wrangle the scene into submission.

It may not seem that way at first, but bring the file into Lightroom or Aperture and you can see just how much detail is preserved and how well it handles the noise.

Normally with a scene like this, I’d expect quite a bit of noise from my D700. However, when I blow up the shot, you can see that it’s really not too bad. Way less than what I’m used to with the D700.

Go one step further and tweak it a bit with some luminance smoothing, and you’ve got a really workable image that holds very tightly under scrutiny, despite the initial difficulties. To me, that says a lot about the kind of quality that you can get with the D7100 in a variety of shooting situations. Again, better than anything I’ve had in the past.

AF System

The D7100 has a 51-point autofocus system, which in my book, gives it a step up against the D610, which only has a 39-point AF system. For the record, if the D610 had at 51-point AF system, I’d have bought it as soon as it came out, but Nikon seems to be playing this marketing and pricepoint game with their lineup, which has left us diehard D700 shooters out in the proverbial cold.

Anyway, I like the fact that the D7100 has 51 AF points; it lets you build your shots around subject matter that lives further away from the center of your frame. I do this a lot, because it creates visual tension in your compositions. Nikon’s 39 point system is just a little to geared in the center of the frame for my liking.

Regarding performance, the AF sensor on the D7100 does a great job tracking your subject, locking onto the scene and holding your subject matter in sharp focus even at 6 frames per second. Pair it with a lens like the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII, and you’ve got a great combo for shooting action.

1.3x Crop Mode

One of the things I like best about the D7100 is the 1.3x crop mode. This ingenious feature lets you get even closer to distant subjects without having to have an enormous lens. Enable the 1.3x crop mode, and your D7100 suddenly turns into a 2x camera with a 15.4 MP sensor.

What does this mean? Simple. It means that your 70-200mm f/4 lens suddenly becomes a 140-400mm f/4 lens that shoots an 4800 x 3200 pixel image. Plenty big enough for any pro use. It also means that your 51-point AF sensor module extends all the way to the edge of the frame, which gives you incredible flexibility for composing your images.

Also, when you engage 1.3x crop mode, the max shooting rate climbs to 7 frames per second. This feature along makes the Nikon D7100 a sports and wildlife photographer’s dream camera. Add to that the 100% viewfinder, 1/250 flash sync speed and the D7100 becomes a whole lot of camera for $800 less than the D610.

Whether you’re shooting pro sports or your kids soccer game, this feature alone gives you more options for getting up close and personal without having to spend tons of money on big glass. Of course, your tradeoff is that you lose it on the wide angle end, which may be a concern for landscape photographers. You can always go with one of Nikon’s wide angle DX lenses.

Finally, the D7100 is an extremely lightweight DSLR, which makes it ideal for backcountry use when weight is an issue. I know of one photographer who just shot a video documentary with a D7100 while running 180 miles of the Colorado trail.

However, if you shoot general subjects, sports, wildlife and people, I see the Nikon D7100 being Nikon’s best value for a pro quality DSLR. Of course, it shoots Full HD video with constant AF and slow motion as well, so if you do motion, you’re covered on that end. Stay tuned for more examples and insight from the D7100 in the coming weeks.

January 27, 2014

First Look at the Nikon D7100, Shooting in Tricky Lighting

Press, Interviews and Info

The Dan Bailey Photo Quarterly Journal, Winter 2014 Issue

You can now read the Winter 2014 issue of the Dan Bailey Photo Quarterly Journal, which is now out on virtual newsstands everywhere. This latest issue features recent tear sheets, a collection of new work and it highlights one of my recent photography assignments.

It also contains information about my latest eBook, ZEN PHOTOGRAPHER, and my upcoming Alaska Photo Workshops, which will be starting up this summer.

Check out my Winter 14 Journal here, or download it to read later. It’s a relatively small PDF file, and you can even view it on your smartphone or mobile device. It’s a great way to stay updated about the kinds of work I’m shooting lately, see who’s using it and get to know me a little better.

Feel free to share this journal and thanks for reading!

January 23, 2014

The Dan Bailey Photo Quarterly Journal, Winter 2014 Issue

Creative Tips, Featured Post

4 Steps to a Killer Adventure Shot

Adventure and outdoor photography is largely about nailing an awesome moment in a stunning backcountry setting. However, when you’re out there in the middle of the action and everything is moving quickly, it can be hard to stay on top of all the technical and creative elements at hand and make it all come together. Today I want to give you some quick tips and show you what I feel are the four steps towards getting that great shot.

For this Alaska backcountry skiing image, I used my Nikon DSLR and the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens. I call this the adventure photographer’s dream lens, because it’s got pro quality coated glass and it’s half the weight of the 3 lb. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII. Plus it’s a thousand dollars less expensive. (Read my full comparison of these two lenses here.)

1. Location

Location, location, location. The backbone of your image. It’s called adventure photography for a reason. With this kind of image making, nothing matters more than where you are. Putting yourself into the best vantage points in the most amazing parts of the world is the number one ingredient to a jaw-dropping photograph. There is no substitute.

Usually, this part entails things like road trips, plane tickets, plans made at the bar, being an great shape, good friends/partners and competent ability in whatever sport or activity that you’re photographing. Or just getting your butt off the chair and going outside.

2. Light

The main element in all good photographs. Without good light, you’ll have a hum-drum picture that will carry very little visual impact. Imagine this picture being made on a dark, overcast day. Just wouldn’t have the same punch. Even though it’s wasn’t shot at magic hour, the strong, low winter sunlight and rich blue sky make for a lively contrast against the white show and the nice, red jacket of the skier.

Don’t underestimate the power of bright clothing in your shot. In fact, it’s always good to have some extra jackets on hand to lend friends who insist on on wearing drab colored clothing. There’s always at least one, isn’t there?

Ready for a joke?

Q: How can you spot the photographer in the outdoors?
A: He’s the only one wearing all black.

3. Convergence

The strongest photos show the subject in context with their environment. If you don’t have some sort of a background, or one or two secondary subject elements in the shot to add interest, you’re image won’t have any sense of place. No relationships. No story. You need to have that stuff in order to give the shot depth.

In a setting such as this, it’s pretty easy- I just look for a compelling background element in the landscape. In this case, I picked out a distant mountain that I wanted to frame behind my skier as he went by. This works because not only does it give some dimension to the shot, it’s far enough away that it will be slightly out of focus. Using bokeh on the background is an extremely effective way to isolate your subject and pull it out with sharp focus against a sea of soft blur. That’s why fast telephoto lenses are such essential tools for adventure photographers.

4. Moment

Once you’ve got all the other stuff in order, it simply becomes a matter of timing. Nailing the moment. Hitting the peak of the action. See how this shot below has the skier in a great body position and both he and the background are in an optimum part of the frame? You may only have one chance to get it right, and if you do, your shot will be so much better.

You can either put the camera on fast continuous mode, or shoot quickly, using one frame at a time. I do both, although if it’s a matter of hitting the subject in a very precise location, you’re better off putting it on single and relying on your technique and rock solid timing of your shutter finger rather than just spraying and praying.

If you don’t have a fast enough motor drive, you could actually miss hitting a frame exactly where you want. Sometimes it’s better to do multiple passes or shoot multiple subjects with good timing of your eye and fire off one or two shots at EXACTLY the right moment. After all, who’s smarter, you or your camera?

January 21, 2014

4 Steps to a Killer Adventure Shot

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

The Manfrotto BeFree – A Lightweight Affordable Aluminum Travel Tripod

I’m always on the lookout for great new tripods that have innovative features, that are compact, lightweight, and that don’t cost too much. After all, even though no photographer would turn down the chance to own something like a Gitzo Mountaineer, not everyone has the budget for a seven hundred dollar tripod.

The new Manfrotto BeFree is an affordable, lightweight aluminum tripod that is ideal for backpacking and travel. Its main feature is the new folding leg mechanism- the legs fold back on themselves over the head, which makes the length of this tripod only 15.8″ long; easily short enough to fit inside a carry-on bag or backpack. For a tripod of this price, that’s really short!

When it’s open, the BeFree‘s four leg sections extends to 48″ (57″ with the center column all the way up). Load capacity is rated to 8.8 lbs, which is certainly heavy enough for most DSLR/lens combos, and any mirrorless camera system. It comes with a Quick Release Plate ball head and the legs can be set to two different angles which give you wide versatility for setting up and composing your shot.

It also has rubber leg warmers and even comes with its own padded fabric bag for protection and ease of packing. Total weight for the BeFree, including ball head and case, is only 3 lbs 14 oz. Best part, though is the price- less than $200.

I’ve owned a number of Manfrotto aluminum tripods and they’ve all held up well, despite years of abuse that I’ve inflicted on them. Aluminum isn’t as light as carbon fiber, but it’s a whole lot less expensive and offers an excellent strength to weight ratio. That’s why they build bikes, climbing gear and jet liners with it.

I’ve also been very happy with Manfrotto’s quality- I think they make great tripods that offer solid construction and excellent value for the photographer.

If you’re looking for a good all around tripod that’s compact enough for travel, either in the backcountry or on the back streets of foreign cities, and you’re on a budget, then you should check out the new Manfrotto BeFree tripod. In my mind, it’s easily one of the most lightweight, compact and affordable choices in its class.

You can pick up the Manfrotto BeFree at B&H Photo, Adorama or Amazon.

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Support this site: If you’re thinking about picking up a new tripod, or any new gear for that matter, please consider shopping through these links. It’s your way to let me that you find these reviews helpful, and it doesn’t cost you anything extra. In other words, it’s like the “like” button, only better. Thanks!

January 16, 2014

The Manfrotto BeFree – A Lightweight Affordable Aluminum Travel Tripod

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

Review of the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Lens

I love wide angle lenses. Always have. As far as I’m concerned, the wider the better, so long as it’s a fixed lens. That’s one of the main reasons I’ve stuck with my full frame Nikon and still use the D700.

I prefer primes over wide angle zooms for a couple reasons. Fixed lenses are always lighter and more compact, which means that they pack more easily and are that much more non-conspicuous when you’re out shooting in the world.

Also, it’s a very easy lens to shoot one handed with, which I often do while riding bikes, hanging off of a rock face, blocking the sun or directing my subjects with my free hand or shooting while driving/flying. Note, I would NEVER recommend this kind of reckless activity.

Wide angle lenses are great for shooting just about everything. They’re ideal for landscapes, travel and shooting indoors, and if you want to get right in the middle of the scene and shoot immersive, first person action, then wide is the way to go.

They’re also really effective for portraits because you can get up close and persona with your subject matter and still show some environment, a technique that lets you build a more comprehensive narrative for your image.

However, my fixed Nikon 14mm f/2.8 ED is heavy. All my Nikon gear is, hence my excitement about the little Fuji X cameras, which let me go light and fast. And even though they have APS-C 1.5x crop sensors, Fuji’s got that covered with a lightweight, ultra wide angle lens that makes me feel like I’m shooting full frame.

I’ve been using the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 ultra wide angle lens solidly for about 8 months now, mostly with the X-E1 and X-E2 and now the brand new Fujifilm X-T1. (Read my review of the awesome new X-T1 here.) In that time, I’ve found it to be an essential part of my compact, mirrorless photography rig. Last summer, I took it on a bike tour over the Alps with this lens and I’ve used it in a wide variety of outdoor photography situations in Iceland and here in Alaska. Here’s my review of the lens and some images examples that illustrate what you can do with it.

Construction and Features

First of all, the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 is a rock solid lens. It’s built with a combination of metal in all the right places, and plastic in places that help it save weight (235 grams.) Inside, are 10 elements in 7 groups (includes 2 aspherical and 3 extra low dispersion elements). As far as durability goes, I’ve knocked this thing around quite a bit and it has yet to show any kind of scratch or dent. After all this time, it still looks brand new.

The plastic lens hood fits very tightly with a bayonet-style twist and stays locked. I’ve never had it come loose. In terms of size, it’s about an inch and a half shorter than the Fuji XF 18-55mm lens when the zoom is retracted.

This lens also has three additional features that most of the other XF lenses don’t have- a real aperture ring with actual f/stop numbers on it, a depth of field scale with distance markers and a manual focus option right on the lens. In other words, it looks and functions just like a classic SLR lens.

The aperture ring has a range of f/2.8-22, plus A for auto. The depth of field scale is visible by pulling in on the focusing ring. A firm tug and click puts the lens into Manual Focus mode, which works in conjunction with the DOF scale.

This allows you to make critical hyperfocal distance decisions, such as when you’re shooting landscapes. You could call this “slow down mode,” and we all know that whenever you slow down and start putting some thought and brain power into your photography, you inherently create better images. That’s one of the things I love most about the Fuji X cameras, they let you work the way YOU want to, whether you want to put them on all manual, all auto or somewhere in between; whatever makes you feel most comfortable and/or creative.

Usability and Performance

Using the XF 14mm f/2.8 is a real joy. Aside from the awesome 90-degree angle of view (equates to a 21mm full frame 35mm view) and the tight, compact build quality, what I love best about this lens is its simplicity. It’s got one fantastic look that works extremely well for a wide variety of subject matter.

For a digital camera, shooting in Manual Focus actually works quite well. I’d even venture to say that it’s a pleasurable experience, compared to what I’ve seen on other systems. You use the LCD or EVF to visually gauge your focus, and you can press in the rear command dial to zoom in and check critical focus, and depending on what camera you use, you may also have split image and/or focus peaking options to help.

Add to that, it’s sharp from edge to edge, and it delivers crisp, beautiful imagery. Cameras like the X-E1, X-E2, X-Pro1 and the new X-T1 are highly touted for how good their straight JPEGs look. Pair one with this lens and you’ll give yourself maximum quality that rivals the pro look of an full frame camera system. It’s optimized for one focal length, which means you don’t get the slight variations in sharpness that you do with a zoom lens.

Also, with the 18-55mm lens, the zoom tends to walk and extend automatically when you point the lens down, which makes it a hard lens to shoot one handed with. No zoom on the 14mm, so this won’t happen. What you see is what you get and it won’t change.

Focusing is done internally on the XF 14mm f/2 .8, which gives the lens fast AF performance. Pair this lens with the X-E2, (which has considerablyfaster autofocus than the X-E1) and you’ve got an awesome setup for shooting action, travel, street scenes, people and anything else that moves quickly and erratically. I’ve shot full-on action like muddy cyclocros s with this lens and it did just fine. I’ve heard people say that the X-E1 is no good for action. Using this lens, I strongly beg to differ.

One thing about this lens is that when you have it in Manual Focus mode with the ring snapped back, this overrides whatever AF mode you have set on the camera. This is not a big deal and it’s clearly explained in the instruction manual, but if you’re swapping out other XF lenses, or if you accidentally flip the lens into MF mode, you might get a little confused. I’ve inadvertently flipped it in the wintertime when wearing big gloves and didn’t realize it. Again, not a big deal, but something to be aware of.

Overall

The XF 14mm f/2.8 is not a cheap lens. Nor is it an inexpensive lens, although it’s certainly not out of reach for what you get. Good glass costs money, and it’s certainly less expensive (and considerably smaller and lighter) than something like the Nikon 14mm f/2.8 ED, which will blow out your forearm muscles if you try to shoot one handed with it too much.

By every measure, the Fuji XF 14mm f/2.8 is a first rate, wide angle prime that will give you excellent, professional quality imagery. Buying this lens is making a serious investment in your photography, not just because of how the images look, but because it’s a lens that you can easily fall in love with for shooting just about everything. It’s been one of my favorite pieces of gear for months now and I have absolutely nothing negative to say about it. If you own any of the interchangeable Fuji X cameras and want to take your imagery to a new level and style, then I highly recommend this lens.

Check out this post, of Fujifilm X-T1 sample images and see more photos shot with the XF 14mm lens.

Support this site: If you’re in the market for new gear, please consider visiting and purchasing gear through these links or shopping through B&H Photo, Adorama or Amazon. This help cover the costs, effort and time that it takes to run this site and produce these reviews and articles and it doesn’t cost you anything extra. As always, thanks for reading, and I wish you a very happy and exciting new year.

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January 14, 2014

Review of the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Lens

Featured Images

2013, A Year in Photos

I like reading some of the ” favorite photos of the past year” posts that show up on the web around this time. Jim Goldstein posts a great collection of reader submitted galleries each year, and here’s his 2013 page.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to choose my best 12 photos of the entire year, so instead, this time I’ll just post a favorite shot from each month. Not necessarily THE favorite, just one that jumped at me when I was pulling images for this post. I hope you enjoy my selection. Feel free to share links to your own favorite collections of 2013 in the comment section below. Finally, here’s to more in 2014!

January: Winter Sunrise, Tokositna Mountains

The Tokositna Mountains are a small subrange of peaks on the south side of the Tokositna Glacier in Denali National Park. Last January, we spent a few nights at a remote cabin just south of the Alaska Range, and I shot this image with my trusty Fuji X10 during a late morning ski across the lake. I used Shutter Priority mode with an exposure of 1/250 at f/4. I love shooting landscapes with the X10 (and now the X20) because it allows me to travel virtually free and unencumbered through the world. Just being there in good light is half the battle, and if you’re not burdened down with too much gear, you’ll get there more quickly.

February: Landing on Ice

In February, I flew out to the Knik Glacier area in my little Cessna and discovered that Inner Lake George was free of snow. Long story short, how could I resist the mile wide sheet of solid glare ice and perfection, windless conditions? Although I’ve landed on icy runways many times, this was my first landing on a frozen lake. I also shot this one with my Fuji X10, 1/450 at f/5.

March: Portrait of a Snow Biker

In March, I met Glenn Charles, a fellow adventurer and photographer who came to Alaska to ride his snow bike for two months in the cold. I had a great time hanging out with Glenn during his visit. I took him on a winter bush plane ride in the little Cessna, (we even landed on Lake George again!) and we had an awesome day riding our snow bikes out to the Knik Glacier.

One afternoon, we hit the trails with bikes and camera gear in order to get some action shots with flash. This shot above was an image from that series. It was made with my D700, the AF-S 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Telephoto Zoom, which I acquired in early 2013, the Photoflex TritonFlash battery powered strobe and Photoflex WhiteDome 24″ x 36″ softbox. Sounds like a lot of gear, but all of this stuff, including the light stand fits right in my camera pack. You can read the details of this photo shoot here.

April: Kichatna Spires and Backcountry Skiing

April is a tough one, and I have to go with two images. Hey, it’s my blog, I can break the rules all I want! The first shot is an aerial of the Kichatna Spires, a section rugged granite peaks that lie southwest of Denali National Park. By far one of my favorite images of 2013, I shot it out the open window of my little Cessna with the Fujifilm X20, which I bought in early April. Since then, it’s been the camera I carry with me at all times. You can read my full review of the X20 here.

Also in April, I did a week long backcountry ski trip with my Colorado friends who came up for some fine Alaska snow. We were blessed with good light on a few of our days, and I made this image with my Nikon D700 and 24mm f/2.8 lens. 1/640 at f/7.1. Although I’ve shot more photos with my telephoto lenses, I’ve never gone on an assignment or photo shoot without my Nikon 24mm wide angle. You can see more photos from this awesome trip here.

May: Neuschwanstein Castle and The Alps, Germany

In May, my wife Amy and I flew to Europe and rode our bikes over the Alps, from Munich, Germany to Verona Italy along the Via Claudia Augusta route. Just before the Austrian border, we passed through the town of Füssen, near Neuschwanstein Castle, which sits on a hillside high above town. I’ve heard about this magical disney-style castle my whole life, so it was a pretty special day to pedal (in the pouring rain) all the way up to the castle entrance and view it with my own eyes.

This was my first trip with the Fujifilm XE-1, which I found to be an awesome travel camera, especially for bike trips. This was made with the XF 18-55mm lens, which comes with the Fuji XE-1 kit. 1/280 at f/5.6. If you like traveling by bicycle, I highly recommend this route!

June: Knik Glacier

Upon my return from Italy, I found summer to be in full swing here in Alaska, so I took to the skies and flew quite a few aerial photography missions over the Kink Glacier. By summer, the light is much higher, and there are lots of tourquoise colored meltwater pools that form in the ice. Another Fuji X20 shot. I love the X20 for aerials because it’s just so easy to use, which is key when I’m also trying to fly the plane at the same time. Plus, the quality and color rendition is awesome. 1/1000 at f/9.

July: Walking on Ice

This was a really fun day. After numerous bush flights over the Knik Glacier, I finally found a short, muddy strip that was close enough to actually give me access to the glacier itself. It took routefinding, bushwhacking, treading through thigh deep muck, thick forest and hiking over the rocky moraine in order to get there, but after surmounting those minor challenges, I found a way up onto the ice.

I walked around for a couple of hours and shot this photo of my feet with the Fujifilm XE-1 and the wideangle XF 14mm lens, (which I LOVE!) by using the self timer and dangling the camera by the strap behind me. 1/60 at f/16. You can read more about this fun adventure here.

August: Hiking East Twin Peak

August was a big month. The warm weather sunny weather continued to hold in Anchorage, my mom came to visit and I spent four awesome days on an backcountry aviation camping trip out to Wrangell St. Elias National park. However, I choose this photo of my friend Eric that I shot on the day we hiked East Twin Peak in the Chugach Mountains. Eric and I are great friends and neighbors, but we’re both so busy that we rarely get outside to play very often these days, so it’s a special day when we do something together. Yet another Fuji X20 image, (you can see how much I love this versatile little camera!) 1/850 at f/5.

September: Adventure Mountain Biking

Eric and I were on a roll this summer, because we got out again in September, this time to shoot some adventure biking images in the Chugach Mountains for his company Revelate Designs. This was by far one of my favorite days of the year, as is reflected by my excitement about the images that we got that day. I shot this with the D700 and the AF-S 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Telephoto Zoom, which is pro quality glass and light enough for backcountry adventures like this. 1/800 at f/4.5. You can see more photos from this shoot here.

October: Cyclocross

I shot a lot of photos in October, many of them during the Anchorage cyclocross races. With so many shots, it’s hard to pick a favorite, but this one definitely stands out. I made it with the Fujifilm XE-1 and the fixed XF 14mm f/2.8 lens, with the camera set in square black and white mode. Sometimes setting limitations like this can actually jump start your photographic creativity. Lots more to see, so check out more photos from this series here.

And to those who say that they Fuji XE-1 and XE-2 aren’t good for shooting action? Like anything else, it’s about how well you know your gear and how you approach shooting your subjects. Exposure on this shot was 1/850 at f/2.8.

November: Winter Portrait

Since I spent much of November dealing with some non-photography matters, I didn’t shoot very many photos that month. One particular day, though, I took a quick walk in the park near my house and ran into my friend Darcy, who was also out for a brisk walk in the minus 10 degree temps. I had my XE-2 with me, and shot this frosty portrait of her. 1/500, f/4.5.

December: Snow Biking

Winter once again, and time to break out the fat tire snow bike! I kicked off the snow biking season with a fun ride on the local trails and captured a few shots at the same time by clamping my Fuji XE-2 onto the frame with a Manfrotto Super Clamp and Variable Friction Arm. Those are both great tools for getting cool vantage point shots. 1/500/f/4.5.

January 13, 2014

2013, A Year in Photos