Fujifilm X-series

[Humboldt]

Hello all! I am a Nikon user, but I am tired of heavy equipment. I am walking and climbing in mountains during summer, and now I want lighter gear. I have considered the Olympus OM-D series, but as I sometimes also use my camera in jazzclubs and during concerts, I am a little hesitant concerning the micro 43 sensor. I need decent low light performance. I have also considered the Fujifilm X1 or maybe X2 - at the moment it is possible to get a very good price if buying the X1. However, I have read that Adobe Lightroom do not handle Fujifilm Trans-X raw files very good. The best is a RAW developer called iridient developer, at least according to what I have read on the internet. Problem is this is a Mac program only. I use Windows. If anybody here in this forum have any experience of the Fujifilm X1 or X2  I would appreciate to read about your thoughts.

[aerobat]

Hi Humboldt,

I'm a Nikon FX and Fuji X photographer when I want to travel light. I've chosen Fuji specifically for the large aperture primes and their capabilities for shallow depth of field and usage in low light. The latest Lr and Camera Raw versions handle XTRANS files well. I do work on a MAC and have Iridient but hardly ever use it.
There's always a trade-off when buying into a system but all in all the Fuji mirrorless system ticks most boxes for me. I like the classic controls and the metallic and robust build of lenses and bodies.
I started off on a M43 mirrorless for travel but soon gave up on it.

[Humboldt]

Thank you for your answer aerobat. Do you have any opinion about the difference between X1 and X2? I have read about the differences in terms of specifications. What I wonder is what it means in terms of image quality and low light performance. I have understood the autofocus is much better on X2, but I do not need autofocus of the sort needed in sports- and wildlife photo. The reason I ask is the huge price difference between X1 and X2. Fuji are selling X1s now for a very low price.

[Lars Hansen]

Hello Humboldt,

just a comment regarding view finders from a former Nikon DX photog. My advice is that you get familiar with the view finders (EVF's) in the various Fuji camera models. My experiences are based on the older Fuji X-E1 and the EVF has caused a bit frustration in some bright sunlight situations as well as low light situations. I assume the camera models you consider and mention are the X-T1 and X-T2(?) - they are known to have great EVF's. Maybe some Nikon FX photogs can comment on how the EVF's compare to Nikon FX OVF's.

I use Capture One Pro for raw processing - to my eye it works well but some features are (still) not supported for X-Trans (e.g. auto mask).
       

[Humboldt]

Yes, sorry, I meant X-T1 and X-T2. I have an old Panasonic with an electronic viewfinder, and if the Viewfinder on the Fuji X-T1 or T2 is not worse, it is ok for me. I also have an Nikon FX, so I know the difference, and most often I prefer the electronic viewfinder since it provides me with a lot of information like a histogram and such.

[Mike G]

The X-T2/X-T1 EVFs are excellent and you will not be disappointed! I too moved to a Fuji system because of heavy gear, especially the lenses so I got fed up lugging all that weight around!

The X-T2 is a definite step up from the X-T1 in all sorts of ways, too numerous to mention here. Take a look at the Fujifilm X World website for a ton of info and also the Fotozones website which is known by many of the members here

Be extra careful when reading internet reviews, there can be a hidden agenda behind such postings.

Moving from system to system can be expensive if you decide to keep two systems going at the same time, I took advantage of an excellent PX regime by WEX a British dealer to help pay for my new Fujifilm set up!

PS The Fuji EVF and rear LCD are very customisable when it comes to what info is shown!

[richardHaw]

i solved the weight problem with a DF

but since you are OK with cropped, why not try the D5500 or even the D3400?

if you are really set with going fuji, try the XE series.

[Frank Fremerey]

I dipped my foot into the Fuji world with the X100T which I really really like.

The XPro2 features an excellently layouted and balanced body, esp with a lens like the 56mm/f=1.2

The XPro2 also features a very good EVF, I find it nearly as good as an OVF

The XPro2 also features an Optical viewfinder, but this is not really helpful when the lenses get longer and bigger

Sooo ... If I would further dive into the X-Series, I would go for the X-T2 ... she does not have the OVF of the X100/XPro, but all the other features including a better AF, whatever that mens compared to a D500, my favourite camera currently.

[aerobat]

I've currently got an X-E2s and really like it. Personally I would only opt for the X-T2 if I intended a full switch to Fuji.
Honestly I don't really like to have two different systems as it's not particularly economical and I'm always torn which system to build up next.
I'm a prime only shooter and for a long time only had lenses from 20mm to 85mm (FX). Now that I've got the superb 300mm F4 PF I was also looking at perhaps a D7200 or D500 to extend the range on top of using a teleconverter. But then the DX camera would have to replace the Fuji.
The lack of decent DX primes ( except for the 35mm f/1.8 ) is a non starter for me. The fast Fuji primes really make this system shine.
So I'll keep a three lenses kit for the Fuji (XF 16mm f/1.4; XF 23mm f/1.4; XF 56mm f/1.2).

[pluton]

I have had an XE-1, one of the early Fuji X-Trans cameras since 2013.
On the raw file processing issue for X-Trans, Lightroom/ACR was visibly terrible at first, but was improved back in 2013.
There is still a deficit in small detail rendition with the current Lightroom 6/ACR, which won't matter on small prints.  More technically analytical photographers than me have also said that there is a problem with "color depth" when doing X-Trans in Lightroom.
The raw developers that use the DCRaw development engine seem to create superior fine detail from X-Trans 1(16MP) files.  I assume that similar advantages will be had with DCRaw and the new 24MP X-Trans, though the increase to 24MP probably helps alleviate the detail issues with Lightroom/ACR.
I have two of those DCRaw-equipped raw processors, Iridient and Photo Ninja.
Photo Ninja is available for both Mac and PC.  I use primarily Lightroom, and only occasionally go to Photo Ninja when fine detail is an issue on a particular file.

[Mike G]

Only me again. Like Keith, I also use Lightroom and Photo Ninja as an external editor from within Lr!

While waiting for the X-T2 to appear, I used an X-T1and it is a super little camera so I shed a wee tear when it had to go. 

[Anthony]

 XT1 and XT2 are both excellent.  For me the more responsive nature of the XT2 justifies the upgrade.

The EVF of the XT2 is state of the art.  But that of the XT1 is very good indeed.

LR does not do justice to Fuji files.  My favourite is Photo Ninja, which does a great job and integrates well with Photoshop.

At this level of technology, user experience is the most important factor.  That is why I upgraded.  But if you are happy with the XT1's handling, and can get it at a good price, that would be a great entry into the Fuji system.

[stenrasmussen]

It would be very interesting to have a test here where someone could share a RAF from the X-T2 and those of us interested could play with the software of choice and present results here. Anyone?

[simato73]

It would be very interesting to have a test here where someone could share a RAF from the X-T2 and those of us interested could play with the software of choice and present results here. Anyone?

I can provide one, if you can suggest how to share it.
Would Dropbox work?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Dropbox is a practical solution, yes.