Yes, the depths of my hypocrisy are considerable but hear me out. I did this film as a preemptive strike. Since starting my blossoming and surely legendary YouTube career I have been bombarded by emails and messages in regard to why I’m using Fuji. No surprise that gear is driving this conversation. The problem is two-fold. One, I return my messages. Always have and always will. Otherwise, you look like a total tool. Second, I’m incredibly busy most of the time and answering gear email is not something I can continue. So, I made this film as a way of answering all the questions before they come my way via other means.
I don’t love tech. I never have. My favorite things in the world are things like paper maps and my paper journal. (And Inca Kola) My computer is from early 2015. I use digital cameras but know little about them other than how to point them at things I like or things I find intriguing. But perhaps you were wondering and now you know.
I’m often asked about sponsorship. I’m not sponsored. If I had to guess I never will be, at least not by a camera company. An auto brand, a pen maker, a journal company a Lyme Disease foundation, maybe. I’m simply not willing to shill things like modern brands desire. Many of the sponsored “photographers” of today aren’t photographers at all. They are people who know how to build following, drive numbers and will do anything to keep the flow of gear coming. I know “photographers” who will shill any brand that comes along. I know one person who did Nikon, Epson, Leica, and Sony all the last ten years. Now, at one point in time he was an incredible photographer but he, like the rest of us, watched the industry implode and he knew the key to his future was shilling gear to the masses of prosumers. I don’t fault him. He saw the ship taking on water a decade before most.
Comments 17
I liked your video because you address a point that’s missed in most gear vids form factor. It’s a nebulous thing at best. It comes down to how the tool fits your hand and your photographic process. I hated the entire process of cameras turning into computers.
Author
Jim,
For me it’s love/hate.
You talked about gear but in a way that’s different than most, no tech, spec, blah, blah… just usability and quality for you from your experience as a photographer, not a technical guide reader.
Trying to rethink why you were a factor in me buying my X-T2 two years ago since you don’t talk about gear… well I would have gone for it anyways, love it, great system, ease of use, super functional and all you said. Menus are easy indeed, do you know about the format card shortcut, no menu involved?
Author
Mathieu,
Apparently I’m the only one using the system that did not know about that shortcut…
Got to say, I really like your segments on YouTube (and having lived in Peru twice, share your love of Inca Kola). Hope to see you do a lot more segments on the Tube.
Hernando
P.S. You’ve really got me thinking about a mini-book. (Though it’s funny that what people are now sometimes calling family books used to be called photo albums. lol)
Author
Hernando,
I just wrote a blog post about “chapbooks” which have an interesting history and are very much like what you describe. They are awesome and are perfect for 5×8 or 6×9 tradebooks.
Those goggles…I need those for my super extreme concert photography!
Author
FBJ,
They keep the Inca Kola out of my eyes when I’m traveling.
Another great video Mr. Milnor.
Although I don’t care about gear that much it was nice hearing your reasons behind your decision. I shoot with the Canon M system (EOS M5) for 3 main reasons. First the form factor. Although it is very small it has an excellent grip. Second reason, the lenses. The system has only 8 lenses but I use primes and the two primes I need are amazing. The 22mm f2 (35mm eq.) and the 32mm f1.4 (50mm eq.) are all I need. And last is the price. I think it’s the most value for money system out there. Anyway each one has different needs, just keep shooting!
Author
George,
That’s it. You find what works for you and then you just get on with it.
2 reasons I got an Olympus dig rig instead of keeping on shooting film: 1. My film cams brake down now all the time ‘cause of their age, that’s a disturbance, it needs to have some reliability so it can get out of your head when shooting 2. Scanning film @home is a pain in the ass, and I can’t afford pro film scanning. So the occasional roll of film is run through and scanned for the lust of the shuttersound and motorwinding of my film cams. I can’t resist.
Author
Reiner,
Film is a lifestyle, as is digital. Each with pros and cons and I hear you. I suffer from some of the same realities.
Hi Daniel
I heard you say you take 99% of your photos in black and white and prefer manual focusing. So I was wondering why not a Leica M Monochrome with your beloved 50mm lens?
Creative greetings Alain
(Question from a Fujifilm user in the last 4 years)
Author
Alain,
I bought an entire Fuji system, two bodies, three lenses for less than the cost of an M body. Leica just priced themselves out of my life.
Thanks for your reply Daniel.
Since the beginning of 2016 I have switched from Nikon full frame to a Fujifilm X-Pro2. This after I took over a X100T for a few months from a friend who couldn’t handle that camera. And as you say yourself, we are often too much obsessed with gear. But since I also have a preference for black and white photography, I can’t resist drooling at the shop window of the Leica store at teh M Monochrome. But these are also outside my price range.
To end, I like the way you are communicating, in a no nonsense style without holding back. Please keep doing this. Have a great day and take care. Creative greeting Alain
Author
Alain,
Nice to meet ya. Gear is pretty boring when you consider what else there is to talk about. I love cycling but can’t watch or listen to cycling reviews, gear reviews. Once you have a bike why would you watch these things? Same for cameras and everything else in the world. I have a van now. Now it’s on me to use it.
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