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Travel conundrum: GFX w/ 35-70 or XT3 w/ 16-55

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ZeeAyKay

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I'm very lucky to be going on a 2-week honeymoon trip to Norway this summer. The focus of the trip is not photography, but since it is likely the only time we'll be going I want to try to capture the trip as well as possible while minimizing "futzing" with the camera by having only one body/lens.

The GFX and XT3 fulfill different niches, so you don't see a lot of comparisons between specific lenses. The XT3 is also lighter, but with these lenses on the body I don't think it will make a huge functional difference - I'll throw it in my pack when not using it and I'm healthy enough that the GFX with this lens shouldn't really weigh me down.

One thing I'm not really sure of is how image quality compares between these two. It's a budget GF lens versus a premium XF lens -and the XF lens is actually much more expensive. I started with the XT3 and got the GF a year ago and have fallen in love with the IQ and cropping for the perfect shot. It actually feels a bit like a golden handcuff situation where it's hard for me to go back. I've also just learned to love the 2:3 aspect ratio and the flexibility in cropping.

However, the XF is lower aperture and greater focal range - but my thinking is the extra pixels (and quality?) of the GFX would allow for greater cropping. And I think *most* of my shooting will be outdoors in (hopefully) sunny situations, so I feel like the lower aperture on the XF isn't as important.

I'm also very aware that I'm biased towards bringing the camera I spent more money on and enjoy editing the files of, so I'm looking to the community to help me out. I know this is the medium format forum which might skew things, but there isn't a generic "fuji" forum so I had to pick one.

Anyone ever run into a similar situation? Advice? Words of caution? "Just bring the lighter and smaller camera, idiot?"

Thanks!
 
ZeeAyKay said:
I'm very lucky to be going on a 2-week honeymoon trip to Norway this summer. The focus of the trip is not photography, but since it is likely the only time we'll be going I want to try to capture the trip as well as possible while minimizing "futzing" with the camera by having only one body/lens.

The GFX and XT3 fulfill different niches, so you don't see a lot of comparisons between specific lenses. The XT3 is also lighter, but with these lenses on the body I don't think it will make a huge functional difference - I'll throw it in my pack when not using it and I'm healthy enough that the GFX with this lens shouldn't really weigh me down.

One thing I'm not really sure of is how image quality compares between these two. It's a budget GF lens versus a premium XF lens -and the XF lens is actually much more expensive. I started with the XT3 and got the GF a year ago and have fallen in love with the IQ and cropping for the perfect shot. It actually feels a bit like a golden handcuff situation where it's hard for me to go back. I've also just learned to love the 2:3 aspect ratio and the flexibility in cropping.

However, the XF is lower aperture and greater focal range - but my thinking is the extra pixels (and quality?) of the GFX would allow for greater cropping. And I think *most* of my shooting will be outdoors in (hopefully) sunny situations, so I feel like the lower aperture on the XF isn't as important.

I'm also very aware that I'm biased towards bringing the camera I spent more money on and enjoy editing the files of, so I'm looking to the community to help me out. I know this is the medium format forum which might skew things, but there isn't a generic "fuji" forum so I had to pick one.

Anyone ever run into a similar situation? Advice? Words of caution? "Just bring the lighter and smaller camera, idiot?"

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Congrats and enjoy your honeymoon!

Personally I’d take the GFX and 35-70. I’d also consider bringing or renting one of these depending on your needs:

GF20-35 if you’re going to be shooting big waterfalls or grand landscapes

GF100-200 if you’re doing any wildlife or telephoto landscapes
 
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spilla said:
ZeeAyKay said:
I'm very lucky to be going on a 2-week honeymoon trip to Norway this summer. The focus of the trip is not photography, but since it is likely the only time we'll be going I want to try to capture the trip as well as possible while minimizing "futzing" with the camera by having only one body/lens.

The GFX and XT3 fulfill different niches, so you don't see a lot of comparisons between specific lenses. The XT3 is also lighter, but with these lenses on the body I don't think it will make a huge functional difference - I'll throw it in my pack when not using it and I'm healthy enough that the GFX with this lens shouldn't really weigh me down.

One thing I'm not really sure of is how image quality compares between these two. It's a budget GF lens versus a premium XF lens -and the XF lens is actually much more expensive. I started with the XT3 and got the GF a year ago and have fallen in love with the IQ and cropping for the perfect shot. It actually feels a bit like a golden handcuff situation where it's hard for me to go back. I've also just learned to love the 2:3 aspect ratio and the flexibility in cropping.

However, the XF is lower aperture and greater focal range - but my thinking is the extra pixels (and quality?) of the GFX would allow for greater cropping. And I think *most* of my shooting will be outdoors in (hopefully) sunny situations, so I feel like the lower aperture on the XF isn't as important.

I'm also very aware that I'm biased towards bringing the camera I spent more money on and enjoy editing the files of, so I'm looking to the community to help me out. I know this is the medium format forum which might skew things, but there isn't a generic "fuji" forum so I had to pick one.

Anyone ever run into a similar situation? Advice? Words of caution? "Just bring the lighter and smaller camera, idiot?"

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Congrats and enjoy your honeymoon!

Personally I’d take the GFX and 35-70. I’d also consider bringing or renting one of these depending on your needs:

GF20-35 if you’re going to be shooting big waterfalls or grand landscapes

GF100-200 if you’re doing any wildlife or telephoto landscapes
Click to expand...
I actually have the 100-200 which has served me well but I think it will just be too much weight/bulk for the trip. Trying to keep the camera decisions simple once I actually get there and make it as much of a glorified point/shoot experience as possible.
 
The 35-70 on a GFX is better than the best primes on the XT3. Enjoy!
 
Last year I did four weeks of tourism in Spain and France with the GFX 100S and 35-70. I also brought the Laowa 20mm shift for church interiors and the like, hand-held.

No regrets. I would do it again. Might not even bother with the ultrawide next time, relying on stitching if there is something I feel really needs it. The crop-ability of the sensor made up for the lack of telephoto, for my presentation needs.

Sterling
--
Lens Grit
 
With the 100mp you've got a 100mp 28-55mm ff equiv, 56-105 equiv @ 50mp and 112-210 equiv at 25mp (roughly) all in one body and lens for pretty much the same weight & bulk as the X-T3 combo that gives you a 24-84 ff equiv.

If you're happy with cropping thats what i'd do, but then I'm just as likely to take an X100VI, WCL & TCL and just make do with that if its a holiday. Thats all I took last time I went to Tuscany and left all my much bigger and heavier kit at home

IQ wise i'd be happy with either and if it were my honeymoon i've other things on my mind ;-)
 
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I have a GFX 50S II and XT4 and run into the same decisions. I lean towards taking the GFX for what you describe. If you have the GF 50mm that would be the one lens I'd add for walking around town and bringing down the operational size of the camera when you want to be more discrete or casual.
 
Don't let the "budget" and "kit lens" description of the 35-70 sway you. I am actually shocked at how good this lens is. The GFX 100S and 35-70 is a perfect vacation camera and that's what I would take over the 16-55 setup. There is something special about the larger sensor that is hard to describe.
 
If you had an X-T5 with its 40MP sensor and an 16-55 II with its significantly reduced size and weight, the decision might be a little more difficult. Not to try and inspire any rash purchasing decisions, of course :-)

As it stands, I agree with the emerging consensus.
 
Following closely...I do a fair bit of traveling with GFX and am on the fence to change to X-series for the smaller form factor, faster glass, and snappier autofocus. It is helpful to read other's experiences.
 
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AndyGordon said:
With the 100mp you've got a 100mp 28-55mm ff equiv, 56-105 equiv @ 50mp and 112-210 equiv at 25mp (roughly) all in one body and lens for pretty much the same weight & bulk as the X-T3 combo that gives you a 24-84 ff equiv.

If you're happy with cropping thats what i'd do, but then I'm just as likely to take an X100VI, WCL & TCL and just make do with that if its a holiday. Thats all I took last time I went to Tuscany and left all my much bigger and heavier kit at home

IQ wise i'd be happy with either and if it were my honeymoon i've other things on my mind ;-)
Click to expand...
It would be more like this:

28-55mm at 100mp
56-105 equivalent at 25mp
112-210 equivalent at about 6mp

Focal length is a linear value while megapixels is an area.

105mm equivalent at 25mp is still very nice.

Regards,

Rene

---
 
ZeeAyKay said:
I'm very lucky to be going on a 2-week honeymoon trip to Norway this summer. The focus of the trip is not photography, but since it is likely the only time we'll be going I want to try to capture the trip as well as possible while minimizing "futzing" with the camera by having only one body/lens.

The GFX and XT3 fulfill different niches, so you don't see a lot of comparisons between specific lenses. The XT3 is also lighter, but with these lenses on the body I don't think it will make a huge functional difference - I'll throw it in my pack when not using it and I'm healthy enough that the GFX with this lens shouldn't really weigh me down.
Click to expand...
The GFX with 35-70 is noticeably lighter than an X-T body with the 16-55. Also don’t forget you can collapse the 35-70 down when not in use so it would actually take up slightly less room when stowed.
ZeeAyKay said:
One thing I'm not really sure of is how image quality compares between these two. It's a budget GF lens versus a premium XF lens -and the XF lens is actually much more expensive. I started with the XT3 and got the GF a year ago and have fallen in love with the IQ and cropping for the perfect shot. It actually feels a bit like a golden handcuff situation where it's hard for me to go back. I've also just learned to love the 2:3 aspect ratio and the flexibility in cropping.
Click to expand...
Any GFX with the 35-70 almost puts the 16-55 to shame. Image quality wise there’s no contest.
ZeeAyKay said:
However, the XF is lower aperture and greater focal range - but my thinking is the extra pixels (and quality?) of the GFX would allow for greater cropping. And I think *most* of my shooting will be outdoors in (hopefully) sunny situations, so I feel like the lower aperture on the XF isn't as important.
Click to expand...
I agree. Also I’m assuming it will mostly be landscapes so you’ll be using smaller apertures anyway.
Also don’t forget that you can always shoot the GFX at a higher ISO to compensate for the darker aperture. I have some really great shots from mine even at 12800. I’d draw the line somewhere between 3200-6400 on my X-T5.
ZeeAyKay said:
I'm also very aware that I'm biased towards bringing the camera I spent more money on and enjoy editing the files of, so I'm looking to the community to help me out. I know this is the medium format forum which might skew things, but there isn't a generic "fuji" forum so I had to pick one.

Anyone ever run into a similar situation? Advice? Words of caution? "Just bring the lighter and smaller camera, idiot?"

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Personally, if it’s a once in a lifetime location I’d be bringing my GFX without a shadow of a doubt.
 
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Studiorene said:
AndyGordon said:
With the 100mp you've got a 100mp 28-55mm ff equiv, 56-105 equiv @ 50mp and 112-210 equiv at 25mp (roughly) all in one body and lens for pretty much the same weight & bulk as the X-T3 combo that gives you a 24-84 ff equiv.

If you're happy with cropping thats what i'd do, but then I'm just as likely to take an X100VI, WCL & TCL and just make do with that if its a holiday. Thats all I took last time I went to Tuscany and left all my much bigger and heavier kit at home

IQ wise i'd be happy with either and if it were my honeymoon i've other things on my mind ;-)
Click to expand...
It would be more like this:

28-55mm at 100mp
56-105 equivalent at 25mp
112-210 equivalent at about 6mp

Focal length is a linear value while megapixels is an area.

105mm equivalent at 25mp is still very nice.

Regards,

Rene
Click to expand...
Fair enough, maths isn't my strongest area :-) Either way still pretty flexible
 
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