Fuji X Series

Richdog · 11 Sep 2017 at 16:53

FloatingPoint said:
Capture One, it is much better than Lightroom for processing RAW files of any manufacturer.

Much better for all file types, really? Anyone would think Lightroom was made by a bunch amateurs who hadn't been dealing with these files since their very inception.

Im not saying C1 doesn't have some advantages, LR has areas they definitely need to improve, but it's not like LR is crap or isn't used by award-winning pros the world over.

I have researched this and found numerous articles showing that the differences are there, but possibly overstated.

Example 1: http://4bcokm12bvu948gi7312gnab-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/Lightroom vs Capture One Pro.pdf

Capture One’s philosophy is to produce a more optimized look that doesn’t necessarily require further editing. This may have led to the perception that Capture One is sharper and punchier, but in reality neither program is inherently better than the other when it comes to actually working on your images and adjusting the settings to suit individual tastes. I am disinclined to criticize Capture One’s approach. If Capture One customers find the optimized approach gives them the end result they’re after quicker, are they wrong if they happen to like what they see? Capture One certainly has the professional-level tools to produce great-looking images, but Lightroom users shouldn’t be sidetracked by claims for Capture One’s superiority. Fundamentally, the two programs aren’t as different as some might have you believe.

Capture One vs Lightroom: Should you switch?
Read more at http://www.australianphotography.co...ghtroom-should-you-switch#TbbJBM6SGMegQcQm.99 http://www.australianphotography.com/photo-tips/capture-one-vs-lightroom-should-you-switch

As far as actual image quality is concerned, I call it a draw too. Both apps process differently, with different priorities but as far as sharpness and tonal smoothness is concerned I judge them quite equivalent.

In my mind, Capture One Pro is definitely the more sophisticated package of the two, but the sheer usefulness of Lightroom is hard to beat. Unfortunately it’s not really that easy to use both together but, if you wanted to, you could conceivably use Lightroom as the master catalogue and Capture One as the specialist tool for difficult situations, exporting adjusted 16-bit TIFFs to a Hot Folder to be automatically Imported into the main Lightroom catalogue.

Is Capture One Pro V9 worth the higher cost? Yes, clearly. After all, it’s a much more powerful application and you do get what you pay for. But only if you need the extreme depth of the adjustment features. Lightroom will do 90% of what you need in a production environment but Capture One does allow a much more subtle touch and has tools that have no equivalent in either Lightroom or Photoshop.

Having said all that, I think I am going to download and try it and compare it to LR so I can make my own mind up... I'm not a pro with LR so although I am used to it, I could potentially re-learn and switch if I had to.

FloatingPoint · 11 Sep 2017 at 17:46

Richdog said:
Having said all that, I think I am going to download and try it and compare it to LR so I can make my own mind up... I'm not a pro with LR so although I am used to it, I could potentially re-learn and switch if I had to.

Please do try it out, it is a very well designed tool. Plus it will be much cheaper in the long run as you can buy a licence instead of renting one, and also means there is competition in the market.

edit to add that shooting Fuji, the colours are so good that sometimes the need to edit raw is not needed!

ethan · 12 Sep 2017 at 01:08

Looking forward to November since Fuji claim that the continuous auto-focus on the Xpro2 and XT2 is going to be twice as fast as it is at present with a new firmware release.

Richdog · 12 Sep 2017 at 08:56

ethan said:
Looking forward to November since Fuji claim that the continuous auto-focus on the Xpro2 and XT2 is going to be twice as fast as it is at present with a new firmware release.

Twice as fast is a big claim... I would be very (pleasantly) surprised were that actually the case.

xaldub · 12 Sep 2017 at 19:48

@Richdog - sorry for the late reply but I've been busy with work. Like FloatingPoint I also recommend Capture One Pro for processing Fujifilm RAF files. The UI may take some getting used to, particularly if you are coming from a Lightroom heavy workflow but it is fully customisable. You should definitely give the free 30 day trial a go and see for yourself. A lot of professional Fuji photographers are using C1Pro, including Jonas Rask et al.

LiE · 23 Sep 2017 at 15:51

Seriously considering pre-ordering the X-E3 body and picking up a used Fujinon 23mm 1.4. I don't have a camera right now and want something to take amazing photos while I get back into things.

CGrieves · 23 Sep 2017 at 23:42

LiE said:
Seriously considering pre-ordering the X-E3 body and picking up a used Fujinon 23mm 1.4. I don't have a camera right now and want something to take amazing photos while I get back into things.

I think it'd be a pretty good pairing- when I travel light, I stuff the X-E2, 23/1.4, a spare battery and a Peak Design handstrap into my bag.

I have no problem with the focus on the 2, but the extra focus performance of the 3 is pretty tempting.

Raymond Lin · 25 Sep 2017 at 18:05

LiE said:
Seriously considering pre-ordering the X-E3 body and picking up a used Fujinon 23mm 1.4. I don't have a camera right now and want something to take amazing photos while I get back into things.

I am thinking of this for some doing some video on holiday with a light gimbal. The lack of in body IS wouldn't matter then.

FloatingPoint · 25 Sep 2017 at 19:03

Raymond Lin said:
I am thinking of this for some doing some video on holiday with a light gimbal. The lack of in body IS wouldn't matter then.

Not been keeping up with Fuji video but is the X-E3 any good? i.e. full manual control for video and at least a decent flat profile for grading.

Personally I’d just get an x100/S/T if it was just about 35mm equivalent FOV, f2.0 would be fine for most situations compared to f1.4. Less weight to carry about too.

LiE · 27 Sep 2017 at 16:11

CGrieves said:
I think it'd be a pretty good pairing- when I travel light, I stuff the X-E2, 23/1.4, a spare battery and a Peak Design handstrap into my bag.

I have no problem with the focus on the 2, but the extra focus performance of the 3 is pretty tempting.

Raymond Lin said:
I am thinking of this for some doing some video on holiday with a light gimbal. The lack of in body IS wouldn't matter then.

Decided to bring the budget down and instead opted for a used "like new" X-E2S from MPB. Then sourced a very good condition used 35mm 2.0. Budget couldn't stretch to the 35 or 23 1.4.

Should be a good way to get into photography. £600 is a bit easier to swallow than £1300.

bcjames · 7 Nov 2017 at 14:01

I'm thinking about swapping my Nikon kit for a Fuji system. Is this crazy?

I've changed jobs recently and only really do photography as the occasional freelance job for clients or local papers, but most of the time it's just as a hobby. I currently have 2 D800s, a 50mm f1.4, 16-35 f4, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 vrii, and a Nikon remote flash set up. This has pretty much enabled me to take on any job I needed to.

I was recently in The Netherlands covering taking photos of for an orchestra and used just the 50 and the 16-35. While I was there I also had a look around the windmills and other touristy places, and lugging a dslr with a 50 on it was a bit of a pain.

Is the XT2 the camera to go for if I want portability for 80% of the time, but need to rely on it for pro work from time to time? If I sold my Nikon kit I'd have a good amount of cash to invest in a new system, probably a camera, wide lens and normal lens. Unfortunately I'm not really in a position now I'm not earning so much money from it to buy a Fuji kit while I still have the Nikon, and I don't want to sell the Nikon kit and then regret it.

CGrieves · 7 Nov 2017 at 14:46

Not sure selling all the pro kit for any unknown system would be a great idea if you have the potential of more work.

Why not get a cheap secondhand X-T1, X-T10 or X-E2 with a prime for the touristy, fun, portable photography? Or even an X-100S/T which will give you a great taste of Fuji and is sufficiently different to what you already have?

Maybe sell your least used Nikon lens to fund it?

bcjames · 7 Nov 2017 at 15:16

Well I’m quite take it or leave it on the paid work, it’s certainly not a part of my living anymore.

I did wonder about selling my 70-200, picking up a used XT1, and going from there. The numbers are smaller and less risk if I don’t get on with it.

Edit: in that respect, is the XT1 still representative of the x series, or will I be put off by a lack of features that the XT2 does have?

Shadowness · 7 Nov 2017 at 18:06

I have an X-T1 and X-T1. The latter is still a cracking camera.

The main thing I love on the 2 is the vertical tilting screen!

CGrieves · 7 Nov 2017 at 19:05

Yeah the later iterations are really refinement rather than revolution. I have the X-E1 and 2 and the 1 is still excellent and very "Fuji".

X-T1 and a 24mm or 35mm F1.4 is what I'd go for in your situation.

ethan · 7 Nov 2017 at 19:23

bcjames said:
Well I’m quite take it or leave it on the paid work, it’s certainly not a part of my living anymore.

I did wonder about selling my 70-200, picking up a used XT1, and going from there. The numbers are smaller and less risk if I don’t get on with it.

Edit: in that respect, is the XT1 still representative of the x series, or will I be put off by a lack of features that the XT2 does have?

I think that is hard to say. I loved the XT1 due to ease of access, functionality and its ability to take cracking shots. The XT2 is this on steroids. Can you not find a shop with both and try and see?
From my experience the XE2 is everything CGrieves says as well as being a retro looking hot classic; especially if you add the silver thumb grip and red shutter button

Try the XE3: it is supposed to be a mini/ alternative to the XPro2.

bcjames · 8 Nov 2017 at 12:19

Thanks for the advice guys.

Certainly at this point, I could likely get an XT1 and a lens for the going rate of one of my D800s, or thereabouts. That still leaves me a D800 and a full set of lenses.

There are XT2s in the Fugi refurb store, and I could probably get an XT2 plus lens for around a D800 and my 70-200. Certainly more to think about, and I'm still seeking out reviews that cover the XT1/2 differences.

This decision is partly driven by the fact I'm sat on a few thousand points worth of kit that I'm not particularly using, is depreciating, and I might find a better fit elsewhere for what I do now.

Richdog · 8 Nov 2017 at 13:32

bcjames said:
Thanks for the advice guys.

Certainly at this point, I could likely get an XT1 and a lens for the going rate of one of my D800s, or thereabouts. That still leaves me a D800 and a full set of lenses.

There are XT2s in the Fugi refurb store, and I could probably get an XT2 plus lens for around a D800 and my 70-200. Certainly more to think about, and I'm still seeking out reviews that cover the XT1/2 differences.

This decision is partly driven by the fact I'm sat on a few thousand points worth of kit that I'm not particularly using, is depreciating, and I might find a better fit elsewhere for what I do now.

If you don't want your current kit then just immediately focus on selling it for the best prices possible before it depreciates further. After that is done then look at other systems.

bcjames · 9 Nov 2017 at 14:59

Richdog said:
If you don't want your current kit then just immediately focus on selling it for the best prices possible before it depreciates further. After that is done then look at other systems.

I think this is my current school of thought. I've put in some requests to MPB and Wex and the quotes for a D800 and 70-200 are pretty good, so I see an XT2 in the near future, as well as keeping the other D800 and lenses.

Just need to decide on a lens to go with the Fuji then

xaldub · 9 Nov 2017 at 19:38

CGrieves said:
Yeah the later iterations are really refinement rather than revolution. I have the X-E1 and 2 and the 1 is still excellent and very "Fuji".

X-T1 and a 24mm or 35mm F1.4 is what I'd go for in your situation.

I disagree - whilst the ergonomics of most Fuji cameras are similar the X-T2's performance is streets ahead of the X-T1. I think the OP would get a false impression of where Fuji cameras are at currently by buying an older generation camera.