I've stopped writing gear reviews. My personal documentary work and field notes now live at davidjfleet.com.

Visit davidjfleet.com →

Essential Accessories for the Fujifilm X-T30 III

The Fujifilm X-T30 III camera with 13-33mm kit lens attached. Photographed on a black background with dramatic lighting.

The Fujifilm X-T30 III shines brightest when kept as a lightweight, minimal setup. Its primary advantage is pairing great image quality with a remarkably compact footprint. Because of that, you don’t need a heavy pack stuffed with gear to get good results. This camera doesn’t need a massive kit to be effective, but a few … Read more

Fujifilm X-T30 III Setup Guide: Essential Settings for Beginners

The Fujifilm X-T30 III camera with 13-33mm kit lens attached. Photographed on a black background with dramatic lighting.

The Fujifilm X-T30 III is a fantastic camera for beginners offering simple automatic modes that make taking pictures easy. However if you want to take a little bit more control while still keeping things as simple as possible then the settings below give you the best performance without having to be a computer scientist to … Read more

Field Notes: Fujifilm X-T30 III First Impressions from a Professional Photographer

A photographer's hand adjusting the Film Simulation dial on the top of the Fujifilm X-T30 III camera.

Unboxing the X-T30 III, my immediate reaction was surprise at just how small the body feels. If you’ve already bought your X-T30 III I’ve written a setup guide which will help you to get the best out of it and after much more use I’ve now written about which accessories are worth buying. Having spent … Read more

When life falls apart: Why the Fujifilm experience helps my mental health

A young girl sits by a riverbank looking out to the water. This is the river Earn in Crieff, Scotland.

The stress in my house has reached fever pitch in the last few weeks—palpable, chaotic, draining, and upsetting. I haven’t felt capable of thinking, let alone picking up a camera with any thought of inspiration. If I’m completely honest, I’ve been about as close to breaking as I’ve ever experienced. I’ve had to summon all … Read more

Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 WR vs XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II: Do You Really Need the Prime?

Comparison of images from both teh Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8II lens and the Fujifilm 56mm 1.2WR lens.

In this final article in my series testing whether the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II can really be considered a bag of primes, I’m putting it up against the Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 WR, the latest version of what is arguably Fujifilm’s finest portrait lens. Unlike the other prime lenses featured in this series, the … Read more

Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 WR vs XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II: Do You Really Need the Prime?

A comparison of the bokeh between the Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8II lens and the Fuji 33mm1.4wr lens.

One of the first prime lenses that photographers are often encouraged to buy is a 50mm equivalent lens, and for good reason. It’s a focal length that sits comfortably between wide-angle and telephoto, making it incredibly versatile. Step back a little and it can capture context and tell a story. Move closer and it becomes … Read more

Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II vs XF 23mm f/1.4 WR: Do You Really Need the Prime?

A comparison image between the Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8II lens and the Fujifilm 23mm 1.4WR lens.

One of the most common claims I hear about the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II is that it’s like having a bag full of prime lenses in a single package. As someone who owns both the zoom and several of Fujifilm’s premium primes, I wanted to put that claim to the test. … Read more

A Walk Through Beaver Country With the Fujifilm X-T5

A lone shed lit by dappled light seen through a canopy of tree leaves in woodland in Perthshire Scotland. Photo is taken on the Fujifilm X-T5 camera.

Sometimes the destination is little more than an excuse to get outside. That was certainly the case today. A fellow photographer had kindly shared the location of a nearby beaver colony, explaining how the animals had transformed the landscape beyond recognition. The chances of actually seeing a beaver in the middle of the morning were … Read more