Need some advice... Fuji x20 enough for me?

undercovernerd · Feb 15, 2014

Hey guys,

Recently got into photography, and i'm looking for an upgrade over my Nikon Coolpix L820. The Nikon would actually be ok for my needs, but I like shooting in low light conditions, and it is horrific with this camera! I'll put my needs on the bottom of this post, and let me know what you guys think.

I was looking at the Nikon D3200 as my next camera, but after discovering the Fuji X20, I must say - I fell in love :heart:. I always loved the retro cameras, and this fits the aesthetic bill. However, I need more than looks. I need a camera that will work for me. I'm just an amateur, who likes taking random pics wherever he goes. Most of the art in my house, is from the photos my wife and I have taken around town, or on vacation. So it's important that the pictures come out, and develop nicely. Low light is a plus, as I live where night shots are beautiful things. And unfortunately, because of my camera setup, I can not indulge in those kind of pictures. My wife loves taking macro shots, so that is important as well.

So I guess the question is.... Is the X20 enough? Is the XM-1 worth the extra $100? or is the Nikon D3200 or D3100 (I may be able to get one with lens used for $200). Size isn't an huge issue, but it wouldn't hurt to be more portable, as i'm a college student, who brings his camera wherever I go. Thanks in advance guys, and sorry for the scrambled post.

Low light
Macro +
Decent zoom
Ability to grow a bit from amateur to intermediate (yet not quite professional)
Nice pics that I can frame as usual

jaomul · Feb 15, 2014

Hi and welcome to the forum,

2 questions- what is your budget?
are you open to other suggestions other than you have listed?

undercovernerd · Feb 15, 2014

Budget would preferably be $500 and under. There may be a little wiggle room if it's a definite upgrade.

Open to others definitely. I'm here to learn, i'm sure you all know much more than I do!!

Thank you for the welcome as well! I'm glad to have found this place.

jaomul · Feb 15, 2014

The x20 is very nice for a compact, it looks nice also. However i would not recommend a compact camera for someone who really wants to get into photography which you seem to want. Though the x20 does nearly everything on your list well, it cannot be added to, what you get is what you see. Some may disagree and some people only use compacts so this is a matter of opinion.Also it has an ok zoom but not telephoto by any stretch of the imagination.

The xm-1 uses a fancy x-trans 16mp sensor. The low light ability of this sensor is fantastic. I recently was at a camera show and the fugi side had a shot taken 8"x10" at iso 200 and iso 6400 in low light. I really had to look to tell which was which. I would say from your list this one is the best for low light hi iso.

Macro is a bit of a different story. Most compacts do close up photos very well. Any interchangeable lens camera need a specialised macro lens to do so. Even if the camera has a macro mode, unless you have a macro lens it is not macro.

However- the nikon dslrs that you mention (especially the d3200) are well specced with good to excellent low light abilities also. They do not have the retro look but have plenty options for accesories and nikon have plenty of new and secondhand original and third party lenses available. If you can bag one of these for 200 I would say don't hesitate

goodguy · Feb 15, 2014

If you serious abut photography go with the D3200, in your price range that would be the camera I would choose.

undercovernerd · Feb 15, 2014

I'm talking to a private party about his used 3100 right now. What are the main differences between the 3100 vs 3200? Is the 3100 still an upgrade over the x20? Thanks guys for being patient

I got him at $200. I still want to learn a bit more about it. He's selling it on a non-related forum, so it won't be going anywhere.

Will Chao · Feb 15, 2014

I don't think its enough, better getting a mirrorless instead

goodguy · Feb 15, 2014

Wouldn't get the D3100, older less capable sensor, get the D3200.

robbins.photo · Feb 15, 2014

undercovernerd said:
Hey guys,

Recently got into photography, and i'm looking for an upgrade over my Nikon Coolpix L820. The Nikon would actually be ok for my needs, but I like shooting in low light conditions, and it is horrific with this camera! I'll put my needs on the bottom of this post, and let me know what you guys think.

I was looking at the Nikon D3200 as my next camera, but after discovering the Fuji X20, I must say - I fell in love :heart:. I always loved the retro cameras, and this fits the aesthetic bill. However, I need more than looks. I need a camera that will work for me. I'm just an amateur, who likes taking random pics wherever he goes. Most of the art in my house, is from the photos my wife and I have taken around town, or on vacation. So it's important that the pictures come out, and develop nicely. Low light is a plus, as I live where night shots are beautiful things. And unfortunately, because of my camera setup, I can not indulge in those kind of pictures. My wife loves taking macro shots, so that is important as well.

So I guess the question is.... Is the X20 enough? Is the XM-1 worth the extra $100? or is the Nikon D3200 or D3100 (I may be able to get one with lens used for $200). Size isn't an huge issue, but it wouldn't hurt to be more portable, as i'm a college student, who brings his camera wherever I go. Thanks in advance guys, and sorry for the scrambled post.

Low light
Macro +
Decent zoom
Ability to grow a bit from amateur to intermediate (yet not quite professional)
Nice pics that I can frame as usual

Well if lowlight shooting is what your after, the D3200 is going to be a much, much better choice. The x20 is a nice little compact camera - but that's actually part of the problem. Compact cameras use smaller sensors, which drastically limits their low light abilities. So really the 3200 is probably going to be a much better option for you, particularly in the long run.

robbins.photo · Feb 15, 2014

undercovernerd said:
I'm talking to a private party about his used 3100 right now. What are the main differences between the 3100 vs 3200? Is the 3100 still an upgrade over the x20? Thanks guys for being patient

I got him at $200. I still want to learn a bit more about it. He's selling it on a non-related forum, so it won't be going anywhere.

The 3200 has a 24 mp sensor, the 3100 is 14 mp - so the image quality will be better on the 3200. The 3200 has better maximum light sensitivity so it would be a little better in low light.

undercovernerd · Feb 15, 2014

I'm getting a lot of suggestions for the 3200. So i'm leaning that way. I went to my local store, and held each one. Oh my... I don't know how i'm going to take the D to school. So the 3200 is much better, so it's not worth sacrificing a little performance and going with the Fuji? Is the XM-1 a better compromise, or still the 3200? Whatever you guys recommend is what i'm going with. I'm sorry for repeating questions, I just want to make sure it's going to be the one for me.

Also.... Are there any other suggestions for compact cameras, that can at least be somewhat equivalent to the d3200? I'm looking at the Samsung NX300 right now, any information about that one? Only thing I don't like, is that it doesn't have a *viewfinder??* Or any others? Just making sure before going with the D3200 tomorrow.