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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Bye bye Nikon....
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05/15/2014 05:49:49 PM · #1
...Hello Fuji!!

So, i've just packed up pretty much all my Nikon kit as in a spontaneous moment of madness yesterday i went and sold it all. My two Nikon D700's, my beloved 85mm f1.4D, the 24mm f1.4G and the Zeiss 35mm f2 Distagon. Quite sorry to see it all go really. It's been a cracking kit over the last couple of years and i've shot nearly 40 weddings with them. A two camera, three prime kit of 24mm - 35mm - 85mm has suited the way i shoot weddings perfectly and i really settled into that approach and got to know the lenses well. Saying that though, the last handful of weddings i've done this year has really reminded me of one or two downsides - namely weight and noise. They are pretty heavy and lugging both around for 14-16 hours in a day really gets to my back. And the very loud kerchunk of the shutter has me grimacing in the often small churches and ceremony rooms during the quiet parts. I tried to get round the noise issue last year by getting an Olympus OMD-E5 to compliment the two Nikon's. I didn't really get on with it though - it's a lovely little camera and i liked it as a carry round and it was silent but i didn't get on with fitting the files in with the Nikon's - couldn't really get them consistent so i sold the Olympus. I decided that as i didn't want to mix systems i'd have to have a complete switch.

Which brings me to the Fuji X line. I've liked the look of these for a while. There some great photos done with them here on DPC and elsewhere (John etc). I downloaded some RAW files to play with and they're lovely. But the one thing that was holding me back was a replacement portrait lens like my Nikon 85 f/1.4D. I love that lens a lot and a huge amount of wedding/portraits is from that lens - love the shallow DOF. The Fuji x-system didn't really have anything to compare until i noticed online yesterday their new 56mm f/1.2 lens. It looked fantastic and the more reviews of it, and the other recent Fufi lenses, i read the more i thought now might be a good time to make the switch. I've got a two week gap until the next wedding so i went for it. I had quite a bit of back and forth with what i would get. I was pretty much sold on the X100S but decided against it at the last minute. What i've gone for is.... three Fuji X-Pro 1 bodies - the 56mm f/1.2 - the 23mm f/1.4 and just the 16-50mm kit lens until i decide on what wide prime to get. I've been trying to decide between the Fuji 14mm f/2.8 or the Zeiss 12mm f/2.8 - both are quite a bit wider than my 24mm though and not as fast. I think what i'll do is manage with the zoom for the time being. I've heard rumours that the next lens Fuji is coming out with is a 16mm f/1.4 which will be perfect for me as it's a 24mm equivalent. With that, the 23mm (35mm equiv) and the 56mm (85mm equiv) then i've got my perfect prime kit again.

I think the Fuji's will really suit my way of working and i can also get *almost* the shallow dof i like with an 85mm equivalent lens. Hopefully they'll arrive early next week and i'll have a couple of weeks before my next job to get to know them a bit. I've still got my three Sigma DP Merrills which i adore, for landscapes etc - i've actually started using them for some portraits and they're incredible but just too slow and with rubbish high iso for a wedding. I'm also keeping my manual Nikon ais lenses. Quite looking forward to trying them out on the Fuji's with an adaptor. Oh, an i've kept my battered old Nikon D300 as it's a trooper and we've been through a lot. Might get the 35mm /1.8 again for it as that's a lovely combination and it'll do as a last resort back up to the back up.

So, exciting stuff and i'm looking forward to going the Fuji club!

05/15/2014 06:23:41 PM · #2
Wow. Bold move, Clive. I love my Fuji, and my dSLR has been gathering more dust than I anticipated. I hope the transition goes smoothly and I'll look forward to seeing your output. jagar could really use some company on the X-Pro 1 page.
05/15/2014 06:35:01 PM · #3
Interesting, Are weddings the only thing you really shoot professionally?

05/15/2014 06:36:38 PM · #4
Originally posted by markwiley:

jagar could really use some company on the X-Pro 1 page.


Ha! He's made a start on the Sony Alpha 7 page now. He'll fill that up soon i'm sure.
05/15/2014 06:42:20 PM · #5
Originally posted by jgirl57:

Interesting, Are weddings the only thing you really shoot professionally?


Anything and everything you shoot professionally :)
05/15/2014 06:44:27 PM · #6
Originally posted by jgirl57:

Interesting, Are weddings the only thing you really shoot professionally?


Pretty much Julie. I'd say 95% is weddings. I do the odd bit of property photography and i'm going to try and get some more general portrait work. I'm also just starting doing some residential and day photography courses in the Welsh village where i live (and in Greece) - that's very early days but hopefully that will build. If you're interested - Here's my wedding/portrait website. and this is the photography holidays website i've just started.
05/15/2014 06:45:12 PM · #7
HA!

Another convert, welcome to the future. :D
05/15/2014 06:59:36 PM · #8
I am absolutely loving my X100S and am very close to buying an xe2 and a couple of lenses.
05/15/2014 07:10:09 PM · #9
Originally posted by chazoe:

I am absolutely loving my X100S and am very close to buying an xe2 and a couple of lenses.


If you do then definitely check out the 56mm. Nice review and images from it here.
05/15/2014 07:11:17 PM · #10
Originally posted by Cory:

HA!

Another convert, welcome to the future. :D


Heh, yes, the fuji future looks pretty good to me!
05/15/2014 07:21:06 PM · #11
Your photography holidays sites look fantastic, Clive. Not a bad gig to have a few working vacations in Greece every year as well.
05/15/2014 07:24:07 PM · #12
Originally posted by rooum:

Originally posted by jgirl57:

Interesting, Are weddings the only thing you really shoot professionally?


Pretty much Julie. I'd say 95% is weddings. I do the odd bit of property photography and i'm going to try and get some more general portrait work. I'm also just starting doing some residential and day photography courses in the Welsh village where i live (and in Greece) - that's very early days but hopefully that will build. If you're interested - Here's my wedding/portrait website. and this is the photography holidays website i've just started.


Just absolutely beautiful!! Thanks for sharing that Clive

I am still looking LOL

Message edited by author 2014-05-15 19:24:51.
05/15/2014 08:02:20 PM · #13
Originally posted by jgirl57:

Originally posted by rooum:

Originally posted by jgirl57:

Interesting, Are weddings the only thing you really shoot professionally?


Pretty much Julie. I'd say 95% is weddings. I do the odd bit of property photography and i'm going to try and get some more general portrait work. I'm also just starting doing some residential and day photography courses in the Welsh village where i live (and in Greece) - that's very early days but hopefully that will build. If you're interested - Here's my wedding/portrait website. and this is the photography holidays website i've just started.


Just absolutely beautiful!! Thanks for sharing that Clive

I am still looking LOL


+1

Beautiful capture Clive!
05/16/2014 04:23:37 AM · #14
Thanks for the kind words Julie and Girish!
05/16/2014 04:27:14 AM · #15
Originally posted by bohemka:

Your photography holidays sites look fantastic, Clive. Not a bad gig to have a few working vacations in Greece every year as well.


Cheers. Hopefully it's something that will build as quite a good sideline. I'm lucky to live in a national park here in Wales with a lovely varied landscape. My friends who have just converted this huge chapel in the village also own a property business out in Greece so hopefully photography courses/holidays there a couple of times a year will go well. All very early days of course.
05/16/2014 06:22:29 AM · #16
Originally posted by rooum:

... If you're interested - Here's my wedding/portrait website. ...

Clive, every time I think I know how very good you are at photography I soon discover I'd underestimated you. And now I see I'd done it again. Beautiful, classic, real photographs. Thank you.
05/16/2014 11:25:46 AM · #17
Certainly, if I were doing any of those things and wanted a photographer you would be my first choice.
05/16/2014 01:02:39 PM · #18
Ah shucks, you guys say the nicest things. *blushes*
05/16/2014 01:38:18 PM · #19
Got rid of my D300 + lenses and love my X100s (BTW kept the flashes). Was the only reason you didn't go that way for the interchangeable lenses?
05/16/2014 10:30:31 PM · #20
Nothing short of brilliant Clive, did you consider the X-T1 at all? I have the xpro-1 and the 56mm, quite spectacular. Do miss the quick d700/80-200mm, 85mm auto focus combo but not the loud clunk. Considering the 10-24mm purchase although it is f/4, but might wait for the fast wide angle prime that is on the horizon for late 2014. My X100s fills the gap nicely.
05/17/2014 01:46:35 AM · #21
I just pulled the trigger on an XE1 kit and the 56mm f1.2. I went XE1 instead of XE2 purely because of value. If I went with the XE2 I wouldn't have been able to pull the trigger on the 56mm and the lens was the thing I really wanted.

I also got a converter that will allow me to use my Nikon glass on the XE1 which will make it a bit more versatile.

I now have an X100S as my walk around take with me everywhere camera and when it gets delivered I'll have the interchangeable lens XE1 to compliment it.

I also ordered 2 Yongnuo 560III and a radio flash trigger (another benefit of saving money by going with the XE1 instead of the XE2).
05/17/2014 02:10:34 AM · #22
Like you, Clive, lugging around DSLR's and associated kit was a struggle for me over the last few years. In September 2010 I purchased a x100 and have not looked back. I still have My Canon 20D/30D/7D and a couple of lenses but sold all my L glass and my Sigma 150-500mm lenses. The Canon 7D gets an occasional outing with my Tokina 11-16mm but that is very rare these days.

My x100 is such a fantastic bit of kit and even better now with the recent firmware updates. I can honestly say that the only upgrade I would contemplate would be a Leica Mononchrom and that just is not going to happen, unless I win the lottery. I am that happy and contented with my x100

My first digital camera was a Fuji MX-2700 followed by a Fuji 602s, both still working and still produce very good results.

The equipment Fuji are producing these days is excellent.

Look forward to seeing your work with your new kit !

Message edited by author 2014-05-19 04:38:57.
05/17/2014 05:19:13 PM · #23
Good luck with the new kit Clive. I'm eyeing the OM-D EM-1 due the engineering and range of (lightweight) glass especially the 90-250 f/2.8 and 2x crop factor for wildlife. I've had use of the EM-5 and loved it. Did you not consider the EM-1?

Message edited by author 2014-05-17 17:20:43.
05/17/2014 08:47:57 PM · #24
Nice work Clive, and so glad you didn't drop Nikon just to join Club Canon ;-). Enjoy the new gear, look forward to seeing more!
05/20/2014 06:39:25 AM · #25
Been away all weekend so just getting back to this thread whilst i wait for the deliveryman to turn up with all the new stuff. A couple of thoughts on the other options...

'Clive, did you consider the X-T1 at all?' - I read a couple of reviews and it looks great but a few things stopped me - most of all cost. I really needed three bodies for the wedding work. I like the idea of carrying them all with a three prime set up but mainly it's to make sure i have back ups. Three, new, X-T1's was way out of my budget but the cost of used XP1's has dropped quite a lot so i was able to get three of them for the price of one new X-T1. Plus, the other big draw of the XP1 is that hybrid viewfinder. I think it's such a fantastic innovation and i love the idea of the OVF. So, not having the optical viewfinder put cameras like the XE1 or XE2 out of the running as well. The improved auto focus is tempting as it's seen as one of the downsides to using the XP1 (although firmware seems to have improved it massively) To be honest, i'm not hugely concerned about auto focus speed. My 85mm f/1.4 was an older screw drive D lens and wasn't that quick or accurate really - the Zeiss 35mm was manual focus of course and the 24mm wasn't the fastest of the G lenses. Weddings are not massively quick affairs really and tend to follow certain patterns so anticipation is key. I've found that tricky focus moments like the bride walking down the aisle in poor light is better done focusing manually anyway. Not sure how manual focus is on the XP1 of course.

'...love my X100s... Was the only reason you didn't go that way for the interchangeable lenses?' - Pretty much. Like is said, i'd actually ordered two XP1's and the X100s but then changed my mind. Down to the back up thing really and quite a mundane reason. With a three camera - three FL (eqiv - 24, 35, 85) kit using the X100s for the 35mm, if that jams up at a wedding i'm down to two cameras and only two focal lengths whereas with three bodies exactly the same i'm still covered if one goes down. The other main reason is the fantastic looking 23mm f/1.4 though. Having that extra stop will be handy and the lens just looks lovely (and a perfect match to the 56mm).

'Did you not consider the EM-1' - Hum, not really. Like i said, i liked the EM-5 as a walk around but didn't really get on with it as a wedding camera (although that was more to do with fitting it in with the Nikons). Also, being a bit picky, but it was just a bit too small for me (i'm not sure of the size of the EM-1) - The Fuji XP1 just seems like the perfect size and weight for what i am after - i like a bit of heft but not as much as the heavier DSLR's.

'I can honestly say that the only upgrade I would contemplate would be a Leica Mononchrom and that just is not going to happen, unless I win the lottery.' - Yea, i'm with you on that. I quite fancy going the Leica route but cost is way too much. One of the main draws with my system switch is that OVF so hopefully it'll be a nice move towards that way of working. Plus Fuji do that M adaptor. Perhaps in a few years they might bring out a full frame XPRO and i may be tempted not to eat for a year or so to get my dream lens the Leica 50mm /f0.95 Noctilux.

Message edited by author 2014-05-20 09:26:40.
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