Fuji XT-20 vs Sony a6500: I want to get a new digital camera & lens. I have narrowed it down to either: the Fuji XT -20 with 18-135 3.5 - 5.6 image stabilized lens or the Sony a6500...

timbuktutraveler

I want to get a new digital camera & lens.

I have narrowed it down to either: the Fuji XT -20 with 18-135 3.5 - 5.6 image stabilized lens
or the Sony a6500 with 18 - 105 f4 lens.

My main photo interest is travel which of course encompasses many different types of shots

Do you have an opinion on which you would get and why?

Many thanks
Larry

cthahn

Sony, better lens plus the Sony has stabilization built into the camera.

ecar Loc: Oregon, USA

cthahn wrote:

Sony, better lens plus the Sony has stabilization built into the camera.

AndyGarcia

Fuji great IQ and great lens. See http://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/x-mount-lenses/18-135mm.htm Whilst I'm a Fuji (and Nikon) user which means I'm biased that would be my recommendation. However I have read great reviews of the Sony. Therefore I would suggest you try to have a hands on experience and see which you like most. They are both great cameras.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Sony for the image stabilization and better video.

repleo Loc: Boston

timbuktutraveler wrote:

I want to get a new digital camera & lens.

I have narrowed it down to either: the Fuji XT -20 with 18-135 3.5 - 5.6 image stabilized lens
or the Sony a6500 with 18 - 105 f4 lens.

My main photo interest is travel which of course encompasses many different types of shots

Do you have an opinion on which you would get and why?

Many thanks
Larry

I am sure they are both great choices, but I can only speak to the Sony. My A6000 and the 18-105 is my favorite travel combination - the A6500 should be even better. I love the constant aperture on the 18-105. I doubt that you will find much difference in image quality between the Fuji and the Sony. For travel, I'd recommend basing your decision on weight, bulk, price and most of all, which feels most intuitive to use.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I borrowed a coworker’s Sony and was all set to buy one until I handled a Fuji in the local store. The Sony is a good choice but the layout of the Fuji really appealed to me: it’s a retro style reminiscent of the classic rangefinder. The Fuji kit lens is the best of any kit lens I’ve encountered and the OIS works very well.
You can’t go wrong with either. The Fuji line of lenses isn’t as extensive— but there isn’t a bad one in the bunch.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

timbuktutraveler wrote:

I want to get a new digital camera & lens.

I have narrowed it down to either: the Fuji XT -20 with 18-135 3.5 - 5.6 image stabilized lens
or the Sony a6500 with 18 - 105 f4 lens.

My main photo interest is travel which of course encompasses many different types of shots

Do you have an opinion on which you would get and why?

Many thanks
Larry

If I were you, I'd try to find a store carrying both so you handle them in quick succession. The main things I'd want to determine is how comfortable each feels in my hands, and how quickly I could do common tasks {such as changing shutter speed or aperture} once I understood how to do them. One reason I value my Pentax K-30 is the fact that I can change shutter speed and/or aperture without lowering camera from my eye.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

timbuktutraveler wrote:

I want to get a new digital camera & lens.

I have narrowed it down to either: the Fuji XT -20 with 18-135 3.5 - 5.6 image stabilized lens
or the Sony a6500 with 18 - 105 f4 lens.

My main photo interest is travel which of course encompasses many different types of shots

Do you have an opinion on which you would get and why?

Many thanks
Larry

These sites should help.

(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

SonyBug

I bought the Sony a6500 and that lens. Then I added a 70-300 and a 24mm and with that gear I have everything I need to get awesome pictures from portraits to very long distance. The clarity is outstanding with any of those lenses. At 300 yards, I can take a persons picture and easily see all the features of the face. I am very happy and the whole kit with a bag, batteries, filters, etc weighs less than 10 lbs.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

rehess wrote:

If I were you, I'd try to find a store carrying both so you handle them in quick succession. The main things I'd want to determine is how comfortable each feels in my hands, and how quickly I could do common tasks {such as changing shutter speed or aperture} once I understood how to do them. One reason I value my Pentax K-30 is the fact that I can change shutter speed and/or aperture without lowering camera from my eye.

Sound advice. Using both is how I decided. Others may come to another conclusion—and that’s ok. Olympus also has an excellent choice of lenses and cameras. They are not cheap—but then neither are the top-end models made by Sony and Fuji.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

The Fujiflim retro look seems like making adjustments would be easy. I’ve never held one.

My son just bought a Sony a6500 Thursday Last night he went to a concert in Tampa with permission to go on stage to take 4k videos and still shots. He likes the camera good news used his on money to buy it. First camera purchase due to his other cameras were hand me downs.

I’ll post pictures when he sends me samples.

anotherview Loc: California

Good advice. One can also rent to try before buying.

AndyGarcia wrote:

Fuji great IQ and great lens. See http://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/x-mount-lenses/18-135mm.htm Whilst I'm a Fuji (and Nikon) user which means I'm biased that would be my recommendation. However I have read great reviews of the Sony. Therefore I would suggest you try to have a hands on experience and see which you like most. They are both great cameras.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

...pay the extra money for the Sony...for me weather seal and image stabilization tips the scale in favor of Sony...

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I have two Fuji X-T2’s. I have the 18-135 lens on one and a Rokinon 12mm on the other. I have traveled with these cameras to Iran, Sicily, Japan, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and NYC. The Fuji is a great camera and that is the best ultra zoom lens made. I compared it to Fuji’s 50mm f/2 prime and the difference in sharpness is very small.

Both the Fuji body and the 18-135 are weather resistant. The lens is optically stabilized. You never have to take your eye from the viewfinder to adjust your settings. Unlike Sony, Fuji listens to its customers and issues frequent firmware updates to deal with requests and issues. I’ve heard that Sony menus are very unintuitive.