Yesterday, MPB (“an online platform for used photography and videography equipment”) published an article entitled How to Install and Use Fujifilm Recipes, which was largely written by Michael Schulz. I knew that this story was in the works because MPB had reached out to me several weeks ago just to make sure that it was ok to mention Fuji X Weekly in an upcoming piece; however, I only found out that it was published because I noticed a number of clicks to this website from theirs within today’s daily stats. What I love about the MPB article are the lovely photographs by Michael captured with his Fujifilm X100V, using mostly the Pacific Blues, Kodak Gold 200 (or is it this one?), and Kodak Portra 400 v2 (maybe Vibrant Arizona, too…) Film Simulation Recipes. It’s a real testament to what can be done straight-out-of-camera with Fujifilm models.
Back in January, Moment (“the world’s largest marketplace for creators”) had asked me if I would be willing to write an article for their website about Film Simulation Recipes, and in February they published my story Why Shooting JPEGs Is So Popular (& 10 Fujifilm Simulation Recipes). This was a follow-up to an article that (back in 2021) I contributed to called Why I Never Shoot RAW—Fujifilm Simulations, Recipes, and More!—I made my portion of that article a standalone piece on Fuji X Weekly entitled History & Poetry of Kodachrome. Moment told me that both of those articles are very popular, and are some of the most viewed on their website.
B&H (“the people who know your gear best”) briefly mentioned Fuji X Weekly and Film Simulation Recipes back in 2021, in an article called Your Guide to FUJIFILM Film Simulations by Todd Vorenkamp. Last year, Vistek (“Canada’s camera store”) mentioned this website and Recipes in their YouTube video Zen & The Art of Fujifilm Film Simulations | The deep science of matching to film stocks.
I was thinking today: why are camera stores talking about Fuji X Weekly and Film Simulation Recipes? It would be more obviously understood if I had merchandise for sale in their stores or on their websites, but I don’t. What’s in it for them? I think the answer is pretty simple: Fuji X Weekly Recipes sell Fujifilm cameras.
Recipes are one of the reasons why the X100V has been so hard to find for over a year now. Social media influencers began saying that the X100V’s pictures “mimic film” and require “zero editing”—next thing you know they’re out of stock everywhere. With a little research I found out that these influencers were using my Film Simulation Recipes.
If you have a camera store and want to move your Fujifilm inventory, the best way is to point out to customers that the straight-out-of-camera pictures look so darn good, and post-editing isn’t necessary. Specifically, Film Simulation Recipes make it easy to get great-looking pictures without fuss, which can make photography more accessible and enjoyable, saving tons of time and frustration. There’s even an app! I think Fujifilm themselves have overall done a fairly poor job of communicating this; it’s been influencers and camera stores and really just word-of-mouth by Fujifilm photographers that has spread the message to the community at large. Outside of Fujifilm circles, this whole concept is fairly unknown or misunderstood, so there’s still a lot of work to go. MPB’s article will help; hopefully there will be more like it in the near future.
Spot on 100% correct Ritchie. This site and the use of you and other user created simulations are what’s helping sell Fujifilm cameras. I think Fujifilm have missed a trick here. Film sims should be a bigger part of the Fujifilm experience. If I were them I would look into buying your app, rebrand it as Fujifilm official film simulations app and let people load film simulations with all their sim titles/parameters into their camera via their phone with Bluetooth and the new app. Even better, have the option to store hundreds of them not just 6 or 7 that have to be input manually. We should also be able to shoot RAW then process in camera from the sims stored on the camera without having input the parameters for each film sim manually each time.
I also think it’s time Fujifilm released full frame (X200?) with a 61 megapixel sensor, f2.8 28mm lens and IBIS. It would sell lots of units I’m sure. If it had crop modes built in like the x100 there would still be lots of resolution for 35mm and 50mm to make decent size prints. They could even sell this X100vi alongside with the fixed 23mm. Hopefully with all the new site traffic/awareness from MPB, Fujifilm are watching..
Yeah, I’d definitely collaborate with Fujifilm if they were open to it. That would be incredible!
I think the “X200” concept makes a lot of sense… whether it be full-frame or “fuller than full-frame” (GFX). They should make it happen.
Thanks for the comment!
Hi man! I do not care about FF, but absolutely agree with first part of your comment!
I ask myself long time ago – why Fuji app can not load recipes into camera? And a mix between Fuji App and Ritchie app will move our experience and Fuji as brand at totally different level!
😀😀😀😀😀
Absolutely agree. A few years ago when I got my first Fuji (x100s) it was the size and convenience of it that got me into Fuji. I then moved on to FF and sold it (yes… I know). Then earlier this year I came across this site and the app and sold a ton of barely used gear to get an X-S20. which then made me miss the x100 I once had and led me to buy an X100V three days ago. Lucky me, found one in stock, new and at the rrp (basically like winning the lottery :D). Fuji are clearly slacking when it comes to recipes. If I could have it my way, Fuji would hire you and integrate your app so recipes could be simply transferred straight to the camera. one can dream 😂. but at the very least, every new purchase of a fuji camera should come with a year’s subscription to your app and obvs you should get a slice of that. To me, Fuji only makes sense because of you, so, for that I’m extremely grateful!
Oh, my! You basically did win the lottery!
I appreciate your kindness. Thanks so much for this comment! 😀
That so true! When I decided to change system from Nikon to Fuji, the recipes were exactly the reason why I took that decision!
Now it happens to chat with someone that speaks about changing to another canikony system, so I start telling them about this wonderful world of recipes and sooc pictures, and this guy named Ritchie that shares a huge collection of recipes to the community… And I see a light that starts to shine in their eyes, you may almost hear the “click” in their brain!
There’s a whole community around recipes, especially on this site, that surely deserves much more attention from Fujifilm, as it’s a great added value.
Fujifilm has kind of kept the Recipe community at arms length. I had a conversation once with someone who is much more connected with Fujifilm corporate than I (but still not connected enough to have any influence 🤣), and they said that since Fujifilm didn’t build the Recipe community and they have no control over it, they’re a bit uneasy with it. I know they don’t like that many Recipes have the names “Kodak”, “Kodachrome”, and “Portra” in them. But, in my opinion, they need to get over themselves and embrace the community, because the community is “their” people. Thanks so much for the kind input!
That’s a blind way to think… It seems like the attitude of a middle age person that’s skeptic about social media and is just not connected to the real world. Being Fuji, I would feel very pleased that people buys my cameras to obtain a Kodak film look!
🤣
Yeah, that’s a very good way to put it. I couldn’t agree more.
I agree, I’ve been a Nikon shooter since early 90’s. I was mostly just taking snapshots since had kids and was looking at upgrading my current DSLR but came across the X100V in March 2022 and thought would be fun take anywhere camera. I loved it especially the film sims. Ended up grabbing an X-T5 instead of another Nikon. I love trying out your recipes and always have some in my custom slots.
Awesome! The X100V and X-T5 are a nice one-two punch, as far as cameras go. In fact, that’s exactly what I have sitting right in front of me at the desk right now: my X100V and X-T5. Thanks for the comment!
I spent 14 years between Canon and Sony while a friend of mine kept showing his photos taken with his Fuji Xt3 and the Fuji Weekly recipes. This made me so curios about Fuji cameras a the point that, when I decided to buy one, I spent a month reserching camera models and recipes on your website.
Based on which recipes I wanted to try the most I choose che camera. Crazy? Maybe, but happily satisfied 🥰
Awesome! You’ve got a great friend. 😀
Which camera did you choose?
Thanks for your work, R. I had an X70 bought in 2016 that I sold some months later. Because I regret doing that, this year I returned to Fuji with an X-T30 II. Ever since, I have used your recipes and renewed my joy of photography done right on the camera. Not only the fantastic looks. Recipes make you think first and output “analogically” with all the convenience of the digital.
Yeah, it’s kind of like the best of both worlds, isn’t it? Thanks so much for your kindness!