If you're looking to accelerate your photography career, especially in this space in 2025, join the waiting list now! www.jayducker.com/waitinglist or drop me an email via my website with subject 1-to-1 and I'll be happy to send over the full details to my course to you. Let's make 2025 the best photography year yet!
I shoot all over the world. Simplification is the key. I used to chase gear, too, but now spend money on traveling to unique places. My photography grew by leaps and bounds. To me, newer Fujis are boring and uninspiring. My gear: #1) Fuji X-T1 w/18-55, 23f2, 35 f1.4 #2) X100F brown Just added an X-T30 ii for video and “modern aesthetic”. Happy New Year and Happy Shooting.📸
i just settled with Fuji: without using autofocus at all. using a single manual focus lens (Voigtländer 23mm) on my X-Pro3 brought back so much fun to the process of taking photos again.
I couldn't agree more, Jay. I do not plan to purchase any more gear in the coming months, but I will focus on honing my skills and enjoying the creative process. It's just a hobby for me but one I really enjoy. Cheers! Happy New Year.
Glad you're not giving up your Fuji! You may not have any allegiance with the brand, but know that you are an inspiration to Fuji shooters like me. ☺️ Cheers!
I was thinking about changing to Nikon but not only the cost, but also every platform has its issues. The grass will "look" greener but if you look into a system long enough to hear long time users issues with a system you plan on switching to, the idea of getting used to/training myself with a new problem vs already having muscle memory of things to fall back on with Fuji's AF issues (custom button to turn off subject detect, quickly change to single point/manual, etc) doesn't seem that appealing.
I'll be honest, after my Sony A7III gear was stolen, I needed something quickly, so I grabbed a good deal on the X-T4 with the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8. After two days and 600 photos, I have to admit Sony's superiority, and I'm left feeling a bit disappointed with the autofocus performance. It reminds me more of DSLR days than what you'd expect from a mirrorless camera. I might be spoiled by Sony, but I also expected something completely different. While the camera can achieve focus, the images often look muddy. I’ve found two positives: film simulations, although they're more of a trivial feature, and the IBIS, which is excellent for photos-you can shoot handheld at 1/4 second without much trouble. In my view, the camera is decent as a backup, but it demands a lot of focus and effort to capture sharp images. The question is this: are we focusing on creating a good photo, or, as with Fuji in my case, simply on getting any photo at all? Fujifilm mentality is - It's more like a fashion over function.
@@Skyggedansss it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. It means different editing tech for converting raw files to avoid muddy files due to the xtrans sensor. I was Sony for a while until the Scottish weather caused some issues but the Sony is easier with the conventional bayer sensor and reliable focus although I found the menus awkward and the colours not to my liking so I’m all Fuji again
2025's main ingredient for me is discipline. X-series cameras have pushed my to learn and create. Spending your way to "better" cameras/images isn't the best solution, unless you REALLY need a much higher-quality product (GFX). Cheers and happy new year.
Depends on what you shoot. I think with events where you get paid professionally, you need reliable AF. Fujifilm's new improvements are not good enough. For walk around or studio stuff Fujifilm is great. I am hiping for another firmware update.
Fuji is great …..but I’m lucky to have Nikon and Canon as well Most of the time I still use my Fuji for birding even knowing I have better gear. Sure I need to work more for my shots but I just like the Fuji lens too much.
Fuji to me is just different and stays fun to use and shoot with. But I totally understand as a full time creative/photographer you have other things to think about apto maybe switch systems. For a hobbyist, I love fujifilm. I know you have no allegiance to Fuji but I do enjoy watching other Fuji shooters and learning from them! Regardless, at the end of the day, we watch your content for you, not for what gear you use. Have a great New Year ❤
I trained in the 1980s with filmcameras without autofocus. No i invested in used fuji gear, a used xpro2 and a used xh1, with a bunch of lenses , for a total cost less then a sony or nikon body. And i get beautifull jpeg, straight out of the camera's. I probably will be investing in the 16-55, f2.8 II as a travel lens in the near future.
Well said. Confession time, I’ve been around the houses over many years. I’ve spent £1000’s reinventing my gear. I’ve taken far too few photos over that time. We can get sucked into gear and how it makes us better. Generally that is misguided.
I pretty much am using the X100 VI as my primary camera probably for the next 5 years.... I'll still use others when needed (when i need the tighter 56mm focal length etc As well as doing normal studio portraiture, I really want to do more story telling again, which the 23mm lens is perfect for
I had the same thought. Why switch to Sony, spend a lot more for a better AF? Sell my entire fleet of Fuji lenses? No, no, no, I'm staying with Fujifilm.
I’m currently on Fuji with an XT5 and a load of lenses and plan to get more photography work in the next year. I’ve set a target to make a certain amount and when I hit that I’ll be moving to Sony 😅 Mainly due to the AF issues with Fuji.
Fuji is certainly not for the faint of heart being completely different from other traditional brands add to that the focus issues reported by many and then the X trans sensor being different from the traditional bayer type. Many enthusiasts and pros run for the hills. Over the years I used Nikon dslr and latterly Z. Fuji was always my fun second camera but now I’m retired I’m purely Fuji. The focus issues never concerned me and the colours are more to my liking. Fuji UK pro services so far have been great whereas I’ve had past problems with Nikon Just my twopence worth 😂
Sony isn't much more expensive. Sometimes even much cheaper - FF lenses and camera bodies. If Fujifilm could reach in 2025 the AF performance Sony had in 2022, this would be a spectacular success. I switched to Nikon. Insane lens pricing, but the camera isn't freezing anymore, no false positive AF results, fast and silent focusing AF lenses.... selling the XH2s and the XH2 and a lot of lenses was a great relief. Expensive, yes. But Fujifilm doesn't care. After 8 months they just released a simple bugfix .
Do not switch to Canon. I think the lenses are much more expensiv,... I have the R6Mk2 and the most lenses I wont. From the "cheap" STM lenses the 16, 28, 35 and 50 + the 24-105 f4 L and old EF lenses 70-300 IS STM II and Sigma Macro 105. I like to upgrade to a 70-200 2.8 but there are no other options to the ~2.5k Canon RF lens. This ist a way to expensiv for a non pro. To cange the whole stuff just for one lens,... I also thought about a Sony Alpha C II and one good reasen where the Sony 20-70 f4 lens. For traveling a perfekt versatile lens. In combination with a 35 1.4 and the Tamron 70-180 2.8 I would have all I need,... But i will stay at Canon for the moment,...
If you're looking to accelerate your photography career, especially in this space in 2025, join the waiting list now! www.jayducker.com/waitinglist or drop me an email via my website with subject 1-to-1 and I'll be happy to send over the full details to my course to you. Let's make 2025 the best photography year yet!
I shoot all over the world. Simplification is the key. I used to chase gear, too, but now spend money on traveling to unique places. My photography grew by leaps and bounds. To me, newer Fujis are boring and uninspiring. My gear:
#1) Fuji X-T1 w/18-55, 23f2, 35 f1.4
#2) X100F brown
Just added an X-T30 ii for video and “modern aesthetic”.
Happy New Year and Happy Shooting.📸
i just settled with Fuji: without using autofocus at all. using a single manual focus lens (Voigtländer 23mm) on my X-Pro3 brought back so much fun to the process of taking photos again.
Most probably Fuji will have good AF before 2026. Still I think Nikon and Sony are better alternatives overall.
I couldn't agree more, Jay. I do not plan to purchase any more gear in the coming months, but I will focus on honing my skills and enjoying the creative process. It's just a hobby for me but one I really enjoy. Cheers! Happy New Year.
Thanks Jackie - happy new year to you too!
Glad you're not giving up your Fuji! You may not have any allegiance with the brand, but know that you are an inspiration to Fuji shooters like me. ☺️ Cheers!
I appreciate that!
I was thinking about changing to Nikon but not only the cost, but also every platform has its issues. The grass will "look" greener but if you look into a system long enough to hear long time users issues with a system you plan on switching to, the idea of getting used to/training myself with a new problem vs already having muscle memory of things to fall back on with Fuji's AF issues (custom button to turn off subject detect, quickly change to single point/manual, etc) doesn't seem that appealing.
Well spoken. Fuji’s autofocus Is not great but it has gotten better and the results are wonderful. What do you use the fringes for?
I'll be honest, after my Sony A7III gear was stolen, I needed something quickly, so I grabbed a good deal on the X-T4 with the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8. After two days and 600 photos, I have to admit Sony's superiority, and I'm left feeling a bit disappointed with the autofocus performance. It reminds me more of DSLR days than what you'd expect from a mirrorless camera. I might be spoiled by Sony, but I also expected something completely different. While the camera can achieve focus, the images often look muddy.
I’ve found two positives: film simulations, although they're more of a trivial feature, and the IBIS, which is excellent for photos-you can shoot handheld at 1/4 second without much trouble. In my view, the camera is decent as a backup, but it demands a lot of focus and effort to capture sharp images.
The question is this: are we focusing on creating a good photo, or, as with Fuji in my case, simply on getting any photo at all?
Fujifilm mentality is - It's more like a fashion over function.
They don't look muddy on an iPhone screen. Most viewers only see it on social like 99%
@@Skyggedansss it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. It means different editing tech for converting raw files to avoid muddy files due to the xtrans sensor. I was Sony for a while until the Scottish weather caused some issues but the Sony is easier with the conventional bayer sensor and reliable focus although I found the menus awkward and the colours not to my liking so I’m all Fuji again
Let us all wish 2025 to be a more creative videowise year🎉
2025's main ingredient for me is discipline. X-series cameras have pushed my to learn and create. Spending your way to "better" cameras/images isn't the best solution, unless you REALLY need a much higher-quality product (GFX). Cheers and happy new year.
Depends on what you shoot. I think with events where you get paid professionally, you need reliable AF. Fujifilm's new improvements are not good enough. For walk around or studio stuff Fujifilm is great. I am hiping for another firmware update.
I just posted all my fuji gear on eBay and I’m going to nikon most likely
Fuji is great …..but I’m lucky to have Nikon and Canon as well
Most of the time I still use my Fuji for birding even knowing I have better gear.
Sure I need to work more for my shots but I just like the Fuji lens too much.
Fuji to me is just different and stays fun to use and shoot with. But I totally understand as a full time creative/photographer you have other things to think about apto maybe switch systems. For a hobbyist, I love fujifilm. I know you have no allegiance to Fuji but I do enjoy watching other Fuji shooters and learning from them! Regardless, at the end of the day, we watch your content for you, not for what gear you use. Have a great New Year ❤
I trained in the 1980s with filmcameras without autofocus. No i invested in used fuji gear, a used xpro2 and a used xh1, with a bunch of lenses , for a total cost less then a sony or nikon body. And i get beautifull jpeg, straight out of the camera's. I probably will be investing in the 16-55, f2.8 II as a travel lens in the near future.
Well said. Confession time, I’ve been around the houses over many years. I’ve spent £1000’s reinventing my gear. I’ve taken far too few photos over that time. We can get sucked into gear and how it makes us better. Generally that is misguided.
I'm using cheapers lenses. I'm working with f4, f5.6, f8. With x series, great
I pretty much am using the X100 VI as my primary camera probably for the next 5 years....
I'll still use others when needed (when i need the tighter 56mm focal length etc
As well as doing normal studio portraiture, I really want to do more story telling again, which the 23mm lens is perfect for
I’ll trade you my Sony camera for your X100VI
I’m good thanks 😉
I figured I would try and tempt you back to Sony 😂
No one looking at photos on a tiny phone screen cares what we shoot.
I agree 💯
I had the same thought. Why switch to Sony, spend a lot more for a better AF? Sell my entire fleet of Fuji lenses? No, no, no, I'm staying with Fujifilm.
I’m currently on Fuji with an XT5 and a load of lenses and plan to get more photography work in the next year.
I’ve set a target to make a certain amount and when I hit that I’ll be moving to Sony 😅
Mainly due to the AF issues with Fuji.
Fuji is certainly not for the faint of heart being completely different from other traditional brands add to that the focus issues reported by many and then the X trans sensor being different from the traditional bayer type. Many enthusiasts and pros run for the hills. Over the years I used Nikon dslr and latterly Z. Fuji was always my fun second camera but now I’m retired I’m purely Fuji. The focus issues never concerned me and the colours are more to my liking. Fuji UK pro services so far have been great whereas I’ve had past problems with Nikon Just my twopence worth 😂
Sony isn't much more expensive. Sometimes even much cheaper - FF lenses and camera bodies. If Fujifilm could reach in 2025 the AF performance Sony had in 2022, this would be a spectacular success.
I switched to Nikon. Insane lens pricing, but the camera isn't freezing anymore, no false positive AF results, fast and silent focusing AF lenses.... selling the XH2s and the XH2 and a lot of lenses was a great relief. Expensive, yes. But Fujifilm doesn't care. After 8 months they just released a simple bugfix .
Which Nikon do you use?
Is the size too much of a problem? I like Nikon overall but the cameras seem to be big chunky things
Do not switch to Canon. I think the lenses are much more expensiv,... I have the R6Mk2 and the most lenses I wont. From the "cheap" STM lenses the 16, 28, 35 and 50 + the 24-105 f4 L and old EF lenses 70-300 IS STM II and Sigma Macro 105. I like to upgrade to a 70-200 2.8 but there are no other options to the ~2.5k Canon RF lens. This ist a way to expensiv for a non pro. To cange the whole stuff just for one lens,...
I also thought about a Sony Alpha C II and one good reasen where the Sony 20-70 f4 lens. For traveling a perfekt versatile lens. In combination with a 35 1.4 and the Tamron 70-180 2.8 I would have all I need,... But i will stay at Canon for the moment,...
Trust me, move to Nikon. Fujifilm is dead
Yeh so it is 😂😂😂
No, cheaper lenses, news GFX 50II...
Nikon has been dead since 2013
What is Nikon?
@@illpass95no, not even close