Around six months ago I wrote a blog post about using one camera and one lens for a year. I tried my best, actually. I used the Epson I had planned to use for about a month until it died because of humidity. The second one I got also died. It was at that point I gave up. I had a chance to borrow an Olympus Pen-F. I liked the Pen, actually. It was a nice enough camera.
The woman, for the record is my friend’s girlfriend. He wanted me to photograph her as he “sees” her. I don’t really know what that means. I figure I can only photography people how I see them. He was happy with the photos, at least.
Anyway, I was talking to a friend about cameras and the like after I had given the Pen-F back. At that point, I didn’t have anything aside from an old half-broken Ricoh.
My friend basically said something like this:
You always fuck around with different cameras. What are your 10 favorite photos you’ve ever taken, show me.
So, I showed him. Ironic it was, of the ten photos one was taken on a Ricoh compact, 4 film, and 5 were from a Fujifilm digital camera of some sort. He then said,
There you go! Go buy a Fuji.
So I did. The weird thing for me with Fuji was always that my favorite camera they made was the X-Pro 1 but there wasn’t a small decent 35mm lens to go with it. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized they had started to make the 23mm f2. I bought the X-Pro 2 and got one of the first 23mm f2 lenses available here.
So, for the past 5 or so months I’ve been using the X-Pro 2. No need for fanfare, it isn’t an accomplishment. I didn’t write a post saying I was going to use only it for a year or anything like that. Didn’t feel like I needed to talk about. To me, there isn’t one particularly special thing about the camera. It just works, doesn’t get in the way, and does what I want it to do.
The X-Pro 2 is one of those cameras that I don’t think much about. I don’t really look at it or fondle it. It is quite literally a tool. It does what I want, when I want it to. I don’t think there can be higher praise for a camera.
I bring it everywhere, without really thinking about it. I never turn the screen on. I don’t baby it so it is a little beaten up now. I don’t really care. I kind of like it more.
The thing is, I dunno how long this will last. I can say, it is the first time in a long time that I didn’t really care about my camera. I don’t care to change it and don’t really care about it, ha.
That probably makes it the best camera I’ve ever used.
jtinseoul 
The best camera it the one that disappears when you take a shot. Nothing between the subject and the photo that’s already in your head!
Wonderful portraits! Your magic works!
Completely agree.
Nice post, kinda stole my thunder a little bit, ha, as I am actually writing a post about the Fuji X100 at the moment to post in a day or two. Trying to get back into blogging again after a long hiatus.
It was interesting reading about your experience with Fuji because I’m looking into getting a Fuji as well, the X100, the original one, since the others are too expensive for me (I’m not sure if it is a good decision because it has a few years now, but I fell in love with it since it came out). Now back to you – I love your style and the mood of your images.
nfrodrigues – the X100 is certainly a good choice if you manage to get a good one with clean lens and sensor. Best from a professional seller with warranty, you never know – the camera is some years old.
Funny to think of a 4 year old camera as old when I use my 79 year old Leica daily….
The X100 is the camera that started me on my way back to film with it’s retro feeling…. beware!!
The retro feeling is one of the things that got me interested in the X100 series. I ended up buying an used X100s, I felt it was a better deal. I thought about the x100f but I would have to pay at least 300€ more. I’m sure it was worth it, but in my current budget it would be a bit of a stretch, so I went with the S. It’s on its way to me. I can’t wait to get my hands on it,
Great series, really, I’m in love with this dark and grainy photos. Actually, that seem to have been an good selection process. Congrats on your Fuji! Marcus
Hi Josh , I notice the post about the protests is gone , hope all ok ?
Yeah dude, just getting the sepia tone out of the photos 😉
Ha , and there was me thinking it was something sinister :))))) I must be getting paranoid :)))