Shooting Mountain Adventures with the Fujifilm X10

I like to go fast and light in the mountains. Unfortunately, the whole photography thing drags that down in a big way. Even a moderately small rig consisting of a DLSR and 2 Lenses still equals around five extra pounds of gear. Take along the “big lens” and we’re nearly filling up the pack.

However, the other day, I left the house on a Saturday morning with no Nikon- only the Fujifilm X10, which is something that NEVER happens! I figured I’d give myself a break from carrying any extra weight and see how the “little camera” did for shooting adventure type subject matter.

Turns out that it did just fine. The X10 is small, so I just kept it slung around my neck as we hiked the ridge on Knoya Peak in the Chugach Mountains outside Anchorage. Exposures (all EXR auto) were great, and focusing was only a problem on a few occasions. In the dim light of overcast, grain blocked up a little bit in the darker midtones, but nothing that a slight luminance adjustment in Lightroom won’t fix.

Also, to help me capture the best moments and limit any focus or memory card delays between individual shots, I just left the camera in medium speed burst mode (5 fps) and shot away. With its high speed continuous mode, (up to 10 fps in medium resolution, and 7 fps in full res) fairly fast autofocus and smart exposure meter, the X10 is actually a pretty good camera for shooting sports and action. During the deluge, I tucked the camera inside my jacket, and even though it’s not weather sealed, a little water here and there doesn’t seem to hurt it.

What I liked was that even though I didn’t have my “big camera,” I was still able to capture what I feel are some compelling outdoor shots. This doesn’t mean that I’m about to abandon my D700 for normal adventure photography, but for those times when I want to travel ultralight, it’s nice to know that my style of photographic creativity is covered with the Fuji X10, even on nasty weather days. It’s a capable little camera that packs a lot of quality and features for it’s size and price, and is many cases, the photos it produces are good enough to send to clients.

If I had not told you, would you have guessed that these shots were all made with the X10?

Want to read more? Check out my full review of the Fujifilm X10. Also, if you’re thinking about getting an X10, they’re $50 off right now until the end of June.

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