Even though I’ve been using Fujifilm cameras for a couple of years now I’ve just recently started playing around with custom film simulation settings or “recipes” as they’re often called.

Since I shoot a lot of black and white film and since a decent amount of my digital shots are converted to black and white I thought I should attempt to create my own custom B&W recipes.

This first one I call “Graystreet 1” which I made for my Fujifilm X-T1. The X-T1 doesn’t have as many options as some of the other cameras in this arena but it still has enough to have some fun with. Graystreet 1 is inspired by some of my favorite fine grain films like KODAK TMAX and FUJIFILM ACROS. (Other Fujifilm mirrorless cameras have a built in ACROS simulation setting but the X-T1 doesn’t.)

Nailing a perfect film simulation is tricky, considering an image shot on film needs to get developed, scanned and or printed before you can see what it truly looks like. So simulating the film stock itself is only one aspect. Since I develop my fine grain films in Rodinal with a stand development method I wanted aspects of this simulation to have that feel. Specifically, the highlights and midtones. 

I took this “Graystreet 1” recipe for a test drive last week in Downtown Las Vegas. It wasn’t the most productive shoot I’ve ever had since I only got a few images that really work for me. Regardless, here are a few samples of JPEGs that are straight out of camera (From the X-T1) using this recipe. Then after the images I’ll share the settings for the recipe itself so you can give it a try on your X-T1.

“GRAYSTREET 1” Settings

  • BASE FILM SIMULATION: B&W
  • DR: 100
  • WB: AUTO
  • SHARPNESS: -1
  • HIGHLIGHT TONE: -2
  • SHADOW TONE: +2
  • NOISE REDUCTION: -2

Try that out and let me know if you like the results you get.

Also, check out my YouTube video on this setting. I’m using to start a new video series called “Straight Out Of Camera”. 

I will be starting the series with film recipes for my X-T1 and X-H1. Eventually I will ad recipes for other Fujifilm cameras as I’m able to add them to my collection.

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