Zašto je Fujifilm X-T4 moj savršeni fotoaparat

Dopustite mi da uvodim ovaj članak izjavom da savršena kamera ne postoji. Nikada neće biti. Međutim, u svakom trenutku postoji savršena kamera za vas. To može biti onaj koji posjedujete, može biti onaj kojem težite, možda čak i onaj kojeg niste svjesni.

Za mene, trenutno i za vrstu fotografije kojom se bavim, Fuji X-T4 je moj savršeni fotoaparat. Ako ste se neko vrijeme zadržali u svetim dvoranama Light Stalkinga, znat ćete da sam pomalo obožavatelj Fujia. Počeo sam s X100s 2013., napredovao do X-Pro1, X-T2 i sada X-T4. U nedavnom članku o izbjegavanju full-frame FOMO-a, nagovijestio sam zašto želim X-T4. Sada, nakon što sam ga posjedovao tri mjeseca, objasnit ću zašto mi radi.

Video mogućnosti

Očito, ovo je stranica za fotografije, pa zašto počinjem s videom Fuji X-T4? Pa, ja sam ono što je poznato kao hibridni strijelac. Snimam i fotografiju i video, uglavnom za stock agencije. To znači da trebam kameru s kojom ću lako raditi, fotografije dobre kvalitete, ali i 4K video visoke kvalitete.

Siguran sam da shvaćate da je ovo što sam opisao najmoderniji fotoaparat bez ogledala. Međutim, dok će sve kamere bez ogledala dati pristojan 4K izlaz, specifikacije 4k snimaka nisu sve iste.

Za mene postoje dvije ubojite video značajke koje X-T4 ima u odnosu na većinu svojih rivala, uključujući mnoge skuplje modele punog formata. Prvi je mogućnost snimanja 4K pri 60 sličica u sekundi. Drugi je da to učinite u 10-bitnoj verziji.

Zašto je 4K/60 važan

Imati 4K/60 doista je važna značajka. Ne samo da vam daje svilenkasto glatku snimku, već se ta snimka može usporiti na pola brzine i vrlo lako stabilizirati kada držite u ruci ili koristite gimbal. To vam može omogućiti da napravite vrlo kinematografske pokrete kamere, što zauzvrat čini vrlo prodavane isječke.

10-bitni aspekt je također važan. Zapravo, nije da je samo 10-bitni, već i s bitrateom do 400 Mbps. Ova kombinacija daje vrlo detaljne snimke koje je lako gradirati, smanjujući rizik od artefakata i traka u postprodukciji.

IBIS, ručno snimanje videa

Još jedna velika značajka je uvođenje IBIS-a ili stabilizacije u tijelu. Ovo je prilično uobičajena značajka na modernim fotoaparatima bez zrcala, ali za snimanje videa vrlo je korisna značajka. U kombinaciji sa stabilizacijom leće, rezultati mogu biti prilično zapanjujući u video isječcima. During a recent shoot in Kyiv, the battery on my gimbal had failed. I was able to get steady clips using a 300mm equivalent lens, handheld, using a combination of IBIS and lens stabilization. Had I been using my older X-T2, I would not have been able to continue as a video shoot.

If there is one last great video feature that X-T4 has, it’s the video/photography mode switch. This means that if I switch to shooting stills, I still retain all my video settings when I switch back. I did not realize just how important this was until I did my first video shoot. One of the biggest problems with being a hybrid shooter is the need to maintain the 180-degree shutter rule when shooting video. Switching to stills, you often need a different shutter speed. The video/photography mode switch solves this issue in one fell swoop.

The Fujifilm X-T4 For Photography

Whilst video is my moneymaker, photography is my passion. The same can be said for the Fujifilm system. When Fuji started to deliver the X series in 2010, it was clear that they wanted their cameras to be photographer’s tools. By this, I mean that they wanted to maintain the film tradition of having the main exposure controls as large tactile dials and rings.

They also wanted their images to have a film feel to them. In my opinion, they have very much succeeded, particularly with their film modes such as Velvia and Astia.

The great thing about these film modes is that you can still shoot in RAW then apply the mode in post-production to get that ”Fuji look”, but tuned to your own needs.

In terms of megapixels, the X-T4 is not going to win any awards, but then for me, it does not have to. The 26MP sensor is more than enough for both stock stills but also for large format prints. Yes, it’s APS-C but I rarely shoot stuff that needs an ultra-shallow depth of field, and even in low light, X-T4 has proved more than capable, both for photography and video.

The RAW files are full of detail and easy to process, an important consideration when editing a lot of stock images. There is still some talk of the “worms” in post-production by some photographers, but I have rarely found this to be an issue, and when it does occur, I reduce the default sharpening to 0, then resharpen as the final step. This always eliminates the issue.

Size Is Everything

The last aspect that makes Fujifilm X-T4 my perfect camera is the size. When I moved to Fuji, I did so from the Nikon D3 and the holy trinity of f/2.8 lenses. That was a backbreaking kit especially when spending hours wandering a hot, humid city.

The Fuji system is so much more compact and light. The body is half the weight of my D3 and probably less than half the dimensions. The same is true of the lenses. Two of my four lenses are f/2.8 and they are tiny compared to the Nikon’s equivalents.

The ergonomics of X-T4 are also improved compared to my X-T2. The body is ever so slightly larger but more importantly, the grip is significantly better. It stays much more comfortable in the hand, when shooting, compared to X-T2.

As I mentioned at the top, there will never be a perfect camera. A camera that does all things well for all types of photography. However, for me, at this moment, Fujifilm X-T4 is perfect for what I do.