Fuji X Series

Richdog · 20 Jul 2016 at 18:53

Ugh, I keep wanting to buy lenses. I love the 16mm but would also love the 10-24 for versatility with the range. I also really want the 100-400. On top of the X-T2, it's going to be an expensive year...

EDIT -. Digitalrev test the AF, though kind of mistakenly with the electronic shutter instead of the mechanical... http://www.fujirumors.com/digitalrev-tests-fuji-x-t2-a-winner-get-excited-sport-fans/

Richdog · 22 Jul 2016 at 09:04

Well, time for my 9-day trip to Lisbon, Portugal. I will be taking the 35mm f2, the 16mm f1.4, and the 55-200 which my friend lent me and which after a quick test this morning looks very sharp even at 200mm.

Will hopefully come back with some good shots.

The Mad Rapper · 22 Jul 2016 at 21:43

Does the XT2 do time lapse video and are there IS lenses available for it?

ethan · 24 Jul 2016 at 02:31

The Mad Rapper said:
Does the XT2 do time lapse video and are there IS lenses available for it?

The Fujifilm XT-1 comes with an interval shooting function that allows photographers to create timelapses easily so I'll stick my neck out by saying I don't know why the XT2 shouldn't?

Edit: Yes. Interval timer shooting for Time Lapse photography is available with intervals of 1 second to 24 hours and up to “∞” frames
Advanced filters and Film Simulations, including ACROS

The Mad Rapper · 25 Jul 2016 at 12:32

Perfect, thanks.

I need some image stabilisation, either in the body or lens for vlogging. The body doesn't have it, so it'd need to be in the lens but the lens I'd want to use is 35mm equivalent and that probably isn't big enough to have IS

I really don't want to have to buy a Sony A7RII...

ethan · 25 Jul 2016 at 12:40

Most if not nearly all fuji lenses are stabilised. You're in luck if it's the 35mm you are after as there are two choices, the F2 or the F1.4. The latter you can pick up relatively cheap second hand.

CGrieves · 25 Jul 2016 at 16:33

ethan said:
Most if not nearly all fuji lenses are stabilised. You're in luck if it's the 35mm you are after as there are two choices, the F2 or the F1.4. The latter you can pick up relatively cheap second hand.

...Sorry but that's not true. Only the lenses tagged OIS have image stabilisation, and that means all the primes are NOT stabilised.

All the zooms except the 16-55 f2.8 have OIS though.

ethan · 25 Jul 2016 at 17:28

Sorry I didn't mean to include the primes in the comment. I'm so used to shooting without thinking. With regards to my mistake, it might be worth The Mad Rapper looking at the 18-55 XF to see how it would fare against the 35mm (1.4 prime) as the former appears to hold its own when compared: the 18-55 XF being stabilised . http://www.fujivsfuji.com/18-55mm-vs-35mm-f1pt4/

CGrieves · 25 Jul 2016 at 19:46

ethan said:
the 18-55 XF to see how it would fare against the 35mm (1.4 prime) as the former appears to hold its own when compared: the 18-55 XF being stabilised . http://www.fujivsfuji.com/18-55mm-vs-35mm-f1pt4/

I like that site, but it's not really a comprehensive test as such in that it just compares sharpness and bokeh (at f4).

The resolution of both is fantastic. The main differentiation will always be the 2-3 extra stops of aperture of the prime vs the flexibility and OIS of the zoom.

Me, I'd always miss f1.4.

ethan · 25 Jul 2016 at 19:55

The resolution of both is fantastic. The main differentiation will always be the 2-3 extra stops of aperture of the prime vs the flexibility and OIS of the zoom

Yeah. I would never get rid of mine and I'm luckily enough to be in possession of both. It will be interesting to try the 18-55 on the XT2 for video when I get it.

Richdog · 25 Jul 2016 at 22:05

Well, I have taken some nice shots with the Fuji while in Lisbon. First thoughts are that I really do think I need 24mp if the XT-2 as 16mp just isn't enough to do any serious cropping or 'tidying up' with while maintaining decent resolution.

However, I am soooo enjoying shooting so much with the X-E2 that I honestly don't now want to use a camera without shutter speed and exposure compensation dials, or lenses without manual aperture rings. It forces you to improve your exposure technique and just brings joy, for me at least, back to photography. I am also thinking much more about each individual shot.

I Went to Lisbon Zoo today where I primarily used the 55-200 and man is that AF slow with the X-E2... I think that despite the fact it's just not a fast focusing lens at the best of times, the X-T2 will be a huge upgrade in that regard. Also the 1/8000 shutter speed is sorely needed when shouting in a sunny clime, as the 1/4000 limit of the X-E2 has often been reached and it then forces you to either use a very low aperture or the electronic shutter which I, ahem, completely forgot about. In fact an ND filter would have been hand on several occasions. I am also really now planning on getting the 100-400 lens as there were so many times today that I thought 'hmm I'd love a bit of extra reach'. There goes my pocket money.

The 35mm 1.4 WR is a great little lens and very sharp when stopped down a bit, I have used it for some very cool and quirky candid portraits while walking through the backstreets of Lisbon. The autonomous of the X-E2 has again proved a pain as I have missed 'on the go' shots that I know I would have got with a camera with superior AF simply because it can't compose and focus fast enough. Ahh well, at least I have something to look forward to in early September.

The 16mm 1.4 has also been used a lot and is imo the perfect landscape lens, not too wide and the image quality is just phenomenal... the 16mp sensor really doesn't do it justice. It also focuses so close that you get some beautiful macro-esque shots. The low light capability and sharpness at 1.4 is also impressive. I don't regret buying it even if I have occasionally missed the versatility of a zoom.

I have 5 more days and 40GB of SD card left... hope it's enough even though I know I'll only keep around 30% of the photos I've taken!

As you mean tell, I am developing a serious enthusiasm for Fuji.

xaldub · 25 Jul 2016 at 22:44

Glad you're enjoying it .... and I share many of your criticisms & joys with the current X cameras. I, too, look forward to the bump up in resolution on the X-T2 to 24 MP - I think that's near enough the sweet spot for digital photography. I find the 36 MP on my D810 a bit too much at times, but using a 16 MP camera just feels a bit anaemic when doing studio or serious landscape work.

Richdog · 26 Jul 2016 at 04:42

xaldub said:
Glad you're enjoying it .... and I share many of your criticisms & joys with the current X cameras. I, too, look forward to the bump up in resolution on the X-T2 to 24 MP - I think that's near enough the sweet spot for digital photography. I find the 36 MP on my D810 a bit too much at times, but using a 16 MP camera just feels a bit anaemic when doing studio or serious landscape work.

Agreed on that, though oddly enough Fuji raw file sizes seem pretty large (in MB) even at 16MP. 24mp is the sweet spot though, as you say. The wait for the xt2 is actually very tough, I'd have given much to have it with me now. However, the experience I've gained with the system so far will no doubt serve me well.

xaldub · 26 Jul 2016 at 12:30

Richdog said:
Agreed on that, though oddly enough Fuji raw file sizes seem pretty large (in MB) even at 16MP. 24mp is the sweet spot though, as you say. The wait for the xt2 is actually very tough, I'd have given much to have it with me now. However, the experience I've gained with the system so far will no doubt serve me well.

Indeed, it is going to be a tough wait over the next 6 weeks or so ... particularly as I sold my X-T1 to help fund the upgrade. Depending on how I fare with the X-T2 I may even pass on the successor to the D810, which is almost certainly going to be announced at Photokina in late September. Would just be nice to have a camera which is great for general use, rather than having to lug around two specialised cameras eg. D500 for action and a D810 for landscape.

ethan · 26 Jul 2016 at 13:35

xaldub said:
Indeed, it is going to be a tough wait over the next 6 weeks or so ... particularly as I sold my X-T1 to help fund the upgrade. Depending on how I fare with the X-T2 I may even pass on the successor to the D810, which is almost certainly going to be announced at Photokina in late September. Would just be nice to have a camera which is great for general use, rather than having to lug around two specialised cameras eg. D500 for action and a D810 for landscape.

If you don't mind me asking how much did you get for your XT1? I'm thinking of part exchanging mine along with an XT10 to put towards the XT2. I believe some places would give an extra £100 on top of the going rate for the camera (s) if I have read the advertising correctly?

Richdog · 26 Jul 2016 at 16:57

xaldub said:
Indeed, it is going to be a tough wait over the next 6 weeks or so ... particularly as I sold my X-T1 to help fund the upgrade. Depending on how I fare with the X-T2 I may even pass on the successor to the D810, which is almost certainly going to be announced at Photokina in late September. Would just be nice to have a camera which is great for general use, rather than having to lug around two specialised cameras eg. D500 for action and a D810 for landscape.

I honestly think that the X-T2 will be that camera. Not to mention the 4k video and autofocus looks damn impressive, though clearly that's not a deal breaker if you're used to Nikon anyway but still very nice to have and I expect I or my film maker family member will be using it a lot at Christmas. Such a shame that a 23mm f2 WR likely still won't be out by then though.

Also I am liking the silent electronic shutter, after some experimentation it's allowed me to take some very candid shots on my walks around Lisbon. All I need now is the tilting screen from the X-T2 so that I can frame and compose (while not looking like I'm framing and composing) and I will be a noiseless ninja.

I could never have done the discreet photography I am doing now when I had my D750, even when it had on the smaller 50mm lenses it still looked so much more obvious.

If this is how much joy I am having with the 'low-end' Fuji from 2013, then God knows what it's going to be like when I get the X-T2. :eek:

xaldub · 26 Jul 2016 at 18:45

ethan said:
If you don't mind me asking how much did you get for your XT1? I'm thinking of part exchanging mine along with an XT10 to put towards the XT2. I believe some places would give an extra £100 on top of the going rate for the camera (s) if I have read the advertising correctly?

I got just under £500 ( I included a grip ). And, yes, most authorised dealers are giving a £100 trade-in bonus on DSLRs/compact camera systems if you place a pre-order for the X-T2 before 31st August.

xaldub · 26 Jul 2016 at 18:53

Richdog said:
I honestly think that the X-T2 will be that camera. Not to mention the 4k video and autofocus looks damn impressive, though clearly that's not a deal breaker if you're used to Nikon anyway but still very nice to have and I expect I or my film maker family member will be using it a lot at Christmas. Such a shame that a 23mm f2 WR likely still won't be out by then though.

Also I am liking the silent electronic shutter, after some experimentation it's allowed me to take some very candid shots on my walks around Lisbon. All I need now is the tilting screen from the X-T2 so that I can frame and compose (while not looking like I'm framing and composing) and I will be a noiseless ninja. I could never have done the discreet photography I am doing now when I had my D750, even when it had on the smaller 50mm lenses it still looked so much more obvious.

If this is how much joy I am having with the 'low-end' Fuji from 2013, then God knows what it's going to be like when I get the X-T2.

I agree, there's a strong chance the X-T2 will be that camera. I still don't think, however, the AF will be at the same level as say the D500 for fast action, BIF etc but I'm confident it will be good enough for my purposes ( I don't shoot a lot of fast action ). I think the feature I'm looking forward to the most is the joystick for quickly selecting AF points - loved it on the X-Pro2 which I had a lend of in March, followed closely by the additional film simulations ( ACROS ).

ethan · 26 Jul 2016 at 20:52

xaldub said:
I got just under £500 ( I included a grip ). And, yes, most authorised dealers are giving a £100 trade-in bonus on DSLRs/compact camera systems if you place a pre-order for the X-T2 before 31st August.

Thanks for the reply

Richdog · 26 Jul 2016 at 21:07

xaldub said:
I agree, there's a strong chance the X-T2 will be that camera. I still don't think, however, the AF will be at the same level as say the D500 for fast action, BIF etc but I'm confident it will be good enough for my purposes ( I don't shoot a lot of fast action ). I think the feature I'm looking forward to the most is the joystick for quickly selecting AF points - loved it on the X-Pro2 which I had a lend of in March, followed closely by the additional film simulations ( ACROS ).

No of course it out be as good as the D500, but unless your livelihood depends on the AF I don't think it will be a big enough difference to matter too much. Apparently it tracks birds in flight etc very well so I am very hopeful for some good, albeit not the best, AF peformance. I think other than sensor differences it has overall some very good advantages for my uses.