Fuji X100 xsync at 1/1000 sec

Yes that's write this baby has a leaf shutter that makes it have a higher then normal xsync speed. What is an xsync speed?

Well it determine how fast a shutter can be open when a flash fires. Most cameras are limited to 1/250 with matching brand flashes and cameras. (Nikon to Nikon, etc.) if you want to use your off brand flash or radio remote trigger with your Nikon body you'll be even lower with a shutter speed of 1/125. Other brands like Canon's are the same way some even require you to drop to 1/60 of a second to xsync.

This can be quite troublesome if your subject is moving; say on a skateboard, or there is movement behind them or maybe you want to balance sunlight and flash.

With the Fuji X100 it's xsync tops out at 1/1000 for most Fstops. This is wonderful. I read this on a blog post and immediately grabbed my gear and went out to test it out.

Get exposure for Bright sunny day (check) ISO 200, F4.5 @ 1/1000 same for all the camera exposures.


Then set up my SB-26 with a PocketWizard and my trusty umbrella. No subjects around so I step in (sorry to ruin the moment). That's me standing in the shadow of my umbrella and the flash firing.




I got closer so you could see the sun hitting me and the flash. Look at my pant at the bottom of the photo. Ooohhh!! Both sunlight and flash exposure....
Yes it xsync at 1/1000 of a sec!!!! or I'd be nothing but a big dark silhouette.




That is 3 stops more to use for stopping motion or balancing sunlight and flash portraits. Which look great with this 60" umbrella.


Here's the info on the back of my SB-26 for what I was using on it. (this the macro mode on the X100. I was about 2 inches away)

Day one with new Fuji X100 ._.

Yes it's been along time coming.... I'm not even going to try and get you filled in with what has been going on over the last year. I'm just going to start off and continue like I didn't even leave.

I've been looking for a small travel companion of a camera for several years and could never really come to grips with finding what I wanted. I'm picky that way.

I recently got a killer deal on a used Fuji X100 that a previous photographer didn't like. Yes this little bundle of joy has it's quirks. That's what everyone has posted on the forums and their blogposts.... Search google for Fuji X100.

I've had the X100 for all of 2 days and have been taking pictures left and right. Like all the interweb is saying it has some quirks... Get over it or get a different camera. Even in the few months this in demand camera has been on the market, Fuji has already put out a new firmware update to answer some of the complaints. Now that's service and great timing as I just updated the firmware last night.

I happen to be really excited and each day comes with another surprise. But for now I'll just post about the pictures I took on day one.



Here I'm in a store using seeing how close I could get before having to turn on the macro function. I was about 4 inches away. ISO 200, F2 at 1/4 sec. That's pretty good hand holding. LOOK AT THAT DOF!!!!



And how about that sunset? This I did some in camera tweaking. But first. The tech info for those who want it. ISO 200, F2 at 1/2000 sec. I had the in camera ND on and the WB manually set to 3500K I think to keep it cooler.

What do you think so far?

Motocross photography light test

While I was out in Cali I shot a bunch of motocross shots one night. They have a HUGE outdoor motocross park with I believe 8 tracks all lit up with stadium lighting. It's absolutely awesome. I would love to ride there but every time I go I have my camera and no bike.






Having my bike with me when I go out is usually my problem. I want to ride until they come around telling us their closed we need to pack up. Then I usually go "Damn, I didn't take any photos"!!!






Well, a couple weekends ago, I finally got out the camera and lights and tried a single light set up. Of course it was off camera as I'm a lighting nut like that. (No jail house photos from me). I had to try out my modified light stand leg...






Light stands have three legs, these provide stability which is good.... most of the time. But what do you do when it's not most of the time?








I read on Strobist quite sometime ago about a guy doing this and after my frustrations in Cali at the track with trying to get my light where I wanted it I decided it was time to MOD-out my light stand.





It's a pretty simple idea you drill out the rivet on one leg and then drill holes every two inches up and down that leg. Then if you are on uneven ground you can still have a light stand pointing straight up.




It worked great and allowed me to get the above shots. You can just nearly see it above the "n" on the watermark. Next time I'll take a better picture of the light stand.

Oh yeah and what do you do when your dirt bike doesn't have a kick stand?





That's right, use the monopod! And here's a reference shot for all you photo nerds.






All these were taken with a single SB-26 on a stand to the right of the jump.(left side of this image) Shot on my Nikon D3 with a PocketWizard radio trigger. Watkins motocross track in Watkins, CO.