dmcharg wrote:
If this is your first camera then I would highly recommend starting out with 1 or 2 zoom lens and whatever body you prefer and go from there.
I didn't say this explicitly above, but most new photographers will be happier with this approach, both as to using interchangeable lenses (with an exception I'll mention) and relying on zoom lenses rather than primes. (There'a a particular type of "primes for beginners" advice that you'll sometimes hear. I won't mention it unless someone else brings it up.)
To our OP, since you don't know what focal length you'll actually prefer, it is risky to buy into a camera that only has one, slightly wide-angle lens, and no possibility of changing that other than by adding some external adapters. By starting with a zoom lens you have much more flexibility and you'll gradually learn through experience whether or not you would really be satisfied with only the 23mm (35mm angle-of-view equivalent) focal length. Most new photographers will end up preferring the zoom.
If you settle on Fujifilm, I recommend the fine 18-55mm kit lens. Although it isn't the sort of lens I usually rely on, I have used it for "real photography" and it is really quite good. It may be only necessary lens for a lot of people trying to create a simple, flexible, light Fujifilm kit.
If even this zoom lens seems to large to you, you have encountered a trade-off that you may have to negotiate in some other way. It is hard to get everything — small size, light weight, flexibility, great IQ potential, full features — in one camera. If the XE4 with the 18-55 is too large for you, then you have to look at alternatives that have their own downsides. You could look at an all-in-one camera from another manufacturer with a zoom lens, particularly one using an even smaller sensor. You'll have to decide if that compromise is right for you.
Speaking of compromise: all camera equipment decisions revolve around compromise. There is no perfect or universally best choice.
dmcharg wrote:
If this is your first camera then I would highly recommend starting out with 1 or 2 zoom lens and whatever body you prefer and go from there.
I didn't say this explicitly above, but most new photographers will be happier with this approach, both as to using interchangeable lenses (with an exception I'll mention) and relying on zoom lenses rather than primes. (There'a a particular type of "primes for beginners" advice that you'll sometimes hear. I won't mention it unless someone else brings it up.)
To our oP, since you don't know what focal length you'll actually prefer, it is risky to buy into a camera that only has one, slightly wide-angle lens, and no possibility of changing that other than by adding some external adapters. By starting with a zoom lens you have much more flexibility and you'll gradually learn through experience whether or not you would really be satisfied with only the 23mm (35mm angle-of-view equivalent) focal length. Most new photographers will end up preferring the zoom.
If you settle on Fujifilm, I recommend the fine 18-55mm kit lens. Although it isn't the sort of lens I usually rely on, I have used it for "real photography" and it is really quite good. It may be only necessary lens for a lot of people trying to create a simple, flexible, light Fujifilm kit.
If even this zoom lens seems to large to you, you have encountered a trade-off that you may have to negotiate in some other way. It is hard to get everything — small size, light weight, flexibility, great IQ potential, full features — in one camera. If the XE4 with the 18-55 is too large for you, then you have to look at alternatives that have their own downsides. You could look at an all-in-one camera from another manufacturer with a zoom lens, particularly one using an even smaller sensor. You'll have to decide if that compromise is right for you.
Speaking of compromise: all camera equipment decisions revolve around compromise. There is no perfect or universally best choice.
Dan
Jul 24, 2022 at 09:11 AM
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