2026 Issue 1 - Summer - tonypalmer.photos

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Fuji Film XT30ii + 18-55mm f2.8-4

December's silly season hit hard as usual, end-of-year meetings, Christmas celebrations, and the inevitable rush. Having worked through the previous year's enforced shutdown, I was genuinely looking forward to some downtime. My summer goal was simple: spend as much time as possible in the ocean, body surfing, surfing, and water photography all while building up my fitness heading into Autumn.

The early December heat was perfect. A few 30-degree days made early morning and lunchtime swims an easy habit. With the Christmas break on the horizon, things were looking up.

I stayed out of the ocean for most of January and February. The statistics had always provided a quiet comfort. For the first time, the "statistics" felt less like comfort and more like a reality check. My relationship with the ocean as a carefree playground shifted.

I wasn't alone. Line-ups that were once packed thinned out noticeably. Slowly, life has returned to normal, and as of this month the crowds are back to where they were.

I'm now thinking seriously about getting back into the ocean (once my knee heals - another story) and most likely starting with surfing before returning to water photography.

I've also been listening to Brett Butcher's podcast, "Crossing the tideline" where he's on a mission to find out more about sharks, shark encounters, attacks and what we can do about sharing space with these creatures. It's definitely worth a listen and there are 4 episodes, so far and its available on Apple and Spotify platforms

After this long of a break, rebuilding surf fitness will be a real shock to the system.

Enjoy the photos from the start of summer below.

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One overcast morning I pushed myself out for a session specifically to experiment with slow shutter (shutter drag) photography in the water.

Overcast conditions are actually ideal for this, bright days simply offer too much light to pull it off. I'm happy with the results, and it's a technique I'll be exploring more in future sessions.

The following day brought sunshine and playful (if crowded) waves, a good reminder that Sydney's Northern Beaches delivers something for every mood.

The Christmas break flew by. Bodysurfing with my oldest most days was a highlight, and we both made it down to Dukes Day to grab some shots of the event.

January brought warm, overcast, and rainy days which is not ideal for the bright, colourful water images I love. But the weather was the least of it. Two shark incidents shook the entire Northern Beaches community. Week after week there were reports of shark sightings and beach closures along my stretch of the Northern Beaches.

Coming back from the break and watching perfect waves peel at Queenscliff and North Steyne with not a single surfer in the water was genuinely surreal.

Summer beach days

Fuji Film XT30ii + 18-55mm f2.8-4

Morining glow on Pilu Baretto

Canon R6ii + RF 70-200mm f2.8 @70mm

Dave and Ruby, another day another surf

Canon R6ii + RF70-200mm f2.8 @70mm

Summer started with plenty of salubrious swimming days

Canon R6ii + RF 24-105 f4 @35mm

...and plenty of playful longboard days

Canon R6ii + RF 24-105mm f4 @35mm

Canon r6ii + 70-200

Abstract ocean textures

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Lunch time swim session, when it's 30+ and you're working from home.

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Slow shutter on an overcast day

Canon R6ii + RF50mm f/8 and 1/50s

Andjana trimming on the inside

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Aldrick and Jen, little summer peelers on a very busy morning.

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Jen, stoked to be in the water on a beautiful morning.

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Summer mornings don't get much better

Canon R6ii + RF 500mm

Sometimes it just nice to chill, stretch out and enjoy the atmosphere.

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Of course you need to be skilled to navigate the crowds

Canon R6ii + RF50mm

Another summer peeler

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Cruising

Canon R6ii + RF 50mm

Crystal clear days

Canon R6ii + RF 24-105mm

A classic Freshwater weekend, with a nostalgic edit.

Canon R6ii + RF 24-105mm @35mm

Canon R6ii + RF 70-200mm

Early morning in the hood, before Dukes Day

Dukes Day surfers, getting ready for the sunrise shot

Canon R6ii + RF 70-200mm

Greeting the morning sun

Canon R6ii + RF 70-200mm

Canon r6ii + 70-200

Canon R6ii + 70-200mm

(left) Matt and the board that Tom (right) shaped.

Sara and Blair, sunrise surf on Duke Day

Canon R6ii + RF 70-200mm

Matt taking in the scene and culture.

Canon R6ii + 70-200

Freshie had some nice conditions that morning.

Canon R6ii + 70-200

Ben Zanatta, punting

Canon R6ii + EF 100-400mm

Air wind

Canon R6ii + EF 100-400mm

Tail high

Canon R6ii + EF 100-400mm

I don't often do landscapes, the forecast was for a better sky.

Canon R6ii + RF24-105mm @24mm, 20 seconds

Another nostalgic edit, in a similar style to my fuji recipe.

Canon R6ii + RF 24-105mm @35mm

The Espy

Canon r6ii + RF 24-105mm

Why I Chose the Fuji XF 35mm f2

I wanted a small, lightweight prime that I could grab at a moment's notice, something that wouldn't make me think twice about throwing it in a bag.

The main contenders were:

Fuji XF 35mm f2 (52mm full-frame equivalent)

Fuji XF 27mm f2.8 (41mm full-frame equivalent)

Fuji XF 23mm f2 (35mm full-frame equivalent)

There's a nice bit of history here too. In the 1960s, the 50mm lens was the default choice for 35mm film cameras easiest to manufacture, sharpest available, and utterly dominant in the consumer market. Walk into any second-hand camera store today and most film cameras still come paired with a 50mm f1.8, f1.7, or f1.4.

I picked up the XF 35mm f2 in the end-of-year sales, and it's been a genuine surprise, sharp, characterful, and compact.

What I particularly love is the physical aperture ring on the lens itself, which encourages a more considered, deliberate approach to each shot before you even raise the camera to your eye.

The only issue with the Xt30ii is the auto focus, which is not an issue for the shots I want to take with this camera. I have been spoilt by Canon auto focus, and the Canon will still be used for action and more serious projects and when I don't mind taking a bulky set up.

Sample images shot with the XF 35mm f2 below and some shots of the set-up taken with the Canon R6ii + RF 24-105 f4

Why I Added the Fuji XF 35mm f2 to My Kit

The Fuji XT30ii — A Small Camera With a Viewfinder

A while back I picked up a second-hand Fuji XT30ii , one of the smallest APS-C cameras, superseded by the now available XT30iii , and it's punching well above its "entry level" label, even including a viewfinder. That last point matters to me. I shoot almost everything through the viewfinder; it keeps me engaged with the process in a way the rear screen simply doesn't.

Spec wise, It has a 26MP BSI Sensor, 4k/30 video, 2.36m-dot EVF and a 3" 1.62m-dot touch screen and a built in flash. It weights around 378g with a card and battery. A pretty capable entry level camera and an excellent first camera that can grow with you, especially as you can swap lenses, an advantage over the trendy X100Vi. Not only that, but is proven to be a brilliant little every-day-camera (EDC) for the already serious photographer, that wants a small kit.

The Fuji film simulations and recipes are another big draw. Having your own look baked into the JPEG means less time in post-processing, a real advantage when you're shooting for a consistent, vintage aesthetic.

The included lens, the XF 18-55mm f2.8-4 (27–82mm full-frame equivalent) is genuinely impressive as a travel zoom sharp, versatile, and well-built. But it made the XT30ii feel bulky, which defeated the point of having such a compact body.

Looking back through my shots, the vast majority were taken at 35mm or 50mm equivalent anyway. I shoot with a vintage feel in mind, and those focal lengths suit that style best.