Fuji X Series

GMac11 said:
The main reason I went with the square filter system is I have (or at least had) a penchant for changing lenses constantly (plus I was working across both FF Canon and Fuji systems for a period so that involved different lens sizes as well) so it was a PITA to keep investing in different circular filters for each lens size. So now I have whatever size adapter rings I need and just one set of square filters which is much easier to work with - when I say a system I only have three plus a circular polariser - ND4 Graduated filter and ND6+ND10 full filter.

Your synopsis of the Samyang pretty much mirrors mine. I used mine for astro which, as you say, was excellent however for landscapes it was just average - unless you had some great light to work with. I found colours and contrast were alright but nothing special. It's not the sharpest lens in the world but nice and sharp for the price.
I sold it and bought the 10-24 f4 which I have enjoyed using. It's sharper than the Samyang at 12mm plus goes that little bit wider which I like. Beyond 18/20mm it does get quite soft but I have the 16-80 f4 to take over from that point.
For my astro I have been experimenting with my 23 f1.4, which is much better, but when I need wider I've been stitching shots together which has been fun.
As I said above I think the 16mm would be a terrific investment for anyone who would get the use out of it. I'd love one but it would leave me with three lenses that do 16mm and there's no way I could sell the 10-24 because I'd miss the 10mm for sure.
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What sort of outlay would I be looking at to buy a filter system with say the three filters you have? I now have the 16mm f1.4, 56 f1.2, 23 f2 and 55-200 so assume I'd be able to buy a system and adaptors to accomodate all of these? Sorry I'm fairly clueless as have never used one before.

Lie's 16mm 1.4 turned up yesterday and took it out for a spin. I can see why everyone loves this lens, there's something about the images, even straight off the camera as JPG they look fantastic. Here's an image I shot wide open - it isn't sharp at all and I should be at something like f/5.6 - but if I take my technical hat off and just look at it as an image there's something really pleasing about it, the bokeh is beautiful. I'm not sure I'd be able to get anything like this with my other lenses.

 
Yea for close up photos the aperture needs stopping down otherwise the DoF is razor thin.
 
LiE said:
Yea for close up photos the aperture needs stopping down otherwise the DoF is razor thin.
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Agreed although sometimes I do like these photos that are technically flawed but sitll pleasing to look at.

The photos I just took of the house and garden at f/5.6 or f/4.0 are razor sharp and the colours/contrast straight out the camera are bang on the mark.
 
Barks said:
What sort of outlay would I be looking at to buy a filter system with say the three filters you have? I now have the 16mm f1.4, 56 f1.2, 23 f2 and 55-200 so assume I'd be able to buy a system and adaptors to accomodate all of these? Sorry I'm fairly clueless as have never used one before.

Lie's 16mm 1.4 turned up yesterday and took it out for a spin. I can see why everyone loves this lens, there's something about the images, even straight off the camera as JPG they look fantastic. Here's an image I shot wide open - it isn't sharp at all and I should be at something like f/5.6 - but if I take my technical hat off and just look at it as an image there's something really pleasing about it, the bokeh is beautiful. I'm not sure I'd be able to get anything like this with my other lenses.

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That rendering looks awesome. In a couple of years I actually wonder would the new 18mm f1.4 be a better option than this? At the minute it’s certainly more expensive due to lack of used copies however that will change in time.

Anyhow, for the filters it’s hard to say. I think my Zomei system cost me somewhere between £50-£75 but that was a good few years ago. A lot of their stuff seems to be shipped from Belgium and there’s much less of it on Amazon so I’m wondering has Brexit got in the way there?
There are kits you can get, there’s one on eBay that comes with both graduated and nd filters which is around £60. You will also need the adapter but they don’t need to be expensive, mine was under £15 iirc.
 
I'll have a look. Just thinking it may work out cheaper in the long run and I can see myself doing a lot of hiking trips over the next few years.

I just realised with the flower image it was at f/1.8 so not even wide open!

Here's another two at f/1.4 and f/8 - even at 8 the figure's head still isn't entirely in focus!

 
I've decided to keep my X-T30 and 35 f2, as I know I'll likely miss it at some point. It's a very small package for taking out as well.
 
LiE said:
I've decided to keep my X-T30 and 35 f2, as I know I'll likely miss it at some point. It's a very small package for taking out as well.
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I took just the X-T10 and the 23mm F2 all around the world when I was younger before I could afford to build out my lens collection. You just make it work, doubt you'll regret this decision.
 
GMac11 said:
If it helps I have been using Zomei filters for the past few years and have no complaints with them. They are definitely budget friendly but not cheap rubbish either. I’ve tried a few different ones and found them to be the best value for money.
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So it turns out the Samyang 12mm is the same filter size as the Fuji 14mm f/1.4 so all my existing filters I bought ages ago fit the Fuji. Result!
 
Anyone have a recommendation for a compact case for an X100V?

Edit:
Ordered a Crumpler Roady 200, looks like it should do the job.

So yea traded in my X-T30 and 35 f2 for a new X100V.
 
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Massive noob question alert. Any of you do video work with a Fuji camera? I've been getting into video work lately with my iPhone 12 Pro. The stablisation tech is just immense and you can cereate silky smooth videos e.g. panning a sunset handheld. When I try with my X-T10 on anything other than a tripod it's jerky and unusable. Do the more expensive Fuji models offer anything like the iPhone or do you have to invest in grip/stabilisation gear?

LiE said:
So yea traded in my X-T30 and 35 f2 for a new X100V.
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I was wondering what your final decision would be! I don't know anyting about the X100V but enjoy.
 
Barks said:
I was wondering what your final decision would be! I don't know anyting about the X100V but enjoy.
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Think baby X-Pro3 with a fixed 23 f2 lens. Same sensor/processor as latest Fuji cameras, has built in ND filter, WR, optical and electronic view finder and latest film simulations/in-camera processing.

It's a very compact package and due to its look fits more with a walk about documentary camera. It will be ideal for taking phots while I'm out and about.

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LiE said:
Think baby X-Pro3 with a fixed 23 f2 lens. Same sensor/processor as latest Fuji cameras, has built in ND filter, WR, optical and electronic view finder and latest film simulations/in-camera processing.

It's a very compact package and due to its look fits more with a walk about documentary camera. It will be ideal for taking phots while I'm out and about.

ymoYyLVl.png.jpg

fivIl7El.png.jpg
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Nice. I also quite like the idea of a 'do it all' camera. Having just bought one of those photography rucksacks with 6 different lenses in I have had moments when I scratch my head and wonder if it's all worth it! I'm sure you'll be happy with that - saves a lot of hassle and the pancake lens is awesome.

I went for a sunrise shoot this morning down a local wildlife reserve and I now wish I'd bought your X-T30 as there is very clearly sensor damage on my 20 that is visible at tighter apertures. It needs replacing and I'm now wondering whether to just get the X-T30 or splash out and make the jump up to the X-T4 - surely it can't be better enough to justify the price. Got a lot of Youtube videos to watch!
 
Spleen Sauce said:
I'd look at the X-T4 or the X-S10 for the stabilisation, especially good with longer lenses. Fujifilm's refurbs always worth a look at.
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Would that improve video work too? I did some handheld panning videos this morning of ducks in the lake and the footage was useless. By contrast the same shot on my iPhone 12 Pro Max was silky smooth albeit actual image quality was inferior. The computational enhancements are appalling most of the time but particularly bad for sunrise and sunset scenes.
 
Barks said:
Would that improve video work too? I did some handheld panning videos this morning of ducks in the lake and the footage was useless. By contrast the same shot on my iPhone 12 Pro Max was silky smooth albeit actual image quality was inferior. The computational enhancements are appalling most of the time but particularly bad for sunrise and sunset scenes.
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Absolutely, makes a huge difference. It's not a gimbal of course, but you'll get far more usable footage. Plenty of vids on YouTube demonstrating it :)
 
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