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D500 vs X-T2 + Grip both ~$2,000 - Which would you buy for action?

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R_U_Q_R_U

R_U_Q_R_U

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As my signature shows I have a lot of Fuji gear. But for action shooting the X-T2 needs the vertical grip for full performance. From what I read in various reviews Fuji split the full functionality between the body and the grip. Unlike other grips which just add a battery or two, the X-T2 grip actually adds features that maximize the capability of the camera.

Since the D500, which from all reports is a great action camera, costs about the same as and X-T2 with the grip which would you buy?
 
R_U_Q_R_U said:
As my signature shows I have a lot of Fuji gear. But for action shooting the X-T2 needs the vertical grip for full performance. From what I read in various reviews Fuji split the full functionality between the body and the grip. Unlike other grips which just add a battery or two, the X-T2 grip actually adds features that maximize the capability of the camera.

Since the D500, which from all reports is a great action camera, costs about the same as and X-T2 with the grip which would you buy?
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If your only need is action and you completely disregard all of the other differences between the two systems then I'd buy the D500.... it's not a difficult decision at all.
 
R_U_Q_R_U said:
As my signature shows I have a lot of Fuji gear. But for action shooting the X-T2 needs the vertical grip for full performance. From what I read in various reviews Fuji split the full functionality between the body and the grip. Unlike other grips which just add a battery or two, the X-T2 grip actually adds features that maximize the capability of the camera.

Since the D500, which from all reports is a great action camera, costs about the same as and X-T2 with the grip which would you buy?
Click to expand...
Having read a couple of reviews for the D500, if I were in the market for a camera with the primary purpose of shooting action I'd buy the D500 in a heartbeat. Sounds like a great camera for that particular intended purpose. Early reviews of the T-2 suggest Fuji has made some good progress in this regard, but I seriously doubt that any Fuji camera will become the first choice for action photographers anytime soon.
 
As an addendum to my post above, I think the operative word is "primary". If action is the primary thing you want to do then the reviews would strongly suggest the D500. However, if it is a "sometimes" thing or a "secondary" thing, then I think that is a little different.

I see you already own the Fuji 50-140mm f/2.8. It appears quite a few of the early X-T2 reviewers either already had this lens or were loaned this lens for use during the X-T2 beta test. By all accounts this is a pretty good sports/action lens and one of the fastest focusing Fuji lenses. Several X-photographers specifically mentioned how well it performed with the X-T2. I looked at several action shots, including auto racing, that were pretty amazing.

For my uses, where action is only a "sometimes" thing, I have no doubt that the X-T2 with the 50-140mm would be more than adequate. Your needs may vary depending on just how much action shooting you do and for what purposes. Only you can decide if it's worth running two systems.
 
Try the OVF vs EVF to see what will fit you. If you can get around with the EVF of the X-T2 it can be a good choice.

But for me it looks like the EVF on the X-T2 is still not there and I would go for the no lag real time OVF of the D500.

Maybe this video can help a little: X-T2 vs D810
 
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Psql said:
Try the OVF vs EVF to see what will fit you. If you can get around with the EVF of the X-T2 it can be a good choice.

But for me it looks like the EVF on the X-T2 is still not there and I would go for the no lag real time OVF of the D500.

Maybe this video can help a little: X-T2 vs D810
Click to expand...
Not sure that is accurate, I'd say there is some desperate measures at play!
Psql said:
--
Pasqual
My Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasqualdemmenie/
My website: http://www.psql.nl
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R_U_Q_R_U said:
As my signature shows I have a lot of Fuji gear. But for action shooting the X-T2 needs the vertical grip for full performance. From what I read in various reviews Fuji split the full functionality between the body and the grip. Unlike other grips which just add a battery or two, the X-T2 grip actually adds features that maximize the capability of the camera.

Since the D500, which from all reports is a great action camera, costs about the same as and X-T2 with the grip which would you buy?
Click to expand...
The d500 and a 70-200 2.8 is one big combo to carry around! The x-t2 can be striped back without grip for a much leaner combo with the 50-140 2.8, not so the d500!

In terms of af-c, I think they'll be nothing between them with good technique, the fuji may well have the d500 licked!
 
Advent1sam said:
R_U_Q_R_U said:
As my signature shows I have a lot of Fuji gear. But for action shooting the X-T2 needs the vertical grip for full performance. From what I read in various reviews Fuji split the full functionality between the body and the grip. Unlike other grips which just add a battery or two, the X-T2 grip actually adds features that maximize the capability of the camera.

Since the D500, which from all reports is a great action camera, costs about the same as and X-T2 with the grip which would you buy?
Click to expand...
The d500 and a 70-200 2.8 is one big combo to carry around! The x-t2 can be striped back without grip for a much leaner combo with the 50-140 2.8, not so the d500!

In terms of af-c, I think they'll be nothing between them with good technique, the fuji may well have the d500 licked!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback. You don't have to sell me on Fuji, look at my gear list!

I was just looking for opinions on this specific topic in terms of value and usability.

But really, there is no way the X-T2 is going to beat the D500 for action work.
 
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I would give it a few weeks for the formal reviews to come through on this point. The initial glowing reviews seemed to say tracking AF and action AF is amazing. However I have found initial reports of any camera to make exaggerated claims. Best to wait a few weeks if you want to be sure.

Sure the Nikon is likely to be great but I had a D800e for a while and it was not all wonderful. I stopped using it after I got an XE1.

Greg.
 
R_U_Q_R_U said:
But really, there is no way the X-T2 is going to beat the D500 for action work.
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That's correct. It was not designed to.

If it's only all out speed and performance that matters, the D500 has no peer right now.

--
Cheers,
Peter Jonas
 
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R_U_Q_R_U said:
As my signature shows I have a lot of Fuji gear. But for action shooting the X-T2 needs the vertical grip for full performance. From what I read in various reviews Fuji split the full functionality between the body and the grip. Unlike other grips which just add a battery or two, the X-T2 grip actually adds features that maximize the capability of the camera.

Since the D500, which from all reports is a great action camera, costs about the same as and X-T2 with the grip which would you buy?
Click to expand...
No doubt about it. For action/sports, it's D500 hands down. Nikon has the best tracking algorithm and the D500 has it. The D500 and D5 are very fast to operate. With the battery grip, the X-T2 has a similar weight as the D500.
 
Ambulater said:
As an addendum to my post above, I think the operative word is "primary". If action is the primary thing you want to do then the reviews would strongly suggest the D500. However, if it is a "sometimes" thing or a "secondary" thing, then I think that is a little different.

I see you already own the Fuji 50-140mm f/2.8. It appears quite a few of the early X-T2 reviewers either already had this lens or were loaned this lens for use during the X-T2 beta test. By all accounts this is a pretty good sports/action lens and one of the fastest focusing Fuji lenses. Several X-photographers specifically mentioned how well it performed with the X-T2. I looked at several action shots, including auto racing, that were pretty amazing.

For my uses, where action is only a "sometimes" thing, I have no doubt that the X-T2 with the 50-140mm would be more than adequate. Your needs may vary depending on just how much action shooting you do and for what purposes. Only you can decide if it's worth running two systems.
Click to expand...
 
500 both hands down. Then you only really need to pick 1 decent lens in the focal length you typically use and you're set. Bonus is that if you end up getting any, even cheap chinese flash, you will get laser assist beam which works very well and not just for sports.
 
SkvLTD said:
500 both hands down. Then you only really need to pick 1 decent lens in the focal length you typically use and you're set. Bonus is that if you end up getting any, even cheap chinese flash, you will get laser assist beam which works very well and not just for sports.
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LOL it's not a laser. And, the AF-assist lamps are usually good for 15-20 feet. Not so useful for sports.
 
You did not state it you want the D500 because it has an APS-C sensor or because it is the newest and cheaper than something like the D5, 1DXII.

If you want action with no compromise I recommend to look at a second hand D4 or 1DX instead. There is still a difference in between the top of the line DSLRs and the nearest APS-C model and it is significant. At least that was true at the time of D3/D300.
 
For action, the D500 will give better performance.

I would rather own the X-T2 though, if owning only one camera. Its just more portable and fun.

The T2 may prove to be a good action camera in its own right.
 
IF I were already invested in Nikon DX gear and lenses, the answer is obvious: The 500 benefits from a lot of D5 tech, and since I already had some DX Nikkor glass, I would not see enough difference to an XT2, personally, to prompt me to chuck all that and convert to a Fujifilm system (and investment).

However . . . . .

IF I were starting from scratch, I'd way prefer the XT2 for the film sims and a far superior lens inventory over the D500. I, like many others, have the impression that Nikon has not developed serious glass for their DX products, and the available range does not compare with the Fujifilm offerings across the board. I would not be inclined to buy the serious FX glass to use with their DX offerings, though some do.

Fujifilm had the remarkable advantage of offering a lens range that has no legacy of having to work with film or film bodies, and are actually a 'system' of lenses that are part optical and part software corrected in-camera: This is why their lens tests are remarkably free of most lens aberration gremlins. Plus these lenses work on 'DSLR-esque' bodies (XT's), 'rangefinder-ish' bodies (XP's), and your basic 'digital brick' shaped bodies (led off by the XE's) which is a remarkable facility unmatched by any other system.

For me, adding the grip is no problem, I'll gladly take the increased size/weight to gain the facility of having THREE batteries online, I have bigger hands, so it's no concern there.

Nikon makes some of the greatest cameras in the world, lenses as well. But I am not of the opinion that they have done all they could to treat their DX users as well as their FX users when it comes to glass, and lenses are the only true investment: Bodies will come and go as technology marches on and improves at a dizzying rate, but not having glass that you can accumulate and value over time would tilt this to Fujifilm for me. Nikon has just treated their DX lens offerings in general as a range of 'kit lenses'.
 
reading the comments, it's interesting to see, how many seem to already have tired the X-T2 and can compare it to the D500.

D500 is probably the way to go due to very good long tele primes, but be ready to invest 7000$ plus.

For the X-T2 you have most of what you probably need in the lens department, so that's a big plus.
 
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