Ditching My Nikon Z8 for Fuji GX617 Medium Format

[@Austin-si]

The first image looked amazing. I really liked the colors in the sky. They were stunning.

[@wildbillgreen]

I picked up some Weller bourbon to mix in with eggnog for this episode also I pile my all favorite cameras on my lap and we all watch together while we get a tiny bit lit

[@petersuvara]

Camfam 🎉

[@NeonShores]

Not sure why you have an issue with the first image, i love it and it's beautiful! You should definitely reconsider it.

[@benruset]

Agreed. It was my favorite of the lot.

[@ernestthomas9406]

I think it was very creative

[@bozoc2572]

Indeed, the one with the tree is so generic and boring

[@benruset]

@@bozoc2572 I wouldn't go THAT far. It's probably my 2nd favorite. I've never shot Velvia so I don't know if Tom could have recovered the shadows from the first shot but if he couldn't then I can see why he had to give it a pass. I did like the composition and the mid-ground interest of the little island.

[@robgpoza6833]

Excellent wonderful shots in unmatched 6x17,

[@Dwarvenchef]

6x17, love the size, i only have a pinhole camera in that size 😊 The Fuji 617 is way far out of my range to acquire, living on VA disability budget keeps me in low end budget photography zone. Seeing you break that bad boy out is always a blessing to watch 😊

[@recklessthor4]

I would check your disabilities and try to raise your percentage. I'm at 90 but get paid at 100 due to individual unemployability

[@timrosenburgh8597]

Wow that's a beast of a camera. You did what a lot of UTube photographer's don't and that is show the bad image's and your mistakes which i find refreshing. I commend you on you honesty in your video's. I look forward to the next one.

[@sstarr1310]

Thanks Tom! I always get so pumped for going out and making photos after watching your videos.

[@seanimal3]

That black and white picture was dope !

[@philipweir8318]

Thanks Thomas for the walk down memory lane, I had a Mamiya 6.45 & RB 6x7 roll films, my RB allowed me to take 10 & my 6.45 could take 15 images, had my own darkroom (a walk in cupboard). Glad to see you were using film, well done.

[@DanielGoddard-h3q]

On the black and white image I love the people in it! I think it adds context. Great images!

[@vitmahong]

Love your video about film photagraphy. Love how slow and dedicate it takes to take photos

[@LadyTracyOfTheDisk]

Tom, I think you've been a little too hard on your first image. That delicate sky and water color is lovely, and other things being darker only brings that out. Not a fail at all in my book.

[@DanielleGlick]

My thoughts exactly!

[@shaun53355]

Isn’t it amazing how print and an image can change it so much I printed 25 x 7 yesterday one or so much better. The other one is a let down, great weekly video. So love my Thursday morning coffee with Tom jumping around with passion.

[@michaeltillman886]

What's up my friend? I liked this weeks video. I also like the way you take the time to broaden your horizons in photography by learning everything you can on the subject. You would be surprised to know how many todays digital shooters has never tried film. That being said; keep that Nikon. Peace my friend!

[@DanaPushie]

Thomas, I absolutely loved this video. Such a great adventure. This is landscape photography with all it's warts and wonder, failures and successes. You've left me with a sustained smile on my face. Loved the print. Thank you for sharing your adventure. 🙏

[@neilcousineau4956]

I personally like the 1st woodland pano the best. I like your channel because you do not dwell on or promote gear wars or gear upgrades. I'm here for the photography and your trips. 12 photographers in one location - Wow. I'm in cntral Canada and have only ever meet - once a fellow photographer. Funny thing, he is a Brit expat now living in Canada, go figure :) Cheers from southern Georgain Bay, Ontario, Canada.

[@darrennaylor5278]

Good video, roll on the next one....printing is the ultimate goal for me, done some this year and the feeling is addictive...

[@FiberglassConestoga]

I have looked forward weekly to watching the latest Thomas Heaton video for some time now. I enjoy the stories and photos, especially the "how you did it." Lke so many of my fellow photographers, especially of late, we are needing to spend more money for essentials like food, gas, etc. and have less money available for new cameras, lenses, etc. I personally would get much more from videos about how, and why you chose to shoot ar certain settings or a particular angle, than your newest purchases. Thank you,

[@Peter_Reed_Photography]

He's had that film camera for a while but never really uses it, but I certainly agree with your sentiment about wanting the "why" behind a photographic choice.

[@yuval6354]

Congrets on your new toy 😉. I can only dream of one like this but love seeing images from the 617. myself shooting with the GX680 and love the beast.

[@randyschwager2515]

Very interesting! Can’t say I’d ever be able to afford this process, but interesting to see and remember my childhood of shooting with film! Thanks for taking me along!

[@davelindey8023]

Loving the "Ron Weasley" lid. I have a friend who owns this camera and willing to loan it to me for a few specific subjects in the Adirondacks Mountain in up state NY. Very timely video. So interested in putting this to the test. Well done.

[@jasongold6751]

A very serious post! Would I do same? No! Unaffordable! Way back, I did Panoramas with my Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, tripod. Shot Kodak Gold. My favorite on beach, South Coast South Africa. 6 images lined up! Took 45mins to frame! Printing 8x12". Final is 6 feet wide! Digital apps make it real easy. Loved your methods!

[@andreasgiobel6355]

I'm with you regarding location and people, standing in a group and taking photos of the same thing feels like eating a burger at McDonald's

[@paulhancock7670]

I love your honesty and self-assessment, I just wish you did day-courses :) Thanks for another brilliant video.

[@pmenzel86]

The first picture that you showed was probably my favourite! And I definitely think it would work well on that textured paper

[@CaptainDoel]

Hi Thomas .. thanks for sharing .. I can see how the professional work .. nothing comes so easy 😊

[@andypotts8062]

It's good to at times switch from digital to film...the black and white one looks excellent...many thanks

[@CristanBoerg]

I always adore watching you capturing moments with this magnificent beast! Partly because I might never wield such a machine myself, but who can say for certain. Recently acquired an XF 35, quite the opposite of yours, yet still a splendid film camera. 🤪

[@timryan894]

I just received a Chroma six17 I ordered a few months back. The advantage of the chroma is the fresnel focusing back to preview the comps and filter adjustments. Cool “little” camera I’m anxious to dive into.

[@thebitterfig9903]

Just got my Chroma six12 a few weeks ago. Still have to get my first roll of film for it developed, but it's a fun and interesting camera. Went with a Fujifilm 125mm f/5.6 lens. Alas, the snow has already fallen here, and I don't know how much more I'll get out with it before the spring.

[@00Skyfox]

I thought the first photo the best. I loved the rich purple color tones in the sky and the dark shadows of the silhouetted foreground. You may have been a little too quick to discount that one.

[@c.f.7493]

Hi Thomas, honestly, I think you should have leaned more to the original cooler version of the image. At least what I can assess on screen it looks more lifelike and more interesting. For printing I highly recommend to try out Hahnemühle Photo Rag metallic paper. It gives landscapes (without large bright areas like sky) a special glow. It is not a universal paper but especially good for fall colors

[@octaviomolina8822]

In 1989 I bought one of these cameras and took it on a trip around the world. Lately, I have been using a V600 flatbed scanner and am very pleased five-monthwith the results from that trip Scanning has inspired me to take out the camera again, Not the most spontaneous of cameras to use but the results are worth the effort.

[@davidthompson8153]

A great video Tom, from start to finish. Just loving that camera.

[@louisburley1597]

I'd love more content on printing! It's the one thing I feel none of us do often enough. I was considering the Pro-1000 and I'm curious how the update has impacted your prints. I was torn because I generally want LARGE prints if I am going to print. There's just something about a 20"x30" (not sure if that's A2 or other) that is beautiful, but costly to have done lol.

[@krisdraw]

I adore the image with the trees and the footpath that bothers you so much. It's such a phenomenal composition. The path doesn't detract at all for my taste. I'd gladly buy a print of it.

[@drew2757]

Loved this. You captured so many of the moments we all do. Plus one very nice image.

[@chilecayenne]

Hi Thomas!! So great to see you bring back the "big guns" again....I love 6x17!!! Please do more!!

[@madhats13]

Thomas, that first picture is amazing and you're nuts for discounting it :)

[@davidellinsworth3299]

I can see why he doesn't like it. The little islands are messy in the composition

[@adrianrandall2378]

Every days a school day Thomas, thanks for the enjoyable watch

[@martinhommel9967]

Thanks for your video. Bassenthwaite is just too accessible. I don't mind the messy islands in the foreground. Film rolls are getting more expensive, but glad you're enjoying your film photography.

[@Peter_Reed_Photography]

Wondered where he'd gone, thanks.

[@_AF__]

Miss seeing that Gx617! (I ended up buying one myself after seeing your videos on it) and I agree that Provia is the best.

[@meme4one]

Great video and I think everyone appreciates seeing a video of where things didn't go to plan.

[@jonberube2489]

When I saw how much that Fuji camera was going for on eBay I was shocked and looked for alternatives. I now own the Intrepid 4x5 with DAYI 6x17 back and I absolutely love shooting 6x17. The biggest upside is having ground glass to look at as well as interchangeable lenses. I sincerely hope we get to see more big bertha content in the future!

[@millymucci]

love that paper and how the image looked on it. cool.

[@ErrantHippo]

I really feel like an amateur when I see you with the analog light meter, the graduated filter, FILM while I am here doing digital photography with a z mount supercomputer of a camera and masking things in Lightroom. This is another level and it's a lot of fun to watch

[@markbonham]

This was fun and very informative. The guesswork with film or rather the computation required, it can be mind blowing. More please 👍👏

[@liveinaweorg]

And that's why sometimes it really pays to print an image because it comes alive and you appreciate it differently from when it was on the screen. It's also why printing a smaller version is smart because sometimes the opposite applies and ink and paper are so bloody expensive. Great video, those panoramic images are such a challenge it seems. I liked the HP5+ image, capturing the boat really gave it scale. Go ahead, print that one 😉

[@loozerid]

It is refreshing to see a professional struggle to get a great image makes me feel good about the true amount of work that goes into great photography. Great video!

[@minisla]

One way of testing your settings before committing to the big print. Makes sense when it comes to cost.

[@peterdesmidt8742]

I've always wanted one of the Fuji panorama cameras. I have two of their 'regular' 120 rangefinders, and they're terrific. I borrowed a GX617 for a week once and loved it.

[@MatthewUseda]

Have to ask... What is the purpose of shooting film if you're going to use a digital medium to process it? Where is your dark room to do all the techniques of film? Might as well just use a digital camera on a pano head since you're using digital means to process it.

[@tomjohnson3728]

Coming from film to digital I've noticed when I see peoples framed film photos in houses or buildings from the past, that because of Photoshop, Lightroom, and presets, I no longer say, wow what a nice shot. Now I think of how I could correct them. With you doing your magic on the last photo I was wondering, can I take digital photos with just setting and not always putting them through post processing? I realize there was some work in the darkroom also, but these days even your phone can take a crap photo and make it a wow photo. Does this make sense to some of you?

[@PaulEvans]

Cheers Tom, you’ve cost me more money again 😊 I used your code last month for the elements magazine. It’s excellent.

[@garymorrison277]

I'm surprised that the firmware wasn't up to date when you brought the printer as that firmware 3,01 with the panoramic 17x44" upgrade came out 4 years ago. I love my canon pro 1000, which I got bock in 2019, but it isn't used nearly enough .

[@kevinburke6446]

Seeing your learning curve helps me to learn and avoid mistakes (if I remember at the time of the shot). That is a massive camera!

[@galensinkey]

Fascinating. I know almost nothing about shooting film. Big thanks for showing us some processing steps for that image. Would you mind posting a link to that provia 100 film?

[@F1lmtwit]

Nice to see you came to your senses... also no rangerfinder on that camera, it's technically a parallel view camera

[@gordkempton7961]

Whenever I shot slide film in anything but daylight, I always have a 81a warm filter permanently attached. Cheers

[@ronboe6325]

You hit the nail on the head why I find film simply too expensive to shoot today (Gah!). Not only do you invest the time and resources to get to your subject, you have to buy the film, have it developed, fuss some more for the scan (dust has been my bane). And you can't do several test shots in camera to get a good feel for what the white balance may be like you can with digital (well technically you can, but that takes more film, more developing and even with notes it's very hard to learn from the experience as it was three weeks ago!). That said, nothing stirs the soul like large positive transparencies. So I can see why you perceiver. Hey, we used to dodge and burn in the lab (local pro lab would mess with white balance and saturation too) to get the final print. So have at it.

[@1DesertPirate]

I just came across your site and found it quite interesting. The Fuji GX617 looks to be an awesome camera. I enjoyed your photo trip to the Lake District National Park and thought your photo locations were good, even the water scene with the foreground rocks and bushes that you didn't quite care for. The stone wall and tree photo struck me as rather flat. Maybe a b&w image would have worked better. My favorite image was the lake scene with the canoe. I thought that one worked rather well. I am subscribing to further follow your adventures.

[@foveonyc]

Nice matte paper print! Thank you Tom for great journey to landscape film photography!

[@edwardekman9832]

Something magical about shooting film and using a portable light meter. Having too wait and see how the magic worked after getting the film developed. Growing up with film brings back memories of learning good exposure techniques using slide film.

[@gregmccarthycronulla]

Great to see these cameras still getting used. I had one with three of the lenses for very long time and made great use of it before digital came along. Having used it extensively for landscape photography I can say that my personal opinion is that Fuji Velvia is the best film because of its saturated colour. I could not tell what lens you were using but if I had to guess I would say it is a wide lens. Fuji make a centre weighted neutral density filter for the wide lenses and you really need to use it at all times. I bought all mine new and the lens came with the centre weighted neutral density filter. I have since sold the camera and lenses for a lot more than I thought I would as film has made a massive resurgence in the last few years . Enjoy, it's a beautiful camera but you do need to understand how to expose etc has there is no help from the camera.

[@trevhill952]

Wonderful fun watching you use that camera. I'd say you might have had a small part to play in those other photographers being about as well, inspiring plenty to take up the past time with your excellent youtube channel.

[@PMCN53]

The experience would have been invaluable TH. Re inspiration: I have the Callendar (not opened yet!) but don't need that for you to inspire me.....a weekly dose of TH VLOG's is all it takes ....Cheers!

[@ThePhotofit]

Your videos are rarely anything other than informative and entertaining. I only noticed the music after reading comments disparaging it. I don’t own a 617 but I do have a 6x9. By placing it at one end of a long slider I take the ‘first’ image. Then I move the camera to the other end of the slider and take ‘second’ image. This gives enough overlap for me to stitch in post and creates a final ‘negative’ that is very close to 6x17.

[@stevenyoung1141]

I know a lot of people didn't like the music,but i did and saved it on my Spotify playlist.Thanks!

[@Peter_Reed_Photography]

The music choices tend to fade into the background for me.

[@petesuchon7340]

Thank you Thomas

[@gsum1000]

A few years ago I staggered uselessly around the Fuji 690/Provia/Velvia loop. Didn't get a single image with which I was happy due to the cartoon-like over-saturation of Velvia and the excessive contrast of both films. The Fuji was excellent for monochrome though. Now I use my ageing D800 with a super low contrast 1959 3.5cm f2.8 Nikkor and can't understand the attraction of gear which causes the loss of so much shadow detail. Your printed image is by far the best in the set IMHO.

[@EdRichtsteig61]

Really enjoy your content Thomas, thank you!

[@thomson831]

❤Love you vid/photos as always ...😮but, that music was !!!!!!!!!

[@ZeLoShady]

Thomas if you take this camera to Nova Scotia or PEI you will be able to get enough images to print 2 of those paper rolls! Many beautiful landscape scenes out there, that Fuji would be perfect for it! I think that Gavin guy you shoot occasionally with is out there too.

[@jeremymudd8507]

Tom, if someone else has mentioned this in one of the many comments, please disregard. The last image that you were talking about the light being more than you thought in the center of the frame - were you using the Center ND filter for the lens? The 90mm and 105mm both require a center ND filter to minimize the 2+ stop difference (depending on which lens it is). This could explain the issue. Just trying to help out a fellow GX617 user. :) Great vid as always, cheers.

[@alaikens6353]

Thomas, go for the big print! I have the Canon PRO-200, an A3+ printer. I routinely print on 8.5 x 25 inch pano sheet paper and twice on 13 x 38 inch pano sheet paper. In LRC I configure the image layout using a Custom 1 x 3 aspect ratio in the Crop tool. I use the "Other" paper size setting on the printer and set the paper size in Canon's Professional Print & Layout software from LRC through Plug-in Extras. In PPL I set up the image size to either 8.5 x 25 inch paper or 13 x 38 inch paper in the General tab on the right. I did not have repeatable good luck in printing panos on 8.5 x 25 inch paper this way through LRC. Since I was not completely successful in LRC for the smaller paper, I haven't tried the larger paper. Good luck!

[@daniellichota2227]

Hi Thomas, as always great staff. Let me share with you some tips on printing panorama ona canon pro 1000. I did some printings from the roll and... I had a lot of issues with vertical streaks at the beginning and at the and of the picture. Because Pro 1000 can prong panorama, but can't handle printing the paper from roll which is not flat. So I cut the roll to the length I wanted but I add around 12 cm on each side and put it on the floor with parchment / soft paper on top and than books which under pressure made it quite straight, Than I had no issue - problem was solved. The roll makes paper rounded and that makes ekstra pressure and curves. That demand some other kind oof paper management inside the printer. I am really curious how you managed it. Fingers crossed that you were more lucky than me (I've wasted a lot of paper). Can't wait till your next video.

[@markhyde1970]

Keeping it real as always. Top job! 👍🏾

[@BosePhotography]

There’s something really satisfying about this whole process! I’ve been getting somewhat obsessed lately by the idea of buying a medium format film camera, I think it’s only a mater of time! I’ve been working my way back through your film playlist lately and these videos have been really helpful, thank you! Although the bank balance may be about to suffer a bit 😁

[@jeffreywatson396]

I gasped at the camera drop, needed to know where it landed lol. Cool video as well, in a strange way it's good knowing you don't always like your photos, means I'm not doing anything wrong. 😅😅

[@DanielleGlick]

I appreciate the process and trial and error you had to go through to get these panos, but I was surprised by the one you chose to print. I thought your first image was the best composition and color from this series, especially if you processed it even half as much as the one you printed. And for that print, I think its most interesting aspect was the original cool toned background contrasting against the yellow tree, although not to the degree that it originally contrasted. I would have liked to see it retain some of that cool/warm contrast. In the end it looked unnaturally overly warm toned and flat, if I may be honest. But I love watching your videos and learning about these different techniques and locations, so please keep going!

[@bnrynlds]

I have never been able to scan positive very well with the Epson. I now put my slides on a light box post scan and happily colour correct to get it close to what it looks like. If it looks better on a light table consider getting professional scans done? Also, it's not a rangefinder and a quarterly subscription is three issues, not four.😮

[@winwoodmayall]

Is it possible to have a some sort of tutorial from you regarding your workflow during scanning with your Epson V850? I own V800 and struggle with dust ending up on my slides.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

I've used Velvia back in the day when it first came out, and if not shot under the sun, it was ALWAYS way too cool. The reason I've always had a warming filter. Or the Ektachrome professional 100 SW to counter that coldness...

[@gsus3918]

The last picture with the boat was perfect and nearly timeless.

[@petergoodrum1607]

these and other 617 Cameras use a centre dot HD filter (made for the job and come with the camera) to even out the exposure across the frame

[@kirstymcleod6647]

Like that print a lot! go on - print it big... I'm addicted to Photo Rag matte paper at the moment... love, as you say, the painterly quality it brings. The only complaint I have about this video is your new music - it was REALLY uncomfortable to listen to - I thought my laptop was distorting it at first - I usually love your music!

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

My personal opinion only: back to the Z8 and stitched panoramic images. But the purpose of photography for the photographer is to enjoy the process of creating an image, so use whichever camera is delivering that for you on any particular day. Next week you might find that some images work better as small prints. I hope you will comment on that when you make the reveal.

[@scotterskine4745]

Making a 16x40 inch print on the Pro 1000 does take a bit of extra care, it is a bit tedious. Hardest part was getting a square cut off the roll. Once that is done, I found it the paper feeds through the printer if I give it a day to uncurl a bit. Finally when printing I pretty much hand feed the paper through the printer. Results are gorgeous, but displaying and storage can be a challenge. Can't wait to see how you do. Thanks for the video.

[@robgutkowski7141]

Never regret taking the image from the place no one else stands, always be prepared to take in a good image, even if it wasn't the part of your plan. I think the final lake shot was the best one, after you finally noticed the mist over the lake and how it affects the scene, makes it uniquely yours, because fewer people stand where you stood to make an image, and how many will stand there when the mist is just right? With that wide panorama lens in the forest, have you considered taking images a little lower to the ground, maybe using a bit more foreground and not any sky? That way you can avoid blown out highlights and present a unique POV. I really liked the end result of the tree along the fence, I really like the "painting" effect the textured paper provides.

[@kw80yt]

I still have two rolls of Provia 100 sitting in the fridge waiting for me to have the courage to shoot slide film on my old Yashica 124. Also need to find a lab that processes E-6 around here...

[@tamasnemeth2161]

Looking forward for the panoramic printing video. I updated my Pro-1000 a while back, got two rolls of 17" Hahnemuhle paper, but I'm still reluctant to print that huge with that paper. Cutting the paper is such a mess (at least from my very novice experience). I have access to a real large format printer, and it is much simpler to print larger prints with that, as the cutting happens after the printer splits out the print. But practice make perfect, so probably I should do something.

[@bizpixvegas7651]

Hi Thomas, brave move away from digital. Good luck mate. I have used pro class flatbed scanners (Agfa) in the past but I don't think they can match a drum scan or a hi-res dedicated film scanner.

[@srt10acrx]

I really liked the first three... Not sure what you thought was bad about them

[@SidneyPratt]

Thanks Thomas.

[@scotty4418]

Nice use of bulldog clips to position a filter in front of the camera. Would it be ok to ask Thomas what the paper type you elected to use for your print and also what brand of waders were you using in your video?

[@NathanWake-k6r]

Great video and lovely to see a 617 being used in the wild. Such a fantastic camera. Have you got the centre spot filter and hood for your 90mm lens?

[@davidellinsworth3299]

Yes he's used the centre ND in the past

[@geofff6671]

This is the kind camera I lust after, though I recognise its sheer impracticality. I’ve seen some massive fine art pictures by Peter Jarver, who has sadly passed away. They are the most impressive photographs I have ever seen.

[@markbaigent8373]

You need a colour temperature meter and colour correction filters 😉

[@722garage9]

No idea why you think these are failures. Each one is absolutely stunning. Great work

[@andyemmett9930]

Great to see the GX617 out again 👍

[@Mecholable]

It is funny how people think that images captured on film should not be manipulated. I am pretty sure that what you did on Photoshop could be compared to some dodging and burning, and some colour adjustment of the light bulbs of the enlarger as it was/is done in a darkroom... Anyways, lovely film Thomas, thank you