Fujifilm X-T50 & Classic Porsches: A Day in Vancouver

Fujifilm sent me an X-T50 and to be honest I didn't have a real plan on what to shoot until I got a message from a guy named Kevin on Instagram. Kevin, an automotive photographer from California, was visiting Vancouver just for a few days. He'd seen my videos on Fujifilm cameras and wanted to connect.

Brandon (left) and Kevin (right) chatting cameras. 

Grabbing a bite to eat with Dre (left) and company

This is like a 'choose your own adventure' moment. Had I ignored the message or said no, none of the stuff that happened over the next few days would have happened. 

So in the spirit of saying 'yes' to new opportunities, which I've been intentionally doing. I invited him to meet up at Flatsix Classics.

Culture Nodes

Flatsix, and air cooled Porsches in particular, are what I'd call a brand node. They serve as a focal point around which like-minded people gather. 

The decisions that go into designing certain products, like a Porsche (or Fuji camera) - whether intentional or not - create a set of values that resonates with a specific group of people. And I'm not talking about the technical specifications.

This acts like a magnetic force of sorts, attracting people with similar characteristics or interests. Fujifilm is one of these nodes as well. They attract a certain type of enthusiast. Those that care about aesthetics but also practical. And while I would never recommend purchasing a camera to join a ‘community’ or ‘culture’ the X-T50 is the latest and least pricey Fujifilm camera with this generation’s sensor & processor combo.

Fujifilm’s Release Strategy: A Camera for Every Level

Fujifilm's release schedule is very predictable and much like some car brands. Similar to how an automotive manufacturer may release a particular engine in one of their models, then slowly trickle out new models with the same power unit - Fujifilm will release a sensor and processor combo (currently the X-Trans 5 sensor and X-Processor 5) in each new generation of cameras. It starts in their most flagship model (Currently the XH2) then trickles down to more affordable, less highly specced cameras, in this case, the XT5, X100VI and now the XT50. 

One hangout triggers another and the next thing you know, what started as a video with no ideas, has resulted in footage and stills from a range of interesting environments and people.

From the Flatsix Classics shop, a food court, the RWB build and the Cars & Coffee we have ourselves a video.

Yours truly

All this being said, it was all the precursor to a proper photoshoot with the other camera Fujifilm had sent over. The GFX100Sii - but that’s for another time.