So long, Nikon

[Solarflare]

Well, personally, weight doesnt bother me. I like prime lenses anyway, so the weight of the camera is never really high. And Fuji X is simply too small for my hands. Whats the point of having a camera thats more lightweight that I can barely hold like my Ricoh GR ? Which is comfortable with the GR because its very lightweight. But Fuji X still weights some !

Also my Nikon gear is excellent anyway. My only problem is reliably focusing my manual lenses.

The new GFX is something I would love to get but soooo expensive and I'm just a hobbyist. Its not a generalist camera though, either way. Its a specialist for ultimate IQ.

I will lose a lot flexibility and performance

Disagreed. The newest generation of Fuji X cameras is nothing to sneeze at anymore at all. Great generalist cameras, especially the X-T2 with the "booster" grip, thanks to the new autofocus module.

And the image quality has been good from day one - with the excellent 35/1.4 - and has since only gotten better.

I would also say the average image quality from Fuji lenses is higher than from Nikon and Canon. Of course, the lenses are also more expensive.

Which leads to the issue of build quality. Which other company still offers all metal lenses, mostly with aperture rings ? Certainly not Nikon.

 

[Gary A.]

Man, talking about moving away from dSLR ... the X-A3 is about how far you can go before jumping into a point & shoot. You think you'll have any problems adjusting to a camera sans viewfinder? Let us know how the transition goes. In any event, Good Luck and Good Shooting.

 

[fmw]

Well, personally, weight doesnt bother me. I like prime lenses anyway, so the weight of the camera is never really high. And Fuji X is simply too small for my hands. Whats the point of having a camera thats more lightweight that I can barely hold like my Ricoh GR ? Which is comfortable with the GR because its very lightweight. But Fuji X still weights some !

Also my Nikon gear is excellent anyway. My only problem is reliably focusing my manual lenses.

The new GFX is something I would love to get but soooo expensive and I'm just a hobbyist. Its not a generalist camera though, either way. Its a specialist for ultimate IQ.

I will lose a lot flexibility and performance

Disagreed. The newest generation of Fuji X cameras is nothing to sneeze at anymore at all. Great generalist cameras, especially the X-T2 with the "booster" grip, thanks to the new autofocus module.

And the image quality has been good from day one - with the excellent 35/1.4 - and has since only gotten better.

I would also say the average image quality from Fuji lenses is higher than from Nikon and Canon. Of course, the lenses are also more expensive.

Which leads to the issue of build quality. Which other company still offers all metal lenses, mostly with aperture rings ? Certainly not Nikon.

Thanks. I wasn't suggesting a image quality problem. I'm used to a vast system of lenses and accesories. Certainly larger than Fuji's. There are some nice little features in the Nikon DSLR's that I appreciate. One of them is the level function which allows me to level the camera on a tripod without looking for a tiny bubble level on the head. That is what I had in mind.

And, yes, there aren't many metal lenses left in the industry. That is one of the reasons I have kept some of my AI Nikkors. I'm sure I'll be fine. If I go for a second body, I'll choose one with an eye level finder. Otherwise, I don't need anything else and I'm not an equipment collector that buys things I don't need and won't use.

Now I need to get busy selling all the Nikon stuff. I will miss it.

 

[Gary A.]

Well, personally, weight doesnt bother me. I like prime lenses anyway, so the weight of the camera is never really high. And Fuji X is simply too small for my hands. Whats the point of having a camera thats more lightweight that I can barely hold like my Ricoh GR ? Which is comfortable with the GR because its very lightweight. But Fuji X still weights some !

Also my Nikon gear is excellent anyway. My only problem is reliably focusing my manual lenses.

The new GFX is something I would love to get but soooo expensive and I'm just a hobbyist. Its not a generalist camera though, either way. Its a specialist for ultimate IQ.

I will lose a lot flexibility and performance

Disagreed. The newest generation of Fuji X cameras is nothing to sneeze at anymore at all. Great generalist cameras, especially the X-T2 with the "booster" grip, thanks to the new autofocus module.

And the image quality has been good from day one - with the excellent 35/1.4 - and has since only gotten better.

I would also say the average image quality from Fuji lenses is higher than from Nikon and Canon. Of course, the lenses are also more expensive.

Which leads to the issue of build quality. Which other company still offers all metal lenses, mostly with aperture rings ? Certainly not Nikon.

On paper/specs, dollar-for-dollar, you get more cluck for the buck with Nikon and Canon ... but between the construction quality of lenses and bodies and it must cost significantly more to have manual controls over dials and menus ... I can see where the extra money goes.

 

[Gary A.]

Hey, the X-A3 has a "Selfie Mode" ... now it makes more sense ...

 

[fmw]

Man, talking about moving away from dSLR ... the X-A3 is about how far you can go before jumping into a point & shoot. You think you'll have any problems adjusting to a camera sans viewfinder? Let us know how the transition goes. In any event, Good Luck and Good Shooting.

I already have a point and shoot . I was going to go that far until I discovered that it had poor image quality and was unable to synch my strobes.

I can see how a screen for viewing can be difficult with the sun behind you but I think it will be OK. If not, I'll get a body with an eye level finder. I don't do pro work any more other than for my web sites so I've become an amateur with fairly simple needs.

I'll be happy to come back and share my impressions. I don't intend to abandon this area of the forum just because I'm moving away from Nikon. I still have a bunch of experience with and interest in the products.

 

[fmw]

Hey, the X-A3 has a "Selfie Mode" ... now it makes more sense ...

There you go. You're coming around.

 

[jcdeboever]

Love my XT2 and X-PRO2. The XT2 viewfinder, focus peaking, and glass are amazing. Love the film simulation and customization. Make sure to upgrade the firmware on body and glass. What model did you get?

I got the smallest, lightest one available - X-A3

You'll love it. What glass? The 23 f2 is amazing.

I just bought the two kit lenses - wide angle/normal and telephoto zooms. That is all I'm willing to lug around. If there were a super wide available I might have gone for that as well but luckily I didn't find one.

There is a 10-24 zoom with OIS. At the end of year, beginning of next, 8-16mm coming.

 

[fmw]

Love my XT2 and X-PRO2. The XT2 viewfinder, focus peaking, and glass are amazing. Love the film simulation and customization. Make sure to upgrade the firmware on body and glass. What model did you get?

I got the smallest, lightest one available - X-A3

You'll love it. What glass? The 23 f2 is amazing.

I just bought the two kit lenses - wide angle/normal and telephoto zooms. That is all I'm willing to lug around. If there were a super wide available I might have gone for that as well but luckily I didn't find one.

There is a 10-24 zoom with OIS. At the end of year, beginning of next, 8-16mm coming.

Sorry you told me that.

 

[jcdeboever]

Love my XT2 and X-PRO2. The XT2 viewfinder, focus peaking, and glass are amazing. Love the film simulation and customization. Make sure to upgrade the firmware on body and glass. What model did you get?

I got the smallest, lightest one available - X-A3

You'll love it. What glass? The 23 f2 is amazing.

I just bought the two kit lenses - wide angle/normal and telephoto zooms. That is all I'm willing to lug around. If there were a super wide available I might have gone for that as well but luckily I didn't find one.

There is a 10-24 zoom with OIS. At the end of year, beginning of next, 8-16mm coming.

Sorry you told me that.

Why?

 

[astroNikon]

Why?

more $$$ to spend ....

 

[fmw]

Love my XT2 and X-PRO2. The XT2 viewfinder, focus peaking, and glass are amazing. Love the film simulation and customization. Make sure to upgrade the firmware on body and glass. What model did you get?

I got the smallest, lightest one available - X-A3

You'll love it. What glass? The 23 f2 is amazing.

I just bought the two kit lenses - wide angle/normal and telephoto zooms. That is all I'm willing to lug around. If there were a super wide available I might have gone for that as well but luckily I didn't find one.

There is a 10-24 zoom with OIS. At the end of year, beginning of next, 8-16mm coming.

Sorry you told me that.

Why?

More to carry. Maybe I can leave the telephoto zoom at home.

 

[fmw]

The camera and lenses arrived today. So far I have connected the camera to the wall to charge the battery. I've looked through the manual but haven't fussed with the camera yet. This little thing is loaded with features and capabilities. One thing I think I'm going to like is the exposure comp system. Compensation is adjusted on a continuous basis with the main command dial and the screen responds to the adjustment so you can see the effect.

Build quality is very nice. The body is made from aluminum and all the parts and machining are of high quality. The lenses are also made from aluminum and have both aperture controls and focus rings, something I missed on current Nikkors. Sensor size is APS-C and both lenses are designed for the format. I features a 24mpx sensor. It is small and light. The 50-230mm telephoto zoom isn't so small but it is lighter than comparable Nikkors.

I paid $700 for the body and two zoom lenses. It is a terrific value in my view in this age of plastic everything.

Let me get some experience with it and I'll be back to comment further and post some images.

 

[fmw]

Why?

more $$$ to spend ....

The Fuji wide angle zoom is $1000. I may or may not go for one. I found a Rokinon 12mm super wide for around $250. They have it both in black and silver. Didn't order it but it could be a possiblity. Rokinon also has a full frame fisheye, something I've always owned and enjoyed with my Nikons. These are manual focus lenses. Not an issue for me.

 

[jcdeboever]

Why?

more $$$ to spend ....

The Fuji wide angle zoom is $1000. I may or may not go for one. I found a Rokinon 12mm super wide for around $250. They have it both in black and silver. Didn't order it but it could be a possiblity. Rokinon also has a full frame fisheye, something I've always owned and enjoyed with my Nikons. These are manual focus lenses. Not an issue for me.

I think @Gary A. has that 12mm and is happy with it. Maybe he will chime in.