Shooting Macro with X-T1
Having recently purchased the FujiFilm’s flagship professional camera, the “X-T1” I was keen to have a play around with capturing some macro images. I used the 18-135mm XF lens and switched to the Macro mode. It’s a bit strange having used the Canon gear for so long that on Fuji its a software setting when you want to activate Macro mode. The lens then only hunts in the closest focusing distance of 0.45m to infinity rather than the full range 0.6m to infinity.
I am not quite sure how it manages to focus in the shorter 0.45m when in Macro mode versus only at 0.6m when in Normal mode.
I used the Focus Peaking option on the X-T1 which highlights the focused area in your chosen colour, in my case its Red but other colours are Yellow and Green. Handheld focusing in Manual Focus mode worked quite well as I even managed to find a bee on the flower and get a pretty good focus on it. Its not spot on but not bad as a first attempt using Focus Peaking with Manual focus.
Sample Images from the Fujinon 18-135mm XF Lens
Bee and Yellow
Chrysanthemum White
Chrysanthemum Orange
Unknown Flower
Even though I don’t have “yet” a dedicated Macro lens for this camera I am quite happy with what I can get out of this very versatile lens which does a pretty good job at capturing macro. However, I would be interested in trying out the Macro Extension Tubes that FujiFilm is launching later this month. Especially now that I would be able to use my XF56ｍｍＦ1.2 R Lens which has closed focusing distance of 0.7m at 0.28m or even less at 0.24m using this extension tubes. That’s less than 1/3 of the working distance from the subject. Check out what your lens will be able to do here.
