Switching or not to the Fuji X series? That is maybe the question of many photographers out there. I continue to receive feedback about switching stories. Just keep it up guys! Now, sometimes I receives messages from people who are still not convinced to make the big jump to the small X-camera. So here is some more feedback… and I’m waiting for more interesting switch stories 😉
You can read part 1 (here) and part 2 (here) of the “switching to the Fuji-X” posts.
have a great day
Patrick
P.S.: there is one Zeiss 12mm in stock here at ebayUS and four 32mm at ebayUK.
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–Gab:
“Hello Fujirumors…
This is quick message to tell you that I recently did the switch from the Nikon D600 to the Fujifilm X-PRO1 and I can tell you that I wouldn’t go back!
I was really intrigued by the X-PRO1 when it came out but really considered it when the firmware updates solved the major issues it had. I was still kind of scared because I mostly shoot boudoir and portraits and I was mostly seeing street, landscape or candid photography on the web. But I finally bought the X-PRO1 and dammmmnnn I love that baby!
Here’s one the latest shots I did with it using the [shoplink 11712]XF 35mm[/shoplink] lens. It was my first editorial wedding… Yup… I’m in love with this camera system!
Thank you Fuji! Regards.
—
Gab Labelle / gablabelle.com
Gab
– TaSK:
“Sir, Unfortunately I am not in a position to attach stunning images to lend credibility to my views on my X100s. You’ll have to take them on face value instead 🙂 I’ve never turned off my Nikon DSLR. No need to. I pick it up, tap the shutter button, and we’re flying. If it hasn’t gone to “sleep” yet, it doesn’t matter. In particular: After picking up the camera and tapping the shutter, it is in a well-known state. With my X100s, alas, things are not that simple. Unless I pay great attention to what I do, I am unable to pick it up without pressing several buttons. To avoid that wrecking havoc on my setup, I must turn it off whenever I put it down.Handing the camera to someone is a drag; as they grab it, I hear the dreaded sound of buttons being pressed. “Please, can I have it back…checking setup, turning macro off again….you must hold it like this….” Argh!
The six-second-press-thing to lock some of the buttons is a mere joke. Six second is far to long, and not pressing anything else while waiting is almost impossible. At least with my large North-European sized thumb. It does’n lock all buttons and, worse, you can’t see if it is engaged without pressing a button. The buttons on the back, both sides!, are not firm enough. That is, the firmness needed to hold the camera in the air is much firmer than what is needed to press buttons and turn the wheel. There is only a single place, rigth hand corner (seen from the back) with space for the thumb. But it is dangerously close to the flash-button. Fortunately there is no movie-button to press which would have drained the battery.
So, then, what I want for my X101 is a slider somewhere convenient, one that would lock all buttons on the back in one go. It must be accessible either with the thumb (right hand side, naturally) or, possibly, within reach of the index finger. The [shoplink 11719 ebay]Nikon D80[/shoplink] has one to protect its multi-way selcetor. Or, as a firmware alternative to the X100s, moving the locking-feature to the Q-button where it can be pressed without interfering with lots of other buttons. And three seconds is more than enough, thank you. Thank you for keeping us abreast on Fuji-news!”
– Robert:
“Hi Patrick,
my name is Robert, I’m from Linz – Upper Austria – and I am a regular reader of FR.
Being a passionate photographer myself, I wanted to replace my old DSLR with a newer model in winter last year. Due to several reaseons I think, that DSLRs have had their best time and looked for a lightweight alternative, as the train of system cameras really gained momentum last year. In December I ended up buying myself a Fuji X-Pro 1, but unlike other people this hasn’t been “love at first sight”. My relationship to this cam had to mature, and even today I sometimes experience the “rough edges” of my beauty. But isn’t that true with all individual characters? Anyhow, today we two act as an efficient team and I enjoy using it nearly every day.
I recently started my own photo-blog and thanks to the extraordinary low light capabilities of Fujis X-Trans-sensor the opening spectacle of the new musictheatre in Linz really produced some stunning images. Enjoy!
look at the opening spectacle of the new opera in Linz here.
Robert
– Craig:
“[…] Here’s an article I posted about the Fuji X-Pro 1 and how I sold all of my DSLRs and totally switched over to Fuji if you’re interested. Thanks again, I love you site. I hope whenever the new X-Pro 1s/2 comes out that they do NOT change a thing on the physical body–it’s perfect in form and function. […]”
“Very recently, less than one month ago, I sold all of my DSLRs, fast glass and long lenses and purchased two Fuji X-Pro 1 bodies, the XF 18mm f/2 (approx. 28mm equivalent) lens, the XF 35mm f/1.4 (approx. 50mm equivalent) lens, and the XF 18-55 zoom lens, and I couldn’t be happier.“
Check out Craig’s article “My name is not Rockefeller” here.
Craig
16 Responses
I’ve already sold my Pentax k-5 and a whole lot of lenses for my future Fujifilm body. I find DSLRs too heavy. And so yesterday. I shudder at the thought of people carrying not one, but two huge full frame DSLRs at events. It really can’t be good for their backs in the long run.
I’m now happily shooting with just my Fujifilm X20, while I await the coming of the XE2 (or XM1/XA1 if it fits my bill) and the Fuji 10-24.
I don’t understand the obsession with the “switch?” question. It is not necessarily an either/or choice. I got a X-E1 because it is the best choice for some things, but my full frame DSLR remains the best choice for many other things.
Dan
Agreed, but for most people multiple pro cameras systems is too much of a luxury.
I’d love to switch
But unfortunatley the Canon 6d is very economical on eBay — Full Frame, a movie mode that works, GPS, great lenses, Wifi app is very very useful.
X-Trans would be my preferred sensor. And I love the manual/physical nature of X bodies.
BUT I can get a Canon 6d + solid lens for litlle more than $2k…. which the amazing features as noted.
Maybe in a few years time I will migrate. Really need to see Movie mode.
Switch? Switch?! It would be nice to be able to buy the fujifilm camera that’s supposed to be life changing (100s) never mind switch…how can you switch to something that is so rare you wonder whether you dreamt of its mere existence…by the time that it and these supposed new models are available, they will have become obsolete as we will have developed the technology to take photos with the power of thought and transmit the images to a computer by placing probes around our heads…
Switching camera systems ALWAYS have a creativeness side effect! You must learn new, finding new ways to make a photo etc.. I become bored with all “first impressions” reports – or tests after 2 months from camera users. (For professional testers it’s different.)
After 6 – 12 months what your new system really means for your photography, when your usage has matured.
Pro1 and E1 are outdated looking at what the X100s has.
There is still a need for better RAW converters from what the X-trans sensor delivers – at least for us who really pays attention to the final result. There are problems with certain types of photos. Landscapes with green foliage to name one. Here you will get less detail.
Fuji, that otherwise seems to be the manufacturer with the best strategy, must realize they their higher end cameras need be updated first – not last!
I would like to switch to the X system, the only thing holding me back is the watercolour issue with raw files. I know improvements have been made by Adobe, Capture One etc, but the issue has not been eliminated, until it is I will hold off from investing in the Fuji system. I would hazzard a guess that I am not the only person doing this.
Switch? Switch?! It would be nice to be able to buy the fujifilm camera that’s supposed to be life changing (100s) never mind switch…how can you switch to something that is so rare you wonder whether you dreamt of its mere existence…by the time that it and these supposed new models are available, they will have become obsolete as we will have developed the technology to take photos with the power of thought and transmit the images to a computer by placing probes around our heads…
Water color effect? There is no issue of that any longer since the updates. Landscapes with less detail? I must be missing something? My X-E1 kills my Nikon gear for landscapes! Color and detail are simply stunning. I’ve done 24×36 prints on a Epson 9900 at my lab and even the techs love the results.
My last Nikon body goes up for sale this week and that’s it. I have the Fuji glass already, which is first rate. The bodies will get even better technology. When that happens, I’ll upgrade if warranted. Constantly waiting for the next perfect camera is time consuming when I could be out enjoying what I already have in the X system. Landscapes, portraits, street, and my interior design shoots have all been given a new look that I absolutely love. The very few sporting events I do are relegated to 0 now because that is not what this camera is for. Fine by me. Didn’t like sports anyways. 🙂
Zeiss Touit video Part 3 – Manufacturing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-82GN1lZ80w
I tried the OMD5 for half a year, then the XE1 with several lenses. Am now back to only Nikon D800 with lenses. Autofocus in low light was not good at all on the XE1 compared to a DSLR. Otherwise I liked the system.
Perhaps I will invest in an X100s and will cerainly keep all my Nikon stuff for the next years.
Okay, here’s my story
Moving from Konica/Minoltra 7D to Sony Alpha a 700 I was waiting for a successor with better noise performance. So, what did Sony? Put 24 MP into the SLT 77, so no real progress there. And they installed an EVF, which I don’t like.
So I was considering going FF. While doing this I stumbled upon Martin Hülles Blog about “switching”: http://www.martin-huelle.de/blog/?p=3822
And, yes, I reckoned: FF = (much) more weight + higher costs = not really a compelling alternative.
So my strategy:
My old Alpha 700 for “kids & action” because of AF speed (and once it breaks I’ll probably get a Canon 700 d or so), and FOR EVERYTHING ELSE the X-Pro 1 …. And maybe the successor has a far better AF, so I won’t even need an DSLR …
Since I don’t own any expensive gear or a DSLR, there luckily was/is no need to make an expensive switch for me. In the past decade, I have always been a compact and bridge camera user, starting out with Lumix and eventually making the “switch” to Fuji with their S100fs.
However, I know very well that switching from one system (with several bodies and a full set of expensive high-end lenses) to another is a big step that can be difficult and pricey. I had to do is in the 90s when I switched from Contax to Canon. The transition period can be difficult, especially when you are working professionally, but in the end, it’s all about being happy with your decision in hindsight.
From what I have heard, Fuji didn’t expect their X cameras to be overly popular among DSLR users. They rather expected existing Fujifilm compact and bridge camera users to step-up and upgrade to an X100, X10 and X-S1. So it was pretty much a surprise to them when many Canikon DSLR users bought an X100 and (often quite ignorantly) expected it work and handle just like their Canikon DSLRs, then vocally complained about the fact that it obviously didn’t. In fact, the X100 and X10 had/have pretty the same feature set, functionality, quirks and user interface as Fuji’s consumer-grade compact cameras. All these cameras have Fuji DNA, not Canikon DNA.
It took Fuji some time to understand this new “enthusiast” market. They started to adjust and rolled out dozens of firmware updates based on user and reviewer feedback. This process is still ongoing, so expect more updates in the future.
I will switch when the replacement model is released.
For me personally I will switch from a Nikon Fm3a to the new X-pro when it comes out. All of my existing camera gears being sold and can’t wait!
I have an x100, X-E1 and Canon 60D. If the X-E1 had proper bracketing capabilities, my 60D would never be used (except maybe for the occasional video). But +-1 is just not enough for proper HDR shots in most circumstances…
Please Fuji. Build an X-E2 or X-PRO2 with +-2 bracketing (maybe even 5 shots with 2 stops between each?), and I’ll throw my money at you within seconds!