By the time I started photographing professionally, smartphones were already so prevalent that it was common for everyone to take photos and videos with them.
As someone from such a generation, I was first attracted to Fujifilm cameras for their design. I believe that a camera that combines the nostalgic charm of the film era as well as innovation will help me to improve the way I face my photos and images.
We’ve been using the X-S20 to capture a Cinematic Vlog of our weekend camping trip. Camping means a lot of gear to carry around, so the compactness and usability of the X-S20 is a big help.
The X-S20 has the same sensor as its predecessor, the X-S10, but its AF performance has been greatly improved thanks to the latest generation image processing engine.
Especially in camping videos, people often use a tripod and turn around in front of the camera to shoot, so there are many situations where they rely on the camera’s AF. Therefore, AF accuracy is important, and X-S20’s advanced AF was especially helpful.
Normally I would use a gimbal to get a smooth image, but when I shoot camping videos, I don’t have the time to rig up a gimbal because I’m incredibly busy setting up, cooking, and rolling the camera! . However, the X-S20 has an in-body image stabilizer with up to 7 stops of image stabilization, which allows you to capture smooth footage even when hand-held. I found it extremely compatible with Vlog-style shooting, where you simply hold the camera and press the record button without using a gimbal.
Fujifilm cameras are useful because the film simulation can easily create a moody color tone. For this project, I used the F-Log2 with the intention of doing a thorough color grading since I wanted to shoot a work piece. What surprised me was its dynamic range and grading tolerance.
Since I shoot mostly in natural light and do not always keep an eye on the monitor, it is often difficult to get the exposure just right in the ever-changing light. I was surprised at how much information remained in the highlights and shadows, and how minimal the destruction was even when the colors were greatly modified in the grading process.
Moreover, even when using the usual color grading methods, somehow the colors are still Fujifilm-like. There are many different types of Logs, but I was reminded that there are also differences as a starting point for color creation.
This is what the X series has in common with, or rather reminded me of, the joy of shooting with a camera. You may wonder what I am talking about, but when the entire process of video production is done by yourself, shooting is only ONE part of the whole.
Especially in Vlog shooting, there are many situations where the goal is not the shooting itself but is rather the hobby or travel that is not related to the camera. When I hold an X series camera in my hand, I feel like I am questioned about my own behavior towards the camera. I don’t know if this is Fujifilm’s philosophy or the thoughts of the developers, but if you call it inspiration, I think there is no other camera, as a creator’s tool, that excites me than this.