Some thoughts about EOS M, EOS R and Fuji

nnowak wrote:

I have not yet used the X-T3, but I do have quite a bit of experience with the X-T2 and several Fuji lenses. I have also used Canon cameras for numerous years.

Thank you very much for your detailed reply!

Coming from Canon, the Fuji control methodology can feel pretty foreign at first. I was used to a PASM dial plus a combination of buttons and dials for most other functions like ISO, WB, and exposure comp. With cameras like the X-T3, there is no PASM dial. Instead, you achieve the same modes using a combination of aperture ring, shutter speed dial, and ISO dial. Each of those three controls includes an "Auto" position. Want "P" mode? Set all three to "Auto". Want "A" mode? Set Shutter and ISO to "Auto" and manually select your aperture. Once you become accustomed to this methodology, it is starts to make more sense that the traditional PASM dial. For example, I often shoot in Aperture Priority, but occasionally I want to take control of shutter speed too. Instead of turning the dial to "M" and then adjusting shutter speed like on a Canon camera, I can just quickly twist the shutter speed dial to my desired setting. Menus are also quite different between Canon and Fuji, but both tend to be laid out fairly logically. The Fuji menus may be a bit more complex, but that is mostly because the Fuji cameras tend to offer more customization options.

I think I will have to try out Fuji's control methodology. Although I am used to Canon's PASM dial, as you point out, sometimes it feels a bit complicated. I think the Fuji style could work for me.

The new Fv-mode on the EOS R seems to be similar, just without the manual rings/dials.

For lenses, the majority of the Fuji options are very high quality (optically and mechanically) and there are plenty of options for small and cheap or large and fast to fit whatever you need. The only real gap in the Fuji lineup is lenses longer than 200mm. There is the 100-400mm lens, but that is the only option if you need significant reach.

Yes, the lenses seems to be very nice and perfect for my shooting style. I like using primes and if they are small and fast, that's just great.

Image quality from Canon and Fuji are both great, but the M system is limited by the lens options. A lens like the Fuji 56mm f1.2 allows you to capture photos that are simply not possible with the M system and any common lens options. Personally, I prefer the out of camera JPEGs from Fuji over anything I can get from Canon. I still shoot RAW, but Fuji JPEGs are often good enough that I find I have less need to mess with RAW files than when shooting with Canon.

In general, I find the Fuji system to be far more complete and more capable of being used as a standalone system. At one time my gear list looked very similar to yours plus the addition of a 5D II. I found I was able to easily replace all of it with a smaller Fuji system.

A few things to consider....

You may want to also look at the X-T2 given the significant discounts. Used prices on eBay are even cheaper. AF is still very capable and video quality is far better than the M system.

The Fuji X-A5 makes a nice pocketable complement to the larger bodies, especially when paired with one of the small pancake lense. The X-A5 takes the same batteries as the X-T2/X-T3, but AF is quite a bit slower and not well suited to subject tracking.

There are now a few Canon EF to Fuji XF adapters available with full AF and IS functionality. Fringer seems to be the most capable and a recent firmware update added the ability to load Canon lens correction data that would be interpreted by the Fuji body. The Fringer adapter also includes a pseudo aperture ring similar to what Canon just did with their EF to RF adapter.

There is a fairly healthy used market for Fuji bodies and lenses. If you wanted to experiment with Fuji, you could purchase a used body and some used lenses and resell them later for little loss if things did not work out.

Thanks again. I will give it a try.

So long I am happy with my M5, but who knows...