Fujifilm X-T3 Launch, Thanksgiving Party and My Fujifilm X-T100 Problems

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I've always been a proud Fujifilm user.  Yet, right now... I am experiencing ups and downs with my Fujifilm Experience.   To get it off my mind... I've decided to just write about it.

Ups: Fujifilm X-T3 Launch
fujifilm x-t3 thanksgiving party
Fujifilm Thanksgiving Party
Yesterday, Fujifilm had a series of free workshops, free cleaning, free printing, free concert, free food, free beer and free juice as part of the Fujifilm X-T3 Launch and Fujifilm Thanksgiving Party at Abs-Cbn Vertis North Tent.

Inspiring National Photowalk 2018 Gallery
Seeing the gallery really inspired me to delve more into photography.  I missed joining the photowalk as the last time I joined was in 2016!

FUJIFILM X-T3 Experience Event Workshops
niko vilegas workshop portrait photography
I regret being late for the workshop.  I only got to attend Niko Vilegas - Portrait Photography and Tim De La Paz - Filmmaking Workshops.  The latter was very quick with some technical difficulties.  So I enjoyed the Portrait Photography more.

portrait photography
This was my first time to do portrait photography and it was a lot of fun!  There were a lot of participants with intimidating Fujifilm cameras!  There was an instagram contest which I didn't join because I was so intimidated and perhaps I don't trust my camera and skills yet because of my problems below.  Too bad because the prize was an Instax mini 9!!!

action photography
Even after the workshops, you can still practice taking a shot.  Since I missed the one about Action Photography.  This is my best attempt already!

The reason why I cancelled my out of town trip and opt to attend the Fujifilm X-T3 Launch and Fujifilm Thanksgiving Party was because the day before, Fujifilm did their best and released my Fujifilm X-T100 from their service center after being re-calibrated.  I was so happy to have it back!  Little did I know... that it wasn't the last of my troubles...

Downs: Fujifilm X-T100 Problems
Last July, I shared about the Fujifilm XT-100 Launch.  I know I said it wasn't the time for upgrade back then.  But, out of impulse, I decided to upgrade and change my photography set up (I will make a separate post about that soon).  I just suddenly thought of selling my trustee Fujifilm X-A1 at a very bargain price to explore and learn more about other gears and photography itself.

There was something about the unique color of the Fujifilm X-T100 Champagne Gold that made me want to by it one time as I was passing by a camera store.

There were two things I realized about the Fujifilm X-T100.  First, it wasn't as heavy as I thought.  Second, it had a lot more buttons and controls compared to the A series so it was a really a new learning experience for me.

I didn't use it that much because I didn't have much time to learn about it.  One time I brought it to my overnight hotel review and I got surprised.

fujifilm xt100 food shots
The Auto White Balance was really off...

fujifilm xt100 food shots
and the photos shot in Fine Jpeg were beyond remedy from Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

fujifilm xt100 food shots
Of course, I panicked because I didn't bring a backup camera.  I instantly took a day off from work just to bring it to the Fujifilm Service Center.

The service was really good!  I had to leave it that Monday for diagnosis.  I was told that it takes up to 10 days.  I told them I needed it for an out of town shoot on the weekend so I hope it can be faster.  I called on Thursday morning and it was still being diagnosed.  But, I knew they put my needs into consideration because they texted me on Thursday night as it was ready to be picked up on Friday.  I was told it was only a software problem and it was re-calibrated.  I was so happy that it finally worked so I excitedly attended the Fujifilm X-T3 Launch and Fujifilm Thanksgiving Party.

After the event I was so excited to post and share about the experience.  I plugged the USB cable to transfer my filed and noticed that it was not charging.  I then plugged it with the charger and still not charging.  So I am down, then up, and now down again...

Now, I wonder if I am out of work leaves or just out of passion from photography as I don't seem to want to go back and have it repaired anymore. =(  (I will update soon!)

Update: A few months later I discovered that the photos are oversaturated with reddish tones nad auto function is always maxed at maximum exposure.




Update May 2019: Finally had the time to bring it back to Fujifilm Service Center and it was diagnosed to have manufacturer's defect on mother board.  It was replaced for free and now it works perfectly.  All recent photos are shot with a breeze with minor or no photo edittig required.

Craft Central: Now Open in SM Mega Fashion Hall

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I'm not really a crafty or artsy person per se.  Then, The Craft Central extended an invite for its grand opening in SM Mega Fashion Hall.

craft central
So off I went, bringing along my little sister who is into crafts.

craft central megamall
The store wasn't as spacious as we expected but it you can sense a lot of art and passion placed into it so you don't feel cramped at all.

dream catcher
We also discovered that its not just a place for crafty people as you can also take it as a gift shop.  Aren't these colorful dreamcatchers cool?

craft central
There are a lot more interesting items like Sequins Pencil Case for the mermaid fans or simply poshy peeps.

brush pens
According to my little sister who spends thousands over brush pens sets, these collections are unbelievably cheap.

stationery
Of course, we can't think of crafts without stickers and stamps.

patches
There's also Pointy Little Things Pins, beads and more.  There's definitely more to find here than its online store.

metal straw
If you still don't have metal straws, pick one!

calligraphy ink
Calling all Calligraphers!  Check this out!

brush pens
More pens...

notebook
and notebooks to match.

letter board
This one is nice to have hanging around your room.

mannequins
This reminds me of Pinocchio haha.

brush script workbook
There are also affordable workbooks.

Craft Buffet
brush script workbook
As part of the event, we got to experience the Craft Buffet.

craft buffet
There's watercoloring...

scribble and color
We watched as we waited for our turn.

scribble and color
This is sister's work.

notebook stamping
While she was busy there, I tried the notebook stamping.

hammy creates stamps
There were a lot of cool clear stamps by Hammy Creates.

hammy and gubby
At first, it seems tricky to neatly apply the stamp.

notebook stamping
This is my final output.  What do you think?

sand art making
I exerted all creativity into my notebook so I didn't try anything else.   Others tried the Sand Art Making which also looked fun!

Overall, I didn't expect to have so much fun!  Congratulations The Craft Central on your grand opening!

VR+ Next Generation Virtual Reality: How We Beat the VR Game

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Whether its physical or virtual, my cousins have been our constant playmates for more than 2 decades!  After our dinner at S' Maison, they invited us to try the VR+ Next Generation Virtual Reality which they've tried several times but couldn't finish.

vr plus next generation virtual reality
It was located at the end side of Level 2 S'Maison near the restroom. 

vr + next generation virtual reality
We began last February we were lucky to avail of their 30% opening promo so it allowed us to try many times.

virtual reality game s maison
The games had a player number limit.  Since we were 10 and the game we chose had a limit of 5, we had to divide into groups of 5. 

virtual reality game s maison
The guns are a bit heavy but my 12-year old nephew can carry it.

vr game s maison
The rifle is the best weapon for us.

vr game s maison
The games are segregated into different rooms.  We did the Prison Jail so we were ushered to the empty room with black walls. 

vr plus game s maison
Game Experience

1. Graphics
    The game graphics was the most disappointing aspect for me.  I was expecting HD 3D graphics but the game we played was pixelated. 

2. Game Play
     We loved the shooting game we played.  They even had a scoreboard similar to lazer tag games we used to play when we were younger.

3. Equipment
    The weapons were generally good.  But, there was one time when my riffle lost power and didn't have sounds while shooting.  It totally ruined the gaming experience.  It was difficult to know whether I am shooting or out of ammunition or dead.

4. Price
    The discounted price was reasonable but full price is a bit pricey so after we finished the game, we hardly played again.


How We Beat the VR Game
They say that practice makes perfect.  After losing in every game, there was a coffee session for a strategy meeting.  We had to analyze and discuss about the game and ourselves.  Here's my tips:

1. Assign the highest scoring player to the spot where there are many enemies that will pop out. 
2. Adopt a cue system.  We adopted the following shouts which we think are important:
    a. Help
    b. Dead
    c. Alive
    d. Boss
3. Don't fully wear the headset so you can hear your team mate's cues or warning.
4. No need to save bullets, just keep on firing and reload when you're idle.
5. You can shoot in all directions without shooting your team mate.
6. Don't try to finish it when you're tired.  A strategy break or rest is a good way to save your effort and money.

Overall, it was a good experience for us.  We had tons of fun!  Hope they can add more interesting games with better graphics soon.

Fujifilm X-T100 Ambassador James Reid, Baninay, Deegee Razon, Kerwin King and More!

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Yesterday, July 14, 2018 at the Fujfilm Fair held in Glorietta 2 Activity Center.   I arrived just in time for the Fujifilm X-T100 with James Reid #ShowMeYourWorld as the event hall was already surrounded by fans. 

fujifilm x-t100 james reid
Fujifilm celebrity ambassador James Reid shared that he is happy to be part of the Fujifilm family for two years now.

fujifilm x-t100 james reid binany vloggers
It also introduced 18 other ambassadors: Dee Gee Razon, Kerwin King, Rhea Bue, Aryanna Epperson, Marco Gumabao, Lharby Policarpio, Sebastian Castro, Baninay Bautista, Aura Azarcon, Matt Nicolai, Bani Logrono, Jesi Corcuera, Benedict Cua, Gil Cuerva and more.

I think that one thing that's cool about Fujifilm.  It aligns its product well with its market.  The Fujifilm X-T100 at the SRP price of 39,990 php makes it the ideal photography and videography equipment for young enthusiasts.  It inspires us to believe that we can be as influencial as its 18 ambassadors.

james reid fujifilm xt-100 ambassador
James Reid shared what he likes more about the Fujifilm X-T100.


I agree with him on the importance of how easy a camera is so you can focus on shooting.  That is what got me started with my Fujifilm mirrorless camera four years ago too.

bret jackson fujifilm x-t100 launch
Bret Jackson
Bret Jackson heats up the stage as he performs before the crowd.


So the shouts and cheers were so loud when James Reid finally showed himself.


I'm sure you all want to see him perform live on stage so here it is.
 
jadine fans
The lucky 25 first purchasers got to take a photo with James Reid.  For those who weren't as lucky, they still received some love from James through a groufie.

fujifilm philippines glen gatan
Glen Gatan, senior product specialist, shared the highlight features of Fujfilm X-T100.

Actually, I also considered this as my next upgrade unit so I'll share my Top Considerations for Fujfilm X-T100 (This is supposing you already fell in love with Fujifilm like I did and only consider other Fujifilm models as alternative),

Fujfilm X-T100
Fujfilm X-T100
 Fujfilm X-T100 vs. Fujfilm X-A5 vs. Fujfilm X-E3 vs. Fujfilm X-T20
  1. Price Point
  • At an SRP 39,990 php the Fujfilm X-T100 with XC14-45mm kit lens, it is only 5,000 php more than X-A5 which is the latest in the A series. On the other hand it is far cheaper than the X-E3 priced at 64,990 php and X-T20 priced at 51,990 php with the same kit lens.  
Fujfilm X-T100
Fujfilm X-T100
       2. Electronic Viewfinder
  • When shooting outdoors, having a viewfinder is essential.  The Fujfilm X-T100 is the cheapest Fujifilm model with a view finder.

      3.  Colors Available
  • To date, this is the only Fujifilm mirrorless that has a Champagne Gold variation apart from the classic Black and Silver.  (Yes, I am the kind of consumer who considers color in par with features)
       4. Centered Pop-Up Flash
  • I have never used my pop-flash with my A series because it is position on the side.  Flash at the center is better.
       5. 30-Minute Video Clip Length
  • Video clip length for Full HD (not 4K) is 30 minutes.  This is a big improvement from the 5-minute limit (4K) and 14-minute limit (Full HD) of X-A5.
       6. 4K Burst and 4K Multi-Focus
  • You can take 4K Burst and 4K Multi Focus still images of 8-megapixels at 15 fps.  For video I wouldn't recommend shooting on 4k at 15 fps.  It's like the GoPro Hero 5 (who used its 4k at 15 fps before the Gopro Hero 6 was released with 4k at 30 fps right?).  Who shoots at 4k anyway?  If you're uploading on social media, 1080 Full HD is enough.
       7. XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ kit lens
  • It comes with the XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ kit lens which is the first Fujifilm motorized powerzoom lens.  It is so compact (nearly the size of a pancake lens) and lightweight (only 136g while the XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS II is at 195g!). It is also reviewed to be sharper than the XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS II.
Of course, I also have reasons not to upgrade yet.  

        1. Weight
  • It weights 448g including the battery and SD card.  It is heavier than the X-A5 weighting 361g including the battery and SD card and X-E3 weighting 337g including the battery and SD card.  Having powerful mobile phones as an alternative and coming from the A series, I do not see myself as upgrading to a camera which weights 400 g or more.  
Other Fujfilm X-T100 ambassadors
kerwin king fujifilm x-t100
Kerwin King
I began my love for photography and instagram because of my Fujifilm mirrorless.  But, from time to time I get lazy in taking shots or lose creativity as I become buried with my day job.  During those slump days I would look at young, creative and passionate photographers to give me the kick I need to push me to revive my account again.

Nowadays, there's so many platforms for creativity and expression.  Let's see there's:

  • Blog
  • Youtube
  • Instagram (Instagram Posts, Instagram Stories and Instagram TV)
  • Facebook (Facebook Post, Facebook Stories, Facebook Live)
  • Twitter
  • Podcast
  • and many more...
matt nicolai fujifilm x-t100
 Matt Nicolai
Being an accountant (analytical mind), my left brain (creative mind) is already being stretched with writing tasks in blogging and photography through instagram.  So I really look up to those who can do so many things like write, photograph, act, produce, video edit and more at the same time!

bani logrono fujifilm x-t100
Bani Logrono
I mean what can they possibly not do right?  They trully deserve the spotlight!

fujifilm x-t100 launch
They have the gift of showing us their world of spontaneity and fun!

fujifilm x-t100 launch
Sebastian Castro

benedict cua fujifilm x-t100
Benedict Cua
aura azarcon fujifilm x-t100
Dra. Aura Azarcon
Aside from that, they also have their reputable professions.

baninay bautista fujifilm x-t100
Baninay Bautista
fujifilm x-t100 model
Lharby Policarpio

gil cuerva fujifilm x-t100
Gil Cuerva 

fujifilm x-t100 launch


bret jackson james reid
The program ended with a performance by Bret Jackson and James Reid.

Of course, it gained more cheers than ever.

fujifilm philippines
Congratulations Fujifilm for a sucessful Fujifilm X-T100 launch.  Hope you will continue to be a perceived strong and reliable brand with superb after sales service.