Why I didn’t go full-frame and went with Fujifilm
May 29, 2021
Mark Adams
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Around two years ago I decided that it was time for a change. I’d been shooting with various Nikon cameras (D40, D3200, D5300, D7100) over the years, alongside shooting film. I’d also had hands on with many other camera makes and different sensor sizes from micro four-thirds Panasonic cameras through to Nikon, Sony and Canon full-frame cameras. Running a large photography group has also meant I’ve accumulated knowledge of many different cameras, their output and so much more over the years through images and hands-on experience.
I wanted to find a system that would serve me well for years to come, cut down on size and weight and produce exceptional results in all conditions, with the ability to give me all the tools I need to get the images I need. As a sometime semi-professional photographer (I sell my services and images when needed, or when requested, but recently do a lot of educational work for free, helping other photographers), I needed something that the competition just couldn’t supply me.
And so I went Fujifilm…
I had always heard good things about Fujifilm, and they simply checked every box for what I wanted. I looked at the completion, the Nikon Z6, Canon RP and other cameras, and none of them checked as many boxes as Fujfilm. So let’s look at these checkbox’s I had to fill, and see, after two years if they lived up to expectations. Initially, I went for the Fujifilm X-T20 as a taster, and then moved onto arguably the best APS-C camera available, the Fujifilm X-T3.
- Low Light– Let’s get this one out of the way first. My Nikon cameras had always performed well in low light and I know cameras like the Nikon Z6, because of their larger full-frame sensors (and eyeballs) are amazing at low light. I photograph a lot of sunsets and in a lot of dark insides of churches and castles, and the Fujifilm system has never yet let me down. I shoot side by side with friends who use full frame, and I’ve never once had any difficulty in competing or had images that I would be ashamed of showing side by side with theirs. There’s very little noise even at ISO6400, and even images taken at ISO12800 have been great. Usually though, with my F/1.4 and F/1.8 lenses I don’t have to go anywhere near that high an ISO and the camera handles the dark perfectly with no issues.
• Dynamic Range – The great thing with Nikon was the huge amount of dynamic range that these cameras allow you to play with. I was and I am pleased with the dynamic range ability of my Fujifilm cameras. In fact using the DR400 option I’m able to gather even more dynamic range at the cost of being at ISO640, and it is just beautiful to work with.
• ISO Performance – Following on from dynamic range is the all important ISO performance which I’ve already touched on in the low light section. I have had no hesitation in using any ISO with both the X-T20 and X-T3. Gone are the days where I was worried about going over ISO1600 as ISO performance is just that good!
• Colour Science – All the years owning a Nikon, I never liked the way it produced greens, and for that reason alone it meant I would shoot raw even in situations where it wasn’t needed (such as family snaps etc), just so I could bypass that colouring. I looked around at many images from many cameras, and fell in love with Fujifilm’s colour science. Their film simulations are great, and have very unique feels, plus both the jpegs and raw files are a joy to edit.
• Field Of View – I’m not a huge fan of ultra-wide lenses, but I know they have their place. When I was with Nikon I went through a phase of photographing at 10mm (15mm full-frame) and looking back at those images, and others of a similar focal length and field of view, I know I can live happily without a full-frame camera if it was just about this. Currently my widest lens is 15mm (21.5mm full-frame) and that’s perfect. However, going long, the 1.5x crop factor is perfect!
• Frames Per Second – I was always used to shooting at 5-6 frames a second, so going to 14fps and now 30fps has been life-changing. It’s not something I use all the time, but for birds, insects and taking photos of the kids running around etc, it’s a godsend! Coupled with Fuji’s “pre-shot” feature that captures around a second of images in the buffer while your shutter button is half-pressed, it’s elevated photography to a whole new level.
• Auto Focus – It’s no good having so many frames per second if your autofocus is not up to the task, but thankfully the autofocus and options you have for autofocus are excellent. Zone focusing is perfect for capturing birds and action, full-screen tracking works like a dream, face detection is accurate and eye detect since the latest update on the X-T3 is outstanding. Combine this with great performance in lower light and it makes a huge difference. For the first time ever in a camera I’m 100% confident in the autofocus tracking ability at continuous high levels of frame rates, and I can only imagine a Sony camera would be better again if I wasn’t happy with my Fujifilm’s performance for some reason. Having 450 focus points is also game-changing, it means the eye detect has a great hit ratio, not matched by cameras with lesser focus points.
• Size And Weight – I wanted performance and reduced size. The X-T20 was a tiny camera with amazing performance, while the X-T3 is still nice and lightweight. Of course, it’s pointless having a smaller body if your lenses are huge, and thankfully, there’s plenty of smaller sized lenses available making the most of the system.
• Video – Although I don’t shoot much video, I wanted the best video available, and the X-T3 exceeds my expectations, with 4k at 60fps and 10-bit recording with bit rates up to an incredible 400mbps. This is video that cannot be achieved on most full frame cameras, and certainly not without any add-on equipment.
• Extra features – Although not always used, the benefit of features such as focus stacking, various bracketing options not available elsewhere, excellent quality EVF and back screen (the X-T20 had a great EVF, but the X-T3 has one of the best, and biggest EVF’s I’ve ever used), more user definable buttons, more user definable profiles for quick changing scenarios, front and back command dials for quick access, exposure compensation, ISO and Shutter Speed dials all making the experience enjoyable and accessible without digging into the menus.
Conclusion
I love all cameras, and the great thing about choosing Fujifilm is that you’re getting the best of all worlds. I believe if you’re going to get a camera that is going to last you, it needs to have a bit of everything because over time your photography needs change. I started out as almost exclusively a landscape photographer, but after over a decade, the fun has slipped away from that and other things combined with it means I can enjoy just taking photographs.
I shoot in both raw and jpeg, and since moving to Fujifilm I’ve been using the jpegs more than ever before. They are beautiful coming out of camera, and a lot of the time they need just a little tweak at most. The raw files are also fun to edit, with plenty of dynamic range, and with that 26mp X-Trans IV sensor, I have no issue in cropping and keeping detail of the things that I photograph.
Yes, it was a difficult choice choosing between full-frame or staying with APS-C, but I have not regretted that choice at all. In fact, I’ve embraced the format more knowing that the Fujifilm X-T3 can compete head to head with the best full-frame cameras without any feeling of anything missing from the experience and the results.
About the Author
Mark Adams is a documentary photographer, blogger, and writer based in Port Talbot, Wales. On his website One Camera One Lens you’ll find plenty of his photos, as well as interesting articles about photography. Head over to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and follow Mark for more of his work. This article was also published here and shared with permission.
We love it when our readers get in touch with us to share their stories. This article was contributed to DIYP by a member of our community. If you would like to contribute an article, please contact us here.
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24 responses to “Why I didn’t go full-frame and went with Fujifilm”
I’ve had a fairly similar experience over the last couple of years. In my case I switched from the Nikon Z6 to an X-T3.
To be fair, the Nikon Z bodies are fantastic by any standard. The Z6 is a low-light monster and the EVF is huge and clear. The reason I left the Z system was the lenses. Fujifilm lenses are a much better compromise between image quality and size/weight, yet I have never looked at my Fuji-X images and thought if only they were better quality, even when compared to the Z6 images. As for the overall user experience, Fujifilm is best.
I’m SO happy with my Fuji, its insane
Fuji has depth of photographic experience, it shows in their products. My Fuji is an old 6×17 panoramic. No electronics, no battery, it’s a one step machine and you better use a tripod.
My fabulous set of binoculars is a huge exit pupil Fujinon 7×50 you can use in very poor lighting.
I wish more companies would stick to what they know, speaking to you, Sony.
I’ve been using the XT2 since 2016 and just recently purchased the XE4. I can’t imagine myself using other brands anymore. The size, the lenses and very pleasing jpeg quality is hard to beat.
Seems like you didn’t check out Sony. Their latest lenses, along with the huge number of third party lenses for E-mount, means you get a FF camera the same size as an X-T3, with FF lenses the size of APS-C lenses. Sony, Sigma, Tamron, and Samyang all make excellent, light, compact FF lenses for E-mount.
And the whole color science thing? You can easily get Fuji (or Canon, Nikon, Leica, etc.) colors on Sony (or any other brand) with 1 click:
https://cobalt-image.com/product/fuji-digital-emulation/
Thread for Fuji fanboys, yes I have kept my X-t30 and 3 lens…..will keep but like out of camera of my z6 ii anyday. Superior Ina lot of ways, could care less about Fuji jpg presets I shoot. Raw
Very good and informative article.
Totally agree with most all of it.
Thank you.
Fuji uses NR for their ISO with no option of turning it off this is reason why it appears they have better when compared. I’m not a fan of this and wish they had a option to turn it off
In your text, your comments surprised me with all aspects of the excellence of Fujifilm’s cropped cameras.
I had cameras from Fujifilm and the auto focus is the worst on the market for mirrorless cameras.
Seeing your satisfaction, I thought I could get to know your work and find amazing images. Well, it’s never good to make comparisons of photographers’ work, but for my understanding of quality, the result I saw on your home page explains a lot why you think Fujifilm cameras are amazing.
Thank you for your valuable feedback, I shall throw in the towel and stop making a living out of photography. You are an inspiration with your well though out trolling ?
Why didn’t you go with m4/3? I like my Olympus.
It was always an option, but I settled on Fujifilm.
All the stuff from your checklist can be achieved as good or better with any other camera brand. Only exception are film simulations and general retro feel (dials etc), but you have to pay significantly more money and lose with some other features. Modern FF system, especially Sony, can give you superior image quality and performance for same or less money and with same or less size/weight.
I’m looking for a camera where I can do some professional (not high budget) video and photo. I’m thinking to a Fuji Camera but I’m confused between Fuji X-T3 and X-T4 but I’m also concerned about the budget. Which do you think it is best for me ?
Just fwiw
A full frame camera from the same generation would have twice as good (a while extra stop) dynamic range and noise performance.
You’re not shooting at iso 640800 in the expanded DR modes, they are shot underexposed at base iso and the shadows are boosted and a jpeg is spat out.
Any even semi-professional photographer should be using a color calibration card like an xrite passport, which would have solved your issues with Nikon’s greens. Fuji are also plagued by cyan green skies, just like Nikon.
With equivalent apertures, there’s at least plenty of lenses for FE mount that are lighter and smaller than fujis equivalents. And a FF sensor is much more forgiving than crop, so “worse” quality lenses look much better. The very very best lenses on Fuji might squeeze out an actual 16mp image, whereas Sony FF lenses go up to 54mp.
The subjective points you’re welcome to. But don’t mislead potential new camera hobbyists with incorrect information.
I’m sorry you disagree, but nothing is misleading. I love all cameras and shoot at work with full frame and large format. Everyone should choose for themselves, the article is about why I chose Fujifilm, not you. And just read the comments here, many happy people who use them professionally or with full frame cameras. Thanks for your feedback, very welcome ?
The author got paid well by fuji
I wish!!!
Fuji and Leica owner here. No way in a million years can an XT4 (which is an amazing APSC camera) come close to an SL2. You lose a large range of light to say the least. Not to even get started on lens and sensor sharpness/detail.
But, the xt4 is a FANTASTIC starter/enthusiast setup. And the recipes are really cool.
But don’t try to compare on pro camera to a street camera.
I used to be one of the Fuji fanboys too. I applaud Fuji for what they are doing. I’m glad they’re still around. Personally, I made the switch to Sony almost two years ago and haven’t regretted it one bit. Frankly, I hated the noisy wormy artifacts even at low ISO’s like 400. I think the author’s points don’t hold water at all, but maybe jpeg output. Unfortunately, I’m not a jpeg shooter and find any camera and every images needs work. In the end, the only Fuji I would consider is medium format. But, they need to get there AF up to par with Sony.
Fuji is Love
I’m a professional photographer and two years ago I made the switch to Fujifilm and I am never going back. There are a lot of old school photographers out there who like to give me a hard time about full-frame DSLRs being the only cameras for pros and I used to think that way too, but the future is mirrorless and technology is so amazing these days that they really don’t know what they’re missing. Those photographers are either stuck in the past or think their way is the only way. My Fuji is sharper, faster, and better in low light than anything else I’ve used. I do professional travel photography and destination weddings. I love what I am able to create that I couldn’t in the past with my Nikon setup. I started as a film photographer and I love the classic and nostalgic feel of the Fuji cameras. They operate on a similar way to. Film camera with the best of modern digital technology. And they’re so lightweight, which is important when I’m doing a 14 hour job. I always tell other photographers that there isn’t a one size fits all. Everyone has a camera that they prefer and works best for their needs. I wouldn’t tell anyone they had to use Fuji, but they certainly shouldn’t look down on those that do. Nikon and Canon May rule the western market, but there is a reason why Fujifilm and Sony dominate the rest of the global market. It all does come down to personal preference, but with Fuji I do feel like I found the holy grail for professional photography.
Nice read..i own a few canon full frame, olympus and for the last 2 years i added 4 fuji bodies some i converted to full infrared. Here’s from my experience. Cameras these days are great. I still. Own canon and fuji system and each has a place in my bag. I know it is unfair to compare a canon EOS r5 or nikon z7 or sony a7r4 vs fuji Xt4 or Xpro 3 but to me, full frame is full frame. If you want and the recent generation of full frame has very minimal noise at ISO 6400.. Which is why i still shoot canon for commercial and events. Fuji is great for my travel and landscape when i need to travel light and don’t need to shoo at ISO higher than 3200.. FUJI lenses are tiny (most of it) at least in comparison to full frame lenses and i believe that is a given BUT they are pricey! So to summarise, i need an everyday camera, well that’s fuji. If high iso and shallow DOF are important to me then i still have my full frame. And for those who have not used the AF tracking of say a Sony and a Canon r5, they are way way better than Fuji from experience.
Just wonder how much fuji pay you for this?