It’s been some time since I switched from Sony to Fuji. At this level, I’m prepared to offer you my causes for the change and the way I evaluate Fujifilm vs Sony crop sensor cameras.
First, I need to admit that Fujifilm was not what I anticipated. It truly turned out to be solely the other of my expectations. I acquired concerned with Fujifilm due to the necessity for a greater person expertise, however I stayed with it due to its picture high quality and stellar Fuji lenses.
Let me clarify.
I switched from Canon to Sony 4 years in the past; I had a really completely different motivation. I used to be not solely dissatisfied with Canon however with DSLR know-how typically. I used to be desirous to discover the mirrorless realm and didn’t have a selected digicam model in thoughts. I picked Sony due to the standard of digital information it produced in comparison with Canon.
Sony vs Fujifilm. Causes for Switching
As I thought-about the change this time, I had just one model in thoughts: Fujifilm. Listed here are the primary causes:
1. Consumer Expertise
If you mature as a photographer, you develop a singular pictures routine and habits. You recognize precisely what you wish to see in a digicam that’s carefully aligned together with your pictures workflow. With Sony, I felt that I couldn’t customise my photograph tools how I needed. I hoped combining the streamlined Fuji menu system with the mechanical dials and customizable buttons would supply extra flexibility.
Once I determined to change to Fujifilm, I solely thought-about the highest of the road XT2 mannequin, however I had problem discovering dependable critiques. Why? The explanation was due to Fuji’s distinctive strategy to firmware updates.
Since Fujifilm launched its XT2 mannequin in August 2016, it has launched three main firmware updates that reach the digicam’s performance by including a whole bunch–that’s proper, a whole bunch–of recent and up to date options.
By the tip of 2017, many of the preliminary XT2 critiques had been outdated as a result of it was a really completely different digicam.
Associated: Fuji XT2 vs XT3 – Facet by Facet
I discover Fuji’s strategy to be distinctive and refreshing, making them extra like a software program startup than a shopper electronics firm. It looks like a contemporary strategy to pictures when an organization listens to customers and makes enhancements to present cameras by means of software program updates.
I needed to be a part of that have.
2. Curiosity
I do know loads of fellow photographers who shoot with Fujifilm and love the Fujifilm expertise. Typically, they reward Fuji a lot that it looks like they’re a part of a cult-like Scientology or CrossFit. I used to be curious to discover the cult-like expertise from the within.
I used to be additionally intrigued to discover the utterly completely different design of Fuji cameras with their varied mechanical dials and gazillions of customizable buttons.
Additionally, as a photographer and educator, I believed it will be good to study one other system so I can intelligently focus on it.
3. Want for the Final Journey Digital camera
For a very long time, I needed the final word journey digicam setup. I craved for a mix of a compact climate sealed digicam and lens.
I used to be additionally searching for a contemporary twin reminiscence card performance that may give me a totally redundant backup workflow from begin to end.
And at last, I needed my journey digicam to have a dependable and easy GPS tagging performance.
Associated: High Equipment for
I couldn’t accomplish every thing with Sony.
4. Neglect By Sony
I keep in mind a number of years in the past when somebody from a photograph group predicted that Sony wouldn’t have the bandwidth to develop each full body and APS-C techniques concurrently. This turned out to be true. Sony uncared for the APS-C techniques and concentrated all its efforts on full-frame cameras and lenses. In 4 years, Sony has not created even one APS-C lens.
Fujifilm vs Sony. The Change
Once I switched from Canon to Sony, probably the most important change that impacted my pictures was the unimaginable dynamic vary of the Sony sensors. It modified the best way I shoot and edit photographs.
It made me use HDR even much less. And, even when it was completely essential to make the most of HDR, I solely wanted three brackets. The time of taking 5 to seven bracketed pictures was over.
Since then, I at all times take note of the dynamic vary of any digicam that I consider and make it one of the necessary paraments of my pictures.
The issue with Fuji is that it makes use of an X-Trans sensor, and it appears that evidently nobody can precisely measure its dynamic vary. This made it not possible for me to check the dynamic vary of the XT2 to my present Sony earlier than I made the change.
It anxious me a bit as a result of I didn’t wish to sacrifice the dynamic vary in my new digicam.
So, as an alternative of switching straight away, I made a decision to first take a look at the Fuji. When a neighborhood fellow photographer was promoting his virtually new Fuji X-T2 physique, I knew it was the proper alternative for me to check it to Sony.
I purchased the digicam and complemented it with the Fujinon 18-135mm lens. Over the following six weeks, I used each the Sony and Fuji techniques aspect by aspect.
Associated: My Fujifilm Journey Images Gear
Here’s what I found.
The Positives of Switching from Sony to Fujifilm
Dynamic Vary
The dynamic vary of the Fuji XT2 sensor is unimaginable. I can’t measure it exactly to provide the precise variety of stops it covers however, primarily based on my purely empirical expertise; it’s higher than the Sony a6000, a6300, and a6500. In six weeks, I’ve not used HDR, even when capturing immediately into the solar. The quantity of element I can recuperate in highlights and shadows is staggering.
That is one thing I didn’t anticipate.
Picture High quality
At present, I’ve two lenses: Fujinon 10-24 and Fujinon 18-135. The mix of the Fuji XT2 and the 10-24 or 18-135 produces a lot cleaner and sharper pictures than the Sony a6000 or a65000 with a Sony 16-70 or Sony 10-18. The Fujifilm pictures are completely usable at 100% magnification. Unbelievable.
Fujinon Lenses
It’s common data that Fujifilm lenses are good, and I had a common concept of what to anticipate.
However, I wish to think about Fujinon 18-135 lens. It isn’t the most well-liked Fuji lens, however I picked it as a part of my final journey pictures setup. It’s climate sealed, and stabilized with a really helpful focal size. I knew prematurely that I may go on an prolonged journey with solely that lens.
After utilizing Fujinon solely for two weeks, I noticed that just about all of the Fujinon 18-135 critiques I learn had been inaccurate and deceptive. Most of them concluded that it’s a respectable lens however you can’t anticipate a lot from a brilliant zoom lens.
I don’t agree with these conclusions. I discover this lens to be excellent. The picture high quality is superb and when capturing at f/8 – f/11 I hardly can inform the distinction between Fujinon 18-135 and everyone’s favourite extremely large Fujinon 10-24.
The Fujinon 18-135mm has the perfect Optical Stabilization I’ve ever skilled. I managed to shoot at focal size 135mm utilizing shutter pace 1/10s and produce a wonderfully sharp picture. It’s exceptional.
Digital Viewfinder
The EVF is to die for. It’s HUGE and vivid. It incorporates an unlimited quantity of data, and you’ll customise it in any approach you need. It has already modified the best way I take photographs.
I assigned the entrance perform button to set off the Histogram show in EVF. With the most recent firmware replace, it shows a mixed histogram plus three extra variations for every shade channel. Now when I’m able to shoot, I press the AE-L button to lock the publicity; subsequent, I activate the histogram within the EVF, and at last, I tweak the publicity by adjusting the publicity compensation utilizing Entrance Command Dial. And I at all times have 4 histograms in EVF to judge my changes.
Adore it.
ISO Efficiency
One of many shortcomings of the Fuji XT2 is taken into account to be not a stellar excessive ISO efficiency. However, as soon as once more, I don’t solely agree with the conclusion. I suppose for those who evaluate XT2 ISO efficiency to a full body sensor digicam just like the Sony 7r, it may be the case, however I discover the ISO efficiency is superb for the APS-C digicam. I used to be stunned that at ISO 12800, pictures are nonetheless usable with loads of particulars.
The mix of fantastic ISO efficiency with improved and prolonged Auto ISO performance permits me to shoot in circumstances I might by no means think about capturing earlier than.
The Negatives of Switching from Sony to Fujifilm
Ergonomics
The day I obtained the digicam and the lens I went on a day-long journey to shoot winter landscapes. After capturing for two hours, I noticed I had cramps in my fingers.
Sony a6000 is a small digicam, however it has a beefy, not very deep, however fairly large grip, and I may comfortably carry the digicam utilizing my whole palm. However the Fuji XT2 is an even bigger and heavier digicam with a tiny grip, and I at all times needed to squeeze it with my fingers placing pointless pressure on them.
After 5 minutes of Googling, I noticed the small grip was a typical problem for a lot of Fuji cameras. And naturally, I discovered the answer quick. I ordered the thumb grip, and it virtually mounted the issue.
I additionally purchased a cheap L-Bracket with a steel grip.
Fujifilm XT2 Vertical Shoot Hand Grip
Now after I shoot handheld, I take advantage of a thumb grip solely, and when I’m on a tripod, I additionally connect the L-Bracket Grip.
However, I’m nonetheless not solely comfy. I hope, over time, I’ll get used to it.
I’m an enormous Again Button Focus person, and the AE-L and AF-L buttons are tiny, and it’s onerous to make use of them. I needed to assign Rear Command Dial to lock the concentrate on a press down. It isn’t solely comfy.
Inconsistency with Customization
I just like the Fuji XT2 design and mechanical dials, however I anticipated to have the power to assign all mechanical dial functionalities to customizable perform buttons. That’s not the case.
For instance, I can use Entrance Command Dial to regulate publicity compensation by setting the mechanical dial to the S possibility, and I prefer it quite a bit.
However, I cannot assign Drive choice to a customized perform button or perhaps a Fast menu. The one approach for me to vary from single mode capturing to bracketing, which I do quite a bit, is to make use of a mechanical subdial below the ISO dial. I’ve to make use of my second hand to vary it.
The identical goes for the Metering choice; it’s a must to use a mechanical dial and no perform button or Fast Menu choices.
When capturing in Aperture Precedence mode, the one option to change the aperture worth is to make use of a lens aperture ring. It is rather comfy when capturing handheld, however when on a tripod, as soon as once more, it requires a second hand. There isn’t any option to change the aperture utilizing the Rear Command dial.
I hope that in future updates, Fujifilm offers us the power to assign any perform to any perform buttons or a minimum of to a Fast Menu. I might love to have the ability to customise the XT2 so I can change any settings with one hand and with out transferring the attention away from EVF
Customized Setting
I discover that one of the helpful customized configurations on any digicam model is the power to save lots of a gaggle of customized settings and recall them with one click on. I used it on Sony and Canon.
I used to be enthusiastic about Fujifilm customized settings as a result of I knew you possibly can save as much as 7 customized configurations, plus you possibly can give every configuration a singular title. And it’s straightforward to recall every saved configuration from Fast Menu.
However after I began to customise it I noticed the one following settings an obtainable for reminiscence recall:
Dynamic Vary, Movie Simulation, Grain Impact, White Steadiness, Coloration Sharpness, Spotlight Tone, and Noise Discount.
That’s is correct, all of them associated to JPEG capturing. And since I solely shoot RAW, the complete Customized Setting module is totally ineffective to me.
I discover it to be one of the shocking shortcomings of Fujifilm Xt2 performance.
Fujifilm vs Sony: Conclusion
As I discussed earlier than, the change from Sony to Fujifilm turned out to be not what I anticipated in any respect. I acquired concerned with Fujifilm due to the necessity for a greater person expertise and extra superior customization, however I stayed with it due to its picture high quality, dynamic vary, and stellar lenses.
I don’t complain and haven’t any regrets. I’ve already offered all my Sony gear and will certainly stick to Fujifilm for a 12 months a minimum of, however I think it will likely be longer.
And I’m having a blast studying the brand new digicam system. Plus, Fujifilm retains us on the toes with the fixed firmware upgrades.
Additionally, it proved once more there is no such thing as a such factor as an ideal digicam.
Fujifilm vs Sony (2019 Replace)
It’s been virtually 18 months since I switched from Sony to the Fujifilm digicam system. I made a decision to offer you a fast replace.
To begin with, I’ve grown even fonder of Fujifilm gear over time. I like its aesthetics, the standard of substances, and the standard of pictures Fujifilm produces. Plus, I like Fujifilm’s photographer-centric strategy to enterprise.
At this level, I’ve no plans to search for an alternate. I’ll stick to Fujifilm.
I nonetheless shoot with the Fujifilm X-t2. In 2018, I used to be very excited when Fujifilm introduced the X-t3, and I used to be desirous to improve. However after I checked the specs of the X-t3, I noticed there was nothing for me there.
The Fujifilm X-T3 provides drastic enhancements in video specs and autofocus, neither of which I take care of a lot. The options I cared about probably the most—picture high quality dynamic vary and low gentle efficiency – didn’t change within the X-T3 mannequin.
I additionally hoped the X-T3 would introduce an even bigger battery to get rid of the necessity to carry a pile of spare batteries together with me. This didn’t occur.
Fujinon 35mm f/1.4
I added a brand new Fujifilm lens to my assortment. I bought the Fujinon 35mm f/1.4, which acts because the “nifty fifty” on APS-C sensor cameras. The lens is without doubt one of the oldest fashions within the Fujifilm line and has a really previous autofocus motor. The autofocus is noisy and never very quick, however the lens produces unimaginable pictures with distinctive appears.
Based on Fujifilm’s chief engineer, after they designed the Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 lens, they’d the choice to make it optically good or make it distinctive and distinctive. They selected the latter. It’s now one in all my favourite lenses I’ve ever owned. Plus, it’s tiny and extremely gentle.
My working horse is the Fujinon 10-24mm f/4 wide-angle lens. I take advantage of it for many of my panorama photographs. Its solely weak spot is its lack of climate sealing. When I’m within the discipline within the rain, I’ve to change to the Fujinon 18-135mm. This lens is weather-sealed and provides me a really helpful attain of 135mm (200m full-frame equal).
The Fujifilm 18-135mm is nearly the proper lens for my wants, however it has one shortcoming. It’s too massive and heavy for lengthy and demanding hikes. Not too long ago, Fujifilm introduced a brand new lens—the 16-80mm f/4 —that’s smaller than the 18-135mm lens, has the perfect picture stabilization within the business, and is climate sealed. It has the potential to be the final word journey lens. I completely plan to test it out when it turns into obtainable.
That’s it for now. Let me know in case you have any questions within the feedback beneath. I’m completely happy to reply any of your inquiries.
Sony vs Fujifilm (Very Final Replace 2023)
It will likely be my final replace to Sony vs Fujifilm article.
It has been precisely 5 years since my authentic change from Sony to Fujifilm. And now, the change is formally over.
Let me clarify.
During the last 5 years, I took my Fujifilm XT2 on a few dozens of journeys everywhere in the world. I captured with it many thrilling photographs I’m actually happy with. It’s been a 100% constructive expertise.
I acquired used to the digicam, its controls, and the menu system. I custom-made XT2 to my liking and actually loved the expertise. And I really like Fuji lenses.
However not every thing was good in paradise.
I used to be not loopy about Fujifilm’s route with the XT line of cameras.
As I discussed above, I did non improve to Fuji XT3 as a result of I couldn’t see in it something worthwhile for my pictures. I didn’t wish to pay for a brand new digicam to improve the video specs as a result of I didn’t use XT2 for capturing movies. I’ve GoPro for video functions. I made a decision to attend till the XT4 launch.
However when Fuji launched XT4, I noticed that the brand new digicam had change into larger and heavier. They needed to improve the dimensions to accommodate an even bigger battery and IBIS. Plus, I despised the flip-out display. The Fuji XT line turned a hybrid digicam line. And I used to be not loopy about it.
I made a decision to skip XT4 as soon as once more and stick to my previous and trusted XT2 for 2 extra years.
The plan was to attend for the following iteration of the XT digicam, and if Fuji wouldn’t change its route, to search for an alternate elsewhere.
However Fujifilm acquired scared to lose me as a buyer and got here up with the proper journey digicam the best way I needed.
The corporate realized the XT line was initially designed as a photography-centric digicam, not a hybrid. They returned to their roots and created a real successor to XT1 and XT2 fashions.
First, they diminished the digicam’s dimension, which was my favourite change. XT5 is corresponding to the dimensions of XT2, even barely smaller. However, since they nonetheless needed to match an even bigger battery and IBIS, they made it a little bit deeper.
Plus, over time, I modified how I take a look at IBIS. As a substitute of performance with restricted use for panorama pictures, I deal with it as a possible benefit. I made a decision to experiment with my capturing routine. I wish to lower my tripod use and shoot extra handheld, counting on IBIS for stabilization. I plan to cut back the burden I’ve to hold when touring. That’s the plan. Let’s see the way it goes.
The smaller kind issue, return to the lean display, larger battery, new sensor and processor had been sufficient causes for the improve.
The one problem was to seek out the XT5 within the retailer. Fuji introduced XT5 on November 15, however I solely managed to get it on the final day of the 12 months, December 31. I couldn’t get it from B&H, Adorama, and even Amazon. As a substitute, I discovered it in a small native retailer in Montreal. It was refreshing to purchase photograph gear in individual once more and never on-line.
Initially, I used to be undecided what to anticipate from 40MP new sensor; I believed it was overkill for an APS-C digicam. Nevertheless it turned out to be a constructive change. Once I switched from Sony to Fuji XT2, I used to be stunned that RTF information had been usable even at 100% magnification. With the brand new 40MP sensor, RAW information are sharp and stuffed with particulars even at 200% magnification. I prefer it quite a bit. Now, I don’t wish to return to 26MP previous sensor.
Plus, on the final second, I made a decision to get a equipment as an alternative of a digicam physique solely. Now I’ve a model new lens, Fujinon 16-80mm f4, and I would like to check it to see if I wish to hold it.
In a few months, I’ll publish a extra detailed article about my expertise with Fuji XT5.
It additionally implies that I’m sticking with Fujifilm for the foreseeable future.
