Since late 2009, I’ve been using Canon DSLRs as my go-to camera system. I began my venture into the world of photography with my trusted Canon EOS 7D and throughout the years, I’ve owned both crop and full frame (Canon EOS 5D III) cameras. Canon has an amazing assortment of lenses to choose from, both from Canon and other third-party manufacturers, which was one of my primary reasons for choosing Canon. I’ve spent a great deal on Canon, Sigma, and Tamron glass/lenses; I have more camera bags and accessories than my wife has purses and probably shoes too, but to put it simply, my journey into photography has been expensive, but very fulfilling. However, size, weight, and cost have now become an issue and with the latest advances in mirrorless camera systems, it was time to review my options.
The Canon EOS 7D and Canon EOS 5D III that I had previously owned are both considered standard size DSLR cameras. However, compared to mirrorless camera systems (with primes), my Canon DSLR cameras were quite large and even more so with their respective battery/vertical grip attached. It was always cumbersome and distracting (intimidating?) to others when I pulled the Canon gear out, especially for street photography and candid shots. It always felt like a chore taking the camera out, the weight had become an issue over time, especially when traveling and even more so when bringing the toddler along. I needed something lightweight, compact, and versatile. I wanted speed and as much performance as I could get without distracting or bothering those around me. However, I didn’t want to make the switch to a new camera system without giving up too many of the advantages that I already had with Canon.
After reviewing Nikon, Sony, Pentax, and others, I arrived at Fujifilm’s X-T2. Fujifilm’s lens selection is more than adequate, with prime lens’ that cover all the equivalent focal lengths that I require. Now about that X-T2, I was instantly taken in by the numerous knobs and dials on the camera, which gave the X-T2 a classic look and feel. Even many of the Fujifilm XF lenses have manual aperture controls via a control ring built right into the lens – very nice! Everything is at your fingertips and I can see all my settings without having to power on the camera. The electronic viewfinder shows me how the shot will look before I take it, without the use of the rear LCD screen. Simply put, the X-T2 is a joy to shoot with, it is a brand new experience. Shooting more photos, developing my own style, and honing the craft with equipment that I truly enjoy is everything I want out of photography.
All images in this post were taken by Jonas Rask via jonasraskphotography.com
