Don’t worry, i’am keeping the best pieces 🙂
So, the Pentax gear is being sold at the moment, and a new main camera, the Fujifilm X-H1 has taken the place of the Pentax K-3, but that changes a lot for me in how the new equipment is being used.
Going back a bit – I had two Pentax DSLRs, one of which was my main camera, the Fuji X100 had been collecting dust for several years, and I bought another Fuji X camera because I wanted to work more with vintage lenses – specifically Olympus OM Zuiko. The first camera specifically purchased for manual lenses was the Fuji X-E1, a great camera, but soon it became clear that the newer models were even more interesting. Before I knew it, my Fuji collection had grown to seven cameras.
And the eighth ended the Pentax chapter.
Obviously something had to be done here, I can’t keep all cameras – well, I can actually do that, but what’s the point ? So, I had to revise everything and put together a new gear set.
The X100 original remains anyway, there is also the X-T1, this was the first Fuji camera that I really liked – large EVF, weather sealed and no PASM dial but a real shutter and ISO dial. This was the camera that probably initiated the decisions (the purchase of the X-H1) that led to the switch from Pentax to Fujifilm.
What are we looking for then ?
The X100 has became my “compact go to” camera.
Then there is the X-T1 with its 16mp and big EVF, the perfect camera for use with manual lenses – it feels like an analog camera to, size wise and the sensor …
And the X-H1 as my main camera,
but I also want kind of a backup camera for the X-H1,
basically, another 24/26 mp camera.
The X-T20 ? an X-T2, X-T3 or second X-H1 ? That is the question that is currently open. No, not an X-T4, it has a different battery set, and I definitely don’t like and/or want that.
For sale is : the X-E1, X-T10 and maybe the X-T20, and then also the X-A2 and X-A3.
Lenses ? Kind of the same problem – all bought in ever-changing phases. I currently have the following lenses: Fujifilm XC 15-45mm – Fujifilm XC 16-50mm – Fujifilm XC 50-230mm – Fujinon XF 23mm f2.0 WR – Fujinon XF 27mm f2.8 – Fujinon XF 18-135mm WR – Fujinon XF 70- 300mm WR – Fujifilm XF 1.4 TC WR, the last five of which are sure to remain.
The XC 50-230 is becoming a bit redundant, although this is a great, light and super sharp lens. And as a standard lens I have the XC 15-45 and XC 16-50, neither are weather sealed. But unfortunately, the alternative, the kit lens XF 18-55 isn’t either.
What it all comes down to:
I need one new camera, and one standard zoom,
preferably both weather sealed.
I’m curious what I’ll end up with !
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One new camera… X-Pro something.
One new lens… XF16mm WR
This photography lark is a pain in the butt! The 50-230mm is probably one of my most used lenses, as for birds and attached to macro tubes for macro it’s in a class of it’s own! The 15-45 is worth it for the 15mm alone, and tests show it’s one of the sharpest lenses from Fuji. I can’t wait to see what you decide on!
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Good morning Mark,Well this is a scoop or what do you call it?
To be honest, I wrote this article a few weeks ago, right after buying the X-H1,
and when it was clear I was going to make the switch from Pentax to Fuji.
So a lot has been thought and done, the X-T20 is probably the best camera Fuji has ever made, you thought so too.
For me there’s only one problem, that’s the smaller EVF – I think we’ve talked about that before.
So the most logical choice was an X-T2.
I found one, bought it, but before the guy sent it to me, it turned out the EVF had stopped working,
I got the money back, and the camera was sent to Fuji for repair. If it comes back I will buy it again.
So here you know what the camera is going to be – not an X Pro 🙂
I think the X-T2 is a worthy camera, and excellent as backup for the X-H1.
The lenses, yes, the XC 15-45 is probably the best Fuji lens ever made – also according to Ken Rockwell,
and if he says so, it’s probably better than any Nikon lens ever made 🙂
I think this is actually true, Fuji made a top lens here, but it’s not so much because they aren’t weather sealed,
but i hate the electric zoom !!! – don’t you ?
The XC 16-50 would probably be a better choice for me – although I would have preferred a weather sealed lens – I’m not sure yet.
I haven’t had the XC 50-230 for a long time myself, but as I wrote, bought it at a time when I was not yet “converted” 🙂
It’s a top-notch lens – everyone should buy one – but the XF18-135 & XF 70-300 I bought later cover the same area and more.
If you know someone who is selling an XF16-55 WR or XF 16-80 WR for a hundred or two, give me a call!
In other words – this could take a while I think.
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By the way Mark, what is a photography lark ? tried to google it, but got no answer
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“lark”, I guess it’s slang for “thing” 😂 you’ll love the X-T2, I was playing with one yesterday, and it’s really nice. Not much difference to an X-T3 at all. I’m even tempted by the X-T1 as an extra camera at some point.
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Well, the X-T3 is still a step higher, but both the X-T2 and the X-T1 have become classics I think, good and reliable.
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