rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Why?
—Bob

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I have a friend that had Nikon, Fuji, and Olympus at the same time. He loved the photos from the Fuji best but did not like the camera itself. He felt the lenses were more expensive and there was less variety of focal lengths. Also he did not like the menu system, but that may have been because he was so familiar with the Nikon menus. I mentioned this to a photographer that was into testing equipment (as we were on our way to a photo show in NYC) and here was his take: Fuji color's personality is set to emulate their highly desirable film. This is only evident though if you are shooting jpegs. When shooting RAW, there is no color shift due to RAW capturing all colors and therefore can be manipulated to any white balance you want. He eventually sold the Fuji and went with the Olympus as his main system and began adding lenses to that system. He still loves Nikon but as he is getting older he likes the light weight and portability of the Olympus system. If you shoot only jpegs, you might like the Fuji, but if you shoot RAW, I would stay with Nikon since you have a good idea of their menus. Also you may want to consider the Nikon D500 that would be usable with your lenses, or even look at the Z series of Nikons.

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

I left Nikon years ago for Fuji. It was just getting too heavy when I travelled.
I had pretty much the same set up as you do. I sent much $$ over the years getting my lens etc.
I used to only shoot RAW & spent hours at a computer after a trip editing. Even through all that time I just didn’t get the punch I wanted. I tried pre-sets, tweeted here & there.
And I I been professional trained in my photography, entered many competitions over my time.
After one trip in particular where I had bought a small X10 of Fuji & brought all my Nikon gear.
I left the Fuji on auto. Got home & popped in to the computer started to watch these jpeg files emerge.
Yup that’s it Nikon baby & all it’s lens we’re sold.
I bought the XT2, 18-135, 100-400, 18-55 lens & a couple of lensbabys lens.
I haven’t looked back.
You might think you want to save your camera for one of the kids don’t bother.
By that time these kids won’t want it with the advancements in phones etc.
I love the jpeg files so much I’ve not ever going back to shooting in RAW.
Fuji updates the firmware regularly so you get all the latest without having to buy another camera.

Miamark Loc: Florida

I was sorry to see my Nikon and lenses go but I am very happy with my Fuji XT2 and lenses. They are light, sharp and really produces great skin tones. I took a Fuji to Colorado, before the pandemic, and got terrific landscape pictures. I have to say that the eye detection on the XT2 is very good although reviewers say that the XT4 and XT3 have more advanced systems. Candidly, I think that the portraits on the XT2 are dead-on. The only non-Fuji accessories that I have are a Haoge grip for the camera, which slides into an Arca mount and a Flashpoint Mini with a Lithium Ion battery. It is the same unit that is manufactured by Godox. The grip is handy for a 90 mm f2 lens which does not have OIS and the Flashpoint (Godox) is a real gem. You will get as many opinions as there are readers on this site but I am pleased with my gear. At this point in my life, I want to take pictures and not collect heavy and expensive gear, Also, there are some very good prices on used Fuji lenses. I did not break the bank or my back when I made the switch. To me, there is an advantage to be able to use SDHC cards. They are much less expensive than some of the new memory cards and I don’t need an external reader. There are great choices in cameras today but technology is changing rapidly. I disagree with the choice of a D850 and would go with a D750 if you are going to stay in the Nikon system. The D850 is great but it is heavy. All of the talk about the DSLR being dead is premature. I think that if you want to stay with Nikon then a D750 is a great choice. You will have to buy new lenses if you are coming from a DX system.,

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

I know best decisions I made.

haren

very informative, thank you

drbart Loc: Chatham, NJ

Hi Haren,

I think you may have already made your decision years ago, LOL

But anyway I wish you well.
I used to shoot with Nikon & Canon at first and they are both great camera's; but the years have affected
my hand strength and dexterity so I thought a lighter camera would be the best way. I was advised by my
pro friend about Fujifilm. He was right on!!! I started with the Fujifilm X-T1, then the X-T2(which I took to
my amazing safari in Kenya.) Their 100mm -400mm lens was great!! I love my X-T2 and just bought their
X100V; which also seems very nice. I do plan on purchasing the X-T4 as well.

So I do like very much Fujifilm products!!
I wonder how the Nikon Z6-7 are, but I have all I need for now! And for years ahead))

I recommend the Fujifilm obviously, but rent the X-T3 and see how you like it with a lens of your choice.

Best regards,Bart

Miamark Loc: Florida

Bart, you are exactly right. I found that my Fuji Xt2 brought back the joy of photography. I am not ready to invest in an Xt3 or Xt4 now. If the writer is unsure, she can rent a camera and try it out. Another thing that is helpful to know us that Fuji has support fir it’s digital systems seven days a week. Every person that I dealt with was very helpful. Bottom line is don’t let heavy equipment bog you down. Just have fun. The Fuji’s are very capable cameras and the lenses are great. Don’t get me wrong, I used Nikons and Leicas for many years but I found that they were sitting in the closet. I had a hard time selling my other cameras, particularly the M6 but I am happy with what I have. I only took one class in photography in my life. I am a lawyer but I submitted a portfolio to take a Master Class from Mary Ellen Mark. Her advice to me is to go out and shoot. What I really like about the Fuji system is that the cameras have real dials-shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, etc and most of the lenses have aperture dials. In other words, you can think about your shots and the exposure. Ah, the old days when composition, film selection and exposure really mattered. Of course with the Fuji’s, you also get the choice of most of their old film simulations.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

or maybe one of the new Nikon Z cameras.

haren

Thank you Sir for the sincere and informative reply.

Miamark Loc: Florida

Haren. Let us know what you decide.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Page 4

haren wrote:

I bite the bullet and ordered the XT3 from B&H yesterday ...excited.

Miamark Loc: Florida

Good choice. What lens or lenses did you get? The XT3 has faster autofocus and some better features than my XT2 but I am not suffering from Gear Acquisition Syndrome and did not “upgrade” You just bought a camera that will last several years, if not a lifetime. Let us know how you are enjoying it. I don’t think that the Xt3 comes with the small Fuji flash. It is nice because it folds on top of the camera and runs off the camera battery. You can leave it on the camera and it works when flipped up. You can order it on Amazon, if it is not supplied, or get a Godox mini or Flashpoint mini with a lithium ion battery. They are the same units. Adorama markets the strobe under the Flashpoint brand. The must have accessories is (are) an extra battery or two. I have Fuji and Wasabi batteries. Wasabi makes a charger that can change two batteries, which is very useful. The Wasabi charger and batteries are not expensive and can be bought on Amazon as well. You will need extra batteries. Further a hardened glass stick on screen protector also is nice to place on the the camera. Bottom line, you made a great choice. Don’t forget that if you need some technical advice, Fuji tech support in New Jersey is open seven days a week and they are very helpful. If you need help setting up your function buttons, they can help you or we can. I set mine for fast access to the various film simulations, white balance, histogram, eye detection, AF mode but you can pick and choose what you want to use. Saves a lot of time. Have fun and keep us posted. My other piece of advice, which is what Fuji told me as well, is that before you consider upgrading in the future, the best purchases are new lenses. My favorites are my 50 mm f2 and my 90 mm f2 but a close second to the 90 is my 55-200 mm variable aperture with OIS. DrBart used a much longer zoom for his Safari to Kenya and seems to have enjoyed the Fuji’s performance. I also have a 23 mm f2 and the 27 mm pancake lens. I like taking pictures of people, particularly in foreign countries, it is easy to carry the entire kit without bogging yourself down. (I am not into carrying a lot of equipment; when I took a motorcycle trip through the Alps, I took a Leica M6 with a 35 mm Summicron. When I went hiking in Cambodia, I used the Leica with the 35 and a 90 mm tele-elmarit). Before Covid, I went to Portugal with the Fuji and carried the 23, 55-200 and the 50 in a small Domke shoulder bag. The other thing that I do is to take an iPad with me on trips but I don’t carry it around. You can buy an SD card reader which plugs into to Lighting port to download and edit pictures. I have found the Apple photo software to be surprisingly good for quick editing but Fuji jpegs are great right out of the camera. I think that the SD cards are very good, fast and inexpensive. Your Fuji will take two, which you can set one as a backup, one for jpeg and one for raw or one for overflow. Frankly, I never needed the second card slot for overflow but that depends upon how you shoot. One of the other nice things about your Fuji is that it can use a regular screw in cable release if you use a tripod. Please let us know how you make out with your new camera. Have fun and welcome to Fuji. Best, Mark.

haren

thank You...

Miamark Loc: Florida

1-800-800-3854 Fuji technical support. You may have to hit the appropriate option for X series cameras.