Kamlan 50mm 1.1
As you are probably aware I am a working commercial photographer and am somewhat old school in some of my business philosophies. One that I can't (or won't) shake is the belief that every pro on assignment should carry back up equipment, in case of gear failure. Since most people are using multiple zoom lenses these days there is generally enough overlap to cover one in a focal length emergency. But, when a camera bits the dust, there's not much you can do with a bag of nice lenses. While I've rarely had a digital camera fail on its own I have had an accident or two which rendered a camera inoperative. And I firmly believe that the photo gods would quickly punish my hubris were I to attempt heading out for even the simplest job without a back up camera in the mix.
That's why I have two Panasonic G9s, two GH5s, and now two Fuji cameras. The Fujis are not identical models but they are still in a probationary period as I fully assess the one competitive system I've passed by for well over a decade.
I've had good results from the projects on which I've shot the X-T3 and associated Fuji lenses. So much so that I decided I'd bring them along exclusively when I hit the road again to continue photographing for the infrastructure company in various state-s outside Texas. As much as I'm liking the X-T3 I'm not ready to bend my hard and fast rules about back up cameras so I headed to my local bricks and mortar camera store to grab a camera that would provide a reasonably good back up. After a bit of research and the prodding of a sale in progress I settled on the compact, rangefinder styled E-X3. And since there was/is a sale in progress I also picked up the well reviewed 50mm f2.0 XF lens to add some additional depth of field control to my portrait lens options. I love the look and feel of the 50mm and I'm coming to grips with the smaller camera. It trades off some handling speed an dedicated buttons for more things controlled by touch screen but so far it's logical and quick.
I'll have more to say about the X-E3 once I've had a chance to use it extensively. Sorry, no shallow "hands on preview," "first impressions review." "unpacking video" or any other video or blog in which I go through the buttons one by one and tell you what I think they might do.... You can go elsewhere for that. I paid with a check for the camera and lens so I don't think you can really call them "review copies." By way of a disclaimer: I'm nobody to Fuji, have never approached them about doing a review or borrowing their gear, and no one is paying me to write this. Finally, there's not even a link here to refer you to a gear seller who will send me a commission for my referral. So there!
At any rate, as I was gathering up my packages and getting ready to head home for the ritual battery charging ceremony where we burn sage and try to scare away the demons of lithium battery failure, I stopped by the used Fuji equipment case to see what might be in there with my name on it. I was immediately drawn to a very zany lens. It's a Chinese made 50mm f1.1 lens made for cropped frame cameras. It's available from multiple suppliers online and the one I bought is marketed with the name, Kamlan. It's all metal and glass and nicely dense and compact. I added it to my planned purchases and thought I'd test it on the same two days on which I planned to walk around shooting and getting used to the X-E3.
I'm now able to make good photos with the camera and I spent an hour or so over the last two days walking through Austin and making photos. alternately, with each lens. Here's a group of samples from the Kamlan. Most were shot wide open or, at most, one stop down. Click on them to make them bigger.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
Kamlan.
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Kamlan.
Kamlan.
5 comments:
Just an observation or two on a Sunday morning Kirk. I'm happy to live vicariously through you when it comes to new gear purchases. There's no way my wallet could keep up with your spending habits. Honestly though, based on the photos you post here, I'm not really seeing much of a difference in image quality between the Fujis, the Panasonics or the Nikon images. I know blogger kills the image quality when you upload and post to a blog. The images all look more than good enough regardless of the sensor or brand. Maybe you are seeing differences when processing the files but those differences are not really translating to this medium at least. I think I'd be happy with any new camera from any manufacturer. I'm still using older cameras and when I do my processing I'm happy with what I'm getting. Sorry Fuji fans, I don't see any magic in Fuji images. They make great images and have some great lenses, but so do so many other brands. No magic though.
The X-E3 is a pretty good camera once you get past some handling niggles.
The touch screen seems like a negative aspect and I've turned off all the touch functions, and the Q button seems to always get pressed accidentally. Image quality will be right between m4/3 and the FX Nikons.
The Kamlan images of the people here have a wonderful hint of softness about them. They are quite different than your usual knife-edged digital portraits. To my eye, I like these images better.
This lens is a winner.
Now that you are a member of the Fuji kazoku (家族) you need the Fujinon XF56mm F1.2 R APD, a most amazing lens for portraits.
Turns out the Kamlan lenses are proudly made in Taiwan.
Scratch previous comment about the source of Kamlan lenses. It seems they are a product of cross-Taiwan Straits synergy: designed by a Taiwanese visual scientist and manufactured in Shenzhen, China.
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