Help! Upgrading from X-E1 to X-T2 (or other options)

[boowashere]

Hello all, I am kind of lost in researching and thought it would be good to have some opinions.

I started taking photos as a hobby then things have changed and I started shooting for some indie fashion/design brands. Currently I am using a Fuji X-E1 with 35mm 1.4 lens. I'm doing more portraits, outdoor fashion photoshoots, visual narratives etc.

I was actually so happy with X-E1 until I made one of the photoshoots with Nikon D810. I've seen a big difference with X-E1's performance and the photos came out to be much better. And the question was on my mind: Is it time to upgrade?...

But searching for cameras online/offline can be confusing. There are loads of metrics and this and that. So, I am kind of lost. All I want is to make an upgrade (with not huge amount of money) to produce better images and versatile usage.

So, one of the options is X-T2 - I like the user-friendliness of the Fuji Cameras. But the questions on my mind are;

1. Is upgrading from X-E1 to X-T2 a major one?

2. Shall I go for other options like Nikon or Canon?

3. Shall I stick with X-E1 and upgrade the lens? Like 56mm 1.2

Please help me to find out my way in confusion!

P. S. You can see the type of photography I do from my Behance gallery: https://www.behance.net/boowashere

 

[debo]

Loved your gallery. I think you could try the X-T20 or X-E3 - it should be close to the DR of a D810 except at low ISOs where its hard to match that Sony sensor. At high ISOs even my X-pro1 will give a D810 some serious competition.

 

[a_c_skinner]

"and the photos came out to be much better"

Can I ask how you were viewing them? Blown up and peeped into on a screen or in the way you'd normally view the finished product?

Anyhow:

IQ wise the X-E2, T-10 and so on won't be any better though with the latest firmware the E2 will focus a deal better, perhaps others meet that focus performance but I've lost track (no pun intended).

The X-Pro2, T2 and t20 and E3 will all be a good bit better though not as good as the D8XX series BUT back to my original question are you really using the images in a way that will show that. The D810 may be a good buy now or soon but only big prints are likely to show the difference.

The 35mm 1.4 Fuji lens should be capable of good images, do you have others? What lenses were you using with the D810?

 

[Ben Herrmann]

...which way to go. You see, first and foremost - since you are now considering full frame options in the back of your mind - do you want to deal with the added weight and size of those huge DSLR's. If you don't mind the extra weight and size, then the sky is the limit as far as FF DSLR's are concerned - whether from Canon or Nikon.

But for 90% or more of perceived FF performance levels, you could still have superb image quality parameters with updated Fuji models such as the X-Pro 2 or X-T2. If somehow you find yourself obsessed with FF options, then please look at the Sony A series of cameras, which have a much smaller signature than their FF DSLR counterparts.

Keeping in mind that now-a-days, most cameras will deliver sterling IQ levels provided you know what you're doing, you then really have to just prioritize what's important to you. I sold all of my DSLR's long ago and have become permanently accustomed to the smaller signatures of the various mirrorless options out there.

 

[boowashere]

Thanks a lot for your answer and happy to hear that you enjoyed my gallery.

X-E3 unfortunately hasn't made to Turkey yet, but I've heard very good things about it in the Fuji store. The guy was telling me that he was also waiting to use the X-E3. He also said that X-T20 would be a perfect camera for fashion/portrait photography. I'll get my hands on it this weekend at a Fujistore Workshop. Maybe I should search for some Sony mirrorless options too.

 

[boowashere]

Hello, thanks a lot for your answer.

To answer your question (I'm not sure if I understood it right), I looked and compared the images on the Macbook screen. I have big prints of the X-E1 photos and I cannot say that they are bad. My issue is actually the sharpness and depth of field. I felt like the Nikon D810 gave sharper images and the depth of field was more satisfying.

With the Nikon D810, I used 50mm 1.4 Nikon lens. It was great for portrait/fashion photography. And with my Fuji I use 35mm 1.4 (which I really like) and also an analog Canon 50mm 1.8 lens with an adapter ring.

I just want to produce sharper photos with better depth of field and if the X-T20 is not going to be a major update, I'll save up some more and wait for the Nikon D8XX series. However, as long as I understand from your reply the difference is going to be visible on big prints, and on the digital platforms more or less it is going to look similar.

 

[debo]

The T20 should be as good as the E3 ..... actually while I love the rangefinder format, I am beginning to see the value of the tilt screen and the touch screen to choose the focal point.

FWIW I either have some of the best lenses for Fuji (14/2.8 16/1.4 18/2 23/1.4 35/1.4 56/1.2 and 90/2), Sony (Lox21, RX1-35mm, 55/1.8), and my friends have Nikon zooms and Zeiss Milvus primes.

For ultimate resolution and low ISO DR, its VERY hard to beat the Sony FF sensors. However for traveling, I and very happy with my T20/E2 + 18/35 combo and sometimes I have taken the RX1 for work trips.

For events and portraits I am very happy with my 23/56 combo, and I use the other lenses occasionally (trying to befriend the 16 right now). The FF kit might get sold one of these days because I am not gear limited even with my Fuji. Some of the Fuji primes also might share the same fate.

 

[a_c_skinner]

As long as you realise DoF will be less on the bigger sensor not more. You will need pretty big prints to see the difference. When you compared on a Mac screen were you looking at the whole image or zooming in? Differences only really count if you can see them looking at the whole image rather than peeping in.

Incidentally for your use a used D800 will be as good, if it helps your budgeting.

--
Andrew Skinner

 

[boowashere]

Hello there, thanks for your reply.

Yes, actually I don't want to have a BIG camera to carry around here and there. I've checked some samples of FF X-T2 and Nikon D750 and there were not so many differences. I even liked Fuji's colors better than Nikon's.

I've heard very good things about Sony's mirrorless cameras as well, I didn't have chance to get my hands on any. Do you have any particular model that you can recommend?

 

[boowashere]

I think I'll go with the Fuji X-T2. I watched some videos comparing X-T2 to Nikon D750 and I like the colors of Fuji better. And I really like the user friendliness of it.

And I catched a good deal for X-T2 which is 1000dollars. Hope I won't regret it

 

[boowashere]

Actually the difference is visible when I zoom in, with the full image I have no problems. Also, with the Nikon I was using a 50mm 1.4 lens and with Fuji I have 35mm 1.4. I think it is also unfair to compare two different lenses as it also effects the DoF.

The other problem I saw when I zoomed in was the sharpness but X-E1 has 16 megapixels and X-T2 24 megapixels. So sharpness is not going to be a problem too.

Hopefully I will have chance to try X-T2 with different lenses and make my final desicion. but most probably it is going to be X-T2 (I'll get it for 1000 dollars, cheaper than its usual price tag)

 

[Ben Herrmann]

I typically never comment about camera gear I've never used. I've never owned the current drop of Sony cameras, but I've used some as a loaner scenario. For me - and this is purely subjective - if you love Fuji colors - you may not like the way Sony renders colors at all (I know I didn't). But who knows, Sony may ring your bell. Now if I could afford it there is one Sony FF camera I'd love to have the Sony A7RII (40 something MP's with absolutely superb high ISO scenarios). But I can't afford a camera body that nears $4000 or in the vicinity.

 

[nikkor35f2]

Dunno if u are aware of this...w xt2 u can do hss w ttl (w godox flash) that xe1 cannot. Cos I see that you have a lot of outdoor shoots w bright sunlight. W a few speedlights u have more creative room n ideas to play w.

Ur photos shows that u r no typical portrait shooter who wants a fresh look. So I guess fuji cult status of not for everybody who wants to point n shoot suits u well.

Enjoy your xt2!

 

[akin_t]

Actually the difference is visible when I zoom in, with the full image I have no problems. Also, with the Nikon I was using a 50mm 1.4 lens and with Fuji I have 35mm 1.4. I think it is also unfair to compare two different lenses as it also effects the DoF.

The other problem I saw when I zoomed in was the sharpness but X-E1 has 16 megapixels and X-T2 24 megapixels. So sharpness is not going to be a problem too.

Hopefully I will have chance to try X-T2 with different lenses and make my final desicion. but most probably it is going to be X-T2 (I'll get it for 1000 dollars, cheaper than its usual price tag)

Lol how? Fill me in, I'm looking to buy one too!

 

[Gediminas 8]

Don't stick with the X-E1 in any case. You would be anchored to five-year old technology.

As for upgrade options, from the Fuji stable there is only one real candidate, the X-T2. However, it will not be as fast as a Nikon D810. But maybe it will be sufficiently fast for you.

 

[boowashere]

Don't stick with the X-E1 in any case. You would be anchored to five-year old technology.

As for upgrade options, from the Fuji stable there is only one real candidate, the X-T2. However, it will not be as fast as a Nikon D810. But maybe it will be sufficiently fast for you.

Yes, that's my plan also. Either way I'm gonna upgrade the X-E1.

in terms of image quality I'm almost convinced that there is no huge difference between X-T2 and D810. The speed may be a difference but not gonna shoot horse rides So, I don't think it will affect the photography I'm doing. Hope. I won't regret my desicion.

 

[boowashere]

Actually the difference is visible when I zoom in, with the full image I have no problems. Also, with the Nikon I was using a 50mm 1.4 lens and with Fuji I have 35mm 1.4. I think it is also unfair to compare two different lenses as it also effects the DoF.

The other problem I saw when I zoomed in was the sharpness but X-E1 has 16 megapixels and X-T2 24 megapixels. So sharpness is not going to be a problem too.

Hopefully I will have chance to try X-T2 with different lenses and make my final desicion. but most probably it is going to be X-T2 (I'll get it for 1000 dollars, cheaper than its usual price tag)

Lol how? Fill me in, I'm looking to buy one too!

There is a Fujifilm Shop in Karaköy and they sell outlet cameras. They were either used in the workshops or were on the screen. Mine was on the screen so there were no scratches or anything. I'd go and check if I were you. There are always good deals.