We photographers can be a sentimental bunch. We have long and fond memories and often prefer familiarity to change.

For me, as I work professionally and teach, the quality of print is and always will be my benchmark for my tools of choice. If my film and or camera can produce what my mind sees and a quality print, I am a happy photographer.

Since starting with photography many years ago I chose the film that gave me the results I desired. I don't shoot much film these days, but when I do load some Medium Format or some 5 x 4 I am still comforted when I open that vivd green box.

I know the quality is there and my prints will be as gorgeous as they always have been. Sentimental perhaps, nostalgic certainly, but I trust Fuji Film.

Now I shoot predominantly digital but my choice of tool is no less important.

I want something that not only produces the highest quality prints I am used to but is also a pleasure to carry and use. Something that compliments my style and does not fight me too much. Something that works with me and not against me.

We live in an ever accelerating technological surge. New equipment is seemingly announced weekly and our choices expand to dizzying proportions. Choice is good, yet if you are like me when walking down the breakfast cereal aisle of any supermarket, too much choice can be confusing rather than helpful. 

When a company gives us choices with the same fundamental heart and soul within though, that's just clever. The aesthetics, ergonomics and abilities are different, yet the inner workings that provide the actual output are the same, that's the kind of good choices.

With my happy trio above I have so many options. Yet all contain that gorgeous beating heart of the 16 megapixel X-Trans sensor. I have choices for carry, aperture, ND filter, leaf shutter, fill-flash, optical and EVF, all choices that I can make for shooting and which I would most need, yet I am assured the file output is consistent, that's my kind of choices.

Low light, noise free high iso and amazing micro contrast.

Amazing dynamic range and colour rendition.

Effortless night time shooting for documentary with stunning rendition.

Elegant studio performance with strobes.

Whatever I have thrown at my brace of Fuji X cameras they have performed stunningly and complemented my work in an effortless and yes fun way. Of course they are objects, tools, yet they have seemingly become my friends. Never before have I bonded so with a camera or smiled so much when using one. It's like going on an adventure with an old friend and sharing the experience with an unseen smile.

Many times I have read, "if only this were included", "if this was faster or that was sealed", "if it was only FF". But how many of these people have stopped to really think about there excuses?

I printed my recent "The Munchies" series on A3 paper and could so easily have printed to A2 or larger due to the quality of file (this series was photographed using the X Pro1). There was no visible noise, the colours just jumped off the paper and the dynamic range was huge.

Many seem to "think" they want the "do it all" camera, what we have come to think of as "the Swiss Army Knife" in terms of features. But guess what, Swiss Army Knives currently come in over 150 flavours! Guess they are not the be all and end all answer in one tool either :)

The point is, if you need ,say Medium Format, then probably that is what you need to buy. There are so many kinds of camera then there surely is one for everybody and every need. But if you need a great all round tool, with a small (yet very useful) choice, then the Fuji X cameras take some beating! With a range that contains the same heart and soul you can be assured of consistent output. And furthermore, Fuji not only listens to us as a photographic community, they constantly upgrade the firmware in their cameras to make our lives even more pleasant and easier.

So, I choose Fuji firstly for file output for my prints, then perhaps equal parts comfort, function and sentimentality. But no matter why I choose to professionally use Fuji for work and teaching, there is never a Perfect camera, but for me my Fuji's are PerfeXtion.