The opportunity to use the Fujifilm GFX100RF on a street photography walk with MrWhisper was too good to pass up. The walk was part of the Festival of Photography organised by Amateur Photographer magazine at the University of Greenwich. I’d left it late to book and thought I’d missed out, but an afternoon slot appeared just in time.
The festival is a great meeting point for photographers. I’d already attended the morning talks and, over lunch, done an impromptu photowalk around Greenwich with a colleague, Peter Thompson. So the day was already off to a strong start.
At the FujifilmUK stand, I signed out the GFX100RF for the hour-long session. It’s noticeably larger than my X100VI, but still comfortable to hold one-handed. I wrapped the strap around my wrist, my preferred way of carrying a camera, and followed Bal (Mr Whisper) towards Greenwich Street Market. He kicked things off with some street photography tips, revisiting ideas like leading lines, framing, and reflections, which was a useful refresher.
A few shots in, I started to get the feel of the camera. I normally use back-button focusing on my other Fujifilm camera, so it took a little time to adjust. Greenwich Market is an enclosed square with entrances on each side, full of activity and photographic opportunities.
Near a photobooth, Bal noticed I’d accidentally set the camera to digital zoom, caused by pushing an unfamiliar dial. Once corrected, I was back on track. The GFX100RF was a joy to use as I moved through the stalls, and the time flew by.
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When we regrouped, I asked Bal if I could take his portrait, which he kindly agreed to. I took several shots by the market entrance, but again hesitated over my focus settings. Bal quickly switched on eye detection. This was another good reminder of how important it is to know your camera well and adjust settings quickly.
At the end of the session reluctantly, I handed the camera back and checked the images on my X100VI, only to find they appeared completely out of focus. I was despondent, even though I’d thoroughly enjoyed the session.
Back home, I checked the files properly on my computer. Relief! Most were in focus. My X100VI simply couldn’t handle previewing the large files many in excess of 130Mb. Processing such large images was demanding (and my laptop ran hot), but I was very pleased with the results.
Many thanks to Mr Whisper for a fantastic session, and to Fujifilm UK for letting me use the GFX100RF. Now I just need a loan to buy one. Would I get the GFX100RF? Yes, absolutely.
Finally a big shout out to MrWhisper. I would recommend going on one of his night photography courses around London. Details on his website.
If you enjoyed this blog then why not catch up on my street photography around Digbeth, Birmingham.