Seeking Fuji X (I think!)

So we all shoot in our own way. Rather than chase the latest gear let the gear chase how we shoot!

Looking at my shooting situation right now it's feeling stifled. I don't like carrying too much 'stuff' around, am mainly a wildlife shooter but not heading to Africa again until likely July 2017, I like city breaks and street shooting, so seems the ideal option for right now is one of the Fuji cameras. I'm mildly scrambled tho about which and need some advice. I'll be buying used. I'm hoping I can get some kind of combo for close to £500-550, tho maybe add some if a great used deal comes up?

I like the idea of the X100T as I know I can carry it with me each day and not feel burdened. It's a simple solution. But then the X-T10 looks a better build and better usability from reviews (tho not conclusive), plus I can change lenses. Or there's the X-T1 which seems top of the tree, great build and usability but price maybe too high still used for a good example, tho likely to reduce quite a bit when the v2 comes out (as rumoured!!) Finally in the ring is the X-E2 (just replaced by the X-E2S) which seems to have all the internals of the others, esp with the new firmware, but is less 'prized' and so available cheaper. Is it built well enough and usable enough tho? Do I need a moveable rear screen?

My instinct is probably the X-T10 with either the 18mm or 27mm as a combo of quality build and size. Or maybe the 18-50 OS zoom? Make sense? What would you go for? Usability/handling is a high priority for me so having the ISO easy accessible is probably important - looks like the X-E2 doesn't have the top dial for that. Changing lenses I dunno if I need it for street/city stuff, tho a decent wide angle is always handy. Maybe that rules out the X100T? With the lens change advantage, I could maybe get the Fuji 100-400 zoom downstream?

My final question is I've had a series of Nikon D300s/D700s over the years and love them for wildlife. So other than size/weight (both important) advantages, will the Fuji be a downgrade in final image quality for just street/city shooting? After all, I can get a used D300S for £300 and add a 35mm for £120! Back the the heavy/never carry problem again!

The X-E2 is going for $500 right now brand new... at that price it's a no-brainer IMO. The X-E2 is pretty much the exact same camera as the X-T10, just with the EVF in the corner, a pop-up flash that you can bounce, and it's missing the tilting LCD and "auto" mode button (why would you need it?).

I got my used X-E2 a few months ago for $400 and got the 27mm pancake for $200, at $600 it was a good deal... for $500 (with an arguably better lens, the 18-55mm is excellent) it's a killer deal... and mine was used!

I'll be getting my 18/2 in the mail tomorrow, so I'll update you on how I feel about that one, but I own the other 2 lenses you mentioned and both of them are fantastic.

That's all reassuring. I'm liking the size of the X-E2 compared to the X-T10 but it's not a deal breaker. Am pretty interested in the 18mm. Be nice to pay US $ prices over here

I've owned an X100s and now own an X-T10. I've also rented the X-E1, X-E2, and X-T1 on prior occasions. You mentioned wildlife shooting, just because of that I'd probably recommend the X-T1. I don't do wildlife shooting, but I think the X-T1 just makes sense in terms of balancing the longer telezoom lenses. The X-E series and X-T10 are quite lightweight and compact bodies, so longer/heavier lenses can feel quite front heavy and unbalanced at times. The X-T1's superior build quality just gives it a bit more heft, and I found it to be my ergonomic favorite of any Fuji body I've handled. It felt so good in the hand, I actually spent a day handholding it without any kind of strap (not the smartest idea) but it felt so comfortable and secure in my hand. The weather resistance may come in handy for wildlife shooting. I think the only other weather sealed Fuji body currently is the X-Pro2.

If Fuji was my only system, I would have gone with the X-T1. But I'm using it as a secondary system, so considerations like compactness and cost were paramount, so I decided on the X-T10 instead. That may be a consideration for you as well. As great as AF on these bodies have gotten, I think for tracking wildlife, a DSLR may still be superior. You may consider maintaining a DSLR with a telezoom of your choice just as a dedicated wildlife setup, and using the Fuji system for everything else. If that's the case, you can go with basically any body you've mentioned. I agree with Everyday that the X-E2 at the current price is the best value.

I'm not specifically thinking of using the Fuji for wildlife. The 100-400 lens is potentially of interest but I am more likely looking back to Nikon or Canon downstream for my next trip. I've used both systems during trips. Part of my thinking now is I have gear tied up not being used and depreciating, so I have sold it. As a replacement for the next year plus the Fuji can cover me for city break type trips and local street shooting. Horses for courses. The Fuji will be carried around while my Nikon gear won't be. By 2017 different options will be around for wildlife so would rather invest based on the best bang for my pound then. I agree with you on the X-T1 and hold-ability and usability. These are big things for me. It could also be a viable option for my next safari as a backup for shorter range shooting, up to 200mm. The problem is locating a decent example for the budget I want to spend

For what you want it for right now I'd also suggest the X-e2 or the X-t10. Both are pretty much the same size so it just comes down to if you want and evf on the edge (X-e2) or in the center (X-t10). The 4.0 firmware for the X-e2 brought the af up to that of the X-t10.

Neither have an ISO dial but on my X-E2 I set the top fn button to ISO.

The Fuji 18-55 is an amazing "kit" lens as long as you don't mind the variable aperture. The 27mm lens makes for a nice small kit and makes carry around a camera not feel like a task. I even have the hand grip on my X-e2 and stil find it nice and easy to carry around.

So I went and got my gear and have built it up over the last month or so too. I am enjoying the X-T10, initially with the 27mm which is a great little lens and especially for travelling. I then got the 18-55 OIS which is very nice and usable, the 55-200 OIS which I haven't used as yet, but will be a handy companion lens to a larger Nikon wildlife shooting big boy next year. Finally, bagged the 23mm 1.4 last week which I love and should really replace my 27mm, but I like it for its size and will hold on to it I think for now. It really made a difference to the X-T10 adding a cheapo HK grip to it. Cost £12 or so but is great quality and handling now very good. Was a bit too small for me before the grip arrived.

I have the GT-5000 rubber grip tape on order. I'm still waiting for my Fotga metal grip for my X-T10. I think the tape will add some pleasant texture to the grip.

I've been shooting M43 for many years as a supplemental camera system. The Fuji system has be such a nice jump in consistent IQ over the M43. My basic 18-55 kit lens and 16mmf/1.4 has been quite a useful tool for casual photography.

One concern I have with your system is that it's not weather sealed. I wouldn't be swapping lenses often on your "trip".

The 100-400 would probably be the ideal choice for wildlife but it's certainly expensive. The slower AF 55-200 sounds like a nice compliment.

You've got time but this is the time to buy a lot of OE or 3rd party batteries. It's amazing how fast you can kill a fully charged OE battery. I own Tama Pro and Upstart cheap 3rd party batteries and they work "ok" The OE battery is not very impressive at all with such small mah capacity. This is where you can rattle off more actuations with your Nikon.

For heavier gear I urge you to look into the spider holster pro system. I lug heavy gear all day long and it doesn't bother me at all. Your aging Nikon gear has faster AF and tracking capabilities than our Fuji gear. This is where even an M43 system can track better than fuji with long m43 lenses.

Yes, the Fuji won't cut in my opinion when shooting long and so it can just be a back up system for closer, with the 55-200, and around camp. I'll likely head over to Nikon again with a D700 and 200-500 combo but depending what I can catch closer to the time that may be 'better' bang for my pound! I realise there's a risk as there is no real body redundancy there. I may even sell it all to subsidise the gear I'll need for safari. Am heading to Botswana July/August 2017 with a small group of other POTN peeps. Can't wait!

One thing I'd think about is the 12 megapixel files you get with either d700/d300. The crop sensor you're probably better off looking into buying a D7200 for 24 megapixels. This allow you to have more cropping abilities. Also the age of the D700/300 camera can be a factor too. Buying used those bodies can have a lot of actuations unless you score an extremely lightly used body. Having the older bodies may have a different rendition as far as less "digital looking" to having a file with slightly less micro contrast from an older camera sensor.

If your truly considering on briging a Fuji the X-T1 at least has some form of weather sealing. Not sure how good it is compared to a nikon/Canon.

No matter how much I love Fuji I think it's logical to use the proper tools for the job. Bare minimum you'd need to use an X-T1 and 100-400 weather sealed zoom. That's alot of money imo. For similar money your better off using a heavier dslr that can track moving subjects. Fuji would not be the choice for me.

If your talking about a street photography camera I'd leave the heavy dlsr's at home and use the fuji system for daily use. The more and more I use the fuji I find it more analog looking than most modern day digital camera's. The 16mpx sensor produces enough detail yet extremely pleasing. For portraits the 16mpx is definitely different looking compared to a newer full frame sensor body with more megapixels.

I finally got my GT-5000 grip tape. The difference between with or without tape on the cheap aftermarket aluminum grip is night and day!! The grip literally makes the grip feel as if it's OEM.

Agree with everything there and will check out the grip tape.

My liking for the D700/300/300s series is through much use over several bodies and really the bang per pound these days is immense. For example, saw a low clicks D300 the other week for £200! Daft money really. I have the 7200 on a possibility list too and it'll all come down to what's available for the right cash around June next year. I might even end up going Canon if the right stuff pops up at the time!

condyk wrote in post #18001256
Agree with everything there and will check out the grip tape.

My liking for the D700/300/300s series is through much use over several bodies and really the bang per pound these days is immense. For example, saw a low clicks D300 the other week for £200! Daft money really. I have the 7200 on a possibility list too and it'll all come down to what's available for the right cash around June next year. I might even end up going Canon if the right stuff pops up at the time!

Hi Dave. Seems you and I continue to gravitate towards the same systems/brands. I recently purchased a Fuji X-E2S with the 18-55 OIS for a light-weight vacation camera. We're travelling to Norway in a few months and there is no way I'm lugging around my D700, 16-35 f/4 and 24-70 f/2.8. So far from my testing I'm really liking it. With NR set to zero the results are pretty nice although the camera is a bit poor with regards to dynamic range. Not terrible for a sensor that's a few years old though.

I would have bought the Sony A6300 if it weren't for:

• The Sony zoom lenses designed for mirrorless are not that great. Even the Zeiss 16-70 is very average and over-priced. Yes, Sony has lots of other lenses to choose from, but they are too big and defeat the purpose of having such a compact system. I'd buy a D7200 before going down that path
  
• The control layout doesn't seem like it was designed for a stills shooter that doesn't use auto-everything modes
  

I'm still in the Fuji happy camp Bob and enjoying my X-T10. I agree it appears to lack a certain something which, based on my last set of shots, and really the only ones so far I have needed or had time to process, I thought was due to my use of high ISO in the situation I was in (indoors, quite poor light), but maybe it is dynamic range. I will need to test in good light. I used the 18-55 which was a mistake and should have taken my 23mm. But the lens is very good indeed for a so called kit lens. It performs way beyond expectation and is very nice to use.

condyk wrote in post #18039861
I'm still in the Fuji happy camp Bob and enjoying my X-T10. I agree it appears to lack a certain something which, based on my last set of shots, and really the only ones so far I have needed or had time to process, I thought was due to my use of high ISO in the situation I was in (indoors, quite poor light), but maybe it is dynamic range. I will need to test in good light. I used the 18-55 which was a mistake and should have taken my 23mm. But the lens is very good indeed for a so called kit lens. It performs way beyond expectation and is very nice to use.

On the wide angle the fact that 18mm is f/2.8 I'm extremely pleased with the performance of this kit lens. I sometimes have to remind myself that the 18-55 is a kit lens.

When I use my Canon gear I know exactly the images I'll produce. The fuji is only a crop sensor and I extremely satisfied with the IQ when i shoot natural light. I still haven't quite met my expectations with studio strobe work with fuji colours. This is a work in progress with fuji with my strobes. However for my natural light photos I really find the fuji very satisfying.

I'm just waiting for fuji to produce an OEM flash that is TTL with HSS.

AlanU wrote in post #18040565
On the wide angle the fact that 18mm is f/2.8 I'm extremely pleased with the performance of this kit lens. I sometimes have to remind myself that the 18-55 is a kit lens.

When I use my Canon gear I know exactly the images I'll produce. The fuji is only a crop sensor and I extremely satisfied with the IQ when i shoot natural light. I still haven't quite met my expectations with studio strobe work with fuji colours. This is a work in progress with fuji with my strobes. However for my natural light photos I really find the fuji very satisfying.

I'm just waiting for fuji to produce an OEM flash that is TTL with HSS.

Try using the classic chrome color preset when you import to lightroom, then boost the saturation a touch. I find that makes editing the colors for flash work much faster usually.