Reviews

I recently purchased the Fujifilm GFX 100S in order to add a high resolution body to my photography kit. While I love my Nikon Z7 and have an extensive kit for it, after decades of using a 4x5 camera, I was looking for a camera that had higher resolution than the Z7 and one that would encourage me to slow down in the field.

The GFX 100S is a medium format mirrorless camera, featuring a 102 mp back-illuminated CMOS sensor with the X-Processor. Unlike its sibling, the GFX 100, this camera features a more compact design; it’s about the size and weight of a modern DSLR, but somehow feels more solid.

I came to the realization that I needed a smaller, lighter camera kit for my travels. It needed to be able to produce the high-quality images yet be easy to handle and operate. After handling the Nikon Z7 at a local camera reseller I was sold; the Nikon Z7 is small and like, but importantly it felt like a Nikon.

After using this camera kit for several months, around Arizona and on trips to Greece and Germany, I can now say I've found exactly what I was looking for. This article shares my thoughts on this camera kit. It’s not an in-depth or technical review, it’s a review of how it’s impacted me as a travel photographer.

In this review I will use the following set of gear in reference:

• Nikon Z 7 camera (review) (Nikon)
• Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/4 S Lens (review) (Nikon)
• Nikkor Z 14-30 mm f/4 S Lens (review) (Nikon)
• Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S Lens (review) (Nikon)
• Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens (review) (Nikon)

I used an older lens from my previous kit on both trips; the Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II AF-S Zoom Lens on the Greece trip and the Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens on the Germany trip (both F Mount lenses using the Nikon FTZ adapter).

To learn more about the Nikon Z 7 see: Nikon Z 7 Official Site

Prior to a recent trip to Europe I purchased the Irix 15mm f/2.4 Firefly lens for Nikon from Amazon. I was seeking an ultra-wide lens that was lightweight, at a reasonable cost, and a fast wide angle focal length for interior work.

There are two versions of this lens: the Firefly and Blackstone. Both lenses are identical in performance, and differ only in construction. The Blackstone version is the more premium version of the lens, with slightly more weather sealing and constructed in an aluminum-magnesium alloy, compared to the plastic construction of the Firefly. Both versions of the lens are manual focus only, but extremely sharp. The 15mm focal length is ultra-wide on a full frame body, taking in a 110° diagonal angle of view. The Irix lens is designed by Switzerland-based TH Swiss and manufactured in South Korea.

In the past I've always purchased train tickets in Europe from the train station nearby (since I'm quite familiar with Germany and its rail system this was quite easy for me). This year, I decided to purchase them ahead of time, so I decided to give try Rail Europe a try. This was my first experience with them. I was able to quickly setup and compare routes - Amsterdam, NL to Bruges, BE - to determine the best routing for me.

I purchased a ticket on the Thalys high-speed train from Amsterdam to Brussels, and then by local train to Brugges, all in 1st class. This 1 hr 50 min ride is mostly on slower lines, but it does reach 300 kph (186 mph) on some stretches of track. It takes longer to go from Amsterdam to Brussels than it does from Paris to Brussels, even though it's a much shorter distance.

Likes

• The site is easily navigable allowing you to quickly find schedules for the route you are interested in.
• Online agents are available for a quick chat, but this is really becoming the norm on websites these days, and is pretty much expected.

Dislikes

• Rail Europe does not provide a telephone number to call in case of questions or concerns, so you will need to rely on email. However, the concerns that I raised with them via email were quickly addressed (the tickets I purchased didn't show my final destination - Brugges - but I was told after emaling that the tickets covered all of the Belgium lines - indeed, I had no trouble when the conductor looked at my tickets).

I purchased my tickets from them, with the order being swiftly processed, and I received a notification that the tickets had shipped to me within hours of my purchase.