Canon 5D MIII to Fuji X-T1

[mustafaakarsu]

Hi!

I'm using a Canon 5D MIII with 24-105 and 100mm L Macro
I'm mostly interested in landscape, landscape astrophotography and Macro.

Unfortunately I feel that my kit is heavy, so I'm thinking to swap it with Fuji X-T1 with 16-55 f2.8 lens and Zeiss 50mm Macro (I'll upgrade this to Fuji 120mm Macro when it's available)

Do you think I'd miss a lot after this switch?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I had to sell my 1D MK IV because of wrist issues and get the light weight 5D MK III. Its all relative. When I pickup a 70D. it feels like a toy. I also consider the 100L and the 24-105mm L lenses to be on the light side as "L" lenses go.

You are comparing FF to APS-C, so you get a good camera, but you also get the limitations of a smaller sensor. I'd have a hard time going back to a APS-C sensor.

The extra weight will not be a issue after you get used to it.

 

[distant.star]

.
Only you can say how you will feel after the switch.

If I were you, I'd buy a used Fuji X100S or X-E2 and try it. They both have the same sensor you'll get in the X-T1 so you'll be able to judge image quality. If it's suitable, go to Fuji and either keep the X100S or X-E2 as backup or sell it.

My experience suggests you may not miss the Canon. I got an X100S a year ago and will probably leave the Canon 5D3 behind this year or next. My first impression was being rather angry. I found the image files from the $1200 APS-C sensor were the equal (or better) than the ones from the $3500 full-frame Canon sensor. I get shadow detail from the Fuji sensor I couldn't dream of getting from the Canon, and Fuji's high ISO performance equals the 5D3. More often than not my 5D3 stays home, and when I get back and process files from the X100S I don't see anything that could have been better if I'd had the 5D3.

You'll have to think carefully if size and weight are your main considerations. The X-T1 is not the smallest Fuji camera -- it's almost a small DSLR size and weight. And the 16-55 lens is almost too big to be considered a compact lens. I suggest you handle them both as part of your decision making process.

Good luck.

 

[martti]

Nonsense.
Get a lighter lens and keep the 5DIII. It is, after all, a real camera. I am not kidding, I tried to leave the heavy Canon stuff behind and get by with the Sony a 6000. Ridiculous.

Get a lighter zoom or get a coach in a gym and work out.
Canon 5DIII is a real adult camera. It does everything.
Sonys are pieces of brilliant engineering with very good sensors.
Canons are cameras, a biosystem. So do not do anything stupid.

 

[bmwzimmer]

XT-1 build quality and feel is nothing like a cheap A6000 or 70d. The Fuji is fully weather sealed with magnesium chassis. Dynamic range of those Fuji Xtrans Sensors is slightly better than the 5D but its ISO performance is a stop worse when scaled to the same size.

I think it's a good idea to have 2 systems. A large FF system and a small compact mirrorless system with a couple small compact primes.

 

[Dylan777]

I would look into Sony A7 series plus their native lenses for lighter and smaller system while still be able to maintain high IQ.

Bodies:
1. A7s for high ISO
2. A7r for landscape
3. A7 or mrk II for general

Lenses:
1. Sony/Zeiss 16-35 f4 OSS for landscape
2. NEW Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + Ultrawide converter to 21mm Landscape
3. NEW release Sony/Zeiss 90mm f2.8 Macro

Their native lenses for FF mirrorless are not huge as Canon DSLR, but it will cover your needs. Keep your 5D III to handle larger L lenses or shoot fast action events.

I love the look and feel of Fuji X series, however, just like Mt Spokane Photography mentioned the high ISO from crop sensor got me think twice.

I'm currently shooting with A7s + Sony/Zeiss 55mm f1.8. I like the weight and size of this combo. I also have the New releases Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + UltraWide Converter to 21mm f2.8 on pre-order. I'm crossing my fingers on this new combo will give me decent quality for landscape: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1126141-REG/sony_sel075uwc_21mm_ultra_wide_converter_for.html/mode/gsa

Note: the battery life on Sony A7 series is not that great. You might need 2-3 to shoot all day.

 

[mvinson1022]

Hi!

I'm using a Canon 5D MIII with 24-105 and 100mm L Macro
I'm mostly interested in landscape, landscape astrophotography and Macro.

Unfortunately I feel that my kit is heavy, so I'm thinking to swap it with Fuji X-T1 with 16-55 f2.8 lens and Zeiss 50mm Macro (I'll upgrade this to Fuji 120mm Macro when it's available)

Do you think I'd miss a lot after this switch?

I shoot the 5d Mark iii and the Fuji X-E2 which has the same sensor as the X-T1. For landscape I have shot them side by side. You will not be able to tell them apart (other than lack of back pain - smaller camera, smaller lens, smaller tripod) so long as you don't go much larger than 16 x 24. For macro and astro I still use the Canon. For travel and street photography, it is Fuji all the way.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[sunnyVan]

I would look into Sony A7 series plus their native lenses for lighter and smaller system while still be able to maintain high IQ.

Bodies:
1. A7s for high ISO
2. A7r for landscape
3. A7 or mrk II for general

Lenses:
1. Sony/Zeiss 16-35 f4 OSS for landscape
2. NEW Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + Ultrawide converter to 21mm Landscape
3. NEW release Sony/Zeiss 90mm f2.8 Macro

Their native lenses for FF mirrorless are not huge as Canon DSLR, but it will cover your needs. Keep your 5D III to handle larger L lenses or shoot fast action events.

I love the look and feel of Fuji X series, however, just like Mt Spokane Photography mentioned the high ISO from crop sensor got me think twice.

I'm currently shooting with A7s + Sony/Zeiss 55mm f1.8. I like the weight and size of this combo. I also have the New releases Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + UltraWide Converter to 21mm f2.8 on pre-order. I'm crossing my fingers on this new combo will give me decent quality for landscape: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1126141-REG/sony_sel075uwc_21mm_ultra_wide_converter_for.html/mode/gsa

Note: the battery life on Sony A7 series is not that great. You might need 2-3 to shoot all day.

The A7 may be small and light, but the lenses are not significantly lighter than canon counterpart.

 

[Aglet]

I can't speak to the astro but I'll put a Fuji up against a FF Canon any day to compare IQ.

As stated by others, the XT1 is not light, neither are their very good lenses. The XE bodies are light and still have good EVFs too so worth considering if you don't need the design or weather resistance of the XT1.
Only thing you'll miss on the 5d3 is the AF system if you shoot action. You certainly won't miss the noisy files.

Rumor has it, a low-end XT1-alike is to be released this summer...

If you want really light and compact and don't need really shallow DoF, you can also consider the fine array of MFT bodies out there. I make good use of my Oly EM10 and print iso 800 shots 24" wide from it that look amazing. And I'll put that against any Canon crop body or even a FF for smaller output.

 

[Dylan777]

I would look into Sony A7 series plus their native lenses for lighter and smaller system while still be able to maintain high IQ.

Bodies:
1. A7s for high ISO
2. A7r for landscape
3. A7 or mrk II for general

Lenses:
1. Sony/Zeiss 16-35 f4 OSS for landscape
2. NEW Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + Ultrawide converter to 21mm Landscape
3. NEW release Sony/Zeiss 90mm f2.8 Macro

Their native lenses for FF mirrorless are not huge as Canon DSLR, but it will cover your needs. Keep your 5D III to handle larger L lenses or shoot fast action events.

I love the look and feel of Fuji X series, however, just like Mt Spokane Photography mentioned the high ISO from crop sensor got me think twice.

I'm currently shooting with A7s + Sony/Zeiss 55mm f1.8. I like the weight and size of this combo. I also have the New releases Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + UltraWide Converter to 21mm f2.8 on pre-order. I'm crossing my fingers on this new combo will give me decent quality for landscape: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1126141-REG/sony_sel075uwc_21mm_ultra_wide_converter_for.html/mode/gsa

Note: the battery life on Sony A7 series is not that great. You might need 2-3 to shoot all day.

The A7 may be small and light, but the lenses are not significantly lighter than canon counterpart.

and you have better alternatives?

 

[chas1113]

I wanted a small alternative to my 5D Mark III, but didn't like Canon's APS-C bodies' IQ compared to full frame. I decided to go with a Fuji X-E1. I couldn't believe how close the image quality was to the 5DIII. The battery life sucked, the AF sucked, the shutter blackout sucked, and ergonomically everything was backwards (lens focusing rings, menu options, aperture ring), I mean everything. But the image quality for an APS-C camera was WOW!

If you're not shooting fast-moving objects or blowing images up to poster-sized prints, you might get along just fine. The X-T1 has much improved AF functioning over the X-E1. But I kept my 5DIII and added an X-E1. For a while I was shooting everything on the Fuji. Then over time I gravitated back to the Canon. If I'm hiking 4-5 miles over rough terrain to get a landscape, I'll take the Fuji. If I'm shooting an event or people or moving objects, it's the Canon. Shallow depth of field —Canon full frame. For low-light it's a tossup; sometimes the Fuji sensor outperforms the Canon. I am basically using the Fuji as a glorified P&S for casual shooting (which is not giving it credit); it's a much better camera/system than that.

There's just something about the functioning of a dSLR that I prefer over mirrorless. The Fuji feels like an old-style rangefinder in operation. I've even had people stop me and ask if it was an old Leica film camera.

Maybe you add the X-T1 and shoot both for a bit and then decide which system you will keep. I've kept both.

—chas

 

[quod]

My experience suggests you may not miss the Canon. I got an X100S a year ago and will probably leave the Canon 5D3 behind this year or next. My first impression was being rather angry. I found the image files from the $1200 APS-C sensor were the equal (or better) than the ones from the $3500 full-frame Canon sensor. I get shadow detail from the Fuji sensor I couldn't dream of getting from the Canon, and Fuji's high ISO performance equals the 5D3. More often than not my 5D3 stays home, and when I get back and process files from the X100S I don't see anything that could have been better if I'd had the 5D3.

You'll have to think carefully if size and weight are your main considerations. The X-T1 is not the smallest Fuji camera -- it's almost a small DSLR size and weight. And the 16-55 lens is almost too big to be considered a compact lens. I suggest you handle them both as part of your decision making process.

+1.

I have the X100S too. I don't see a huge difference in IQ compared to my 5D3 except that I notice the DR, which is excellent, the files are really sharp (no AA filter), and the rendering is a little different. The X-T1 is not tiny, but it is noticeably smaller and lighter than the 5D3. The 16-55 is supposed to be a very good lens, but it's about the same size as the 24-105, you will gain 1 stop, but you will lose IS. The Fuji weather sealing is excellent, much better than Sony, but probably on par with the 5D3. The big difference for me shooting my X100S vs. the 5D3 is that I really enjoy shooting the X100S. It's fun to shoot. In comparison, I don't view the 5D3 as "fun" but rather that is a very competent tool. I briefly goofed around with an X-T1 and I was not wowed by it, despite my love for the X100S. I echo the statement that you may want to give it a try before you buy.

 

[sunnyVan]

I would look into Sony A7 series plus their native lenses for lighter and smaller system while still be able to maintain high IQ.

Bodies:
1. A7s for high ISO
2. A7r for landscape
3. A7 or mrk II for general

Lenses:
1. Sony/Zeiss 16-35 f4 OSS for landscape
2. NEW Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + Ultrawide converter to 21mm Landscape
3. NEW release Sony/Zeiss 90mm f2.8 Macro

Their native lenses for FF mirrorless are not huge as Canon DSLR, but it will cover your needs. Keep your 5D III to handle larger L lenses or shoot fast action events.

I love the look and feel of Fuji X series, however, just like Mt Spokane Photography mentioned the high ISO from crop sensor got me think twice.

I'm currently shooting with A7s + Sony/Zeiss 55mm f1.8. I like the weight and size of this combo. I also have the New releases Sony/Zeiss 28mm f2 + UltraWide Converter to 21mm f2.8 on pre-order. I'm crossing my fingers on this new combo will give me decent quality for landscape: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1126141-REG/sony_sel075uwc_21mm_ultra_wide_converter_for.html/mode/gsa

Note: the battery life on Sony A7 series is not that great. You might need 2-3 to shoot all day.

The A7 may be small and light, but the lenses are not significantly lighter than canon counterpart.

and you have better alternatives?

nope. waiting.

 

[sdsr]

I realize that Fuji has its ardent admirers, and I really wanted to be one too because I like the design of the cameras and prefer mirrorless and EVFs - but I was so unimpressed by the image quality (compared to the 5DIII and 6D I had at the time) that I returned it after a few weeks (a combination of lack of sharpness, smeared detail, flat colours, RAW files not working well in a wide range of software). Much is made of the low noise at high ISOs, but it's pretty clear that this is the result of high levels of noise reduction, even on the RAW files, and manifests itself in lack of sharpness and definition. I could sometimes get good images on things that were fairly close, but fine detail on distant things (trees, buildings, etc.) is lacking, even more so I think than is usually the case with APS-C (I certainly wouldn't want to use one for landscape work). Maybe you can avoid shadow noise better than on a Canon sensor, but that's also true of other brands. At first I thought I had a defective copy, but I see from poking around on-line and looking at sample images that I'm not alone (including images posted by people who are fans of the cameras). I have no idea whether you would agree, of course - best to rent one and try for yourself. I would rather use a SL1....

For smaller/lighter, my preference is m43 (this is the only system which has a significant weight advantage across the board, married with very good image quality) or, for better image quality, the Sony a7 line (I use the a7r and a7s). Two of the native primes are small (the 35mm 2.8 is tiny and weighs next to nothing) and have first rate image quality (though I mostly use mine with old manual lenses, which are fun to use on mirrorless bodies, inexpensive, and usually lighter than their modern counterparts). If you need very long primes, or constant 2.8 zooms, though, you're out of luck - they're unavoidably big and heavy (and, for now, non-existent in native E-mount).

 

[Aglet]

..I was so unimpressed by the image quality..

can you qualify that with what Fuji body you were using and what firmware?
I know there have been complaints about such issues but I came a little late to the Fuji party, starting with a new XA1, then XM1, 4 XE1s and finally an XT1.
Firmware updates seem to have addressed those complaints and advances in raw converters, like Iridient Digital's latest v3 can extract tremendous detail from the older XE1's raw file, making all those XE1s in my inventory worth even more now.
eg, a 27mm lens shot of a bldg with a screen door I took last year. OOC and other converters you knew there was a screen there. with Irridient Developer 3 I could make out the wires of the screen. Greenery also took on more definition.
I print large so I have to pixel peep and I find no IQ shortcomings from Fuji's current lineup. In fact I mainly use them for close-up and macro work because the output is very sharp and pleasing.

best to rent one and try for yourself. I would rather use a SL1....

yes, ergonomics on Fuji's are certainly different and, in that regard, I'd prefer a small SLR many times on that point alone so that is good advice if the OP can find one to rent.
I'd recommend buying a used XE1, grab the ID demo software and see what you can do with it. You can sell it if you don't like it and pay less than a rental.

>For smaller/lighter, my preference is m43...[/quote]
+1
It's not my best camera, or my best IQ camera, but my EM10 has actually quickly become my favorite camera to use and I often grab it when I don't need d800 goodness. And some of the fast primes for it are really good and not very expensive, even the slow kit zooms are pretty decent. Panasonic's got lots of nice goodies too. EM5 ii is beckoning tho.

If I were still a Canon fan I doubt I'd completely trade a FF system but I'd sure add a modern ML camera to my kit if I could afford one. You'll then gravitate to what you enjoy using and that can help you get better images than a technically superior camera that feels like a chore to use.

 

[YuengLinger]

A friend tried. Not only did she try Fuji, she tried Olympus. As she was getting a bit older, and always petite, her 5DIII and various lenses began to seem a burden. She is a very experienced photographer.

But she was so frustrated with the IQ, and, on the Fuji in particular, the elaborate menu systems and generally ragged ergonomics, that she found a new love for her dSLR, and learned to pack more efficiently.

To me, though a high-quality small camera is very tempting and on the horizon, actually switching from a dSLR to one of the current options seems so radical as to almost be changing hobbies. Sure, I've seen examples online and in Professional Photographer and Rangefinder of lovely photos taken, but things had to be set up just right, and the flexibility is not there.

For snapshots, a smartphone can work, or a Canon G-something, but for serious portraiture, landscape, macro, events, nothing YET touches a dSLR.

Still, heaven forbid, if a handicap, some health issue struck, for sure I'd settle for what works.

 

[justaCanonuser]

Unfortunately I feel that my kit is heavy...

Dear mustafaakarsu, you simply have to change your way of thinking. DSLR systems are absolutely essential in particular for men, because they provide two services in one: good stills and video functions + sports equipment. If you carry your gear frequently, you can terminate your gym visits and save money. When I am on hiking tours with my 5D3, 7D, my EF 500mm plus some other lenses and TC's in my backpack, I return extremely fit from vacations. Its like doping, I am much faster when I do bike training in the hills here around my home.

So, that's the real argument for big DLSR gears. My take-home message for you, mustafaakarsu, is: small mirrorless cameras turn real men into wimps!

 

[distant.star]

.
I go to 100% on every file I work. The X100S files are as sharp overall as anything I've seen.

The Fuji X-Trans sensor sometimes requires a different approach to sharpening -- here's a piece that may help...

http://petebridgwood.com.gridhosted.co.uk/wp/2014/10/x-trans-sharpening/

 

[SwampYankee]

I have a 5DIII and recently picked up a Fuji X100S. the X100s goes with me about 90% of the time and the Canon gets left home unless I need something besides the fixed lens. The Fuji is putting about pictures just as sharp as the the 5DIII and that is the same sensor as the the X-T1. The Fuji just feels right. It's like old school shooting real dials that click instead of flipping through menus. unless you are heavily invested in lenses there is no downside to moving to Fuji

 

[zlatko]

Fuji image quality is excellent for the aps-c sensor size. But the menu system is a mess compared to Canon, and the build quality is not as good either. I bought a lightly used X-T1 and 35/1.4 and both turned out to have internal damage — stuff was loose that wasn't supposed to be loose. Repair estimates total $450. To bad because it is the perfect size and fun to use. My impression is that Canon gear in the same price range is built to a higher standard.