Snowfield South of Mt Conness, Oct 8 2023 + the RIGHT LENS MATTERS
Related: Eastern Sierra, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR, Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7 WR, Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm Lenses, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, medium format, Mt Conness area, panorama, peak bagging
The winter of 2022/2023 left too much snow to be melted starting around the 11600' level. At least where it had drifted deeply as here—this is a massive snow field, as the trail it buries shows for size perspective.
Less impressive is the lens performance—the Fujifilm GF 35-70/4.5-5.6 is a solid lens, but the Fujifilm GF 55/1.7 delivers such obviously superior quality. Here, the image shows obviously disappointing outer-zone performance; see the summit and far left. Not to mention a degrading veiling flare that reduced the overall brilliance of the frame at left, forcing a shadow boost on the right to even-out the issue. Flare is one area where Fujifilm lenses really disappoint me.
When you shoot a lens for a month and it never fails to impress... that’s a lens to own. Indeed, I’d much rather own the 55/1.7 than upgrade to the Fujifilm GFX100 II, much as I like the EVF and all over the GFX100S. Because a lens that delivers the goods trumps anything else. And that has been my #1 gripe with the GFX system all these years for many of the lenses, primes and zooms.
Fujifilm GFX100 II + Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR @ 28.8mm equiv (35mm)
ENV: south of Mt Conness, altitude 11900 ft / 3627 m, 50°F / 10°C
RAW: Camera PROVIA, Enhance Details, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, WB 5000°K tint 18, push 1 stops, +20 Whites, +30 Dehaze, +10 Clarity, AI Denoise 10, diffraction mitigating sharpening
[low-res image for bot]
Fujifilm GFX100 II + Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR @ 28.8mm equiv (35mm)
ENV: south of Mt Conness, altitude 11900 ft / 3627 m, 50°F / 10°C
RAW: Camera PROVIA, Enhance Details, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, WB 5000°K tint 18, push 1 stops, +20 Whites, +30 Dehaze, +10 Clarity, AI Denoise 10, diffraction mitigating sharpening
[low-res image for bot]
