Travelling with the Fujifilm XF16-55mm F2.8

Hi Fuji X Passion, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my passion and vision of photography.

My name is Shinichi Kuroda. I’m Japanese and have been living in British Columbia, Canada, since 2006.

I’m an amateur photographer, specializing in landscape and street photography.

• 

• 

• 

I’m passionate about travelling, finding different cultures and getting inspired.
My first trip abroad was to France in the early summer of 1999. I was very impressed. Everything I saw was so different from my culture. This was exactly what I had been looking for. Being exposed to a different culture has enriched my mind. I realized that it is important to live without prejudice.

During my trip, I borrowed a Canon film camera from my friend and became obsessed with photographing the beautiful scenery of various towns in France. I took a lot of pictures of the town I visited during my trip.

It was a great time for me to travel to a new country where I didn’t know the language, with only a map and a guidebook. I think it was this month-long trip that got me interested in photography.

• 

• 

My favourite style of photography is landscape, and street snaps at night. The city at night reflects the light and shows a different face than during the day.

I also like to shoot in the evening. I like the time when the light comes in at an angle, especially in the autumn.

I’m currently living in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. It’s a beautiful town surrounded by lakes and nature. Here I have no trouble taking landscape photos.
It was not an easy decision to live in a foreign country, far apart from family and friends. But I didn’t want to have any regrets when I got old enough to look back on my life.

• 

• 

• 

My first DSLR camera was an Olympus E-500 with the Zuiko 17.5mm-45mm f3.5-5.6 kit lens. Looking back on it now, the autofocus was slow and the viewfinder small and hard to see, but it was good enough for me to take beautiful pictures! I still have it!

My next camera was a Nikon D90, and I liked it very much. I had no complaints, and it was an excellent camera.

After using the D90 for about 5 years, I bought the Fujifilm X20. At first, I bought the X20 because it looked cool and I liked it, but after shooting and using it, I found that I really liked the colours of its Jpegs straight out of the camera.

• 

• 

• 

It was 2016 when I got my X-Pro2, and my first Fujinon lens was the XF35mm F2.
The rangefinder style, the all-black body is really cool. It makes me want to take more pictures! What a fascinating camera!

I don’t need image stabilization, and don’t need an articulated rear LCD. Even if it is a little difficult to use, it’s still fun to take pictures. Specs are not the only thing that matters.

Fujifilm’s Jpeg colour is just amazing, and my favourite film simulation is Classic Chrome! I used to use Velvia a lot, but now Classic Chrome is my first choice because of its subdued colour.

• 

I would also like to use Classic Negative very much, but it seems that it is not available on X-Pro2. Other than that, I’m happy with this camera!

The lenses I am currently using are the XF23mm F2, XF35mm F2, XF16-55mm F2.8 and XF70-300mm F4-5.6. This means that I can cover most of the focal lengths from 16mm to 300mm.

• 

• 

• 

“Less is more” is my philosophy. The X-Pro2 with the XF23mm F2 or 35mm fF2 are a really beautiful combination! It’s a simple and lean design, and it makes me want to take pictures, which motivates me a lot. It also gives me the feeling that I can’t stop looking through the viewfinder!

But among the lenses I have, I mainly use the XF16-55mm F2.8. This lens is big and heavy, the filter thread size is 77mm, but it’s worth it! The image quality is excellent at all focal lengths.

• 

• 

• 

For me, from 16mm to 55mm is my favourite range of focal lengths, and I can shoot almost anything with it.

The X-Pro2 and XF16-55mm F2.8 are very helpful in mountain areas with changeable weather conditions and in arid areas like Arizona in the USA.

• 

Arizona and Utah are my favourite spots in the world. It’s a beautiful place surrounded by nature with several National Parks. There are many other places to visit besides the national parks, and photography is really fun.

I’ll never forget the view I took in Monument Valley. It reminds me of the power of nature.

• 

Some places are very dry and dusty, but with the X-Pro2 and XF16-55mm F2.8, there is no need to worry.

It’s dust and water-resistant, and it can shoot in harsh conditions down to minus 10 degrees Celsius. Fujifilm’s weather sealing is excellent.

• 

• 

In my town, it often gets down to minus 10 degrees in the winter, so it really helps. I like to shoot when it’s raining or snowing, and I am very happy when the weather changes to rain. So I sometimes look forward to rainy weekends!

Tokyo was an impressive place to shoot on a rainy day. The lights of the city reflected in the rain were just beautiful.

Usually, when I go on a trip, I want it to be sunny, but sometimes I’d rather it be raining.

• 

• 

• 

I also really enjoy taking snapshots of the city at night. Kanazawa is my beloved hometown. It is a historical, harmonious and beautiful city. Kanazawa station was chosen as one of the 14 most beautiful stations in the world.

There are still some very historic streets and alleys. During the day, it is crowded with tourists, but at night it is quiet.

• 

I really recommend the XF16-55mm F2.8 for all nature photographers. And, of course, for snapshooters!

It will give you great performance even in severe weather conditions. However, the camera body also needs to be dust and water-resistant.

I always carry this great lens in my camera bag when I go on a trip.

The XF16-55mm F2.8 is the best zoom lens for me! If I had to choose just one lens to take with me on a trip, I would choose this one. But Fujifilm has an exciting lineup of lenses, and there are still many that I would like to use.

• 

I should also mention my editing process after taking a picture. I use Lightroom, and I try to keep retouching to a minimum. I’ve always said that Fujifilm’s Jpeg colours are great, but sometimes I tend to overdo it. I don’t have any specific rules, but I try not to over saturate the image.

Thank you for reading my article until the end.

There are many beautiful places in the world. I believe there are also beautiful things around us. Let’s take lots of pictures and leave lots of memories. And I hope to see you somewhere in the world someday!

Where’s our next destination?

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•