My name is Oto Sladek. If I would have to try to characterize myself… long-long-term Fujifilm user, art photographer, always ready for beauty, colors, and shapes around me. Aspects of my artwork that are the most significant for me: minimalism, saturated colors, and narration through visual poetry. I travel a lot for work. Mostly around Europe and Asia, and the Middle East too. And, as many other FujiLovers, I like observing the world through the viewfinder. My camera is simply part of me … FujiLove is, in brief, space, where I can virtually meet with other friends sharing the same passion.
Oto Sladek is a member of the FujiLove Readers Group.
TOMASH: What is your favorite camera / lens combination these days?
OTO SLADEK: I spend most of my days with two cameras: the X100T and the X-T20 (usually with the XF35mm f/2). Both of them have well-balanced sensor/lens abilities. These combinations are compact, so I always have one of them in my bag or next to me in a car.
What are the three main features of the Fujifilm X Series that make this system so attractive for you?
In my photographic life I had used different camera types, from Practica and Nikon film cameras over my digital Olympus era, Canon full-frame times, and finally … Fujifilm. I have used my X10 and X20 Fuji cameras for point and shot situations, but the real game-changer for me was the X100T with its great sensor and still pocket size. So I was comparing the results from my Canon 5D MkIII and the X100T and they were more or less the same, sometimes better from the latter. My Canon gear started gathering dust… The main features that make the Fujifilm system attractive for me are: 1) ultimate sensor quality, 2) durability of their camera bodies (I used them in harsh conditions like Siberia, Kamchatka, Canada or deserts in the Middle East from -40°C to +50°C), 3) compactness /weight… in comparison to non-mirrorless systems.
What do you think Fujifilm could or should still improve in the X Series?
Gear ecosystems naturally always have limits. When I look at other systems, mirrorless or others, the main lack for me is lenses… and I mean long lenses, this range is still not optimally covered. But the situation gets better every year.
Would you have one quick personal Fuji X tip for FujiLovers? A technical trick or a less known setting we could all benefit from?
I always using AE bracketing = in better light conditions less EV difference (e.g. ±1/3 EV) and vice versa in harsh light conditions (e.g. ±1 EV). My old X10 had a nice shooting mode called EXR … it’s a pity it got discontinued, I used it a lot. I also have one tip for street photographers in unsafe countries or situations: my recommendation is to have the camera draped over the shoulder backward and to use the remote control from a mobile phone. But the most important, non-technical advice is to always continue the search for inspiration and graphical approach to photographic work.
Would you be willing to share with us your “best” photograph taken with a Fujifilm X camera along with its EXIF info?
As my “best” photograph I would probably refer to the image below. It’s mostly satisfying all my main points like … minimalism, soft colors, and composition.
FOLLOW OTO ON INSTAGRAM AND EXPLORE HIS PHOTOGRAPHY.
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