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It’s been some time since I switched from Sony to Fuji. At this level, I’m prepared to provide you my causes for the swap and the way I evaluate Fujifilm vs Sony crop sensor cameras.
I need to first admit that the Fujifilm was not what I anticipated in any respect. It really turned out to be totally the alternative of my expectations. I bought eager about Fujifilm due to the necessity for a greater consumer expertise, however I stayed with it due to picture high quality, and stellar Fuji lenses.
Let me clarify.
I switched from Canon to Sony 4 years in the past, I had a really totally different motivation. I used to be not solely dissatisfied with Canon however with DSLR know-how basically. I used to be desirous to discover the mirrorless realm and didn’t have a specific digicam model in thoughts. The explanation I picked Sony was due to the standard of digital recordsdata it produced in comparison with Canon.
Sony vs Fujifilm. Causes for Switching
As I thought of the swap this time, I had just one model in thoughts and that was Fujifilm. Listed here are the primary causes:
1. Consumer Expertise
While you mature as a photographer, you develop a novel images routine and habits. You recognize precisely what you need to see in a digicam that’s intently aligned along with your images workflow. With Sony, I felt that I couldn’t customise my photograph gear how I wished. I hoped the mixture of the streamlined Fuji menu system with the mechanical dials and customizable buttons would provide extra flexibility.
After I determined to modify to Fujifilm, I solely thought of the highest of the road XT2 mannequin, however I had problem discovering dependable critiques. Why? The explanation was due to Fuji’s distinctive strategy to firmware updates.
Since Fujifilm launched its XT2 mannequin in August 2016, it has launched three main firmware updates that reach the digicam’s performance by including lots of–that’s proper, lots of–of latest and up to date options.
By the tip of 2017, a lot of the preliminary XT2 critiques had been outdated as a result of, by then, it was a really totally different digicam.
Associated: Fuji XT2 vs XT3 – Aspect by Aspect
I discover Fuji’s strategy to be distinctive and refreshing, which makes them extra like a software program startup fairly than a client electronics firm. It seems like a contemporary strategy to images when an organization listens to customers and makes enhancements to present cameras by software program updates.
I wished to be a part of that have.
2. Curiosity
I do know loads of fellow photographers who shoot with Fujifilm and love the Fujifilm expertise. Typically, they reward Fuji a lot that it seems like they’re a part of a cult-like Scientology or CrossFit. I used to be curious to discover the cult-like expertise from the within.
I used to be additionally intrigued to discover the utterly totally different design of Fuji cameras with their varied mechanical dials and gazillions of customizable buttons.
Additionally, as a photographer and educator, I assumed it could be good to study one other system so I can intelligently focus on it.
3. Want for the Final Journey Digicam
For a very long time, I wished the final word journey digicam setup. I craved for a mix of a compact climate sealed digicam and lens.
I used to be additionally searching for a contemporary twin reminiscence card performance that might give me a very redundant backup workflow from begin to end.
And, lastly, I wished my journey digicam to have a dependable and easy GPS tagging performance.
Associated: Prime Equipment for
I couldn’t accomplish all the pieces with Sony.
4. Neglect By Sony
I bear in mind a number of years in the past when somebody from a photograph neighborhood predicted that Sony wouldn’t have the bandwidth to develop each full body and APS-C techniques concurrently. This turned out to be true. Sony uncared for the APS-C techniques and concentrated all their efforts on full body cameras and lenses. In 4 years, Sony has not created even one APS-C lens.
Fujifilm vs Sony. The Swap
After I switched from Canon to Sony, essentially the most vital change that impacted my images was the unimaginable dynamic vary of the Sony sensors. It modified the best way I shoot and edit images.
It made me use HDR even much less. And, even when it was completely essential to make the most of HDR, I solely wanted three brackets. The time of taking 5 to seven bracketed pictures was over.
Since then, I all the time take note of the dynamic vary of any digicam that I consider and make it some of the vital paraments of my images.
The issue with Fuji is that it makes use of an X-Trans sensor and it appears that evidently nobody can precisely measure its dynamic vary. This made it unattainable for me to match the dynamic vary of the XT2 to my present Sony earlier than I made the swap.
It anxious me a bit as a result of I didn’t need to sacrifice the dynamic vary in my new digicam.
So, as an alternative of switching immediately, I made a decision to first take a look at the Fuji. When an area fellow photographer was promoting his virtually new Fuji X-T2 physique, I knew it was the right alternative for me to match it to Sony.
I purchased the digicam and complemented it with the Fujinon 18-135mm lens. Over the following six weeks, I used each the Sony and Fuji techniques aspect by aspect.
Associated: My Fujifilm Journey Pictures Gear
Here’s what I found.
The Positives of Switching from Sony to Fujifilm
Dynamic Vary
The dynamic vary of the Fuji XT2 sensor is unimaginable. I can not measure it exactly to provide the actual variety of stops it covers however, based mostly on my purely empirical expertise, it’s higher than the Sony a6000, a6300, and a6500. In six weeks, I’ve not used HDR–not even when taking pictures instantly into the solar. The quantity of particulars I can recuperate in highlights and shadows is staggering.
That is one thing I didn’t count on.
Picture High quality
At this level, I’ve two lenses: Fujinon 10-24 and Fujinon 18-135. The mix of the Fuji XT2 and the 10-24 or 18-135 produces a lot cleaner and sharper pictures than the Sony a6000 or a65000 with a Sony 16-70 or Sony 10-18. The Fujifilm pictures are completely usable at 100% magnification. Unbelievable.
Fujinon Lenses
It’s common data that Fujifilm lenses are good and I had a normal thought what to anticipate.
However, I need to think about Fujinon 18-135 lens. It’s not the most well-liked Fuji lens, however I picked it as a part of my final journey images setup. It’s climate sealed, stabilized with a really helpful focal size. I knew upfront that I might go on an prolonged journey with solely that lens.
After utilizing Fujinon completely for two weeks, I spotted that just about all of the Fujinon 18-135 critiques I learn had been inaccurate and deceptive. Most of them concluded that it’s a respectable lens however you cannot count on a lot from a brilliant zoom lens.
I don’t agree with these conclusions. I discover this lens to be excellent. The picture high quality is superb and when taking pictures at f/8 – f/11 I hardly can inform the distinction between Fujinon 18-135 and everyone’s favourite extremely large Fujinon 10-24.
The Fujinon 18-135mm has one of the best Optical Stabilization I’ve ever skilled. I managed to shoot at focal size 135mm utilizing shutter velocity 1/10s and produce a wonderfully sharp picture. It’s outstanding.
Digital Viewfinder
The EVF is to die for. It’s HUGE and brilliant. It incorporates an unlimited quantity of knowledge, and you may customise it in any means you need. It already modified the best way I take images.
I assigned the entrance operate button to set off Histogram show in EVF. With the most recent firmware replace, it shows a mixed histogram plus three extra variations for every shade channel. Now when I’m able to shoot, I press AE-L button to lock the publicity, subsequent I activate the histogram within the EVF, and at last, I tweak the publicity by adjusting the publicity compensation utilizing Entrance Command Dial. And I all the time have 4 histograms in EVF to guage my changes.
Find it irresistible.
ISO Efficiency
One of many shortcomings of the Fuji XT2 is taken into account to be not a stellar excessive ISO efficiency. However, as soon as once more I don’t totally agree with the conclusion. I assume should you evaluate XT2 ISO efficiency to a full body sensor digicam like Sony 7r it may be the case, however I discover the ISO efficiency is superb for the APS-C digicam. I used to be shocked that at ISO 12800 pictures are nonetheless usable with loads of particulars.
The mix of wonderful ISO efficiency with improved and prolonged Auto ISO performance, permits me to shoot in circumstances I might by no means take into account taking pictures earlier than.
The Negatives of Switching from Sony to Fujifilm
Ergonomics
The day I obtained the digicam and the lens I went on a day-long journey to shoot winter landscapes. After taking pictures for two hours I spotted that I had cramps in my fingers.
Sony a6000 is a small digicam, however it has a beefy, not very deep however fairly large grip and I might comfortably carry the digicam utilizing my whole palm. However the Fuji XT2 is a much bigger and heavier digicam with a tiny grip and I all the time needed to squeeze it with my fingers placing pointless pressure on them.
After 5 minutes of Googling, I spotted the small grip was a standard situation for a lot of Fuji cameras. And naturally, I discovered the answer quick. I ordered the thumb grip, and it virtually mounted the issue.
I additionally purchased an affordable L-Bracket with a steel grip.
Fujifilm XT2 Vertical Shoot Hand Grip
Now after I shoot handheld, I take advantage of thumb grip solely, and when I’m on a tripod I connect the L-Bracket Grip as nicely.
However, I’m nonetheless not totally snug. I hope over time I’ll get used to it.
I’m a giant Again Button Focus consumer, and the AE-L and AF-L buttons are tiny, and it’s arduous to make use of them. I needed to assign Rear Command Dial to lock the deal with a press down. It’s not totally snug.
Inconsistency with Customization
I just like the Fuji XT2 design and mechanical dials, however I anticipated to have the power to assign all mechanical dial functionalities to customizable operate buttons. That’s not the case.
For instance, I can use Entrance Command Dial to regulate publicity compensation by setting the mechanical dial to the S possibility, and I prefer it lots.
However, I cannot assign Drive choice to a customized operate button or perhaps a Fast menu. The one means for me to alter from single mode taking pictures to bracketing, which I do lots, is to make use of a mechanical subdial underneath the ISO dial. I’ve to make use of my second hand to alter it.
The identical goes for the Metering choice, you must use a mechanical dial and no operate button or Fast Menu choices.
When taking pictures in Aperture Precedence mode, the one strategy to change the aperture worth is to make use of lens aperture ring. It is extremely snug when taking pictures handheld however when on a tripod, as soon as once more it requires a second hand. There isn’t any strategy to change aperture utilizing the Rear Command dial.
I hope that in future updates Fujifilm provides us the power to assign any operate to any operate buttons or not less than to a Fast Menu. I might love to have the ability to customise the XT2 so I can change any settings with one hand and with out transferring the attention away from EVF
Customized Setting
I discover that some of the helpful customized configurations on any digicam model is the power to avoid wasting a gaggle of customized settings and recall them with one click on. I used it on Sony and Canon.
I used to be enthusiastic about Fujifilm customized settings as a result of I knew you could possibly save as much as 7 customized configurations, plus you could possibly give every configuration a novel title. And it’s straightforward to recall every saved configuration from Fast Menu.
However after I began to customise it I spotted the one following settings an accessible for reminiscence recall:
Dynamic Vary, Movie Simulation, Grain Impact, White Steadiness, Colour Sharpness, Spotlight Tone, and Noise Discount.
That’s is true, all of them associated to JPEG taking pictures. And since I solely shoot RAW, the complete Customized Setting module is completely ineffective to me.
I discover it to be some of the shocking shortcomings of Fujifilm Xt2 performance.
Sony vs Fujifilm: Conclusion
As I discussed earlier than, the swap from Sony to Fujifilm turned to be not what I anticipated in any respect. I bought eager about Fujifilm due to the necessity for a greater consumer expertise and extra superior customization, however I stayed with it due to picture high quality, dynamic vary, and stellar lenses.
I don’t complain and don’t have any regrets. I’ve already offered all my Sony gear and I’ll undoubtedly follow Fujifilm for a yr not less than, however I believe it to be longer.
And I’m having blast studying the brand new digicam system. Plus, Fujifilm retains us on the toes with the fixed firmware upgrades.
Additionally, it proved once more there isn’t any such factor as an ideal digicam.
Sony vs Fujifilm – 2019 Replace
It’s been virtually 18 months since I switched from Sony to the Fujifilm digicam system. I made a decision to provide you a fast replace.
To start with, I’ve grown even fonder of Fujifilm gear over time. I like its aesthetics, the standard of substances, and the standard of pictures Fujifilm produces. Plus, I like Fujifilm’s photographer-centric strategy to enterprise.
At this level, I’ve no plans to search for an alternate. I’ll follow Fujifilm.
I nonetheless shoot with the Fujifilm X-t2. In 2018, I used to be very excited when Fujifilm introduced the X-t3 and I used to be desirous to improve. However after I checked the specs of the X-t3, I spotted there was nothing for me there.
The Fujifilm X-T3 gives drastic enhancements in video specs and autofocus, neither of which I take care of a lot. The options I cared about essentially the most—picture high quality dynamic vary and low gentle efficiency – didn’t change within the X-T3 mannequin.
I additionally hoped the X-T3 would introduce a much bigger battery to eradicate the necessity to carry a pile of spare batteries together with me. This didn’t occur.
Fujinon 35mm f/1.4
I added a brand new Fujifilm lens to my assortment. I bought the Fujinon 35mm f/1.4, which acts because the “nifty fifty” on APS-C sensor cameras. The lens is without doubt one of the oldest fashions within the Fujifilm line and has a really outdated autofocus motor. The autofocus is noisy and never very quick, however the lens produces unimaginable pictures with distinctive appears.
In response to Fujifilm’s chief engineer, after they designed the Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 lens, that they had the choice to make it optically excellent or make it distinctive and distinctive. They selected the latter. It’s now one in every of my favourite lenses I’ve ever owned. Plus, it’s tiny and extremely gentle.
My working horse is the Fujinon 10-24mm f/4 wide-angle lens. I take advantage of it for many of my panorama images. Its solely weak spot is its lack of climate sealing. When I’m within the area within the rain, I’ve to modify to the Fujinon 18-135mm. This lens is weather-sealed and provides me a really helpful attain of 135mm (200m full-frame equal).
The Fujifilm 18-135mm is nearly the right lens for my wants, however it has one shortcoming. It’s a bit too huge and too heavy for lengthy and demanding hikes. Not too long ago, Fujifilm introduced a brand new lens—the 16-80mm f/4 —that’s smaller than the 18-135mm lens, has one of the best picture stabilization within the trade, and is climate sealed. It has the potential of being the final word journey lens. I completely plan to test it out when it turns into accessible.
That’s it for now. Let me know if in case you have any questions within the feedback under. I’m completely happy to reply any of your inquiries.
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