Fuji Questions and Answers……
I’m starting to get pretty steady stream of emails about the Fuji X-System. I certainly don’t mind, but I want to be very clear, I have no official relationship with Fuji. I love their products and admire how they conduct business, but I’m not on their payroll, and do not receive anything from them for free. Every piece of Fuji gear I own was purchased just like you would buy it! Some folks have interpreted my enthusiasm as a relationship, but that is simply not the case
So here are some of the questions I’ve gotten.
Question: “I’m still trying to figure out how you can get such great results from a camera half, or less than half, the resolution of your former D800?”
Answer: The result from any imaging device is a lot more than the sum of it’s parts. Let me speak directly to the comparison you brought up. The D800 (now D810) is a technological miracle, the highest resolution 35mm sized DSLR on the market. It has extraordinary resolution, dynamic range, and is built like a tank. It weighs as much as a tank compared to the X-T1! No matter how much cool stuff the D800 can do, if you are uncomfortable carrying it….. it is irrelevant. The Fuji X-T1 is capable of doing anything I need to do, I don’t need the capabilities of the D800 that exceed those of the X-T1, it as simple as that.
Question: “You’ve said you really love the Fuji lenses, are they really as good as the Nikkors you always used?”
Answer: Lenses focus light on the sensor. They are designed based on the size of the sensor, and the sensor in the Fuji X System cameras are APS-C size so the lenses can be smaller and the ability to make corrections in the optics is enhanced because of the size of the elements. The bottom line is can a lens yield exceptionally sharp images, free of distortion, and chromatic aberrations. Both Nikon and Fuji make such lenses, Fuji’s are smaller and lighter. I do not feel Iam giving any thing up with the Fujinon lenses.
Question: “You’ve stated you are very happy with the images from the Fuji, do you think it will holdup long term like your Nikons did?”
Answer: In the short time I’ve been using the Fuji X cameras I believe them to be very well made and the X-T1 especially is very well designed. How they will hold up under heavy use, over time, is still undetermined. Based on my 45 years experience with cameras, I think the chance is very good that they will prove very reliable. So far, so good!
Question: “Of the lenses you have, which are your favorites!”
Answer: The three zooms; 10-24, 18-55, and 55-200 are the most used, along with the 60 Micro. The 23 f 1.4, 35 f 1.4, and 56 f 1.2 are the most stellar, optically, and the fastest, but the zooms are so incredibly sharp I never worry about it. By-the-way the 14 f 2.8 was the first wide lens and is still the single best super wide lens I’ve ver shot!
Question: “How about the video on the Fuji X cameras?”
Answer: It is the weak link of the system, it is usable but not anywhere near the quality of the major players. For me that is not an issue, I am not a video guy.
Question: “Nikon has the Creative Lighting System, does Fuji have anything that compares?”
Answer: No. If you need sophisticated portable , automatic, camera controlled flash, for now, seek it somewhere else.”
Question: “Do you have any regrets about making the switch to Fuji and would you advise others to do so?”
Answer: I have no regrets, the Fuji X System is meeting my needs wonderfully and I love using the system. I would never advise anyone to switch unless they can identify that it would benefit them. All of us have different needs and requirements of a camera system, that is a highly personal decision, and one which they must decide other own.
I hope that answers one of the questions you may have.
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 at 2:26 pm
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I love your thoughts and inspiration. I am thinking of getting a XT-1 and 1 or 2 lens for travel. What would you recommend if we threw the new 18-135mm into the mix. What are your thoughts on this lens I know you have not used it but based on what you have seen on the other Fuji lens and there track record.
I think it would be a great all around travel and nature lens, I’m told it is very sharp. I just have those focal length covered.
Glenn, I know it doesn’t make sense for your needs, but it makes a huge difference to me. For me, it’s the difference between having a camera with me most of the time – including on 3 mile power walks – and rarely having a camera with me. For me it’s the difference between feeling exhausted hauling my Nikon D800 camera gear around and forgetting I have the xt-1 with me it’s so comfortably light. The Fuji is more fun in a lot of ways. Am I giving up my D800? No way. But I sure love the weight differential of the Fuji. I’m obviously not in as good shape as you are!
Forget the cameras and lenses. I’m still trying to figure out how your eye sees the marvelous photos you make before you release the shutter! I could give you a Hawkeye Brownie and still not keep up.
Oh, contrare’ my friend, such is not true! My hill billy attempt at Shakespearean photo talk!
My friend, Jim is pretty much on target. You are able to see an image or the possibilities of an image that others do not. You see the color or B&W that will make an image ‘pop’. I recall seeing your images from Old Car City and my shots of the same subject under your guidance. My images were not as good as those of my tutor.
You then take the image and realize your vision. I know that much of the ability that Jim refers to is due to experience. I expect that you have shot over 100 times more images than either Jim or I have shot. The darkroom experience we discussed that later expanded to digital photo processing allows you turn the possibilities into great photos. You have demonstrated the equipment and tools just make to process easier and faster.
Thanks for the kind words David, I will say that Rob Planck had it right when he said “Technique beats equipment every time!” We all get hung up on the best camera, the best lens, the best tripod, etc. etc. But learning how to use those tools and see great subjects, in great light, and then knowing how to capture them, is the most important factor. I’m so far from where I want to be, but I’m making steady progress, I think???!!!
Keep blazing the trail. We’ll keep following and maybe we’ll learn enough to start blazing out own trails.
Sounds like a plan!
At his workshop last week Jack Graham mentioned that you sometimes let the in camera software process the image. Does that mean the you are shooting JPG since any in camera processing is lost if you are shooting RAW? I shot a few RAW+JPG Fine and compared them and found that the JPG images were no where near as sharp.
Good information, I have been shooting only JPEG but Will start shooting both, what are you using for processing yourRAW files?
Lightroom 5
A D800 weighs 32 oz, an XT-1 is 15 oz. Not sure how that qualifies as “tank” level weight differential. I realize it increases as the lens are thrown in, but I still have to say this is of an bit extreme comparison.
O.K. I admit that was an extreme characterization, but if everything in the bag was double the weight, a bag of Fuji, or Olympus, or Panasonic, weighed 15 pounds,, it would be 30 pounds in a full frame bag, and that is a big difference. Hey my friend when you get a minute give me a call, want to ask you something! Thanks!
Very insightful and honest answers Bill. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Keep seeing the Light brother!
Seeing “the LIGHT” is our most important mission!!!
Good and useful info here, Bill. Many of these questions I have been getting on my workshops and online, also. Good job!
Hope you are enjoy these cameras and lenses as much as I am, you’ve certainly been knocking your images out of the park, whatever You’ve been shooting with! My best, my friend!