No Goliath anywhere: just David vs. David.
Thanks to a loan from B&H Photo (the Sony) and the generosity of a friend (the Fuji), I have Fujifilm's top APS-C mirrorless camera, the X-T2, and Sony's top APS-C mirrorless camera, the A6500, sitting, as you can see, on the light table at TOP World Headquarters (AKA the windowsill in my family room). (Actually the Fuji is the co-top-of-the-line, with the X-Pro2). I'll be using both over the next month, and no doubt will have a few comments to post as I go along.
I'm reasonably familiar with both cameras, as I owned and used a NEX-6 for two and a half years and have been using my X-T1 for almost the past three.
What do you think of the lens choices? Fair fight?
I won't be starting to post until B&H gets back up and running after the Succos holiday closing. They supplied the Sony to me, so it's only fair that my links should go to their pages.
Looking forward to getting to know these guys!
Mike
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Ken Tanaka: "You’re in for lots of fun this Fall. I’ve used both for quite some time. While they're both 'diminutive' they feel very different in practice. My preference? The Sony for its all-around performance and versatility, as well as its touch screen. But the Fuji is wonderful for the 'classic' photographer."
I thought you would have gone for the Fuji 23/1.4 and the Sony/Zeiss 24/1.8
Posted by: Trevor Johnson | Monday, 09 October 2017 at 02:27 PM
I'm not so sure on the lens choice. Don't you want to do Fujinon 23mm f/1.4 or f/2 vs. Sony's 24mm f1.8?
Or maybe 35mm options from each?
Posted by: Matthew Miller | Monday, 09 October 2017 at 02:46 PM
Have fun! Looking forward to your impressions. Bear in mind that without the Vertical Power Booster Grip on an X-T2, you're assessing ~60% of the performance capabilities the camera is actually capable of. Strapping on the VPBG on turns the X-T2 into a mini Canon 1Dx-like performance beast, capable of getting shots like this:
http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_cat/indycarsonoma2017/Realtime-Racing-Acura-NSX.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_cat/indycarsonoma2017/large/Power%20Exit.jpg
Posted by: Stephen Scharf | Monday, 09 October 2017 at 04:21 PM
What do you think of the lens choices?
I’d rather you write about snookers, your love of Mazda’s, or politics than these two zoom lenses :)
Posted by: Ned Bunnell | Monday, 09 October 2017 at 11:25 PM
I have used both lenses for a while, the Sony on a A6000, and the Fuji on a XE-1. They are good general standard zooms for their respective systems.
Bottom line is both cameras are excellent, and it boils down to individual preference and budget.
[Hey, don't give away the ending. Some people haven't seen the movie yet. --Mike]
Posted by: Paulo Bizarro | Tuesday, 10 October 2017 at 04:10 AM
I see Fuji Rumors suggests that the forthcoming/upcoming Fujifilm X-T2S will have IBIS...
Posted by: David Bennett | Tuesday, 10 October 2017 at 09:53 AM
Your lens choices are fine. General zoom lenses for walk around photography and trips. Keeps the kit light and mobile while image quality is still very good.
Posted by: Daniel | Tuesday, 10 October 2017 at 11:29 AM
I am very curious to see what you'll conclude. I just spent a week lugging a D810, a 24-70mm F2.8, an 85mm F1.4 and an SB700 around France. As much as I like the system, I am looking forward to adopting a more compact (and lighter) system such as the ones you are about to review.
Given that I have an EX1 and a couple of Fuji X lenses (including the 23mm), I am leaning towards the XT2, but I am keeping an open mind.
Small plea: please give us a "real" verdict, in which one camera wins, and not a draw with the recommendation that one should choose based on preferences.
Posted by: Kaemu | Tuesday, 10 October 2017 at 11:30 AM
Well the Fujinon 18-55 is their usual "kit" lens, whereas the Tessar 16-70 is higher end option. So a more fair fight might be the Fujinon 16-55 2.8 instead. But the 18-55 is a damn good lens.
Posted by: Michael Bulbenko | Tuesday, 10 October 2017 at 02:20 PM
I would love to have that Sony. Sure the Fuji must be a great camera, tried one in the store once to see what the fuzz was about, but it just never really draws me to it. In contrast, the Sony's sleek lines and compactness, along with impressive electronics pulls me towards it.
Someone will surely say the opposite and love the Fuji. These are not bad cameras, today's products are pretty impressive.
What I keep liking in today's mirrorless is the flexibility in lens choice; go handy zoom for times when fast operation and a few focal lengths are needed and then put on a manual focus prime when the working style requires it.
Posted by: Oskar Ojala | Tuesday, 10 October 2017 at 04:35 PM
Lens choices.... Meh. I'm sure both are competent.
24/1.8, 32mm Zeiss, or 30/1.4 Sigma and equivalent Fuji lenses would have been exciting. Any chance of adding some lenses?
Posted by: Hugh | Tuesday, 10 October 2017 at 10:43 PM
Fuji has a better lens line and better jpegs :)
Anyway, looking forward to your 'report'.
Posted by: Matt | Wednesday, 11 October 2017 at 02:53 AM
Having used both systems, first the NEX-7 and now the X-T2, I must say that both cameras are very capable, but there is a vast difference in the quality and depth of the respective lens lines. Sony simply abandoned the APS-C lens line when they went full frame with the A7. Even the highly regarded 24 1.8, which I own, is no match for the Fuji 23 1.4. No IBIS magic can compensate for the beautiful rendering of the 23 1.4 and 35 1.4. And there is nothing even close to the 16 1.4 and 56 1.2 in the Sony line.
Posted by: Ignacio Soler | Thursday, 12 October 2017 at 03:13 PM