craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

I'm 69 yrs old and in Robin Hood Country (Nottingham UK). Became interested in photography only a dozen or so years ago (through my brother). I used Nikon D80 / D300 /D700 and good short prime lenses until I came upon Fuji X-Series cameras (APS-C Sensor), and have used X-E1 (slow autofocus but lovely image quality) and now X-T1 (same image quality but wonderful viewfinder and ease of use) and X-Pro2 ( same image quality, better sensor and much improved focus speed). I have Fuji XF 23mm f1.4, 35mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.2 lenses. Yesterday I was in Nottingham Castle and came across a display of a dozen or so birds of prey, all tethered. Took out my X-T1 (now there's a new and improved X-T2) with the 56mm lens, the longest I have.

There aren't many Fuji X-Series users in this forum, so I just wanted to "test the water", see what you all think. These pics are heavily cropped. Was using a full frame equivalent lens of 85mm. Processed lightly in Lightroom 5.7 as the originals were shot in Raw.

Interested in your comments .......

(Download)

IsoBob Loc: Hamilton, NJ

In my opinion you have the best equipment available !
XT-2 user.
Bob

10MPlayer Loc: California

Nice sharp images. They couldn't be much clearer. Must be a great camera, and a pretty good camera operator.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I can't comment on the camera because I know nothing about it. But, since this is the critique section, I'll comment on the photo. I really like the owl. It's straight-forward. I like the one ear up, one back look. I don't understand the apparent tether. Is it on the owl or on his perch? And the blue thing at the left is definitely a distraction. It cannot be cropped out, as it's too close to the owl. Could it be cloned? I don't know. I'm not too good at these things.

I'm not sure how you slipped in two images under the radar, but I really like the second image. It has lovely separation and the background is beautifully creamy.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Just caught that. Hopefully the OP will repost the second one for critique.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

It's certainly "good enough" for me, Bob !

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Ha, ha, dear lady ....... we're very cunning, us Brits, especially when we don't know the "rules". But, point taken, and group admin has already swooped !

'Fraid I couldn't do much about the owl's "one ear up, one back" attitude - heck I do wish these birds would listen when I tell 'em how to pose !

I did mention in my post that this was a display of birds of prey "all tethered". The two keepers would "untether" them in order to allow the onlookers to hold them on an outstretched and gloved arm.

I never even thought about that "blue things" (plastic box) behind, and I wouldn't know how to clone it in any case ...... so that's less than a perfect 10 for this pic, then, I guess !

Many thanks for taking the trouble to comment.

Oh, and Fuji X-Series are well worth "getting to know". I've switched entirely from Nikon. But that's another story ! Kind regards from the UK.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Thanks for your gracious comment, old chap. Great camera and lenses, you're right there ! Camera operator, whilst improving with experience, is still in "learning mode" !

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Whoops ...... my story is "didn't know the rules" and I'm stickin' to it !

That second shot was just an eagle's head. Not the best to critique, I feel, as an afterthought.

I'll see what else I can find to demo Fuji image quality that you can all get your teeth into !

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Sounds good. :)

IsoBob Loc: Hamilton, NJ

N