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The FujiFilm X100F – Not A Review

April 10, 2017

I’ve recently upgraded to the FujiFilm X100F and if you’ve been following this blog closely, you’d know by now that my first camera was the Sony a6000. Having thoroughly enjoyed it for over two years, I started to feel like I was stuck in a photography rut, so I decided it was time to move on. If you’re looking for a technical review, unfortunately, this isn’t going to cut it for you as I’m only going to talk about what worked and what didn’t for me. When Fuji announced the X-T20 and X100F, I was initially inclined to get my hands on the X-T20 but then the idea of one camera with one lens began to appeal to me as not having to think about what lens to use can be quite liberating.

After spending a month with the camera, here’s my take on it

Likes

Exposure compensation dial – Being a first time Fuji user I cannot tell you how much I appreciate a dedicated dial to tweak exposure and the placement of this is spot on. Furthermore, the dial has a C mode, which lets you adjust from -5/+5 by turning the front function dial, nice touch.
The Joystick – To be able to select the focus point accurately without taking my eye away from the EVF/OVF helps me navigate with ease from one area to another depending on the scene.
Viewfinder – Having the option to switch between OVF and EVF clearly gives the best of both worlds however the hybrid mode shows an optical view with an EVF at the lower-right corner, allowing you to digitally determine the exposure and focus. Pure genius!
Film Simulation modes – This has been an extremely popular option in Fujifilm cameras and with the addition of ACROS film simulation for beautiful monochrome images, it now feels like a complete package. The resulting images from Classic Chrome and Acros are jaw-dropping, to say the least.
Customisation – The ability to personalise your camera to your own taste is such a boon and Fuji hits the ball out of the park here, sure you need to spend some time doing this but once you’ve programmed the various function buttons to suit your needs you’re set for good.
Image Quality – Nothing to add, I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Dislikes

Placement of the Q button – I didn’t think much of it initially but I’ve had my share of hiccups with this when I’ve accidentally hit this button and missed some shots.
Battery – Everyone’s been talking about the bigger battery, personally I think it’s just average. It could be due to the fact that I have the high-performance setting turned on but I seriously feel the need for a backup
Weather Sealing – This was probably one of the biggest disappointments for me. To be able to wear the crown for the best “documentary style” camera, this is a must-have feature and not having weather sealing will leave a big void, but then again maybe you should be casting your eyes on the X-T2 or X-Pro2.

All images are shot as jpegs, which I’ve tweaked in Lightroom. I’ve tried to include a variety of images to give you an idea of what the camera is capable of.

PS: Head over to this post to check out the images I shot with the X100F in Dubrovnik, Croatia

(Desaturated Effect, f/13, 1/25, ISO 1600)

Desaturated Effect (f/2.8, 1/125th, ISO 800)

Desaturated Effect (f/2.8, 1/280th, ISO 400)

Desaturated Effect (f/2.8, 1/250th, ISO 1000)

Classic Chrome (f/10, 1/125th, ISO 1250)

Velvia (f/2.8, 1/125th, ISO 500)

Provia (f/8, 1/160th, ISO 400)

Classic Chrome (f/11, 1/17th, ISO 6400)

Classic Chrome (f/8.0, 1/125th, ISO 3200)

Velvia (f/2.5, 1/150th, ISO 400)

Velvia cropped to a 1:1 aspect ratio (f/2.8, 1/210th, ISO 400)

Velvia cropped to a 1:1 aspect ratio (f/2.8, 1/125th, ISO 640)

Provia (f/16, 1/15th, ISO 1600)

Acros (f/13, 1/20th, ISO 1600)

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Life Lately

Welcome Home

February 19, 2017

This post is dedicated to R for having immense faith in me; for believing in my writing capabilities and for letting me turn our home into an urban jungle. Happy Birthday, my dear husband!

There’s something so satisfying about setting up your own home. It’s like carefully piecing together a puzzle, and watching it unravel in front of your eyes. When we moved into our previous apartment, it was already furnished and needed very little sprucing. While I loved the place, I felt it lacked a personal touch – we hadn’t meticulously handpicked the furniture or spent an inordinate amount of time trawling the internet to find the perfect mirror for my dresser. No, we did none of that. We just added a few photo frames, plants and other knick knacks for a home-away-from-home touch. While that was good enough, I wasn’t entirely happy. I wanted to create a welcoming cocoon that was a reflection of our personalities. I longed for a place where I could feel at home without being constantly reminded that it was a rented property.

Around December last year, my wish came true in the form a moderately spacious and well-lit apartment that is at a walking distance to the train station. Hallelujah! Since the house was partly furnished, it gave us a chance to set it up the way we wanted to. We had a huge laundry list of things we wanted for the house and our first purchase was a beautiful wooden bookshelf (Good spot, R) to complement the black and red colour palette of our open kitchen. Then came the chest of drawers, floor lamps, rugs and plants…my beloved plants that add so much colour and life to our apartment. It’s taken us over two months to decorate the whole place and the puzzle now looks complete.

It makes me immensely happy to see how a seemingly small space has transformed into a warm and inviting cocoon that breathes life into our everyday activities.

Welcome home, guys!

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Life Lately Travel

Gloriously Romantic Venice

April 3, 2016

City of romance: words that describe Venice perfectly. Sun glints off the canals, while the smell of fresh fish wafts through the lanes. Ancient buildings, docked gondolas and the breathtaking landscape will command your attention everywhere. Venice’s beauty lies in its intricate canal system, they bring a great sense of serenity to the surroundings.

After a hour long boat ride, we checked into L’Orologio hotel, a few minutes from the Rialto bridge. Our agenda for the evening was to explore the city and taste some Venetian cuisine.

Post a somewhat disastrous meal, we headed towards Piazza San Marco, a magnificent square that truly enchants. This usually buzzing space was completely empty, saving a few people taking selfies.

At dawn, we set out to explore the majestic Saint Mark’s Basilica. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in the world. We were especially awed by the ornate architecture and the gemstone studded altar inside the basilica.

No trip to Venice is complete without a gondola ride. It is possibly the best way to see the city. You can explore various Byzantine and Baroque landmarks at your own pace. Also, never give your camera to your gondolier, he will probably run away with it. He did with ours but we were faster than him. Ha!

Since we visited Venice during the off-season, we paid only €60 for the gondola ride. Don’t be shy to negotiate with them, as they quote anywhere between 90 and 150 euros.

As the city bathed in splashes of gold, we walked around exploring popular sights like Doge’s Palace, an imposing gothic structure converted into a museum; Gallerie dell’Accademia – a museum showcasing pre-19th-century art, bridge of sighs and San Giorgio Maggiore, a basilica with a gleaming white façade.

Next day, we jetted off to Venice’s neighbouring island, Murano. This unassuming island is the perfect place to experience classic, old-world Venice. You can go on a tour of the glass-making industry or sit down to relish Venetian fare at a trattoria.

Venice Two Day Itinerary

Day 1:

Places to see: Campanile di San Marco, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Peggy Guggenheim Museum.

Day 2

Places to see: Grand Canal Gondola Ride, Murano (where you can visit the glass museum and workshops) or Burano (known for lace making and colorful houses) and if you still have time head to Punta della Dogana and you won’t regret it.

Travel Tips:

1) Take the Alilaguna from the airport to your hotel. There are many private boat operators best to avoid them as they’re way too expensive. You can buy tickets for this at the airport’s information desk.

2) Once you’re in the heart of Venice the best way to get around is the Vaporetto which is the Venetian water bus.

3) It’s advisable to stay close to the Rialto bridge as all the touristy attractions are at a walking distance.

4) If you are looking for offline navigation then Here maps is a handy app to have. Download links for Android and iOS.

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Life Lately Travel

Scotland Road Trip

August 10, 2015

Edinburgh

We planned our Scotland road trip in summer so we could enjoy the austere beauty of Scotland in all its glory without bundling up in heavy woollens and hiding indoors. Our friends Ravi and Shweta joined us all the way from the States to make this trip happen. After landing in Edinburgh, we set out to explore the fabled town that’s steeped in history. Instead of being enveloped by the warmth of sun, we were welcomed with a gush of chilly wind. Not what we were expecting!

Wearing a fit and flare dress on a windy day is definitely not advisable. I walked all the way up to the castle holding my dress. The castle looks majestic against the Edinburgh skyline; no words can describe this vastness. We strolled through the castle marvelling at the richness of history – The Prisons of War Museum is particularly captivating. From the crown jewels to the military artillery, the museum is full of stories of yore. It was a fascinating start to our weeklong journey.

We trudged upon a quaint Italian restaurant called Zizzi for lunch where we indulged ourselves in a rather large meal. Post the satisfying meal, we headed to our hotel MotelOne for a siesta. Since it was the Champions League finals between Barcelona and Juventus, we went to watch the match at a local pub. The raucous crowd and the overflowing beer served as the perfect antidote to Barcelona’s win. The best way to experience the true culture of any place is to watch a football match with the locals in a pub – the experience is metamorphic. Before we bid adieu to Edinburgh, Ravi and Shweta wanted to listen to Scottish folk music so they headed to Captain’s Bar. R and I were too exhausted so we had dinner at a Nepalese Restaurant and headed back to our hotel.

Fort William

Next morning, the sun was out in full force. We kicked off our Scotland road trip by renting a Nissan Qashqai and drove towards Fort William. On the way we stopped at Stirling Castle – a historical castle surrounded by steep cliffs. The Great Kitchens and Stirling Heads Gallery are the only high point of this castle. After spending the better part of our day at the castle, we headed to Crown Hotel in Callander for lunch. Hungry and happy, we sat down to have the standard American fare. Except R being the fancy one had Salmon with Garden Vegetables

We drove towards the Three Sisters to bask in the magnificence of nature and also for a photo op. These forbidding mountains are considered to be the highest peaks in Argyll. Silhouetted against a saffron and azure sky, it was a breathtaking sight. Sigh! The beauty of countryside.

Ben Nevis

After a particularly unappetising breakfast, we decided to do the Gondola Ride at Nevis Range. The ride which offers a breathtaking view of Aonach Mor is a value-for-money experience. Since it was a last minute plan, I was dressed in the most inappropriate attire. I trekked all the way up to the vantage point in a tulip skirt and loafers. Fashionable choice? Yes. Sensible choice? Non. Post the trek; we headed to board the ferry to Isle of Skye. Handy Tip: Always book in advance, or you’ll have to wait for hours to board the next one. We were lucky that in spite of telling us they were full, they let us in because there were a few cancellations.

Isle of Skye

Our first stop on reaching Isle of Skye was Fairy Pools; by the time we got there it was cold and drizzling. We bundled up in all the clothes we had and hiked our way to the first pool. The vividly coloured pools are famed for having a bright turquoise-green hue to them. After spending an entire day amidst nature, we retired for the day in a cosy Bed & Breakfast called Grasmhor. Though the hosts weren’t very welcoming, it’s a lovely place to stay. Another Handy Tip: Stock up on food before you reach Portree because everything closes by six. We were tired and hungry and all the restaurants were closed. Thankfully we found a takeaway joint called Fat Panda that served us delicious semi-authentic Chinese food.

As the morning dawned bright, we drove towards the picturesque Old Man of Storr – a series of rocky pinnacles that look mighty and majestic. The unadulterated air and the hustling sound of the winds were like a balm to our souls. Next, we drove to Kilt Rock, a scenic beauty that’s a must-visit! The cliff formations are said to resemble the pattern on Scottish kilt, hence the name. The waterfalls, boats on the horizon and the mighty creations of nature are all a sight to behold. Magical! Before heading to Elgol, we stopped at a charming café in Staffin called Ellishadder Art Café – a quaint and rustic place with a very homemade vibe. After stuffing our faces with a little bit of everything on the menu, we set out on our next grand adventure. We rerouted to head to Elgol (when I say we, I mean Ravi – he drove while we snored.), which had vertiginously steep roads peppered with numerous blind turns.

After a backbreaking two-hour drive, we reached just in time to get onto the Misty Isle boat ride. The boat took us to Loch Coruisk, a secluded rocky island in the heart of the Cuillin Hills. We spent an hour exploring the island basking under the high altitude sun. On our way back, we made a short trip to the magnificent Eilean Donan castle, which sits right in between where the three lochs meet. Though the castle was closed, we admired its beauty from the outside.

Having eaten very little since morning, our stomachs were grumbling for some good food. We chose a Thai Restaurant in Inverness without looking it up on Tripadvisor (blasphemy), but we were proved that best things in life are those that are unplanned. Albeit a little expensive, the food was heavenly. Scrumptious Pad Thai, Chicken Red Thai Curry and Chicken & Cashew Stir Fry were gobbled up in seconds. No Thai meal is complete without Sticky Rice Pudding with Mango, so we rounded off our day with just that. We retired for the day at a castle-like place called Ballifeary – probably the only place in our entire trip where we had a good breakfast.

This was our last day in Scotland, with heavy hearts we vacated our rooms to head to Loch Ness. What a fail! We drove around in circles trying to find the viewpoint. We were running out of time, so we decided to skip it and head to Tomatin Distillery. The guided tour of the distillery is quite educative, they take you through every stage of the process. There’s a little tasting session after the tour where you get to taste different varieties and try to assess the flavour. Though we had to rush to the airport to board our plane it was one helluva trip which we will cherish forever.

PS: The next road trip is already being chalked out

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Life Lately

Renting a house in London

August 1, 2015

Renting a house in London is like trying to herd cats – it’s an experience filled with shock and awe. Even the smallest studio apartment costs an arm and a leg, so we wanted to take our time before renting a house.

After scouring all the real estate websites, we found out that there was a vacant flat in the apartment we lived. We went to look at it and were welcomed by a sketchy looking real estate agent. The one bedroom flat was really shabby – paint was peeling off, kitchen was extremely dirty and there were no lighting fixtures. The real estate agent promised us he’d get the house in shape if we were willing to make an offer, however, we told him to get the house sorted and we’d consider.

After a week, he called us to take a look at the house again. We were expecting to see the house fully done but all we saw was a patch of paint on the walls. He told us that work was underway and it’d be done in a week’s time. But the house looked like it needed more than a week’s worth of work. He kept pushing us to make an offer, in fact he even proposed to loan us the money needed to make the down payment.We became a little suspicious by his behaviour and asked him to provide us with more details. When we asked him who the owner was, he fumbled. We asked where his office was and he fumbled more. He gave us his business card but said his office had shifted; all this instantly raised our suspicion. He was shifty as hell and R sensed something was wrong, so we didn’t pursue it any further. We didn’t even hear from Mr. Shady. A couple of days later, R and I were talking about him, and I randomly googled his name.Guess what we found? This article.

He’s a fraudster! No wonder he was pushing us to make an offer. Sometimes you have to trust your gut feeling and I’m so glad we did. Post this eye-opening experience we became wary about the whole house hunting process. We saw tons of houses but they were either too small or too far.

But one fine evening we went to look at a property and it was love at first step for me. The house was spacious, beautifully furnished and had mirrored closets. What more can one ask for! Housesimple made the whole process seamless and transparent for us. In fact we even saved on the agency fees because they charge a very nominal fee unlike the high street estate agents. We moved into the house the following week and the rest, as they say, is history.

PS: Here’s an interesting read on doing things the right way before renting a house in London

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Life Lately

My Love Hate relationship with London

June 25, 2015

This post is a long time coming and I’ve finally found time to jot down my thoughts. If you’ve read our previous post, you’ll know about our struggle to get my visa. So this post is what followed and my love hate relationship with London.

It seems like a blur now when I think about what was going through my mind when I got onto the flight to London. It was such an emotional moment; my cousins, parents and in-laws came to see us off and it felt like I was leaving a safe haven to step into the unknown.

When I sat in the flight, I didn’t know what the future held, all I knew was I was starting over. I was excited that I was starting a family of my own with my loving husband, but the fear of being away from ‘home’ is an inexplicable feeling. Seeing my mum control her tears and my dad trying to hide his sadness is a memory that’ll linger always. I have a lump in my throat as I wrote this; it’s just too hard to say bye to your loved ones.

When I landed in London, I was still too numb to process what was happening. It took me a couple of days to digest the fact I was in a different country. Though London is not the most charming city, I love how there’s so much character to it. Everything is so picturesque and instagram-worthy. I love the buzz of rush hour and the maze-like tube system. Though I initially hated the quiet neighbourhoods, I’ve come to enjoy them because I can hear the gushing sound of winds, birds chirping and the swoosh of trees in HD clarity.

Most of London is still wonderfully lush and is not a concrete jungle like New York. One thing I still miss is the convenience of tuk-tuks, the transport system here is like a puzzle. You can’t get to a place without traversing through all of London’s transport system. Too tedious, but it’s great for people watching though. I finally get why people here always talk about the weather. Never have I used the weather app as much as I’ve used it after coming here. If you step out without checking the weather, you either run the risk of getting to work completely drenched or with your dress billowing in the wind and exposing a little too much. Ask me, I’ve experienced it. A handy tip is to always carry a pair of tights and umbrella to combat London’s moody weather.

Come rain or sunshine, Londoners definitely dress with flair. Though blacks and greys are the most preferred colours, they certainly do know how to dress chic. London is a potpourri of culture that has a lot to offer, but one thing that disappoints me is how difficult it has been to get my first big break. Hopefully that’ll change soon! Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

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