Out and about with a Fujifilm X-T5 Camera - This is more of a test and trial of new gear than a project
The March 2020 double hit of Cancer and Covid has changed a lot of things for me, both personally and in business.
Changes that have me re-assessing many things including my camera equipment. At the end of 2022 I had started looking at what; I own, I may no longer need, and I might need/want now, or in the future.
With me still not able to work and my sub-contracted photographers, reduced from four to one there is going to be a lot to consider.
My first decision (I'm sure of many more to come) was to sell a bucket load of small format cameras and lenses, including a Nikon D810, two Fujifilm X-T2's a Fujifilm X-T20 and several lenses, (thanks WEX).
Then just before Christmas 2022 I purchased the new Fujifilm X-T5 and a used Tamron 18-300mm Superzoom, (thanks again WEX Newcastle).
These photographs are few I took with this new camera and lens.
The photographs
Here is a small collection of photographs taken back in January 2023 as I made a feeble but valid effort to improve my fitness with very short walks around:
Gibside Hall
Newburn Park
Low Fell (home)
Wallington Hall
Walking around Gibside
Gibside is an estate in the Derwent Valley in North East England. It is situated between Rowlands Gill in Tyne and Wear and Burnopfield in County Durham.
Gibside Hall - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop and ON1
Gibside Hall doorway - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop and ON1
View out of the Orangery window at Gibside- processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic and ON1
Gibside Hall - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop and ON1
Looking across the Vally from Gibside Hall - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic and ON1
Reeds in the carpark of Gibside, photographed using ICM (in camera movement) - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic and ON1
Reeds in the carpark of Gibside, photographed using ICM - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic
Walking around Newburn Park
Situated on the North bank of the Tyne, close to Newburn, Tyne Riverside Country Park is formed from reclaimed industrial land, previously occupied by Isabella Colliery.
The woods at Newburn on the banks of the Tyne - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic
The woods at Newburn Riverside Park on the banks of the Tyne - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic
Walking around Low Fell
Low Fell is a suburb of Gateshead situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, England.
A place to sit and wait in Low Fell, (there will be another one along soon) - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic and ON1
Nature fights back in Low Fell - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic
Walking around Wallington Hall
Wallington is a country house and gardens in Northumberland near the village of Cambo, located about 12 miles west of Morpeth. Owned by the National Trust since 1942.
Where a giant stands at Wallington Hall - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic
A lakeside view at Wallington Hall - processed with Adobe Lightroom Classic and ON1
Conclusions
Short term investment
I know the Tamron Superzoom is never going be good enough for professional work and the X-T5's 40mp sensor shows up how soft it is much of the time. However, sharpness isn't always so important and this lens is a whole camera bag worth of very heavy lenses. It is a huge range of focal lengths covered by one plastic, lightweight lens, (in this case) attached to a very small camera body. A combination that I hope I can manage with ease as my health improves and allows me to get out more.
This set up is far from perfect but it is also a lot of resolution in a very small camera and everything from 18mm wide angle to a 300mm telephoto view in small lightweight lens, what's not to like!
Longer term investment
A cheap Superzoom might be of no professional use to me but it makes a perfect walk around solution for holidays and day trips. Those times when you just don't want a camera bag getting in the way and spoiling the day.
It might not be the best lens, (by a long shot) but it is cheap, you will always have the right focal length on the camera and most of its shortcomings such as sharpness can be improved a lot in the processing.
The Fujifilm X-T5 camera makes an excellent small format professional solution.
It is just perfect for those days I don't need, or want to use a larger medium format camera. Should I ever get back to work myself, or even bring in a new contract photographer this camera would get well used (together with the large range of Fujifilm professional lenses I have collected over the years, (as long as I don't sell those as well)).