Sharana

Hi,
 
I'm Paulo, from Portugal. 
 
2 months ago, I decide to change from Canon DSLR system ( 5 years of use )  to Fuji X ( X-T1 ).
 
Currently own one X-T1 and an 35 mm 1.4R. Working to get 16-50 2.8 and a 55-200 ( depending on Canon sales ).
 
One of main propose of change is to get life "easier" on handling and pos-edition. With Canon I start to get tired to travel with an 7D, 10-22, 24-105, etc... In the same way I was spending to much time working on RAW files, even for passionate photos. I work with stock agencies ( beginner level ), and have done small works ( motorized sports ).
 
So far I'm impressed with JPG quaility, Easy Handling and EVF of X-T1. 
 
Lastly, my English isn't the greatest. I read/translate it very well, but still having some issues writing it. 

Greetings from British Columbia, Canada.
 
I am strictly an amateur hobbyist, and got myself a Fuji X-T1 last month. My path was a bit different from most of the people on this forum: I have never used a DSLR.  My first camera as a teenager was a little 110 film camera -- anyone remember those?   For a little while I used an old Russian 35mm SLR which had absolutely no automatic functions at all.  Then for about 25 years, from 1980 on, I used a Nikon FE 35mm film SLR; it would even select the shutter speed automatically, which I thought was pretty fancy.  But unlike the fixed focus, fixed aperture 35mm instant film cameras which many people used, you did have to set aperture, shutter speed and focus.
 
About ten years ago I finally switched to a digital camera.  Since my old camera bag with the Nikon FE, flash, and two extra lenses was a bit heavy and bulky, I found I wasn't taking my camera along much when I went anywhere.  Since I wanted something smaller and lighter with a digital, I didn't go the big, expensive DSLR route.  I ended up with a Canon G6, the largest compact which would fit in a belt pouch, but still had a decent zoom lens, fully articulated LCD, a good grip, and reasonably sophisticated features and controls for its time.  Basically a high end compact point and shoot.  It still takes fine pictures.
 
Since it is a bit of a pain with the G6 to use things like manual focus, aperture and shutter priority, I tended to use it mostly in its "P" mode. Recently I became interested in experimenting again with the more manual aspects of photography.  My intention at first was to pick up an inexpensive used DSLR and lens, and use it strictly to experiment with, not as a replacement for the G6.  However, after seeing favourable comments online about the X-T1 and its picture quality, light and compact size, and usability, I ended up with a very gently used X-T1 at a nice discount, and a new 18-55 lens.  I've been learning how to use it, taking a refresher digital photography course with the local camera club, and experimenting a bit with it.  It is a bit heavier and larger than the G6, and I'm afraid it really doesn't fit in a belt pouch.
 
The salesman who sold me the X-T1 suggested that if I gave it a chance, I might find the X-T1 replacing the old G6, even though that wasn't my original intention.  The first evening, just as a lark, I tried taking a picture half an hour after sunset.  Handheld (with OIS), 6400 ISO, manual focus through a window,  auto exposure, about 1/2 second in aperture priority.  The photo was reasonably sharp, and I could see things that I couldn't even see with the naked eye.   I was seriously impressed:  neither my G6 nor the old Nikon film camera could ever have done anything like that.
 
The salesman might be right...

Happy to be here! Hi From the Puerto Rico right in the heart of the Caribbean. 
 
check out my site and social media:
Website: http://www.aliceacaldas.com
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instagram: https://instagram.com/aliceacaldas
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To add a few more details, while I was never under such a downpour, I do travel to Asia on regular basis and because of the heat and moisture all around, I can vouch that the X-T1 with the 18-135 lens are perfectly able to tackle that weather condition without any hitch, just make sure to not change your lens outside of your hotel room, specially in very humid areas.
 
That aside, Nikon AW series and the Olympus Tough series are both very good compact rugged cameras for pretty much anything you would want to travel but the fixed lens can be impacting on usability.
But the Nikon AW1 kind of fixes that since it's one of the only rugged cameras that can swap lenses, granted there are only 2 at this moment, but Nikon has been quite diligent lately and registered half a dozen of patents for the Nikon 1 series along a wide angle zoom for the AW1.

Unfortunately the camera that many would really need for this kind of applications, and it is no longer been made, is a camera which is compact, completely waterproof, usable underwater and in air, and allows at least a limited amount of interchangeable lenses.
 
 
Something like the much missed Nikonos. 
 
The camera evolved from the original “ Calypso “ a special camera made originally by the French Spirotechnique and designed by the Belgian Jean de Wouters for Jacques Cousteau and his crew and it was later absorbed and further evolved by Nikon into the Nikonos.
 
clumsy though it is, if someone has a X-T1 and wants to use it under heavy rain conditions and not risk his camera they might use the cheap Meikon underwater case or the more technical and expensive Nauticam.

I think the Olympus are very nice too.  I think, like you that these cameras are all very close to the same.  You may have a few modes or controls that you don't get with other, or one may be rated with a higher IP rating, but if you're not diving, and you are happy with your results you have now, then I'd just stay where you are.
 
I think it would be cool though if Fuji made something like the AW1 that Nikon makes.  A camera that one of the most extreme photographers I know of uses on a regular basis and absolutely loves.  An interchangeable lens camera that has IP rating, at or near the AW1 by Nikon, would be so awesome to have by Fuji.

Since I am not diving, I don't know how much difference it really makes between the Nikon and FujiXP series vs. the olympus I have.  I will need to research the image quality.
THANKS!!!!!

Thanks so much I will compare, I always thought that these type of cameras were all the same or very similar..  Of course I will not be using it underwater.  The specs always seemed the same whatever the brand.  But then there is quality, which I did not look closely at.  I will look at the Fuji XP series and the Nikon.  Great suggestion!!  Thanks very much!!!!!
Sharana

more than just that............... they they are really underwater cameras although their sensor is very small at the maximum depth much less than Canon

Or the Nikon.

 
I'd still rather have the Fuji though...

Cheers, despite the Fuji love, the Nikon coolpix aw 130 outperforms, and by quite a bit in terms of depth, even the best of the Fuji underwater compacts the XP 80 which only reaches 17,5m.
 
 
30m maximum is a good depth for most people with advanced open water diving experience. A camera like this gives you a decent safety extra even if you are not normally diving that deep because your divemaster might decide that day to dive past 15m and then, what are you going to do? Risk your camera or leave it on the surface?
 
 I can guarantee you that in places like the Red Sea, unless you are doing introduction dives or snorkeling only, you will always dive past 15m.

When I think of the XP80, I think of snorkeling, paddle boarding, water skiing, kayaking, etc.
 
If I was diving, I'd want a housing for my X-T1.  Nothing else would suffice...

well, there are many ways to do may things, as least as many as there are people out there.
 
Diving with a large case like the Meikon is a very different commitment. I’d rather have a compact camera and dive free of all the hustle and bustle, than having the bulk of a case with me.
 
I rather dive for the sake of diving than for documentary purposes though.
 
@https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDx2Hua_Og
@https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1llHxR_RRs

Note there are XP series point-and-shoot compacts from Fujifilm, with lot of protections - against water, dust, shock, and freezing temperatures. Claimed, at least.

Not with the distorting connector cover door it ain't

Fuji manager told me that rain is outside WR. The lens or/and the camera can still be damaged if used in the rain. Water resistance stands for 100% humidity.

I haven’t tried to put my camera and lens under water and I won’t do that,  however, the two experiences that I’ve quoted above seem to contradict the ( double!) statement “ None of the equipment will survive a dunking of course”.
 
And, methinks, unless one has done this oneself , one should at least give the benefit of the doubt to those who say they did ( although we don’t have evidence of the camera working in the first case and of the camera being submerged in the second case).

The Fuji is water RESISTANT.  Meaning you can get it wet with rain and snow and it "should" be ok.  The lenses with the WR designation are also water-RESISTANT.  None of the equipment will survive a dunking of course.
With that being said I used my X-E1 and 18-55, of which NEITHER was WR in rain, snow, sleet and around salt water.
I've used my 18-55 and my X-T1 in the same weather; no problems.  My grandson smacked my 18-55 and X-T1 with a full load from water canon last summer directly at the lens and again everything still functions.  Though, I did have to remove the lens and dry the water that seeped in between the lens and the body!  No big deal.
I do believe these Fuji's, as I'm certain other brands are rather robust.  Even though I love Fuji I won't be a fanboy and say that only fuji will be this rugged.  
I just spent ten days in and around salt water, sand, and rain with zero ill-effects on ANY of my lenses or my X-T1. I have the details in my blog.
 

I suspect Fuji would strongly recommend against total immersion of the X-T1. To my knowledge they make no claims that the camera is waterproof. It is designed to be safely used in the rain and cold, not underwater. The parking lot video illustrates the intended design goals of the camera (except for the part where he wipes the lens with his shirt). If the camera in the creek video survived repeated dunkings that speaks very well for it but I wouldn't do it.

Here is the video by the Fuji guys, it is mentioned in the beginning  about the water resistance and being sealed. 
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PYZ_jJKMBc   Sharana

Hi Milandro!!!
 
You are right, I stated in my above answer some confusion on my part when people mention weather sealed and weather resistant in the same article. The Fuji Guy on their video state weather resistant, weather sealed, no issues in the weather. It all sounds a bit confusing, but they are not coming out and committing themselves. I will find the video and send a link!
Thank you very much for this amazing demonstration!  I don't think too many people would try this extreme experiment, but again it makes a point.
I certainly appreciate very much your writing and time Milandro.  It was very nice and helpful of you!!!
Sharana

Dear Patrick,
 
Well this is certainly a very interesting and convincing video.  He was very brave and daring to try the experiment, but made a VERy good point!!  There was much rain, so it made it the more convincing! I do hope his expensive camera is still working.  Thank you so much for sharing this helpful video.  I did look at my sources again.  It talks about Fuji being weather and dust sealed,  though states above Weather-Resistant body, in the book by Tony Phillips.  The sealed and weather resistant confused me..  In the Aug 2015 issue of Outdoor Photograper, an article talks about the Fuji being weather sealed.  I listened to the Fugi Guys again they mention weather resistant, not water proof. They go on to say however that there are no issues in weather.  What exactly does that mean??  It is unclear to me, sounds contradictory.  I did test my Fuji in some rain, though not a down pour, when vacationing in the West.  It did get very wet, and is still working. I was very hesitant, but wanted to find out.  This video is very convincing!  Thanks so much for sharing it and the time in writing Patrick!!!!  You were a great help!
Sharana

What happened next...?
Besides, it's nowhere written that the X-T1 + a WR lens combinations are waterproof.
As far as I know it means just weather resistant.

fugi?     since you wrote it everywhere ( title and text in several paces) it should’t be a typo and there’s probably a joke there though I am not sure which one it is   others have done that too, must be a common thing which I had never seen before
 
Dunking a camera in a creek is a rather extreme way to demonstrate that it is a Weather Resistant combination of camera and lens, aparently it is.
 
@https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m35MqUersU
 
of course one wants to see whether the camera works this approach is less radical but convincing 
 
 
@https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK3FfMCE2Ww