Fuji Almost slipped backwards...

BruPri

Top Veteran
Location
Seattle, Washington USA
Name
Bruce J. Pritchard
I woke up last night around 2am and couldn't get readily back to sleep, started thinking about how I could do some creative trading for a new piece of kit. I began thinking that if there was one full frame DSLR I would own, it would be what I consider, one beautiful hunk o'kit...the Canon 1Ds

So, after much arguing with myself, I also almost traded my X-Pro 1 and Zeiss lenses for a 1Ds Markii.
Then I went out with my Zeiss 85mm f1.4 and shot a couple pics around the yard, it was then convinced that even though I was in the love bubble with the onetime flagship Canon, it appears older sensor technology, cannot compete with the newer. There are of course tradeoffs as each piece was designed with different purposes in mind, so not really apples to apples, in the end IQ wins out for me.


X-Pro 1/Zeiss 85mm f1.4

Anyone else have an occasional lapse of judgement when trading/buying/selling that you don't mind sharing a laugh about now?
 
In my case, I can readily think of two. Unfortunately, I went through with both of them; only much later did I realize how foolish I was.

The first time was in 1998, when I traded with a good friend my Canon T90 body for a Canon EOS IX. I had made the switch to the EOS system with an Elan II, and thought the IX would be a better sidekick. The one good thing about the trade is that my friend (who's an excellent photographer) has made very good use of the T90, and continues to use it to this day. I still have the EOS IX but no scanning facilities for APS film, so it never gets used.

The second time was in 2007, when I decided to sell my Contax G outfit. At the time, I had been shooting digital for 2 1/2 years, and thought I would never shoot film again. I remember that system with great fondness and really regret having sold it.

No other major lapses that I can remember.

Cheers,

Antonio
 
I miss my 5D. I sold it and my lenses a few years ago. My primary reason was to establish some discipline and a refresh in to my photography. For two years I shot with only a GF1 and two lenses. This was great for my photography, so in that sense I do not regret it. I did miss the quality of those 5D photographs. They were just delicious. The camera itself was fine, but not great.

So I often regretted the sale, but knew that over time I would find something that would give me that sense of loving the files again, and I have with my Fuji.

I do know the 5D went to a good home; a kid studying photography.
 
I love the IQ of my 1DSMKII. Even though it is getting long in the tooth, It is still my favorite camera along with the Nikon F. Instant AF, Instant CAF, battery life measured by calendar, after taking photos you can use as a construction tool. A great camera that still can still hold it's own against today's camera (admittedly losing ground, but it's an old camera). And there's a lot to say about lenses behind the camera also.

Gary
 
Ok ok, I could resist no longer, it's goodbye X-Pro 1, hello Canon 1Ds Mkii! I still have the Leica X1 so I believe I can still hang here, I am weak but my arms will be getting much stronger no doubt, lifting this up to my eye! It's fabulous BTW Gary.
I love the IQ of my 1DSMKII. Even though it is getting long in the tooth, It is still my favorite camera along with the Nikon F. Instant AF, Instant CAF, battery life measured by calendar, after taking photos you can use as a construction tool. A great camera that still can still hold it's own against today's camera (admittedly losing ground, but it's an old camera). And there's a lot to say about lenses behind the camera also.

Gary
 
Ok ok, I could resist no longer, it's goodbye X-Pro 1, hello Canon 1Ds Mkii! I still have the Leica X1 so I believe I can still hang here, I am weak but my arms will be getting much stronger no doubt, lifting this up to my eye! It's fabulous BTW Gary.

Enjoy it! Fabulous camera.
I admire you for giving up the Fuji; not something that would be easy for me.
 
Well Luke, you see the new camera and I have this arrangement. I point it at what I want to shoot, and it focuses and captures in full frame, the exact image I want in a fraction of a second.
Enjoying every functional pound of it;)
 
I know that feeling. I've been trying to convince myself to sell the Nikon FF + lenses for several months. I'm down to that and the X Pro/X100. I rarely ever use it. Not because it's too big or too heavy. I just like what I get out of the Fuji better. That said I really like the Nikon 24-70 F2.8, 85mm F1.4, and the 35mm F1.4. After I get the new Fuji lenses I want, I'll probably upgrade to the D600 (36 megapixels is just too much for me) at some point in 2014. For some things you just can't beat a FF sensor and the faster shutter speeds. I personally think Fuji will go FF sometime in 3 to 5 years. They could probably cram one in the X Pro by adjusting the size of the lens mount. They also clearly understand how to make lenses. The 35mm is one of the two or three best lenses I own. I still think the Fuji has better IQ than my Nikon. I'm always amazed by it. It's probably not as good as the D600 though. One thing I am sure of is the metering and white balance are much better than on the Nikon. The files require a lot less work in Photoshop (if anything at all). Kudos to Fuji for releasing a lens roadmap that covers all the basic primes you need, although I suppose a 135mm equivalent would be nice if big, slow and pricey. I've got the 14 on pre-order and will be getting the 23, 27, and 56. The zooms look very interesting but not at F4 on the long end.
 
I know that feeling. I've been trying to convince myself to sell the Nikon FF + lenses for several months. I'm down to that and the X Pro/X100. I rarely ever use it. Not because it's too big or too heavy. I just like what I get out of the Fuji better. That said I really like the Nikon 24-70 F2.8, 85mm F1.4, and the 35mm F1.4. After I get the new Fuji lenses I want, I'll probably upgrade to the D600 (36 megapixels is just too much for me) at some point in 2014. For some things you just can't beat a FF sensor and the faster shutter speeds. I personally think Fuji will go FF sometime in 3 to 5 years. They could probably cram one in the X Pro by adjusting the size of the lens mount. They also clearly understand how to make lenses. The 35mm is one of the two or three best lenses I own. I still think the Fuji has better IQ than my Nikon. I'm always amazed by it. It's probably not as good as the D600 though. One thing I am sure of is the metering and white balance are much better than on the Nikon. The files require a lot less work in Photoshop (if anything at all). Kudos to Fuji for releasing a lens roadmap that covers all the basic primes you need, although I suppose a 135mm equivalent would be nice if big, slow and pricey. I've got the 14 on pre-order and will be getting the 23, 27, and 56. The zooms look very interesting but not at F4 on the long end.

I'm very happy with the Fuji too, and also share your FF sentiments. I am pretty sure a D600 is in my future, with 24, 50, 85 primes, and maybe a single zoom.
 
I'm very happy with the Fuji too, and also share your FF sentiments. I am pretty sure a D600 is in my future, with 24, 50, 85 primes, and maybe a single zoom.

The D600 looks like a smokin' hot camera especially at the $2000 price point. I'm holding on two two Nikon lenses I never use and can hopefully when the time comes sell those and the D700 to finance that. To be honest I'm just so darn happy with the X Pro I can't work up a lot of excitement about it. I am very excited about the new Fuji lenses (and....Ruby has been behaving lately...). The Nikon 50mm F1.4 is a really good inexpensive lens. The 85D F1.8 is really good too and not that expensive. The 24 is a whole different story. But what can you expect from a 24mm F1.4...... When I got the D700 I had enough money to buy one really good prime. I chose the 35 over the 24. I haven't regretted it but it's probably a focal length that works for me.

Again, though I could not be happier with the Fuji. I'm betting the new lenses are going to be really good. Oddly enough the one that really interests me a lot is the 27mm pancake. I have that Voigtlander 40mm for Nikon and I really like that focal length. I can live with the F2.8 on it.
 
Oh yes, Friday I also purchased a D600 w/24-85 kit lens, now to be clear, I budgeted for it through my company for shooting lawyers (no, no...I work at a law firm) Our marketing department has standardized on Nikon so I have a few lenses of theirs to choose from as well.

The D600 looks like a smokin' hot camera especially at the $2000 price point. I'm holding on two two Nikon lenses I never use and can hopefully when the time comes sell those and the D700 to finance that. To be honest I'm just so darn happy with the X Pro I can't work up a lot of excitement about it. I am very excited about the new Fuji lenses (and....Ruby has been behaving lately...). The Nikon 50mm F1.4 is a really good inexpensive lens. The 85D F1.8 is really good too and not that expensive. The 24 is a whole different story. But what can you expect from a 24mm F1.4...... When I got the D700 I had enough money to buy one really good prime. I chose the 35 over the 24. I haven't regretted it but it's probably a focal length that works for me.

Again, though I could not be happier with the Fuji. I'm betting the new lenses are going to be really good. Oddly enough the one that really interests me a lot is the 27mm pancake. I have that Voigtlander 40mm for Nikon and I really like that focal length. I can live with the F2.8 on it.
 
Oh yes, Friday I also purchased a D600 w/24-85 kit lens, now to be clear, I budgeted for it through my company for shooting lawyers (no, no...I work at a law firm) Our marketing department has standardized on Nikon so I have a few lenses of theirs to choose from as well.

After you shoot it a bit I would be very curious to know what you think about it. I've always kind of wished I gone with Canon. Now I have too much invested in Nikon lenses. I would have to either get the D600 or the X Pro lenses next year (assuming I don't go in hock to the emergency vet again any time soon). In the end I know I would use the X Pro more. It's kind of a wonky camera but I love it for some reason that's hard for me to rationalize. I just don't think I can sell my D700 for that much so I'm still working out how to get the D600. It's still a great camera but you do have to work the files a bit. Fuji has really spoiled me on that one. The less time I spend in front of the computer the happier my dogs are. Right now they aren't real happy because we had an abbreviated walk tonight because I've come down with some kind of cold or flu bug. 1 hour. You'd think they would understand. :confused:
 
I budgeted for it through my company for shooting lawyers

Shooting lawyers seems like a sound investment

I love it for some reason that's hard for me to rationalize.

Know what you mean; I put it down to it being a very well thought out photographic tool that works intuitively and helps me do what I want to do.

The 24 is a whole different story. But what can you expect from a 24mm F1.4......

It can be pricey, but would be my landscape lens. The 16-35 VR might be better value though.

As for the Fuji lenses, I am looking forward to the 27 and the 56.
 
Nothing good happens after midnight ;)

I think I've just decided to sell my M43s kit. Again.

I just spent the last two weeks selling the majority of my M43 gear, a little over a year after selling off the last of my DSLR body and lenses. I went back and forth for a while as well with regards to selling my m43 gear after I bought a used X100, but after then adding on a used X-Pro 1, really needed the money to pay for the Fujis. What is ironic is that, after selling all my m43 lenses (save the kit lens, which I kept together with the E-PL1 body), I am pretty much back where I started when I first got into m43 two years ago----some legacy lenses from my Pen, OM and Leica, and adapters to use them on a digital body (then the E-P1, now, the X-Pro 1).

WRT BruPri's original question, I've actually sold then re-purchased a number of lenses: an Olympus OM Zuiko 135 F2.8, the Panny 14 F2.5, and the Oly 17 F2.8. The 14 and 17 have since been sold again (for good); I also just repurchased a Voigtlander 15 F4.5 which I sold a couple of years ago----thought I would not get much use of it on M43 as it's FOV became 30mm equivalent. Now with the APS-C of the X-Pro 1, it's a proper wide angle lens again, and much cheaper than the soon-to-be-released Fujinon 12mm.
 
The only camera that I ever sold and then rebought again because I *thought* that I liked it better than I actually did was the Canon EOS 450D. While it did have a decent sensor with what appeared to be a very light AA filter, the second time around I found it a bit rough in comparison to the EOS 50D that I had been using as my main camera.

My regret over the 50D was that I sold the body that I took overseas to Borneo and the Middle East because I found another with less frames (~2500 vs ~13000) and I ended up $50 in front as a result. An extra 50 bucks in your pocket is always nice but I do still wish I had kept the original, especially since 13000 frames is nothing for a Canon body like that. That's the only camera body that I particularly regret selling. I was also quite fond of my Olympus E-P1 and E-PL1 cameras but obviously not enough to be too concerned about selling them.

I've never really regretted buying a camera since with only a few exceptions I've bought used so there isn't a financial penalty if I don't like it (I've had my fair share of these - sorry NEX-5N, I think you're next). Of the three cameras that I have bought brand new:

- The now slightly battered looking Canon 350D that sits next to my Dad's Canon FTb in the bookshelf dates back to 2005 and served me well even if I never did get comfortable with the grip,
- From this year, the Olympus E-M5 is the camera that I wonder where it has been all my life,
- and the Canon G1X which, while sometimes frustrating and not able to generate big numbers on any scoresheet, still has some of that same mojo that I liked so much in the 50D.
 
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