The Fuji X-Camera System Has Evolved Into The (Almost) Perfect System For Me Or An Open Letter Of Thanks To Fujifilm

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I've wanted to write this post for some time, but I've held off as I'm not one to often make pronouncements or profound statements.  However, I think the time has come.  And—a very important point to remember—this is my opinion.  Opinions are neither right nor wrong, merely opinions.  My opinions expressed here apply only to me and yours may be completely different. 

I've been passionately photographing for over 47 years.  I'm no photographic novice and I've been around the photographic block many, many times.  I fell in love with photography in the spring of 1970.  I mean I fell hard!  I've used so many different cameras and camera systems for so many different types of photography I've practiced over the years that I cringe to think about how much money I have spent on this insatiable passion of mine, seemingly chasing my perfect camera and lenses.  For reference, I posted an old list here and here of the dozens of cameras I have owned and used.  You can now add several more to that list since I first published it.

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Photography has always been much more than just an avocation or hobby—or even my profession at times.  It drives me and many of the decisions I make about travel, discretionary income, friendships, etc., revolve around my passion for photography.  At times in my life, it has consumed me.  That may not be healthy but at times consumed I was.  

I've liked many of the cameras I've owned and really liked a few—in a variety of formats.  I've disliked a few as well.  Most were just okay.  They did their jobs but there was no love for them.  I've used some of my cameras for over 20 years and others I bought and then quickly sold.  They just didn't fit or serve me well.  No joy.

Spring Landscape; One of my favorite recent images. (click to enlarge)
Fuji X-T2, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 35.3mm; 1/170th sec. @ f/9; ISO 200

Over all of those years I've photographed for myself—personal work. Photography has been the one constant over my entire adult life.  At different times in my life, over those many years, I've shot professionally.  I've been a professional corporate photographer, forensic photographer (over 100 death investigations and countless crime scenes and motor vehicle fatalities), commercial photographer and wedding photographer.  I've taught photography (I love teaching and sharing!).  Currently, I shoot stock in the form of travel, Americana, historical, nature and landscape.  I don't do it to earn a living, but I submit work to my stock agency as a personal challenge and for others to use my images if they fit their needs.  The money I receive is inconsequential.  It has never been about the money.  It has always been about the passion to create.  I still call myself a generalist and don't like to specialize. 

Through it all, my tools have been important.  Some of my photographic tools have made it easier for me to achieve photographic success and with some I've had to struggle to make them work well for me.  Again, no joy from them.

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Several months ago a realization hit me. That realization is that the Fuji X-camera system has evolved into the (almost) perfect system for my photography and me at this point in my photographic life. That is saying a lot.  I'm not sure any could be absolutely perfect, but Fuji has come the closest, in my opinion, for my work. In fact, I've never thought this about any of the camera systems I've previously owned. 

I've not been easy to please and I continue to be very demanding in what I consider excellent photographic gear.  For creating the X-Trans system, I would like to publicly thank Fujifilm and all those who participated in the concept, research, design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, etc. of this line of X-cameras and lenses.  I would like to thank Fujifilm for consulting with all of the working photographers who gave them excellent input as to how and what to create and then taking their advice to heart and creating this superb system.  Also, a huge thank you for continuing to support the cameras and lenses you sell through firmware upgrades.  Fuji is a one of a kind company that seems to understand the value of customer input, taking that input to heart, then giving back extensively to their customers exactly what their customers want.  Collectively, you have made my photographic life a true joy.  Thank you.

Using first, my Fuji X-T1 and now my Fuji X-T2 has been a pure joy for me (I've also rented an X-PRO 2 and loved using that as well).  When I first bought an X-T1, I actually sent it back!  Why?  Not because of the camera or lenses, but because of the editing software I was and still use.  I couldn't get the quality out of the RAW files I knew was there as I could see what I was looking for in the JPEG files.  Quickly, I realized I missed using the X-T1 and bought another one.  I'd rather deal with issues rather than give up using the camera.  I committed to finding a solution to my dissatisfaction with the RAW file editing. I loved how that camera felt in my hands and how all of the controls and menus were laid out.

Now, with the X-T2, it is the same.  The X-T2 disappears in my hands.  The controls and menus are so intuitive that I really don't have to think much when I need to make quick changes in settings.  And, the images I make are as pleasing to me as any images I've made over the past almost 50 years.

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If you have been photographing a long time, and if you have been fortunate enough to use a variety of cameras and lenses over the years, is it only me or do you find that when you have a great camera (with a great set of lenses) in your hands, that it is almost as though you can't take a bad image?  That is how it feels with my X-T2 and lenses. (of course I can and do take routine and mundane images but you know what I'm saying)  I used to feel the same way about my Pentax 6X7 in the 20-some years I used that for my photography.  I never thought I would say that about a digital camera but I just did.

I've posted a few of my favorite images here, but if you would like to see additional images I've made with my Fuji gear, go to my website and a gallery I've created just for this purpose.  You can see them here.  I hope you take the time to view them.

What is it about the Fuji system that causes me to write that it has evolved into my ideal photographic system?  Here is what I require in a camera system that I deem ideal.  Yours may be different.  Here are the boxes that a manufacturer must check:  

A) First and foremost the camera has to fit well in my hands.  The camera has to feel good to hold being not too big, not too small, not too heavy and not too lightweight (a good weight contributes considerably, in my opinion, to steadily handholding a camera). The camera must have a robust and high quality build.  You want to pick this camera up and use it before any others.

I've owned  cameras that had all the latest bells and whistles as well as infinite capabilities but I found I didn't want to use them because I didn't like the way they felt in my hands.  Too big rarely was a problem but I have found some cameras actually too small and lightweight to be comfortable for me.  I had to add a grip to one camera I owned a few years ago just to increase its size so it fit comfortably in my hands.  Yes, with this emphasis in the past few years on small, a camera can be too small to work well in one's hands.  My X-T2 feels just perfect for my hands and how I hold a camera.  I love picking it up and using it.  I find I always choose it first over any other camera I own.

🗹 Fuji checks Box A for me.

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B) The camera has to have controls and menus that are intuitive.  It shouldn't have too many buttons nor too few causing you to have to delve into the menu for most changes you need to frequently make.  And, the menu system need not be too deep and complicated in order to find what you need to quickly find.  No going into six sub-menus to find something you need to find NOW!  A "My Menu" screen or the ability to set a group of settings into a "Custom Setting" is a must for frequently accessed items.

All the controls on the camera should be in all the right (logical) places so they are easy to find without looking.  You will still have to remember where controls are located, but once you do, you don't have to take your eye away from the viewfinder to use them. They are just where you know they are and will do what you need and expect them to do.  

Any knobs and dials must be large enough to easily grasp.  They shouldn't turn too easily that you can accidentally change a setting nor be too tight that you have struggle to turn them. A good positive click when turning dials is required.  Each button, upon depressing it, should have a positive feeling so you know you've successfully engaged it.  No mushy buttons that you feel you have to push more than once in order to be sure it was properly pushed and the function engaged.  Mechanical feedback is mandatory.  Again, you shouldn't have to take your eye away from the viewfinder to find and push a button and know it was successfully pushed.

The menu items and features need not be extensive but must be sufficient for me to accomplish my photographic goals, intuitively arranged in the menu and logically implemented. A huge number of features, just to include them for no other reason than to say all of these whiz-bang features are on a camera, is not necessary.  But the right features that meet my needs is mandatory.  My ideal camera may not meet your needs so the manufacturers' have a heck of a job deciding which features are needed by the majority of their potential customer base.  Fuji has done an excellent job with their judgment in this area.

My X-T2 doesn't have all the super features that are in some other cameras, but, for the most part, I don't need those features and don't want all of those other features clogging up my menus and slowing me down.

🗹 Fuji checks box B for me.

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C) The camera must have a sensor of sufficient size and quality as well as associated algorithms that can produce outstanding image quality. Having a wonderful camera with mediocre image quality is like driving a Ferrari and never taking it out of 1st gear.  At one time, only 35mm sized (what we commonly refer to as "full frame") sensors would satisfy me.  Well, technology continues to move forward and APS-C gives me more than minimum quality that I require.  In fact, in all but the most extreme circumstances, I can be happy with Micro 4/3 sized sensors.  The Fuji 24mp X-Trans sensors and X-Processor Pro algorithms easily meet my needs in image quality, high ISO performance, focus speed, sequential shooting speed, etc.  I've professed many times over the past few years that 24mp has been my sweet spot for what I do and it is a perfect size for me.  Is there better image quality out there?  Of course!  But if you are going for ultimate image quality, you better not stop at 35mm size or even the smaller medium format digital sensored cameras.  You better go right for 100mp.  But, how much do you really need?  There is nothing lacking, in my opinion, in the image quality of the X-T2 for everything I can imagine I need to do with my photography.

🗹 Fuji checks box C for me.

D) A great camera body is only half the equation.  The other half, of course, are the lenses available for it.  There must be an extensive line of professional caliber lenses available, optically, in build quality and in a wide variety of focal lengths.  Both excellent fast prime lenses as well as excellent fast zoom lenses. 

I don't buy into this notion of utilizing third party lenses with some sort of an adapter.  I want native lenses.  Now, a lens can be made by an independent manufacturer, but I want a wide variety of extremely high quality lenses made to fit the camera with no adapters that may compromise quality, slow focus and/or introduce unknowns into the camera/lens combination.

The quality and diversity of the Fuji X-series of lenses is excellent!  The lenses have never let me down in image quality, even when used wide open.  Fuji has done a tremendous job in creating and manufacturing a professional line of lenses that will meet the needs of most photographers.

🗹 Fuji checks box D for me.

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E) The camera must focus those excellent lenses quickly and accurately every time. Accurate focus is more important that fast focus, in my opinion.  Fast focus is important some of the time, but accurate focus is important all of the time.  Also, the addition of focusing aids for manual focusing is essential since lenses are "fly-by-wire" and generally the focusing systems are not mechanically coupled. 

What's the point of owning a great camera if you have to second guess your lens' ability focus accurately?  Accuracy is much more important than speed to me and what I do photographically. Fast is good, fast and accurate is ideal.  Fuji's cameras and lenses are very fast and extremely accurate.

🗹 Fuji checks box E for me.

F) The camera has to be part of a system that provides accessories that complement the cameras and lenses and enhance their capabilities.  I don't think a camera, in and of itself, can stand alone without carefully thought out accessories that make a photographer's life easier.  There are times when an auxiliary grip is desirable.  There are times when I need to use a flash unit that is fully integrated with the camera's electronics, etc.  Accessories are not first on the list of mandatory items, but accessories can come to the rescue when needed.  Fuji makes a nice set of accessories for their X-system cameras.

🗹 Fuji checks box F for me.

G) The manufacturer should produce a variety of camera body models (styles) that will allow me to adapt to the types of photography I need to do.  They may have different form or they may have different features.  Different prices are important as well.  One then has a choice of cameras from which to choose in order to best fit one's needs.  Fuji gives me the X-T2 and X-T20 DLSR style bodies as well as the rangefinder/optical viewfinder styled X-Pro 2 as well as less expensive bodies.

🗹 Fuji checks box G for me.

H) The cameras and lenses have to be affordable.  You can make the ideal system but if I can't afford to buy what I need, it is useless to me.  My Fuji gear is priced perfectly so I can purchase excellent bodies, and a number of needed high quality lenses at a price I can afford.

🗹 Fuji checks box H for me.

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I)  The camera has to be the one I reach for first, most and intuitively because it does everything right for me and allows me to do everything I need to do.

I've mentioned this before but why would I want to use a camera daily that I really don't like to use?

🗹 Fuji checks box H for me.

What about Fuji's colors and their film simulations?  Not that important to me but, if you have been a regular reader of this blog, you know I've written about how much I love the color rendition and "look" of my Fuji image files.  

Why not so important?  Realistically, film simulations aren't that important because with the sophisticated image processing software we use today and with some work you can pretty much make any camera's rendition look like any other's.  However, I try to avoid extra work, and the Fuji color palate allows me to do that.  That being said, even though I submit edited RAW images for stock, I use the JPEGs from my X-T2 quite often as they do look really good right out of the camera!  A secret:  sometimes better than what I can do with the RAW images, but don't tell anyone... Lol!

Then there is point J.  What is point J?

After all I've written, why isn't the Fuji camera and lens system my absolute ideal system? One feature is missing, or partially missing, that I find mandatory in my ideal camera system.  That feature is a comprehensive image stabilization system.  It could be either in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS) or almost all of the lenses image stabilized, both zooms and primes.  The very wide primes don't need stabilized, but the middle and longer focal length primes do, in my opinion.  

I find image stabilization a necessity today and if I have one criticism of Fuji it is being shortsighted when designing their X-Trans camera system 8 years or so ago and not anticipating the eventual need (or highly desired) IS in-body or at least, with almost all lenses, including most primes, stabilized.  But that is me.  Many of you may not want nor need IS, but I predict that one day you will.  IS makes a difference in photographic success, in my opinion.  It creates additional opportunities.  You may encounter a situation where you want to make a memorable image that would require a tripod. However, you may not have one with you or may not be able to use one (museum, for example) and you may just pass it by instead of taking time to set up and use your tripod. Opportunity lost.  With IS, you may be able to make that image.

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I've read what Fuji has said about not including IBIS (due to flange diameter and loss of image quality on the edges of image files and why they did not include IS in the 16-55mm f/2.8, which has become a superb "go-to" lens for me, but....a bit more foresight into the future may have been better.

Not having IS in my 16-55mm f/2.8 lens (please redesign it and include IS this time or even better design a 16-70mm f/2.8-4 IS) or my primes is not a deal breaker.  If it was, I wouldn't own the extensive amount of Fuji gear I own nor would I be writing this post.  But, not having IS causes me to have a lower my rate of success so I have to work a bit harder at my age (65) and practice my slow shutter speed technique a little more, but I can deal with it.  On the other hand, IBIS will probably be the only thing that would ever cause me abandon Fuji and go to another system.  At some point it time, IBIS or IS in all my lenses will become a requirement for me.  Until then, I'm a happy photographer with my Fuji gear.

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That is it.  I couldn't be much happier with my Fuji camera and lenses.  They have become my all time favorite camera and lenses, surpassing my Pentax 6X7 and my Nikon D810.

I think it is just wonderful to have access to such great tools when pursuing my passion. Many cannot say that.

Again, a very public thank you Fujifilm.  I am very grateful and look forward to many years of use out of my gear as well as "what's next."  

Okay, I've climbed down off my soapbox.  I'll stop gushing for now.  After all, I need to now leave and go out and use my X-T2 as I've been inside much too long....

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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