Going to Uganda and what to bring… Help

[NapaBruce]

Hello and Help

I have the X-E2 with the "kit" 18-55 and have loved it. Going to Uganda and will be trekking (pretty close) a number of gorilla families. I will be deep in the forest, no direct sun at all and pretty low light. i.e., focusing challenge:) I will be switching between photographs and movie mode.

For this, I purchased the XF 55-200 f3.5-4.8 and even after updating firmwear, I am skeptical of the accuracy and repeatability of focus in dusk light conditions. 

I tried a XF 50-140 F2.8 and ZAP, I loved it and felt its performance was much better.

As I was packing up the 55-200 to send it back I realized I might be making an error and here is where i need help.

 

Maybe just maybe, rather than spending $1500 on the f28, I should purchase the pro2 body and keep the 55-200. No folks, sorry, I can't afford both.

So the question, realizing that all the solutions make great pictures, but my concern is fast, accurate and reliable auto focus at distance, which is the best combination?

1) Keep my X-E2, latest firmware and buy XF 50-140 f2.8

2) Buy Pro2 body with 55-200 f3.5-4.8

 

Yes, there are different zoom ranges, I could be happy with either.

Thanks in advance!

Bruce

Edited May 7, 2016 by NapaBruce

[nielsgaastra]

I don't know if you need to zoom or what focal lenghts you will use, but maybe the 90mm F2 is an option worth considering?

[Warwick]

Two approaches to this, basically.

If what you're looking for is good, close-up images of gorillas in their natural environment, then you're going to need a zoom of some kind. Preferably one with a wide range, because you won't know how close, or far, the gorillas are going to be.

Thing is, if I were trying to get this sort of imagery, I know it probably wouldn't be as good, or as interesting for my audience, as imagery captured by professional wildlife crews. Which you can buy cheaply on DVD.

Which brings me to the second approach: documentary/reportage photography of your trip, showing the journey, the trekking through the forest, the interactions between the party as the gorillas are sighted and so on. For that I'd probably use the 18mm f2, given the tightness of the space between trees. Maybe even the 16mm f1.4. This approach, I think, would produce images that are unique and interesting to an audience back home, and not simply an attempt to replicate what wildlife documentary crews have already done.

 

Oh, and I'd definitely get the X Pro 2, with its superior low-light capability

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Edited May 7, 2016 by Warwick

[quincy]

It's pretty hard to tell other people what to buy, but there are several reasons why I would prefer the X-Pro2 with the 55-200 in your case.

 

- you said you want to film. I wouldn't use a Fujifilm camera, but if I had to, I'd take the X-Pro2 at the moment.

- The X-Pro2 offers better low light performance and might just compensate the 1.5 stops of difference between the two lenses at the long end, which also gives you more depth of field and therefore more leeway for slight misfocusing.

- The 55-200 has much more reach. (You could, of course, get the 1.4x teleconverter for the 50-140)

- The X-Pro2 has more resolution, so you can crop easier, giving you even more reach.

- X-Pro2 + 55-200 weights a lot less than X-E2 + 50-140.

- Both combinations won't be weather sealed, so it makes no difference.

- I have had good experience with the 55-200 in low light. It's not a fast focusing lens, but it doesn't get worse in dimly lit environment. Pre-focusing on something static close to the subject helps the lens a lot. If it doesn't have to move far it is quick, and my sample is very accurate. Usually, when it get's too dark to focus, the images are ugly anyway, due to high ISO and all the noise creeping in.

[NapaBruce]

I don't know if you need to zoom or what focal lenghts you will use, but maybe the 90mm F2 is an option worth considering?

Thank you for the idea!

[NapaBruce]

Two approaches to this, basically.

If what you're looking for is good, close-up images of gorillas in their natural environment, then you're going to need a zoom of some kind. Preferably one with a wide range, because you won't know how close, or far, the gorillas are going to be.

Thing is, if I were trying to get this sort of imagery, I know it probably wouldn't be as good, or as interesting for my audience, as imagery captured by professional wildlife crews. Which you can buy cheaply on DVD.

Which brings me to the second approach: documentary/reportage photography of your trip, showing the journey, the trekking through the forest, the interactions between the party as the gorillas are sighted and so on. For that I'd probably use the 18mm f2, given the tightness of the space between trees. Maybe even the 16mm f1.4. This approach, I think, would produce images that are unique and interesting to an audience back home, and not simply an attempt to replicate what wildlife documentary crews have already done.

 

Oh, and I'd definitely get the X Pro 2, with its superior low-light capability

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you SO much! I did not mention that I have the "kit" 18-55, So you suggesting that I keep the 55-200 and get the Pro2 sounds great with the lower light! Then I have total flexibility. In fact, I could put the 18-55 on the EX2 and the pro2 on the 55-200…. Sounds like a great solution.