May 04, 2022

Let’s talk about Fuji’s film simulations!

When I first picked up a Fuji camera - an X-T2 with the kit lens - it was about a week before a major motorcycle trip from Seattle to Deadhorse and back. I was so focused on getting gear prepped that I spent about five minutes setting up the camera. I ended up shooting JPEG (gasp) with the following settings: Provia, +3 Color, +2 Shadows, +1 Highlights, -4 NR.

Fuji X-T2, 18-55mm

Here’s the thing: these settings have followed me around for years. I still think it looks great; punchy, neutral, and “real”. It’s not perfect - you lose detail in the shadows, and it favors underexposure - but it’s “my” setting, and I still keep it as my go to when I want low fuss travel photography.

Fuji X100V

Anyway: I’m mostly still attached to a couch or bed due to my recent surgery, so I poked around for some minutes with alternate film sims on my X-E3 and landed on something adjacent to Portra 400. Classic Chrome, -1 Shadow, -2 Color, +3 NR, -2 Sharpening, Weak Grain, Daylight +2 R -5 B White Balance. It was a nice day, so I snapped photos in the garden while Casey pulled weeds.

Fuji X-E3, Fujinon 35mm f1.4

The film simulations have always been Fuji’s “killer app”. Low effort, high quality. Almost perfect…but man I wish the iOS app for wireless transfer wasn’t hot garbage. Can’t win every one.