Welcome to the post July 4th edition of the Dan Bailey Photo newsletter. I hope that you made it through the holiday with eardrums and fingers intact. Let's€ dive right in!

 

I've been shooting with the Fujifilm XE-1 for two months now, and am finding it to be a really fun, capable camera that definitely inspires my creativity and my passion for photography. I love how compact and lightweight it is, even when going with a body and two lenses, and I love the classic feel and the way that the controls are set up. Most importantly, though, I don't have to sacrifice quality. The X-Trans sensor records an impressive level of detail, color, tone and sharpness. 

 

Shooting in RAW obviously gives you much more flexibility to fine tune your files when you're dealing with high contrast scenes. When the light is pretty even, I find that JPEG mode does a great job, especially with the different film simulations. I'm already setting aside the funds to buy my own when I have to send this one back. Fujifilm has no doubt done an excellent job with their X Camera lineup, and if you're looking for a really nice camera system for general photography, landscapes and travel, then I'd take a serious look at the XE-1.

 

You can order the XE-1 from B&H Photo and Amazon

 

But wait! Fuji has just announced the brand new XM-1, which is their entry level X camera. The Fujifilm XM-1 features the same 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS sensor as the X-Pro1, the XE-1 and the X100s, but with an affordable, $799 price tag, so you get the same image quality as all the other cameras in the line, plus built in Wi-Fi for quick image sharing, 1080p HD video, a flip down LCD screen, and the same cool, retro styling that makes their cameras so desirable. 

 

So what do you give up? There's no viewfinder, either OVF or electronic, like the XE-1 has, and no manual aperture rings on the lenses. Also, there's not as much metal in the body as is found in the construction of the other higher end X cameras. It still feels solid in your hands, it's just lighter and probably a little less durable if you knock it around. 

 

Also, the XM-1 comes with a new lens system and mount. The base lens is the XC 16-50mm f/3.5-4.5 (24-76mm equivalent angle of view). It definitely has more plastic in it, but as I said, it's lighter. There will also be an XC 27mm (50mm-equivalent) and probably more to follow.

 

Ready to step up from a point and shoot, but want APS-C sensor image quality? Want a Fuji X camera with interchangeable lenses at an affordable price? Then the XM-1 is probably for you. I see it as an awesome entry level camera for anyone who is enthralled with photography. Super compact and lightweight for travel, 5.6 fps max firing rate and all those awesome Fuji-rific film simulations. It will be available for preorder, at B&H Photo and Amazon with expected deliver on July 28, which means you won't have to wait very long. 

 

 

The Camera+Lens rebates from both Nikon and Canon are still going on. The Nikon deals end July 27, while the Canon rebate offers go until August 31. If you're looking to upgrade your DSLR gear or pick up an new body and lens, now would be a good time to do that, as you can save a few hundred dollars, depending on what camera/lens combo you buy. 

 

 

As always, buying gear through these links or through my Recommended Gear page helps me out and lets me keep bringing you all this content. And it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Go ahead and try it. I dare you.

 

 

Combing the web this week, I found a few articles that I think are worth reading. The first is a piece on the awesome Black Star Rising blog called It's Time for Pro Photographers and Hobbyists to Call a Truce. It discusses the differences between pro photographers€ and camera owners,€ and why there's room for everyone in the world of imaging. 

 

Next is 30 Questions You Should Ask about Being a Photographer Now. This article talks about what it means to be a photographer and lists some very important things to consider about why you do what you do, whether you take pictures for money of for pleasure. Or both. These 30 questions can help break old habits that are setting you back and hopefully spark some momentum for moving forward with your photography. 

 

Also, check out this interesting article about Drobox on Wired.com. Dropbox has quickly become my preferred way to share files with clients. It's also what I use to sync work across multiple devices and access important documents when I on the road. If you don't use Dropbox, then I'd highly recommend getting it and putting it on all of your devices and computers. I promise, you'll soon wonder how you ever lived without it in this wirelss laptop, mobile, tablet smartphone world. 

 

Finally, 41 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Date a Photographer. Need I say more? 

 

I'm excited to announce that I'm hard at work on another ebook. This one's a little different, though. It's not a creative or how-to manual like my other books, Making The Image and Behind The Action, rather it's a manual full of essays and insight. Pro insight. Creative insight. Gear insight. Basically my thoughts about photography, how to be better, how to succeed, and how to love it more. And of course, there will be lots of photos.

 

Some of the content is drawn from previous blog posts, but almost all of it has been reworked and expanded. I don't have a working title yet, or a release date, but I'm hoping for late summer or early fall. 

 

Stay tuned for more info on this one, and let me know if there's an area, or something specific that you'd especially like to see included in the book. Basically, this is your chance to tell me what to write about. What topic would you like to see me cover? Hurry, get your requests in ASAP!

 

 

Patagonia is one of the most fantastic and dramatic places on earth, and Ian Plant is one of the best landscape photographers on earth. At least I think so. Put the two together and you get a gorgeous 120 page ebook called Patagoina, by Ian Plant. 

 

This new book presents the scenery of Patagonia with absolutely stunning photographs that portray massive ice fields, magnificent mountains, lakes that are as blue as the sky and skies that are filled with every color of the rainbow. It's filled with dozens of Ian's favorite photographs of this spectacular are, and detailed description about how each show was made. 

 

Ian is an awesome teacher and he always has a lot of great creative methods to share. It's both inspiring and incredibly insightful to get into the creative mind of someone like Ian Plant, so pick up his new Patagonia eBook and take a visual journey through this incredible area. All of his books are money well spent. 

 

 

I hope that you're enjoying summer! Maybe your plans have you coming to Alaska this summer. How cool would that be! Bring bug dope, the mosquitos are bad this year. 

 

Thanks for reading, enjoy all the content, and don't forget to share!

 

Take care,

Dan