X-t20 with kit 18-55 vs X-E2 with kit 35mm F2 R WR

What are your main interests in photography? Portraits, street, landscapes, wildlife, sport?

The XT20 is a very good camera and the 18-55 is a great, versatile lens. Excellent for discovering what style fits you best.

It would be my choice for a novice.

I second that. But if you really (!!!) on a budget X-E2 as entry in Fuji system is not bad either! ... and learning photography with 35mm (50mm equivalent) is classic approach,
e. g. learning composing, finding the right frame (walking forth and back), etc.

If you find some "sponsors" (family?) also good but more expensive start would be
X-T20 + 35 1.4.

Member said:

learning photography with 35mm (50mm equivalent) is classic approach,
e. g. learning composing, finding the right frame (walking forth and back), etc.

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I absolutely agree: choose the camera you prefer, but I suggest starting shooting with a fast prime lens in aperture priority mode and fixed iso if you want to learn photography.

You could then use auto iso after you have learned the basics: choosing the right aperture and shutter speed for the photo you are taking. Auto iso is a great useful feature if you know what the camera is doing, otherwise you risk to just use the camera as full auto with no relevance for aperture since the camera will be able to shoot at basically any aperture value, maintaining the same ss and just increasing iso (which is what you would normally do with a slow zoom due to its intrinsic limits).

I hope I am clear enough. If I am not, it means that I am right: you need a fast prime to learn

PinpinJr said:

I am completely newbie and want to buy my first mirrorless camera. I am confused in choosing between the newer body X-t20 with great lens 18-55 kit for $1200 or older X-E2 with more excelent lens 35 mm F2 for $900 (cashback promo in my country) i am a college student and saving 300 bucks is crucial for me. Is it worthed to go with x-t20? please help!

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Why not a Fuji X-T10 with 18-55mm and the 35mm for about $1000 used?

Esmond_B said:

What are your main interests in photography? Portraits, street, landscapes, wildlife, sport?

The XT20 is a very good camera and the 18-55 is a great, versatile lens. Excellent for discovering what style fits you best.

It would be my choice for a novice.

--
Esmond

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my interest should be daily exposure such as portrait and street and since i am living in Bali i would take many landscapes too, thanks for the advice sir!

dv312 said:

XT20 + 18-55 is the better set and more versatile

but if $$ is an issue go with the XE2

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For the budget i can wait and save more. I'm afraid that it will be somethin i regret later. Is the price worth to go X-T20? which quality is better? does the prime lens make big differences?

The 18-55 lens is a decent portrait and street lens and a good landscape lens (increasingly I find it's not quite wide enough for my liking), 35mm is NOT a landscape focal length - you will be sorely frustrated if it is your only lens and you want to capture any sweeping vistas. I don't know the XE2 well enough to make any subjective judgement on its worth as a photographic tool.

Or, just a suggestion, unless you really want to add extra lenses in the future, another option suitable for street, etc, is the X100 series. The new X100F is very nice, but a used X100T would take you a long way and at a lower cost.

PS - the 18-55mm is by far the most versatile option and is a "must have" for general photography in my bag.