It’s the time of the year, where several popular websites declare their favorite cameras of the year 2016. And of course, Fujifilm is well represented ;)
So here is the first selection:
X-T2 Best Advanced Mirrorless Camera at ephotozine:
“The Fujifilm X-T2 delivers excellent image quality, with high-speed focus, and excellent noise performance. Every new release from Fujifilm gets better, and the X-T2 certainly delivers great results. Fujifilm has also had an excellent track record of introducing new firmware to new and old camera models, and if this continues, then we can expect the X-T2 will also get better with time.”
Gear of the Year: Richard’s choice – Fujifilm X-T2 at dpreview:
“I just chose the one I enjoyed the most. […] as we enter the last week of our loan period, the X-T2 is the camera I’m least looking forward to shipping back. I’ll miss it, and I’ll miss the encouragement that it’s given me. Merry bloody Christmas.”
The Fujifilm X-Pro2 has been declared best camera 2016 by wired:
“While it may not be the fastest camera, or the best for traditional pro photographers, Fujifilm’s X-Pro2 is a blast to shoot with. It oozes quality in every way, and turns out amazing images thanks to Fuji’s stellar lens lineup. If you love photography the way we do, the Fujifilm X-Pro2 is worth getting to know.”
“For photographers who desire extensive physical controls, terrific image quality and a compact form factor, the X70 is the perfect camera and is our Enthusiast Fixed Lens Camera of the Year for 2016.“
TOTAL: X-T2 89% hit rate Vs. Nikon D500 84% hit rate
CONCLUSION: In terms of accuracy only, the X-T2 is one of the best sports cameras ever tested.
BUFFER:
D500 = 200 RAW’s at 10fps Vs. X-T2 = 27 RAW’s at 11 fps (but tested with UHS-I card, and not the faster UHS-II cards)
D500 = 202 JPEG’s’s at 10fps Vs. X-T2 = 121 RAW’s at 11 fps (but tested with UHS-I card, and not the faster UHS-II cards)
WINNER: X-T2 is lighter and slightly more accurate AF, but the Nikon D500 is the winner, because of the incredible buffer, the ergonomics and the edge to edge cross type focussing squares.
LIVE TRACKING – VIDEO
Nikon D500 has a touch screen. The X-T2 has eye detection, but in video it does not really work, and in stills just half the time (this calls for a Kaizen update, Fuji ;) ).
Much smoother continuous focussing during video for the X-T2
WINNER: Fujfilm X-T2
LOW LIGHT FOCUSSING
Average score for Nikon D500 = 49 seconds / Fujiflm X-T2 = 36 seconds (measured at 2 targets, one at 6.0EV and one at -2.0EV, focussing back and forth 30 times)
WINNER: For low light focussing without AF assist lamp, the winner is the Fujfilm X-T2
ISO TEST
WINNER: X-T2 images are consistently sharper across the entire ISO range.
VIDEO FEATURES
Less crop for the X-T2 in 4K
better clarity and sharpness on X-T2
better low light performance on X-T2
Rolling Shutter: very impressive performance for the X-T2
PORTRAITS – COLORS (Note: the Fuji slightly underexposes, so the exposure was adjusted to give closer comparison)
Take pencil and paper! The reviewer will show you 13 images and you can pick up the one you prefer.
I did the test and noted everything on a word document, and it turns out that in 70% of the cases I prefered the colors & look of the Fujiflm X-T2. But wasn’t Nikon supposed to be better for portraits? ;) I guess it all comes down to personal preferences, or I’m simply used to the amazing X-Trans look. All I can tell you is that I genuinely made the test, and these are my honest results. Let me know your results in the comments.
Anyway, I think also the tester prefered the X-T2, since at the end of the video he says: “if you prefered the X-T2 in the portrait test, this might be due to the X-Trans sensor”.
WINNER (in my case): Fujiflm X-T2
ULTIMATE CONCLUSION
X-Trans: more film like look. Delivers different and special images! But the RAW conversion results depend on the RAW processor you use.
Sharpness: if you are sharpness freak, get the X-T2
If you haven’t tried the Fuji X-T2, I would strongly recommend it. I think Sony is going to have its hands full competing with Fuji!
The reviewer says that, if he only could pick up one, he would take…. the Fujifilm X-T2 :)
One of the big steps forward Fujifilm did with the X-T2, is Video. The combination X-TransIII sensor + X-processor Pro seems to deliver quite amazing 4K results. The lastest review that confirms this comes from videographer eoshd here. He says:
The original X-T1 had the worst video quality around. The X-T2 has the best overall on any APS-C camera.
The X-T2 delivers THE best 4K image overall. Better colour response than the Sony A6300 and A6500 and way less rolling shutter.
The trick for maxing out dynamic range on the X-T2 is to slightly under-expose and set both highlight tone and shadow tone to -2 in-camera along with sharpness to -4.
But at the end, eosHD also says that “the X-Pro2 has more X appeal, a nicer design and more innovative viewfinder concept. I wish this model had 4K and an articulated screen but Fuji made the bet that one audience wouldn’t want it and the other audience would.”
dpreview just published it’s full and in depth Fujifilm X-T2 review here. It is, as usual, a very comprehensive review. Here are the Pros and Cons:
Pros
Excellent image quality in both Raw and JPEG
Superb JPEG color options
Direct controls give engaging shooting experience
Reassuringly solid build quality
AF point joystick speed up operation
Greatly improved autofocus, especially in terms of tracking
Dual hinged rear screen suits both stills and video shooters
Impressive 4K video quality and associated support tools
In-camera Raw processing lets you make full use of excellent JPEG engine
Simple and effective Wi-Fi system for image transfer
USB 3.0 for fast image and video transfer
USB charging is convenient
Supplied charger makes it easy to keep a spare battery charged
Cons
Excessive noise reduction can result in over-smoothed skin detail at high ISO [NOTE: in their X-Pro2 review, dpreview said: “there’s much less of the ‘waxy skin’ effect that we saw at High ISO settings on the previous generation of Fujifilms“]
Camera’s full AF capability only available with a subset of lenses
Subject tracking, while good, is not be dependable enough for professional use
AF performance drops significantly in low light
Phase detection region is somewhat small by contemporary standards
Choice of three Auto ISO presets more complex than necessary
Limited control over autofocus in video mode
Battery grip is required for extended video clips and audio monitoring
X-Trans color pattern not as widely or well supported as Bayer design
