Fujifilm and the Melrose Sevens

X-Pro2 + XF100-400mm f4.5/5.6 - 1/1000 @ f5.6 ISO640

Last Saturday I attended my third rugby event to test the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and the 100-400mm lens in a sporting environment. The event in question was the famous Melrose Sevens in the Scottish Borders, a tournament of 7-a-side rugby on a full sized pitch with teams from all over the country and some from further afield. With games lasting seven minutes per half and only seven players compared to fifteen, the action is fast and furious and a good test for the reaction of the camera gear and the photographer.

I was using the X-Pro2 with the Fujinon XF100-400mm lens and the X-T1 with the 50-140mm f2.8 with a 1.4x converter fitted. I did try the 1.4x converter on the 100-400mm and got some excellent results despite losing that extra stop of light.

I set both cameras to manual exposure but left the ISO on auto to compensate for the variable light due to the clouds moving over the town causing the bright sunshine to suddenly disappear only to appear again a few minutes later.

I also shot JPEG only for the first time at a sports event, I did this to focus my mind on the exposure and also test the cameras ability to produce quick images that could be used more or less straight out of the camera. All of the shots on this page are JPEGS with slight adjustments to contrast and levels, with some shots cropped slightly to improve the composition.

I have found the X-Pro2 to be an excellent camera for sport and step up from the X-T1. The X-Pro2s faster processor, faster AF, more focus points and larger sensor has made this my primary camera for sport.

While the X-T1 is still a great camera I find using it for sport frustrating when shooting bursts at 8fps because of the viewfinder blackout. It is something I got used to but now I've used the X-Pro2 the problem has become more noticeable. On two occasions I missed the vital moment because of the EVF blackout. The blackout only happens for a few tenths of a second but in sport tenths count. Whereas the X-Pro2 doesn't suffer from this problem and is a joy to use and you can follow the action all the way.

Fujifilm X-T1 + XF50-140mm f2.8 + 1.4x conv

However the X-T1 can still produce the goods, the AF is great and I can follow the action and capture the shot.

The XF100-400mm is proving to be an extremely flexible lens. The zoom range of 150-600mm in 35mm terms means I can cover almost all of the pitch from the photographers area and with the 1.4x converter added I can zoom right in on the action. The AF is quick and snappy, especially on the X-Pro2, and the OIS means I don't need to put the lens on a monopod, allowing me to be more flexible and able to react to the fast changing game in front of me.

Here are some images from last Saturday's Melrose Sevens