CAVEIRA PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Portfolio
  • Blog

Live Music Photography with the FujiFilm XT-1 - Can it survive the mosh?

3/21/2015

7 Comments

 
Metal - It's a huge part of my life and has been with me for the majority of it. It's been there during the good times, the bad times, the crazy times, and through many travels around the world.
The concept of jumping into a mosh pit (or whatever the kids call it now) let alone with a couple of grand's worth of camera gear isn't everyone's idea of a good time. For me though, in my limited live shooting experience, it's a place for capturing raw rhythmic energy, played by some of the most hard-working, talented, and genuine people on this planet.
What better place to run another Fuji XT-1 test?
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO3200 F1.2 1/125sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO3200 F1.2 1/125sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO3200 F1.2 1/180sec
A little background to these handsome figures that grace your screen. These are two top-notch metal/tech/death/thrash bands - Psycroptic and Goatwhore. Tip top names. I've not had the chance to hang out with the guys from Goatwhore, but the boys from Psycroptic are some of the nicest Aussies you'll ever meet and I'm lucky to call them friends. These guys put on a hell of a show and they're certainly not slugs on the stage. They move quickly and often unpredictably, thus giving you a heck of a set of circumstances for your camera and skills to be tested to the EXTREME!
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO3200 F1.2 1/125sec
Let's talk kit!

Most of my shots were done with the ever awesome XF56 1.2 strapped to my XT-1, with the occasional use of the XF18 F2, which I'm yet to return to the ever lovely Luis Ascui of www.mediaculture.com.au. I shot primarily at ISO 3200, F1.2, 1/180 sec for the higher production gig at HiFi Melbourne, and ISO priority at the smaller venue. I'll make sure you know what's what. All photos were shot as JPEGs with the Classic Chrome setting and exported in Lightroom using my usual tweaks and output at 55 quality.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
I feel like I'm repeating what I've said in other blog posts about the XT-1 but here it goes.
Yet again, the XT-1 met my expectations and provided me with great image quality in some pretty unforgiving circumstances - low light, fast movement, and some less than desirable colours from the lighting rigs. That said, the same ugly issues reared their head - battery life and continuous focusing.

I'm consistently impressed by how well the XT-1 and XF56 focus in low light. They're a responsive combo that react quickly enough and make the mark at a rate I'm more than happy with. At times it will hunt, just like my Canon gear does and that can be worse than the XT-1, but after shooting a full wedding on it (blog to come soon), a number of live shows, a fair few low-light settings, and some fast acting Aussie fauna, it's a system I can rely on in most ways. 

There's no denying the JPEGs that the XT-1 produces are great, particularly in high ISO settings. I love the Classic Chrome setting and I'm considering selling my X100S just to get it on the X100T, as well as Wi-Fi! There's an undeniable unique sharpness to the XT-1 and XF56 combo and I have received a lot of compliments from people since converting to it. I love what I've been able to produce in terms of colour tones from these live shots. There's none of that awful colour bleeding like on my Canon system at high ISOs and the noise is simply different on the Fuji's; far more pleasing to the eye.
Picture
Picture
Picture
About that battery life...
Well, there's no arguing it, the batteries for these cameras are somewhat frustrating to deal with. They don't last particularly long  (~500-600 shots on a full charge) and I had one die suddenly on me at a peak point at a wedding (spare in pocket!) and was also a little too shutter happy on the way into this gig, which meant I didn't quite get the number of shots of the headline band that I wanted. I made the rookie mistake of not checking my spare on the way out and learned the hard way to always check. That said, these batteries are much smaller than traditional DSLR batteries and they're constantly powering an EVF. OH THAT GLORIOUS XT-1 EVF!

Edit 4 April, 2015: I have had a much better experience recently using the 18mm F2 and Continuous Focusing. Will post about it soon.
Typically when I'd shoot fast paced stuff on my Canon I would use continuous focusing mode, which works reliably and can handle sports and action stuff extremely well. I simply can't get along with continuous focusing mode on the XT-1, despite using all the tips and tricks out there. Single focus mode is pretty darn good though and I used this mode solely for these shots after getting immediately frustrated with it when I first tried using at this show.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Below are some shots of Psycroptic at a gig I found myself attending unexpectedly last minute. It was a tight space and featured very minimal lighting; certainly not to the same standard of the gig the week before. The XT-1 did struggle a bit more in this situation with focusing, simple as that. I had a lower keeper ratio than usual, which I attribute to there not being much fill-light on the guys as they played. I came mainly for the music this time around though and only had about 25 minutes to shoot, so keep that in mind when compared to 90 minutes from the prior show.
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO2500 F1.2 1/250sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF18 - ISO6400 F2 1/250sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO3200 F1.2 1/250sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO800 F1.2 1/180sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO6400 F1.2 1/250sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF18 - ISO6400 F2 1/250sec
Picture
XT-1 + XF56 - ISO2500 F1.2 1/180sec
Minor apologies for this post being somewhat relaxed in its approach and relatively uninformative for the photography purists out there. I hope it serves as an example to others though of what this camera system can do and do exceptionally well.

-Mat
7 Comments
john canavan
3/24/2015 02:50:39 am

Dont apologise for the review it says all we need to know.
Killer shots and real life review ,more power to you.

Reply
Jim
7/23/2015 01:31:40 pm

I'm new to photography, are you using flash in these photos?

Thanks!

Reply
Mathieu - Caveira Photography
7/23/2015 01:36:13 pm

Hi Jim!
No flash is used in these photos. Generally speaking, using flash during live performance is considered rude/unprofessional.
Let me know if you've any further questions.
Good luck!
Mat

Reply
Jim
7/24/2015 01:13:42 pm

Wow, your images seem so clear for low light!

Reply
Mathieu - Caveira Photography
7/24/2015 01:18:47 pm

Thanks! It's a combination of things. I'm metering my shot for the subject and highlights rather than the whole scene. Also a lens shot at F1.2 is letting in a lot of light, thus less stress on the camera = higher IQ.

Reply
Shane Henderson link
9/8/2015 07:00:20 pm

Hi Mathieu
Great article! I shot King Parrot recently in a small club. Usually I shoot these venues with my Canon 5D mkII and a sigma 85mmf1.4 lens. But as the venue was so small I was able to get out my Fuji X-E2 with a 27mmf2.8 lens. I have to say that the lack of EVF on the 5D frustrated me so much I ended up putting it back in my bag and just used just the Fuji. EVF in low light situations is so useful for getting good exposures. I'm contemplating sellign my Canon and 85mm to buy the Fuji XT-1 and either a 56 or 90mm lens. Have you had experience with the 90mm. Possible this will be a bit long for the small gigs I shoot?
Cheers
Shane

Reply
Suzanne Kulperger link
5/28/2017 09:40:07 am

Thanks for the article. I am curious to know exactly what settings you used to get these shots. I'm finding the xt1 a nightmare for stage settings. I shot a ballet company yesterday and ended up with blobs. Such a helpless, panicky feeling! My DSLR auto settings could certainly handle concerts etc. I feel like I'm just not getting it.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2019
    August 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    Categories

    All
    1.4
    56mm-12
    6D
    7 Artisans 35mm 1.2 FujiFilm
    7Artisans 35mm F1.2
    7Artisans Bokeh
    7Artisans Lens Review
    7Artisans Street Photography
    7D
    85mm 1.2
    Action
    Adelaide
    AF
    Ann Truong
    Art
    Astia
    Aussie Wedding
    Australia
    Auto Focus
    Autumn
    Bahia
    Ballingtagart House
    Battery
    Battery Life
    Beach Wedding
    Berlin Wedding
    BJJ
    Bokeh
    Brasil Fuji
    Brazil
    Buddha
    Bush
    Canon
    Canon 135 F2 L
    Chapada Diamantina
    Collingwood Childrens Farm Wedding
    Compare
    Concert
    Countryside
    Depth Of Field
    Destination Wedding
    Dingle
    #discoverireland
    #discovertasmania
    #discovervictoria
    Documentary Photography
    Engagement
    Engagement Shoot
    EOS Adapter
    Explore
    F2
    Fight
    Fight Photography
    Firmware 4.0
    Focus Speed
    Footscray
    Forum
    Fringe Festival
    Fuji
    FujiFilm
    FujiFIlm Astia
    FujiFilm Australia
    FujiFilm Brasil
    FujiFIlm Europe
    Fujifilm Landscape
    Fujifilm Macro
    FujiFIlm Photography
    Fujifilm Review
    Fujifilm Uk
    Fujifilm Wedding Photography
    FujiFilm X-Series
    Fujifilm Xt2
    Fujifilm X T2
    Fujifilm X-T2
    FujiFilm X-T2
    FujiFilm X-T3
    Fujinon
    Fuji Travel Photography
    Fuji Wedding Photography
    FUJI XT1
    Fuji XT2
    Goatwhore
    Great Ocean Road
    Hanging-rock
    Helios
    High ISO
    Hip Wedding
    Ho Chi Minh City
    Industrial Wedding
    Ireland
    Jacqui And Benson
    Kick Boxing
    Lake District
    Landscape
    Landscape Photography
    Lens Adapter
    Lenses
    Life
    Little Rundle Street
    Live
    Live Music
    Love
    Macro
    Malfunction
    Marriage
    Martial Arts
    MCEX-11
    Melbourne
    Melbourne Photographer
    Melbourne Wedding
    Melbourne Wedding Photography
    Mirrorless
    MMA
    Modern Engagement
    Muay Thai
    New South Wales
    Nissin I40
    Nobbies
    Norla Dome
    Old
    Olhao Portugal
    Ormond Hall
    Otways
    Outback
    Overheat
    Paris FujiFilm
    Performance
    Phillip Island
    Photography
    Portarlington Wedding
    Portrait
    Psyctoptic
    Radelaide Wedding
    Rainforest
    Review
    Rio2016
    Rio De Janeiro
    Saigon
    Seu Jorge
    Sigma 35mm
    Smart Artz
    South Melbourne
    Sports
    Street Photography
    Tasmania
    The Farm Cafe Melbourne
    Tild Shift
    Tild-shift
    Tilt Adapter
    Tilt-adapter
    Tips
    Tour
    Travel
    Travel Photography
    Twelve Apostles
    Uk Wedding Photographer
    Unique Wedding
    Victoria
    Vietnam
    Visit Melbourne
    #visitvictoria
    Wander Victoria
    Wedding
    Wedding Day
    Wedding Inspriation
    Weddingphotographer
    Wentworth Falls
    Werribee Mansion
    Wildlife
    X100
    X100s
    X100T
    XC50 230
    XC50-230
    XF16
    Xf16 55
    Xf16-55
    XF16-55 F2.8 R LM WR
    XF18
    Xf35
    XF35F2
    XF35mm F2 Review
    XF50 140
    XF50-140
    XF50mm F2 WR Review
    XF56
    XF56mmF1.2 R
    XF90
    XT 1
    Xt-1
    XT 10
    XT-10
    XT10 VS XT1
    XT2
    X T2
    X-T2
    X-T3
    Zone Focusing

    RSS Feed

  • Portfolio
  • Blog