With the motorsports season virtually non-stop, opportunities to take a week off the grid in an exotic destination are next-to-none.
In fact, it hasn’t been since 2014 that I boarded a plane for a trip entirely for pleasure.
That changed this month when I cashed in my frequent flier miles and hotel and car rental points for a trip to Iceland, a place that’s been on my ‘bucket list’ for as long as I could remember.
While I’m fortunate that my travels covering motorsports takes me around the world, I mostly go to the same places year after year, which can get a bit dull.
For 2017, I’m trying to shake that up that by visiting some new locations, off the beaten path from the racing world, and New Zealand was at the top of the list.
Following last weekend’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, I hopped across the Tasman Sea to Queenstown, where I explored Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s largest national park, including a trip to Milford Sound, by bus and plane.
For the past three months, I’ve been testing the new Fujifilm X-T2, which in the mirrorless camera world, has been one of the most highly anticipated cameras to be released this year.
Announced in July, the X-T2 is the latest addition to Fujifilm’s X Series lineup and as I’ve found out through initial real-world testing, is a significant leap forward, not only on the company’s flagship X-T1 model, but also the recently released X-Pro2.
While the X-T1 and X-T2 may look nearly identical side-by-side, there have been some massive upgrades made “under the hood” that has put the X-T2 in a league of its own.
The X-T2 utilizes a 24.2MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor, and while the same sensor and processor from the X-Pro2, it’s the first X Series model to feature 4K video recording, at speeds up to 60fps.
While I’ve long been a DSLR shooter, having invested tens of thousands of dollars into Canon gear, recent advancements in the mirrorless camera industry has made me take a closer look at some alternatives to help fulfill my day-to-day work requirements as a photographer.
I first purchased a Fujifilm X-T1, along with a small assortment of wide to medium-range lenses in January 2015, after recommendations from fellow motorsports snappers, and X-Photographers, Jeff Carter and Andrew Hall.
Having used the camera for general travel photography purposes for the better part of a year, I was intrigued at its potential in the high-speed motorsports environment, particularly if it’s able to keep up with the established gear that’s currently on the market.