So here we go, after Episode 1 (covering the X-T10), today I’ll introduce you to two more Fuji gear that are, in my eyes, underestimated in the Fuji X-shooter community:
Go directly to Epsiode 3 here.
Nr 1
Fuji X-T10 (see post here)
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Nr 2
Fujifilm XQ2
This is another camera that never really excited me. I took note that Fujifilm released it, informed you about it on FR and quickly forgot it. Then it happens that I’ve received one at my birthday.
I thought:
Yes, it’s small
Yes, it looks quite good
Yes, it has a nice 2/3 X-TransII sensor
… but I’m not gonna use it!
So I forgot it, until I went on holiday for a week with my buddy and his son in June. I put my X-T1 with 3 lenses in my Rucksack and my Fuji XQ2 in my trouser pocket. It was a long drive to get to our camping, a very nice one, with large meadows and pine trees… so let’s take a picture of this nice camp. And guess which camera I grabbed? Yep, the XQ2. It was there, in my pocket, ready to be used.
I ended up using it more than my X-T1 (heresy!!!) during the week (and stopped using my iPhone 5 at all). It’s a super-small, pocketable & yet powerful camera for quick snapshots & casual photos of friends and family. Nice IQ, Fuji colors, shoots RAW, amazing macro mode… and it has those nice film simulations to play with ;). It would be nice to get the Waterproof case WP-XQ1 for underwater pictures, but it costs almost as much as the camera itself… I rather buy a GoPro ;).
On the contrary, I didn’t use the Fuji XQ2 during my 3 weeks travel in Indonesia, since I wanted the capture that amazing country with the ultimate image quality… and my trusty X-T1 worked a lot there!
Another small, stylish and powerful camera that didn’t sell well was the Fuji XF1. You can now get it for just $199.
Fuji XQ2: USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA
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Nr 3
XC lenses
“Am I the only one who likes the XC 16-50?” asks dickbarbour at our Forum. No, you’re not. People, who own this lens, are really happy with it. The problem is, you might be one of few X-shooters, who actually bought it.
Same goes for the XC 50-230. The IQ is great, definitely worth of the “Fujinon-family“. It’s just slower than the XF glass. But slower glass does not mean worst image quality. Read more (and see samples) about “The humble (though honorable) XC 50-230mm f 4.5.-6.7” at our Forum.
There are 2 advantages in having slower glass:
1) Get high Fujinon IQ for a low price: At the moment, you can get the X-A1 + 16-50 + 50-230 for just $600 at AmazonUS. That’s not bargain… that’s a steal!
2) Size: these XC zoom lenses are pretty damn compact! If you want the versatility of a zoom lens in a compact package, then you should give these lenses a try.
Did I mention they come with optical image stabilization? 😉
So, if price & size matters, this is the way to go.
And why not… Would you like Fuji to make a series of compact & affordable XC primes?
XC 50-230mm: USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK
XC 16-50mm: USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK
[poll id=”126″]
cheers,
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8 Responses
The more the merrier.
No, it’s not underestimated, the QX2 is boring. Might as well use the iPhone. ?
Why in the world would anyone say no to more lens choices? Afraid that Fuji will lose money making them? Afraid of more competition because the Fuji system is more accessible? I’m pretty sure Nikon didn’t regret making an excellent 50 f1.8 lens is a cheapish package and selling a boatload of them…
Affordable lenses enable people to enter a system even if they don’t earn a fortune. Not everyone here is from the American middle-class. Sometimes I don’t get this community (if I can even call it that considering the way Fuji users always fight each other).
You’re wrong, Fuji users seldom fight each other. Fuji whiners, on the other hand…
I would not really care if they made a couple of cheap XC lenses. Maybe I’d even get one of them, but would I “like” them to make one? No. Would I like them NOT to do it? Neither. But once again the set of answers is not complete and “don’t care” is not an option.
I’d really like a second line of more compact XF lenses, like the new XF35 on the roadmap. But I already sold my XF27 for not having an aperture ring.
I believe a line of compact and cheap XC lenses would absolutely erase the chance of a third line in between the XC and current XF lenses.
Dirk, in a way I agree with you. If the price was right I would also much prefer another (slower) XF line (with aperture rings). But considering the price of the XF60 and XF27 (which doesn’t even have an aperture ring) I doubt those f2 lenses will actually be cheap, they will only be compact but won’t be much more affordable than their faster counterparts.
That might be a little different in the US, where prices drop a lot more, especially on older lenses and bodies. But the European pricing is terrible. The XF60 costs 650€ at Amazon.de while the XF56 costs 960€. That’s only one third less for a much slower lens (light gathering and AF). For me as a hobby photographer, I won’t pay that ridiculous price for the 60 but can’t afford the 56. Great, leaves me with MF Nikkors. Not bad, but I really wouldn’t mind AF and modern coatings…
And considering that XF27: I really don’t get why Fuji doesn’t offer the option to use the focus ring to set aperture. Works great on the X30 and would make that lens a lot more attractive.
I can absolutely understand your point of view. I would not buy gear at Amazon in Germany though. Camera shops like foto-koch or top-foto are usually cheaper and take part in the official chash back deals. Last one ended 31st of August, unfortunately.
I agree : XQ2 / XQ1 are great little cameras for everyday use.
It has much more capacities than one may think… Much more than a smartphone! 🙂