A good all-rounder with a Fuji approach.

I've been shooting with FF for quite a long period of my "amateur career". I used to keep Canon 5d mark ii, and Nikon D750 the longest, and then stepped into the mirrorless world with Sony A7III. All these cameras were near perfect for their time. The only thing which bothered me a lot was the weight of the standard zooms.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - 950gr.
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70 f/2.8 - 900gr.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM - 925gr.

So last year I decided to drop FF and "go light" with Fuji because in general, all the previous setups were around 1.6-1.8 kilograms heavy.
Moreover, I downshifted to X-T30II which with grip weights of only 400gr and still has the same sensor and autofocus as X-T4.

The only question open was: which standard zoom to choose?

First I bought a "kit" fuji 18-55 with variable f2.8-4. Probably I wasn't too lucky with it, because the one I got was not even sharp but blurry.

Then I gave a chance to sigma 18-50 f/2.8 which was nice in terms of sharpness and weight, though lacked 16 and 55mm, and what was most disappointing is that at 50mm it has a "hunting exposure" and images in A priority were not usable (a lot discussed at DPreview forum, not fixed at the moment).

Finally, I decided to pick up 16-55 f/2.8 and I was blown away by its colors, great contrast, and good bokeh. Yes, it is a bit more expensive; yes, it's a bit bigger in size; and yes, it weighs a bit more compared to mentioned kit-fuji and sigma.

But none of this matters when I compare it to my previously owned FF setups because it's still much less money and lighter about 500-800gr. What really makes me happy is the result of the images and the quality of the lens itself: smooth zoom and very nice aperture ring. The experiance of using a Fuji camera with dials and this lens makes me want to make more photos and have a camera with me.

PS: it might be not relevant to compare FF cameras and lenses with aps-c ones, for sure each has its own pros and cons. This is just my personal experiance. But I can't say 16-55 is a 'heavy' lens by no means. It only depends on what you compare it with.

It looks like you discovered the winner.  I especially like the colors and sharpness of the first two shots.

Wonderful colours. Beautiful set.  I never had the pleasure of shooting with that lens. I should have given it a try.

PeterSm wrote:

Good post. One thing to remember though that the 16-55 f2.8 on Fuji is not really equivalent to 24-70 f2.8 on full frame. Due to the crop it's more like f4.2 (2.8 * 1.5) hence with more depth of field

You are right, but from the point of view of light capture, it is the same.

Yes, you are right. One should not expect to have DOF or bokeh on aps-c as it is on FF. Still, while 2.8 on FF was good enough for portraits I always missed smth like FE 85mm F1.8 for Sony, and if we talk primes now, Fuji has a good option such as XF56mmF1.2, so, in general, shouldn't be a big problem if you much after maximum possible blurring of a background.

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and those photos as well.

SashaYu wrote:

The only thing which bothered me a lot was the weight of the standard zooms.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - 950gr.
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70 f/2.8 - 900gr.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM - 925gr.

So last year I decided to drop FF and "go light" with Fuji because in general, all the previous setups were around 1.6-1.8 kilograms heavy.
Moreover, I downshifted to X-T30II which with grip weights of only 400gr and still has the same sensor and autofocus as X-T4.

PS. I have Fujifilm + Sony.

Understand when you went through the process of lens selection newer lenses listed below may not have been released yet.

But I wanted to outline the relevant lenses that are currently available as of writing.

Criteria: FF 2.8 or F4 with "standard" zoom range + wide end must start at 24mm (not 28mm)

F2.8 Standard lenses

-Sony 24-70 2.8 GM ii - 695 grams [+37.9 grams]

-Sigma 24-70 2.8 DG DN Arts - 835 grams [+177.9]

F4 standard lenses

-Sony 20-70 F4 G - 488g [-169 grams]

-Sony 24-120 F4G - 630g [+4.9 grams]

[Worthy mentions] "cheaper" + "smaller" zooms with non-standard zoom ranges:

-Tamron 17-28 2.8 - 420g

-Tamron 20-40 2.8 - 365g

-Tamron 28-75 2.8 G2 - 540g

-Tamron 70-180 2.8 - 810g

Bodies

Smaller bodies [constraint max shutter 1/4000]:

Sony A7c - 509 grams

[Rough calculations - no grip]

X-t30 ii + 16-55 = 1038g

A7c + 24-70 2.8 GM ii = 1204g

A7c + 20-70 F4 = 997g

But none of this matters when I compare it to my previously owned FF setups because it's still much less money and lighter about 500-800gr. What really makes me happy is the result of the images and the quality of the lens itself: smooth zoom and very nice aperture ring. The experiance of using a Fuji camera with dials and this lens makes me want to make more photos and have a camera with me.

Most important thing is that you are happy with your choice. I guess like anything, it's more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

Raymond L wrote:

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and those photos as well.

SashaYu wrote:

The only thing which bothered me a lot was the weight of the standard zooms.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - 950gr.
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70 f/2.8 - 900gr.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM - 925gr.

So last year I decided to drop FF and "go light" with Fuji because in general, all the previous setups were around 1.6-1.8 kilograms heavy.
Moreover, I downshifted to X-T30II which with grip weights of only 400gr and still has the same sensor and autofocus as X-T4.

PS. I have Fujifilm + Sony.

Understand when you went through the process of lens selection newer lenses listed below may not have been released yet.

But I wanted to outline the relevant lenses that are currently available as of writing.

Criteria: FF 2.8 or F4 with "standard" zoom range + wide end must start at 24mm (not 28mm)

F2.8 Standard lenses

-Sony 24-70 2.8 GM ii - 695 grams [+37.9 grams]

-Sigma 24-70 2.8 DG DN Arts - 835 grams [+177.9]

F4 standard lenses

-Sony 20-70 F4 G - 488g [-169 grams]

-Sony 24-120 F4G - 630g [+4.9 grams]

[Worthy mentions] "cheaper" + "smaller" zooms with non-standard zoom ranges:

-Tamron 17-28 2.8 - 420g

-Tamron 20-40 2.8 - 365g

-Tamron 28-75 2.8 G2 - 540g

-Tamron 70-180 2.8 - 810g

Bodies

Smaller bodies [constraint max shutter 1/4000]:

Sony A7c - 509 grams

[Rough calculations - no grip]

X-t30 ii + 16-55 = 1038g

A7c + 24-70 2.8 GM ii = 1204g

A7c + 20-70 F4 = 997g

But none of this matters when I compare it to my previously owned FF setups because it's still much less money and lighter about 500-800gr. What really makes me happy is the result of the images and the quality of the lens itself: smooth zoom and very nice aperture ring. The experiance of using a Fuji camera with dials and this lens makes me want to make more photos and have a camera with me.

Most important thing is that you are happy with your choice. I guess like anything, it's more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

I agree that with the new Sony lens, it gets difficult to say Fuji wins in weight.
BUT! As soon as we compare cameras and OEM Lenses and prices, I still prefer Fuji, accepting all the differences in their tech specs.

SONY FE 24-70MM F/2.8 GM II ~ 2400
FUJIFILM XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR ~ 1200 
so it's x2.

SashaYu wrote:

Raymond L wrote:

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and those photos as well.

SashaYu wrote:

The only thing which bothered me a lot was the weight of the standard zooms.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - 950gr.
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70 f/2.8 - 900gr.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM - 925gr.

So last year I decided to drop FF and "go light" with Fuji because in general, all the previous setups were around 1.6-1.8 kilograms heavy.
Moreover, I downshifted to X-T30II which with grip weights of only 400gr and still has the same sensor and autofocus as X-T4.

PS. I have Fujifilm + Sony.

Understand when you went through the process of lens selection newer lenses listed below may not have been released yet.

But I wanted to outline the relevant lenses that are currently available as of writing.

Criteria: FF 2.8 or F4 with "standard" zoom range + wide end must start at 24mm (not 28mm)

F2.8 Standard lenses

-Sony 24-70 2.8 GM ii - 695 grams [+37.9 grams]

-Sigma 24-70 2.8 DG DN Arts - 835 grams [+177.9]

F4 standard lenses

-Sony 20-70 F4 G - 488g [-169 grams]

-Sony 24-120 F4G - 630g [+4.9 grams]

[Worthy mentions] "cheaper" + "smaller" zooms with non-standard zoom ranges:

-Tamron 17-28 2.8 - 420g

-Tamron 20-40 2.8 - 365g

-Tamron 28-75 2.8 G2 - 540g

-Tamron 70-180 2.8 - 810g

Bodies

Smaller bodies [constraint max shutter 1/4000]:

Sony A7c - 509 grams

[Rough calculations - no grip]

X-t30 ii + 16-55 = 1038g

A7c + 24-70 2.8 GM ii = 1204g

A7c + 20-70 F4 = 997g

But none of this matters when I compare it to my previously owned FF setups because it's still much less money and lighter about 500-800gr. What really makes me happy is the result of the images and the quality of the lens itself: smooth zoom and very nice aperture ring. The experiance of using a Fuji camera with dials and this lens makes me want to make more photos and have a camera with me.

Most important thing is that you are happy with your choice. I guess like anything, it's more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

I agree that with the new Sony lens, it gets difficult to say Fuji wins in weight.
BUT! As soon as we compare cameras and OEM Lenses and prices, I still prefer Fuji, accepting all the differences in their tech specs.

SONY FE 24-70MM F/2.8 GM II ~ 2400
FUJIFILM XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR ~ 1200
so it's x2.

I wouldn’t be comparing a FF 2.8 vs APSC 2.8 zoom given the DOF is going to be different. I would have thought the Sony 24-120 F4G be a closer comparison.

But doesn’t matter ! Your having fun shooting with Fuji now !

Raymond L wrote:

SashaYu wrote:

Raymond L wrote:

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and those photos as well.

SashaYu wrote:

The only thing which bothered me a lot was the weight of the standard zooms.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - 950gr.
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70 f/2.8 - 900gr.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM - 925gr.

So last year I decided to drop FF and "go light" with Fuji because in general, all the previous setups were around 1.6-1.8 kilograms heavy.
Moreover, I downshifted to X-T30II which with grip weights of only 400gr and still has the same sensor and autofocus as X-T4.

PS. I have Fujifilm + Sony.

Understand when you went through the process of lens selection newer lenses listed below may not have been released yet.

But I wanted to outline the relevant lenses that are currently available as of writing.

Criteria: FF 2.8 or F4 with "standard" zoom range + wide end must start at 24mm (not 28mm)

F2.8 Standard lenses

-Sony 24-70 2.8 GM ii - 695 grams [+37.9 grams]

-Sigma 24-70 2.8 DG DN Arts - 835 grams [+177.9]

F4 standard lenses

-Sony 20-70 F4 G - 488g [-169 grams]

-Sony 24-120 F4G - 630g [+4.9 grams]

[Worthy mentions] "cheaper" + "smaller" zooms with non-standard zoom ranges:

-Tamron 17-28 2.8 - 420g

-Tamron 20-40 2.8 - 365g

-Tamron 28-75 2.8 G2 - 540g

-Tamron 70-180 2.8 - 810g

Bodies

Smaller bodies [constraint max shutter 1/4000]:

Sony A7c - 509 grams

[Rough calculations - no grip]

X-t30 ii + 16-55 = 1038g

A7c + 24-70 2.8 GM ii = 1204g

A7c + 20-70 F4 = 997g

But none of this matters when I compare it to my previously owned FF setups because it's still much less money and lighter about 500-800gr. What really makes me happy is the result of the images and the quality of the lens itself: smooth zoom and very nice aperture ring. The experiance of using a Fuji camera with dials and this lens makes me want to make more photos and have a camera with me.

Most important thing is that you are happy with your choice. I guess like anything, it's more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

I agree that with the new Sony lens, it gets difficult to say Fuji wins in weight.
BUT! As soon as we compare cameras and OEM Lenses and prices, I still prefer Fuji, accepting all the differences in their tech specs.

SONY FE 24-70MM F/2.8 GM II ~ 2400
FUJIFILM XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR ~ 1200
so it's x2.

I wouldn’t be comparing a FF 2.8 vs APSC 2.8 zoom given the DOF is going to be different. I would have thought the Sony 24-120 F4G be a closer comparison.

But doesn’t matter ! Your having fun shooting with Fuji now !

The funny thing (for me) is, there is no sense to get FF and F4 lenses because you will have almost the same bokeh as 2.8 for aps-c, so you are losing the "main" benefit of FF by this. 
And, yes, thanks, I'm quite happy with the Fuji setup for the moment. 
Here are some shots made today: