Fuji X Series

GMac11 · 4 Oct 2026 at 16:19

As much as I love the X-T series of cameras (I owned the 3, 4 & 5) I realised even the X-E5 does much more than I need so that’s all I have in terms of Fujifilm these days.
My R6 ii does the heavy lifting now - not that the Fuji can’t it’s just the Canon does it better/faster.

Barks · 4 Oct 2026 at 18:57

GMac11 said:
As much as I love the X-T series of cameras (I owned the 3, 4 & 5) I realised even the X-E5 does much more than I need so that’s all I have in terms of Fujifilm these days.
My R6 ii does the heavy lifting now - not that the Fuji can’t it’s just the Canon does it better/faster.

I think it might have been you who talked me out of the X-T5 I was considering a while ago before I went to the Rockies as already had the X-E5.

Whoever it was, that advice was spot on. X-E5 was phenomenal and don't see what I would have gained by having the X-T5 instead. I use it with the pancake kit lens most of the time for daily use which is great but dear lord when you put the proper glass like the 18mm 1.4 or the 33mm f1.4 lenses on it (as I did for the hiking) the photos are unreal!

timmothy · 4 Oct 2026 at 22:42

It's always interesting to hear how people get on with the pancake lens. I keep that on my camera 90% of the time. It's often overlooked, as some cameras just don't suit one.

Barks · 5 Oct 2026 at 07:56

timmothy said:
It's always interesting to hear how people get on with the pancake lens. I keep that on my camera 90% of the time. It's often overlooked, as some cameras just don't suit one.

Highly rate it personally, looks great and makes carrying the X-E5 around effortless - but IMO the images can't compare to the bigger glass. If I flick through all my photos over the last year in most cases I can tell apart the ones taken on the pancake lens. That said, the gap between the iPhone 18 Pro and the X-E5 + pancake is absolutely enormous, but the gap between the pancake and 16mm f1.4, for example, I think you'd need to be really into photography to notice a big difference.

Raymond Lin · 5 Oct 2026 at 09:11

I just realised or remembered I have a Pancake lens !!! The 18mm 2.0. Not as flat as some but for me, it's pretty pancake.

LiE · 11 Oct 2026 at 20:06

LiE said:
Managed to grab one for £990, hopefully it’s a good one. I’ve had one before and the VI, my all time favourite photos are from the X100V. Let’s hope I keep this one.

https://ebay.io/m/8FTzxC

Decided against this one in the end, turns out it has a 68,000 shutter count.

Also think black would be better for me, less flashy, more stealth. Gone for this one for £920 https://ebay.io/m/WUfaex

CGrieves · 11 Oct 2026 at 20:30

LiE said:
Decided against this one in the end, turns out it has a 68,000 shutter count.

Also think black would be better for me, less flashy, more stealth. Gone for this one for £920 https://ebay.io/m/WUfaex

The black finish on the newer Fujis seems to be very fragile. My X100VI has nearly every edge worn, and I'm not rough with it. My XT3 has been round the world but barely a scratch.

LiE · 11 Oct 2026 at 21:16

CGrieves said:
The black finish on the newer Fujis seems to be very fragile. My X100VI has nearly every edge worn, and I'm not rough with it. My XT3 has been round the world but barely a scratch.

Hopefully the V is tough. I’d like to relax with my camera to the point where I’m not fussing over keeping it pristine. I think some wear adds character.

Raymond Lin · 11 Oct 2026 at 21:28

LiE said:
Hopefully the V is tough. I’d like to relax with my camera to the point where I’m not fussing over keeping it pristine. I think some wear adds character.

I somehow cracked the EVF on my first trip with it, after that I got it fixed (they replaced the entire top plate), since then I actually put it in a less protective case, picked up more cosmetic scratches, that I have no idea where from, never dropped though.

LiE · 12 Oct 2026 at 07:55

I’ve never had issues with the black finish with any of my cameras. It could be because I carry them on a wrist strap and when not in use they are in the camera bag.

Captain · 12 Oct 2026 at 08:09

LiE said:
I’ve never had issues with the black finish with any of my cameras. It could be because I carry them on a wrist strap and when not in use they are in the camera bag.

That’s because you keep them for 24 hours..

Raymond Lin · 12 Oct 2026 at 09:10

I used my 5D2 so much I worn off the paint under the thumb wheel where the base of my palm rests showing the bare metal underneath.

LiE · 13 Oct 2026 at 13:09

LiE said:
Decided against this one in the end, turns out it has a 68,000 shutter count.

Also think black would be better for me, less flashy, more stealth. Gone for this one for £920 https://ebay.io/m/WUfaex

Saw an X-T30 for £379.99 on LCE, condition looked really good, which makes it somewhat of a steal. I pulled out of the X100V for a couple of reasons; 1. right now I need to keep the cost as low as possible 2. I've had quite a few X100V/VI and I do find myself itching for different lenses now and again, it's part of the fun of the hobby.

The tricky part then was finding a lens that was cheap, flexible (while I have only 1 lens) and produced good photos. I'd been going back and forth between the 23mm f2 and 35mm f2/f1.4, looking at used copies. I've had both the 35s before and I do like them, but I find them less versatile. The 23 f2 I've never had, but for the type of photos I take; the close up wide open softness always turned me off. So I've compromised and gone with the 23mm f2.8 pancake which LCE just listed for £269.99.

So the hobby has set me back:

£379.99 Fujifilm X-T30
£269.99 FujiFilm XF 23mm f2.8 R WR
£60 12 month Lightroom subscription

I'm considering the peak design rope to go cross body, to allow me to walk about without a camera bag when I go one lens.

Peak Design Form Rope Camera Strap Long - Black | Wex Photo Video

www.wexphotovideo.com

LiE · 13 Oct 2026 at 17:23

I wonder if they mispriced the X-T30, as I can see they have an X-T20 up at £379.99; https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/FujiFilm-X-T20-Body_498755.html

Their next cheapest X-T30 is £449.99 (same 4* condition), which is where I see the current used market value.

Scuzi · 13 Oct 2026 at 18:43

LiE said:
Saw an X-T30 for £379.99 on LCE, condition looked really good, which makes it somewhat of a steal. I pulled out of the X100V for a couple of reasons; 1. right now I need to keep the cost as low as possible 2. I've had quite a few X100V/VI and I do find myself itching for different lenses now and again, it's part of the fun of the hobby.

The tricky part then was finding a lens that was cheap, flexible (while I have only 1 lens) and produced good photos. I'd been going back and forth between the 23mm f2 and 35mm f2/f1.4, looking at used copies. I've had both the 35s before and I do like them, but I find them less versatile. The 23 f2 I've never had, but for the type of photos I take; the close up wide open softness always turned me off. So I've compromised and gone with the 23mm f2.8 pancake which LCE just listed for £269.99.

So the hobby has set me back:

£379.99 Fujifilm X-T30
£269.99 FujiFilm XF 23mm f2.8 R WR
£60 12 month Lightroom subscription

I'm considering the peak design rope to go cross body, to allow me to walk about without a camera bag when I go one lens.

Peak Design Form Rope Camera Strap Long - Black | Wex Photo Video

www.wexphotovideo.com

If your previous Fuji experiences didn’t do it for you, I can’t see how this combo will. Good luck with it though and I hope you enjoy.

LiE · 13 Oct 2026 at 19:16

Scuzi said:
If your previous Fuji experiences didn’t do it for you, I can’t see how this combo will. Good luck with it though and I hope you enjoy.

Probably. In the past I’ve always spent too much relative to how into the hobby I am. The more I spend the more I feel the need to justify having the gear. If my interest dips and I don’t shoot for a while then I can’t rationalise having 1000s in gear sitting there, so I sell.

Going in as cheap as possible this time is an attempt to help myself here. If I stick with it long enough this time perhaps I can justify an upgrade at some point.

Raymond Lin · 13 Oct 2026 at 19:42

You are wise to try the cheaper end to get the fun but my fear is really old gear might feel too sluggish compared to the X100V and VI that you had before.

LiE · 13 Oct 2026 at 19:58

Raymond Lin said:
You are wise to try the cheaper end to get the fun but my fear is really old gear might feel too sluggish compared to the X100V and VI that you had before.

The X-T30 has the same sensor and processor as the X100V. I’ve had the X-T30 many moons ago.

Raymond Lin · 13 Oct 2026 at 20:09

LiE said:
The X-T30 has the same sensor and processor as the X100V. I’ve had the X-T30 many moons ago.

Fair enough, then it begs the question what makes it different this time?

LiE · 13 Oct 2026 at 20:52

Raymond Lin said:
Fair enough, then it begs the question what makes it different this time?

A mindset change mostly. I’ve not jumped back in by splurging, which usually leaves me with buyers remorse. £700 isn’t too bad, I had to talk myself out of a £1450 X100VI from e-infinity a few times…