Fuji X Series

Mekrel · 25 Mar 2026 at 22:06

I genuinely can't remember why I sold it, but recall picking up the 23 f1.4 R afterwards.

Raymond Lin · 25 Mar 2026 at 22:08

Mekrel said:
I genuinely can't remember why I sold it, but recall picking up the 23 f1.4 R afterwards.

I had that too still. I’d thought i would love it being my favourite focal length but I’m not really a fan of that lens. I got the Viltrox 27/1.2 last year and that is much better.

Barks · 26 Mar 2026 at 17:18

They had some social media voting thing I saw a few weeks ago where you could vote what lens you would like to see. One of them was something like a 16-55mm f1.4 - is that even possible, that would be awesome!

I've built up quite a collection now of the fast glass but still find myself mostly taking the X-E5 pancake kit lens with me most of the time as it's just so convenient. If something like this came out I'd probably just ditch the primes and have that.

Scuzi · 26 Mar 2026 at 18:19

Barks said:
They had some social media voting thing I saw a few weeks ago where you could vote what lens you would like to see. One of them was something like a 16-55mm f1.4 - is that even possible, that would be awesome!

I've built up quite a collection now of the fast glass but still find myself mostly taking the X-E5 pancake kit lens with me most of the time as it's just so convenient. If something like this came out I'd probably just ditch the primes and have that.

It would be huge, which kind of moves away from what the Fuji X system was supposed to be.

I agree about the convenience. My most picked up "walkabout" camera at the moment is a Minolta X-570 with a 50mm f/1.7, closely followed by the Fuji X-T5 and 35mm f/1.4.

Raymond Lin · 26 Mar 2026 at 22:25

Fuji is meant to be my “toy”, now I have 5 bodies (albeit 3 of them are gen 1) and 5 lenses with a flash trigger…which means it can set off all my flashers including my studio flashes.

If I get a macro and a 24-70/2.8 eqv I could actually shoot a whole wedding with this!

Barks · 17 Apr 2026 at 10:09

Have we ever discussed recipes on here? I have a few favourites from a guy called Emanuele De Luca which work well in the summer (Italian Summer, Last Summer Roll).

Anyone got any favourites?

I'm mostly a fan of RAW shooting and Lightroom editing but I do also love a more casual approach to photography from time to time and that's when the JPGs are awesome.

Raymond Lin · 17 Apr 2026 at 10:14

I can't help myself editing in LR meaning I never use the JPG beyond sending them to friends on the day. I usually just use Astia, but I do have 1 custom one.

Scuzi · 17 Apr 2026 at 22:21

Barks said:
Have we ever discussed recipes on here? I have a few favourites from a guy called Emanuele De Luca which work well in the summer (Italian Summer, Last Summer Roll).

Anyone got any favourites?

I'm mostly a fan of RAW shooting and Lightroom editing but I do also love a more casual approach to photography from time to time and that's when the JPGs are awesome.

The issue with a lot of the popular recipes is that they tend to lean to overly warm WB giving it the “pissfilter” look, especially in our 50-60 degrees north light.

I experimented quite a lot and found the only useful popular recipe which suited our environment was “Pacific Blues” but with the grain turned down.

If I’m taking pics which I couldn’t be arsed editing I’ll typically go with classic chrome or provia and tweak DR, curves and colour to suit the scene. I don’t touch clarity due to the performance impact.

I have flirted a bit with Reala based recipes but can’t make it beat my defaults.

Raymond Lin · 17 Apr 2026 at 22:41

Oh yeah, a lot of these recipes are made by people in the US, sunny for 350 days of the year.

It doesn’t work for UK weather.

Like the Cuban look or that Reggie Porta one. Too yellow for my taste.

Barks · 18 Apr 2026 at 06:43

I completely agree, they look great in Italy not so much in London! I do also find the skin tones go too orange with many of the popular recipes.

I think the JPG thing also works well for the 'shoot for Instagram' crowd, as does the obsession with diffusion filters.

Barks · 29 Apr 2026 at 08:27

Ok so I'm off hiking the rockies in a few months time, obviously a bucket list trip.

I currently still have the X-E5 which overall I'm very impressed with but I've got a real urge to buy an X-T5 which just seems more appropriate for adventures. Is there really much point though? I'm guessing the weather sealing would be handy but conditions will be dry most of the time. I did actually borrow an X-T5 years ago when I went to Iceland and it blew me away but only because my other camera at the time was an XT20 which obviously is inferior image quality, I'm not sure the same can be said for the X-E5.

GMac11 · 29 Apr 2026 at 09:35

Barks said:
Ok so I'm off hiking the rockies in a few months time, obviously a bucket list trip.

I currently still have the X-E5 which overall I'm very impressed with but I've got a real urge to buy an X-T5 which just seems more appropriate for adventures. Is there really much point though? I'm guessing the weather sealing would be handy but conditions will be dry most of the time. I did actually borrow an X-T5 years ago when I went to Iceland and it blew me away but only because my other camera at the time was an XT20 which obviously is inferior image quality, I'm not sure the same can be said for the X-E5.

I would wholeheartedly recommend sticking with the X-E5.
Image quality wise it is identical to the X-T5 (same sensor etc) so there is nothing to be gained on that front.

I actually sold my X-T5 after owning the X-E5 for a few months as I realised the latter could do everything I needed my X-T5 to do in terms of my personal shooting. I did purchase a Canon R6 ii to replace the X-T5 for my sports and press work but for everything else the X-E5 has been superb.
Objectively, the X-T5 will gain you a better EVF, dual card slots, larger battery, dedicated ISO dial and 3-way tilt screen. How important each of those things are is entirely up to you, personally I haven't missed them all that much.

There are a couple of subjective differences such as ergonomics, although a decent grip on the X-E5 largely replicates the feel of the X-T5. Of course the X-E5 is smaller and lighter which often comes in very handy and is something I really appreciate when hiking or travelling.

The X-T5 was my favourite camera ever and I didn't think I would sell it (prior to an X-T6 release) but honestly having the X-E5 has taken over that mantle and I honestly don't think that even the impending X-T6 would make me sell it.

Barks · 1 May 2026 at 09:32

GMac11 said:
I would wholeheartedly recommend sticking with the X-E5.
Image quality wise it is identical to the X-T5 (same sensor etc) so there is nothing to be gained on that front.

I actually sold my X-T5 after owning the X-E5 for a few months as I realised the latter could do everything I needed my X-T5 to do in terms of my personal shooting. I did purchase a Canon R6 ii to replace the X-T5 for my sports and press work but for everything else the X-E5 has been superb.
Objectively, the X-T5 will gain you a better EVF, dual card slots, larger battery, dedicated ISO dial and 3-way tilt screen. How important each of those things are is entirely up to you, personally I haven't missed them all that much.

There are a couple of subjective differences such as ergonomics, although a decent grip on the X-E5 largely replicates the feel of the X-T5. Of course the X-E5 is smaller and lighter which often comes in very handy and is something I really appreciate when hiking or travelling.

The X-T5 was my favourite camera ever and I didn't think I would sell it (prior to an X-T6 release) but honestly having the X-E5 has taken over that mantle and I honestly don't think that even the impending X-T6 would make me sell it.

Sold... or not sold I guess!

I'll keep the X-E5. I guess I just don't need a lot of the X-T5 features either as pros would (e.g. dual card slot). I think I'll still be very tempted to grab an X-T6 when they're released though.

Raymond Lin · Monday at 16:15

I bought an 18mm XF.

Thought I put it on the camera that it launched with for some photos...which btw, it does shows its age, like massively. In many many ways. Mostly due to the body. Also bought the Squarehood, very exspensive piece of plastic but I can't find anything else that i like.

Some samples, with lots of processing.

The 2 above I ran denoise in LR, the ones below I purposely did not.

p.s. my beat up X100vi

GMac11 · 2026-05-26T07:34:24+0100

It’s a decent lens and I really enjoyed it when I had one. I went in with quite low expectations and only paid around £170. In my experience I’d say that £180-200 is the cutoff - any more and it’s not worth it.
I took mine on a trip to Prague and it worked a treat, near enough the perfect focal length.

The only reason I no longer have it is because I replaced both it and my 27mm f2.8 with the new 23mm f2.8 that came with my X-E5.

Raymond Lin · 2026-05-26T11:53:27+0100

I paid £220 lol

It was an impulse buy literally 24hrs before my road trip a few weeks ago. I wanted something wider than 23mm to take with me. But I ended up using it only twice anyway.