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Fujifilm X-T2 at Le Mans Classic

12 July 2016

Fujifilm X-T2 at Le Mans Classic

At the pre-announcement press event for the X-T2 we heard from professional motorsports photographer John Rourke (http://www.johnrourke.co.uk/) about how he uses X-series cameras for his work. The images were impressive, but you’re not going to see any duff shots at a camera launch. However, Fuji isn’t all talk and last Thursday Hireacamera, along with the cream of the UK photographic press and a collection of retailers, was taken to Le Mans Classic in France to put pre-production samples of the X-T2 through their paces.

Acros mode with Fujifilm X-T2
Using the new Acros Film Simulation mode produces some nice black and white images straight from the camera.

Le Mans Classic offers lots of photographic opportunities but the biggest challenge for the cameras and the photographers is the car races themselves. Shooting from a bank above the track we were able to try our hands at panning. We set the X-T2’s continuous autofocus system to custom mode 2, which tells it to track the subject but ignore obstacles such as lamp posts that enter the frame. We also used Zone AF mode with the zone set to the smallest (3x3) grid to make it easier to keep the focus point over the subject. As we panned the camera the AF points with in the grid illuminated to confirm when they were in use and the system was doing its job.

Panning with Fujifilm X-T2
Panning requires quite a bit of skill from the photographer but the X-T2’s AF system was up to the job.

Panning takes practise. You have to move the camera with the subject to keep it in the same spot in the frame while shooting with a relatively slow shutter speed (we went for 1/125 sec and 1/60 sec). The aim is to blur the background while getting the subject sharp. With a collection of different classic cars going by at a variety of speeds we had to adapt out technique quickly, but we were rewarded with some lovely shots with nice sharp subjects.

Later in the day we shot from a viewing platform as cars appeared around a bend. Here we switched to AF-C Custom setting 3, which is designed for use with subjects that are prone to accelerating and decelerating. Shutter speed was set to 1/1000 sec to freeze the fastest cars as they camera around the bend. Shooting like this required far less skill on the part of the photographer, but the camera’s autofocus system needed super-fast reactions as we shot at 11fps with the Vertical Power Booster attached and set to Boost mode. Again it delivered the goods and we were rewarded with pin-sharp images.

Action shooting with Fujifilm X-T2
The X-T2 had little trouble keeping these cars sharp as they sped closer.

It seems that Fuji has managed to deliver the type of autofocus system that enthusiast and pro photographers need and based on our results it looks like the X-T2 could be ousting a few DSLRs from enthusiasts’ camera bags when it becomes available in September. We’ll have full kits available for hire.

NB: Because the cameras were all pre-production these shots come with the caveat that the image quality is not finalised.

Dramatic tone with Fujifilm X-T2
The X-T2 has Fuji’s Advanced Filter options, which produce some fun effects. Dramatic Tone has boosted the bold colours here.