Fujifilm TCL-X100 Teleconverter Comparison & Thoughts

I recently purchased a new lens for my Fujifilm X100. It is the TCL-X100 teleconverter from Fujifilm, and I took some time this past week to try it out. Rather than give a huge breakdown of specs and results from pixel-peeping, I will simply show you some sample images I have taken. Some images show the comparison of the camera's lens vs. with the teleconverter, and I have included a sample of a portrait as well. Bear in mind, these are the jpgs straight out of the camera, and were quite literally just snapshots. Nothing fancy, just some real-world images that anyone might make.

The first two images were taken from the exact same spot, same settings, the first without the teleconverter lens (35mm equiv.) and the second with the teleconverter (50mm equiv.). These were taken at Batttery Sater in Fort Hunt, VA.

 

Note the significant amount of difference between the two focal lengths. More interesting however, at least to me, is the image quality is still superb. In my experience, teleconverters usually create a noticeable degradation in image quality which is certainly not the case here.

The second set of images is from Battery Mount Vernon in Fort Hunt, VA. Again, taken from the same spot, and having the same focal lengths as listed above you can see a significant difference between the focal lengths, but not in quality from one to the other.

Aperture settings are unaffected by the teleconverter, nor are any other settings. Fujifilm has done a marvelous job of marrying this lens to this camera. I am thrilled with the results. As you can see in the image below, it also should work nicely as a portrait lens. This shot is of my daughter at the Georgetown waterfront in Washington, D.C. with Rosslyn, VA just across the Potomac River.

If you would like to know more about the TCL-X100 or the X100 from Fujifilm, feel free to contact me. I am always happy to share what I know as well as my experiences. Thanks for stopping by!

Another Icon in Limbo

"Lenox Lounge 2014" © 2014

When someone mentions great Jazz, Harlem comes to mind. Venues like the original Cotton Club and the Apollo come to mind, with their iconic neon signs and storied histories of arguably the greatest musicians of the 20th century playing their music night after night. The Lenox Lounge was another historical venue that had seen good times and bad.

On a recent visit to NYC, I explored Harlem and sought out some of the historic places to see how they had fared over the years. Of course the Cotton Club is no longer where it once was, nor is the Apollo. And while I did not have a chance to visit the old site nor the new Cotton Club, I did get a chance to stop by the Apollo. Surrounded by chain stores and street vendors, I was disappointed, yet still felt nostalgic over at least being able to walk into the theater and say I had been there. The Lenox Lounge was a completely different story, and I could not wait to get there!

A quick search on google told me I was close so I was on my way! According to the website, they opened from 4pm-4am, and had quite a nice menu. A recent renovation which restored all the early art deco decor would undoubtedly ensure a quality experience, right? As you can see from the photo above, the Lenox lounge was not only not quite as advertised, but had been stripped and shuttered since early 2012.

Apparently, when the lease expired, rent was increased so much the owner decided it just wasn't feasible and decided to sell. It was also decided that a new Lenox Lounge would be opened two blocks away, so rather than honor the sale agreement with the new owners, the previous owner stripped all the decor, the sign and even the flooring and wall coverings to be used in the new space!

As of May 2014, the old and new owners appear to be embroiled in a $25 million lawsuit over the details of the sale with each other, with the old owners nearly out of money, and neither location looking like they will be opening any time soon. Meanwhile, yet another historic institution sits in ruin, with a very bleak future.

For the sake of comparison, this is what Lenox Lounge once looked like... notice how even the outer wall coverings were stripped!

Thanks for stopping by!

Whirlwind!

The title says it all, at least in regard to the past five weeks or so! There have been many, many changes and happenings around here, and quite frankly, it has been a little difficult to keep up with it all!

Various members of the family have travelled to Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, and New York all for various reasons: some work, some play, some a combination of the two. Add in wrapping up my first semester teaching at Sitar Arts Center, starting a new position with Georgetown Ministry Center (A day center focused on providing services and outreach to the homeless), attending basketball tournaments nearly every weekend and being accepted to graduate school, you can see, things have been moving along quite quickly!

As usual, there is no sign of anything slowing down anytime soon. Already more travel on the horizon, projects, tournaments, and more. Living life fully is something to strive for, and it is something our family seems to make happen on a regular basis. 

I will try and get a few photos up in the next week or so of my latest excursion. I will also provide a more detailed update as to what I am up to. Thanks for reading!

Old vs. New

Yesterday afternoon I was leading my digital photography students on a walkabout through the Adams Morgan area of Washington, D.C. for their black and white lesson. We set out to explore luminance, texture, and interest. Walking up 18th Street, amid some of the best restaurants in the District, was an example of what until recently was considered commonplace... a smashed storefront window.

It goes to show that certain elements of the "old DC" still exist, despite the best efforts of gentrification. The neighborhood is interesting because it really is where old meets new, and not just in vandalism, but also in merchants and the streets. There are still a number of ethnic enclaves in this neighborhood, right along side the latest "interlopers" who are trying to re-purpose the neighborhood into the latest hot-spot.

Where else can you find falafel next to a bourbon bar next to indian food, across the street from a tattoo shop and Turkish deli? Right around the corner is a man from Eastern Europe selling the finest knock-off handbags money can buy (within at least a couple blocks). THAT is diversity, and I think it is the foundation of a true "neighborhood".

It is troubling to see a storefront smashed like above. At the same time it is troubling to see the unique character of the neighborhood slowly slipping away in the interest of hip, chic, restaurants and clubs. While I do not have the answer as to how to preserve the neighborhoods unique character while making it a safe and vibrant area, I see there is ample room for discussion. I only hope the neighborhood is working together to preserve said character, rather than simply focusing on the bottom dollar.

Beside Myself...

I couldn't believe it. There I was, at a gallery opening with fellow photographers and artists, where I had a few images being exhibited. Overall response to my work was fantastic, with a plethora of positive comments and reactions, which is awesome! I was engaged in a conversation with a fellow photographer who was going on about one of my images, and how much he liked it. He was asking me about it, and I was relating the story about when I made it. He asked "So, what do you shoot with?". I explained that for years I have been a Canon guy, but since acquiring my Fuji X100 back in 2011, I rarely shoot with anything else. His response absolutely blew me away...

He said "Wow, I guess I need to look into that camera if it can make pictures like that". I have heard similar statements before, but generally from those who have no understanding of the time, determination and skill it takes to make a great image. I did not expect a comment like this from a fellow photographer.

Why did this set me off you might ask? It is quite simple really. Would you ask a chef who just made an amazing dinner what kind of stove he used? Would you suggest that with the same kind of stove, you would get the same result? No, because it would not be the stove making your meal... it still takes a chef, and you understand that. Photography is no different. Does equipment make a difference? Only to a very limited degree. I have seen amazing photos taken with disposable cameras. I have also seen many less than stellar images produced from camera rigs costing thousands of dollars.

A photograph that makes you take notice is the culmination of years of practice, training and implementation of knowledge. Sure, great photos can happen on accident occasionally, but as a rule the camera is not what makes the image special. It is the technical merit of the photograph and the process to get there that matters most. The camera is merely the tool a photographer uses in their chosen trade/profession. No different than a stove, pans, or spatulas. It truly is what one does with his/her tools that makes the difference.

Photography is an art. It is not simply the creation of a tool that magically occurs in haphazard fashion. It takes years of training and dedication to be proficient. A nice camera just makes the process more enjoyable, just like a nice stove. Don't credit the camera, credit the photographer!

The next time you talk to a photographer and you like their work, a simple compliment will suffice. Be respectful of their devotion to their trade/craft, and enjoy what they have created. Odds are, that was the intent of the photographer in the first place... to create an image that has a lasting effect on you.

Thanks for listening.