I’ve got an idea!

3 years, 4 months ago 8
Posted in: blog

 

 

Let’s face it, sometimes money is tight and we can’t afford everything we would like to buy!  Pretend you are a wanting to get into photography but the cost of the gear is daunting.  You want a really good camera and enough sharp lenses to do really good work, but how can you make that happen!!??

 

You all know that I have a lot of gear, actually far more than I need, but I really believe I could do 95% of everything I do with a very simple set-up and I think you could too!

 

The Fujifilm X-S10 with the 16-80 zoom lens goes for $1,499.  The Fujifilm X-S10 is one incredible cmaera value, wiht the same sensor and processor that’s in the flagship X-T4 plus very effective IBIS.  It’s very small and well built, and it has quickly become one of my very favorite Fujifilm bodies.The 16-80 is simply the finest medium range zoom I’ve ever shot and in my 51 years of shooting I have owned and shot a lot of them!  It’s effective foacl ength on the X-S10 is 24mm to 120mm a great range for almost all your work and it focused very close for those tight shots we all enjoy making.  I wouldn’t expect you to take my word for it so here are a few of my favorite shots made with it!

 

 

Now, the 55-200 f 3.5-4.8 LM OIS was the first long telephoto zoom lens that Fujifilm released and for quite a while it helped me make a lot of amazing images!  It is tack sharp and a very managble size, when I go back and review images made with it I’m amazed and I wonder why I ever wanted anything better!  I hope you agree!

 

 

 

You can buy this lens new for $599. and lots of good used ones are available for around $300. to $350.

 

So for around or less than $2,000. you can have a great little system to do incredible work, 4K video and it won’t break your back carrying it around or break the bank either!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

By-the-way, went drone flying this morning amd revisted two favorite locations; Cumberland Falls State Park and the stack of canoes close by!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

8 Responses

  1. Dick Ginkowski says:

    I’m not sold on the X-S10. One big reason: inability to use threaded cable release like you can on the X-E and X-T series cameras (except for the X-T1). 🙁

    But here’s a couple of alternative ideas. X-T3 body is $999 now. X-T30 body is $799. Add the 18-135mm OIS lens, an L-bracket and cable release and you can take on quite a bit. For macro work I recommend a Marumi 67mm closeup “lens” (similar to Canon 500D or Nikon 5T). Tripod: Sirui T2005X for under $150 and another $120 for a Sirui bullhead. $60-90 for a decent circular polarizer and $30 for an 85mm Formatt Hitech .6 two stop graduated neutral density filter. Is the 18-135 the greatest thing since sliced bread? No, but it’s no slouch, either. While the 18-55 and 55-200 are very good lenses the 18-135 is very versatile. This is my “go to” setup that fits into a carryon bag or small daypack. I will pull out the Fuji 100-400mm and 1.4x if I think I’ll be shooting wildlife and that lens is tack sharp. I can’t bring myself to part with my Canon 500mm f/4L, 300mm f/2.8L or my other L glass but I only use it once a year. A good used 18-135 is under $600.

  2. Bill Fortney says:

    Sounds like your well equipped with great gear choices! That’s what’s so much fun today, so many great things to utilize!

    • Dick Ginkowski says:

      Too many choices at times! 😉 Just finished the annual revision of my camera rider — adding new gear, deleting some lesser used and keeping it just under $50K insured. I remember when I used to carry $30K+ in a backpack. Now 98% of the time I bring $3K-6K of gear in a carryon bag — much less weight thanks to some guy named Fortney extolling the virtues of the X-E1! (And gear that’s in a bag isn’t being used anyway.)

  3. Carl says:

    At my age (same as Bill) I can’t hold the camera as steady as I did in days gone by. I love the T3 but the S10 would have to be my “go-to” camera with image stabilization built in – T3 does not have it.

  4. Kirk says:

    Bill I’ve been going back and forth about buying the X-S10! Mostly for the video on my Youtube channel, you know, the flippy screen thing. But I love my X_T30 so much I don’t want to sell it. Ugggh. Darn choices why are there so many?