Tommyboy

Here are a few recent snaps from Santa Barbara, one from the shore shot with the 90mm and two from the zoo shot with the 55-200.
 

 
ISO 200 • 90mm • f/2.8 • 1/8,500
 

 
ISO 800 • 200mm • f/4.8 • 1/60
 

 
ISO 200 • 200mm • f/4.8 • 1/60

I voted with my wallet and purchased an XP-2 a month ago. I knew (as did everyone else) that a T2 was imminent, but I just preferred the rangefinder experience. I don't know why, but I really prefer it to the SLR design. I've shot SLRs for 30 years and loved them, but when I went mirrorless, I started with an XE-2 and was really amazed at how much I liked the far-left rangefinder. I purchased the XP2 in spite of its optical finder, but I find it intriguing to use, especially with my favorite lens, the 23mm. 
 
The T2 looks really nice. I had hoped that it would have the focus joy stick and it does. It has 4K video, and that's great, but not important to me. I wish the XP2 had that great articulated screen, though, and two high-speed slots. I can see that there's a lot of love for the XT-1 on this board and I have a feeling that a lot of people here will buy T2s. 
 
If I decide that I need a second body, I'll spring for a T2. Those of you preordering your T2s: Good luck. I'm confident that you'll really dig it. 

This thread has become so interesting, ironic, and kind of distressing—pun intended.
 
Distressed jeans. Distressed furniture. It's a design concept. It's not for everyone, and many of us, myself included, protect our camera to preserve its luster. I respect those whose view are divergent from my own, particularly if they seem peculiar or unexpected. 
 
I like what the OPer did to his camera. I admire his chutzpah. I draw no conclusions about him, the person, from this act. I can't judge him by the appearance of one of his possessions, I can't judge a book by its cover, and I can't make an assumption of the whole individual from this narrow slice of what I know about him. It seems reasonable to not like what he did to his camera, and to act on that revulsion by choosing not to do it to your own camera, but to draw conclusions about him, to judge him, and to and sling accusations about his purpose, his outlook, his world view. . . .   That, to me, is the false veneer. 

1. Clearly, you're an artist.
2. It's yours to do with what you will.
3. Cradling, polishing, preserving your camera is the expected, default behavior.
4. I think it's really cool—definitely unique.
 
I think the notion that dents and scratches are "earned" is amusing.

I have ended up with six lenses, for reasons of weight, too many to carry in a shoulder bag. They are:
 
16mm f/1.4 23mm f/1.4 56mm f/1.2 90mm f/2.0 18-55 f/2.8-4.0 55-200 f/3.5-4.8  
Although I find it surprising, the 56 is the lens I leave at home. If I need to jettison two lenses, the 18-55 joins it. I use the 23mm the most. The 90mm is so scary sharp and works very well as a portrait lens. I never took it out of the bag on my last trip, though. The 55-200 is brand new, so it's still a novelty. Really, the whole kit is only about three months old, so who knows?
 
One might consider choosing between the 16 and the 23. The 16 is a surprisingly versatile lens. One might also choose between the 56 and the 90, though the former is the classic portrait length and the latter is perhaps a bit too long. I could consider losing the 18-55, but it is a very respectable zoom and it's hard to give up that security, to say nothing of OIS.
 
Too many lenses is a wonderful problem to have, but I'm always in a quandary when leaving on an excursion. . . .

I voted with my wallet and purchased an XP-2 a month ago. I knew (as did everyone else) that a T2 was imminent, but I just preferred the rangefinder experience. I don't know why, but I really prefer it to the SLR design. I've shot SLRs for 30 years and loved them, but when I went mirrorless, I started with an XE-2 and was really amazed at how much I liked the far-left rangefinder. I purchased the XP2 in spite of its optical finder, but I find it intriguing to use, especially with my favorite lens, the 23mm. 
 
The T2 looks really nice. I had hoped that it would have the focus joy stick and it does. It has 4K video, and that's great, but not important to me. I wish the XP2 had that great articulated screen, though, and two high-speed slots. I can see that there's a lot of love for the XT-1 on this board and I have a feeling that a lot of people here will buy T2s. 
 
If I decide that I need a second body, I'll spring for a T2. Those of you preordering your T2s: Good luck. I'm confident that you'll really dig it. 

Santa Barbara, CA
 

 
ISO 200 * 90mm * f/2.0 * 1/6000
 

 
ISO 200 * 23mm * f/2.8 * 1/150

XP-2 • 23mm • ISO 200 • f/1.4 • 1/280

On a recent visit to the Santa Barbara Zoo, my 7 year-old asked if he could join me in taking photos. With some trepidation, I handed him my XE-2 w/18-55. I continued shooting my XP-2 w/55-200. We both grabbed a shot of the engineer who pilots the train that circles the zoo. Who do you think has a better eye?

Mine:


 
55mm 1/80 f/6.4 ISO 200

His:



39mm 1/210 f/5.6 ISO 400

The photographers:



I'm pretty proud of my burgeoning lensman.

Here are a few recent snaps from Santa Barbara, one from the shore shot with the 90mm and two from the zoo shot with the 55-200.
 

 
ISO 200 • 90mm • f/2.8 • 1/8,500
 

 
ISO 800 • 200mm • f/4.8 • 1/60
 

 
ISO 200 • 200mm • f/4.8 • 1/60

I voted with my wallet and purchased an XP-2 a month ago. I knew (as did everyone else) that a T2 was imminent, but I just preferred the rangefinder experience. I don't know why, but I really prefer it to the SLR design. I've shot SLRs for 30 years and loved them, but when I went mirrorless, I started with an XE-2 and was really amazed at how much I liked the far-left rangefinder. I purchased the XP2 in spite of its optical finder, but I find it intriguing to use, especially with my favorite lens, the 23mm. 
 
The T2 looks really nice. I had hoped that it would have the focus joy stick and it does. It has 4K video, and that's great, but not important to me. I wish the XP2 had that great articulated screen, though, and two high-speed slots. I can see that there's a lot of love for the XT-1 on this board and I have a feeling that a lot of people here will buy T2s. 
 
If I decide that I need a second body, I'll spring for a T2. Those of you preordering your T2s: Good luck. I'm confident that you'll really dig it. 

Northern Gannet
 
X-T1 + 55-200
 

I really like the moment your son captured (the most important thing)
Both are nice photos, bet that guy spends the winter months working as Santa

The apprentice becomes the master.
 
(Boy that happen A LOT sooner then anticipated, eh?)

Which proves, you do not need an X-Pro 2 to capture a good picture.☺ Composition and foremost timing are more important than the equipment.
Edit:
Both are nice shots anyway.

His because of the expression, sorry old chap.

I was at the Prescott Hill Climb circuit on Sat for a pre-war event, lots of stunning cars and friendly people and when you mix that with good weather you get some great photo opportunities so I just had to take advantage of the day.

Shot with the X-pro2 and the X100s and they both delivered.
 

 

 

 

 
 

Gull @Pirita, Tallinn, Estonia by Hendrik Osula, on Flickr
 
X-T1 + 56/1,2

And again
DSCF4938 by Matjaz Malensek, on Flickr
 
and then he had enought.
DSCF4943 by Matjaz Malensek, on Flickr
 
I really like the 8 mm.

Just shot one tonight that I'm pretty proud of.
 
X-Pro 2 • 90mm • f/2.8 • 1/350 • ISO 200

I voted with my wallet and purchased an XP-2 a month ago. I knew (as did everyone else) that a T2 was imminent, but I just preferred the rangefinder experience. I don't know why, but I really prefer it to the SLR design. I've shot SLRs for 30 years and loved them, but when I went mirrorless, I started with an XE-2 and was really amazed at how much I liked the far-left rangefinder. I purchased the XP2 in spite of its optical finder, but I find it intriguing to use, especially with my favorite lens, the 23mm. 
 
The T2 looks really nice. I had hoped that it would have the focus joy stick and it does. It has 4K video, and that's great, but not important to me. I wish the XP2 had that great articulated screen, though, and two high-speed slots. I can see that there's a lot of love for the XT-1 on this board and I have a feeling that a lot of people here will buy T2s. 
 
If I decide that I need a second body, I'll spring for a T2. Those of you preordering your T2s: Good luck. I'm confident that you'll really dig it. 

Nobody asked for this

I would like to throw in an alternate suggestion:
 
Tenba Classic P211
 
I bought this bag two months ago. I've configured the bag to hold one body (XE-2 or XP-2) and any five of these six lenses: 16, 23, 56, 90, 18-55, and 55-200. I also have a Fuji bounce flash, three filters, three batteries. There is a zippered lower compartment that allows for one or two lenses, chargers, or other stuff. Full disclosure: In order to accomplish this, I had to add one divider from another bag. The camera rides on tip with the lens pointing down. The bag is very narrow, a messenger design, has a firm, box shape, and is very well made. I don't think the rear zippered compartment would hold a laptop, but it holds my tablet easily. For me, room is not an issue with this bag. I'm able to put more in it than I'm willing to carry around. It gets too heavy before it gets too full. 
 
Might be worth a look if you don't want to wait 27 days. . . .  How intriguing. . . .  

That.
 
Mine was a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 v1. Owned it for a dozen years, used it a dozen times. So heavy it was silly as a carry-in-your-bag-lens. Not unlike Nero above, I traded mine for an XP2.

I LOVE my 55-200.  Even though it does not come out to play very often, I do take it with me.  Know it is there is good enough.  This lens, at least my copy is tack sharp across the focal range, and at each aperture.  I have no complaints.  I hate the "are you happy to see  me" extension at long end but that's a price to be paid.  It's lightweight compared to it's big brother the 50-140 2.8 which, after unloading myself of my Nikon gear which included the Nikon 70-200 F2.8, I do not ever want to carry around again.  So, there are a few drawbacks, but the 55-200 is a magnificent lens and one I will not give up.