Hi again Richard,
glad you appreciated the comment.
On the highlights I think at the end there is no big difference between the Fuji and Hass… basically is the same sensor.
I just think with digital we have to learn to avoid direct sun in the frame and back lighting when we want thin details of the foreground.
HDR is an option and I use it (or better I used it) a lot. The results are usually nice also if software normally push too much the “HDR Look”. I had very good results merging layers with masks in Photoshop. More natural look than HDR software… but it is really a lot of work!
To be honest I’m becoming very lazy on post production. I do not mind to spend hours to take the pictures. When I worked on large format film my record was a couple of weeks to think, create and realize a single image and I like to do that. But post processing and the time spent in front of the computer for me is becoming a pain.
My main goal right now is to reduce post processing time. I already switched years ago to CaptureOne and that was a great optimization and allowed a great quality straight out of the camera.
To be honest, more I go on and less I like the digital look, and with this I mean the over saturated, sharpened, dodged, burned, filtered etc. pictures that are now trendy. I look at most of the contests results and I just think: “Too much Photoshop!”
I already had my personal middle age crisis, and solved it in the traditional way… now I feel I have a middle age photographic crisis and I’m refocusing myself. Film is helping me a lot because brought me back to the basics: light, content, composition and time dedicated to the subject.

I have to try some video… I did something but with not satisfying results.

Hi again,
Thanks for your interesting comments on highlight compression with digital capture. Although camera sensor are so much better than the early day, I would agree with you. I have just moved to the X H 1 because I have video requirements. The eterna setting is a very nice base to work from for stills. Sadly, I have no need or deep enough pockets for the GFX, I will try to find owners of GFX and Hasselblad to compare. As a long time film user, I can understand the appeal of the look and the process. Perhaps HDR is the solution with still subjects at the moment.

Thanks for your nice words.
If you are a pure digital photographer and never tried film… do it! Get a film camera, you can find them free from friends or for $50 on Ebay, and try a film.
The developing process is very eay, or you can send it to a lab. It is really an experience that will change your approach to photography.

Also… I’m working on other articles, so if you like write me an email and tell me what you do not know about film and the film process, and I can answer some questions and explain you in private about my project.

DR settings are really strange… they basically seems to change the sensibility of the sensor, not a big deal using the internal meter but a real problem with an external meter. And DR settings modify also the RAW. So it can be good… but I prefer to just know the camera and keep the thing simple with settings I can trust will give me an uniform result.

Yes… XPro have a square option… but try to look at the focusing screen of an Hasselblad and you will understand why is not really an option 😀

I find all the jpg out of the camera to have the shadows to closed… I almost never use the jpg, I prefer RAW much more. Usually I do the B&W conversion straight out of CaptureOne.
Jpg was just for this test, I have seen some nice pictures around taken with the Acros simulation so I was curious. But is not for me.

We can start a crowdfunding for the dream camera! Two is a good starting point lol

Thanks.
Yes, it is impressive how good is a Fuji sensor.
With RAW recover the dynamic range can be superior to the film. I did not do any specific test with the Fuji, but when I did it with the Canon 1Ds mkIII, I have seen a great dynamic range using recovery in CaptureOne, and I’m sure Fuji is much better.
The problem with digital is not the dynamic range but how it saturates in highlights. That is the reason why I still think film is more natural.
The human eye compresses a lot the highlights and is not very good in dark areas when there is contrast. Very similar to film, the opposite of digital.
I wold love to do a GFX test! But I have not that camera available so, unless Fuji or someone will give me one to test, I’m out of options for now.

I did not do any sharpness on the scan. I wanted to test the most neutral situation possible. With a fine grain developer, sharpness etc, I’m pretty sure the film can get a little bit better than the X-Pro2.
I just wanted to test a normal every day usage without looking for the extreme elaboration.