First mirrorless camera - need help choosing Fuji XT30ii or OM M10 iv

[Jessie87]

I am upgrading from a Sony point and press camera - this will be my first interchangeable camera. I will mainly use it when travelling in a mix of settings - landscape, wildlife, city scenes. I would like something relatively light and compact and obviously easy to use as I'll be learning how to use manual settings for the first time. Max budget around £1,000, although I could probably stretch this slightly if needed.

At the moment my research (and advice from friends) has narrowed down by preferred options to Fujifilm X-T30 II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV. I understand both have different processors (APSC vs micro four thirds) and the latter might lend itself to lighter lens.

I will be visiting some camera shops at the weekend to try and get a feel for both. I would welcome your advice though - which should I go for and why? Considering both the body and future lenses I will need to buy. Is there a third contender I should consider instead of these two?

Thanks for all your help and advice!

 

[dlevitt]

I am upgrading from a Sony point and press camera - this will be my first interchangeable camera. I will mainly use it when travelling in a mix of settings - landscape, wildlife, city scenes. I would like something relatively light and compact and obviously easy to use as I'll be learning how to use manual settings for the first time. Max budget around £1,000, although I could probably stretch this slightly if needed.

At the moment my research (and advice from friends) has narrowed down by preferred options to Fujifilm X-T30 II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV. I understand both have different processors (APSC vs micro four thirds) and the latter might lend itself to lighter lens.

I will be visiting some camera shops at the weekend to try and get a feel for both. I would welcome your advice though - which should I go for and why? Considering both the body and future lenses I will need to buy. Is there a third contender I should consider instead of these two?

Thanks for all your help and advice!

Its almost a case of you can't go wrong either way. If possible, try to get a hold of the cameras with a 'kit' lens mounted and see how it feels in hand.

There are some functional differences - the Fuji XT series does not use the 'PASM' mode selection dial common to most other digital cameras. Instead it has dedicated shutter speed and aperture settings - and you can put one or both to automatic [same functionality, different interface]

The Olympus bodies have 'in body image stabilization' [IBIS] while most Fuji X Mount bodies depend on in lens 'optical image stabilization' [OIS]. Note that the Fuji XS-10 uses the 'PASM' mode selection and has in body image stabilization.

Both are capable of manual operation - but I would question the need for manual operation until you learn _why_ the auto setting would not be the optimal setting for a particular photo.

I have not done a full comparison, but X mount lenses are mostly a bit more expensive than similar micro four thirds lenses [likely due to OIS complexity]. I think both have 'consumer' level and 'pro' level lenses at different price points.

 

[lehill]

I am upgrading from a Sony point and press camera - this will be my first interchangeable camera. I will mainly use it when travelling in a mix of settings - landscape, wildlife, city scenes. I would like something relatively light and compact and obviously easy to use as I'll be learning how to use manual settings for the first time. Max budget around £1,000, although I could probably stretch this slightly if needed.

At the moment my research (and advice from friends) has narrowed down by preferred options to Fujifilm X-T30 II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV. I understand both have different processors (APSC vs micro four thirds) and the latter might lend itself to lighter lens.

I will be visiting some camera shops at the weekend to try and get a feel for both. I would welcome your advice though - which should I go for and why? Considering both the body and future lenses I will need to buy. Is there a third contender I should consider instead of these two?

Thanks for all your help and advice!

Take a look through this DPR article so you understand some of the terminology and features and why they're important:

What to know before buying your first interchangeable lens digital camera

Did someone tell you that you have to use manual settings?

 

[alcelc]

If you have interest on the Olympus EM10 mk-IV, I would recommend another M43 model, the GX line from Panasonic.

The GX line should be in a similar class of product of EM10 series of model. There are the latest 20Mp sensor GX9, or its predessor, the older 16Mp sensor GX85 as below:

https://m.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/slrs/panasonic_dcgx9

https://m.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/slrs/panasonic_dmcgx85

Both of the above are 4K ready, support 4K photo (apply the 4K video technology for high speed still photo shooting, which only the higher end Olympus models offer), IBIS, and DUAL IS (combination of IBIS and Lens IS). The older GX85 is still available and from time to time a twin lens kit set could be cheap as US$600 around.

The beauty of M43 is it has 2 major players, Olympus and Panasonic, who basically share the same lens mount standard. Their lenses are basically interchangeable. Mix and match is common among M43 shooters.

Olympus has more Pro lenses (Leica lenses from Panasonic are the equivalent), and generally Panasonic has better consumer grade lenses. E.g the US$100 12~32mm f/3.5-5.6 pancake lens, only 70g in weight, has IQ not far from the constant f/2.8 premium zoom lens. The equivalent focal length 24mm~64mm is quite enough for a lot of general shooting.

There are also the 14~140 from Panasonic or 14~150 from Olympus. These two 10x one lens solution (equivalent focal length 28mm~280/300mm) are small, within 300g and <3", having good enough IQ.

Usually Olympus would reserve certain specialize features to upper models but Panasonic put similar set of features throughout it's line of product, e.g. combined IBIS & Lens IS, 30fps high speed shooting, focus stacking etc.

Panasonic also has a more initiative Menu system, a reason I keep on shooting with Panasonic.

I would trade in the <1 stop adventage of APSC for the size and weight benefit of M43 anytime.

My 2 cents.

--
Albert
** Please forgive my typo error.
** Please feel free to download my image and edit it as you like **

 

[robgendreau]

I am upgrading from a Sony point and press camera - this will be my first interchangeable camera. I will mainly use it when travelling in a mix of settings - landscape, wildlife, city scenes. I would like something relatively light and compact and obviously easy to use as I'll be learning how to use manual settings for the first time. Max budget around £1,000, although I could probably stretch this slightly if needed.

At the moment my research (and advice from friends) has narrowed down by preferred options to Fujifilm X-T30 II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV. I understand both have different processors (APSC vs micro four thirds) and the latter might lend itself to lighter lens.

I will be visiting some camera shops at the weekend to try and get a feel for both. I would welcome your advice though - which should I go for and why? Considering both the body and future lenses I will need to buy. Is there a third contender I should consider instead of these two?

Thanks for all your help and advice!

Either is fine.

But you need to consider lens. Is that budge JUST for the body? in general the Fuji lenses will be more expensive. And where size really begins to matter is with long focal length lenses. And you need at least a 150mm on the Oly and a 200 on the Fuji for wildlife. Preferably more. Both make IIRC decent budget x to 300mm zooms; obviously the Oly reaches further though, and is also considerably cheaper. Look used for both.

I wouldn't worry about manual settings; every camera does that and it's not necessarily a good setting to learn with. If you want to use manual settings all the time why pay for a camera with good exposure metering, AF, etc etc? Anyway, both and all the rest can do that.

I do think the Oly gives slightly better bang for the buck especially considering lenses...and you have to consider lenses. It also has IBIS, which is really nice, especially if you start to use adapted lenses, which you should explore.

And yeah, look at other bodies and lenses. GX85, maybe the latest Canon APSC RF, or especially used cameras and lenses because they're often the best way to stretch the budget.

 

[D Cox]

I am upgrading from a Sony point and press camera - this will be my first interchangeable camera. I will mainly use it when travelling in a mix of settings - landscape, wildlife, city scenes. I would like something relatively light and compact and obviously easy to use as I'll be learning how to use manual settings for the first time. Max budget around £1,000, although I could probably stretch this slightly if needed.

At the moment my research (and advice from friends) has narrowed down by preferred options to Fujifilm X-T30 II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV. I understand both have different processors (APSC vs micro four thirds) and the latter might lend itself to lighter lens.

I will be visiting some camera shops at the weekend to try and get a feel for both. I would welcome your advice though - which should I go for and why? Considering both the body and future lenses I will need to buy. Is there a third contender I should consider instead of these two?

Thanks for all your help and advice!

Its almost a case of you can't go wrong either way. If possible, try to get a hold of the cameras with a 'kit' lens mounted and see how it feels in hand.

There are some functional differences - the Fuji XT series does not use the 'PASM' mode selection dial common to most other digital cameras. Instead it has dedicated shutter speed and aperture settings - and you can put one or both to automatic [same functionality, different interface]

The Olympus bodies have 'in body image stabilization' [IBIS] while most Fuji X Mount bodies depend on in lens 'optical image stabilization' [OIS]. Note that the Fuji XS-10 uses the 'PASM' mode selection and has in body image stabilization.

Both are capable of manual operation - but I would question the need for manual operation until you learn _why_ the auto setting would not be the optimal setting for a particular photo.

The only time I use the manual mode rather than A or S is when I'm using a non-TTL flash.

Some people like to use the M mode in conjunction with Auto ISO. That might work on cameras that are exceptionally good at high ISO settings, which I think would be Full Frame models.

I have not done a full comparison, but X mount lenses are mostly a bit more expensive than similar micro four thirds lenses [likely due to OIS complexity]. I think both have 'consumer' level and 'pro' level lenses at different price points.

Don

 

[Rambow]

Have you seen the prices on fujifilm lenses? Or reliability data for the bodies? Fujifilm is nice when money is no concern, M43 gear is for people who actually use their cameras.

I have an old EM10 II and it's my favorite camera so far(i have others).

 

[Fujiuseruk]

For £1000 you could get an older model high end body and nice lens lightly used with a years warranty.

Olympus em1 mk2 with 12-40 f2.8 pro lens

 

[Bob]

Comparing the pros and cons of similar cameras is futile as they are all more or less the same. The best thing you can do is visit a camera shop and try how it feels in your hands.