I am happy with my Nikon glass. I owned a few of the Fuji X lenses, including the “legendary” 35mm f1.4, but I was never blown away by it or any of their X lenses really.
I really like my XF70-300 for its size/reach and price/quality, but I’m not blown away by the XF16-80.
When trying the Z7II with the 24-70 F4 in the store, I was surprised that it was basically the same size and weight as my X-T5 with the 16-80. The Fuji setup has a bit more reach, but considering the jump up in sensor size, I was expecting the Nikon kit to be bigger and bulkier.
I think what’s giving me pause on this trade-in is whether to jump in now and just be done with the Fuji, or whether to be patient and see what the situation is in a year or so. The X-T5 may hold its value reasonably well, although prices might just keep going up on cameras and lenses. It’s hard to know what will happen. In retrospect, I bought the X-T5 at the right time because the price jumped several hundred dollars after I bought it. Fuji became more trendy and then US tariffs hit the entire N.American market.
1 Like
I read “Gas huffers”. This is now my go-to term.
2 Likes
Isn’t this the best DR increase in a decade or more, on Sony’s part? When it comes to stills, the whole industry seems to have gotten stagnant, so this is really nice to see. Is this using some computational magic, or raw sensor performance? Now we wait for the trickle down…
The X-H2s and other consumer cameras with great video capabilities have been reaching higher levels, with the X-H2s reaching 14+ stops in video, but when it comes to stills it is my idea that the number has been more or less stuck
Over the last 4 months I have sold both of my D850s and several AF-S lenses and replaced them with a Z6III and a Z7II along with a half dozen Z lenses. I found any trade in at LD to be less than satisfying - to the point that I did all my selling on FB. Yes it was frustrating and there are some scumbags - but that is life. The last AF-S lens is being picked up this morning and my final Z lens is being delivered this week. I am happy.
I had a quick look at XT-5 prices on FB and think you should be able to get closer to 2300 for you camera and lens. It might take a month or so but I wouldn’t rush because of the Nikon sale price. Even if the sale ends this month Nikon historically has the same sale prices starting again in April.
1 Like
I would buy lenses for the existing Olympus body you already have. For 1500 EUR you can get a lot of great ones, something for wildlife, macro, or vintage M42 with adapters, a tilt-shift lens, whatever you are into. You will have way more fun than with a new body.
2 Likes
You’re right, and I came to the same conclusion myself last night. I will be patient and keeping using my current gear for now. I’m still fairly undecided which route I want to take over the long term, so I will take more time to come to this decision. Every brand and system has something I want, so I still need to work out my priorities (even though I would probably be happy with whatever route I take - there are no bad systems).
I will continue to invest in M43 with a couple more lenses because it’s my travel kit and all-purpose lightweight kit, which I anticipate keeping for a while. But I don’t necessarily want to go all-in with just one system for all genres, especially because it’s a little uncertain what OM and Panasonic will do with M43 over the coming years.
But I have suppressed my GAS for now, and will continue to enjoy my X-T5 and OM-5 until I can’t resist any longer.
2 Likes
Yes, it’s a significant leap forward in DR. They are using something called Dual Gain Output, which is essentially two frames taken at different ISOs and merged into a single RAW. I believe Panasonic were the first to use it. It’s also found in the S1II, although Sony has managed to push it even further by 2/3 stop.
The only caveat is that it’s only applicable with the mechanical shutter, so using the ES will generally be 1 stop lower DR.
I can’t see why all cameras couldn’t eventually use this, which would be big news for crop sensors, especially M43. If they can push DR to levels that non-DGO FF models can currently do, it further eliminates one of the “concerns” about crop sensors.
So you just use the screen on the back , isnt that awkward when zooming or trying to frame the shot?
Not really. Currently I only have the 24-70 lens (and a 105mm macro lens), so shooting action is not really a thing.
The only time it’s a bit awkward is when the screen is tilted out to the left.
Shooting macro using the screen and having full AF capability is great. OVF for macro was sometimes dizzying
I am a bit puzzled about why you think you need FF for landscape. IMO the main advantages of FF per se would be low light performance and shallow DoF, neither are particularly relevant for landscapes. Any system can do very good landscapes at this point, for high res prints you may want a very good prime lens and a higher res sensor, if you have the X-T5, you already have more than enough resolution for most purposes. So I think that
is a very wise decision.
2 Likes
Good points and I’ve definitely asked myself the same questions over the last few years. Basically, I don’t think I need FF for landscapes at all. My current equipment, which includes APS-C and M43, is perfectly adequate for what I shoot. So this is more of a matter of want vs need. And not just GAS want but hobby want, if you know what I mean.
I think I would break it down as follows
- Extra versatility - the increased dynamic range, low-light capability and shallow depth of field unlocks a few more possibilities in certain situations. I do a lot of photography in woodlands, and these aforementioned attributes all help. Shallow DoF can be useful to blur busy details (like twigs and branches), and FF can simply attain a DoF with zooms that only primes can match with crop sensors (e.g. F5.6 equivalent is the best I can get with an M43 zoom). While landscape photography is usually associated with deeper DoF, I sometimes like to use wider apertures for creative reasons.
- Image quality and lens selection - FF does have that extra advantage with light gathering and dynamic range. It’s not huge, but it’s there. There is also a lot more innovation going into the FF lens market than other formats, which interests me. I’m particularly interested in buying into a system that lets me use crop lenses and FF lenses with the same body, which would include E, RF and Z mount.
- Value proposition - The market has got to the stage that FF is more affordable and has caught up in many ways to crop sensor advantages. If I’m going to spend $2000, I could get a mid-range FF camera with very similar features as flagship crop bodies. And I don’t usually need flagship performance.
- Interest - Perhaps the main reason for me is that I’m simply interested in going back to full frame. I last shot with the 35mm format about 20 years ago, and I just want to try it again. Photography is my hobby and I love experimentation and trying new techniques. I’m not averse to buying and selling to indulge my hobby. So I’m not necessarily thinking that buying new gear will improve my photography, but rather giving me new challenges and chances to experiment. If medium format comes down in price, I might even try that out.
I want to reiterate that I don’t see FF as necessarily superior. I’m a huge fan of crop sensors, and I don’t necessarily think going to FF is an upgrade per se. But it does offer a different experience, and there are a lot more options in the FF format these days, further unlocking interesting avenues to explore. I love my OM-5 for its portability and feature set, and I’m going to stick with it for a while. It will come with me on lots of adventures and is my default “snapshot” camera because it suits the quicker, handheld shooting style.
And I have not ruled out sticking with APS-C either. I will see what Fuji comes up with next, and I have renewed interest to use my X-T5 as my tripod camera and enjoy the slower experience it offers with its dials.
1 Like
This is a good point, especially if you consider 3rd party lenses. Tamron, Meike, TTArtisan, Viltrox, etc are now making sub-200 EUR primes and similarly affordable zooms that are very good quality; competition is then bringing down the price of the main brand lenses.
I am entertaining the idea of getting an older FF Sony E-mount camera for similar reasons. The bodies are more expensive, as they maintain their value rather well, but the lenses are more affordable. It’s just that I don’ trust myself to actually use a FF kit after the initial enthusiasm. My experience from the DSLR era is mixed, I had a FF Nikon and a series of Canon Powershot G compacts, and guess which stayed at home and which ones were taken out on a regular basis.
1 Like
Yes exactly. Most of the 3rd party manufacturers are developing FF lenses now, whereas M43 is not getting much love. E mount especially has so many options now. There is so much choice, and if you get a 33MP Sony body or higher, then you can happily use all the APS-C and FF lenses on that same body and still get great images with enough resolution (for my needs at least). While Canon and Nikon are lagging in this lens selection department, you can still use adapters to use older EF lenses for Canon and almost any other lens for Nikon because of its massive Z mount.
I complete agree on all points 
E mount is still my preferred mount for those reasons of lens selection, but the bodies are stubbornly priced. It’s hard not to look at Nikon when their new bodies are about $1000 less than the Sony’s for similar or better features. I would be happy to get a much older Sony body, but it’s amazing how expensive they can still be.
And I know what you mean about the initial FF enthusiasm dying down, especially with my usual concerns on portability. But that is why I’m pursuing a 2-kit strategy, so that I can use the advantages of both. I’m more prepared to lug around the bigger gear if I know it’s for more of a dedicated photo session where I might be using a tripod and taking my time in a certain location. But for travel, scouting and general walkabouts, I’ll have the crop kit.
1 Like
I would think landscapes stand more of a chance of being printed large, which would benefit from more pixels. I shoot lots of landscape with my 24MP Z 6, but I don’t print. Individual decision, in any event.
2 Likes
How’s the autofocus on Z6 actually? Does it struggle in low light? The initial reviewers vere rather disappointed on the performance, but perhaps firmware updates changed stuff?
IIRC it got better with V3, or thereabouts. I usually hit OK to get the center focus box and go from there. Where it struggles is with low contrast, either low- or high-key.
I’m not a bird or sports person, so the AF hasn’t been a study point for me.
The Sony A7R i/ii go for around 500–800 EUR these days, with a respectable 36/41 megapixels. (Sorry to fuel your GAS 
)
I don’t think there was anything wrong with the autofocus, it just wasn’t class leading.
2 Likes
Good way to present it. Nikon was sorely behind Sony at their first mirrorless introductions, but I think their considered and deliberate approach paid off in the end.
AF is just tricksy software, but the light path through the lens will be glass optics for the foreseeable future, and Nikon had the best technical chops to craft a mirrorless architecture with the right trades.
3 Likes