X100 In Action
Shi Guangzhi
Profile
Shi Guangzhi is a member of the Art Committee of China’s Photographers’ Society, a tutor at Beijing’s Photography Correspondence College, the President of Fujian Photography Branch School, and Vice President of Fujian Photographers’ Association, and Executive Vice President of the Association of China Photographers of Financers.
He is the only photographer to have received the ‘Photography Award’, the highest individual award in China’s photographic circle in three consecutive years (fifth, sixth and seventh years). He was named as ‘Artist of Moral and Ability’ by China’s Photographers Society in 2001 and was announced as one of the ‘Photographers with Outstanding Contributions’ over the past 50 years in December 2006. He has won awards in many domestic and international competitions, and has received a Government Award from the Fujian province. He has also been invited to hold photography seminars in many places in China.
His works have been published in China Photography, Popular Photography, China Photo Press, and China Pictorial. He likes to use a creative approach in his works, such as Flower, not Flower, Story of Lotus Pool, Poem of Sea Beach, Reefs and Tides, Breeze and Bamboo Shadow, Secret Fragrance, Shop Window, Sea Forever and Lofty Taihang Mountains.
His books include; Flower, not Flower - Collection of Shi Guagnzhiís Photographic Works, Road to Winning Award - Interpretation of Shi Guagnzhiís Photographic Works, and Examples for Creative Photography of Shi Guagnzhi.
Tell us about your experience of using the X100’s Hybrid Viewfinder? How does the hybrid viewfinder add to your picture creation?
The switchable optical-electronic hybrid viewfinder of the Fuji X100 is perfect for people with weak eyesight like me. Like the viewfinder on a single lens reflex viewfinder, you can adjust the diopter conveniently. When I need to snatch a shot quickly for documentaries, I use the clean, bright optical viewfinder with no delay. For shots where I am photographing serious or arty compositions, I use the electronic viewfinder without any errors. I can see the objects clearly through the electronic viewfinder even in low-light. It’s perfect for people who like to take pictures at night or in low light.
What’s the biggest advantage or feature of X100’s prime Fujinon 23mm F2 lens?
I like it because it provides excellent image quality and enables me to concentrate on my composition and doesn’t distract me.
The X100’s APS-C CMOS image sensor is designed for the perfect image quality. I’m wondering whether the X100’s light processing, imaging and the expression of images under different ISO settings can meet your expectations?
I seldom test different technical indexes of my cameras. The reason is very simple. I don’t have time. All of my spare time is used to take photos. And from the perspective of the final photographic results, the image quality of the X100 is highly satisfactory especially in low light, which is one of the most important indexes that can be used to test the quality of cameras.
The elegant classic design of the X100 is one of the main features of X100. What do you think of its styling?
I feel close to it, perhaps because my first camera looked so similar to this.
What are your overall comments on the X100?
To be frank, I don’t do much research on the technicalities, I pay more attention to the photographic results of the camera. Personally speaking, the production and quality of the X100’s camera body is almost perfect. Since the end of this April when I started to use X100 until now, it is satisfactory and makes me happy. It is not only small, convenient, easy to operate, but also provides the same image quality as professional single-lens-reflex cameras. This is enough to attract me to put it in my pocket all the time. (The camera I use most frequently is the middle-frame but I can’t go to work with such a heavy machine). The X100 can capture all kinds of photography in a most flexible way.
What’s the most unique feature of X100 which can’t be replaced in your opinion?
It has a unique and highly practical hybrid viewfinder. It is small, exquisite, with suitable weight and high quality image output just like a single lens reflex camera.
Since starting to use the X100, which functions do you prefer and use most frequently? And why?
I use the electrical viewfinder and the built-in ND filter most frequently. The electrical viewfinder is convenient, and is perfect for people with poor eyesight like me (and photographers who wear glasses). I don’t like photography which is too straightforward. Thus the built-in ND filter (which can decrease the exposure amount of 3 levels) can satisfy my creative needs. E.g., it can slow down the shutter speed on a bright day, which is a very practical function for slow shutter photography and capturing both movement and stillness.
How can X100’s 360˚ moving panoramic view help your creativity?
It is very convenient for panoramic shots as it makes manual stitching unnecessary. I was invited to go to Toronto to photograph the local tourism sights, some scenery and the panoramic shots that I took were absolutely perfect. It’s a great feature!
