CKrueger Offline Upload & Sell: Off
|
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · First Fujifilm Body + Lens Combo Recommendation | |
A $1000-ish budget keeps your choices pretty tight, depending on where you buy.
I found this kit from KEH:
XT20 - $523 (EX)
XT2 - $551 (EX)
15-45 - $209 (EX)
18-55 - $331 (EX)
55-200 - $361 (BGN)
50-230 - $233 (BGN)
18-135 - $438 (BGN)
The XT20 is not as nice as the following generation (XT30 or XE3) in that its AF is slower and it has an older (non-BSI) sensor. But the XT30 is $200 more, which puts it well out of budget. Expect AF performance more like decent older DSLRs rather than the current crop of mirrorless cameras, and significant noise at ISO6400.
I also listed an XT2, which is essentially the XT20 sensor with a bigger body and more features (viewfinder, frame rate, weather sealing, etc). It's well worth the extra $25 if you're OK with the larger body.
For wide zooms, you're wise to select the 18-55. It's excellent. Not "excellent for a kit lens", but excellent, full stop. You could buy a 15-45 instead to save some cash, but I recommend against it. I have a 15-45, and it's decent (I use it for IR), but the 18-55 is a big step up corner performance, build quality, and no power zoom.
For telezooms Fuji goes like this: 50-230 -> 55-200 -> 70-300 -> 100-400. That's the progression in quality, size, and price. The 55-200 is the sweet spot for a budget, in my opinion. It focuses quickly and quietly, it's sharp enough for a 24mpixel camera, and it's a solid lens with weather sealing. The 50-230 is optically a bit worse, and has an all-plastic-feel, non-sealed build.
There's also the 18-135 superzoom. It's an old design, and is a decent attempt. It'll save some cash, and avoid lens swaps. As a camera snob I'd avoid it, but it obviously can do the job, and your family member would likely not notice the difference between it and better lenses.
Unfortunately, my suggested kit (XT2, 18-55, 55-200) is some $1200 at KEH! That said, if you buy on the forum here, you should be able to assemble this kit for <$1000.
FWIW, if you wanted to splurge on higher-end kit, I'd keep the two lenses and buy either an XT3 (better sensor, AF, frame rate, controls) or an XS10 (also adds IBIS for any future prime needs, and the fun Classic Negative film sim).
Also, don't forget to pick up a UV filter for beach shooting! Let your family member scrub saltwater off the filter with no fear of damaging the front of a lens.
As far as batteries go, you'll want one spare for a photographer, or multiple for a videographer.
|