XE2 or XT10 for low-light?

[caitirilt]

Hi all, a new user here. I'm a graduate student in art history, on the hunt for a camera to photograph objects in museums and historic houses. Unfortunately this means (generally) low-lighting and no tripods, but on the plus side the objects are always still. Ideally I'd like to be able to publish some of these images, but in scholarly journals, so relatively small (5x8" or even smaller).

Originally I had been thinking about the X-T10, but I'm not a huge fan of the squarer proportions - to be honest, I held an X-T1 at the store yesterday and fell in love with the feel of it, but it's out of my price range right now. So I'm thinking about an X-E2 as something I could use for a few years until I have enough experience and funds to justify an upgrade. Does this seem reasonable, if I supplement the kit lens with the 35mm f/1.4 prime? I've heard that the X-E2 doesn't work as well in low-light, but I is that because people are trying to fix on moving targets? Alternatively, I suppose, I might be able to spring for the X-T1 if I gave up the idea of buying a fast prime.

At any rate, any advice would be much appreciated! I'd like to buy into the Fuji system, if I can find a solution that makes sense for what I'm trying to do.

 

[MrChristopher]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.
--

http://www.chriscurnutt.com/

Chris Curnutt Photography

Documenting what I see and experience. Based in Wimberley Texas

chriscurnutt.tumblr.com

 

[DonaldLim]

This picture was shot with X-E2 with the kit lens 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS

F4, 1/28 sec handland, ISO 400

 

[jrk]

I would recommend you get a good idea what focal length you will be needing before making your purchase. The 35mm is an excellent lens from what I've heard (I have the Zeiss 32mm instead) but I would be careful to make sure it will be wide enough for what you want to accomplish indoors. With the limited space you will most likely have you may need something wider.

Just a thought...

 

[caitirilt]

I would recommend you get a good idea what focal length you will be needing before making your purchase. The 35mm is an excellent lens from what I've heard (I have the Zeiss 32mm instead) but I would be careful to make sure it will be wide enough for what you want to accomplish indoors. With the limited space you will most likely have you may need something wider.

Just a thought...

Thanks for the thought - this is something I've gone back and forth on, but my thought right now is that the zoom would be used for any wider shots (of rooms, or larger things) and the 35mm would be used for focusing in on small-med things - object "portraits", so to speak.

 

[caitirilt]

Great photo! And the detail is really sharp. Thank you, I think this will probably work for my needs.

 

[caitirilt]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.
--
http://www.chriscurnutt.com/
http://chriscurnutt.tumblr.com/

Thanks - this was my understanding as well, but in my reading - maybe too much reading - it started to seem like reviewers were reviewing bodies when discussing focusing capabilities. I'm still very new to digital photography (most of my experience is actually with a manual, from college), so I'm learning as I go.

 

[Les Lammers]

An XE-2 with the 18-55, which is an excellent lens, will do what you want to do. Use this combo and assess your lens needs after a few months. Or get a nice used XE-1 with the 18-55 and pick up an XT-1 down the road.

You can go nuts reading rubbish on the net.

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.

Thanks - this was my understanding as well, but in my reading - maybe too much reading - it started to seem like reviewers were reviewing bodies when discussing focusing capabilities. I'm still very new to digital photography (most of my experience is actually with a manual, from college), so I'm learning as I go.

That's incorrect, the same lens on camera rated for 0EV will focus in low light better than a camera rated at +2EV. The new AF system on the XT10, which is coming to the XE2, is rated to focus better in low light with both contrast and PDAF.

Currently the XT10 will be better, how much is unknown, but in six months the XE2 will be the same.

--
www.darngoodphotos.com

 

[caitirilt]

An XE-2 with the 18-55, which is an excellent lens, will do what you want to do. Use this combo and assess your lens needs after a few months. Or get a nice used XE-1 with the 18-55 and pick up an XT-1 down the road.

You can go nuts reading rubbish on the net.

Yes, this is certainly my feeling right now! Glad to know that the XE-2 will work. I think I will probably go with that, as the XT-1, though really lovely, is probably beyond my abilities at the moment - and perhaps for a good while, given that photography isn't a primary hobby for me.

 

[caitirilt]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.

Thanks - this was my understanding as well, but in my reading - maybe too much reading - it started to seem like reviewers were reviewing bodies when discussing focusing capabilities. I'm still very new to digital photography (most of my experience is actually with a manual, from college), so I'm learning as I go.

That's incorrect, the same lens on camera rated for 0EV will focus in low light better than a camera rated at +2EV. The new AF system on the XT10, which is coming to the XE2, is rated to focus better in low light with both contrast and PDAF.

Currently the XT10 will be better, how much is unknown, but in six months the XE2 will be the same.

--
www.darngoodphotos.com

Maybe it would help if I were more specific about the kind of low light I'm talking about. It seems like a lot of the low-light discussions are based on images taken at night (with some artificial lights) or images taken at dusk. I think that the situations I'm imagining are more like what's depicted below. Not having much experience I don't know how this "equals" an outdoor situation. If this is a fairly extreme condition - most of the rooms will have windows, though I suppose at the far end of the room it could be dim - is my concern misplaced?

(If you read the M4/3 forums you'll see that I'm cross-posting - I hope this is okay, given that I - quite understandably, of course - wasn't getting much feedback on the Fujis in that forum.)

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.

Thanks - this was my understanding as well, but in my reading - maybe too much reading - it started to seem like reviewers were reviewing bodies when discussing focusing capabilities. I'm still very new to digital photography (most of my experience is actually with a manual, from college), so I'm learning as I go.

That's incorrect, the same lens on camera rated for 0EV will focus in low light better than a camera rated at +2EV. The new AF system on the XT10, which is coming to the XE2, is rated to focus better in low light with both contrast and PDAF.

Currently the XT10 will be better, how much is unknown, but in six months the XE2 will be the same.

Maybe it would help if I were more specific about the kind of low light I'm talking about. It seems like a lot of the low-light discussions are based on images taken at night (with some artificial lights) or images taken at dusk. I think that the situations I'm imagining are more like what's depicted below. Not having much experience I don't know how this "equals" an outdoor situation. If this is a fairly extreme condition - most of the rooms will have windows, though I suppose at the far end of the room it could be dim - is my concern misplaced?

(If you read the M4/3 forums you'll see that I'm cross-posting - I hope this is okay, given that I - quite understandably, of course - wasn't getting much feedback on the Fujis in that forum.)

Its hard to say. My point is that currently the XT10 is a little better at low light focusing but in six months they XE2 should be the same. Without knowing more about the exposure, even my XE1 could focus in that environment. What causes problem is a lack of high contrast in the low-light environment.

Remember, with the good viewfinder and focus peaking manual focusing should be easy.

--
www.darngoodphotos.com

 

[Les Lammers]

Hi all, a new user here. I'm a graduate student in art history, on the hunt for a camera to photograph objects in museums and historic houses. Unfortunately this means (generally) low-lighting and no tripods, but on the plus side the objects are always still. Ideally I'd like to be able to publish some of these images, but in scholarly journals, so relatively small (5x8" or even smaller).

If you want to spend less, a mint X-10 could be considered. The EXR mode is excellent.

 

[Jerry-astro]

Its hard to say. My point is that currently the XT10 is a little better at low light focusing but in six months they XE2 should be the same. Without knowing more about the exposure, even my XE1 could focus in that environment. What causes problem is a lack of high contrast in the low-light environment.

Remember, with the good viewfinder and focus peaking manual focusing should be easy.

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

Its hard to say. My point is that currently the XT10 is a little better at low light focusing but in six months they XE2 should be the same. Without knowing more about the exposure, even my XE1 could focus in that environment. What causes problem is a lack of high contrast in the low-light environment.

Remember, with the good viewfinder and focus peaking manual focusing should be easy.

Not to be overly critical, but isn't that assumption just a bit of a stretch? There is a rumor out that Fuji will be updating the X-E2 in 6 months... it seems fairly credible, but to be fair, it remains a rumor. Secondly, there is no substance at all as to what that update will contain. The change to the X-T1 that provides additional low light sensitivity may or may not be applied to the X-E2. That also applies to all of the focus tracking changes that are supposedly coming later this month.

I guess I would be really careful making important purchase decisions based on a rumor that is that far out.

Fuji has publicly stated that the X-E2 will get an updated in around six months.

While it's true we don't know what will be included, their first public statement was in the context of the XT1 getting the new AF system.

 

[caitirilt]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.

Thanks - this was my understanding as well, but in my reading - maybe too much reading - it started to seem like reviewers were reviewing bodies when discussing focusing capabilities. I'm still very new to digital photography (most of my experience is actually with a manual, from college), so I'm learning as I go.

That's incorrect, the same lens on camera rated for 0EV will focus in low light better than a camera rated at +2EV. The new AF system on the XT10, which is coming to the XE2, is rated to focus better in low light with both contrast and PDAF.

Currently the XT10 will be better, how much is unknown, but in six months the XE2 will be the same.

Maybe it would help if I were more specific about the kind of low light I'm talking about. It seems like a lot of the low-light discussions are based on images taken at night (with some artificial lights) or images taken at dusk. I think that the situations I'm imagining are more like what's depicted below. Not having much experience I don't know how this "equals" an outdoor situation. If this is a fairly extreme condition - most of the rooms will have windows, though I suppose at the far end of the room it could be dim - is my concern misplaced?

(If you read the M4/3 forums you'll see that I'm cross-posting - I hope this is okay, given that I - quite understandably, of course - wasn't getting much feedback on the Fujis in that forum.)

Its hard to say. My point is that currently the XT10 is a little better at low light focusing but in six months they XE2 should be the same. Without knowing more about the exposure, even my XE1 could focus in that environment. What causes problem is a lack of high contrast in the low-light environment.

Remember, with the good viewfinder and focus peaking manual focusing should be easy.

--
www.darngoodphotos.com

Yes, I'm excited about the firmware update - wish it were a little sooner! But I like the shape of the XE2, and it's encouraging that you think this should work. I don't mind a bit of manual focusing, either. Thanks for your help with this!

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.

Thanks - this was my understanding as well, but in my reading - maybe too much reading - it started to seem like reviewers were reviewing bodies when discussing focusing capabilities. I'm still very new to digital photography (most of my experience is actually with a manual, from college), so I'm learning as I go.

That's incorrect, the same lens on camera rated for 0EV will focus in low light better than a camera rated at +2EV. The new AF system on the XT10, which is coming to the XE2, is rated to focus better in low light with both contrast and PDAF.

Currently the XT10 will be better, how much is unknown, but in six months the XE2 will be the same.

Maybe it would help if I were more specific about the kind of low light I'm talking about. It seems like a lot of the low-light discussions are based on images taken at night (with some artificial lights) or images taken at dusk. I think that the situations I'm imagining are more like what's depicted below. Not having much experience I don't know how this "equals" an outdoor situation. If this is a fairly extreme condition - most of the rooms will have windows, though I suppose at the far end of the room it could be dim - is my concern misplaced?

(If you read the M4/3 forums you'll see that I'm cross-posting - I hope this is okay, given that I - quite understandably, of course - wasn't getting much feedback on the Fujis in that forum.)

Its hard to say. My point is that currently the XT10 is a little better at low light focusing but in six months they XE2 should be the same. Without knowing more about the exposure, even my XE1 could focus in that environment. What causes problem is a lack of high contrast in the low-light environment.

Remember, with the good viewfinder and focus peaking manual focusing should be easy.

Yes, I'm excited about the firmware update - wish it were a little sooner! But I like the shape of the XE2, and it's encouraging that you think this should work. I don't mind a bit of manual focusing, either. Thanks for your help with this!

Not sure where you live, but there may be a rental place for you to use.

--
www.darngoodphotos.com

 

[caitirilt]

Hi all, a new user here. I'm a graduate student in art history, on the hunt for a camera to photograph objects in museums and historic houses. Unfortunately this means (generally) low-lighting and no tripods, but on the plus side the objects are always still. Ideally I'd like to be able to publish some of these images, but in scholarly journals, so relatively small (5x8" or even smaller).

If you want to spend less, a mint X-10 could be considered. The EXR mode is excellent.

Thanks - I think at this point I'm committed to getting something with interchangeable lenses, but if I weren't I would look into something like the X-10.

 

[MrChristopher]

Cameras don't focus in low light, lenses do. Some quicker than others but they all focus. The 18-55 and 35 would meet your needs nicely. I use both myself.

Thanks - this was my understanding as well, but in my reading - maybe too much reading - it started to seem like reviewers were reviewing bodies when discussing focusing capabilities. I'm still very new to digital photography (most of my experience is actually with a manual, from college), so I'm learning as I go.

That's incorrect, the same lens on camera rated for 0EV will focus in low light better than a camera rated at +2EV. The new AF system on the XT10, which is coming to the XE2, is rated to focus better in low light with both contrast and PDAF.

Currently the XT10 will be better, how much is unknown, but in six months the XE2 will be the same.

--
www.darngoodphotos.com

Maybe it would help if I were more specific about the kind of low light I'm talking about. It seems like a lot of the low-light discussions are based on images taken at night (with some artificial lights) or images taken at dusk. I think that the situations I'm imagining are more like what's depicted below. Not having much experience I don't know how this "equals" an outdoor situation. If this is a fairly extreme condition - most of the rooms will have windows, though I suppose at the far end of the room it could be dim - is my concern misplaced?

(If you read the M4/3 forums you'll see that I'm cross-posting - I hope this is okay, given that I - quite understandably, of course - wasn't getting much feedback on the Fujis in that forum.)

What you want to shoot does not require anything fancy. I use the lowly XE1 for shots like that one. You might be over thinking this and there's not a whole lot more to add to it. The thing for you to be learning is shutter speed ISO and aperture. Understand those and you can take good shots with most any camera.

And I have taken hundreds and hundreds of shots of museums, art galleries and churches. They are not specialized environments. I see people taking great cell phone shots in them.

A wide zoom and a fast prime and you're golden. Yes it's that simple.
--

http://www.chriscurnutt.com/

Chris Curnutt Photography

Documenting what I see and experience. Based in Wimberley Texas

chriscurnutt.tumblr.com

 

[win39]

It seems to me that if you are buying a camera for a specific purpose you should buy the best tool for the job. Fuji's focus is just middling in mirrorless cameras. A Sony or a Panasonic would be better. None are as good for focus in low light as a good DSLR. Not even close. For your stated purpose I would look for a clean Nikon D700 which is essentially a D3 sensor in a smaller body. The D3 was revolutionary in the move to shooting in available light in a dark place. Get a 50mm F1.8 lens to go with it. There is very little light gathering difference with an F1.4 lens which is also so much more expensive.

Keh is a good source and they greatly under rate their condition. I have ordered a number of times from them and even the middle condition grades look brand new.

https://www.keh.com/208783/nikon-d700-digital-camera-body-12-1-m-p