shammer8
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off
|
 p.2 #11 · Am I Crazy? XE2s instead of XT2 | |
I'm not sure if you've made your decision or not, but I'll give you a quick rundown of my experience as I've owned all three cameras you're looking into (X-E2, X-E2s, X-T2), and several lenses:
I started with a used X-E2s + 18-55 last spring. I got a great deal ($650) for a barely used kit, and it was everything I wished my X100 had been. I promptly got a Rokinon 12mm and was very satisfied with the whole setup. I also have a fair bit of Nikon Ais glass that I adapted for ~$20, and again, was very happy with the photos that camera produced. Next lens was a used Zeiss 32mm, which I really liked on the X-E2s (compact, very sharp, and more contrasty/saturated look than the Fuji 35/1.4). Then all the hype around the X-T2 started trickling into my mind, so when I found a grey market one for $1300 last October (back when they were still hard to come by), I couldn't help but jump. I barely touched my X-E2s after the X-T2, and wanted money for a 23/1.4 so I sold it...
About 4 months ago I decided to buy an X-E2 (effectively same as X-E2s with 4.01 firmware, as far as I can tell) for a smaller travel cam with the 27mm lens. Unfortunately I've been so spoiled by the snappier performance, larger viewfinder, dual cards (I shoot RAW to one, JPEG to the other which has made my workflow faster), better controls, and the tilt screen of the X-T2 that I just don't enjoy shooting with the X-E2 anymore, and almost always regret using it when I could use my X-T2 with very little weight/size penalty. I don't really find the X-T2 very cumbersome to travel with, and the size difference is fairly negligible.
I was really hoping the X-E3 could become my second cam, but I feel like it was a step in the wrong direction (mainly getting rid of the 4 function buttons I use on my D-Pad, and omitting the tilt screen which I have grown to love and use enough that I really notice not having it when going back to the X-E2). I haven't had an X-E3 in hand, so maybe the touch based Fn swipes will be okay, but I'm not sold yet.
All that being said, the X-E2 is a wonderful camera, and if I had to choose between X-T2 w/ the kit lens vs. X-E2 w/ kit lens and two fast primes, I would go with the X-E2 and better glass. The only reason I keep the kit zoom (which is excellent) is for video and the rare occasions that I can't bring at least two lenses wherever I'm going and for whatever reason don't think the 23/1.4 alone will cut it. The 23 is on my camera at least 60% of the time, maybe more, and it is a wonderful lens, so that is typically my "walk out the door" lens.
If you get the X-E2, definitely do so used since you can get one for ~$300.
The other option that I actually think is the best option, is to buy an X-T20 + kit lens + fast fuji prime (16, 23, or 56mm) + the Rokinon. You could get all of those at or below the $2k mark if you're willing to buy used. It looks like the X-T20 w/ 18-55 is hovering just under $1k on eBay, and the fast primes I listed can usually be had for $500-800 depending on luck, condition, and which lens. The Rokinon can easily be found for <$250.
You can also find a Fuji 35/1.4 or Zeiss Touit32/1.8 for $3-400 which are also both great (though less "typical" focal length) portrait lenses. I have owned two Fuji 35/1.4s and the Zeiss... I still sometimes wish I had the Zeiss, though I ultimately went with the fuji for the extra 2/3 stop of light—it's a really hard choice between them since they both have beautiful but slightly different rendering characteristics. The second copy of my Fuji 35 was much better than the first, so just know that there is some sample variation (the one I have now has a much tighter aperture ring, but the photos seem comparable to my first copy).
Here are a few links to X-T20s for under 1K (though bidding could go up on the first link, the second is Buy It Now). I really think this is your best bet because you'll get most of the features of the X-T2 and better glass, which will have more impact on your images than any of the above bodies.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fujifilm-X-T20-Camera-with-18-55mm-Lens-Extra-Batteries-and-Wooden-Grip-/152710218514?hash=item238e3d0312:g:LloAAOSw7RdZwaO1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FUJIFILM-X-T20-BLACK-DIGITAL-CAMERA-KIT-USED-MINT-with-XF-18-55MM-F-2-8-4-LENS-/182782587296?hash=item2a8eb0f1a0:g:Su8AAOSwaMhZxT8H
|
