Moving to Fujifilm from Nikon

[mecsw500]

Well I was planning a trip to Yellowstone. My Nikon gear, based around D200's was getting a bit long in the tooth, so I thought I would try out Fujifilm gear as an upgrade. So I bought an X-T30-II, an XF16-80mm, an XF55-200mm and a used XF23mm F/2 to take with me.

Well I like the gear. I used to use Olympus OM-1 and OM-2's back in the day and I never did get used to those monster D200's.

The only problem I had was with the XF16-80mm which constantly came up with "Lens Connection Failure" or some such, so I was glad I bought the XF23mm. I always liked 35mm focal length in film cameras so that wasn't a big problem. When I got back, I returned the XF16-80mm and replaced it with the XF16mm F/2.8 and the XF35mm F/2. So I now have 3 primes and the longer zoom.

As a Nikon D200 user I was used to ASP-C format and I was never that worried about it only being a 10MP sensor. I must admit the Fujifilm sensor is much better. I'm well impressed with the Fujifilm glass. So I just donated the Nikon stuff to a local high school and decided to jump in with both feet to the Fujifilm world.

I really liked the small size of the X-T30-II, it is just like handling my old OM-1 and OM-2 cameras, with lenses just as compact. I never did like the D200 boat anchors especially as I had the large battery grips fitted.

So now I'm in a quandary. I really like the X-T30-II body, it's small and works really well. It produces splendid jpegs too. So, to add a second body, should I go with a second X-T30-II and keep commonality with the one I had, or get an X-T3 or X-T4? Of course there is also the X-S10 too. I'm leaning towards a second X-T30-II so I don't have to learn two sets of control layouts. I looked at the X-T4 and the X-S10 and to be frank, other than perhaps in-body stability support, there didn't seem to be much I needed that the X-T30-II doesn't support. I use mostly the short to medium primes anyway, so I don't miss the IBS or OIS anyway.

I like the  smaller sizes of the F/2.8 and F/2 lenses over the F/1.4's and they seem to produce nice results. So I think I'm going to go for another X-T30-II.

I bought my gear from Pictureline.com's physical store in SLC and they were very helpful with good prices.

What do you guys think? I'd be interested in your comments or ideas.

[jerryy]

Welcome to the forum!

Some thoughts for you since you are considering camera body differences, IBIS is turned on and off in the camera body’s menu choices, but OIS is turned on and off via a switch on the lens.

A lot of the menu choices operate the same across the various bodies so you can move between the bodies fairly easily. This is of course limited by what hardware features distinguish the different bodies, but overall the systems are close.

If you quickly need a second backup body the X-T30 II is great for that, but if you are not in a big hurry, the rumored X-T5 is supposed to be out in the near future. Treat any rumors though with requisite heaping spoons of salt.

[mecsw500]

7 hours ago, cpX said:

Sounds more like advertising to my ears.

The X-T30 II would not be for me. I notice this even with my two X-A1s. There is simply a lack of a good and ergonomic handle for the secure holding of the digital camera. They feel like toys. That's why I still use my very stable FinePix S5 Pro. With the newer models I would choose the X-H2 as a tool if it works reliably and is also robust.

No, not advertising, just thinking aloud. It helps sometimes to get your head around things.

I just like the feel of the X-T30-II to be honest. It';s nice and compact and feels metallic with the compact primes on it. I put a thumb rest mounted from the hot shoe on it and that helps me carry it around, and from not activating the Q button all the time. I wish the flash cover was not plastic, but other than that it seems to have a quality feel to my mind. I also figure I can buy quite a bit of glass with the difference in price over the very awesome, I must admit, X-H2.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

[Herco]

If you love how the X-T30II works, but you'd like to have IBIS, there's essentially only one choice in the Fuji line-up: the X-T4. Cameras like the X-S10, X-H2 and the X-H2S have a different way of operating. They rely on a mode dial (PASM) rather than separate dials for shutter speed, ISO, aperture and exposure compensation. One is not necessarily better than the other, but mixing might hamper your proficiency with the cameras. The X-H2 and X-H2S are also quite a bit bigger than the X-T30II. An alternative could be a pre-owned X-H1 that kind of sits in between the classic and PASM line of Fuji. It's a much more rugged (and bigger) camera but has lesser AF-capabilities compared to an X-T30II.

[mecsw500]

In the end I bought a second X-T30-II body. I like the way they operate, I'm not so keen on the PASM dial style operation. I tried the X-T3 and X-T4 but I still preferred the size of the X-T30-II. I don't miss the IBIS with the primes up to 50mm. I don't shoot video anyways.

I also bought a few Olympus OM Zuiko to X-Mount manual adapters and I've been playing with a variety of Zuiko lenses in manual mode from my old OM-2 cameras. The Zuiko lenses are all later multi-coated versions and produce decent results, especially the 50mm f/1.8.

So, I'm happy with my choice and the Fujifilm gear as a whole so far.