Fuji Mirrorless for weddings

[Tackle_Berry]

Any thoughts on going to Fuji X-T2 / X-Pro2 setup for weddings?

My current setup is a D7200 with primes with a plan on buying a D750 or the replacement on release along with a used 24-70 f2.8 and a used 70-200 f2.8 for future weddings and then using the D7200 / primes as a second body.

But a friend of mine just got married and while attending they're friend shot the whole thing with a X-T2 along with a X-PRO2. The photo's I have seen look good although hard to tell as resized edited jpegs but it just doesn't look quite polished and fairly noisy. She had recently just sold her 5D III for this system and seems to be pretty happy with the change.

Before investing further into Nikon I would like see what others think. Although the current Fuji ASP-C systems doesn't currently match Nikon FX. Is the difference going to get smaller in the next few years and mirrorless going to be good enough and just get better.

 

[ethan]

There are tons of people shooting weddings with the Xpro2 and XT2 without any issue. I think I have previously come across someone using an XT1 as well.

 

[Raymond Lin]

The main advantage I can see for a mirrorless system, in particular the Fuji system is the size and weight advantage.

Apart from that….

Lenses – Canon/Nikon has many more, many many many more and many cheaper alternative. On top of their own, there is Sigma and Tamron making good 3rd party lenses.

Battery – I can do the whole wedding on 1 battery. You will need about 5 for a Fuji I expect
Flashes – I don’t think anyone has a system comparable with the Canon 600EX-RT series. You can get wireless controllers but there is the cost and more bits to carry.
Camera wake up time – DSLR is always awake and even if you forget to turn it off, it doesn’t drain much battery.
Bokeh – 1.4 on FF is not achievable on crop. You can get 1.4 lenses or 1.2 on the Fuji but that equates to 1.8 and up. Your client might not notice but I would, whether that bothers you, its personal preference. But if your style is the shallow DoF look then you have something to think about.

Dynamic Range – the D750 simply is just amazing. I know the Fuji sensor is good but I would be shocked if I can pull it up 5 stops.

Focusing – how are they in low light, I mean REALLY low light.

I guess the flip screen is useful to shoot over heads but it’s not a deal breaker not having that on a DSLR. The deal breaker for me in terms of mirrorless set up would be things like slower response time when booting up, tiny battery, just the combination of all the above I would feel my work is not as good as it could be. The Fuji system is acceptable to shoot a wedding, will it produce my best work? I really doubt it. That’s what would prevent me from switching. How are you drawing the line?

If you want to produce good work and save weight. Go for it.
If you want to produce the best work that you possible can. I wouldn’t.

 

[ethan]

I'm not being rude here but I'm at a loss to understand why someone cant produce the best work they possibly can on a Fuji XT2 unless it's just a poor choice of words riddled with subjective bias?

 

[D.P.]

I'm not being rude here but I'm at a loss to understand why someone cant produce the best work they possibly can on a Fuji XT2 unless it's just a poor choice of words riddled with subjective bias?

Raymond explained why: lenses, sensor size, flash system, UI

 

[Minstadave]

I'm not being rude here but I'm at a loss to understand why someone cant produce the best work they possibly can on a Fuji XT2 unless it's just a poor choice of words riddled with subjective bias?

Seems pretty well explained. Every system has it's limitations. For Raymond the limitations of the XT-2 are significant - it doesn't make the XT-2 a bad camera, it's just not the best tool for the job for him.

For many others the XT-2 far exceeds our needs and the limitations aren't an issue.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Seems pretty well explained. Every system has it's limitations. For Raymond the limitations of the XT-2 are significant - it doesn't make the XT-2 a bad camera, it's just not the best tool for the job for him.

For many others the XT-2 far exceeds our needs and the limitations aren't an issue.

I know i will feel bad going into a wedding and knowing I can do better with DSLR, and the reason of not getting better results is because of my choice of system because of weight.

The question is not “Are these good/excellent photos”. As The Fuji are capable of excellent images.

The question is “Can I do better with a DSLR set up?”

It is one thing to be limited by budget and you ad doing everything you could to get the best shots. It is another thing to purposely choose a system for convenience because you can’t be bothered with the weight and size and the result is lower because of that choice. OF course, if you have a bad back and can't carry a D750 with a 35mm then that's another problem.

As good as a Fuji system, it is not better than a DSLR system.

 

[Tackle_Berry]

Thanks for the feedback pretty mucgoing to sell some old gear and go the D750 route.

Weight/size is not an issue and It allows me to keep the d7200 as a second.

 

[ethan]

I know i will feel bad going into a wedding and knowing I can do better with DSLR, and the reason of not getting better results is because of my choice of system because of weight.

The question is not “Are these good/excellent photos”. As The Fuji are capable of excellent images.

The question is “Can I do better with a DSLR set up?”

It is one thing to be limited by budget and you ad doing everything you could to get the best shots. It is another thing to purposely choose a system for convenience because you can’t be bothered with the weight and size and the result is lower because of that choice. OF course, if you have a bad back and can't carry a D750 with a 35mm then that's another problem.

As good as a Fuji system, it is not better than a DSLR system.

I understand what you are saying. I respect your decision and very much like your photography. What confuses me here though is that there are ex Nikon users who have gone over to the Fuji XT2, have both systems and don't necessarily agree with the perceived technical limitations specifically concerning the XT2 expressed in this thread (along with the opinion expressed by the OP). For example, this video extolls the technical virtues of the XT2 in favour of the D750 by stating image quality, dynamic range and iso can match/sometimes better it. The OP asks if the differences between the two cameras have got smaller, and according to some of the comments from professional or more experienced photographers I have seen and read, it has:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2KRuRitrmE

 

[Hunders]

A lot of people use Fuji cameras for wedding photography.

One reason to use them is because they are lighter, sure. However, another reason why some people like them so much is because they makes it easier to blend into the crowd. A Fuji pointed at a bride/groom/wedding guest is a lot less intimidating and noticeable than someone taking aim with a DSLR and chunky lens set up with the mirror flapping about and making sounds similar to what you might hear in a war zone. It's all to do with your own vision and style and choosing the best tool for the job. Yes, a DSLR is capable of slightly better images and focusing but if your style revolves around blending in and capturing the day in a photo journalistic style then the Fujis are better in this regard due to them being silent and much smaller.

 

[Minstadave]

I understand what you are saying. I respect your decision and very much like your photography. What confuses me here though is that there are ex Nikon users who have gone over to the Fuji XT2, have both systems and don't necessarily agree with the perceived technical limitations specifically concerning the XT2 expressed in this thread and the opinion expressed by the OP. For example, this video extolls the technical virtues of the XT2 in favour of the D750 by stating image quality, dynamic range and iso can match/sometimes better it. The OP asks if the differences between the two cameras have got smaller, and to some of the comments I have seen and read, it has:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2KRuRitrmE

Nothing is going to turn an APS-C sensor into a full frame sensor when it comes to DoF though. And as Raymond shows us regularly, he loves his thin DoF.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I understand what you are saying. I respect your decision and very much like your photography. What confuses me here though is that there are ex Nikon users who have gone over to the Fuji XT2, have both systems and don't necessarily agree with the perceived technical limitations specifically concerning the XT2 expressed in this thread and the opinion expressed by the OP. For example, this video extolls the technical virtues of the XT2 in favour of the D750 by stating image quality, dynamic range and iso can match/sometimes better it. The OP asks if the differences between the two cameras have got smaller, and to some of the comments I have seen and read, it has:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2KRuRitrmE

I am watching this now so will just list a few points.

1 - He notes the focus between them are on par on good light, but he also admits the Fuji although is good in low light, the D750 is better and it needs the booster grip to match the D750.

Adding the grip makes the small set up a little redundant.

2 - He then moves to image quality and he mentioned something I feared he will say, the jpeg quality. I don't know, I have not shot jpegs since 2004...who shoots jpegs for weddings? I can't comment what the jpeg on my Canons are like because the 2nd thing I do getting the camera (the first being setting the date) is to change it to RAW and to record to multiple cards.

3 - ISO, I will have to take his word on it.

4 - Lenses, tbh, he doesn't have the best of lenses. He has the old generations of Sigma lenses, no Nikor or Sigma Art lenses. and he doesn't go deep enough into this point, how Nikon can have many many many many many more than Fuji. He mention the kit lens is good, but where is the mention on all the great 1.4 primes on Nikon mount? That is a big advantage IMO that is hard to ignore. It affects image quality as much as the sensor.

I dunno, perhaps I am just a bokeh whore, there is just no lens on the crop that can produce f/1.2 images, it's just physics. Granted, the size is it's main attraction, that is the big and main positive really, great for travel, and I do understand being discrete is a plus, but it's a wedding, not street photography so people expect to get photographs and it's never been a hinderance for photojournalism.

 

[Raymond Lin]

If someone want to get into Fuji and their style suits that system, who am I to argue?

For me though, I love my bokeh, so cropped sensor is just not for me. Perhaps in the future when mirrorless FF bodies is the norm and the primes are smaller then sure. Smaller lenses would be nice.

It is miles smaller, but the IQ between the lenses are just not the same.

 

[Rojin]

I've got the 5D4 and X-T2, they trade punches well. In very low light one camera will focus on one particular subject better than the other. I'm still yet to really push either camera but using a DSLR again I'm having to get used to out of focus shots happening again. You get used to having a very high hit rate with mirrorless.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I've got the 5D4 and X-T2, they trade punches well. In very low light one camera will focus on one particular subject better than the other. I'm still yet to really push either camera but using a DSLR again I'm having to get used to out of focus shots happening again. You get used to having a very high hit rate with mirrorless.

When the price drops I'll pick one up, sounds like the perfect travel camera.

 

[xaldub]

When the price drops I'll pick one up, sounds like the perfect travel camera.

The X-T2 is far better than just a travel camera, it's an excellent camera for general use. And, you'll find that its performance far exceeds that of the previous generation of Fuji cameras ie. X-Pro 1 etc.

 

[Raymond Lin]

The X-T2 is far better than just a travel camera, it's an excellent camera for general use. And, you'll find that its performance far exceeds that of the previous generation of Fuji cameras ie. X-Pro 1 etc.

Great for the first point and I hope so for the 2nd point...otherwise there would be no point

 

[Amp34]

The X-T2 is far better than just a travel camera, it's an excellent camera for general use. And, you'll find that its performance far exceeds that of the previous generation of Fuji cameras ie. X-Pro 1 etc.

What about wildlife?

I'd love to move to a smaller system for travel but are there any equivalents to a tack sharp 300mm f/2.8 that makes it worth going smaller?

 

[Richdog]

I understand what you are saying. I respect your decision and very much like your photography. What confuses me here though is that there are ex Nikon users who have gone over to the Fuji XT2, have both systems and don't necessarily agree with the perceived technical limitations specifically concerning the XT2 expressed in this thread (along with the opinion expressed by the OP). For example, this video extolls the technical virtues of the XT2 in favour of the D750 by stating image quality, dynamic range and iso can match/sometimes better it. The OP asks if the differences between the two cameras have got smaller, and according to some of the comments from professional or more experienced photographers I have seen and read, it has:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2KRuRitrmE

Raymond is imo spot on. I love my Fuji X-T2 and lenses but I don't think for a second that I could do as well at a wedding as I could with my old full frame Nikon gear. The Nikon D750 and Sigma 35mm f1.4 was simply capable of producing magic on a level which the X-T2 and 23mm f1.4 simply cannot replicate. Sublime creamy bokeh, amazing shallow DOF, and a stunning (and subjective, I'm sure) pop to the images that I have never been able to replicate. Not to mention the autofocus with the older lenses is nowhere near in the same league as the Sigma and Nikon's and that will potentially lead to some missed shots at critical times.

I have seen some wedding work with the X-T2 and Fuji X-Pro2 which looks lovely, but I have seen better from Nikon and Canon. Fuji lenses are sharp as hell, but the 23mm f1.4, 35mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.2 simply cannot compete with their high-end Canikon equivalents in anything except sharpness, though for many people I am sure that is fine. AF speed will lag behind until MkII versions are released, and DOF will never look the same due to the sensor and equivalence differences.

I am of the opinion that Fuji really sold themselves short when they made those initial premium lenses, because when they were released Nikon and Canon had been producing fast and silent AF motors for a LONG time, and I really feel that Fuji could have done the high-end lenses more justice than the slow and noisy motors they produced at such a late stage. It's a shame, but it's also a limitation that I have, for the moment, accepted.

Fuji's focus on smaller, easier to manufacture and more profitable lenses like the f2 range also means that wedding and event photographers do not have a whole load of incentive to switch, because while fast and sharp they are certainly not on a par with the best lenses available from other systems, but then I guess nor are they designed to be.

The Fuji flash situation is beyond diabolical, and in itself enough reason for many not to make the switch. God knows what Fuji were thinking when they designed that, because it drives me and everyone else on every forum I have seen absolutely bloody nuts.

So yeah, Fuji is great, but experience has now taught me that it comes with some severe caveats for certain types of photography.

 

[ethan]

It will be interesting to see if Raymond will revise his opinion, if ever he gets one?

Edit: With regard to the lenses, it is still possible to use other makes manually, is it not?