Fujifilm X Summit Global 2021 - My Thoughts

Is anyone else getting really tired of online only events? Ya, me too… Anyways, Fujifilm held their 2021 X Summit today and if you’re tuned into the requisite rumour sites there weren’t any big surprises. Let’s talk X series first.

Expanding on the recent 18mm f/1.4, Fujifilm have added 23mm and 33mm focal lengths to their fast prime lineup. The 23mm is interesting to me, but I have genuine mixed emotions about the 33. The 35mm f/1.4 is one of the original X series lenses and has been a personal favourite of mine for years. Yes, it’s slow to focus. Yes, it’s noisey, but there’s something very special about the way it renders. I’m glad Fujifilm decided against a version 2 of the 35. I’ll reserve judgement until I get my hands on the 33.

Now for the big stuff. Let’s not mince words, the original GFX50S was UGLY. Like, maybe one of the ugliest cameras I’ve ever seen. Ugly looks aside, my time with the original GFX camera was short, but informative. It was big, slow, expensive, and did I mention ugly? But the raw files, oh my god the raw files. All was forgiven when I saw those sweet sweet 50mp files in Lightroom. Then the 50R came out. WAY better looking with the same files. The 100 took things to a whole new level, and the 100S showed what the 50S could have looked like. Well, that’s exactly what the 50Sii is, a 100S body with a 50S sensor.

Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so. It looks great. It has IBIS, better AF (according to Fujifilm), and new film simulations. It has the same X Processor 4 as the original 50S which Fujifilm says they have overclocked for better performance.

There’s also a new “entry level” kit lens available, a 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6. Seeing as the 50Sii is significantly cheaper than the original 50S this new lens will be a nice body/lens combo for anyone wanting to get into the GFX system.

That brings me to the elephant in the room, price. At $3999usd body only and $4499 with the kit lens the GFX50Sii seems like one heck of a bargain for a medium format digital camera. That is… until you start comparing it to some full frame cameras like the Sony A7Riv or the Nikon Z7II. Both cost less and will run circles around the GFX50Sii in almost every measurable way. But that’s not really the point. There is something about the look from these medium format sensors that full frame can’t quite match, and for less than the price of the original 50S body you can now get that medium format goodness for close to full frame money.

In the end it depends on what you think is important. Is the extra cost justified compared to flagship full frame cameras? Maybe, but until the 50Sii has the speed of the 100 and 100S, it’s a very tough choice.

Scott.

Why I'm Done Reviewing New Cameras

There seems to be a new camera announced every day. Fujifilm, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Leica, SO MANY CAMERAS.

My channel started as a camera review channel. I love cameras. I love them almost as much as I love taking pictures. But I’m at a point where nothing that's being announced is exciting to me. As someone who reviews primarily Fuji gear, the X-Pro3, X-T200, XC35mm f/2, and the soon to be released X-T4 and X-T40 just aren’t doing it for me.

Some other brands have some interesting options but there’s nothing that makes me want to reach out to them to get my hands on any of it.

Why?

My primary cameras are the Fuji X-T30 and X-T20. Between the 2 of them they fulfill all of my needs as a content creator. I own a bunch of other bodies, an X-Pro1, an X-T1, an X-A1 and an X-A10. I have an original X100, a Sony A390, a Canon EOS M5, and a boatload of film cameras. Honestly, it’s too many but whatever. Some people collect stamps, I collect cameras.

Let’s talk about some of the older gear. The X100 and A390 still take amazing photos. The raw files are gorgeous. The auto-focus is totally usable on both of them despite their age. For video? Hahahaha, no... The Sony doesn’t even have video.

I picked up the X-T1 for a very good price because I wanted a body with weather sealing. The X-T20 and 30 are incredible all around cameras. They do everything I need effortlessly. The M5 was supposed to be a flip but I kept it because its great for vlogging. Not to mention my GoPro Gero 7 Black, that thing has gotten WAY more use than I thought it would. As a travel video camera it’s very underrated.

The thing about the latest cameras is sure, they have some pretty big improvements, but cameras are at a point where those improvements are only beneficial if you have the equipment to take advantage of them. The files, both photo and video, are so huge that anything but a top of the line computer struggle to handle them.

Then there’s how people consume media. If I look at my YouTube analytics The vast majority of you are watching on smartphones. When you start talking about photos, a 2-3 megapixel file is more than enough for a mobile screen. I think for editing and enlarging purposes anything above 12mp is fine, 16-25 is just about perfect. 40? 50? 100?? unless you’re shooting for billboards, or some other huge format, that much resolution is completely useless. This is the part where someone brings up cropping. You can crop a 16mp photo, trust me, it’s fine.

4K video? 6K? 8K?? Come on... 85% of you watch video at 1080p or lower. Are you shooting a feature film? If so, great, you need that huge file. Do have have unlimited finances? Cool! Get all that super high spec gear. For the average person, that’s me, 4K is more than enough and in most cases overkill. With 1080 you can use a decent mid-range laptop, smaller memory cards, smaller hard drives. People, save your money.

So... If something comes out that’s earth shatteringly new and different, maybe I’ll have a look. But the gear I have will last me many years. It’s gear that can grow with me as I move forward. If or when 4K becomes the standard I’m good to go, but right now it isn't necessary. The endless forward march of consumerism and marketing does a great job telling you what you have isn’t good enough, but that’s just because they want your money.

As someone who’s fed that fire for a few years now It’s time for me to stop. We’re at a place where there really aren’t “bad” cameras anymore. You can Pick up a used X-T20 with the XF18-55 kit lens pretty cheap, and can add a couple lenses to make a great all around photo/video kits that will be relevant for years to come. Same goes for the Panasonic GH5 or G7, The Sony A7II or A6300, the Canon M5, M50 or SL2. There are so many great cameras that are a couple of years old that’ll save you a ton of money over the latest and greatest gear.

SAVE YOUR MONEY.

Scott.