Switching from Canon to Fujifilm
I have been wanting to write this article about my experience from switching from Canon to Fujifilm for quite some time now. Back in May June 2017, when I first bought the Fujifilm X-T2, I made a video about my first findings and my reasons for changing camera systems. After over a year with the Fujifilm X-T2 and several trips, I would like to reflect upon my continued experience with this camera. Spoiler alert: I have gone all the way to Fujifilm and even sold most of my Canon gear. Disclaimer: this article as well as the videos have NOT been sponsored in any way.
My experience with Canon
Since my very first steps into photography, I have been drawn to Canon. I still remember standing in the shop and comparing the Canon 50D to the Nikon D90. The Canon 50D just felt better in my hands and I decided to go for that camera. A few years later, I invested in a Canon 5D Mark III which accompanied me on many different trips, from the dusty Southwestern United States to wet Southeast Asia as well as ice-cold Quebec. That camera never failed me and some of my favourite and best images have been made with it. Over the years, I also acquired a lot of high quality Canon L lenses, zooms and primes, that I had grown very fond of.
Almost 10 years later, I decided to get a Fujifilm X-T2. I was drawn to the X-T2 because of the lighter weight, the lower price and the the great reputation of Fujifilm’s lenses for their X series cameras. That camera just felt right at home in my hands and I experienced a similar feeling that I had felt when I bought my first Canon camera. When you are using a camera daily, feeling comfortable using it is one of the most important aspects.
My first steps with Fujifilm
Tuscany, Italy
I first took the Fujifilm X-T2 with me as a second camera on a family/photography trip to Tuscany. During that trip, my Canon 5D Mark III still served as my main camera and was responsible for most of my images, but I slowly started experimenting with the X-T2. There is always plenty of time when shooting a sunset or sunrise. While my Canon 5D Mark III was mounted on my tripod for those longer exposures, I used the Fujifilm X-T2 hand-held with a 23mm F/2 lens. I remember being very impressed by the resulting images, especially when comparing some images shot with the very same settings on both cameras, the full-frame Canon 5D Mark III and the APS-C Fujifilm X-T2, and discovering that the images from the latter either equalled the Canon’s images or were even better. Of course, I’m pixel peeping here.
Iceland
Another trip that same year took me to Iceland for the very first time. During the months inbetween Tuscany and Iceland, I had had some time to get my hands on a couple of other Fujifilm lenses, such as the incredible XF 10-24 F/4 wide-angle lens. I made the bold decision to leave my Canon 5D Mark III at home for my trip, even though I still had some doubts about the Fujifilm’s weather resistance, especially since that particular wide-angle lens is not WR. I put the camera as well as the lens through its paces, even taking it behind one of Iceland’s waterfalls where I got soaked. I am happy to say that the camera as well as the lens worked perfectly fine, even under those harsh conditions. You can watch my struggle behind Seljalandsfoss in my first episode from my Iceland Landscape Photography video series.
Gran canaria
A few months after going to Iceland I travelled to Gran Canaria. Once again, this was more of a family trip, but I did find the time to make some new images. I am especially happy how well the Fujifilm X-T2 handled the dusty sand dunes of Maspalomas. My tripod did not do so well, getting plenty of sand into its legs.
By the way, the cover image that I used for this blog post has been shot by the very talented Spanish photographer Magui R. Fajardo who I met in the sand dunes.
The Faroe Islands
More recently I travelled to the incredible Faroe Islands. This was purely a photography trip with a good friend of mine: long hikes, great sunrises and sunsets, travelling from one island to the next. We visited the Faroe Islands during the month of June, so the days were very long, which also makes the sunsets and sunrises particularly long. But the Faroe Islands are not known for their good weather, so we had to face quite a few cloudy or even rainy conditions. But as with any landscape photography shooting, you sometimes get great light and sometimes there is barely any light at all. Nevertheless, I came home with some great images and once more the Fujifilm X-T2 held up great under the Faroe Islands' harsh weather.
Fully embracing Fujifilm
I have now spent a year and a half with the Fujifilm X-T2. I have used it privately as well as for many professional assignments. The results never disappoint and I am now ready to fully commit to the X-system. I briefly considered the high resolution GFX medium format cameras by Fujifilm and I also had a long look at the Sony A7R III, but size and weight are a crucial factor for my photography. The medium format cameras by Fujifilm as well as the full-frame Sony cameras fail in that regard. Their camera bodies might have become very light for all the technology that they are packing, but the lenses are just too cumbersome and too heavy. The same goes for the new mirrorless cameras by Canon, Nikon and Panasonic. I am certain that these are all great cameras, but they are not the camera for me.
Upgrading to the Fujifilm X-T3
I have thus decided to dive deeper into the Fujifilm X-system and sell all of my remaining Canon gear. I intend to upgrade to the Fujifilm X-T3 in the next few weeks. Fujifilm has addressed many of the small quirks of the X-T2. The X-T3 is not a major upgrade of course, but it’s building on a camera that was already great and making it even better. I also intend to keep the X-T2 as a backup camera body for my upcoming trips. If you are interested in the lenses and the other gear I use, have a look at the following article.
Regardless of the camera you decide to use, it mostly comes down to personal preference. All of the existing and soon upcoming mirrorless cameras are great options. They all come with their advantages and disadvantages. Arguments can be made about the lack of dual SD card slots by some brands, or the small number of available lenses for the new mirrorless mounts. Fujifilm is most certainly not perfect either, but they are damn close and they are doing something many brands have failed to do: they listen to photographers... In the end it all comes down to the images that we create using these cameras. Picture me very excited for the future of the X-system and especially for all the great images us photographers will create with it.
Thank you for reading. Leave me a comment below about your reasons for changing to Fujifilm. Or if you are thinking of switching and have some questions, feel free to also comment below.
Belgium’s High Fens provide ample opportunities to create interesting landscape photography.