Everyday Carry / Street Camera

Hey everyone.

New member.

Hope this hasn't been done to death, but I currently shoot a Nikon D850. Love the camera, but it's a beast. I'm looking for a something more compact - an everyday carry camera, maybe a travel camera, and something that would be more inconspicuous when I want to shoot street.

I like the looks of the X100VI, but am put off by the long wait and the fixed lens. Wondering if the X-T5 is small enough, esp. compared to my current camera, to suit my needs.

Thoughts?

I was also reading about Zf, but leaning toward the X-T5 because it seems to have implemented the retro vibe with the dials in a more logical manner. Also like the idea of lenses with aperture rings, among other things.

Thanks,


Al

For an X100VI, the long wait isn't a big deal. The bigger deal for what you said, is the fixed lens. This would indicate you want more than one focal length.

The X-T5 is a great camera. But, what lens are you thinking? You more of a 35mm person, 50mm, both, what? In Fuji branded lenses, they have a pancake 27mm (basically 40mm) that is f/2.8. Not a bad optic and make the entire body small, not much bigger than X100VI. They also have "Fujicron" lenses in various focal lengths, old ones are not weather sealed, new versions are. They are basically the F/2 versions.

You could even consider the X-T50, even smaller than the X-T5 (which is way smaller than a D850).

The Nikon Zf is a pretty good option, but way bigger and heavier. it is also lower on the MP scale compared the Fuji's above.

Here is comparable look at the sizes of each, the Fuji's with the latest 27mm (40mm) lenses attached, and the Zf with the 40mm Z lens...

https://cameradecision.com/size-comparison/AigX_M6A2-vpd7_M6A2-zEgI-UmtF_T3cF-t

Be sure to click on the View options, for Top+Lens, Side, and Back views, and note the sizes and weights.

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RWN Photo

I once felt your pain with a D810 but i do still have it but never use now. If you aren't hung up on MPs then perhaps a used XE4 with a 18/2, 27/2.8 and a 50/2. Great small package. I use it for casual shooting and love it..

Not the X-T5, but the X-T50, which is quite a bit smaller. That and the 27mm pancake make a very small package, and you have the option for a different lens if you want, such as the also small (not pancake) XC 15-45.

The X-T50/pancake combo isn't weather sealed, but for me that isn't important.

(I also have an X-T5 with 8 or so lenses, but the X-T50/pancake is my pocketable choice.)

Get a used XT2 and some lenses instead of the XT5.

I love my Nikon ZF but on a trip to the other side of the world in a few weeks I’m bringing my Fujifilm XE1 with 18mmf2 and 35mm1.4. I love the images and feel of the X trans 1. It slows me down.

I would say go to a shop and try the X-T5 (or other models) with the lenses you are thinking about using. I carry my X-T5 with the little Voigtlander 27mm lens and is small and light enough for me. Your mileage may vary, as they say.

My current everyday camera is an X-T5 + XF 35mm f1.4. To be honest, I don't take it everywhere with me due to the weight; it's not that heavy, but still more than "carry-everywhere weight." I had an X-E3 that I sold to buy the X-T5 which I thought would be ok, but I still feel its bulk.

I am contemplating getting an X100VI or an X-T50 to reduce some of the weight. I think either camera will be oustanding. The ZF is definitely too heavy and has bad ergonomics for me to use as an EDC. I suggest you try the X-T5 with your desired lens attached before purchase. Or you can calculate the weight of an X-T5 + lens and fill your bag with a similar weight (books for example) and carry it around all day. See how it feels.

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https://www.instagram.com/image_in/

FreFoto68 said:

Hey everyone.

New member.

Hope this hasn't been done to death, but I currently shoot a Nikon D850. Love the camera, but it's a beast. I'm looking for a something more compact - an everyday carry camera, maybe a travel camera, and something that would be more inconspicuous when I want to shoot street.

I like the looks of the X100VI, but am put off by the long wait and the fixed lens. Wondering if the X-T5 is small enough, esp. compared to my current camera, to suit my needs.

Thoughts?

I was also reading about Zf, but leaning toward the X-T5 because it seems to have implemented the retro vibe with the dials in a more logical manner. Also like the idea of lenses with aperture rings, among other things.

Thanks,

Al

Click to expand...

Are you able to rent? Such a big purchase might make it worth renting if you can. I don't think an X-T5 is all that large, but it would be frustrating to purchase and find out it's too large for your personal preference. Thankfully, Fuji does have other/smaller body options.

Fuji (and third parties) does give one options for lens size related to aperture. The f/2 line is relatively tiny and generally well liked. I think (certainly subjective) even the new/current f/1.4 line isn't that bad size/bulk wise, but it's all relative, depending on what your personal preference is.

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Matt
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Fujifilm X-T5 (black and silver).
Prime time- 18mm f/1.4, 33mm, Viltrox 75mm.
2.8 club- 16-55, 50-140.
Rest of the story- 70-300, and 100-400mm, 1.4 ext. and MCEX-11. X-T2 (broken paper weight).

I bought an X-M1 then X-E series to carry instead of my D800. I ended up all Fuji. It didn't take long to move over completely, I simply stopped using the D800.

Were I in that position again I'd probably have bought a Nikon Z mount camera and an adaptor to make a mix and match solution, but you'll end up buying more Z mount lenses as they are often a good deal better than the old F mount ones.

Forget the controls, you just get used to whatever you end up with.

If you but a X-T5 (or H2) you'll simply stop using the Nikon gear and wish you'd traded it in.

An X-E5 or T50 plus a Fringer adaptor for the Nikkors? (Assuming they are the ones with a built in AF motor - AF-S, AF-I.)

Are you planning to keep using your Nikon DSLR? In that case I think the X100VI would make more sense.

I had:

- X-E3: I carried it daily for 5 yrs, mostly with the XF 50mm f2 and XF 23mm f2. I loved it but AF didn’t cut it for my 2 yr old child besides the lack of IS was something I always missed.

- X-T5: had it for a month. Nice camera if you only have that one but heavy IMO for daily use. I use my Canon for such occasions instead because AF is much better on current full frame cameras IMO. (I love my R6 + Sigma 50 art for special occasions).

- X-T50: had it for two months. Nice but not happy with the build quality and EVF for such price.


-X100VI: very easy to carry it daily. A little expensive but build quality is great. The only thing I really miss is the XF 50mm f2, which was one of the top 3 lenses IMO in Fuji lens lineup. I use the teleconverter nowadays with the X100VI but I recognize is not the same.

FreFoto68 said:

I'm looking for a something more compact - an everyday carry camera, maybe a travel camera, and something that would be more inconspicuous when I want to shoot street.

I like the looks of the X100VI, but am put off by the long wait and the fixed lens. Wondering if the X-T5 is small enough, esp. compared to my current camera, to suit my needs.

Thoughts?

I was also reading about Zf, but leaning toward the X-T5 because it seems to have implemented the retro vibe with the dials in a more logical manner. Also like the idea of lenses with aperture rings, among other things.

Click to expand...

The Zf’s dials are perfectly logical, it’s just a different logic. I found the Zf’s implementation fine—in fact it offers some best-of-both-worlds advantages for certain ways of shooting, and once you understand the auto ISO implementation it’s actually quite neat. However, for me, the Zf is too big and heavy to be an EDC and the X-T’s overall ergonomics are better IMO.

While the X-T5 is smaller and lighter than the Zf (and has access to smaller lenses), personally I’d struggle to think of it as small enough to be an EDC; maybe with the 27/2.8 but even then the protrusions (the eyepiece and the faux prism) make it less easy to slide in and out of a bag than the rectangular form of an X100 or X-E.

For me the “EDC, travel and street, and inconspicuous” box is inhabited by the Ricoh GR. You give up a viewfinder but it’s in a different league in terms of weight and pocketability, and is as inconspicuous as you can get. If a viewfinder is a must-have then the X100 or an X-E with the 27mm are where I’d look.

Of course, It’s very much down to your own personal judgement of weight, size, shape, form factor, lens type, and so on. As some have pointed out, an X-Txx may give you what you want from an X-Tx in a smaller and lighter form. For my money the X100 and X-E offer a small but noticeable improvement again in portability, but the GR is untouchable on that front.

I had the X-T2 plus the 27mm f2.8 R WR as my everyday combo for a while, until I picked up an X100F because I missed having a smaller fixed lens camera. I did have a Ricoh GR2 but found the AF performance and sensor of that unusable in low light.

In my experience, the X100F feels like a better 'all-round' everyday carry than the X-T and 27 combo. Since getting the X100F I barely use the 27mm lens, and am probably going to sell it. I've found the extra stop of light in the X100-series to make a big difference in many casual scenarios I use the camera for, such as taking photos of friends in a bar. In addition, people are very relaxed around the X100F - I get a lot of comments like 'is that a film camera?'. What I also find very practical for EDC is that I don't need to keep the X100 in a camera cube. I just keep it in its leather case, which takes up far less room in a bag than keeping the X-T2 in a Tenba BYOB7.

That said, the 27mm is fine as well. I used it as my primary lens on a 2 week trip to India and was happy with the images I got. The X100F is smaller, but it's not tiny like a Ricoh GR.

Personally, as a secondary camera to another ILC (X-T2 in my case, D850 in yours) I would get something from the X100 series. However, if only keeping one camera then the X-T with a small lens is fine.

I have a Zf which I love, but I still have and use a Fuji X-T2 and X-T20 pair. Both of them are excellent street and walkaround cameras. The former is has a better viewfinder and is tougher and sturdier and weather resistant to use with WR lenses, the latter is smaller and lighter and more discreet. Both have given excellent service for many years. I have no interest in upgrading either, since I don't do video and find the autofocus sufficient to my needs.

I'm not the only person who considers the X-T2 in particular to be peak Fuji for stills.

If the main factor is size, here is a size comparison :













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(G.A.S. and collectionnite will get my skin one day)

The X-T5 is my everyday carry. The size and weight is fine for me. I use whatever lens suits the day.

The X-T50 is smaller but has a dedicated Film Simulation dial. I don't shoot jpegs so not optimal for me.

Maybe visit a camera store and see the difference between the two.

sergiotous said:

Are you planning to keep using your Nikon DSLR? In that case I think the X100VI would make more sense.

Click to expand...

Yes. At this point, I plan to keep and use my D850. I'm really just looking for a second, lighter/more compact option for everyday carry/street photography.

I mean, if I were to go out to shoot a landscape or portraits, really anything where I'm intentionally going to a specific place to shoot a specific thing, and want to capture it in the best quality, I'd take the D850.

But it's took bulky/heavy to just have with me in case I see something and wanna grab it...and I think it's too conspicuous for street/candid stuff where you want to capture people behaving naturally, relatively unaware that they're being photographed.

Al

You're probably right, of course, but I was thinking size/weight are somewhat relative...And coming from a D850, either an X-t5 or an Zf seem to much smaller/lighter.

I got some good stuff with my old CyberShot for that matter. I guess I'm looking for something in that sweet spot that still seems like a "real camera" with a viewfinder...and maybe even interchangeable lenses.

FreFoto68 said:

You're probably right, of course, but I was thinking size/weight are somewhat relative...And coming from a D850, either an X-t5 or an Zf seem to much smaller/lighter.

I got some good stuff with my old CyberShot for that matter. I guess I'm looking for something in that sweet spot that still seems like a "real camera" with a viewfinder...and maybe even interchangeable lenses.

Click to expand...

Why not go for a Nikon Z50 and the compact kit zoom? That would probably be my choice if I was still using Nikon gear.

I was a Nikon Guy for a long time but sold all my DSLR gear about 4 years ago and changed to Fuji. I basically wanted an APS-C system that was more compact and weighed less, I'm an older Dawg now. I currently have an X-T5 that I really like, and two compact lenses, the 16-50 kit zoom and 35mm f/2. Anyway, I chose an X-T camera primarily for the viewfinder. I find the X-T5 to be the best camera for handling I've ever owned, for me it is compact enough and well balanced, and it's fun to use. The 35mm f/2 lens is compact and small. I'm a 50mm-e guy, so that's on the camera most of the time. I would not say for me that any ILC camera is an "everyday" carry, it's always for more deliberate outings. But my entire kit in the bag weighs 5 pounds, so when I do take it out it's pretty easy.

But to be honest, my everyday carry is my iPhone 15 Pro Max. It's always with me in my pants pocket.

I understand that, but I think you should think again. Firstly it is a camera that has some value at present but declining. Secondly if quality is your thing you should consider at least that lenses have got better and better. BUT I know what you mean. Seven years down the line from selling my D800 I saw one in a shop window with one or two F mount lenses that were very desirable. Going for a song. (A big song, more an LP, but perfectly affordable.). I was sore tempted. Thirdly I think you'll use it less and less once you've a new, smaller setup.

To my taste, X-T bodies are a bit bulky for the purpose. I'd better start with a cheap X-E3 body (used), equipped with a decent, sharp, but lightweight and compact prime lens (think XF 23/2, XF 35/2, or maybe even XF 27/2.8; Sigma also has a good line of F1.4 lightweight and compact primes for FX mount). Or one may start with Sigma 18-50/2.8 zoom and determine your own personal "sweet spot" focal lens after examining your first results, choosing the prime lens afterward. Your mileage may vary, of course.