paparazzinick Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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I will keep this as short as possible but try and give as much detail as possible as to why I switched and how I feel about my switch. Sorry, I am not posting pics because this isn't a nitpick review on details and precise quality. This is about how this system works out for the wedding photographers and portrait people.
First, let me tell you what I do. I shoot weddings, kids and corporate stuff. I was a Nikon user and used a D7100, D600 and D3s before I left. I was a prime shooter and shot the Tokina 17, Nikon 28, 35, 50, 85, and 180. I felt there was nothing wrong with how Nikon rendered my images I took. It was just heavy. With a recent neck and shoulder injury, I had to do something. It was both get rid of my battery grips on the D600, D7100 and hire someone to carry my bag, or find a lighter alternative. I was always intrigued and very interested in the Fuji X system since the XP1 came out. Back in November when they did the lens deal, I purchased an XE1 for a crazy discount with the 35 1.4.
I shot home stuff with that for a month and then took it on a shoot with me for paid work. I fell in love with it and decided that moving to Fuji was something I needed to do. Not only was it so much lighter, but the image quality was just great. So great that I now shoot JPG and RAW and most times deliver the JPG and only use the RAW when there is more work needed on a particular shot.
What I did in December and January was sell off all my Nikon Gear. I waited until right before the rumored lens deal was about to happen again. Then I picked up an XE2, 18, 27, 60. Then I added a Rokinon 8mm fisheye and 85 1.4 too. I loved every single lens. I shot my first wedding with all Fuji gear and it went great. But I quickly realized what I was missing and need ASAP. Luckily the lens deal was still going on. I picked up the 55-200 and the 23 and 14. Sold off the 18, 27 and 60 and got 95% of the money back I spent. I needed the 14 to be a bit wider than the 18, even though the 18 was amazing. I got the 23 because the 27 was too close to the 35 and found myself not using it at all. I got rid of the 60 because I knew I wanted the 56 and couldn’t keep both. Plus, I had an old Nikon MF macro I use since I mainly use the macro in manual anyways. I added one of the flashes too, just to see how I liked it or if I would be adding other flashes instead.
I had my next wedding coming up and finally found a 56 and XT1 in stock. They both came the day before the wedding. I shot the entire wedding with the Xt1 with the 23 on it and the XE2 with the 56 and 14 switching. I have not been happier with a system in a long time. Another great wedding with the Fuji X system. I did find one annoyance at this wedding. The lack of AF Assist on the flash sucks. I wish it had it, but it doesn’t. So I had to think of how I was going to fix that problem.
So the details.
Fuji XE1 - Great camera. So simple yet so complex. It is not the best camera around as it lacks a lot that some people desire in a wedding camera. For me, it was good enough and got the job done. It is a little bit slow and clunky, but it still captures a great image if exposed properly. I like the old school look and feel and controls. I like how you just turn the aperture ring on the lens and the shutter dial on top. I love the fact the eyepiece is an LCD and previews the image after you take it. No more chimping on the back and missing shots. But then again this makes it a tad slower and is where people talk about the Fuji blackout. Just turn off image preview and this is fixed. Looking at the images in the eyepiece can be a bit misleading. The images looked just ok, but when viewed on the computer, things looked great. So it can be a bit misleading. Also, the XE1 seems to have a bit of a problem locking focus with the 56 and 35 in darker lighting. One other problem I don’t like is changing the focus points. It’s kind of a pain when you are in a hurry at weddings. You have to hit a button then use the control pad to change it.
Fuji XE2 - Same as the XE1 but better, faster and better eyepiece LCD resolution. The focus was a lot better than the XE1 with the 35 and 56 and I am sure this is due to the different focusing system. Images are almost identical to the XE1 so there was not really any gain in image quality. This camera was mainly an upgrade in system performance. I do wish it had a dedicated view mode button, but I will live without one.
Fuji XT1 - This is in a whole different world than the XE1 but not too much better than the XE2. Focus is amazing, images are a step up from the XE1 and XE2, and controls are even better - if you like that old school feel. I love having the ISO dial on top now. With the ability to change each button on the control pad to be the focus point selection setting, it fixed my problem. I think I will be selling the XE1 and getting another XT1 and using the XE2 as the backup. I love how the SD card goes on the side, instead of the bottom.
Fuji 14, 23, 35, 56, 55-200 - All are sharp wide open and decently fast in focus. Colors it renders are pretty true to life and makes matching skin tones so much easier than my Nikon.
Fuji 18, 27, 60 - were also good lenses but the 18 was a bit soft on the edges for me and the 60 was slower to focus but not terrible.
Fuji Flash - No Focus Assist. Huge problem for me. But this was easily fixed with adding a small low power LED light for the darker receptions. With the XT1, I have to use it less, but with the XE2 it is needed and it does help tons. I have switched a lot of my lighting to off camera, so I use the LED on camera to help lock focus.
In summary, I am 90% happy with my move. The 10% I am not happy with will either be fixed, added or adjusted over time. The AF assist on the flash hurts. I miss it from my Nikon. The lack of long fast lenses is killing me, but the Rokinon 85 1.4 and Fuji 55-200 will do the job until Fuji releases their 70-200 equivalent. For those people that will ask how it performs at higher ISO, I will say it’s not bad at all. I have shot up to 6400 with minimal issues. It is just as good as the cameras I was using, but then again I don’t go above 1600 often. When I do, I know I can go to 3200 and be safe and then push 6400 in a pinch and get a usable image.
Aside from image quality and performance, a few of the things I like a lot from my move are....
Clients say I am more hidden now as they don't hear a huge slap when the shutter goes. This can be critical in some circumstances and it has helped me gather images that would have ruined the mood with my past cameras. My back isn't killing me by the end of the day from carrying a bag with 7 lenses and 3 cameras. Actually, I have a smaller bag I use when walking around at weddings now that holds 2 lenses and batteries so I don't have to go back to my main bag as often. I grab 3 lenses and a body I need for that situation and go with it.
If I had to make this switch again, would I do it? Yes, Yes I would. The only thing I would have done differently would be to buy the 14, 23 and 35 from the beginning instead of trying to go cheaper. I knew I would have ended up with those lenses anyways.
I hope this helps some of you with you similar decisions. I know it has helped a few people local to me as a bunch of us have made similar moves.
Last but not least, Fuji is a very capable system to sue at weddings, if you know its limitations and know how to adjust to work around them. I am very happy with my move.
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