This is not about leaving Leica for Fujifilm. It is about building a small kit in addition to my beloved rangefinder cameras, as a successor for my Leica APS-C gear. Read here which thoughts guided me in choosing camera and lenses. And why the Fujifilm X system was love at second sight for me.
In a previous article, we explained why the editorial team of Macfilos sees Fujifilm as their preferred APS-C-system after Leica left this segment. I, personally, think that Fujifilm and Leica — both as brands and products — have much in common (while there are also important differences) and wrote about this in a much-debated article. In this follow-up, I want to explain how I came to Fujifilm and how I use the gear.
Fujifilm X system: It started with a brief fling
I first came across Fujifilm digital cameras in 2016. While travelling, I saw an X-E2 camera kit in a shop window at an irresistible price, so I thought it might be worth a try. I thoroughly liked the camera and the results, but it remained a brief flirt.
At that point I had decided to stick to Micro Four Thirds and Leica M, so the Fujifilm with its excellent 18-55/2.8-4 kit zoom (discontinued now) had to go. I lost nothing, fortunately. And I never seriously missed the Fujifilm as MFT made many improvements, especially in autofocus performance and, more important to me, noise reduction.
The X100VI as a Leica Q replacement?
The way back to Fujifilm started with an X100VI. I bought it, after some waiting, shortly after it came out in February 2024. The idea was to find a possible successor for my venerable Leica Q (first version). The 40MP sounded promising, and the price of a Q3 was way beyond my means, and all the more for a “relaxed photography” camera. Oh, I never meant to enter the Fujifilm X system with interchangeable lenses at point.
“I had never fully bonded with the Q’s 28mm angle of view”
What were my thoughts? I had never fully bonded with the Q’s 28mm angle of view, it was not cutting edge in high ISO performance, and I really liked the idea of having a built-in flash, which the X100VI offers. Especially for images that are meant to be printed in the newspaper and news site I work for, some fill-in flash can be crucial. Of course, new sensors have an impressive dynamic range, but you will never get the same punch as with some well-dosed fill-in flash.
Over time, the X100VI became a favourite travel companion. The 35mm equivalent lens turned to out to be just right for me, and the slightly smaller size as compared to the Leica Q is practical. I took the X100VI into the wilderness of the Italian Alps, to the bustling cities of Northern Spain, to festivals — partly solo, partly as an addition to an M kit. For the occasional outing on evenings, for handing it over to friends and family and also in day-to-day use, it proved to be nothing less than a wonderful camera.
How I finally entered the Fujifilm X system
While I never really planned to enter Fujifilm’s X System, I had the opportunity to use an X-T50 camera in my daily work as a journalist, and I quickly came to appreciate it. It was so similar in handling to my familiar X100VI, and this convergence of user experience (Jon Cheffings has written an excellent article on this topic here on Macfilos) somehow hooked me — although the Fujifilm cameras do lack the simplicity of Leica’s user experience.
The X-T50 as carry-always camera
I have to carry a camera with me every day for unplanned journalistic tasks, and for years, a Sony RX100III had its own little corner in my bag. After many years, it ended its service life. And after a close look to the then line-up of Fujifilm’s X system, the X-T50 took its place (or better: three times its place). The originally intended X100VI could not fill this gap, I had soon found out, as it was lacking a zoom for this specific use case. Neither could the iPhone, for it lacks a longer focal length.
The X-T50 turned out to be a reliable tool, and especially the JPEG files fitted perfectly into the newsroom’s out-of-camera workflow with minimal post-processing. Speaking of it: I steer clear off the “A” lever which activates additional in-camera processing that make images look unnatural. I set ISO and shutter speed to automatic and adjust aperture. Often, there is simply no time for much tweaking in post in a journalistic context.
40MP for mighty crops
Obviously, the much-described film simulations are no option in this use scenario, so I only use the standard setting. All I need to do is closely monitor the film simulation dial because it can easily misalign unintentionally. The 40MP resolution allows for mighty crops, so the 75mm equivalent of the 16-50 (24-75 full-frame) kit zoom is sufficient. That said, f/4.8 at the long end is not ideal in low light situations or when you wish for much background blur.
The 24mm equivalent at f/2.8 is extremely helpful, though, especially indoors. Add to this excellent image stabilisation (in the camera), a decent electronic viewfinder and a small form factor, and you have a capable tool for any reporter as long as you don’t have to shoot sports or other stuff that requires highly specialised gear (there are options also in Fujifilm’s X system).
The appeal of the X-E5
Before long, the question of a back-up body arose, and I also wanted something emotionally attractive (which the X-T50 doesn’t quite fulfil). You can call this irrational, but I am sure that a tool you have really bonded with is more fun and enables better results (you can read my extensive X-E5 review here). So I opted for the X-E5, even though it lacks the built-in flash. Otherwise, the two cameras are pretty similar, and switching from one to the other is easy.
The X-E5 came with the kit lens, the 23/2.8. I wasn’t sure if this was sensible as the X100VI offers the same 35mm equivalent focal length, albeit at f/2. As you will read, Mike had the same dilemma but made the opposite decision. The X100VI offers a full aperture stop more, but as the price difference was low, I gave the kit lens a chance, and this turned out to be a good decision.
I can carry the X-E5 in a larger kit with several lenses in case they are needed. And I can, so to speak, easily transform it into an X100 with the 23mm when I want a minimal burden. That’s a strong point if you go for a Fujifilm X system kit instead of a fixed-lens camera.
Three lenses make for a good Fujifilm X system kit
The other lenses I opted for are the Sigma 10-18/2.8 and the Fujifilm 50/2. This way, with my Fujifilm X system, I can cover a range from 15 to 75mm with a minimal package. If I require more reach than 50(75)mm or something between 23(35)mm and 50(75)mm I use the cropping margin a 40MP sensor offers — the leeway is impressive. Truth told, a mid-range bread-and-butter 16-50mm zoom has also its benefits, as mentioned above.
Super-wide zoom or prime lens?
The 10-18/2.8 is a 15-27 equivalent super-wide zoom. It offers good, albeit not excellent, rendering and is very useful indoors, for nature (stopped down!) and reportage photography. I went for this sensible solution and decided against the Sigma 12/1.4 which I was able to test in Rome. This one is two full stops faster, but with its 18mm equivalent angle of view, it’s basically a one-trick pony.
The 50/2, so far, has turned out to be a good compromise. There are faster lenses; I also tested the rather old Sigma 56/1.4 which is built well, performs well on the 40MP sensor—but lacks an aperture ring. The 50 offers enough background blur when shot wide open, and the electronic shutter makes an ND filter often unnecessary, at least with more or less static subjects.
What lenses will I add next to my Fujifilm X system? The 27/2.8 pancake attracts me because I really like the 40mm equivalent angle of view, but there is no rational reason for buying it. A very fast 35 (50 equivalent) could be worth considering, and also a longer, fast telephoto zoom or prime, of course.
In any case, Lichtblick Fotofachgeschäft at Konstanz will be my outlet, it has been my dealer for decades now, and it has risen to become one of the biggest and best-stocked independent shops in the German-speaking area. Macfilos doesn’t carry advertising, and nor do I wish to advertise, but maybe you want to check their offerings.
Buy second-hand or ask for ex-demo gear
Lichtblick also ships abroad. The staff are used to customs formalities, as Switzerland is on the doorstep, and speak English. And you can always ask if they have ex-demo gear or young second-hand items (my favourite choice, and I thus paid considerably less than the RRPs listed below).
For now, however, I am pleased with what I have. And, by the way, the Leica M is far from collecting dust. It is and remains just a different, more conscious way of photographing. And no Fujifilm camera has so far caused me to question that.
What my Fujifilm X system outfit cost
| THE KIT | THE COST |
| Fujifilm X-E5 with XF 23 f/2.8 R WR | £1,499 | €1,799 | $1,899 |
| Fujinon XF 50 f/2 R WR | £392 | €499 | $499 |
| Sigma Contemporary 10-18 f/2.8 DC DN | £599 | €749 | $679 |
| Total | £2,647 | €3,047 | $3,077 |
What’s your view?
Would you use a Fujifilm APS-C kit in addition to a Leica? Or maybe even instead? And for which body and lenses would you go? Do you think Fujifilm’s X system mid-range gear as described here is inferior to their top-of-the line camera with better EVFs and further nice features? And what do you prefer: fixed optics or exchangeable lenses?
| FujiFilm vs. Leica: How the APS-C race was won | A very different Fuji camera: the X-Pan |
| Interesting accessories for Fujifilm cameras | Fujifilm X20: The beloved retro camera |
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Thanks for this! This is a very good article and it explains your thought process very well. Just like yourself I had a brief fling with Fuji (X-Pro1, X100T and X-T1) and just like yourself I was not fully convinced by the original Leica Q either, so perhaps there is also a Fuji X-E5 in my future, who knows? Its main competitor would probably be a full frame Sony a7C II, or a couple of Ricoh cameras.