Family and travel photography body/lens recommendations

vazmuten · Oct 30, 2019

Hello experienced professionals!

I need an advice to my first body and lenses for amateur family photographs. Since 2012 I was using NIKON FF D600 with a lot of primes and zooms, but sold all of them except Tamron 24-70/2.8 VC , Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G and a SB800 flash … until I realized that they are too heavy to carry around, can’t make a decent video and I just do not use them as often as I wish. So I decided that now it’s the right moment to change the gear for something lighter and more practical. I looked at NIKON Z6 + 24-70/f4 kit but the FF primes that will appear later should be heavy and bulky so I decided to go for Fuji.

So my priorities are purely for family photos and events, most of which usually are indoors at evening time and for travel/vacations (incl. photos on the beach&water). For outside shots the mobile phone photos and videos could be quite usable but for indoors …

I am still not sure if I should go for X-T3 (heavier) or X-T30. And for the lenses which is the main tool: 56mm f1.2 is a must and may be 23mm / 35mm. 16mm f1.4 could be an option. The problem is with the indoor video and lack of in body image stabilization. May be I should just go for the new 16-80/f4, a flash and nothing else.

Keep in mind that the request is for being light and versatile. I do not want to have a bunch of lenses that I don't not use. What is your recommendation based on your experience with this type of amateur photography?

Thanks!

Paulmorgan · Oct 30, 2019

18-55mm f2.8-4vazmuten said:
Hello experienced professionals!

I need an advice to my first body and lenses for amateur family photographs. Since 2012 I was using NIKON FF D600 with a lot of primes and zooms, but sold all of them except Tamron 24-70/2.8 VC , Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G and a SB800 flash … until I realized that they are too heavy to carry around, can’t make a decent video and I just do not use them as often as I wish. So I decided that now it’s the right moment to change the gear for something lighter and more practical. I looked at NIKON Z6 + 24-70/f4 kit but the FF primes that will appear later should be heavy and bulky so I decided to go for Fuji.

So my priorities are purely for family photos and events, most of which usually are indoors at evening time and for travel/vacations (incl. photos on the beach&water). For outside shots the mobile phone photos and videos could be quite usable but for indoors …

I am still not sure if I should go for X-T3 (heavier) or X-T30. And for the lenses which is the main tool: 56mm f1.2 is a must and may be 23mm / 35mm. 16mm f1.4 could be an option. The problem is with the indoor video and lack of in body image stabilization. May be I should just go for the new 16-80/f4, a flash and nothing else.

Keep in mind that the request is for being light and versatile. I do not want to have a bunch of lenses that I don't not use. What is your recommendation based on your experience with this type of amateur photography?

Thanks!

Forget the fast primes, just a kit zoom like the 16-50mm or the dearer 18-55mm f2.8-4, chuck in a flash as well, something small like the EF20 or something small and similar from a third party.

Much of this stuff can be found used in mint condition, it could save you a packet, especially if you opt for a second hand body as well, the x-E2`s are good value these days.

athensGA · Oct 30, 2019

Paulmorgan said:
18-55mm f2.8-4vazmuten said:

Hello experienced professionals!

I need an advice to my first body and lenses for amateur family photographs. Since 2012 I was using NIKON FF D600 with a lot of primes and zooms, but sold all of them except Tamron 24-70/2.8 VC , Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G and a SB800 flash … until I realized that they are too heavy to carry around, can’t make a decent video and I just do not use them as often as I wish. So I decided that now it’s the right moment to change the gear for something lighter and more practical. I looked at NIKON Z6 + 24-70/f4 kit but the FF primes that will appear later should be heavy and bulky so I decided to go for Fuji.

So my priorities are purely for family photos and events, most of which usually are indoors at evening time and for travel/vacations (incl. photos on the beach&water). For outside shots the mobile phone photos and videos could be quite usable but for indoors …

I am still not sure if I should go for X-T3 (heavier) or X-T30. And for the lenses which is the main tool: 56mm f1.2 is a must and may be 23mm / 35mm. 16mm f1.4 could be an option. The problem is with the indoor video and lack of in body image stabilization. May be I should just go for the new 16-80/f4, a flash and nothing else.

Keep in mind that the request is for being light and versatile. I do not want to have a bunch of lenses that I don't not use. What is your recommendation based on your experience with this type of amateur photography?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Forget the fast primes, just a kit zoom like the 16-50mm or the dearer 18-55mm f2.8-4, chuck in a flash as well, something small like the EF20 or something small and similar from a third party.

Much of this stuff can be found used in mint condition, it could save you a packet, especially if you opt for a second hand body as well, the x-E2`s are good value these days.

Agree that the 18-55 is a very versatile, portable and sharp lens. I usually bring it, something small/fast and something small/wide. But a case can be made for going solo the x100- and nothing else. It's a really pure, liberating and fun experience: you get what you get and you don't pitch a fit!

boogisha · Oct 30, 2019

For family and travel, body X-T30 (or X-E3, if you don`t need the latest and greatest... or you could wait a bit for X-E4?), lens XC 16-50, XF 18-55 or XF 16-80 (ordered by size, from smallest to largest).

So one small body, and a kit zoom lens, no hassle. On top of that, if you really want a prime, you may add XF 35mm f/1.4, which will cover both your bokeh and low light needs, 35mm being a good everyday lens in general, too.

Paulmorgan · Oct 30, 2019

athensGA said:
Paulmorgan said:

18-55mm f2.8-4vazmuten said:

Hello experienced professionals!

I need an advice to my first body and lenses for amateur family photographs. Since 2012 I was using NIKON FF D600 with a lot of primes and zooms, but sold all of them except Tamron 24-70/2.8 VC , Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G and a SB800 flash … until I realized that they are too heavy to carry around, can’t make a decent video and I just do not use them as often as I wish. So I decided that now it’s the right moment to change the gear for something lighter and more practical. I looked at NIKON Z6 + 24-70/f4 kit but the FF primes that will appear later should be heavy and bulky so I decided to go for Fuji.

So my priorities are purely for family photos and events, most of which usually are indoors at evening time and for travel/vacations (incl. photos on the beach&water). For outside shots the mobile phone photos and videos could be quite usable but for indoors …

I am still not sure if I should go for X-T3 (heavier) or X-T30. And for the lenses which is the main tool: 56mm f1.2 is a must and may be 23mm / 35mm. 16mm f1.4 could be an option. The problem is with the indoor video and lack of in body image stabilization. May be I should just go for the new 16-80/f4, a flash and nothing else.

Keep in mind that the request is for being light and versatile. I do not want to have a bunch of lenses that I don't not use. What is your recommendation based on your experience with this type of amateur photography?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Forget the fast primes, just a kit zoom like the 16-50mm or the dearer 18-55mm f2.8-4, chuck in a flash as well, something small like the EF20 or something small and similar from a third party.

Much of this stuff can be found used in mint condition, it could save you a packet, especially if you opt for a second hand body as well, the x-E2`s are good value these days.

Click to expand...

Agree that the 18-55 is a very versatile, portable and sharp lens. I usually bring it, something small/fast and something small/wide. But a case can be made for going solo the x100- and nothing else. It's a really pure, liberating and fun experience: you get what you get and you don't pitch a fit!

I`d always hankered for an x100, ever since it first appeared.

In the end I picked up a mint second hand, boxed X-E2 for 160 smackers and paired this with a 7artisan 35 f1.2 I already had, might add a Fuji 18 and 35 f2 at some point but in no hurry.

cilucia · Oct 30, 2019

I have an xt2 and just picked up the 16-80 as a replacement for my 18-55, which I almost used for video of my toddler exclusively. At 18, it often felt not quite wide enough for indoor use, so I am pretty happy with it for video.

Have you held the XT3 and XT30 in your hands yet? You may find one more comfortable than the other, and you may find the XT3 more suited to the slightly heavier lenses such as 56 and 16 1.4 in terms of balance.

amdk11 · Oct 30, 2019

OIS is useful for video and still subjects. I shoot a lot of my kids indoor. f4 is too slow for these type of shots. kids are not always going to be standing still long enough for you to focus on their eyes. a f/1.4 prime is 3 stop faster. that means shooting at ISO 800 vs 6400 for the same shutter speed. IMO, X-T30 is pretty clean up to ISO 800, a lot of noise at 3200 but still usable, > 6400 is just garbage.

I'd suggest the cheaper X-T30 with a fast prime + the kit lens. 56mm is too long for indoor portraits. I'd suggest

23mm f/1.4 - indoor low light / environmental portraits / smooth bokeh / cinematic video

18-55mm kit lens - walkabout / outdoor events / stabilized video

Pieter575 · Oct 30, 2019

Between the bodies you mentioned I'd go with the XT3 for the weather sealing, something you'll be glad you have on your travels.

For family photography, including indoors, I recommend the following (in order): 35/f1.4, 35/f2, 23/f2 (or the X100F). The 16/f1.4 is too wide and the 56/f1.2 is too slow. The 16-55/f2.8 is surprisingly good indoors if you want a one-lens solution.

cilucia · Oct 30, 2019

Just to comment on the 16-55: maybe not a good choice if OP wants to do a decent amount of handheld video due to lack of IS

vazmuten · Oct 30, 2019

cilucia said:
I have an xt2 and just picked up the 16-80 as a replacement for my 18-55, which I almost used for video of my toddler exclusively. At 18, it often felt not quite wide enough for indoor use, so I am pretty happy with it for video.

Have you held the XT3 and XT30 in your hands yet? You may find one more comfortable than the other, and you may find the XT3 more suited to the slightly heavier lenses such as 56 and 16 1.4 in terms of balance.

For me personally also the 18mm is not quite wide enough for indoor use and I'm tempted to go for 56mm/f1.2 and 16mm/1.4f primes. I checked and 55% of my shots are at FF 70mm/f2.8 and 85mm/f1.8 (~56mm on APC) and the rest are equally spread between FF 24mm/35mm/40mm.

Have you experienced any "shutter shock" problems with 16-80 as already discussed in this forum? What settings are you using for 1/125 shots in order not to have a blurry center?

vazmuten · Oct 31, 2019

amdk11 said:
OIS is useful for video and still subjects. I shoot a lot of my kids indoor. f4 is too slow for these type of shots. kids are not always going to be standing still long enough for you to focus on their eyes. a f/1.4 prime is 3 stop faster. that means shooting at ISO 800 vs 6400 for the same shutter speed. IMO, X-T30 is pretty clean up to ISO 800, a lot of noise at 3200 but still usable, > 6400 is just garbage.

I'd suggest the cheaper X-T30 with a fast prime + the kit lens. 56mm is too long for indoor portraits. I'd suggest

23mm f/1.4 - indoor low light / environmental portraits / smooth bokeh / cinematic video

18-55mm kit lens - walkabout / outdoor events / stabilized video

May be T-X3/30 with:

56mm f/1.2 - indoor low light / portraits / smooth bokeh (This is a must)

16mm f/1.4 - indoor low light / environmental portraits

16-80mm f/4 - walkabout / outdoor events / stabilized video / portraits

I had a NIKON D90 and it was OK up to ISO 800 and my D600 is OK up to ISO 1600. How is X-T30 at ISO 1600 ?

amdk11 · Oct 31, 2019

vazmuten said:
I had a NIKON D90 and it was OK up to ISO 800 and my D600 is OK up to ISO 1600. How is X-T30 at ISO 1600 ?

it's pretty acceptable, here is an indoor shot at ISO 1600.

Inpuressa · Oct 31, 2019

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Family and travel photography body/lens recommendations

vazmuten

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amdk11

Paulmorgan

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athensGA

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boogisha

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cilucia

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amdk11

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cilucia

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