I’m not sure how my lenses fit on this new machine, but I can’t wait to connect this to my 200mm f/2 for some birding love. The Fuji XP120, waterproof magic machine is now in my pocket. This little machine, besides being waterproof, does so many different, fun things I can’t believe it took me this long to acquire. First, it’s tiny. Second, it has so many odd shooting modes I’m not sure where to start. It does this tilt/shift looking thing that isn’t quite tilt/shift but it’s close enough.
Yes, the colors are garish. Yes, it’s a bit contrasty, although there is a flatter setting. Who cares? For happy snaps, this baby is pure gold, or pure green depending on your allegiance to Fujifilm. During my upcoming workshop in Spain, each student will get this baby for one day. Why not? Shoot whatever you want, and at the end we do a slideshow of happy snaps.
What I also love is the straight “full Auto” setting. No need to think. Just aim and shoot. Direct flash, that thing the hipster kids are just now discovering, ya, it has that too. You could ask, “Why bother when you have your phone?” Go ahead and ask, and I’ll say the same thing I always say, “I detest shooting with the phone.” Always have, most likely, always will. It has a miniature setting. It has a toy camera setting. It has high contrast, low contrast, action, portrait, landscape, and many, many more.
Hopefully, in the near future, I will also get a chance to shoot this underwater. Let it be known, I’ve made one decent underwater image in my entire life, in black and white no less. ONE. That’s it. Grand total. I suck at underwater. I don’t have high hopes this will result in stellar, 40×60, museum grade snaps, but what it might result in is funny, odd, quirky or strange. And I can see a massive color shift too. I told you I would eventually cave and start doing gear reviews.
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Well that looks like a fun little camera. And the blue phase suits you.
Author
I’m so blue…..
I love my Olympus TG3 fo this very reason.
Author
Hmm, another cam I don’t know about…..damnit.
I’ve got an Olympus Tough TG6. I take it to Australia every year to photograph the kids trying to surf and SUP board.
Loads of fun.
Author
Australia, we should talk. Might be headed that way.
That’s a neat little camera. Your home library has a nice selection. Too bad it doesn’t issue library cards!
Author
So many solid books. So little time.
Hi Dan,
I took one of those Olympus TG cameras on holidays once but ended up shooting Kodak disposable waterproof cameras while rafting and kayaking, so much fun!
But since you are a gear reviewer now, I have a puzzle. Just developed 8 fogged rolls of film which traveled with me around Europe and Middle East recently and I think I had enough of damaged film on airports.. I was lucky for a while but it looks like more and more airports are switching to CT scanners and they don’t care about hand checking film. I need to retire M6+35/1.4 as my travel companion and find something digital. It seems you own all cameras which I consider. X100V, XT4+23mm (not the newer versions because I don’t care for big MPx sensor), ZF+40mm. Which one just works and gets out of the way? Is X100V good enough? Perfect scenario would be to replace M6 with digital M10, but can’t justify the cost for my amateur usage. Hope you can bring some sense into my recent misery and broken heart.
Author
Airport security is the worst. That’s why Salgado went digital. So, if it were me, I’d either go X100 (the new one) or the Zf with 40mm. Seeing as you are coming from the Leica and 35 1.4, I’d lean Nikon because that is going to give you the most Leica like look and feel. The X100s are great but they are crop. Super simple, light, durable, etc.
Thanks a lot Dan. Need to check out the ZF, only had it in my hands once in a shop without a battery. Initially I was leaning towards the X100V, but when I got it in my hands it felt… laggy and very dated. Maybe X100VI is better? Leica M is a very limited tool, as you know very well. But damn, it works for me + it’s small, even with F1.4 lens. And it’s not intimidating for people you shoot. I borrowed a Canon R5 from a coleague to test it out and man did I feel wrong pointing that thing at people.
Author
Leica would be great but you can buy two Zf’s, and both the 28mm and 40mm for the same price or less. And a far more functional camera.
You can have 2x ZF sets for the price of used M10 with zero lenses or 4 ZF sets for new M11… Also with this gear value I would not be comfortable to carry it with me in many places I visit. Thank you for help Dan. I have these feelings every time film gets damaged. But when I get it just right. Man, that’s the stuff 8)
Author
That’s a great point in favor of Zf.
Siemanko Mateusz 🙂
I once had a similar dilemma. My camera was a Leica MP with a 35mm/f2 lens. I also have an X100F, but somehow I didn’t like it (I think I was hoping for the same experience, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out). I can’t own a digital Leica because it’s too expensive to use carelessly, and I don’t want to worry about the equipment at all.
Eventually, I bought an XT30 II with a 35mm/f2 lens (I decided to shoot with a 50mm equivalent). I was mainly concerned about the size. The rest of what this camera and lens offer is more than I ever needed. Fact is, if you don’t buy a digital M, it will always be a different experience.
Author
Everyone has to fit something in. Just came from the burro races. What a strange event being covered by strange people with strange cameras.
Match perfecto para la Himalayan!! Me cuesta acomodar la XPRO 3 en el setup necesario para rodar en la moto. Mucho mejor que usar el teléfono para tomar fotos, es tough y resiste el agua!!!
Author
Yes, this will be a good cam for the moto. Those vibrations will kill just about anything.
As much as I love fuji, you’ve got to try the Sony DSC-TX20 as an everyday pocket camera. Waterproof, drop proof (kid proof), Instant on, and off, insanely great battery life for being a 15 year old camera, and still has USB charging.
Author
Hey, whatever works. I say go for it.