After nearly 5 years, I decided to take the plunge and upgrade my camera. I have a Fujifilm X-T1 purchased in 2014. It is a wonderful camera; it has analogue dials for the most important settings, all with easy access unlike some menus. The quality of the images is sublime; colours are brilliant straight out of camera and it handles noise wonderfully. It is a camera to love, for its looks, handling and results.
There were a few niggles, namely it wasn’t always the quickest to focus, the dials turned too easily and you could find yourself on the wrong setting when you least expected. But it has served me well and it is a joy to use.
Then they released an X-T2. I fancied one but I’m on a budget and the difference just wasn’t great enough to tempt me to part with my cash. So I waited. Then they released the X-T3.
I decided I had waited long enough. My photography is getting more demanding and I want the best kit I can afford. I’m doing another wedding this year and the shortcomings of the X-T1 would be mainly alleviated with the X-T3. I got one for Christmas, having saved a bit and collected all my Christmas money. I also saved £250 buying it from China which helped. But it still left me skint. Was it worth it? You bet it was.
Had my first outing with it last weekend photographing a music gig for a work friend. The lighting was low, as it usually is and it was a good test of its capabilities. I can say it passed with flying colours. Out of 1600 photos taken (I got to photograph the whole show) I got less than 5% loss due to the camera. Anything else was down to me.
Focussing was fast, the noise handling was in a different league – I know because I was using two bodies, an X-T1 and X-T3 which gave me an instant comparison.
One thing I have noticed is the file size of the 50% larger pixel count sensor. Whereas the X-T1 could produce jpeg images around 10MB, the X-T3 can reach almost 30MB. That combined with a nearly 60MB RAW image, it’s quite a memory hungry camera. It means I will have to cull more of the images I don’t use just so I don’t run out of hard drive space so quickly.
All in all it is a joy to use, mainly because it follows the same design format as its predecessor. Also because it is quicker, better features, bigger image files, better noise handling and if I ever decide to go down that route, a very capable video camera.
I’m glad I took the plunge. I’m sure it will serve me well. I just hope I get another 5 years before I feel the need to upgrade again. I’m saving already.
You can see some of my photos on my website. But wear sun glasses because they are dazzling mhbphoto.uk
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