Fujifilm XT2 Review -- Switching from Canon to Fuji?!

Fujifilm XT2 and Fuji XF 35mm 1.4
24MP, 4K, 14FPS, Weathersealed

My experience switching from Canon to Fuji

I've been a Canon shooter since 2005 since the original Canon 5D came out. Ever since then I was hooked. I've owned the 40D, 5D Mark II, 6D, and all the Rebels and even the mirrorless Canon EOS M and M3. I've always loved Canon colors. And besides, their selection of glass is unrivaled.

With recent improvements in sensor and camera technology, the case for full frame has become smaller and smaller as APS-C and Micro Four Third sensors drastically improve. Still, given quality glass, and the same aperture and shutter speed, a full frame camera will still have one stop of light gathering capability. However, this additional stop advantage is really only apparent in low light situations or situations where you want additional background separation or "bokeh."

Fuji XT2 and Fuji 90mm F/2 @ F/2

Fuji XT2 and Fuji 35mm 1.4 @ f/1.8

For example, my Fujifilm XT2 with Fuji 35mm 1.4 shot at f/1.4 will produce similar, if not the same result as my full frame Canon 6D with a 50mm 1.4 shot at f/2. So in essence, my Fuji XT2 and 35mm 1.4 combo can never achieve the same background separation or light gathering ability as my Canon 6D with 50mm 1.4 shot at 1.4. But that's OK anyway because I always shot my 6D/50mm 1.4 combo at F2 anyway because the 50 1.4 is soft wide open. So I get the performance (even better actually) of my full frame setup in a lighter, smaller, more advanced package--bravo Fuji! Now if I shot a high quality lens such as the Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art on my 6D, then that would be a combo no APS-C w/ 50mm equivalent lens could ever touch (unless they made a 35mm 1.0) or I adapt a focal reducer. Even then the equivalent would be extremely close--something like an f/1.6.

So, my XT2.  Am I glad I switched?  YES! I was skeptical at first as it seems Fuji's marketing efforts were too "in my face" or "pushy" for my tastes. And I felt like the system was overhyped.  But I've also seen some beautiful stuff.  Watching Fuji Youtube guys like Ted Viera (MAAAAAN!) and BigHeadTaco (Click! Click!) have persuaded me to ditch my Canon gear. Thanks a lot, guys.  Maybe I can become a Fuji guy and come up with my own catch phrase.  (Though I assure you I am in no way sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Fuji!)

Like everyone else, the X100 gave me a little taste. And it was all on from there.  I loved the simplicity, mechanical feel, and drop dead gorgeous looks of the X100.  It felt like something I wanted to own rather than something I wanted to just use.   From then on, I experimented with a cheap XE-1 body and Fuji 27mm 2.8 lens.  I was now hooked onto the Fuji interchangeble lens system.  Of course you want to build from there so I took the plunge and ordered me a Fuji XT2 body, and Fuji 35mm 1.4 lens.  

The Handling

The XT2 handles superbly.  I won't get into all the specs, anyone looking at this page already knows the specs.  But having used the X100 and XE-1, the XT2 is instantly familiar.  I love eye detection autofocus.  It does need improvement as I'm sure Fuji will update at a later time as the eye detection I find sometimes falls "asleep" and reverts back to single point autofocus.  The model is frustrated until I keep retapping the shutter button to wake up the eye selection.  Seems to have a mind of its own.  I'd say it works 65-70% of the time. But when it works, it locks onto the eye and is very accurate.  I got tack sharp results wide open at 1.4.  Unbelievable.  Out of Camera JPEGs in classic chrome are PURE MAGIC.  and this is coming from a Canon RAW shooter who spends hours in LR and PS.  Some of the shots came out of my camera in JPEG looking absolutely PERFECT.  I was skeptical but now that I've tried it on my own, I'm a believer.  I shoot RAW + JPEG just in case I need more dynamic range.  But really, I'm floored by the out of camera JPEGs.  

Here's an example shot in Classic Chrome.  Straight out of camera, Fuji 35mm f/1.4 wide open.  The eye detection locked and nailed the shot perfectly on the first try. I'm floored:

Fuji XT2 and Fuji 35mm 1.4 wide open using Classic Chrome, JPG straight out of camera

I also have a Fuji 90mm F/2 coming in the mail for real portraiture work.  I can't wait!

Some more examples:

Edited in Lightroom (RAW) (very minor bump in exposure but that's about it):

Another RAW LR edit (shadows brought out just a tad and colors bumped up a bit to highlight the yellows) but that's it):

I am extremely happy with this camera and lens combination. I am glad I didn't get the 35mm f2.  I understand the 35mm F2 is a great lens, but I found the 35mm 1.4 to work very nicely and perform excellent wide open.  It is also not as noisy as people make it out to be.  I barely hear it operate.  I would like a weathersealed walkaround lens though so I'll probably snag a Fuji 23mm F2 (even though I own an X100s) --Yes I got the Fuji bug...

My XT2 and X100s

I also recommend purchasing the XT2 Grip (the grip unlocks so many features of the camera and is an essential buy) and two extra Fujifilm NP-W126s batteries.  It turns your XT2 into a weathersealed 14FPS beast that will shoot all day. And you can charge your batteries inside the grip with the supplied charging cable.

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