Random Thoughts 009: A Week Off

It's been a crazy few months. I should even say: A crazy few years. I've been going full steam for a long time, and I rarely take more than a day or two off from writing, podcasting, blogging or teaching. I never really feel like I need to take a break because I love what I do so much that it never feels like work. Also, being a solo entrepreneur, I never really leave 'the office', it's in my pocket all the time, no matter which day of the week it is or where in the world I am.

I boarded my flight to Paris a week ago exactly and I haven't done any office work other than answering a few emails. I haven't written an article, a blog post or a book chapter in 7 full days. I didn't even work during the 8+ hour transatlantic flight! It's been 100% family fun and camera time. 

Part of the reason why I have been more disconnected than usual is that sharing limited bandwidth with three others has been too frustrating to try to spend much time on the internet. Going for an extra walk on the beach with my camera or reading a book at night has been much more relaxing than trying to log on. 

I just spent 3 days in Paris with my kids, we walked about 50k, stayed up late and enjoyed every minute of La Vie Parisienne. Now back at my family home in Normandy for the rest of my vacation, I look forward to more walks on the beach, family fun and camera time. Maybe I'll even do a drawing or two. The key is to try not to put any pressure on myself. Phone calls can wait, emails are not all urgent and I already put a few podcast recordings in the queue.

La vie est belle, profitons-en!

Random Thoughts 008: A Multi-Tasker's Attempt At Single-Tasking

I finished reading The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey and I already implemented several of the tips the author describes in his book. I have to say that very few 'self development' books have been as helpful as Bailey's book. So much so that I invited him to come on my podcast Hit The Streets with Valerie Jardin to share some productivity tips with the listeners this summer. So stay tuned for that episode!

One of the big eye openers for me was the value of single-tasking. 

I'm a solo entrepreneur and a mom, which by definition puts me in the 'expert multi-tasker' category. I'm pretty good at multi-talking. I can juggle so many things at once, most people would get dizzy. I also realize that multi-tasking can be counter productive at times and I decided to try single-tasking during my peak productivity time. I started setting my iPhone timer in 30-45 minute increments to start. It's about twice as long as the recommended time for the new single-tasker. I thought I might as well challenge myself in the process. It's harder than it looks for people like me, who are used to dealing with dozens of things at once. After focussing on one task only without distractions in 30-45 minute increments for a few days, I am amazed at how much more productive I am. I'm not only more productive, but also more deliberate. It's also a good way to tune out social media for 30-45 minute increments, which is longer that most people can last.

I'm not saying that I will single-task all day, every day. But I am definitely trying to apply the technique several times during the day when I am writing or catching up with office work. The benefits are well worth the effort. I get done faster and more efficiently so I have more time to play! 

I believe that multi-tasking has its value and benefits at certain times. It is definitely a necessary skill when I travel and teach workshops for example. But everything with moderation is good and I will continue to improve my single-tasking abilities when it is most beneficial.

This was one of the dozens of valuable nuggets I picked up by reading Chris Bailey's book. It's definitely a must-read if you need to find more hours in the week to do more of the things you love to do!

Are you a multi-tasker or a single-tasker? Or, like me, it depends on the situation?

Random Thoughts 005: Vacation Time

I love what I do and I'm very happy when I'm working, I never really crave time off. My idea of a vacation is probably very different from most people. Many want to chill, get extra sleep and slow down. For me, just the thought of inactivity is enough to give me anxiety.  When my family decided on a 'beach vacation' in Mexico for our spring break this year, I was very reluctant. I said that I would go but on one condition: That we stay away from the 'spring break crowd' as much as possible. 

This was an easy sell because, wherever we travel as a family, we always want to live like locals. We always rent apartments or houses via AirBnB or similar services. We love getting to know the locals and shop at the neighborhood markets. The human interaction with local people is always the highlight of our trips, whether we're in Iceland, Mexico, Belgium or any of the dozen countries my kids have visited over the years. 

I'm a city girl, and much happier on the gritty streets of a large city that on the white sand of a tropical beach. So for me, going to Mexico would ideally mean experiencing Mexico City. Since I get to experience large cities for work the rest of the year, the least I can do while on vacation is to please the rest of the family and also give my camera a little break. Lucky for me, my family is very understanding of my passion and support it 100%. They also love active vacations. You would never see any of us lying on the beach for more than 10 minutes. There are too many things to explore and people to meet to stay idle too long!

We flew into Cancun and rented a car at the airport. We drove at night until we reached the less travelled town of Tulum. Along the way, we saw grand entrances to gigantic resorts which were more reminiscent of Las Vegas than anything else. I was a bit nervous... It was going to be a long week among thousands of other tourists... Finally the bright lights subsided and we arrived in Tulum. Our condo was on the edge of town, very comfortable (definitely not the way locals live...) but at least we were independent and away from the much dreaded resorts.

The next morning we decided to explore the town and go to the local grocery store. It was quite an experience and my Spanish is a bit rusty but it already felt like a real adventure. The people of Tulum are very poor in stark contrast with all the fancy resorts we had passed on the road the night before. While some of the houses are well maintained, many are in complete shambles. several people sharing one room. Some families even live under tarps next to a landfill. There are dozens of dogs on the streets, all are very thin, many are sick. This is the Mexico most tourists are never exposed to, and it is the Mexico I wanted to see and share with my boys. Truth is, this is not even the poor part of the country.

We have so much, and are never satisfied. They have nothing and yet they have the biggest smiles and hearts!

Of course we also enjoyed the beautiful tropical beaches, the Cenotes, the Mayan sites, and the local food and drinks. But we all came back a little humbler and wiser from this vacation after meeting the kind and generous people of Tulum, Mexico.

I will go again. Next time I wish to explore Mexico City with my camera.

This was one of my favorite spring break vacations ever. My family finally experienced a tropical beach vacation and it opened our eyes and heart a little bit bigger too.

What is your favorite Mexican destination?

Question #43: About Sunbursts

Bonjour! I decided to restart the Q&A blog posts. I put them on hold for a long time because of my Street Focus podcast. I answer listener questions in a monthly Q&A segment and thought that redundancy would not make much sense. I'll try to answer different questions here, but they may cross over on occasion as well. I was also busy writing my first street photography ebook :)

So this week, I want to talk about sunbursts!

Recently someone commented on one of my silhouette pics by asking if I used a sunburst filter. I must admit that, being somewhat of a gear minimalist, I had never even heard of a sunburst filter and wondered why anyone would use one when you can achieve sunbursts without a filter. So I investigated further... There are indeed such things are Star Effect Filters that you can put in front of your lens. They even come in 4 point or 6 point options.

But why? First, a sunburst is quite easy to achieve without the added expense of a filter by simply setting your camera to a small aperture (big number ;) ideally start at f/16). And, wouldn't the use of a filter reduce the quality of the lens? 

Does a star effect filter make the sunburst more 'perfect'? Again... Why? Is perfection so important that we need to alter everything to try to achieve it? Are we even wired to respond to perfection? Or rather, aren't we more likely to respond emotionally to imperfections. As a street photographer, I certainly don't look for perfection. I photograph everyday life, it's raw, it's not perfect and it's often those imperfections that make the photograph special.

Okay, but people buy those filters so they must be really awesome. I looked further and saw one great example where such a filter would be very useful: Night street photography. I can definitely see its use to create a star effect on street lights. 

I usually try to capture a sunburst when I shoot a silhouette. It's an added challenge and it looks cool. I really never even paid attention whether it has 4, 6 or more points... For one thing, the sunburst is never the subject of my photograph. I look at it as an added bonus that makes a good shot a little bit more interesting. 

As I was doing a Google search on the filters, I stumbled upon many tutorials on how to add a sunburst to an image that doesn't have one in the first place... Yikes! Don't even get me started... Call me a purist if you wish. I find it much more fun and challenging (and so much faster) to capture it in camera than spend my precious time making one up in PS. But hey, post processing is an art and I know many amazing photographers who enjoy that part of the craft and do it very well. I admire their PS skills, I'm in awe with what they can do with the tools. But it's just not for me, and that's probably one of the reasons why street photography and I are such good friends.

Conclusion: Maybe my first reaction towards using such filters was a bit strong, they are just another way to create 'in camera', no different than using a creative focus lens or even a toy camera. It's all good, especially if it makes the photographer go out with his/her camera more and make pictures! I may just have to try a star effect filter some day :)

Here are a few of my sunburst pics, they are 'au naturel', no filter or PS magic applied.

A Roman evening f/16  ©Valerie Jardin

A New York morning f/16 ©Valerie Jardin 

Yes, once in a while I also photograph the natural world in my own backyard :) f/18 ©Valerie Jardin 

Question #42: About My Camera Settings

Q: "Valerie, I love your photographs, there's a timelessness attached to them and very French if I may say so! These are in the tradition of the great French photographers of the fifties. One thing though, I'm dying to know what your settings are if you shoot Raw or Jpegs out of the camera. Hoping you will put me out of my misery. Best wishes." Alan Thomas.

A: "Thank you for the nice compliment Alan, made me blush! :)

As you probably know, I shoot almost exclusively with the Fuji x100s. I love its simplicity and user-friendly dials. I shoot RAW because I like the control it gives me. I don't spend much time in Lightroom but I like consistency and control in my B&W conversion. I don't use presets, I adjust each slider in seconds and the job is done. I have used the JPEG setting on many occasions and the fun filters. I have often set the format in square high contrast B&W with yellow filter and got great results that didn't differ much from the adjustments I make to my RAW files. Basically I shoot RAW out of habit more than anything else...

I shoot in Aperture Priority most of the time. A dial I use a lot is exposure compensation, which is very conveniently located on the x100s (not the case for every camera where you have to go into a menu to change it!) 

My two cents: It's not about shooting Raw or Jpeg, full manual or auto, it's really about learning to see and know how to use your camera to tell your story. I see a lot of bad imagery shot in full manual mode and quite a lot amazing photography shot with camera phones. Vision is still the most indispensable element to produce good photography :)

I hope this answers your question. Happy shooting!" Valerie

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Question #41: About Developing Your Photographic Eye

Q: "Newbie here.... What's the best way to develop your photographic eye? I know experience is important, but any other key ideas?" Tony Burtt

A: "Good question Tony, and one that I get asked often. A big component of my photo workshops is about learning to see photographically. Practice, practice, practice. Exercising those 'visual pushups' as often as possible is key to growing as a photographer. 

• Shoot as often as possible. What to shoot? I always encourage people to shoot what they love to get the motivation to go out more often. Whether it's classic cars, horses or flowers, you will always get more enjoyment photographing things that you are most passionate about, you will shoot more and get better in the process. 
• Get out of your comfort zone. Why? It's very important to try new things too. If you love photographing flowers, I would encourage you to try your photographic eye at something completely different. You will learn a lot in the process and you may surprise yourself by discovering and enjoying something new. Trying your eye at different genres will also make you a well rounded photographer, better prepared in any situation.
• Slow down! Why? The digital age tends to make photographers a bit lazy. It is definitely an advantage to accelerate the learning curve and give immediate gratification. On the other hand, the unlimited shutter click possibilities can be a crutch. Many photographer take the 'spray and pray' approach instead of slowing down to make decisions before pressing the shutter release. I encourage my students to practice setting some limitation on some photo walks. One camera, one prime lens and a limited number of frames (let's say 36 exposures). Every time photographers slow down and make decisions in camera without relying so much on post processing tools, they always have more keepers at the end of the day. Try it!
• Seek inspiration online. But don't spend all your time on the Internet. Going out with your camera will still be much more valuable that drooling over the amazing images featured on 500px.
• Go on photo walks with like-minded people. It's fun and a great way to learn a lot from each other. No photo walk group in your area? Start your own!
• Give yourself some themes or challenges to work on when you go out with your camera. Work on a shot list. Try new techniques. Limit yourself to a prime lens or the camera on your phone.
• Attend a photo workshop! :)

I hope this helps and that the community has more tips to share in the comment section below." Valerie

©Valerie Jardin  

Flowers are not 'my thing' but I like to see the world through my lens and I shoot pretty much anything that catches my eye. Those daily 'visual push-ups' add up to develop your vision and make you a better photographer!

If you received this blog post via email, click on the title to view the actual published post. If you found it useful, please leave a comment below and share your experience with the community. If you have a question, feel free to send it to Valerie for an upcoming Q&A blog post. This blog cannot exist without your questions! 

Question #40: About Scouting a Location for Street Photography

Bonjour everyone. Sorry for the long absence from the Q&A blog. I've been busy teaching a workshop in Paris followed by a much needed family vacation. A few questions have come in and it's time I start answering some of them... So here we go!

Q: "For street shooting, are there any scouting tools you like to use when you're looking for target neighborhoods in a location you don't know well, other than Google and maybe Flickr?" Stan Philippe

A: "Great question Stan, as I am occasionally running photo workshops in new and unfamiliar locations. Doing research on photo sites and checking out YouTube videos to get a feel for a place and its various neighborhoods is a great way to get started. It's always my first step in the scouting process. Next, I get in contact with local street photographers to get their input and talk to them about their favorite street photography locations. Many times I co-lead a workshop with a local street photographer, such as my NYC and LA workshops. Nothing beats having the first hand experience of a local street photographer to help you find the best places to shoot.

When I am not scouting or planning for a workshop and just shooting for myself, I like to let the city surprise me. I can walk all day with my camera and get lost on purpose. There is always a story happening and I enjoy the hunt as much as the resulting image. I tend to roam the less travelled areas and stay away from the touristy spots. Taking side streets and back streets as much as possible, and with safety in mind, is the best way to get a more authentic feel for a place. Public transportation in any large city is a great place to do street photography as well. That's real life. It's important to be respectful and discreet. I would avoid photographing people in the Paris metro with a noisy DSLR, although I've done it in the past... 

Talking with locals, not necessarily photographers, is a great way to find out what's happening in a neighborhood. The changes and/or struggles that most tourists are oblivious to, may help you tell your story in images in a more meaningful way.

I hope you found these tips useful. Good luck!" Valerie.

 ©Valerie Jardin ~ Taking less travelled side streets will help you get a more authentic feel for a place.

If you received this blog post via email, click on the title to view the actual published post. If you found it useful, please leave a comment below and share your experience with the community. If you have a question, feel free to send it to Valerie for an upcoming Q&A blog post. This blog cannot exist without your questions! 

Question #39: About Going Through A Creative Rut

Q: "I'm attending evening classes in a photography school - we basically have weekly workshops where we're given assignments on imposed subjects on a regular basis. So far I've been quite inspired by those and enjoying it a lot. The "end of year" assignment that's coming next, in contrast, is a freely chosen topic and our photos will be exhibited in a prestigious place and potentially exposed to lots of people.

I'm excited about this great opportunity to have my work shown but still can't possibly figure out which direction to head towards - a kind of "photographer's block" I guess. I'm most passionate about street photography, however I fear that my usual kind of street images is too mundane and not catchy enough to be exhibited. I believe in the power of simplicity and I'm aiming at producing striking, graphical pictures but I just don't know where to start. Every street around where I live I feel like I have roamed a hundred times for assignments or personal work, and there's not much new to get my inner photography flame kindled again. The deadline for giving out the photos for printing is June.

Do you have any advice on how to overcome that block ? Any artist you'd recommend as an inspiration, be it photographer, painter, filmmaker ?

Thanks and keep up the good work ! It's always a pleasure reading your blog and hearing you on TWiP." Guillaume

~

A: "Hi Guillaume, thank you for your kind words and for submitting a question to the blog. Tough question as I'm not sure if you are planning to pursue photography as a hobby or a career.

Street photography is really something you do for you and you alone. I wrote an article about that recently, which you might want to read: To Be Or Not To Be A Street Photographer. Street photography is not something that will get praises like landscape or nature images will. I don't think that's a bad thing. Not everyone understands the beauty of street photography and the audience is more limited. When you are out shooting, you should aim at pleasing yourself, not others. If they like your work and buy it, that's the bonus! 

You don't have to travel to exotic locations to capture beautiful street photographs. If you feel like you are in a rut, give yourself assignments. But not the same assignments that are required for your classes.  Some days you may just want to shoot some street portraits, other days focus your attention on silhouettes or motion. Find a stage and wait for the right subject to walk through. Maybe you need to do something completely different for a change. Pick up a macro lens and try your eye at macro photography for a while. Give yourself limitations, pretend you are shooting film for a day and shoot 36 frames only. That will make you slow down and think.  Get in your car and get lost on purpose, take a path you've never taken before and explore it with your camera.  You never know what is going to move the artist in you. Follow your heart!

I get inspired by art in general. Go look at paintings at your local museum, immerse yourself in a photography book, not only images that are available online. Watch inspirational videos on Lynda.com (Richard Koci Hernandez comes to mind) or Kelbyone.com: (Wonderful videos featuring Jay Maisel). 

We all go through creative blocks. Don't look at it as a bad thing. On the contrary, it may just be a sign that you need to push yourself, to grow in the process. I think that a loss of passion may be an opportunity to renew and refresh your vision and turn it in a positive experience. 

I wish you the best of luck in all your creative pursuits. Keep in touch!" Valerie

Give yourself your own assignments. Work on silhouettes for a day for example. Find the right stage, wait for the right subject to walk through and capture the shot you envisioned. That is a sure way to boost your energy and passion! 

If you received this blog post via email, click on the title to view the actual published post. If you found it useful, please leave a comment below and share your experience with the community. If you have a question, feel free to send it to Valerie for an upcoming Q&A blog post. This blog cannot exist without your questions! 

Question #38: Inside My Camera Bag

Q: "Curious about the camera and your shooting style. Is the camera a fixed 22mm lens or does it have ability to changes lenses and the other question is when you do street photography is it just you and the camera or do you carry a few other items, i.e. a flash, etc." Jim

A: "Very good question Jim! A small rectification regarding my camera. The Fuji x100s actually has a fixed 23mm lens, which is the equivalent to a 35mm. It's not only a fixed focal length, but also a non-detachable lens. And that is the reason why I bought it and claim that it is the best camera I've ever owned. The focal length is ideal for street photography. Why would I need to change it? Also, I can shoot anything else with that camera (I took it to Iceland even!) I embrace the limitations, they make me a better photographer.

What else is in my camera bag? Batteries! The one small problem with the x100s is its really short battery life. I carry two extras with me at all times.

I never use a flash, for anything.

When I carry my ThinkTank Retrospective 5, my camera is never in it. It's in my hand, finger on the trigger. I still often bring the bag for a full day photo walk and I use it to carry personal items such as a water bottle, a snack and the tiniest travel umbrella.

I'm definitely a gear minimalist and I strongly believe in the power of limitations. Although when you're lucky enough to shoot with a fine piece of gear like the Fuji x100s, I would hardly qualify it as limiting...  It is, after all, the best camera I've ever owned. Not because it is technologically better, but because it has become an extension of me and my vision and it doesn't get in the way.

I hope this answers your question. Thanks again for reading my blog!" Valerie

©Valerie Jardin - My Fuji and the ThinkTank Retrospective 5

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Question #37: About the Nifty Fifty

"Ciao Valerie, a friend on FB put a link to your blog Q&A and I have devoured it. I read all the entries and they have been very helpful. so thank you. you work is also incredibly suggestive and love it!

I am a novice photographer and have taken a few introductory courses to learn the tricks of using manual mode. I always thought that not using the manual mode would mean I wasn't 'any good'. Therefore its a great comfort to know that you also use the other settings (AP) when shooting to capture the moment quicker. Photography is a hobby for me and I have a canon EOS 650. I have my go to lens - the nifty fifty 50mm 1.8 - and I use it a lot indoors. I also recently bought a EF-S 10-22 f3.5-4.5 for landscape and interior photography which I enjoyed a lot on my last trip.

I have a lifestyle blog and the prime lens seems to be pretty good. However I was wondering 2 things; 1) if perhaps you are ever coming to London and perhaps doing a workshop? and 2) should I be upgrading to a better prime lens for indoor photography (mainly food)? I have read on a lot of fashion/lifestyle blogs that they either have 50mm 1.4 or the 1.2 (which is out of my budget). Is the 1.4 a good jump or pointless?

Thanks and keep up the good work. so nice that you take the time to answer our questions!" Daniella, UK

~

Hi Daniella. Thank you for reading my blog! I'm glad you are finding it useful. It's always nice to get some feedback when you're trying to help the community at large.

Regarding the workshop: Yes, I am planning to lead a weekend workshop in London next Spring. If you wish to get a full week of education, Paris is really close for you and I have a couple of spots left this Fall.

Regarding the lens: Many years ago, when I started to shoot food for clients, the 50mm f/1.8 was the only lens I had and it made me quite a bit of money! It's a great little lens. Before investing into any new lenses, I would first consider if you are going to stay in the DSLR system or embrace smaller mirrorless systems when you upgrade next.

Either way, the market is started to get flooded with used DSLRs and lenses as more and more amateurs and pros are switching to mirrorless systems. If you plan to get new glass for your EOS 650, I would look at gently used gear first. If you upgrade from the f/1.8, you may be able to jump to a f/1.2 and skip the f/1.4 if you find someone who is getting rid of his/her DSLR and lenses. Keep in mind that any new lens for a DSLR system will not hold its value as much now as it used to. 

I hope this helps. Good luck and keep in touch!

Valerie

~

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Question #36: About Selling Used Camera Gear

Q: "I have an old Canon EOS Rebel Xs Film Camera with a 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 EF lens and a 75-300mm zoom II 4-5.6 lens. Is there still a market out there for this type of equipment? I'd like to sell it and buy a lens for my DSLR instead.
Thanks!" Nicki

A: "Hi Nicki! Thank you for your question. Used camera bodies sell but they don't sell for much. Especially entry level cameras that were inexpensive to start with. Unless you can get an accurate shutter actuation count to show that it still has a lot of life left, most people will not buy used camera bodies. Lenses, on the other end, do sell if they have been well taken care of. The only thing that would be a deal breaker is mold in the lens which is a fairly common problem that cannot be fixed. That all depends where you live, but it is a real concern is some parts of the world where lenses need special storing precautions to stay dry.

The lenses listed above are not expensive lenses to start with, so you won't get much for them. You may also consider donating them to a school or a non profit program like 100 Cameras.

No matter what you decide to do, get rid of your DSLR equipment while you can. With the increasing popularity of mirrorless systems, the market is starting to be inundated with used equipment and the value will go down pretty quickly. Good luck!" Valerie 

©Valerie Jardin

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Question #35: About The Quality Of Real Estate Photographs

Q: "Hi Valérie. So far I have not really found what type of photography I would like to specialize in. This is probably because I am having fun with everything. I love landscape, macro, portrait (of my wife and daughter) and interior/real estate photography. Two weeks ago, I contacted a real estate agent I know to help me build my portfolio. She allowed me to photograph a house on a Sunday before her official photographer would photograph it (the following day). I had the chance to compare my pictures to the ones from the other photographer and I can honestly say that my pictures were technically way better. She did not use any flash while I used two, her windows were blown out, and her white balance was way off. I asked for some feedback from the agent and was told that highest quality pictures are not top priorities in real estate photography, and that by producing better lighting I am also showing the flaws of the house.

While I agree that I need to learn to not show the flaws of a house, I was disappointed to learn that high quality pictures were not top priorities. Most people I talk to tend to say that the quality of the photos of most listings are awful. So, is this the general rule in real estate photography? Or should I go after those who value great pictures among the agents? Thank you for your answers." Patrick, Canada.

A: "Thank you for your question Patrick. I used to shoot for Real Estate and I must say that it was occasionally a frustrating process. Pictures do sell, there is no doubt about that. Yet, I don't believe in images that show the property to be three times the size that it actually is. That is plain deceitful. But images do have to show the house in its best light in order to attract potential buyers. We've all seen the horrible quality of most MLS pics online, they are usually shot by the listing agent with a good camera but no technical or compositional knowledge.

I don't believe that adding light is necessary for a real estate shoot anymore. You can get great results in ambient light and, if you expose properly, windows should not be blown out. If they are a bit overexposed, it's usually a quick fix in Lightroom. Although quality is very important. A Real Estate shoot doesn't require the amount time and care to detail you would put into a traditional interior shoot for a builder, a designer or an architect for example. Those shoots are intended to showcase a space for a long period of time in an online gallery or for print advertising. Whereas real estate pics will only be used and seen for a few days or weeks.  A real estate shoot does not require as much attention to details as an interior shoot. Only 2 or 3 pics of each room, at most, will ever be featured. It is also for that reason that you cannot charge the same rates for a real estate shoot like you would if you were commissioned by a designer or an architect.  In most real estate jobs you need to get the work done fast. 

A professional stager is also a key element to enhance the highlights of any property and the real estate photographer should always make sure the house is staged before taking the job. 

Smaller properties do benefit the most from professional photography because they are more difficult to showcase. That said, you may find it easier to sell your services to real estate professionals who specialize in big ticket listings. They will be used to dealing with professional photographers and will see the value you can add to their team. I hope this helps, good luck!" Valerie 

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Question #34: About NX300 vs. X100S?

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've answered a question on my Q&A Blog. I have a few hours to catch up as I am sitting on the plane from MSP to SFO. Perfect time to answer another question! 

Q: "You're playing with the Samsung NX300? Have you used it long enough to have arrived at any opinion. What lens are you using with it? I've looked at it, as well as a Fuji, which is much more expensive. An impression I have is that in either case, the lenses that are available are not that fast. Do you find this to be a problem. (I'm used to Canon f/2.8 lenses)
I'm not ready to scrap my Canon 70-200, but am thinking about a second camera for travel. I do have the x100s, but believe it would be somewhat limiting. Your thoughts would be appreciated.. Maybe this can be your question of the week." Hugh H.

A: "Thank you for your question Hugh! First, I would like to start by saying that I left the Samsung Imagelogger program, not because of the gear, simply because other exciting opportunities have presented themselves, but more on that in due time…

Although the Samsung NX300 is a fine little camera, I don’t think we can compare it with the Fuji x100s which, in my opinion, is in a class of its own. It would be like comparing apples and oranges (is that the right expression?)

The NX300 is small, light weight and has an appealing retro look. Its large tilt LCD is very convenient and the touch focus quite efficient. Its 20MP and WiFi connectivity make it quite appealing as well. I would not recommend the kit lens, I’ve used it almost exclusively with the 30mm f/2.0 pancake lens and I think it’s the best combo. I don’t see the point in putting a big long lens on such a small body, it would defeat the purpose of using such a small camera. But at least you do have the option to change lenses and use one of the many Samsung lenses available. Some of them are quite fast. 

The Fuji x100s is, so far, the best camera I’ve ever owned. I love the quality of its fixed 23mm (35mm equiv) lens, the quality of the images is excellent, its low light capability is amazing and you can’t beat its cool retro look. As a street photographer, the silent mode is priceless! I don’t think it is a camera for everyone. The limitations of not being able to change lenses can be very intimidating for many who are transitioning into the mirror-less systems. I find those limitations refreshing and liberating. The camera becomes an extension of my vision and doesn’t get in the way. 

The Samsung NX300 would be a perfect first step into the mirror-less world. I can also see it being a great companion to a DSLR kit for anyone who is wanting to have a great little camera with them all the time without sacrificing on the quality, like you would with a camera phone. Whereas, in my opinion, the Fuji is definitely a primary camera, one that will make you want to give up your DSLR altogether!

Note that the Fuji x100s is also twice the price of the Samsung NX300... I hope this helps!" Valerie

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