Portrait with Fujifilm X Pro2 35mm f/1.4

One lens and one camera

Posted on Feb 28, 2018

Is it possible to shot a complete portrait session with just one lens and one camera as the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and 35mm f/1.4 that I’ve used in this session?
Well, the answer seems to be yes! 🙂

I love simplification. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” said Leonardo da Vinci.
With this mantra in my mind, I’ve tried to get my technical camera equipment more efficient and light in the past years.
The process has started switching from Canon reflex camera to the more versatile (and light) Fujifilm mirrorless x-series. Furthermore, in the last years, I’ve shot many commissioned photo session with a smartphone camera (you can see photos from this same photo session shot on OnePlus 5t smartphone here).

I love the Fujifilm X-Pro2. I’ve to say that this camera is even on the top of my preferences compared to the other Fujifilm I own, the X-T2. So when I’ve to travel light and bring with me just one camera, my selection goes to the X-Pro2.

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   I suggest you to give a look at other photo session I’ve shot with Fujifilm camera with simply setup of one camera and one lens:

Seems odd, since the X-T2 offer on the paper more features: bigger EVF with higher refresh rate, slightly faster focusing, better ergonomics with the dials, and so on.
But, even with this feature set, the Fujifilm X-Pro2 has a unique look and feel for me. And I feel the camera is perfectly balanced with the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4. I even like more the shutter sound of the X-Pro2 over the X-T2!
So in the end, the X-T2 is the camera I use with the bigger and heavier Fujinon lens I own! 🙂

This portrait session was planned mainly for the OnePlus launch campaign (one image is featured on their website), so was meant to be shot with a smartphone.
At the time, I’ve decided to bring with me only the Fujifilm X-Pro2 with the 35mm f/1.4 to shot some backstage photos. But at the end, I’ve used the camera to shot a set of portraits photo too, with the idea in mind to compare the results with the smartphone shots.

What to say about the Fujifilm 35 f/1.4 that hasn’t been written already? Is an excellent lens. It’s small and light, it gives excellent sharpness and contrast already at the maximum aperture. I almost always use it at f/1.4. So what I would like to ask more?

If I have a little dream, that would be the much-rumored Fujinon 33mm f/1.0 that unluckily seems to be not anymore on the Fujifilm planning route. Let’s hope the Japanese company will change idea and bring to us that lens with the same quality and sharpness of the 35mm f/1.4 but with the faster focus and the weather resistant from the 35mm f/2! 🙂

The photos have been shot in an iconic architectural location in Milan. I’ve used the only natural light available without any reflector.
I’ve to thanks the model, Kitrisha, and the talented makeup artist Serena!
In the next post, I will share some more photos from this session with some editing notes!

Portrait with Fujifilm X-Pro2 35mm f/1.4
Portrait with Fujifilm X-Pro2 35mm f/1.4
Portrait with Fujifilm X-Pro2 35mm f/1.4

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3 Comments
  • Des Roche
    Posted at 10:30h, 02 October Reply

    Good article Alessandro
    Its taken me many years through xpro1 (still great) and using 18mm and 56mm 1.2 fuji lenses to get exactly where I want, which is x pro 2 and 35mm 1.4 for all my portraiture. I liked the bigger lens but its heavy and my success rate on shots was much lower. The 35mm covers everything and with quality.

  • mark
    Posted at 19:39h, 07 September Reply

    Thats a great lens. I traded my fuji gear fro Leica M9 and some old lenses. Its hard to replicate the sharpness of that Fuji lens with my older selection selection of lenses for the M9. The portraits will be shot on a Voightlander f1.8 75mm.

    • Alessandro Michelazzi
      Posted at 11:20h, 08 September Reply

      Yes, I agree is a very nice and sharp lens! It lacks a bit of speed in the focus but I don’t care since I’m not photographing sport! 🙂

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