Here I am again.

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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Here I am again.

Every few months I bring myself to the ledge with serious GAS. In the past I came to the realization I do t deserve a new camera as I only started a year ago now.

Shutter count according to some website is 8500 but I can swear it’s much much higher.

I have so much to learn and so much improvement to look forward to but I can definitely see the advancements looking back.

The GAS never leaves but I’m wondering if an upgrade would serve me.

ONE OF things that bother me on my camera is AF. I can sometimes get out of focus pics with a kid that is barely moving at all. If they’re moving it gets dicey even in daylight.

Wouldn’t mind better lowlight, better (or at least equal) battery life, weather sealing, rugged, lens selection and a better evf, although one of the cameras I keep my eye on has the same evf.

I value simplicity and ease of use A LOT as well.

I shoot knives for a side gig which currently is my only paid photography gig. Most of my photography is my kids and their friends, street photography (bunch of it at night in a small town), local landscape and beaches, and random stuff. I’d love to add more product and definitely portraits as well.

I don’t do video at all.

If I do something stupid and buy something I’m looking at ;

A7RV
A7CR
Nikon Z8
Fuji XH2 or XH2S

Likely grab a zoom and a prime or 2.

Nov 27, 2023 at 09:15 AM

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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Here I am again.

If I stick with either my current camera or got an xh2, I’d probably get the 23 or 33 1.4 and a telephoto (maybe a 50 too). Currently have 10-24, 18-55, sigma 30 and 56 and the 80 macro

Nov 27, 2023 at 04:02 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Here I am again.

My 2 cents:

- You'll take a bath selling off Fuji to buy into full frame. Your best bet will be either trading with a full frame owner looking to downsize or buying used.
- Buying a 40mp version of the camera you have won't improve the things you're looking to improve like DR or AF or low light performance.
- Your knife photography would benefit the most from improved lighting setups and techniques, not a new camera.
- Moving to full frame with a better AF system SHOULD improve the other complaints you've had with AF and low light performance of Fuji, but it will come with the soft cost of a learning curve of a new system and all the little gotchas that system has vs Fuji.

Nothing you do should theoretically be impossible to do with Fuji. You might get more satisfactory results with a Sony or Nikon with less effort involved on your part. Only you can decide if the chance is worth it. I'd highly suggest renting the bodies you're curious about for a week along with a prime you'd buy of that system and shoot the hell out of it.

Or I'll sell you my 50R when I get bored of it

Nov 27, 2023 at 04:11 PM

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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Here I am again.

The renting part is interesting. I may try that with a Sony.

The soft cost thing makes a lot of sense too. I’m sure it’d take a couple months just to start getting the hang of something new which definitely has its downsides but since I only get paid for the knives and I can take my time with that a little bit, that’s probably ok. No matter whether I stick with my Fuji longer or move on now, I’ll have this same obstacle.

Getting better results with less effort sounds damn good to me and was kind of what I imagined.

I’m not sure how much better the xh2 is at AF but I’ve heard it definitely an improvement but still not like one of the big 3.

Weather sealing would be nice as well.

I’ve been thinking of lighting as well. Stands for diffusers and white/black cards too. Add in a lens or two. Stick with what I have for another year.

Nov 27, 2023 at 04:23 PM

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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Here I am again.

If I did this you’re right on taking a bath on my Fuji stuff.

I could sell it slowly or just keep it for when my kids get older or for certain scenarios like travel.

Nov 27, 2023 at 04:28 PM

Ryukyu
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Here I am again.

Doesn't sound like you need the best AF for the majority of subjects that you shoot. I tend to use manual focusing with focus peaking when doing product or portrait shots. Getting some good lighting can make all the difference there too.

Nov 28, 2023 at 11:02 AM

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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Here I am again.

Getting better lighting is on my list for sure. The AF I mention because I shoot a lot of my kids and their friends and I miss focus easily. Small evf and manual focus sucks. Wouldn’t mind a little bigger evf for that.

My goal is to turn all the kiddo pics I to paid family sessions.

Even if I got better lighting and stands and gear for product, maybe grab an xh2 or xh2s for the better battery life, evf, improved AF and weather sealing, and use my current lenses. Maybe over time add Fujis better lenses.

Had my eye on the A7RV mostly but that and lenses would likely kill my chances at gear to improve my knife photos and potentially portraits.
Ryukyu wrote:
Doesn't sound like you need the best AF for the majority of subjects that you shoot. I tend to use manual focusing with focus peaking when doing product or portrait shots. Getting some good lighting can make all the difference there too.

Nov 28, 2023 at 11:45 AM

jeffbuzz
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Here I am again.

Exactly what equipment are you using now? Certainly some cameras have more AF features and better performance in some situations compared to others. But any MILC or DSLR camera produced in the past 10 years is going to have very, very good AF. Many "problems" with AF can be solved by using a different AF mode and/or changing appropriate settings on the camera such as sensitivity and release priority.

Nov 28, 2023 at 02:35 PM

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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Here I am again.

Fuji X-S10
Sigma 30
Sigma 56
XF18-55
Xf10-24
Xf80mm macro

Tracking sensitivity on 4/5
Speed on 2/3
Center
AF-C Zone
Pre AF
Face/Eye

Got those settings from Pal 2 Tech you tube.

I could try increasing the speed to 3 and sensitivity to 5. Haven’t touched those in a while.

If you meant the lights, they’re Godox 200w pair. Crappy package deal a friend actually bought.

jeffbuzz wrote:
Exactly what equipment are you using now? Certainly some cameras have more AF features and better performance in some situations compared to others. But any MILC or DSLR camera produced in the past 10 years is going to have very, very good AF. Many "problems" with AF can be solved by using a different AF mode and/or changing appropriate settings on the camera such as sensitivity and release priority.

Nov 28, 2023 at 02:55 PM


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