What camera do I buy? / general gear talk

Check out Camera Conspiracies on youtube, he's gone through a Fuji phase recently.

I love that guy even though he's video mad and constantly disses still photography.

He also gives great life advice! (Do not follow his diet, ever)

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• kasey.mp4

It would be difficult to keep up with his diet advice, from vegan to paleo and all stops in between!

I made my first foray into Fuji cameras last year and picked up an XE3 with the 35mm f1.4 and have been really happy with it. Image quality is excellent and the controls are really intuitive. Auto focus is ok, a bit slow with the older lenses like mine - but not dreadful.

The only thing I'd say is to try and handle one if you can, while it's great that they're so compact and portable, I find it a bit small for my hands. They make grips and thumb rests etc which help but I'm planning to trade in for an X Pro2/3 at some point. XE4 is a bit of a departure in terms of controls, quite a few of the custom buttons have been removed so the operation is even simpler, if you like mapping things to buttons the older bodies are they way to go.

I am still so satisfied with my now 10 years old D800, a 35mm 1.4 G lens, and a Zeiss 100 mm macro lens, with which I can make sharp shots and do know how to use these tools, but at some point my body would be ready to swap for smaller (digital) tools. (digital) because I have an analog Nikon FG with a 45mm pancake lens, which is my 'small' analog setup, still on the heavy side, but I wouldn't know how to go smaller / lighter except Leica (weight?) maybe or a point & shoot camera.

I'd like to have a small 'normal' to light tele focal length digital combo (~50–70mm), which is light, and sharp, and crisp, 3D, and everything. Should I try Fuji, Sony, etc.? Question would be to someone who made a switch from a nice DSRL 35mm camera setup to modern small form factor equipment.

Is the better sensor in the XE4 worth the trade off ya reckon in terms of ergos?

Like the look of them. Watched a vid that said the XS10 is similar, but tons more buttons.

I went from a 6000 to a second hand A7ii. Already had 1 full frame 28mm lense that I was using on the 6000 so bought one more with the body and it uses the same batteries. Overall I'm very pleased with it, really nice pictures, way more useable than the 6xxx with more buttons and dials etc. and great images. Downside is it's definitely less portable than the 6 series and weighs like double.

I haven’t used the new sensor myself but from what I can gather image quality is pretty much indistinguishable between the two, low light auto focus is improved and you get some different film simulations.

I don’t think the lack of buttons would bother me, it has shutter speed and exposure comp on the body, aperture on the lens and you can map iso to the front dial, then you have a couple of buttons to assign to whatever you use most.

XS10 is more DSLR style, has a PASM dial and I think it has IBIS.

Basically within each generation of cameras they all have the same sensor whether you buy the flagship or the entry level model so you always get the same image quality. You just have to choose which body style suits you the best.

I'm honestly still often impressed with the image quality that comes out of my XE2s from 2016!

Definitely concur with bt on this, between all of those options you've mentioned go with what you feel suits you best re ergonomics, extra features, size/weight, etc.

Thanks for all the feedback. Will sit on it for now until I get a chance to hold a few. Certainly interested in the X-E4, like minimal and comes in at a sensible price.

Yeah, wouldn’t sweat what sensor is in either - they’ve been good enough for years. I use a 1st gen x100 from 2012 and my newest camera is an X-T2 which has plenty of pixels for tight crops. Dynamic range feels like a toss-up between the two.

The small form hasn't bothered me that much, light weight and smaller is good, and the additional grips work find (also look at the smallrig ones).

The 56mm 1.2 is one of the best lenses I've ever used, I'm not sure how it's this good. That is about 85m in FF terms though, so might be a bit long for you. The 33mm (about a 50) is good too, though I haven't used it that much.

What are the chances anyone here has access to a Samyang lens station for fuji x?

At somewhat of a quandary with my camera gear - bought into Nikon gear years ago and just kept going. Now have several digital & film bodies and 8-9 lenses that I use - probably others also. But my trusty D7200 is kaput beyond repair. Have fallen back on my very aged D90 in the interim for family pics & stuff.

Do I ditch the lot, as I am not shooting film much anymore either (kids & riding instead) and buy into some mirrorless system? Or has anyone seen a decent bargain on something like the discontinued D500 or whatever?

Has anyone else recently uprooted their whole system and switched? I know there is love for Fuji here. Any other recomm's? Mainly family & street stuff at the moment + full manual controls a must.

Clean D500 bodies are probably only going to up in value as the DX highwater mark right?

Buy one and see if you’re happy? It’ll be quite expensive replacing nine quality lenses and resale on those is probably not amazing right now (with a flooded market as people move from dslr systems).

It’ll be quite expensive replacing nine quality lenses and resale on those is probably not amazing right now

Yup. This has put me off changing while I figured out if the old body could be repaired. But you lot on here with your pretty Fujis...

Will have a trawl around for a D500 deal - that was the way I was leaning anyway

Ha! Yeah I think that’s a sensible shout - not going to try and talk you out of an ecosystem just because it’s vogue. Sounds like you’re sitting on plenty of nice lenses and it’s what’s behind the camera that counts anyway.

Fuji stuff is of course quite nice but would be significant outlay for some nice lenses. Would recommend getting previous generation bodies also. Like everything, they’re getting spendy.

If anyone else says ecosystem I am going to start making house calls.

And spendy isn't helping.

I dropped the eco bit. Is that just a yellow card?

Your a spendy ecosystem.

Also, noted. I’d never speak like that in meat-space.

Trying here before I go to AQA - anyone here use(d) gorillapods?

I've just picked up a Gorillapod Original on freecycle but it seems to be missing the QR mounting plate, like these. Does anyone know if these are interchangeable with the new mounting plates?

Am trying to cut down my camera kit as I’ve way too much stuff and don’t use it all.

Debating whether to keep either
A small body (x pro 2/3) and a few small lenses (24, 35, 50, 85mm equivalents or close enough)
Or
X100V (35mm)

I can’t decide if I think 35mm is a bit flat and boring and having a small selection of lenses would be better, or if actually decision paralysis about which lens to use is the greater evil and I should really force myself to figure out how to make 35mm more interesting.

Thoughts?

Thoughts?

Have a similar line up and feelings about the 35mm equiv. fov but despite this, tend to use the X100V the most. It's the smaller and easier setup to throw in a bag or take on bike trips. Still have lots to learn about making it more interesting too.

There is a little decision paralysis but I tend to choose 1 camera and 1 lens for most outings, treating the X100V as a 23mm lens in the lineup. On one hand, I get a bit of variety and use the kit, on the other hand, I'm not mastering a single fov.

Unless you need the funds, I'd hang onto both.