I had both and after testing both out I went with the Fuji. It was lighter, felt better in hands and tilt out screen. The 1.4 fuji primes are exeptional and I had a very hard time seeing any difference between the Nikon 1.8s lenses.
I love this comparison. I am an XT2 user needing to upgrade now. Its the XT5 or the Zf as I love dials v menus. I do landscapes and bird photography {NZ). I want more dynamic range as tired of having to stop down to not blow highlights. Weight could be a problem as I have smaller hands than you but the Zf is seeming very compelling for the DR alone.
The Zf made me a Nikon fanboy again. I shot a D750 for years, but I got rid of it because the autofocus was so beyond terrible, tracking focus for video was non -existent, and as a DSLR it was insanely huge and heavy. Tried Fuji because it was small and mirrorless, loved the retro design, but dynamic range, autofocus and low light performance were pretty bad. Settled on Sony, with great size and weight in a full frame mirrorless, great autofocus, decent dynamic range…..but TERRIBLE colors. I just lived with that. But Nikon really came out of the gate swinging with their new mirrorless offerings! The Zf shocked me with insane dynamic range and color metering so good that it cut my editing to a fraction of what it used to be. The most shocking of all is how otherworldly the autofocus is now. It’s just 100% dead on perfect in my 6 month experience with it, and the tracking for video is also insanely good! All in a nice retro-film-style full frame mirrorless that is maybe borderline on size and weight, but not too heavy and feels extremely tough and well made. They really outdid themselves.
I have the XT5, i will sell it. I use z8 and ziti for my professional work, i live the look of the ZF, but the big and only really that i will not buy the ZF is because it does not have a joystick…for me is a deal breaker. I use single point , and i would hate to rely on the AUTOFOCUS…such a shame
I bought the xt-5 as an all purpose camera but mostly I want to take pictures of my black dog running and the Fuji completely fails at that. Literally I’d say I have like 2% of the photos in focus. The eye af shows it’s working but all it does it manages to get the tail in focus. Plus it blows up the image (due to his black fur} to iso 6400 which really is no better than my smartphone.
@@TCinSoCal your argument is valid but on the other hand if you pay an average yearly wage of India (look it up) for an equipment that is solely purposed to make pictures and you can’t do it because your dog is black, I think you might have the right to be disappointed.
I bought a Fuji X-H2 with 16-80 and was first shooting on a dance Party. I shoot 500 Photos and 90% was so out of focus, that I can't use them. I am not new to Fuji and shoot nearly every Camera except X-T5. The AF just sucks... even more with new FW and even if I switch in menu on AF-C to fucus priority. Even than the camera release immediately without focus confirmation. I am so p.o. that I sell it and go back to Nikon. For a Year I had the 6ii and 7ii but both focus are also bad as Fujis but since Z9, Z8 and now Zf they improved AF really good. Thx for your video - now I know my next one 😉
So sorry to hear that. The X-H2 isn’t known for fast/tracking AF. The X-H2S is much better. The X-H2 is great for being able to crop and not-moving subjects. With that said.. the X-H2 should be able to handle some movement.. how high was your SS? I’m guessing with that lens your ISO was creeping up.
@@TCinSoCalHey... I trying some settings and found a real Fuji bug! When I press fast the shutter button the camera release immediately without focussing at all. What? Ok...then I changed AF-C release/focus priority to focus and.... same behavior...what?!?...I switch to AF-S and try again to press the button direct full...camera shot without any focusing. What's going on? It should wait till focus is confirmed but it didn't. Then I switched AF+MF from "on" to "off" and now the camera focus first and release not before focus is correct. Wtf...Fuji. That costs me 300 Fotos Out of focus on my son's school end dance party.
This cannot be overstated. I’m not a small guy and have no issues lifting heavy weights.. the Zf is absolutely a beefy chunker in the hand. The X100 line you can carry almost uncommitted to it.. the Zf.. you KNOW it’s in-hand.. around neck. I can’t imagine wearing it around my neck actually. It’s also more of a chunk in people’s faces. My boys don’t notice my X100V but almost always reacted to the Zf. Valid comment.
Always had the Nikons and the Z series. Than I sold my gear for leica and fujifilm xt5 I love the fujifilm more than the Nikon, images, Colour and sharpness are better and it's lighter.. Give me the Fujifilm
Helpful video. AF and dynamic range are the attractions for me. I have a Nikon F4 which was hated in its day, and it weighs a ton, but that weight somehow makes it easier to handle than some of the lighter weight Nikons. Decided to rent a Nikon Zf before a next step. Still have AF-D Nikon lenses.... so we'll see. I like lenses with aperture rings, depth of field, etc. on the lens barrel MORE than focus-by-wire so may one day look at Voigtlander primes.... especially if the come out with an 85mm or 90mm and a 24 or 28mm.
Thanks for your honest opinion! I have my X100VI on pre-order and I was already doubting my decision, and considering to cancel.. now I am almost sure of doing it. I also came from Nikon, and Fuji, even shot Canon for a while... last 10-ish years I shoot Sony and never looked back. I was surprised to hear you grading Sony's colors the worst in your previous video... gladly here you put them in the right place. What can I say? I agree - Sony may not be fun, but hey - Canons are even less fun and more "pragmatic" work horse cameras. Nikon I liked because of the "magic of colors". It went away with the years, then Fuji came, but I found its colors to be a bit "muted" for my taste. With Sony, as with Nikon, you can expand in any direction you need. And then the AF... and the size.... and the GM lenses... I deeply consider A7Cr + 20-70G for my travel kit now.... and throwing a small prime in the bag for if I need it. What did you kept at the end?
Research the R before pulling the trigger. Everything I’ve found shows the R has a noticeable increase of ISO noise at lower levels than the 33MP sensor. I’ve downloaded RAW files to review. If you can stay under ISO 5,000 you’re likely fine. My limit is 8-10K ISO. I’m using the A7Cii and a graphite X-Pro2 now. The X-Pro2 is fun but A7Cii better in every way. Using 40 2.5 with A7Cii and considering the 35 1.4 GM.. love 35/40mm. The A7Cii grows on you. It’s such a beast in such a small package.
@TCinSoCal thanks again. I have the A7R V but I'm looking to get a travel camera. And here is the question... is A7Cr a $3000 smaller camera? I know we photographers look for smaller differences to justify a purchase, but I love the A7RV viewfinder. I even prevìew the images through kt, instead of the screen. I would go gore Cii, but I plan to travel light so the opportunity to crop can be handy, plus I don't usually shoot at high iso.
@@sgg74 I would love to hear your thoughts on ISO noise above 5,000 with the A7RV. The A7Cii EVF is definitely a compromise.. for me bodies with large and glorious EVF.. often are so big they get left home a lot.
@TCinSoCal the 9mil points resolution on rv is definitely giving it 3d look. But it is not big deal for me except if you shot professional events in the dark... like dance floor during the wedding... then the low resolution is a killer. You can't see anything clearly. I'm a low iso maniac, so even the second native iso of 320 is a compromise for me on rv. It certainly can be managed with software. I would give my absolute tollerable maximum at 6400. I would even go above that but if I know I can downsize the image to 24mpx.
Great video. I have a question for you as I am considering a ZF. How is the AF for capturing fast pets? A dog running? A cat moving? I ask because I currently own an X-H2S that loves to miss focus no matter what settings I use. It's great for stationary subjects, but I get a lot of dog butts (blurry at that) instead of what I am clearly getting a focus confirmation on (the eye). I want something that can give me at least a 50% clear focus hit rate.
Great question. I wish I could help you but can’t. The Zf was great at getting eyes in focus of my dogs & cat but I didn’t do any active tracking. It was casual shots. I made sure to get SS up high and it did well in this situation. The X-H2S is really good so I can’t say the Zf is better. How high of a SS are you using with X-H2S? Do you have SF-C set to focus priority instead of release? Maybe try lowering the burst rate a little.
@@TCinSoCal I'm going to keep playing around and THINK I tried most things (I could live with a blurry photo from slow shutter speed as I could explain that, but pictures of anything but the dogs head is annoying), and yes, it's always on focus priority. But when I was shooting two midsize dogs moving pretty quick I kept getting missed focus no matter what I was trying. I am hoping I find that I am doing something horribly dumb and it comes to me soon. Thanks TC.
Let's not forget what it is you want from a photo. I for one do NOT want it to look as true to life as possible in most cases. I want something beyond that, spmething that is true to the emotion and not the actual hue value. Except for one I preferred all the Fuji pictures and I don't even own one (anymore).
I get where you’re coming from. I love the Fuji film sims and recipes.. but without color retention ..and the FF is significantly better. I shoot both.. right now using A7Cii & X-Pro2.
The color science and "look" that I get out of Fuji sensor will ALWAYS override the features and offerings of other bodies/systems. It's incomperable. That's what it comes down to for me.
thanks for taking the time to reply. Maybe for me is not good enough I usually spend whole days out and battery can be an issue even though the camera looks good. Principally I'd like to stay with nikon since I already have quite few lenses. Anyway - Thanks again and all the best - Mauro@@TCinSoCal
Brilliant comparison. I'm so similar in camera journey. Had years of Nikon DSLRs, loved the colours, ergo, but so big! Morphed to Fuji, love colours, size, jpegs... just feeling FF FOMO now....errrgggh😬 I've always said: "If you have enough light + nothing moves, Fuji is perfect system!" But... always been disappointed with Fuji DR, low light+ AF. (Have XE-2, like you, that I can forgive!) But new fuji's should be better !! Maybe time to dip back into Nikon...Thank you 😊 Subbed
Love Zf. Yes, best AF as it has good (if not the best of best) EVF and screen. No more issues I could not deal with being off in my focusing, and feeling I had to try not-so-good practice of AF fine tuning on the fly, Af best part is discovering how the advanced tech makes MF good uses possible, for me for fist time. Adapted F mount Voightlander 58.4 on ZTFii. Magnication on a push button, with peaking is great. They have contacts, so control wheels are used for A and shutter! So good I bought the Voightlander Ultron 40 f/2 SLii for F - mount, as I still have FX and DX DSLRS to use it with, and happy to adapt to ZF. Some handling quirks and compromises in the body. I have paid more if better.
The AF is amazing.. even for MF lenses .. you get the green square confirmation of focus. I have the Voigtlander 50mm f2 APO Lanthar but I’m not good enough to use a MF lens with my boys. They move too much.
Thanks for an amazing comparison video, it's so hard to find comparison's like this that doesn't compare specs but real life practical impressions. I'm curious if you were to go on a family vacation to a city and can only bring one of these cameras, which would you take? (or would you bring a different camera?)
Out of these I would bring Zf with 40 f2 and 24-70 f4. I just recently took A7Cii and 40 2.5 on a trip and loved it. I would have liked having the 24-105 to supplement it on that trip.
Thanks I’ve been wondering if I would cross from Nikon to Fuji X system because of the colour and the compactness. You hit the nail on the head. Nikon colour is better for real life colour (what the eye sees). I just wish the Zf was a little more compact and lighter. As soon as you put a bigger lens on it it’s a chore as an all day carry
I have the X-T4 and want better low light shooting. I had almost decided on the Sony A7 IV, until this video. Initially I was torn between upgrading to the X-T5, for the better processor/ more mega pixels while keeping the retro dials. But I would love to keep Fuji for my many lenses I already own. I will spend the money for better low light quality photos, but if it's not worth it, I'd rather keep my Fuji lenses and upgrade to the X-T5, X-H2, or H-2S. Could you give me you thoughts on that? I know this video explains a lot, I just need a little more push.
I’m not sure know light/higher ISO images will be better with X-T5/X-H2. Likely more noise with that sensor. X-H2S will possibly be better.. AF significantly better.
Appreciate the detailed sharing. Do you have any experience on last gen Nikon Z body Z6II/Z7II autofocus? How far are they behind ZF, and how they compare to Fuji X-T5 autofocus? Thank you.
I owned the Z6ii. Amazing camera and colors. If you’re not birding, sports or want best eye AF it’s fine. Very similar to X-T5. Zf is significantly better with eye AF.
Sony make great pruducts technically. But i recently went to a sony showroom and tried everythjng from an a74, to an a7r5, and a a7c etc. I was just suprised of how cheap the body felt in all of them. They all had makrs of casting plastic which made them extra cheap. The doors covering the ports were atrocious. And they all had this super small gap between the shutter button and the body which is supper strange and is nkt something u expect on expensive kit. Plus there are those who say that sony color being shit is a myth. But i find the fuji colors by far the most pleasing. Sony has a mild greend yellow hue, nikon has a gold hue which can be nice in specific occasion but somyimes overwhelming. And canon has lost the plot recently with thejr color and D.Range.
I have the xh2 but i bought x100vi because i wmatwd something small and descrete that i can take with me most places. Beutiful camera build quality is fanatstic. Similar to the x100v. The only thing i have a question about is regardkng the usb c door flap whoch kinda moves slightly when closed. Has anyone else noyicdd that? Its super mild but i noticed it . Anyone else?
The factory in China just assembles the parts by following the instructions they get from Fujifilm. Nothing wrong with built quality here. Your iPhone is also "Assembled in China".
Good casual review of a popular camera. I agree on Wi-Fi transfer…I pop the card out and copy files quickly instead of burning up my battery with wireless transfer.
Here is a more extreme but real example. SOOC, Sony handles light/colors significantly better. Can edit them to get close but FF advantage is a real thing. imgur.com/a/GIZZ9dM
@@TCinSoCal big difference - which lense do you like best for that combo - I think I will go for it instead of the VI as I have some other fuji cameras
2:00 Dunno, had an xt2, got 2 xt3’s. Build quality same 4 me. Other youtuber claimed xt2 was a QC nightmare. Same with japan built xpro3. Ribbon cable-gate. My x100v has a sticky front lever. Say what you will, all of apple’s tech except for mac pros are built in CHYNAH.
x% of all things made will have bugs. All I know is the 2 X-T3 I tried had super cheap feeling dials. Significantly cheaper feeling than the X-T2. Have an X-E2 I’ve owned for years that keeps kickin’. I wasn’t making a statement that Japan > China for build quality. Companies get the QC they pay for.
I have issues with things made in totalitarian police states that have no regard for intellectual property.. I bought three xt2s knowing the rest will be made in the PRC. Atleast Nikon manufacturers in Thailand. Time is right to migrate to full frame Nikons.
