35mm | Back to Basics

Today has been very interesting.

In the morning, on my way to the Hospital, I decided to use my Nikon D700. The image above was created from my front porch Garden.

I am totally smitten with the image quality coming from this Camera.

The image below is a five image vertical stitch Panorama. I was using the Nikkor 28-70mm 3.5-4.8D @28mm

The D700 and the Nikkor 28-70mm is my favourite everyday combination set up.

My Camera settings are as simple as can be:

Auto ISO 200-3200 with a minimum Shutter speed of 1/250.

I set my Shutter Speed on the Camera to 1/250 of a second.

On this Camera, I can adjust the Exposure Compensation even though I am still operating my Camera in Full Manual Control.

Aperture set to F8 - I adjust this based on my subject matter and for creative effect.

So think of it this way; I allow the Camera to set the ISO while setting my exposure manually through Shutter Speed and Aperture. With everything at my fingertips, I can now concentrate all my attention on what’s happening around me.

These first three images were created from the D700. As I was editing them, I was struck by how this old Camera from 2008 and the Fuji Film X-Pro 1 both render the best looking images I have ever seen from any Camera I have used in the last nine years.

I thought, let use The X-Pro 1 on my second visit to the Hospital in the evening.

The X-Pro 1:

As you can see, the X-Pro 1 renders and delivers a beautifully textured image.

All of my images are edited from RAW. I take the editing seriously now - I didn’t before because I found Lightroom confusing. Big thanks to Scott Kelby for teaching his 7 Point System - it works perfectly.

The X-Pro 1 is my Contemplative Camera.

I use this when I just want to observe life and document singular theme subjects: environment, space, nature.

This Camera is too slow for fast paced life and action. It’s a beautiful machine for a more meditative approach.

My shooting set up is slightly different:

Aperture starts around F5.6 - F11

Shutter Speed: 1/250

The ISO can be changed on the Camera FN Button by my forefinger. I can see the exposure details before I create the image.

I set the AE/AF to Back Button Focus - this is much faster and very effective.

The Lens I was using was the XF 18-55mm 2.8-4

This Lens on this Camera is 27-82.5mm - it is almost identical to my Nikkor 28-70mm - In fact, it matches how I see.

I noticed today how was creating images at 28/28mm and 70/82mm - My eyes see wide and long.

As you look at these images, could you tell which Camera created them?

Considering the D700 came out in 2008 and the X-Pro 1 in 2013, the technology in both of these cameras has improved beyond our wildest imagination.

I personally feel that the Cameras from Nikon and Fuji today are truly stunning.

However, the technology in both of the Cameras I used today deliver a quality of image that has not been surpassed by the latest and greatest Cameras of 2022. Don’t get me wrong, today’s Cameras deliver outstanding images.

The D700 & X-Pro 1 has a magical quality that I just cannot articulate. I can see it with my eyes.

It really is beautiful

Thanks for reading.