Full Review of the Compact Fuji-Film X-F1

It's taken me a very long time to come out with my review of the Fuji-film X-F1. The reason is because I didn't know if I wanted to give it a thumbs up, or thumbs sideways. It's definitely not a thumbs down. So let's start off with my conclusion: It's a thumbs up. It's a great camera that has the potential to become an even greater camera. Let's see why I feel this way in this full review...

Nikola the Street Painter from Yugoslavia

Nikola is from Yugoslavia. He studied art all over Europe, including France and Germany. He's travelled the world making a living as a street artist. In today's modern, fast-paced world, can someone still make enough to live on doing art on the street? As I dropped in some money into his hat, I noticed it was filled with $1 and $2 coins. Not bad...

The last few years he's spent his time in Canada. He's in Toronto and Ottawa in the summers, and makes his way out West during the winter months. He's made his temporary home base at the corner of Howe and Robson, underneath the covered entrance to the old Sears building (the soon to be Nordstrom) where he can draw on the sidewalk with no fear of the Vancouver rain to wash away his work prematurely.

Jack White-esque Busker in Open G-flat

I couldn't help but notice the explosive sounds echoing off the tightly packed buildings as I got off my bus. This noise was rhythmic in bluesy fashion, but with a raw rage that is definitely descriptive of Jack White's guitar playing. With a block of wood and  his foot stomping as his percussion section, Brett was all business as he one-man-jammed along Granville Street in Vancouver. 

Orange Bike, Orange Hair, Acme Cafe

I was walking along Hastings Street in Vancouver looking to test the 'Partial Color' feature on the Fuji XF1. It's not as well executed as the Canon's, so I had to find a pre-determined colour to match the camera (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple).  I found an orange recumbent bike that matched perfectly. I wanted to get a decent wide image of the cafe as well, so I had to step out onto the street to try and get the shot. Every time there was a break in traffic, I'd step out on to the road and take a few quick snapshots.  I patiently waited for the perfect moment of someone walking in, and eventually a guy with orange hair walked into my frame and headed for the door. I quickly took my shot, and I accidentally captured the curious reaction of the two girls in the cafe starring at the guy as well.  Right place, right time. 

Apply Yourself: Walter White Graffiti Poster

I've seen this poster-style graffiti all over DT Vancouver. I don't watch Breaking Bad so I don't know anything about the character of Walter White, or if this is a line he's famous for saying in the show.  I don't yet know the name of the different artists around town doing most of the graffiti art in Vancouver either. Are they paid? Commissioned? Illegal? Grey area? Hopefully I'll run into one of these artists in the act and I'll interview them. Until then, here you go...

Shot on Fujifilm X-F1 at 50mm equiv. Full review soon...

Fujifilm XF1 Review and Motion Panorama

Walking along the alleyways of the DTES of Vancouver, it can be a bit scary. It can be even scarier if you don't fit in and lug around a whole mess of conspicuous camera equipment. That's why I really appreciate the size of the new Fujifilm XF1. It has many of the same features as the it's big brother the X-10 and X-20, but it easily slips into a front pocket, or even hidden in the palm of your hand as you walk discretely through crowds and alleyways.

I have an upcoming full review of the Fujifilm XF1, but so far I'm loving the camera! The retrostyle reminds me of the old Nikon 35ti film camera, but the operation is clearly digital in execution. In the old days, I would have to drag around a Noblex panorama camera on a sturdy tripod to get a shot like this. All I have to do now is find the feature buried inside the Advanced feature section of the main dial and then sweep away!