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Need help choosing (D5500 vs X-T10)

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Jonathan0007

Jonathan0007

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I really need some help deciding on a camera (and camera system) to buy. First, a little about myself:

1. I tend to mostly shoot portraits (non-studio) and nature, and little or no action.

2. I do not intend to shoot video.

3. Although most of my pictures will be taken during the day, I value good low-light image quality.

4. Overall, the most important criterion for me is image quality.

5. SOOC JPEG quality is all that matters to me. I am aware of the benefits of shooting RAW, but honestly do not have the time to dedicate to post.

6. I have no specific brand preference and believe that I can become sufficiently comfortable with any system given time.

I have personally narrowed down my search to the Fuji X-T10 and Nikon D5500, the reasons being that a) they are not heavy compared to, say, FF cameras b) I would be able to afford either. I have tried both in hand at a local store and like the grip of the D5500 and the size and weight of the X-T10, so it's a wash in terms of handling. I intend to begin with the kit lens (18-55) for its convenience and perhaps get the 35mm prime as I begin to learn the system better (and probably not much more than that for the foreseeable future). Considering how the most important factor for me is SOOC JPEG quality (both sharpness and color) and my shooting preferences outlined above, which would suit me based on your experience? Also, I've been reading about some people complaining about mushy foliage and waxy skin tones with X-Trans cameras. Are these common issues, and do they affect JPEGs, or only ACR processed RAW files?

Thanks so much for your help, guys!
 
My only experience with Fuji is the X10, so can't really comment on how the X-T10 performs. However, from what I've read they have some pretty decent lenses, all that's missing is tele, so not a problem for you.

Nikon on the other hand have all the lenses you'd need, but the JPEG isn't the best. A lot of the detail is lost due to heavy noise reduction. To get the best out of the camera, you really need to shoot raw. That's not to say the JPEG is unusable, but if you put them side by side, you'd notice a huge difference. Nikon's high ISO performance is among the best though.

You should also consider D7100 / D7200. They are a huge upgrade from the D5500 in terms of control and functionality.

So, decision decision decision................:-D
 
go for x-t 10
 
Jonathan0007 said:
I really need some help deciding on a camera (and camera system) to buy. First, a little about myself:

1. I tend to mostly shoot portraits (non-studio) and nature, and little or no action.

2. I do not intend to shoot video.

3. Although most of my pictures will be taken during the day, I value good low-light image quality.

4. Overall, the most important criterion for me is image quality.

5. SOOC JPEG quality is all that matters to me. I am aware of the benefits of shooting RAW, but honestly do not have the time to dedicate to post.

6. I have no specific brand preference and believe that I can become sufficiently comfortable with any system given time.

I have personally narrowed down my search to the Fuji X-T10 and Nikon D5500, the reasons being that a) they are not heavy compared to, say, FF cameras b) I would be able to afford either. I have tried both in hand at a local store and like the grip of the D5500 and the size and weight of the X-T10, so it's a wash in terms of handling. I intend to begin with the kit lens (18-55) for its convenience and perhaps get the 35mm prime as I begin to learn the system better (and probably not much more than that for the foreseeable future). Considering how the most important factor for me is SOOC JPEG quality (both sharpness and color) and my shooting preferences outlined above, which would suit me based on your experience? Also, I've been reading about some people complaining about mushy foliage and waxy skin tones with X-Trans cameras. Are these common issues, and do they affect JPEGs, or only ACR processed RAW files?

Thanks so much for your help, guys!
Click to expand...
Have a look at this.......

http://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/x-t10.htm
 
For what you want, I'd go with the Fuji. I currently own the X-T10, Sony A6000, Oly E-M1 and Nikon D7200. (yes, I'm indecisive). I'm not a big fan of the retro UI, but once you learn it, it's fine. I do love the images though. I find the exposure and color accuracy to be superior to the other three and unless I have something particular in mind with post processing, I find there is little I can do to improve the Fuji jpg's. The lens lineup while not huge is quite complete and top notch right down the line. The Fuji 56mm f1.2 is supposed to be a cracking portrait lens. Oh, and BTW, not that it matters to you, but Fuji does indeed have tele lenses, the 50-140/2.8 (70-200 equivalent), and the 100-400/4.5-5.6, both weather sealed and stabilized, and the 55-200/3.5-4.8, also stabilized.
 
Thanks for the food for thought. I'm pretty sure the D7xxx series offer awesome features, but I really don't want to carry something to heavy, either. What I like about the D5500 and X-T10 is that there is a good chance I will actually take whichever I end up getting with me even if I am not anticipating to take photos. That's just me, of course!
 
Could you please elaborate on your response, Faris? I'm sure you have made this recommendation based on the needs I outlined, but could you tell me a bit about any experience you have with Nikon and Fuji cameras?
 
Thanks. It was a nice read. Ken seems to recommend the Fuji for people pictures but not for landscape photos. Would you agree with him? And if so, are we talking about a really noticeable downgrade in IQ compared to, say, Nikon, or a slight one I'd probably only notice comparing them side by side at 100%?
 
Thank you for sharing your expereince, Jim! I agree that Fuji's lens catalog pales in comparison to Nikon's, but Fuji does have what I'm looking for and makes up for it in quality (at least according to test charts). As you have both a Fuji and Nikon cameras, can you tell me a bit more about sharpness? Is one inherently sharper than the other? Or is it just a matter of adjusting the picture settings? Also, can you comment on the kit lenses (provided that you have access to both)? Thanks again!
 
Jonathan0007 said:
Thanks. It was a nice read. Ken seems to recommend the Fuji for people pictures but not for landscape photos. Would you agree with him? And if so, are we talking about a really noticeable downgrade in IQ compared to, say, Nikon, or a slight one I'd probably only notice comparing them side by side at 100%?
Click to expand...
I don't always agree with what Ken says, however in this case I probably would and would shy away from the Fuji as my main interest is landscape and not people.
 
well, i bought fuji x-m 1 about three years ago. while im quite happy with its jpeg engine, the autofocus was really poor. and the video quality was appalling.

then i decide to bought sony a6000. i dont like the jpeg, and also it tends to underexpose. the lens lineup also very very limited.

earlier this year, my sister wants to have a camera, so i gave my a6000 to my sister and decided to enter the dslr world with D5500. im happy with it. i bought the tamrons cheapo lens. i think dslrs still the most mature in terms of the lens lineup. although now fuji has range from 10-400 mm, but theyre expensive. and the jpeg from the d5500 is okay, but the fuji x-m1 jpeg is still better than the d5500.
 
I've owned Canon's M and M2 and Nikon's D3200, D5200, D7100 and D3300 (my current body) and just bought a used Fuji X10 for fun. For portraits, Canon's skin colors are very close to true to life in most lighting situations, Nikon's up to now (but excluding the newest D5 and D500) don't handle artificial lights very well (daylight and strobes are Ok), but Fuji, OMG, those Fuji colors! Skin colors are very well enhanced: they look natural even though they are not true to life, they don't look funny, mind you, but rather very "healthy" and beautiful, you have to compare their output side by side to understand what I mean. At ISO 100, my little X10 with its meager 12MP 2/3" sensor can keep right up with the 18MP APS-C sensor of the Canons and the 24MP DX sensors of the Nikons, as long as you don't need to crop too heavily. With Fuji you also get the sharpest lenses in the business, period, so much so that not even Zeiss can touch them (they made a Touit line-up of lenses for the Fuji mount that aren't as sharp as the Fuji equivalents while costing twice as much). Were it not for my need to shoot videos and my budget constrains, I would have switched to Fuji already, but I'll rather choose one of their rangefinder-type bodies like the X-E2 or better yet the X-PRO2 because they're more compact and look more "interesting" than their SLR-type bodies. Anyways, I think you can't go wrong with the X-T10, although I'll highly recommend you also get their crazy sharp 56mm f1.2 lens if you can afford it, that's one of the greatest portrait lenses currently out there.
 
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It's kind of hard for me to comment. I primarily have used the d7200 for birds and the only lens I have for it is the kit 18-140. It's not really in the same league as the lenses I have for the Fuji. There is no question that with equivelent lenses, they will both provide excellent results. Really, for me it comes down to, does the system provide the lenses you want and are you comfortable with the form factor and the usability. Personally, I'm 66 years old and am doing more traveling and grandchildren. I don't want to be that guy lugging the big dslr with big lenses to Europe or family Christmases but I do want a good birding setup. If the Fuji X-T2 proves itself to be a competent wildlife body, the Nikon is gone.
 
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