Fuji XT2 XT20 questions and advice?

Discussion in 'Photography and Cameras' started by purr1n, Mar 19, 2018.

  1. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    1. 2 spare batteries are basically no issue to have at all times. They're tiny.

    2. I carried a GRII. It's a toy compared the RX1 line.
     
  2. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    When I closed my photo biz I dumped my full frame Nikon setup because of size. Went with the XT-2 and so far pretty happy. I think the layout is pretty good for mirrorless camera once you get used to it.
     
  3. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    [​IMG]
     
  4. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

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    I was just having a laugh about the batteries, you're right they're tiny.

    The GR has a significantly inferior sensor and lens to the RX1 line but it is by no means a toy. The control setup and ergonomics are perfect and its much, much more pocketable than the Sony. Having had both the GR and most of the Sony FF lineup I greatly prefer it.

    The Sonnar on the RX1 is of course without peer and reason enough to purchase it.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    So I went to the local camera store, Samy's in Pasadena, and walked off with a X-T20. Yes, the X-T2 viewfinder is bigger and brighter, but I felt the X-T2 body was just slightly too big. A priority for me was to cut down on size and weight from the FF Nikon SLR because I intended to take this along with me on hikes. And I figured I'll take my chances with lack of "weather sealing" since most lenses in the lineup are not weather resistant either. I didn't have a problem handling the X-T20. Middle finger and on the body and index on the top. I have strong fingers (pulls ups and curls do help) so I don't mind this arrangement.

    Yes, an X-T20 with the X-T2 viewfinder would have been perfect. However the X-T20 does have a touchscreen (the X-T2 does not) that lets me select the focus point (interesting how cell phone and camera approaches are merging). Also, the X-T20 is hundreds of dollars cheaper. I put this difference into a semi pancake 18mm F2.0 lens. I might find a used X-T1 for $350 just for the heck of it too.

    Fuji AF has indeed leapt bounds from the days of the original X100, and perhaps even from the X-T1. @Bill-P was correct that AF seems on the level of the Nikon Df, and perhaps even superior to the Df for moving subjects (in appropriate AF mode).

    The ACROS BW film simulation is super neat. I'll post some ACROS shots in a bit.

    I also got one of those Peak Design Capture Camera clips at the suggestion of @zerodeefex. This is the bees knee's of camera clips for backpackers. Maybe a quick review later.
    IMG_20180323_162058 (1).jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2018
  6. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I haven’t had time to play with the film sims yet. I really need to take more photos.
     
  7. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Cool looking little camera!

    Yeah, Fuji has come a long way. I still remember handling the X-Pro2 and wondering if I should get one of those, but... no time for AF photography next.

    I still prefer Fuji's colors to Sony's by far, although the adjustment latitude of Sony's files is almost infinite, I'm not finding myself spending hours on a photo anymore. Heck, even an almost-10-year-old Leica camera (whose tech was already 5 years behind anything else at the time it came out) has better colors out of camera than Sony. I think Sony should focus more on fixing that next rather than on even faster cameras, but... ah well, that's for Sony.

    For Fuji, I really liked 35mm f/1.4 for general usage (shooting small objects, items for sale, or items that I find interesting), and portraiture-wise, the 56mm f/1.2 is unbeatable. Both of which are without weather-sealing, so... yeah, even if you had gone for weather sealing on the body, the lenses would still not have weather sealing.

    I think Fuji should refresh some of their older lenses and make them weather-sealed already.
     
  8. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    Not sure about XT20 (think they got slightly taller) but I used to have XT10. Both the body and the viewfinder was too small for me so I got XT1 instead. That + 18-55lens for <$600 a year ago so I was quite happy with it.
     
  9. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    Yep, wish my 23 1.4 had that, and maybe better AF :p
     
  10. cooperpwc

    cooperpwc Friend

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    I just discovered this thread. I spent several months obsessively researching also in preparation for buying a Fuji. I like a single standard prime lens camera . Fuji's direct controls, film simulations and glass meant that nothing else competed for my needs.

    Great choice! I seriously considered the X-T20 and went with the X-E3 which is it's rangefinder equivalent. Both are compelling.

    x2 on the 35mm F/1.4 which is what I got to go with the X-E3. This is the one thing that I disagree with in some of what I am reading in this thread - although the same battle rages at DPReview. I have mechanical envy of the weather sealing and quiet, fast focus of the new F/2 primes, but having looked at many samples, they just do not have the same magic (okay, call it "rendering") as the earlier faster aperture primes. The F/2s are good little lenses no doubt - albeit with horrible barrel distortion that is corrected in camera - but the 35mm F/1.4 is a gem.

    And yes, I wish that Fuji would come out with 35mm F/1.4 WS, or even better the long rumored 33mm F/1.0. :)
     
  11. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    @Bill-P what generation Sony cam you using? A7RII? I found they moved from accurate to more pleasing colors for OOC JPEG somewhere between my A6000/A7R experiences and my RX1R II
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    If I did it again, I'd probably opt for X-E3. Still a possibility of me just buying another body since I already have two lenses and will have more. I prefer the nipple controller better on the X-E3. The rangefinder handling works better with the camera mounted on my backpack shoulder strap. I regularly use the 18mm F2 "pancake" because the best camera is the one you are willing to bring with you.
     
  13. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Oh yeah, I have an A7Rii.

    It does have slightly better colors OOC than A7R, but honestly, I think Fuji is still ahead here.

    Not that it matters much since I have my workflow and everything figured out for the A7Rii so I just have to spend some extra time to import it into Capture One and stuffs but... Fuji is somewhat more pleasing to my eyes OOC. I was already thinking of building/making an app for A7Rii to simulate colors but then... A7iii/A7Riii/A9 suddenly dropped support for apps. :(
     
  14. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    I bought an X100F the other week. It's still borderline 'pocketable' as long as I don't put any sort of extra grip on it.

    The film simulation options really are quite good. Velvia isn't really old school Velvia, but that's for the best, as skin tones are still reasonable in simulation.

    AF is surprising good, I recall that being a huge stumbling block with the original X100. The complete lack of shutter noise is great for kid photos.
     
  15. cooperpwc

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    ^ X100F is a refined camera. I like it a lot. Unfortunately the 35mm (FF equivalent) is not my preferred focal length. (There are people out there that dislike the 40 to 50mm "standard" focal lengths that I like. It is a matter of taste)

    Speaking of grips, I have this Lensmate thumb grip on the way. They make them for all the current Fuji cameras as well as some others. They do not make the cameras any bigger and have good reviews. I am intrigued...


    [​IMG]
     
  16. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    Yeah, 50mm is also my preferred focal length for portraiture- my DSLR has a 50mm Sigma ART on it most the time, but it's a huge brick. The 35mm of the X100F was a compromise that I was willing to try.

    Something like the Lensmate grip would for me make the camera unpocketable. Currently I can barely get away with stashing it in my front jeans pocket, and the hook of the grip would it impossible. All the front mounted grips also seem to add significantly to the height of the camera, so same problem there.

    What I'm planning to do is to get a bunch of Sugru and fashion a much lower profile front grip myself. This will add no height, and the increased depth is already overshadowed by the lens anyway. If you lay down a strip of gaffer tape on the camera body, then build up a Sugru grip on that, the entire thing is removable and leaves no residue. Looks like a complete bodge job though (which admittedly it is).
     
  17. Syzygy

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    Heh, I'm really late to this party, but I currently shoot the X100F, used to shoot the X100T, and before that the X-Pro1 with 35/1.4. Fuji has made amazing strides since the original lineup, and autofocus performance is no longer a factor. I upgraded to the X100F just for the Acros simulation.

    All of the current Fuji X-trans lineup use the same processor, so there's no difference in processing speed, autofocus performance, etc. They all also have the same film sims (X-H1 has 1 add'l for video; the rest of the line are still-first cameras).

    So the choice really comes down to the features you want/need in your camera.

    For me, having used film since the 80's, I can always see the blurring introduced by antialiasing filters over the Bayer sensors (even in the medium format digitals), and gave up photography for awhile because of it. The X-trans sensor pattern doesn't need that filter, so the blurriness isn't there, and photos look realistic again. For me, that blurriness is like a poor D-S DAC rendering, with its harsh edges on horns and strings.

    I'm currently thinking that I want an XT-2 for the weather sealing. My real wish would be an X-Pro3 with weather sealing because I kinda like the viewfinder style better than SLR style.

    Good news: Fuji will be releasing the 33mm F/1.0 in 2020 according to the current lens roadmap.

    So @purr1n, how has that XT20 been working for you? Any issues with dust during/after hikes? I'm more concerned about dust than rain. Many others have said they take their non-weather sealed Fujis out in the rain and it hasn't been an issue as long as it's not an absolute downpour, and they wipe them dry after. I'm also debating the X-T2 vs. X-T20 decision to get back into interchangeable lenses. Though it has been real nice to not think about "which lens" for awhile. And for me, I'd prefer the joystick to the touchscreen.
     
  18. DigMe

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    As I stated earlier in this thread I shut down my photo business in the US and traded in my Nikon full frame setup with pro lenses for an X-T2 setup. This week I’m doing my first serious shooting since I got the X-T2 which is a week-long event with mostly elementary-aged children and all indoors. I was a bit nervous going into it because the Nikon setup had become an extension of myself. I could pretty easily achieve anything I wanted on it photographically and I don’t feel anywhere near that with the Fuji setup. So far it’s going well though. I’m figuring out its nuances and the results have been positive. Being an event that requires same-day turnover has me shooting all in jpeg with minimal post processing. I think the Fuji is pretty great for that role.

    I don’t regret my choice so far even if the initial shock of a totally new system was a little painful.
     
  19. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    I'm currently using a X-E2 with a Rokinon 35mm f/1.2. Have considered getting the X100F, but those fixed lens cams seem to lose resale value very fast, once something better comes out. Used to run the 23/1.4 and 56/1.2 combo which rocked, but ultimately was too heavy and defeated the mirrorless advantage. Also the AF on 56 was very slow. For me 23/1.4 was almost perfect picture wise, but overall it was too big.

    Currently looking to sell the E2 and Rokinon to someone. Don't use them often enough and my Note 8 has a pretty decent cam.
     
  20. cooperpwc

    cooperpwc Friend

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    Wow! I missed that the 33mm F/1.0 has gone from rumour to official. Yes, that plus an X-Pro3 is the dream camera. 2020 is certainly soon enough. I am just scratching the surface of my still new rig.
     

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