Got the x-e2! First impressions, and now what?

Figured I would make a new thread for this rather than add it to speed booster one etc.

First off, gotta love ems shipping, 6 days from Japan.

Ok, so immeadiate initial impressions are:

-the camera and lens (18-55) are well made, like really ooze quality. Like better than anything canon at the price point by far, and the lens feels like it is made like my sigma art, but old world better if that makes sense.

-camera itself is awesome small as I wanted, I can also see wanting a pancake style lens for stealth carry around.

-the menu system is Japanese. Not really as seller was kind enough to make English (For anyone who hasn't bought used Japanese goods, they do it the best by far, treat it like you are buying silver from tiffinays at 500% mark up, and I am planning on an afternoon of football and internet manual reading since my manual IS in Japanese, literally.

-ISO 800 max? Not going to lie, this would have been a deal breaker. I am going to look to update firmware but if that is the case this is major bummer. Also, I hate the dial for exposure, would rather it was ISO, it not judging yet as I am not competent at all in menu and functions.

-Pics are like sick quality from a point and shoot feeling camera. The evf is snappy (happy I sprang for the e2) and wierd when you have it on a pic style mode but cool because you see the finished photo. I think I will dig that in long run.

-I can't imagine this replacing a dslr. Right now looking like super awesome companion as was purpose, but curious as to all the switchers, perhaps it is cuz the e2 body is not prosumer?

-zone af seems good, again to menu, I can't judge it because all I could figure out on the fly is moving the zone box around the frame. I also thought it was touch screen zoom for some reason, it is not, but that doesn't bother me at all. I just really need some hours of vids and reading.

That is all for now and I will update this for any canon guys that are dipping toes in water and looking at Fuji for a small system. I feel like right now (Had it an hour) the menu and my lack of knowledge is 80% or more of my nit picks so I want to get some time on that. The menu is also different if it is in viewfinder or looking at pics? Again, the ISO is what is bothering me the most, I was expecting 3200 usable, not 200-800 total range, this is 2016 not 2006.

Ok, breezed through manual online. I am going over a neighbors to help him put shocks on an rc car, but wanted to not leave this post where I left it.

This thing is Fing awesome. ISO situation was straightened out, not sure if it was a command dial thing or auto800, but don't care, it is solved and at auto 3200. Focus peaking practice for manual lenses is awesome, as is split image. Af points/zone switching is fast. Once I unlocked the menu buttons worked and switching on fly within an hour became like I had it longer.

So here is the reason I am posting a fast follow up. I put it in monochrome for screwing around. I have the kit lens(All be it I was warned it is far from kit, and it is), and I haven't put anything on a computer, but if these files(I think I am only shooting jpeg?) come out like they look on the LCD........I get it. I get the hype. a monochrome M9 lieca is like my dream toy not worth money camera, and I think I just accidentally got one for a lot less. I am wowed at the rendering on some around the house stuff I have taken with no regard to making a nice photo and just playing with learning this. I will post some later, but if this looks like what it does on the lcd, really really pleased. I can see myself just wanting to shoot monochrome jpegs 90% of the time with this. Can't wait for adaptor to come to use my Pentax and focus peaking....

I just picked one up this morning. I drove from Chicago to Kenosha to buy one from a guy. The thing looks brand new and was still in the box along with every accessory you can add to it. Thumb grip, hand grip, soft shutter, remote, batteries and a memory card for a low price. I don't have any lenses yet, but I ordered an adapter to use my Rokinon 35mm f1.4 until I can decide on wether or not I want the 56mm or a Rokinon 50mm and 85mm. I'm glad to see someone else giving their thoughts on this camera. I can't wait to shoot with it. Glad you like yours!

So maybe today I will play with raw files in LR. These are just camera set to monochrome and jpeg and are sooc except I cropped one a hair and moved a slider another, but this is really sooc for all intents, just wanted to disclaim the 2 quicky nothings I did.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Q1PS​28

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Q1PS​Kn

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Q1PT​wx

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/QFa7​vE

Finally shot some raw only yesterday. I didn't find the files to be difficult in LR, I mean it isn't the same as FF in terms of shadows latitude but again coming from 60d being my last crop I thought it pulled shadows really well.

Some final notes and some raw pics converted in LR.

The bright sun, especially down here, is an issue for both evf and back screen. Maybe you can adjust brightness way way more than mine is at, but it may be at battery expense. Battery doesn't last long, but that has been covered. The af can be a little point and and shootish and the camera waking up to being able to respond to a shot takes some time and can miss a shot. Also the square is Too big and can be unreliable if trying to focus on something just behind something else if some of square is on that. Not a big deal and at is probably as good as could be realistic for a camera like this. I wish it was a dot though.

That is about all the negatives. I am sorta infatuated with it. It was so much easier to tote around, and I did find the kit lens again useful, which is maybe my biggest surprise. So far.

Nick3434 wrote in post #18245883
Also the square is Too big and can be unreliable if trying to focus on something just behind something else if some of square is on that. Not a big deal and at is probably as good as could be realistic for a camera like this. I wish it was a dot though.

The AF point size can be adjusted. At its biggest it is huge but at its smallest it just barely surrounds the cross that shows the af points location.

Have tried making the point smaller?

Nice write up!

I'm recently enjoying a used Xt1 (same sensor)

Indeed, the "kit" lens is very nice! The whole thing feels more like "bling" than anything else I have shot since film. Small, heavy and well built. Hard to beat.

The good lenses are fantastic, and a little pricey, but not from a quality/value standpoint, in fact they are cheap in that regard.

There are some super deals to be had with the "less good" lenses.
I recently picked up the 27mm f/2.8 and 50-230mm.

These are more "kit like" lenses, plastic bodies, no aperture ring.
Using them means changing how you shoot, with the aperture ring missing, BUT they are optically very nice, light weight and can be VERY affordable. The 50-230mm was half off for a while via B&H and Adorama, so only $200.00!

If Fuji was my only kit, I'd probably only want the good lenses,. but I have plenty of "serious" gear, and this is my portable for fun camera, so I am enjoying the lightweight low cost lenses just fine.

I've got to admit, I haven't shot much RAW,. the jpegs from this camera with it's built in processing settings are so good.

Thanks, I am surprised more canon guys are not intrigued by fuji as a compliment and figured why not write up the experience.

We are on the totally same page with this. What you described is just it. Like I hate, I mean hate slow zooms, but I am loving this kit lens and I have never not shot raw in years, but I am loving the jpegs out of camera. Hell, I shot a colorful truck today and switched it from monochrome to velvia and BOOM, may list work was done. I am loving all this because it Is making great images and simplifying everything. Part of me feels that if I invest too much in this then I will ruin that, and I already have a really capable kit. The other part of me wants to see Some better glass on this thing, and that part is going to win haha.

Gremlin, I have it on points not zone, and the whole screen is rows and columns of points I can choose so I am pretty sure I have it on smallest, but I am also sure that in the 100 pics I have snapped with this, I have missed a few I thought were right. Of course now I know center of box trumps anything slightly in the box as far as a point. I am still really new with it, but it didn't take long to "Get it" and see why Fuji has following it has. I am totallly enamored with it and trying to figure out my lens strategy.

I am thinking the 16 is my preferred choice but too much money and I have a 24L. So I like the idea of the 18/2 and the 34/1.4......or the 23/1.4 or23/f2 and 35/2. One of those setups. I will grab a samyang 12mm and call it a day. I am trying to thoughtfully do this.

Nick3434 wrote in post #18246576
Gremlin, I have it on points not zone, and the whole screen is rows and columns of points I can choose so I am pretty sure I have it on smallest, but I am also sure that in the 100 pics I have snapped with this, I have missed a few I thought were right. Of course now I know center of box trumps anything slightly in the box as far as a point. I am still really new with it, but it didn't take long to "Get it" and see why Fuji has following it has. I am totallly enamored with it and trying to figure out my lens strategy.

I'm talking about single point af as well, not zone af.

When you're changing the af point in single point you can use the scroll wheel to change the size of the af point. Here's some pics at its largest and smallest size. There are 5 sizes the af points can be. The smaller the point the more accurate focus should be.

As far as lenses go, you can't really go wrong with any. Depending on what focal lengths you like you have several option. As a second system I think I'd like the 23 f2 and possibly wait to see how the 50 f2 is going to be as well. Though I can say the 16mm f1.4 is an amazing lens! 16, 35, and 56 is a nice combo for me. But I'm also switching from canon crop to fuji so its becoming my primary system.

Gremlin thanks and that is awesome! Ok, didn't realize you had that control. I will change it in mine for sure now.

16, 35, 56 is a killer setup. I love it as I love my 14/24/50/135 combo on FF. Same principles. That is why I wanted to do more of a 23 and 56 thing with Fuji. Give me 35/85 that I don't have on FF. I am trying to not keep it too similar, as well as figure out how far I want to go.

Like I said, I am only 4 days with this, and I am getting it, I get the reason guys make a complete transition. I like my canon glass and 6d, and I like setting up a tripod for sunrise and having serious ISO capability if I have to shoot interior shots hand held for work at F5.6-F8, so I think they both serve a purpose and I want to grow the Fuji into non conflicting kit lens wise. But I think any canon guy who hasn't ventured outside the canon dslr in years would be stunned by what this little package delivers. If you said I could get a 60d quality in a PS size camera I would have been thrilled at that. This thing blows the doors off the 60d in probably everything but af. Most important though is it is just so much more fun to have on you.

Nick,

Now you did it.............

It'll take a while to tame your excitement about the fuji world

Start to incorporate panoramic photos for fun. You'll dig how simple it is to make killer panoramic shots for some fresh pics vs the canon gear you own. What is remarkable is the image quality you get from the quick pano shots from the fuji.

I own the Canon 24L and the 16mm was a must have for me. Grabbing the fuji body with 16mm is a comfort zone for me instead of lugging my heavier Canon gear with 24L. I do find that there is a time a place to lug my Canon full frame gear.

If you like UWA the 10-24mm f/4 is slow in speed but the IQ is "wow"!!

Most importantly have fun with the fuji world. What you may find is a new found energy and enthusiasm in shooting.