Will I buy this camera?
Today Fuji announced the new X30 which replaces the X20, which before that, replaced the X10, and all this has happened in only a couple of years! Does it appear to be a good camera? You bet, I started my love affair with Fuji with an X10. It was so good that I made a huge decision based on the care Fuji put into that camera! Of course they didn’t stop there and soon released the X Series with APS-C size sensor and the improvement in quality was enormous. That’s an interesting story, but it does not answer the question, will I buy this camera? No. Before you get the wrong idea, I love the idea of what they did with this camera. It is a great leap up from the original X10 and yet keeps all the best things about that first model. So why will I not add it to my system?
It appears the camera is going to come in a little under $700. and for $1,295. (which is a lot more), you can buy the Fuji X100s which is an awesome camera in every way! Now $600. is a lot of money, but consider this; You can only practically own a few cameras if you intend to carry them, and if you don’t carry them, they are collectibles, not a photographer’s tool! If you have a budget of only $700. I would order one today, but if you can stretch it a little the X100s is a lot more capable. The X30 has a excellent zoom, advantage X30. The X100s has an APS-C size sensor which is a lot larger than the 2/3″ sensor in the X30, advantage X100s. The X30 is smaller, not a lot, but smaller, advantage X30. The X100s has both an excellent optical viewfinder and electronic finder as well, the X30 only an electronic finder. Advantage X100s!
We could go on, but the answer is simple, buy what you need, nothing more, nothing less! My guess is you will be a very happy camper either way!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 26th, 2014 at 9:19 pm
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Bill, why not an X-E1 with the kit lens for around five bills?
I think that is the real steal right now. The XE-1 is an incredible camera and the 18-55 is one of the best mid-range zooms out there! Good call…..
An XE-1 with the 18-55 for around $500, where did you find that Dick?
I’ve seen them that low on E-Bay and as low as six bills new when occasional sales pop up at online dealers.
Allow me to add that the 12mp X30 is $600. For about that, give or take depending on shopping savvy and luck, you can get a 16pm X-E1 with a bit less focal range but a bigger sensor and very good image quality. As Bill says, people should buy what they need and want. IMHO, which along with $6 may buy you Starbucks these days, $600 is a chunk of change for a 12mp point and shoot. That said, I’ve shot some awfully good images with a $300 Nikon 1 V1. For about the price of the X30 you can get the older but quite good X-E1 kit or the Sony a6000 kit. I think a decision to buy the X30 would be easier if the price point was friendlier. That said, if your needs and wants gravitate you to the X30 and the price point is not an issue, go for it.
I think the landscape is littered with very good cameras at a real spread of costs, and I agree, it is a hard decision! I’m thankful for the wealth of choices!