Fujifilm Lens Recommendation Requested (Page 3): Thanks. I believe the consensus is that the 18-135 has many virtues, but indoor sports is not one of them. Also, I didn't realize how...

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks. I believe the consensus is that the 18-135 has many virtues, but indoor sports is not one of them. Also, I didn't realize how well regarded the 18-55 is. When I travel, I'm mostly in snapshot mode. I love my RX100iii but it's so small (curse and blessing) and 70mm is lacking in reach so many times; I like raw, so the clear zoom doesn't get used. Good point that the XT3 is on the horizon; I'm not taking any big trips until late fall...

xt2 wrote:

I use Fuji gear for a lot of my photography and have numerous primes and three zooms. I think the 18-135 is a very good "walk-about" general duty & travel lens. I actually prefer the 18-55 since it enjoys faster glass, is so small, and is very light. I am not certain you will enjoy the 18-135 for indoor sports, however. Indoor sports usually requires two things. Fast glass to overcome poor lighting and reach. The 18-135 has reasonable reach if you are close to the action, however, it is slow to focus in these conditions and requires a bit of ISO & related grain to function well.

If there is a weak spot, it’s at the widest setting (18mm) wide-open. Here, the corners are noticeably soft at 100% magnification, and the corner sharpness does not match what you can get out of the 18-55mm even stopped down. There is also more light fall-off as compared to the 18-55mm. The 18-135mm performs quite well at longer lengths, with corner sharpness close to that of the 18-55mm at 55mm. It does offer weather resistance which could be a deal-breaker depending on your shooting style. A weather resistant lens (water and temperature) is a great partner with the both these bodies because you can shoot in the cold and rain without a worry. If you don’t want to lug a larger & heavier lens, then the 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 OIS lens remains the go-to choice with either the XT2 or the XH1 bodies. It provides wonderful results, and it’s better indoors where its faster aperture comes in handy. I almost always will trade length for aperture when shooting indoors. In short, I think the 18-130 is great for outdoors and travel.

Now, on to your desire for the new X body, XH1. As stated earlier by one of the other contributors, the XT2 with the included "kit" 18-55 lens is about the same or less $$$ as the new boy on the block. The XH1 offers in body stabilization which can help in low light with subjects that remain still enough to shoot, which is good. The new body is enjoys better 4K video as well, however, it still has the same sensor as the XT2, is larger, heavier, and loses the EV dial on the top deck. There is a new (September 2018) XT3 on the horizon that is said to enjoy numerous improvements including the all important upgraded sensor. Although is will not include stabilization, it may be a much better body than the XH1 is in it's current iteration. Just some food for thought as we live in exciting photographic hardware times!!! Cheers!!!

I use Fuji gear for a lot of my photography and ha... (show quote)

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks. I'm definitely sold on the 18-55 as a must-have lens at some point. I'm probably unusual in that the size of the XH-1 is a plus for me :) I could care less about video...

magpix wrote:

Very well said. I couldn't agree more. The 18-55 surprises me sometimes at how good it is. I also have the 16-55 f/2.8 and only use it when I feel I have to because of its size and weight. Otherwise, the 18-55 is my go-to lens. I also agree about the 18-135 not being ideal for indoor sports. It's an ideal travel lens. I've also tried out the XH-1 and felt its size negates much of the Fuji allure.

magpix Loc: St. Michaels, MD

AlohaBob wrote:

Thanks for all the data. Much appreciated! My primary decision point for the XH1 over the XT2 is the form factor. I like the bigger camera. It works better for my hands, however this could probably be a moot point with one of the add-on grips for the battery grip for the XT2...

Just an FYI, that by adding a Really Right Stuff L-bracket to my XT-2, the form factor is greatly improved, yet it is still relatively compact and light. When you add the battery grip, it becomes much more like a typical DSLR and to me, loses its attraction. If you are near a Fuji dealer, see if they can add the L-bracket and try it out. I found that it works perfectly with my large hand.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

magpix wrote:

Just an FYI, that by adding a Really Right Stuff L-bracket to my XT-2, the form factor is greatly improved, yet it is still relatively compact and light. When you add the battery grip, it becomes much more like a typical DSLR and to me, loses its attraction. If you are near a Fuji dealer, see if they can add the L-bracket and try it out. I found that it works perfectly with my large hand.

This L bracket is available from eBay for $36 (new) and works just fine on my X-T2. No need to pay $190 for an RRS bracket.
Fittest Quick Release L Plate Vertical Bracket F Fuji X-T2 XT2 Arca Swiss RRS

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks for the tip. I never would of thought of the bracket as improving the form factor. Samy's camera is having PhotoCon in LA this weekend, so I'm going to spend the day there tomorrow and if it's anything like it was a couple of years ago, Fuji will be there in force.

magpix wrote:

Just an FYI, that by adding a Really Right Stuff L-bracket to my XT-2, the form factor is greatly improved, yet it is still relatively compact and light. When you add the battery grip, it becomes much more like a typical DSLR and to me, loses its attraction. If you are near a Fuji dealer, see if they can add the L-bracket and try it out. I found that it works perfectly with my large hand.

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks

berchman wrote:

This L bracket is available from eBay for $36 (new) and works just fine on my X-T2. No need to pay $190 for an RRS bracket.
Fittest Quick Release L Plate Vertical Bracket F Fuji X-T2 XT2 Arca Swiss RRS

HillbillyHiker Loc: Cookeville, TN

For what it is worth at this point I had the X-T20 and my big hands kept pushing the buttons on the back at the most in opportune time. Even though I took a beating trading, I traded for the X-H1 and don't regret it at all. I had the 18-55 and kept it for the X-H1. My camera that I used before this was a D-810 with a Tamaron 24-70, great camera but I needed lighter to carry and this Fuji. I also bought the 50-140 2.8. This little camera and the lenses have really impressed me, after over 40 years of Nikons.

You mentioned basketball is what you plan on shooting. Go for speed of the lens, you will never regret it. This little camera is designed for video but don't let people scare you off. The X-H1 can compete with any camera out there. Also, this is camera is so much fun. It truely brings a lot of fun back to photography.

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

That's exactly the problem I have with my RX100iii! I can do most anything I want to with it, but it's not quick or intuitive or fun except in a point-and-shoot mindset.

HillbillyHiker wrote:

For what it is worth at this point I had the X-T20... (show quote)

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

HillbillyHiker wrote:

For what it is worth at this point I had the X-T20... (show quote)

That is the most important point about the Fuji system. I have had Nikons for many years, but using some of them was frustrating except in auto mode. With the Fuji, you have control of everything right on the body of the camera. It gives you freedom to experiment and make changes without going into menus. It is just more fun to use. You get to see the picture before and after you take it. You can check the accuracy of the focus right away and easily. It is at the same time simpler to access great complexity than with the Nikon system. Fuji may not be the "best" at one thing or another but it does everything well - a "jack of all trades" camera.

sergiohm

I did not like the 18-135mm because it is not effective with low light.
My recommendation buy the FUJINON LENS XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR and add the 18-55 mm 2.8f
I know 2 lenses and over budget!
As a compromise the 55-200mm 3.5-4.8 f and the 18-55 mm 2.8f is great and under budget.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

sergiohm wrote:

I did not like the 18-135mm because it is not effective with low light.
My recommendation buy the FUJINON LENS XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR and add the 18-55 mm 2.8f
I know 2 lenses and over budget!
As a compromise the 55-200mm 3.5-4.8 f and the 18-55 mm 2.8f is great and under budget.

If I did all my photography in low light I might agree with you. But who does that???? The 50 - 140 is a huge, heavy lens. So you can go two stops lower light. i can do that in a number of ways that will not involve lugging around a big heavy lens. The 18 - 135 is a lovely lens - sharp, fairly compact and lightweight, and versatile. And !8 mm does things 50mm does not!

sergiohm

The XH-1 was designed to hold Fuji’s bigger lenses, the 50-140 works like a prime the 18-135 does not, not as sharp nor as fast. Plus you can use Fuji’s teleconverter to increase the reach.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

CatMarley wrote:

If I did all my photography in low light I might agree with you. But who does that???? The 50 - 140 is a huge, heavy lens. So you can go two stops lower light. i can do that in a number of ways that will not involve lugging around a big heavy lens. The 18 - 135 is a lovely lens - sharp, fairly compact and lightweight, and versatile. And !8 mm does things 50mm does not!

I recently bought the 50-140 lens in order to have what my research told me was the ideal lens for photographing mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in which the lighting is dim. I figured I could also use it for taking portraits as a replacement for the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 which truly deserves being described as a "huge, heavy lens." So compared to the Nikon it is not huge and heavy, but compared to the 18-135, the lens I use on trips along with a Rokinon 12mm, it is big and heavy. It is true that the 50-140 appears to focus a little faster and is a little more sharp than the 18-135. I don't know what it is, but my first impression is that it takes technically extraordinarily sharp and bright photos. But I could never justify hauling it around on a trip (except for the Uganda trip which promises to be a once in a lifetime memorable experience according to those who have done it). Since this trip will be combined with a safari in Tanzania, I will probably rent the 100-400 Fuji to bring along as well.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

AlohaBob wrote:

I'm going to buy an XH1 and a single lens. The bu... (show quote)

An interesting and helpful series of responses from those who seem to have embraced the Fuji X series cameras.

I've used these cameras since 2013, firstly using the X-E1, X-T1 and X-Pro2 alongside my Nikon D700. I finally decided in 2017 that one make was enough and ditched the Nikons. Fuji's were "good enough" (something UHH normal members might well think seriously about) for me and now I have and am totally content with the X-T2 and 23mm f1.4, 35mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.2.

My comments upon your conundrum ......

No need to go with X-H1 unless you're big into video. There's a firmware update (this coming week?) which will make an X-T2 a more than adequate camera for your needs. And if you "feel" you need something bulkier in your hands just add a grip (no need for extra batteries etc). No need to get Fuji's extortionately priced grip ...... after all you just need a little extra bulk ! Try this ......

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meike-MK-XT2G-Brackt-Hand-Fujifilm/dp/B06XBR8RZ4

....... I'm UK based, but you'll get this in the States.

Perhaps for your basketball, and if you're reasonably close to the action, the person who said "it's lens speed which is most important" is spot on, you might look at the 50mm f2 ..... faster focusing than the 56 f1.2, but you should be able to stop the action and crop from the original if you're fairly close.

Please don't buy the wrong camera !

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks for the thoughtful comments. The grip you linked looks great. I haven't used a camera to its full potential yet (and may never); what I'm really looking for is a system that's comfortable, fun, and capable of fine results. I've had my hands on some Fujis and they seem to fit the bill.

craggycrossers wrote:

An interesting and helpful series of responses fro... (show quote)