obeone

This a bit of a long read and I apologize for not being much of a writer, but here's what I've found on my road to going mirrorless.

Due to complication from a medical condition, I was losing the feelings in my hands and started dropping things. I made the decision to sell my big cameras and lenses, but I didn't want to give up my photography. I sold my Canon 5D Mk III and my big lenses and started exploring other cameras.
I tried some bridge cameras and although they had many nice features, I missed some of the things they lacked.
I decided to explore mirrorless cameras. I've been a user of Canon cameras since my days in Viet Nam so I started with the Canon M3 with the add on electronic view finder. It wasn't for me - too clunky with the add on view finder and it either lacked many things I expected in an SLR. Shortly after I purchased the M3, the M5 came out. I t had a built in EVF and many of the missing features were included. Sold the M3 and bought the M5. I really liked the camera but even with an add on hand grip it was too small for my hands and a couple of the buttons were in the wrong places for me. I was always managing to hit the button to view pictures that were in memory, just as I was about to take a picture. Sold it and all the lenses and went to the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mk II.
The Oly is a beautiful camera, a little complicated to use because of all the things it is capable of. Even with that it's worth the effort to learn its many menus. The picture quality is superb and the availability high quality lenses, or the availability to use adapters for lenses from other manufacturers made it a great choice. I love this camera, but then I saw the reviews for the Fujifilm X T2.
The Fuji is fantastic, all the major settings (ISO, shutter speed, apature, focus points, etc) are available without having to go to menus. It also has some buttons that can be programmed for special functions as the user desires. The EVF is super sharp and bright and the color of the final images are better than any other camera I've ever used. The auto-focus is unbelievavly fast. I purchased it with the hand grip/extra battery holder and the 18-55mm lens (like all midro 4/3 cameras its equivelent to 27-80mm). Using it is like going back to the earlier cameras like my AE-1, it's made photography fun again. I find I'm now shooting every day and the one lens along with some adapters is meeting all my needs. No more lugging around thirty pounds of extra equipment.
If there are any draw backs they are minor. There are very few accessories or lenses available at this time. You can buy an adapter that will allow you to use other Fuji 4/3 lenses on the micro 4/3 of the X t-2, so there is a work around, if you need it. The 50MByte raw files would be a limitaion for those with small hard drives, or limited computer memory. The price could also be considered a draw back.
It's time to sell the Oly and all the lenses and accessories, because I think I've found the perfect mirrorless camera for me.
If you're thinking about goint to a mirrorless camera the Fujfilm X T-2 is worth exploring.

Bennadad Loc: Atlanta

Or save a bundle and look at the XT20 before buying. A lot to learn but wow! What a camera.

mineart

I have owned both and decided finally on the X-t20 for size, weight and $ considerations. You will not regret either purchase!

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

One small correction -- Fuji X-series cameras do not use "4/3" or "micro 4/3" lenses (tho you can adapt 4/3 and MFT lenses from Oly and Pany and use them on a Fuji body). Fuji uses its own proprietary mount which it calls "X-mount". Fuji sensors are APS-C just like Nikon DX or Canon EF-S, but in a mirrorless camera. The crop factor for Fuji sensors is 1.5x (again like Nikon DX APS-C cameras). The crop factor for Canon's APS-C sensors and EF-S lenses is 1.6x. The crop factor for MFT sensors is 2x, not 1.5x. /Ralph

obeone

thanks, I stand correct. I knew that, just forgot.

le boecere

An appropriate and compassionate correction on UHH? Rare, but oh so welcome!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I'm curious if you looked at Sonys..... I don't own a mirrorless and I can't afford to "buy and try"...and I'm having to consider switching or ditching.....

obeone

I looked at the Sony and almost went for it, but price was an object at the time.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Which Sony did you look at?

Strofam

I too have recently purchased an X-T2 and couldn't be happier. I migrated from the Canon Rebel family and was looking for a camera that would provide more detail than my 18Mp unit was providing. Add into that the unbelievable, programmable flexibilities this camera offers and it truly is remarkable.

IMO, at the same comparable price points, I find the Fujinon lenses to be sharper. They definetly have more glass and feel more substantial.

The fact that I can see what my exposure and depth of field are going to be before I take a picture to me is priceless.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

My question as well. The A7ii is comparable in price-- and full frame. Maybe a weight issue?

obeone

Sony Alpha A9 was the one with all the features I liked, but the with a lens the price was around $6K.

magpix Loc: St. Michaels, MD

Congratulations on your Fuji purchase. You certainly did due diligence in your search for the ideal mirrorless camera. FYI, I recently retired as a photojournalist for national boating magazines, and during my last few assignments I took my Fuji XT-1 kit along with all my Nikon FF gear. I kept reaching for my Fuji and soon realized that more and more of my published work was being shot with the Fuji. Since retiring, I've sold all my beloved Nikon gear (the D750 and pro glass did a fantastic job for me) and moved up to the Fuji XT-2 with an assortment of f/2.8 zooms, primes and the little monster, the 100-400mm. Couldn't be happier. But I have discovered that Lightroom doesn't do justice to Fuji RAW files, so I've added Iridient X-Transformer to my workflow which seamlessly processes Fuji's RAW images before final editing in Lightroom. If you're thinking of printing anything larger than 8x10's, and you use Lightroom, I'd highly advise checking out Iridient as a plug-in. It's simple to use, inexpensive ($30) and takes the Fuji files to a new level of sharpness. Lastly, be sure to check out all the Fuji forums, blogs and tutorials. You'll find many Fuji "X-perts" who are happy to share their vast knowledge with you. Welcome to club!

obeone

I was sold on the Fuji because of all the controls that were at my finger tips.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I have two Fuji X-T2's. I have not purchased the extra battery grip because I thought it would defeat the purpose of carrying around a light weight camera. With your grip problem, you don't find the extra weight and bulk of the battery grip to be a problem?