I arrived in Taipei to cover Computex 2026 with a challenge I hadn’t anticipated.
Before the trip, Fujifilm Philippines lent me a Fujifilm X-T30 III to use during my stay in Taipei while covering Computex 2026. While I had previously used Fujifilm’s Instax cameras, this was my first experience with one of the company’s mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. I knew I was stepping into a different world.
Fujifilm had a devoted following, particularly among photographers who swore by its film simulations and customizable film recipes. What I didn’t know was just how steep the learning curve would be for a complete beginner.
Looking back, choosing the X-T30 III as my introduction to the Fujifilm ecosystem was a trial by fire. There were moments of panic when I accidentally changed settings and couldn’t remember how to get them back. Sixty percent of the time I sat in confusion as I navigated menus that felt unfamiliar compared to what I was used to.
There were plenty of instances when I found myself watching TikTok tutorials at the end of a long day, trying to figure out whether I had correctly entered a film recipe. Until, finally, a friend suggested I use the FujiXWeekly app. It offers so many film recipes, and you can even check if a recipe is compatible with your Fujifilm camera.
I spent my first few days experimenting with different settings, often second-guessing whether I had saved them correctly. Eventually, I landed on a recipe called ‘KK1’, which I discovered through TikTok, and was built around the Classic Neg film simulation.
One photo at a time
One of the first photos that made me appreciate the KK1 recipe was taken at a Xing Fu Tang branch in Ximending Night Market.
The warm lighting inside the shop could have easily overwhelmed the image, but the X-T30 III rendered it with a soft, film-like quality. The reflections on the glass, the workers focused on their tasks, and the rows of milk cartons all contributed to a photograph that felt authentic rather than staged.
More importantly, it taught me an early lesson about Fujifilm photography. Sometimes the most memorable travel photos are not famous landmarks but ordinary moments that tell a story about a place.
That lesson continued during my first night in Taipei, when I took the camera on a photowalk around Ximending Night Market.
A simple display of souvenir keychains became an opportunity to experiment with light, texture and composition. The KK1 recipe gave the image a nostalgic warmth that reminded me of browsing night markets as a traveler rather than documenting them as a reporter.
The same was true during a visit to the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan. At first glance, one photograph appeared to show an elegant dining room illuminated by warm lighting. In reality, it was part of a miniature exhibit. The X-T30 III preserved the intricate details while giving the scene a dreamy, almost storybook quality.
This was also one of the moments when I began to understand why Fujifilm users spend so much time perfecting film recipes. The photo already carried a distinct mood straight out of the camera, requiring little additional editing.
Another memorable photo came from the National Museum, where I encountered a deer display through glass. Shooting through glass at night is rarely ideal; between reflections, uneven lighting and focusing challenges, there were plenty of opportunities for the shot to fail.
Instead, the X-T30 III delivered an image rich with texture and atmosphere. The warm tones complemented the exhibit, while the reflections added depth rather than distraction. It was one of those moments where I stopped worrying about settings and simply enjoyed taking photographs.
As my confidence with the camera grew, so did my willingness to seek out more interesting compositions. A photo that is worthy of mention was the one taken during dinner at a hotpot restaurant. As someone still learning the camera, I expected to struggle once the sun went down.
Instead, the X-T30 III produced one of my favorite photos from Taiwan. The warm hanging lamp draws attention to the center of the frame, while the surrounding shadows create an intimate atmosphere. Rather than feeling like a food shot, it feels like a memory.
Finally, one evening, I found myself standing in a hidden alleyway overlooking Taipei 101. In the distance stood one of Taiwan’s most recognizable landmarks. In the foreground were aging buildings, narrow streets and a lantern-lit restaurant.
The contrast felt like a visual representation of Taipei itself, where modernity and tradition coexist.
The KK1 recipe helped bring the scene together. Warm lanterns stood out against the cooler tones of the cityscape, while the subtle grain added character to the image. More than anything, the photograph captured how the city felt at that moment.
The photos from that alleyway became one of my favorites from the trip. It focused on the restaurant itself, illuminated by glowing red lanterns against the darkness of the surrounding street.
By then, I had become comfortable enough with the camera to stop worrying about menus and settings. Instead, I focused entirely on the scene in front of me.
What impressed me most was how the X-T30 III handled the lighting. The lanterns remained vibrant without overpowering the image, while enough detail remained in the shadows to preserve the character of the alley. The result was a photograph that felt cinematic without requiring extensive editing afterward.
Verdict
The Fujifilm X-T30 III was not an easy camera for me to learn. As someone coming from smartphones and more familiar camera systems, I found myself overwhelmed by the menus, the dials and especially the world of film recipes.
The X-T30 III taught me to slow down and encouraged me to look beyond landmarks and pay attention to the mundane things that make a place memorable. Most importantly, it made photography fun.
Would I recommend the Fujifilm X-T30 III to a complete beginner? Yes with a caveat. Expect a learning curve and moments of frustration. Having an expert on call anytime is a plus. I know I did. I chose the ‘call a friend’ option multiple times during my hour of need.
However, if you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll learn that this is a camera that helps shape the way you experience them. I arrived in Taipei as a Fujifilm beginner and left understanding why so many photographers never want to shoot with anything else.
