fuji X-T1

X-M1 or X-T1? You Decide by David Thomas

I have returned to photography after a multi-year hiatus. I've mentioned this. I purchased a used X-M1 and have been pleased as punch.


Last year, as I began to entertain thoughts of hanging out my shingle for photo work and sales of images, I found a better Fuji camera, an X-T1* at a bargain used after much searching (there is an X-T2* and an X-T3* now, so the earlier model is getting cheaper by the day!). 

Why? Control. The X-T1* is in the range of Fuji mirrorless cameras that can operate completely manually if you desire, much like the SLRs of old. I am acquiring better lenses and bought a used prime 35mm* lens as well, which is Water Resistant, much like the X-T1.

Last week, I grabbed both cameras as I headed out to take the youngest to school as it was foggy and I knew there'd be some lingering on the drive home. I had the kit lens from the X-M1*, the XC 16-50* on that camera and the 35* on the X-T1*. (I have the underrated XC 50-230*, but I recently broke the mount and am awaiting the part so I can shoot with that again. It is my favorite lens of the 3!) (now fixed, yay!).

So, the images:

X-M1

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OISƒ/8 FL:3.25 mm SS:1/400 ISO:400

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS

ƒ/8 FL:3.25 mm SS:1/400 ISO:400

X-T1

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WRƒ/2 FL:35 mm SS:1/1700 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WR

ƒ/2 FL:35 mm SS:1/1700 ISO:200

X-M1

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.ƒ/9 FL:21.1 mm SS:1/400 ISO:400

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.

ƒ/9 FL:21.1 mm SS:1/400 ISO:400

X-T1

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WRƒ/2 FL:35 mm SS:1/4000 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WR

ƒ/2 FL:35 mm SS:1/4000 ISO:200

X-M1

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.ƒ/8 FL:32.5 mm SS:1/400 ISO:400

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.

ƒ/8 FL:32.5 mm SS:1/400 ISO:400

X-T1

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WRƒ/2 FL:35 mm SS:1/4000 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WR

ƒ/2 FL:35 mm SS:1/4000 ISO:200

X-M1

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.ƒ/5 FL:32.5 mm SS:1/85 ISO:400

Fujifilm X-M1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.

ƒ/5 FL:32.5 mm SS:1/85 ISO:400

X-T1

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WRƒ/4 FL:35 mm SS:1/160 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XF35mmF2 R WR

ƒ/4 FL:35 mm SS:1/160 ISO:200

All photos are mine. ©DavidPaulThomas

Springfield, Ohio by David Thomas

Springfield, Ohio

Work has me traveling (not far!) to another not-so-bustling location: Springfield!
 

One of the most recognizable buildings is the old City Building, which is now a Heritage Center for the county.Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5 FL:50mm SS:1/120 ISO:200

One of the most recognizable buildings is the old City Building, which is now a Heritage Center for the county.

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5 FL:50mm SS:1/120 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.6 FL:16 mm SS:1/4 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.6 FL:16 mm SS:1/4 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.6 FL:45.2 mm SS:1/320 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.6 FL:45.2 mm SS:1/320 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.6 FL:50 mm SS:1/750 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.6 FL:50 mm SS:1/750 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.0 FL:25.6 mm SS:1/220 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.0 FL:25.6 mm SS:1/220 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.6 FL:50 mm SS:1/450 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.6 FL:50 mm SS:1/450 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.0 FL:16 mm SS:1/160 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.0 FL:16 mm SS:1/160 ISO:200

 

 One of the things I've noticed is the several ghost signs around the downtown core:
 

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.6 FL:113.8mm SS:1/27 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.6 FL:113.8mm SS:1/27 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/6.7 FL:230mm SS:1/38 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/6.7 FL:230mm SS:1/38 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/160 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/160 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/140 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/140 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/100 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/100 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:63.2mm SS:1/110 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:63.2mm SS:1/110 ISO:200

A few churches dominate some views....
 

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/6.2 FL:161.8mm SS:1/56 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/6.2 FL:161.8mm SS:1/56 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.6 FL:107.3mm SS:1/210 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.6 FL:107.3mm SS:1/210 ISO:200

 And while there is some clear decay still visible,
 

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.3 FL:37.1mm SS:1/400 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.3 FL:37.1mm SS:1/400 ISO:200

 

They have made some nice spots as some renewal is taking place.
 

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/52 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/52 ISO:200

 

One thing that makes Springfield unique is the old National Road, the first federally-funded "highway" which ended here for about 10 years when funding ran into problems (as can happen, amiright?). It was extended further west, but that decade helped Springfield immensely. I won't bore you with the stories here, as there are links in that Wiki article I linked above, but one bit of interest I learned from some locals is that this statue,

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/4000 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/4000 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/100 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/100 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.  ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/300 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II.
ƒ/5.0 FL:50mm SS:1/300 ISO:200

 The Madonna of the Trail, was moved from just outside of downtown along US 40 to this location with much fanfare (and controversy, as the current park-like setting was not even started when they moved her) to what may have been a more accurate original location. Maybe.

There were 12 of these statues placed along the route, here's a link to info about that.

East towards Columbus, there is a tavern that is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Red Brick Tavern, which dates back to the glory days of the National Road.

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.  ƒ/5.0 FL:32.5 mm SS:1/180 ISO:200

Fujifilm X-T1. XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS.
ƒ/5.0 FL:32.5 mm SS:1/180 ISO:200


All photos are mine. ©DavidPaulThomas