Camera blog | FUJI X WEEKLY

5 Ways the Fujifilm X-T4 is Better Than the Fujifilm X-T5

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

The Fujifilm X-T5 is better—at least slightly—than the X-T4 in a many ways, but not every way. Perhaps you have an X-T4 and are considering upgrading to the latest iteration, or maybe you cannot decide between the X-T4 or X-T5—this article will point out some reasons why you might consider the X-T4 over the new model. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the X-T4 is better, only that in some ways it is indeed better; however, overall, the X-T5 is, in my opinion, the superior camera, but only by a small margin (I’ll have a full review of the new camera soon, so keep an eye out for that). Below are five ways the Fujifilm X-T4 is actually better than the X-T5.

1. Heat Dispersion

There are a few true workhorses in the Fujifilm lineup. These cameras just go and go and go. They’re eager to work and don’t need a break. The X-H1 is probably the best. The X-T4 is not far behind.

I don’t usually have heat issues with Fujifilm cameras in my day-to-day photography, but when I do the monthly SOOC broadcast, I need a camera that will run 4K video for several hours. My X-H1 will do it. The X-T4 will do it, too. But, I found out that the X-T5 will only last for about 45 minutes before overheating. Interestingly enough, I accidentally forgot to turn off the X-T4, and it kept running for 24 hours straight, no overheating! Before you scoff, the camera was plugged into the wall with a faux battery power cord and it was tethered to my computer, so it is, in fact, possible for the camera to run 4K for hours and hours and hours, just so long as it doesn’t power down due to overheating.

After I discovered the X-T4 had been inadvertently running for a whole day, I powered it off and let it rest for 15 minutes, then I used it for a three-and-a-half hour broadcast. It worked like a champ! The X-T5 overheats much too quickly to even be considered for this use. If you will be video broadcasting or recording long clips, the X-T4 is the clear winner. The almost-five-year-old X-H1 is better than the X-T5 in this regard, too. I’m not surprised, because Fujifilm stuffed a high-resolution sensor and quick processor into a small body, and the consequence of that is heat, and there’s just not enough heat dispersion. For most people, this is no big deal at all, but for those videographers who need to record extended-length clips, the X-T5 should be avoided, and the X-T4 is a much better option.

2. Rear Screen

I like the X-T5’s three-way tilt screen better than the flippy screen on the X-T4, but not everyone agrees with me on that. For some, the X-T4’s screen is superior. You can do a lot more with it, and being able to see yourself while recording video of yourself is big plus for some. Personally, what I like best about the X-T4’s screen is that you can close it backwards, and it is sort of like shooting with an X-Pro3 (kinda, but not really)—no other X-T series camera can do that, only the X-T4. You might actually prefer the X-T4’s rear screen over the X-T5. Different strokes for different folks, right?

3. Vertical Battery Grip

I’ve never used a vertical battery grip on any camera ever, but some do use it, either for the extra battery power, the extra grip, or both. Every single camera in this series—including the X-T1—has had an optional vertical battery grip accessory for those who want one, except for the X-T5. In this way, the X-T5 is more like the X-T00 series, and it cheapens the line (not in cost, but in perceived quality). Most people don’t use the vertical battery grip, so for the majority this is no big deal whatsoever, but for some this is a dealbreaker.

4. Body Size

A lot of people (myself included) have applauded the smaller size of the X-T5, but some prefer the bigger X-T4 body. Those with big hands might prefer the grip on the X-T4, and those who frequently shoot with large, heavy lenses might prefer using them attached to the bulkier frame. For me, just doing some testing in preparation for the upcoming X-T5 review, the larger X-T4 body felt better when using the Fujinon 100-400mm lens than the smaller X-T5, but that was simply my experience and my preference. I would suggest that the shooting experience of the X-T4 might be slightly superior if you do use large lenses a lot, but it is a personal preference.

5. Resolution

More is more, right? 40 is better than 26, right? If you crop deeply, print poster, or enjoy pixel-peeping, the higher resolution sensor of the X-T5 is probably for you. Otherwise, the X-T4 has more resolution than most people typically use or need. The disadvantage of more resolution is that it takes up more digital storage space (on your SD cards, phone, computer, external hard drive, and cloud storage), and it can take longer to process or upload files—an extra second here and there doesn’t seem like much, but if you add it up over ten thousand pictures (the course of a year for me), you’re talking about hours that the higher resolution sensor cost you. Sometimes less is more. Personally, I prefer the 26-megapixel resolution of the X-T4 over the X-T5’s 40-megapixels; some of you might even prefer the X-T1’s 16-megapixels.

But, but, but… the X-T5 has the new super-quick autofocus, that finally brings it up to par with Canikony! That alone makes it worthwhile, right? Outside of dim-light situations, I found the X-T1’s eight-year-old autofocus to be plenty quick for me, including for sports and wildlife photography. The X-T4’s autofocus, which is even better, is more than good enough for almost everyone.

It’s not the gear that’s incapable. People have been capturing amazing photographs for 150+ years, and whether for stills or motion pictures, the focus capability of the gear has never stood in the way. People have done so much more with so much less for so many decades. If you looked at photography forums and such lately, you’d wonder how anyone ever managed to capture an in-focus picture prior to the Sony A7 III. We must have imagined it all, because it’s just not possible without the quickest autofocus—and if you don’t have the quickest, you got nothing. That’s how it seems. The focus inability of camera gear is a very recent phenomena. With that said, if a camera offers a tool that makes photography a little easier for you, that’s a good thing. Certainly autofocus in general, and the gradual improvements in autofocus capabilities over the years, have opened up photography for people who don’t have the skill or experience or desire to get the shot otherwise—that’s not a dig, by the way, as I believe opening up photography to those who the door would otherwise be closed to is important. Film Simulation Recipes do that for those who don’t have the skill, time, desire, or access to computer/software to edit RAW files—for me, that’s time and desire; for you, it might be something else—and it has become an important tool for the visually impaired. So, yeah—bravo to better autofocus! But, if you do find the focus capabilities lacking on whatever gear you are using, know that you do have it within you to overcome that issue, and it doesn’t involve buying new gear.

Back to the cameras in question…. In AF-S, I didn’t hardly notice any difference between the X-T4 and the X-T5 (or even the X-T1 and X-T5 in normal light). I think the visual confirmation of focus is a hair quicker, but the actual focus isn’t (I hope that makes sense). The X-T5 recognizes faces a little further away, if that matters. In AF-C, I do think the X-T5 is just a tad better at finding and correctly focusing on the intended subject, but it’s not a night-and-day difference, only a small improvement (but an improvement nonetheless). Where I believe the X-T5 is indeed superior to the X-T4 with regard to autofocus is continuous subject-tracking. The X-T5 can recognize more various subjects to track (not just human face/eye), and does a better job of tracking. So if you do use continuous subject-tracking autofocus, you’ll find the X-T5 to be better than the X-T4; if you don’t, you’ll find the X-T5’s autofocus to be only marginally improved.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T4 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T4 in silver: Amazon B&H

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

What Film Simulation Recipe Was That?

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

I get asked at least once per week which Film Simulation Recipe was used for a picture in the Fuji X Weekly homepage gallery. It’s my fault for not telling you. I should have made it much more obvious. Maybe I should make posts with galleries (but actually include the recipes used so that you don’t have to wonder)? If you see a particular picture you like, perhaps you’ll be inspired to try that recipe.

Anyway, this article is simply an explanation of which recipe was used for each picture in the homepage gallery. If you’ve ever wondered, now you know. I’ll probably change out some of the images within the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for that.

For those keeping score, seven of the pictures were captured with a Fujifilm X100V, two were captured with a Fujifilm X-E4, and one each were captured with an X-T30, X-Pro2, and X-T200,

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and over 250 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

Creative Collective 036: Film Simulation Bracket, Part 2

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

There’s a feature on Fujifilm cameras that I don’t utilize often enough: Film Simulation Bracket. This processes one exposure as three different images, each with a different film simulation applied. You cannot change any other parameters—only the film sim—so you cannot use three different Film Simulation Recipes, only one recipe, but with three film simulations. It would be great if Fujifilm made a Custom Preset Bracket where you could choose three C1-C7 presets to process the exposure with, but that unfortunately doesn’t exist. Another limitation worth noting is that on newer cameras, Film Simulation Bracket disables Clarity, which is a shame.

I already discussed Film Simulation Bracket in a previous Creative Collective article, so I’ll try to take a slightly different approach with this one, and not rehash everything that’s already been said. When is Film Simulation Bracket a useful tool? Read on to find out!

Kodak Vericolor Warm — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on December 12, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Right Around the Bend* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodak Vericolor Warm”

I wasn’t sure if I should publish this Film Simulation Recipe, but then I thought, why not? Initially, the intention was simply to see how the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation looks with Dynamic Range set to DR100, and how the X-T5 images look at ISO 125, which is the base-ISO of X-Trans V cameras. I didn’t model these settings after any specific film aesthetic; instead, I borrowed the GAF 500 Film Simulation Recipe‘s white balance (modified just a little after a couple test shots), and was also inspired by Kodak Portra 400 and Reggie’s Portra recipes. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but I ended up really liking it!

So what does this Film Simulation Recipe most closely resemble? Unintentionally, I think it has some similarities to Kodak Vericolor film. What’s Kodak Vericolor? Originally introduced in 1971 as an ISO 100 professional color negative film, Kodak made two version of Vericolor: NPS (also known as S-Type) for short exposures (Daylight balanced) and NPL (also known as L-Type) for long exposures (Tungsten balanced). Just a few years later Kodak improved the emulsions and in 1974 introduced Vericolor II NPS and NPL, which was also ISO 100. In 1983 Kodak improved the emulsion once again and introduced Vericolor III, which was ISO 160 for NPS and ISO 100 for NPL; however, the NPL version was later spun off as Ektacolor Pro Gold 100T and later Portra 100T, while Vericolor III NPS was renamed Vericolor III 160. Later (sometime in the late-1980’s, although I couldn’t pinpoint a specific year), Kodak introduced a new high-ISO version called Vericolor III 400. Vericolor III 160 and 400 were replaced by Portra 160 and 400 in 1998. This recipe by chance shares a resemblance to Vericolor III 160 or perhaps Vericolor II NPS, but I think it is more warm, and perhaps more like if an 81A Color Correction Filter was used in conjunction with the film, a common technique in the film era, and maybe a CPL filter, too.

*Hanging Garden Light* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodak Vericolor Warm”

This Kodak Vericolor Warm Film Simulation Recipe is only compatible with (as of this writing) the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S. I assume that the GFX100S and GFX50S II can also use this recipe, but that it will render slightly different—I don’t have either of those cameras to test it to know for certain. Unless Fujifilm gives X-Trans IV cameras the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, which I doubt they will do, this recipe is only for X-Trans V cameras, and maybe the latest GFX, too; however, consider the Kodak Portra 160, Kodak Portra 400, and Reggie’s Portra as alternatives for those with X-Trans IV models. This Kodak Vericolor Warm recipe is especially well-suited for daylight photography, but can also be used during “blue hour” and overcast situations.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: 3000K, +8 Red & -9 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR100
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -1
Color: +2
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Kodak Vericolor Warm” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Blue Sky Bougainvillea Blossom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Rose in the Garden* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Triple Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Water Pipe* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Trioliet* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Tired Old Bus* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Four Lights* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Tractor Pipe* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Cattle Co* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Industrial Water* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Tree on the Bank* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Fujifilm Photographer* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Roadside Memorial* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Feed Barn* – Palo Verde, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Metal Garage* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Rust & Lock* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*No Loitering on Bridge* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Love the Bridge* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Goat Man* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 250 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

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Superia Xtra 400 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Red & Green Bush* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Superia Xtra 400”

This is a simple update to the Superia Xtra 400 Film Simulation Recipe, which was originally made for X-Trans IV cameras. I discovered that a slight tweak is needed for X-Trans V models, because the new sensor renders blues just a little deeper on some film simulations, including Classic Negative. For this recipe, simply setting Color Chrome FX Blue from Strong to Weak makes it compatible with (as of this writing) the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S.

Thomas Schwab created the Superia Xtra 400 recipe by capturing a roll of actual Superia Xtra 400 film while also capturing identical exposures with his Fujifilm cameras, then, using X RAW Studio, he worked on the settings until he found a match. As you can imagine, he put a lot of time and effort into creating it! He shared with me some of his side-by-side pictures—comparing the film with his recipe—and it was tough to figure out which was which—they looked so close! Also, just recently another photographer shot a roll of Superia Xtra 400 film and used the Superia Xtra 400 recipe on his Fujifilm camera, and he shared with me the similar results he got between the two. Amazing! Of course, with film, so much depends on how it’s shot, developed, and scanned or printed, and the aesthetic of one emulsion can vary significantly.

*Lemon Bowl* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Superia Xtra 400”

Fujifilm introduced Superia Xtra 400, a consumer-grade color negative film, in 1998, replacing Super G Plus 400. This film has been updated a couple of times, first in 2003 and again in 2006. It’s been widely used, thanks to its low cost and versatility. I’ve shot several rolls of this film over the years. This recipe is for Fujifilm X-Trans V cameras. Those with newer GFX models can use it, too, although it will likely render slightly differently.

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Auto, +3 Red & -5 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: 0
Shadow: -1
Color: +4
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Superia Xtra 400” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Forwards or Backwards* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Standing Tall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Hiding Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Don’t Touch* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Neighborhood Fog* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Dark Desert* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Misty Desert* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Clearing Clouds & Desert Mountain* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Ground Fall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Wet Blossom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Wet Rosebud* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Early Morning Lamp* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Night Blossoms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Western Boots* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 250 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

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Which Film Simulation Recipes, When? — Part 4 (X-Trans II)

Posted on December 5, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Hummingbird Feeder Along a Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 5

When should you use which Film Simulation Recipes on your Fujifilm X-Trans II camera? With so many recipes to choose from, it can be difficult to know what recipe you should select in a given situation, and this article is intended to help you with that. If you haven’t read Part 1, it’s important to do so because it explains what exactly we’re doing—the backstory—which is imperative to understand. There’s a video to watch in that article, too. Take a moment right now to hop on over to Part 1 (click here) before continuing on with this post, if you haven’t viewed it already.

One thing to note about X-Trans II cameras is that not all of them have the Classic Chrome film simulation, including the X100S, X20, and XQ1. Unfortunately, if you have one of those models, this list is slightly less useful to you, although I hope you still find it helpful. For those with an X100T, X-E2, X-E2S, X-T1, X-T10, X30, X70, or XQ2, this list is fully compatible with your camera.

Like Parts 2 & 3, I set out to recommend seven recipes, one for each C1-C7 Custom Preset, that don’t share the same white balance type or, if they do, they also share the same shift, because X-Trans II cameras cannot remember a White Balance Shift within the C1-C7 Custom Presets. If two recipes share the same white balance type but not the same shift, then when you switch presets you must remember to adjust the shift, too. That can be inconvenient and frustrating, so my best solution is to program recipes that use different white balance types and/or share the same white balance type and shift. The user experience is much improved, but you might not be able to program all of your favorite recipes at the same time, which is the one downside to doing this. It was a difficult task, but I think I came up with a good set for you.

Let’s take a look!

C1 — Classic Kodak Chrome — Golden Hour

*Purple Mountains* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

The Classic Kodak Chrome Film Simulation Recipe is a great option for sunrise or sunset photography, or pretty much anytime of the day or night. This is my current favorite recipe for X-Trans II cameras—I shoot with it often, more than all of the other X-Trans II recipes combined. This is my top allrounder choice! Almost no matter the subject, situation, or light, this is the recipe that I go with. Classic Kodak Chrome uses the Auto white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I’d go with this recipe or Ektachrome 100SW whenever the sun is low to the horizon.

Alternatives for “golden hour” photography:

Ektachrome 100SW
Kodacolor
Velvia
Eterna

C2 — Kodak Portra 160 — Midday

*An Arizona Autumn* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Portra 160”

Whenever the sun is not low to the horizon, my top-choice for daylight photography is the Kodak Portra 160 recipe, although it is good for “golden hour” too, and can be used anytime the sun is out. This is one of my favorite X-Trans II recipes, and is especially good for portrait photography, or whenever you want warm Kodak-like negative film colors. Kodak Portra 160 uses the Daylight white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, this or any in the “alternatives” list would be good options.

Alternatives for “midday” photography:

Kodachrome II
Kodachrome 64
Portra v2
Color Negative Film
Astia

C3 — Fujichrome Slide — Overcast

*A Yellow Trumpet Blossom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – “Fujichrome Slide”

I really like the Fujichrome Slide recipe, but it’s not my first option for overcast conditions. It does well enough, but I’d go with Classic Kodak Chrome instead (which is already in the C1 custom preset slot). Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of good options for dreary days that don’t use a white balance type that’s already taken for another category. Fujichrome Slide uses the Fluorescent 1 white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I would consider Winter Slide or Porto 200 as better alternatives.

Alternatives for “overcast” photography:

Winter Slide
Porto 200
Kodacolor 200
Jon’s Classic Chrome

C4 — Kodak Color Negative — Indoor

*Morning Coffee* – Glendale, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – “Kodak Color Negative”

The Kodak Color Negative Film Simulation Recipe is pretty versatile and does well in a number of situations—indoor is just one of them. It uses the Incandescent white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I’d still choose it, but Agfa Optima would be a good alternative.

Alternatives for “indoor” photography:

Agfa Optima
Classic Chrome

C5 — CineStill 800T — Nighttime

*Night Synergy* – Centerville, UT – Fujifilm X-T1 – “CineStill 800T”

The CineStill 800T recipe for X-Trans II cameras is my absolute favorite nighttime option, period. If it’s after dark and I’m photographing artificial lights, this is the recipe I’m using. CineStill 800T uses the Kelvin white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type I’d still use this one.

Alternatives for “nighttime” photography:

Scanned Negative

C6 — Lomography Color 100 — Wildcard

*Freedom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – “Lomography Color 100”

In Parts 1-3, this category is called Alternative Process; however, for X-Trans II there’s only one recipe for that category—Cross Process—and it uses a white balance type that’s already taken. So I changed the rules a little, and called this category Wildcard instead, which is simply a recipe that’s included just because. Lomography Color 100 can produce good results in a number of situations, including golden hour, midday, shade, and indoors. It’s good for landscapes, street, and portrait photography. However, it has a little different aesthetic than the other recipes in this list. Lomography Color 100 uses the Shade white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I’d choose Cross Process instead.

Alternatives for “wildcard” photography:

Cross Process
Yosemite Velvia
Kodak Platinum 200

C7 — Monochrome Red — B&W

*Jonathan with a Smile* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – “Monochrome Red”

The Monochrome Red Film Simulation Recipe is an excellent option for black-and-white photography. It’s especially well suited for blue-sky landscapes, but it does pretty well in other situations, too. It uses the Fluorescent 1 white balance type and shares the same shift as Fujichrome Slide, so both can occupy a slot in the C1-C7 custom presets simultaneously; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, the Monochrome recipe is a pretty good alternative—you really can’t go wrong with either.

Alternatives for “B&W” photography:

Monochrome
Faded Monochrome

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Nostalgic Neg. Is Basically Eterna (Sort of…)

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

One of the two images above is Nostalgic Neg. and the other is Eterna. Can you guess which is which?

The Nostalgic Neg. image is made using the Timeless Negative Film Simulation Recipe. The Eterna image is modified to resemble the Timeless Negative recipe.

Let’s look at another set.

I bet you’ve figured out which is which, but if you haven’t, in the train picture at top the left is Nostalgic Neg. and the right is Eterna. For the set above, the Eterna picture is left and the Nostalgic Neg. is right.

What’s different between the two? There’s quite a bit different between out-of-the-box default Nostalgic Neg. and Eterna, but Eterna can be made to look quite similar to Nostalgic Neg.—this was just a quick experiment, and with some more time and work, I could probably get it even closer. Nostalgic Neg. has a little more contrast, a lot more vibrant colors, and is slightly warmer than Eterna. With some modifications to make the two appear similar, though, it seems that the biggest difference is that Nostalgic Neg. is slightly warmer and more vibrant in the shadows, and yellow is rendered a little more deeply; otherwise, you can almost match them identically.

So what does it take to create faux Nostalgic Neg. with Eterna? I’m still fine-tuning it, but I believe that, using Eterna, reducing Highlight by -1, increasing Shadow by +1.5, reducing Dynamic Range by one or maybe two spots, adjusting White Balance Shift by +2 Red and -1 (or maybe -2) Blue, increasing Color by +6… this obviously means that Color has to be a negative value (at least -2) on Nostalgic Neg. in order to match it. This is all still a work-in-progress, but it does mean that a fairly close faux Nostalgic Neg. recipe for X-Trans IV is possible, and in the process of being created. If you feel as though you’re missing out on Nostalgic Neg.—don’t fret!—if your camera has Eterna, it can, to an extent, mimic it—stay tuned for a Film Simulation Recipe!

Timeless Negative — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Soft Rose* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Timeless Negative”

On February 3, 2021, Fujifilm shared the very first Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation Recipe. As part of their promotion for the GFX100S, which was the first camera to have the new Nostalgic Neg. film sim, Fujifilm Japan shared a YouTube video, and hidden within was a recipe put together by the creators of Nostalgic Neg. “Nostalgic Negative is tuned for the best allrounder settings, but if you want to tweak it to get that classic American New Color look from the ’70’s, there are some adjustments you should make.” Fujifilm recommended, when using the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, to set everything to 0, Off, or Auto, except for three things: shift Auto White Balance to +2 Red & -3 Blue, adjust Shadow to -2, and reduce Color to -2. Additional to that, I recommend using -4 High ISO NR.

I’m not a huge fan of Nostalgic Neg. set to factory defaults. It’s not bad, but it’s not what it purports to be, which is a vintage 1970’s aesthetic inspired by Eggleston, Shore, Sternfeld, and Misrach. I think Fujifilm should have had the courage to make their recipe the default, and not worry so much that it wasn’t the “best allrounder” film simulation. Fujifilm’s suggested adjustments do improve Nostalgic Neg. and bring it closer to a ’70’s vibe, but I felt I could improve it just a little more. Of course, that’s all subjective, and you might prefer factory default Nostalgic Neg., or Fujifilm’s recommended recipe, or something different altogether—in other words, when I say that this is “improved” it’s perfectly alright to disagree with that assessment, but hopefully many of you will agree that this is indeed better—at least a little, as my adjustments to Fujifilm’s recipe are pretty subtle. This particular recipe seems to be especially versatile, and can be used for many different genres of photography and in various light conditions—it looks good most anytime of the day or night.

*Evening Bougainvillea* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Timeless Negative”

This Timeless Negative Film Simulation Recipe is only compatible with (as of this writing) the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S. I assume that the GFX100S and GFX50S II can also use this recipe, but that it will render slightly different—I don’t have either of those cameras to test it to know for certain. Unless Fujifilm gives X-Trans IV cameras the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, which I doubt they will do, this recipe is only for X-Trans V cameras, and maybe the latest GFX, too; however, Nostalgic Neg. isn’t too dissimilar from Eterna, so perhaps consider the Arizona Analog, SantaColor, Eterna V2, and Polaroid recipes as potential alternatives for those with X-Trans IV models.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: Auto, +2 Red & -3 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +2
Shadow: -2
Color: -3
Sharpness: 0
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -2/3 to +1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Timeless Negative” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Dark Coffee* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Night Train* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Color Behind Frosted Glass* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Hot Hot Hot* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Sleigh Bell* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Round Trip Ticket* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Dusk Train* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Keep Off* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Please… Use RitchieCam* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Barricades* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*ATSF Caboose* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Route 66 Gift Shop* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Car Above, Coke Below* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*UnAmerican Experience* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Stop Route 66* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Los Angeles, 1978* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Looney Tune* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Backyard Trumpet Blossoms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Comparison

*Factory default Nostalgic Neg., except High ISO NR set to -4.*

*Nostalgic Neg. with Fujifilm’s suggested adjustments.*

*This new Timeless Negative Film Simulation Recipe.*

*Nostalgia Negative Film Simulation Recipe.*

*Pacific Blues Film Simulation Recipe, except Color Chrome FX Blue set to Weak.*

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Making the Fujifilm X-T5 Make a Lot of Noise — Testing High-ISO on X-Trans V

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Lights from a Frosted Window* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodachrome 64” – ISO 6400

A lot of people have asked me if the Fujifilm X-T5, with the new 40-megapixel X-Trans V sensor and processor, is better or worse than the 26-megapixel X-Trans IV cameras when it comes to high-ISO noise. Conventional wisdom would suggest that the lower-resolution sensor would be superior. Is it? Or did Fujifilm pull a rabbit out of a magic hat and somehow make X-Trans V better at high-ISO despite more megapixels?

I’ve spent some time pixel-peeping, comparing X-Trans V to X-Trans IV. Right off the bat I can tell you that both are pretty similar to each other. You’ll have a very hard time noticing the differences without pixel-peeping, and with pixel-peeping, they’re still quite similar. Below I’ve included a massive crop from an X-Trans V camera and an X-Trans IV camera. If these crops were sections of the whole pictures printed, I don’t know how large the prints would be, but they would be very large, so keep that in mind. The picture on the left (revealed by moving the bar to the right) is X-Trans IV, and the picture on the right (revealed by moving the bar to the left) is X-Trans V. Take a look at these two images.

You likely notice that the X-Trans V image is a little more detailed with noticeably finer digital noise, while the X-Trans IV picture is a tad fuzzier with chunkier digital noise. This is a result of the higher resolution sensor of the 40mp X-Trans V camera. What might be less obvious is that there seems to be just a bit more color blotchiness in the X-Trans V image. Perhaps even less obvious, I believe the X-Trans V camera is applying a slightly heavier-handed noise reduction to the picture than X-Trans IV, despite both set to -4 High ISO NR. However, please take all of this with a grain of salt, because we’re seriously pixel-peeping here. In real world photography, both cameras are pretty darn good at high-ISO, and neither are significantly better or worse than the other, and there’s no practical variance between the two. Unless you print posters or crop deeply, you’re not going to even notice a difference—even if you did print large or crop massively, the differences are pretty minor, but I guess you can feel confident that ultra-high ISO pictures will look slightly better (for the most part) on X-Trans V than X-Trans IV. That’s the takeaway, I think: high-ISO on X-Trans V cameras are just a hair better than X-Trans IV, but not enough to make a practical difference for most people. What I will add, though, is that it’s pretty amazing that they could do this while also increasing the resolution. I do wonder, though, if Fujifilm could make—say—a 20mp X-Trans camera with significantly increased dynamic range and high-ISO performance—that’s something I would be highly interested in.

Below are a few more high-ISO examples from my Fujifilm X-T5 camera.

*Polar* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “GAF 500” – ISO 12800

*Train Wheels* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “GAF 500” – ISO 12800

*Tracks* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodachrome 64” – ISO 6400

*Polar Express Passengers* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodak Tri-X 400” – ISO 12800

*Tree Lights* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodachrome 64” – ISO 6400

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

Kodachrome 64 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Pilot* – Cordes Lakes, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodachrome 64”

This isn’t a new Film Simulation Recipe; it’s simply a slight modification of my Kodachrome 64 recipe for X-Trans IV cameras to make it compatible with X-Trans V models. The adjustments are pretty simple: set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off and Shadow to +0.5. Why the Color Chrome FX Blue adjustment? I discovered that with Classic Chrome (and some other film simulations), X-Trans V cameras render blue deeper. Why the change to Shadow? I stated in the X-Trans IV version, “I would set Shadow to +0.5 if I were using these settings on [a] camera [with that option].” With those two modifications, the Kodachrome 64 recipe is ready for your Fujifilm X-Trans V camera!

Kodachrome was a brand-name of color reversal film made by Kodak between 1935 and 2009. There were three eras of Kodachrome: 1935-1960, 1961-1973, and 1974-2009. Each era produced a slightly different look, and the third era is the one you’re probably most familiar with. This recipe is intended to mimic the aesthetic of the third era of Kodachrome, specifically the ISO 64 emulsion.

*Arizona Bougainvillea* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Kodachrome 64”

This Kodachrome 64 Film Simulation Recipe is intended for Fujifilm X-Trans V models, which (as of this writing) include the X-H2, X-H2S, and X-T5 cameras. It’s compatible with newer GFX models too, but will likely render slightly different on those cameras. Those with an X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, or X-T30 II, try the Kodachrome 64 recipe for those models (click here). Those with an X-T3 or X-T30, try the Kodachrome 64 recipe for those cameras (click here). For those with an X-Trans II model, there’s a Kodachrome 64 recipe for you, too (click here).

Film Simulation: Classic Chrome
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: Daylight, +2 Red & -5 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: 0
Shadow: +0.5
Color: +2
Sharpness: +1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: +3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Kodachrome 64” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Palm Tree Closeup* – Palo Verde, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Abandoned Mobile Home* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Store & Bar* – Hassayampi, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Narrow Bridge* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Concrete Railroad Ties & Steel Bridge* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Gillespie Dam* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Gila River Reeds* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Flag, Bell, Cross* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Princess Garden* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Secret Garden* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Blossomed Garden Rose* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Farm Truck* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Wall Shadow & Empty Pot* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Dusk Lamp* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Girl on Swing* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Desert Sunset* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

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1970’s Summer — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on November 27, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Short Train* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “1970’s Summer”

This Film Simulation Recipe is the aesthetic that I hoped to achieve with the new Nostalgic Neg. film simulation. What does it resemble? It very much has a nostalgic Kodak “memory color” (as Fujifilm likes to say) that is reminiscent of old color photographs from the 1970’s. You might notice some similarities to William Eggleston’s Election Eve and 2 1/4 series and some of his other work from the late-1960’s through the mid-1970’s—not every picture, but certainly several. You might spot some similarities between this look and some of Stephen Shore’s photographs from the early-to-mid 1970’s. I think there are some similarities to a few of Joel Sternfeld’s American Prospects pictures. There’s a noticeable likeness to several of Richard Misrach’s desert photographs. In other words, this recipe produces a distinct 1970’s American New Color aesthetic.

It shouldn’t surprise you that the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation produces this look because Fujifilm stated that the American New Color movement was the inspiration. Specifically, they looked at the photographs of Eggleston, Shore, Sternfeld, and Misrach, but out-of-the-box default Nostalgic Neg. doesn’t seem to resemble their work all that closely. After examining many of their photographs, and identifying a few from each with a similar aesthetic, I set out to create a Film Simulation Recipe that better mimics some of their pictures. I feel like a got pretty close, and this recipe produces a distinct 1970’s vibe—especially the warmth of summertime—and so I named it 1970’s Summer. This recipe works best in sunny daylight, and is excellent for midday photography.

*Going Out of Business* – Prescott, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “1970’s Summer”

This 1970’s Summer Film Simulation Recipe is only compatible with (as of this writing) the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S. I assume that the GFX100S and GFX50S II can also use this recipe, but that it will render slightly different—I don’t have either of those cameras to test it to know for certain. Unless Fujifilm gives X-Trans IV cameras the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, which I doubt they will do, this recipe is only for X-Trans V cameras, and maybe the latest GFX, too; however, if you are looking for something somewhat similar, try my Vintage Color recipe, or even Kodak Portra 400 Warm.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: 6500K, -1 Red & -4 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -0.5
Color: -2
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “1970’s Summer” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Red & Gold* – Prescott, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Adventure’s First Stop* – Prescott Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Hyundai* – Prescott, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Cat Clock* – Prescott, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Propane* – Hassayampa, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Security Light* – Palo Verde, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Hay, Detour* – – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Gila River Bridge* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*13 FT 6 IN* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Around the Bend* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Gillespie Dam Bridge* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Desert Dam* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Julio Suarez* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Dam Reflection* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Broken Dam* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Lakeview* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Attention Anglers* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Can’t See the Forest* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Rural Tree* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Green Field* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Abandoned Rural Home* – Palo Verde, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*More Than Double Wide* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Hole in the Wall* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Abandoned & Leaning* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Desert Basketball* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Double Cross* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Palm Trunk & Blocks* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Fake Fall Flowers* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Arlington Baptist Church* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Gate 8* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Flowing Water & Broken Footbridge* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Irrigation Mist* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

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Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
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I’ve Got the Fujifilm X-Trans V Blues….

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

I’ve been busy the last few days trying to see what is similar and what’s different about the JPEG output from my new Fujifilm X-T5 camera. How does X-Trans V compare with X-Trans IV? Are my X-Trans IV Film Simulation Recipes really compatible with the new Fujifilm cameras? Technically they are because the options are the same (except that X-Trans V has the new Nostalgic Neg. film simulation), but do they render the same, or at least similar enough?

I was surprised by something that I discovered. While many of the colors are extremely close in rendering, blues are not. Take a look at the comparison below. Both images were captured with identical settings and even the same lens—one with an X-Trans IV camera, and the other on X-Trans V—but the blue sky is not the same. If you study close enough you might notice some other extremely subtle differences, but the rendering of blue is a clearly not the same between the two sensor generations.

I looked very closely at all of the different film simulations, and I noticed that this difference in blue is film simulation dependent. Not all film sims render blue differently, and some vary more than others. Here are my discoveries:

Eterna Bleach Bypass on X-Trans V renders blue a little darker than on X-Trans IV with Color Chrome FX Blue set to Weak.
Classic Negative on X-Trans V renders blue identically to X-Trans IV with Color Chrome FX Blue set to Weak.
Classic Chrome and Eterna on X-Trans V renders blue just barely lighter than on X-Trans IV with Color Chrome FX Blue set to Weak.
Velvia, PRO Neg. Hi, and PRO Neg. Std on X-Trans V renders blue halfway in-between Color Chrome FX Blue set to Weak and Off on X-Trans IV.
Provia and Astia on X-Trans V renders blue identically to X-Trans IV with Color Chrome FX Blue set to Off.

In other words, with the exception of Provia and Astia, blue is different on X-Trans V than X-Trans IV. With Classic Negative, if an X-Trans IV Film Simulation Recipe calls for Color Chrome FX Blue set to Weak, if you set it to Off instead, it will render the same; if it call for Color Chrome FX Blue set to Strong, if you set it to Weak instead, it will render the same. You can also do that with Eterna Bleach Bypass, Eterna, and Classic Chrome, and it will be pretty close, but it won’t be identical. With Velvia, PRO Neg. Hi, and PRO Neg. Std, you can go either way (adjusting Color Chrome FX Blue or not), and it really doesn’t matter because it will be wrong by about the same amount, either too light or too dark.

Does it matter? it’s not a huge difference, but it is a difference. You might prefer the rendering of X-Trans IV or you might prefer the rendering of X-Trans V. I think, personally, I’m leaning towards preferring the X-Trans V rendering—many of my recipes use Color Chrome FX Blue set to Weak or sometimes Strong, and with X-Trans V that’s already built-in now on some of the film simulations. But it also means that many X-Trans IV recipes will render differently, and, while technically compatible, aren’t truly compatible with X-Trans V cameras.

*I captured with picture on my Fujifilm X-T5 using the new Nostalgic Neg. film simulation.*

Why did Fujifilm do this? I don’t think this is anything new. For example, Fujifilm has tweaked Velvia film, because the original Velvia emulsion was a “mistake” (although many photographers didn’t think so—if it was an accident, it was a very happy one). I remember reading once that Fujifilm, with each sensor generation, reevaluates each film simulation to see if it’s possible to get them closer to the intended aesthetic. Fujifilm likely decided that the blue of previous generations wasn’t quite “right” for many of the film simulations and so they fixed it. You might not thought that it was “broke” so you’re wondering why they felt the need to “fix” it; however, the folks at Fujifilm must have thought something wasn’t quite right, so they adjusted it.

What else is different? I’m still looking closely, so I don’t have all the answers yet. I think the rendering of cool colors is slightly different, but blue is by far the biggest change—even with a close side-by-side comparison it’s difficult to spot the differences of the greens and purples, but blue is obvious. Shadows and luminance in general seem to be just a hair dissimilar, but it’s close. Warm colors seem to be pretty much identical; if they’re different it’s tough to spot—maybe yellow is the most dissimilar of the warm colors, but it is still very similar, and I think it might have more to do with general luminance than a color difference. Really, blue rendering is the only significant difference I’ve found so far between X-Trans IV and X-Trans V.

With the Fuji X Weekly App, I don’t have X-Trans IV recipes currently listed as compatible with X-Trans V cameras. There are some—those that use Provia or Astia—that could be listed as compatible because they’ll render the same. For others, a Color Chrome FX Blue adjustment will make them compatible. For others, they won’t ever look the same but will still look pretty similar. I’m still deciding how I’ll handle this. The easy route would be to just say they’re all compatible—that they’re close enough—but I don’t think that’s the right path. I ask for patience as I wade through these waters—the rendering of that blue water on X-Trans V—and how to best present it to you in the form of Film Simulation Recipes.

Nostalgia Negative — My First Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe!!

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Lynx Lake Overlook* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Nostalgia Negative”

I spent $1,700 to get the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation. When I tried out-of-the-box default Nostalgic Neg., I was initially disappointed. It didn’t seem like anything special, or even particularly nostalgic. After a closer look, I saw the potential. The Nostalgic Neg. film simulation is like a cross between Eterna and Classic Chrome. It has soft tonalities in the shadows like Eterna, and warm colors are similar to Eterna, but with contrast and an overall palette more similar to Classic Chrome. There are some aspects that aren’t necessarily like either Eterna or Classic Chrome, but, for the most part, if Eterna and Classic Chrome had a baby, it would be Nostalgic Neg.

For this first Fujifilm X-Trans V Film Simulation Recipe, I wasn’t trying to emulate any specific film or process. I just wanted something that looked good. I simply attempted to create a better Nostalgic Neg., something that I would like shooting with. I hoped that perhaps it would even evoke feelings of nostalgia—that’s why I call this recipe Nostalgia Negative—and it would produce a vintage analog-like aesthetic. I think it does.

I really like this recipe for daylight situations. It does quite well in both midday and golden hour light. It’s pretty decent in shade, too. It’s not particularly well suited for indoor artificial light or nighttime photography, so I would avoid it for that. Otherwise, use it for landscapes, portraits, urban—it will look good for pretty much any genre of photography. I think this will be an instant favorite recipe for those with the latest cameras. Because this recipe uses Clarity, you cannot use the HEIF format, because HEIF disables Clarity. Also, for those who aren’t aware, Clarity causes the camera to pause briefly after each shot, similar to the amount of time it takes to advance to the next frame of film on an analog camera. I have Smooth Skin Effect Off, but I’m sure it’s fine if you enable it, either Weak or Strong, if you prefer.

*Two Ducks* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Nostalgia Negative”

This Nostalgia Negative Film Simulation Recipe is only compatible with (as of this writing) the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S. I assume that the GFX100S and GFX50S II can also use this recipe, but that it will render slightly different—I don’t have either of those cameras to test it to know for certain. Unless Fujifilm gives X-Trans IV cameras this film simulation, which I highly doubt that they will, this recipe is only for X-Trans V, and maybe the latest GFX, too; however, my Nostalgic Negative recipe for X-Trans IV cameras is actually not too far off from the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, so you might appreciate using that recipe while you wait to get a camera with the new film simulation.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Daylight, +3 Red & -3 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1
Shadow: +1
Color: +4
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this new “Nostalgia Negative” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Blue Tree* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Lake Log* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Caution: Nature* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Believer* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*CVS Obscured* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Golden Tower* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*The Burmister* – Prescott, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Dusk Blazer* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Spiderweb Rocks* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Don’t Shoot* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Golden Light Chair* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Lake Rocks* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Log on the Lake* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Brush Above the Water* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Private Dock* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*PFG Boy* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Amanda* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Forest Abstract* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Last Light on the Desert Mountain Ridge* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 250 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

I Have A Fujifilm X-T5!

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

Wow! It’s been crazy the last several days. Fujifilm released the X-T5 on the 17th. Not everyone got their orders.

Let’s back this up. Amazon apparently listed the X-T5 too early on announcement day. By contract, everyone is supposed to go live no earlier than a certain time, but Amazon jumped the gun. I preordered an X-T5 on Amazon because I had reward points that I wanted to use. When the 17th came around, some people received their preorders that day. For others it shipped that day, and arrived in the next day or two. For me? Nothing. Those who ordered on Amazon were left in the dark. What I didn’t know is that Fujifilm decided to punish Amazon for their sins and not give them any cameras to sell; sadly, only Fujifilm photographers who ordered through Amazon were actually punished. Is it Amazon’s fault? Yes. Is it Fujifilm’s fault? Sure—they could have done something else to teach Amazon a lesson, while still allowing people to receive the cameras they ordered. Is it my fault? No. Is it your fault? No. But you and I didn’t get our gear when others did. I know this is a first-world problem, and in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter, but it is something that many people have experienced.

Amazon is a huge company, and Fujifilm sales are a tiny drop in a massive bucket. If Fujifilm stopped selling to Amazon altogether, it wouldn’t hurt Amazon in any way, shape, or form. I get that Fujifilm has to hold them accountable. I get that it wasn’t fair to their other retail customers. But let’s be real: crap rolls down hill. Who ended up with the crap? Me. You, if you, too, ordered through Amazon. Fujifilm’s customers are who got punished, not Amazon. I’m sure Amazon gave two seconds to this situation, and hasn’t cared one iota since. When they get their cameras, they’ll sell every single copy, and it will have such a small impact on the bottom line that you need a powerful magnifying glass just to see it. Those trying to be patient with their Amazon preorders might have to be extremely patient—I’ve heard that it might be sometime in January before orders are shipped. I don’t know that for a fact, but it’s what I have heard, and it may or may not be true—I hope it isn’t true.

So how did I get my X-T5? I called around to local camera stores, and I found one in stock. Luckily, Foto Forum in Phoenix had a body-only copy, plus one bundled with the 18-55mm f/2.8-f/4 kit zoom. I purchased the one with the lens. If you are still waiting for yours to ship, maybe call around to local camera stores to see if they still have an X-T5 in stock, and if so purchase from them instead.

That’s my story. What about you? Did you buy a Fujifilm X-T5? Did it arrive or are you still waiting?

People have already begun asking me for my impressions on this camera. I think a number of you are waiting to learn a little more about it before spending so much money. It’s way too soon to provide you with anything valuable. I’ll tell you my way-too-soon initial impressions, but please take them with a large grain of salt. I’ve only barely begun to use the camera and really haven’t had a chance to properly test it. I’ll give a full review later.

First, let’s talk about megapixels. Do you need 40? If you crop deeply, print posters, or just love to pixel-peep, then maybe. But if you don’t crop deeply, don’t print posters, or don’t pixel-peep, then you definitely don’t need 40mp—it’s way overkill. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to negatively affect the speed of the camera or even the file transfer speed when using the Fujifilm Cam Remote app. Unfortunately, it does take up more space on the SD Card, phone/computer, and storage, and uploads to my cloud storage are noticeably slower. There’s pluses and minuses to 40mp; I don’t anticipate the pluses coming in handy for me very often. For some of you, though, it is an important upgrade.

I haven’t put the autofocus improvements to the test whatsoever, but through three days of shooting, I haven’t noticed it being any more snappy than my X-E4. The only thing I noticed is that face detection locked onto a face that was far away, which I wouldn’t expect to happen on my X-E4. Since I wasn’t trying to photograph the person, it actually wasn’t a positive thing, but I can see this being an improvement. I haven’t even attempted continuous tracking or anything like that yet, so I can’t speak of it.

I was really excited for HEIF, but discovered that it disables Clarity. That’s disappointing. No HEIF for me, since I use Clarity a lot. Speaking of Clarity, I was also very disappointed that it isn’t any faster on the X-T5, and the Storing pause is identical to X-Trans IV. Fujifilm should have spent some time speeding this up, in my opinion. Oh, and somehow I keep bumping the drive switch, and accidentally switching to CL or HDR, both of which disable Clarity—I’ll have to figure out how to not bump that switch.

While the X-T5 is smaller than the X-T4, and just a little bigger than the X-T1 and X-T30, it is definitely heavy. Seems like a similar weight to the X-T4—not sure if it is or isn’t, but it’s hefty. I personally prefer the weight of the X-T1 or X-T30, but if you use large lenses a lot, you might appreciate the solid base of the X-T5.

The reason that I purchased the Fujifilm X-T5 is because this camera has the new Nostalgic Neg. film simulation. What do I think of it so far? If Eterna and Classic Chrome had a baby, it would be Nostalgic Negative. It has some similarities to both of those film simulations, with soft gradations in the shadows similar to Eterna and with some Eterna-like colors (particularly the warm colors), and with contrast, saturation, and an overall palette more similar to Classic Chrome. I’m not a huge fan of default straight-out-of-the-box Nostalgic Neg.—I was actually initially disappointed—but with some adjustments it can become magical. I love it! Nostalgic Neg. is another analog-esque film sim from Fujifilm that’s sure to become a classic. Expect some recipes soon!

I don’t have any other observations yet. I hope to do some more serious experimentations soon, and when I do I’ll share those impressions with you. In the meantime, here are some straight-out-of-camera Nostalgic Neg. pictures that I captured with my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Two Ducks* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Going Out of Business* – Prescott, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Short Train* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

Fujifilm X-T1 Short-Term Project, Update 3

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Desert Sunset* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Ektachrome 100SW” – Day 14

Part 1 Part 2

This is the third and final installment of this series. As a reminder, I photographed only with my Fujifilm X-T1 from the announcement day of the Fujifilm X-T5 (November 2) until the release date (November 17). Why? First, even though the Fujifilm X-T1 is eight-years-old (and approaching nine), it is still such a great little camera. It took three years for Fujifilm to bring this model to the market because they wanted to get it right, and it was one of their most important cameras ever released. The Fujifilm X-T1 was one of the first, if not the first, Fujifilm cameras that widely appealed to professional photographers. It was Fujifilm’s most successful model at the time—outselling all the previous cameras—and launched the extremely successful X-T line. The X-T5 is the latest iteration. This project was intended to give me a better understanding of how the X-T5 has evolved from the original model. It also allowed me to demonstrate that previous models, including the original X-T1, are still really good.

I wanted to try some things with the X-T1 that I wasn’t able to do in the first 10 days, including wildlife and low-light. I had been sick, which made this a much more difficult project than I had anticipated, so I tried to make the most of the last five days. In the end I didn’t do everything that I wanted, but I was able to do a lot, and I’m happy with how it all came together.

I was really impressed with the Fujifilm X-T1—even in 2022, it is an excellent body that’s quite capable of capturing beautiful photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with it, more than I thought I would. The only shortcoming that I encountered was in dim light, the autofocus tended to hunt. This didn’t prevent me from getting the pictures, but it did make me work a little harder to do it. Otherwise, the camera performed exceptionally well in a whole host of situations. If you have one, it’s definitely a keeper. If you are in the market for a used Fujifilm model, this is one that I have no problems recommending. Is the X-T5 better? Sure. Is the X-T4 better? Yeah. Is the X-T3 better? Affirmative. Is the X-T2 better? I’m certain that it is. But, the X-T1 is still really good, and the newer iterations aren’t miles ahead—each new model is marginally better than the previous, which means that the latest is only four small steps ahead; ahead indeed, but the ol’ X-T1 holds its own surprisingly well.

I hope that you enjoyed this short-term project as much as I did!

Day 11

*Curling Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome“

*Leaf Abstract* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Color Negative Film“

*Monochromatic Leaf* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome“

*Hanging Leaves* – Buckeye. AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

Day 12

*Ka-Chow* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*American 4×4* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Bougainvillea Bunch* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Bougainvillea Palm* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Work Ahead* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Fallen Flags* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Fallen Signs* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*It Better Not Flood* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Big Yellow Cat* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*168* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Golden Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Bird Home* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

Day 13

*Evening Light Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Desert Peak* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Bougainvillea Over Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Twin Bulbs Hanging* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Pigeon Tiles* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Bird in a Tree* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Portra 160”

*Little Birdie* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Portra 160”

*Curious Birdie Hiding* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Portra 160”

*Vulture* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Portra 160”

Day 14

*Sunset Over a Desert Ridge* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Ektachrome 100SW”

*Last Light on Desert Mountain* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a… B2* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Evening Light on a Desert Hill* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Deflating Rainbow* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Deflating Balloon* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Perched at the Top* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – Buckeye, AZ – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Waiting to Hum* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – Classic Kodak Chrome”

Day 15

*Carts* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome”

*Red, White, Blue* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*CVS* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Lightning Rod Bird* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*November Palm* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Waiting is the Hardest Part* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Portra 160”

*Urban Bloom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Portra 160”

Blossoms in the City – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

Day 16

*Bolsey* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*X100V* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Piano Hands 1* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome”

*Piano Hands 2* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome”

*Singing* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome”

Which Film Simulation Recipes, When? — Part III (X-Trans III)

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Urban Palm Leaves* – Sun City West, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Everyday Astia”

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 4 – Part 5

When should you use which Film Simulation Recipes on your Fujifilm X-Trans III camera? With so many recipes to choose from, it can be difficult to know what recipe you should select in a given situation, and this article is intended to help you with that. If you haven’t read Part 1, it’s important to do so because it explains what exactly we’re doing—the backstory—which is important to understand. There’s a video to watch in that article, too. Take a moment right now to hop on over to Part 1 (click here) before continuing on with this post, if you haven’t viewed it already. Also, check out Part 2 (click here) if you missed that.

Like Part 2, I set out to recommend seven recipes, one for each C1-C7 Custom Preset, that don’t share the same white balance type, because X-Trans III cameras—X-Pro2, X100F, X-E3, X-T2, X-T20 & X-H1—cannot remember a White Balance Shift within the C1-C7 Custom Presets. If two recipes share the same white balance type but not the same shift, then when you switch presets you must remember to adjust the shift, too. That can be inconvenient and frustrating, so my best solution is to program recipes that use different white balance types and/or share the same white balance type and shift. The user experience is much improved, but you might not be able to program all of your favorite recipe at the same time, which is the one downside to doing this. It was a difficult task, but I think I came up with a good set for you.

If you have a Fujifilm X-T3 or X-T30, you can use these recipes, too, by simply setting Color Chrome Effect to Off. Also, if you have a newer X-Trans IV camera (or X-Trans V), you can use these recipes by additionally setting Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, Clarity to 0, and choosing a Grain size (either Small or Large).

C1 — Improved Velvia — Golden Hour

*Lava Pond* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Improved Velvia”

For sunrise or sunset photography, this “Improved Velvia” Film Simulation Recipe is one of your best bets! It’s great anytime of the day or night when you need vibrant colors, so it has a lot of versatility, but it is especially nice during “golden hour” when the sun is low to the horizon. This recipe uses the Auto white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I’d probably still choose this recipe.

Alternatives for “golden hour” photography:

Velvia
Kodak Ektachrome 100SW
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Ektar 100

C2 — Kodak Gold 200 — Midday

*Pear Blossom Day* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Kodak Gold 200”

“Midday” is simply daylight conditions outside of when the sun is low to the horizon, and for this category I’m recommending Kodak Gold 200. Even though this is a recipe for the X-T3/X-T30, it is fully compatible with X-Trans III cameras. It’s great for sunny conditions—midday or otherwise—and is good for landscapes and portraits. If you have this programmed into your camera, you’re going to use it a lot, perhaps more than any of the others. It uses the Daylight white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I’d still choose this one, although each in the alternatives list are excellent options, too.

Alternatives for “midday” photography:

Kodachrome II
Dramatic Classic Chrome
Everyday Astia
Kodak Ultramax

C3 — Ektachrome E100GX — Overcast

*Pink Rose Blossom* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Ektachrome E100GX”

If it’s a rainy, overcast day, the Ektachrome E100GX is an excellent Film Simulation Recipe to try. It’s also great for many daylight situations, so it offers good versatility. This recipe uses the Fluorescent 2 white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type I would choose Fujicolor Superia 800 instead, but this is a close second-best, and I feel good about recommending it anyway.

Alternatives for “overcast” photography:

Fujicolor Superia 800
Fujicolor Pro 160NS
PRO Neg. Hi
Kodak GT 800-5

C4 — Color Negative — Indoor

*Cameras and Coffee* – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Color Negative”

For natural light indoor photography, I recommend the Color Negative Film Simulation Recipe, which is another one that’s intended for the X-T3/X-T30, but is fully compatible with X-Trans III cameras. It uses the Fluorescent 1 white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type I would choose Agfa Optima 200 instead, but this is still a solid option.

Alternatives for “indoor” photography:

Agfa Optima 200
Fujicolor Pro 400H
“Eterna”
Eterna

C5 — Fujicolor NPL 160 Tungsten — Nighttime

*Dusk Lamps* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Fujicolor NPL 160 Tungsten”

For nighttime or indoor artificial light situations, try the Fujicolor NPL 160 Tungsten Film Simulation Recipe. It does especially well for “blue hour” photography at dusk or dawn, when the sun is below the horizon. This recipe uses the Fluorescent 3 white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I would choose CineStill 800T instead, but this is a good second-best.

Alternatives for “nighttime” photography:

CineStill 800T
Classic Chrome
Melancholy Blue
Cine Teal

C6 — Xpro — Alternative Process

*Suburban Abstract* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Xpro”

There aren’t very many options for this category, but the Xpro recipe is an excellent recipe, producing a cross-process aesthetic. It uses the Kelvin white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I would probably choose the Cross Process recipe instead, but this is quite similar, so you can’t go wrong either way.

Alternatives for “alternative process” photography:

Cross Process
Vintage Kodachrome
Vintage Kodacolor
Vintage Agfacolor

C7 — Analog Monochrome — B&W

*Doll* – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Analog Monochrome”

Last but certainly not least is black-and-white, and for that I recommend the Analog Monochrome Film Simulation Recipe. This recipe is really good for most situations. It uses the Incandescent white balance type; if I wasn’t concerned about white balance type, I would be happy with this recipe or any in the alternatives list below, which are all good.

Alternatives for “B&W” photography:

Acros
Agfa Scala
Ilford HP5 Plus
Kodak Tri-X Push Process

Part 4

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I Paid $1,700 for a Film Simulation?!?

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

I mentioned before that the main reason I’m buying the new Fujifilm X-T5 is for the Nostalgic Negative film simulation. That’s crazy, right? $1,700 is way too much money to spend on a new film simulation, isn’t it? Am I crazy or just plain stupid?

The Nostalgic Negative film simulation hasn’t received the fanfare of Classic Chrome or especially Classic Negative. Not even as much as Acros or Eterna. Maybe about as much as Eterna Bleach Bypass. Maybe. I think it’s because of poor marketing strategies by Fujifilm.

Nostalgic Negative was introduced by Fujifilm about a year-and-a-half ago on the GFX100S. I know that some people use film simulations and shoot straight-out-of-camera on GFX, but it is a much smaller percentage, I think, than the X system. I don’t know the numbers, but (just throwing something out there) if 20% of Fujifilm X owners use Film Simulation Recipes, the number of GFX owners is maybe 5%. So Nostalgic Negative is something that, for the most part, GFX owners don’t even care about. Besides, I’m pretty sure that GFX models sell a lot fewer copies than X series cameras, so the number of people actually using this film simulation on a GFX100S is pretty small. The next camera to get Nostalgic Negative was the GFX 50S II—kind of the same story. The first X camera to get Nostalgic Negative was the X-H2S, followed very quickly by the X-H2. Interestingly, this film simulation isn’t found anywhere in the promotional material for those two cameras. Yes, they have Nostalgic Negative, but it’s clear that Fujifilm didn’t think it would be a selling point for those two models. That makes sense, since these two “flagship” cameras aren’t intended for or marketed to long-time Fujifilm photographers, but for those with other camera systems (Canikony) looking to make a change. I suspect that many of those buying the X-H2S and X-H2 are generally less aware of, and less open to using, film simulations and recipes and such.

That brings us to the Fujifilm X-T5, the first X series camera where Fujifilm is actually promoting the Nostalgic Negative film simulation… barely. It’s mentioned in the promotional material, but without much fanfare, and not stated as a new feature, or with a good explanation of what it’s intended to resemble and what makes it special.

According to Fujifilm, the Nostalgic Negative film simulation is based on “American New Color” photography of the 1970’s. They studied photographs by William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, Joel Sternfeld and Richard Misrach in order to create it. Eggleston and Sternfeld largely shot on Kodachrome—II and X in the early 1970’s, 25 and 64 in the late ’70’s—while Shore shot mostly Kodacolor, and Misrach shot a lot of Vericolor. All of those are Kodak emulsions, but with different aesthetics. These four photographers had different styles and different darkroom processes, and they each had a unique look; the commonality that Fujifilm found was an “overall atmosphere based on amber.” That’s a basic explanation of what Nostalgic Negative is. While not mentioned by Fujifilm, I think this film simulation might be closer to aesthetic of Saul Leiter than the ones Fujifilm stated they studied. Saul Leiter used a whole bunch of different films over the years, including Kodachrome and Anscochrome, but apparently he didn’t mind using generic drug store brands, either. Nostalgic Negative is a divergent approach for Fujifilm, I think, in that it isn’t intended to mimic a certain emulsion (or the “memory color” of a specific film stock), but instead tries to mimic the “memory color” of a certain decade (the 1970’s), or perhaps elicit a nostalgic emotional response.

The Fujifilm X-T5 is the cheapest camera with Nostalgic Negative. It’s the 5th camera to get it, and at $1,700, it’s somehow the cheapest! I don’t think this film simulation will really “catch on” until it’s available on a more affordable body. And this is where I think Fujifilm goofed. If they had introduced Nostalgic Negative on the X-T5, and followed it up with an X-T40, X-S20, X100VI (or whatever it will be called), X-Pro4, and X-E5 in the coming couple of years, it would be a selling point. People would be super-excited about it right now. But because Fujifilm first put it on four models that are expensive and where the users aren’t as eager about film simulations, it lost a lot of its luster. Nobody’s really talking about Nostalgic Negative anymore. While I don’t think I’ll appreciate this film simulation as much as Classic Negative, Classic Chrome, Eterna, or Acros, I do believe it has the potential for some very interesting recipes. I look forward to trying it. Heck, I’m spending $1,700 just for Nostalgic Negative—that’s crazy! Or dumb. It could go either way.

What about you? Are you excited for Nostalgic Negative? How much would you spend for it? If Fujifilm offered it as a paid firmware update for your X-Trans IV camera, would you buy it? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Preorder your Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H
Preorder your Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H

Interestingly, as a side note, if you look closely at the promotional statement by Fujifilm about film simulations on the X-T5, you’ll see this statement: “Reproduce the classic colors and tones that Fujifilm are known for, or add an artistic flair and start to Build Your Legacy.” First, I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it should be “is” and not “are”—after all, Fujifilm is known for reproducing classic colors and tones; for “are” to be correct, you’d need a conjunction, such as, “Reproduce the classic colors and tones that Fujifilm and Fuji X Weekly are known for….” Maybe they initially penciled that “and Fuji X Weekly” part in there, and erased it at the last minute, forgetting to change the “are” to “is” by accident. Second, Build Your Legacy seems to be Fujifilm’s new catchphrase for Film Simulation Recipes. It’s been a Fujifilm trademark for a few years, but I hadn’t seen it used in conjunction with film simulations. I wonder if Fujifilm has something up their sleeves that they’ll announce later. Perhaps it is even related to their upcoming app? I’m not sure, but it is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Fujifilm X-T1 Short-Term Project, Update 2

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Blossomed Pink Rose* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome” – Day 9

Part 1 Part 3

I had big plans for this project for these days, but life had other plans. Specifically, Covid. I know what you’re thinking: didn’t you just have the flu a few weeks ago? Yes, I did. Now I have Covid. Well, I’m almost recovered now, but I was very sick during the days that I captured these pictures, and I was limited to what I could capture in and around the house. Most of these photographs were taken in the backyard.

If you’re not sure what this short-term project is, the concept is simple: I’m photographing only with my Fujifilm X-T1 from the announcement day of the Fujifilm X-T5 (November 2) until the release date (November 17). Why? First, even though the Fujifilm X-T1 is eight-years-old (and approaching nine), it is still such a great little camera. It took three years for Fujifilm to bring this model to the market because they wanted to get it right, and it was one of their most important cameras ever released. The Fujifilm X-T1 was one of the first, if not the first, Fujifilm cameras that widely appealed to professional photographers. It was Fujifilm’s most successful model at the time—outselling all the previous cameras—and launched the extremely successful X-T line. The X-T5 is the latest iteration. This project will give me a better understanding of how the X-T5 has evolved from the original model. It also allows me to demonstrate that previous models, including the original X-T1, are still really good.

Hopefully, now that I’m not nearly so sick and my quarantine period has ended, I can do some of the photography that I was intending to do. I want to really see what the X-T1 is capable of, and with some luck I’ll be able to do that before this project comes to a close in the coming days. Once my X-T5 arrives in the mail, the X-T1 will be going back on the shelf, at least for a little while. I don’t expect the new camera to be wildly better than the first iteration, but soon enough I’ll know for sure just how much improved it is. And, of course, I’ll write all about it, so stay tuned!

Day 6

*Bright Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Fujichrome Slide“

*Trumpet Now & Trumpet Later* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Chrome”

*Triple Letter* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome“

Day 7

*Flower Among Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome“

*Spiderweb Rose* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Rosebud* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

Day 8

*Wet Tree Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Wet Blossom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Water & Thorns* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Wet Rose* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Sadness* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome”

Day 9

*Bougainvillea Sage* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Color Negative“

*Rays on Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Color Negative”

*Light Bulb Beams* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Color Negative”

*Garden Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Monochrome”

Day 10

*Autumn Sky Blue* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*The Colors of Fall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*The Beauty of Once Was* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Sage Bloom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Warm Light Above a Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Chalk* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Macro Rose* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Classic Kodak Chrome”

*Bougainvillea Red* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Kodak Color Negative”

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Recipes For Rain

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Raindrops on a Branch* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – “Elite Chrome 200“

In my series, Which Film Simulation Recipes, When?, I’m trying to help out those who are unsure what Film Simulation Recipe to use in a given situation (after all, there are more than 250 to choose from). One of those situation is when you’re shooting in overcast conditions on a dreary day. I provide a recipe suggestion, plus five alternatives, to try. This topic was also discussed briefly in the last SOOC broadcast. The problem is that it’s all subjective; what I think might work well on a rainy day, you might disagree with. The aesthetic that I like you might not. Everyone has their own opinions.

What makes a Film Simulation Recipe work well on an overcast day? First, I think it needs to accentuate the mood. To me, that’s most important, although feelings are abstract and variable, so the task of saying “this recipe has the right mood” is difficult. Whether it should be punchy or muted, warm or cool, depends on the mood you want to convey. The recipe also needs to be able to handle the grey sky and not blow it out, while also dealing with low-contrast situations that you’re likely to encounter. It also has to look good at higher ISOs, because if it’s thick overcast, you’re likely dealing with higher ISOs (thankfully, most recipes do well at higher ISOs because of the X-Trans sensor and processing).

Fujifilm X-Photographer Nathalie Boucry published an excellent article today tackling this topic that I want to direct you to (click here—I promise that it is worth your time to do so). Obviously she doesn’t look at every recipe or even most recipes, but she does a comparison of a handful of them, and you can decide for yourself which one (or ones), if any, stand out to you as something to try. Since it is subjective, what she likes—or what I like—might be much different than what you like, and that’s perfectly ok—it’s about finding what works for you. Nathalie and I are both trying to take you on a path of discovery, so that you can find the recipes that work for you, and in the process you’re likely to find some that aren’t your style.

*Comparison courtesy of Nathalie Boucry.*

The best path to discovery involves action. You have to try a recipe in a given situation to figure out if it does well or not, and if you appreciate the results of it. You have to be willing to fail—by fail, I simply mean that you might find a recipe that you don’t like to use in a given situation while attempting to find one that you do like for that situation. In a way, it’s a little like playing the classic board game Clue. Was it Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick? Maybe. You have to suggest it to find out. Will the Elite Chrome 200 recipe work well for you on a rainy day? Maybe. I can suggest it, but you need to try it for yourself to find out. Nathalie’s article might be particularly helpful to you, because she did the hard work, and one of those recipes that she used might just stand out to you as one to try the next time you are photographing in the rain.

Now it’s your turn! What is your favorite Film Simulation Recipe to use on overcast, dreary, rainy days? Let me know in the comments!

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A Chance Encounter on a Rainy Day in May

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Chuck Drummond* – Pawhuska, OK – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400“

I just learned that Chuck Drummond passed away this last Friday at 79-years-old. I met him once, and he was very kind. My deepest sympathies go out to the Drummond family, who I’m sure are still mourning.

This last summer my family and I embarked on an epic roadtrip that took us through Oklahoma. Pawhuska was a little out of the way, but we made sure to detour through it so that we could visit The Mercantile, the restaurant/coffee shop/bakery/gift store owned by Ree Drummond, who is also known as The Pioneer Woman.

For those unfamiliar, Ree Drummond became famous for her cooking blog, where she shared recipes used to feed her family and the hungry ranchmen, which turned into books, television shows, product lines, and The Mercantile, among other things. She lives on a large ranch in rural Oklahoma. Pawhuska was barely on the map before Ree became famous—now it’s still barely on the map, although it certainly has seen a significant resurgence, and it can become quite busy with tourists. Yes, for The Pioneer Woman fans, Pawhuska is a destination.

I’ve written about Pawhuska before, and I don’t want to rehash that; instead, I want to share a serendipitous encounter while in the small town, which I’ll remember for some time to come.

We awoke to steel grey sky and light rain. After getting ourselves put together, my family and I strolled around the small town of Pawhuska, which was almost deserted—the weather seemed to scare people off, or at least keep them indoors. We explored the streets, and I captured photographs with my Fujifilm X100V using the Kodak Tri-X 400 Film Simulation Recipe—black and white seemed especially appropriate for the weather. Eventually we made our way inside The Mercantile for breakfast, something that everyone should experience at least once in their lives—to say that it’s good is as big of an understatement as saying the Grand Canyon is big; both are true, but neither truly describe it.

*Mercantile* – Pawhuska, OK – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

While waiting for our food, an old man wearing a cowboy hat walked in by himself. He appeared weathered and worn, but in good spirits, with a smile on his face. My wife stated in a whisper just loud enough for our children to hear, “Look, there’s a real cowboy.” A true ranchman. An iconic stature of the American west. He sat at a small table near ours.

My wife knew right away who he was. This was Chuck. Ladd’s dad. Ree’s father-in-law. When the waitress came by, my wife asked if it would be alright to say hi to him. “Oh, sure,” she answered with a wink, “he loves the attention.” So my wife stood up, walked to his table, and introduced herself.

Chuck grinned, and he, too, stood up. He shook my wife’s hand, then he shook mine. He noticed my little girl’s cowboy boots, and made a comment to her about how nice they were and that he liked them. The waitress asked if she could take our picture, so with my wife’s phone she snapped one with Chuck, myself and my wife standing together. It was all very quick. Then we sat back down. Our food came, and we ate. His food came, and he ate alone, although other people also recognized him and he would pause to shake their hands and maybe take a picture. Chuck was a celebrity of sorts.

Our encounter was brief, but memorable. His kindness was obvious. His cheerfulness contagious. We met a genuine cowboy in rural Oklahoma. Just now I showed my daughter the picture I captured of Chuck Drummond (at the top of this article), and asked if she remembered him. “Oh, yeah,” she stated without hesitation, “that man said he liked my boots.” We’ll forever remember this chance encounter on a rainy day in May.

I’d yet to share any of these pictures, which were all captured on that drizzly morning in Pawhuska. I hope that you enjoy them!