[OT] Photography gear questions

[throttlemeister]

Anyone have experience with the Fuji X-T1? I am looking to get something smaller than the gripped D800 with big ass heavy lenses for my bike travel needs.

Thinking about the X-T1 with the Fuji 14/2.8 and Fuji 23/1.4 primes as my travel kit. I like the full manual controls of the X-T1 and the humongous EVF. I like using primes as they force you to think about your framing (I get lazy using zooms) and they are small.

Anyone have suggestions especially on lenses or other ideas on this?

[OldR11rdr]

Originally Posted by throttlemeister

Anyone have experience with the Fuji X-T1? I am looking to get something smaller than the gripped D800 with big ass heavy lenses for my bike travel needs.

Thinking about the X-T1 with the Fuji 14/2.8 and Fuji 23/1.4 primes as my travel kit. I like the full manual controls of the X-T1 and the humongous EVF. I like using primes as they force you to think about your framing (I get lazy using zooms) and they are small.

Anyone have suggestions especially on lenses or other ideas on this?

I have a Fuji XE-1 with some primes and a 18-55 zoom that I am very happy with. A decent source of info for the XT are the DPReview articles and their Fuji X forum. The forum participants will be more than happy to give you their point of view and experiences with the XT (I assure you!). Just google DPReview. They're owned by Amazon now, but the forums are still very active.

Rgds, Fred

[throttlemeister]

Thanks Fred, I am familiar with DPR and the fujiforums. I have read just about every review there is to read. That's just part of the equation. There's some pretty good tech savvy photographers here I value opinions from.

[ckcarr]

I can't help with that camera.

If you want to stay in the Nikon system get a Nikon 1 of some sort... I bought and returned one over Christmas. Seemed cool enough, but I'm too accustomed to the full size gear.

I just bought a refurbished Coolpix A however, which I'll use for something (not sure what). It has the D7000 sensor in a p&s package. Originally $1,200 but refurbs were going for $299...

Personally, I'd lose the battery grip. It's not ATGATT with cameras, just take the minimum you need. But, you may like it. Or, consider taking a couple of the newer "G" primes, like the 28mm, 50mm, and the 85mm

You may not like going to lesser resolution and IQ, as very few cameras beat the D8xx series bodies.

[Mitch1100]

Ive been looking at the Fuji X-Pro1 and Olympus Omd em 1, both read up well, think lens's are a little cheaper for the Omd and faster autofocus.

[poldar12s]

I would get Sony A7 for its full frame (for perspective) and lowered price ($998). If you put Nikon 28/35/50 primes with adapter, the size is still good to carry on bike.

[throttlemeister]

Full frame = big lenses. No way to get around physics. So the A7 is not going to be it for me, in this case.

[throttlemeister]

Also, to put things in perspective: even though 28mm is not wide enough for me and Nikon doesn't currently offer any primes wider than that*, the equivalent Fuji lens is literally half the size (in length), weighs less despite the Nikon 28 isn't exactly heavy and is arguably a better quality lens while costing about half that of the Nikon.

*)You can get the older non-G AF-D models from Nikon, which are nice and small and do go wider than 28mm, however they are generally not exactly super duper when it comes to optics and sharpness.

To put weight in perspective, the X-T1 weighs about as much as the D3300 and is similar in size. Which means that the body is only 75g heavier than just the grip of my D800 including battery. If I wanted to use big, full frame capable lenses on a small body and the only target was to get a smaller body, I could add a D3300 as well and not even have to mess with adapters.

The advantage of Fuji X or m4/3 is that the entire system is smaller and lighter, both bodies and lenses while maintaining optical quality.

The one thing that worries me is that I am very spoiled with the 36mpixel full frame D800.

[ckcarr]

Well,

You are astute enough to know what you want. But there will be no easy replacement for the D800. You will wish it was there when you don't have it.

I said I wouldn't do it again, but if I were to add a camera body, it would be a D7200. Then you can use your lenses, maybe buy a 10-24mm for wide and light...

[throttlemeister]

That is my biggest fear; that I come home from a trip, look at my photos wishing I would have had my D800 with me. If I do, it will keep nagging even if nobody else ever sees the difference.

[wswartzwel]

I have tried using a P7100 because of size…. after getting used to the image quality from my D610 I was very underwhelmed. If I want a travel shot I use the phone… If I want a nice image of someplace I may never be again, I deal with the size of the big camera and lenses.

[throttlemeister]

Yeah. I refuse to use my phone for that reason. To be fair though, one of the reasons I look at the X-T1 is its large APSC sensor. Obviously not as big as the full frame sensor I'm used to, but not a tiny compact sensor either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[poldar12s]

Looked at the xT1 spec and very good. A bit $$$ though.
My first digital camera was Fuji S2. Loved it.
Choosing a camera in 2015 would be a mental thing. My photo friend gave me Sony NEX 7 with its kit lens 17-55. I immediately got an adapter for EF mount to use my manual Contax Zeiss lenses (mainly 35mm f2.8). One day I tested under a daylight situation (iso 100) with its kit lens (after guilty feeling of neglecting it). Amazed when doing post processing. No problem with 20x30 print size at 300 dpi inerpolation for 17mm landscape shots. And no problems with colors, etc. The overall size with the kit lens is soooo small. Fuji xt1 will be better than the several years old NEX 7 model for sure even with the weather seal. For riders and photographers, pretty much we all need one more bike/body/lens.

[throttlemeister]

Well, I bit the bullet. Got the graphite X-T1 with the 14mm/2.8, 23mm/1.4 and 35mm/1.4. And that together weighs less than my D800 with 14-24. I even went as far as selling my 14-24 because if I am not bringing it on my trips, it will be mostly gathering dust at home.

Image quality and detail seems to be excellent, but then again it should be as 16mpix in APS-C is the same as 36mpix in full frame.

Love the full manual controls like an actual aperture ring on the lens and shutter/iso dials on the camera. EVF is huge and bright, but very different from OVF so that will take some getting used to.

I'm gonna have fun with the little thing.

[poldar12s]

You will like the size and quality for sure. Just like you, I need to sell several lenses that collect dusts. Here's my small travel kit NEX 7 with 18-55 next to my typical. I bring 50mm f1.4 with its adapter in case I need moody portraits. I like the EVF with peaking for quick manual focusing. Try panorama feature if xt1 has one. I was so surprised when I tried first from this mirrorless system.

[throttlemeister]

Yeah, it has a panoramic feature. But jpg only and I shoot raw exclusively.

It is quite tiny. Amazingly so if you see what it can produce.

[Tirebiter]

I have a Fuji X100s and am very happy with the images. It is a fixed lens camera but 28mm is the range I most often shoot so not a big deal for me. Compact and easy to carry.

I think you will enjoy the X-T1...

Brock

[poldar12s]

Nice to see the apurture ring with AF.

Originally Posted by throttlemeister

It is quite tiny. Amazingly so if you see what it can produce.

[throttlemeister]

That's one of the things that drew me to Fuji; manual controls: aperture ring on the lens where it belongs and a shutter speed, ISO and EC dial on top of the camera. I guess I am being nostalgic, but I like being able to see how my camera is setup with just a glance and not even having to turn it on.

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by throttlemeister

I guess I am being nostalgic

...no..., just getting old...