February 2014 ended on an insipid note. I shot absolutely
nothing the whole month. All
this because I was deeply engrossed in making the switch. A little over a year has since gone
by. Fourteen months since I ditched the DSLR for good and moved on with mirrorless
technology. As a result of this I haven’t looked back. The hype was real, and
experiencing it was special.
Buying into the Fujifilm X-series was a decision that didn't
come easy. Given that I was moving into uncharted territory in terms of new
technology I needed to analyze and re analyze every morsel of information
available till all the boxes were ticked. Now that that’s behind me I can tell
you that I’m one, of many happy Fujifilm customers.
The XE2 has been everything and more that I wanted. I'm a
sucker for detail and one of the first things that caught my eye was how well
it was built. The rangefinder look made it even harder to resist. Retro
was back, and back with a bang! The appeal didn't stop there. It grew on. However, it was going to take a lot more than its looks to convince me. I was keen on
character, and that, I did find. Lots of it. In fact, heaps and heaps of it. One
more final brief encounter was all it took to firmly establish the Fujifilm XE2 as
my tool of choice for the future.
With all that’s been said about this camera, there’s
also been one more massive game changer. It has completely transformed the way
in which I approach photography and entirely enhanced the experience. Prior to
owning the Fuji I would only carry my DSLR if I knew I was planning to shoot
some images. This approach has since ceased to exist, and I couldn't be happier. The Fuji now goes
where I go. I barely feel its presence, but if the opportunity arises I know I
have it on me. This to me is photographic freedom. Its form resembles nothing of the DSLR. This camera is
small, super light and handles exceptionally well. Try parking a Bentley Mulsanne on a narrow street in central London and you’ll begin to understand what I’m
talking about. Sure it’s possible, but soon enough you’d wish you drove a MINI.
This camera right here is the MINI I lusted after to get the job done. It's vital in my opinion that a photographer is not restricted while at work, and judging purely by how well form and function coexist I think Fujifilm have hit the nail right on its head.
Excelling in what they do happens to be second nature at
Fujifilm HQ. I say this because they’ve also spent time perfecting areas where
other camera manufacturers have been seriously lacking. Their attention towards
customer service has been above par and as a Fujifilm customer I cannot find
the right words to express how thrilled I am. I shot Nikon for the good part of
a decade and to be very honest all I got from them was a camera, a lens, a cd
and a user manual. The affair between customer and manufacturer began and ended right there, inside
the store. In just over year of shooting with a Fujifilm, I've already had four firmware
updates via their website. They could have focused only on their newer line of
cameras, yet they did the exact opposite. They paid attention and still do to most
of their older models, which I think is nothing short of brilliant. Having this
type of support only strengthens ties with the brand and firmly establishes a
relationship, which is bound to blossom over the years. Another value adding fact is their willingness to listen. Quite often this has not been the case with the others in the industry. Fujifilm have yet again outdone the competition as well as themselves and this is something I and countless others truly appreciate.
An ongoing debate is that mirrorless tech is yet to
challenge the DSLR cameras with regard to certain types of photography. Yes, it’s
true that sports photography and certain wildlife imagery may require the precision
that the DSLR can produce, yet that’s not what I’m into. I bought into this
system because it meets my requirements and I intend to stay with it because it
has tremendously changed the way I shoot for the better. If you’re on the fence, have already made the
switch or shot mirrorless for a while, hit me up in the comments. I’d love to
hear your opinions and feedback.