Need help picking digital camera

[phrehdd]

Hey everyone, just wanted to give you guys an update. I picked up a Fujifilm x100t. I thought hard about what I actually wanted to do with the camera. I didn't want to have to change lenses and I found that the images I wanted to capture were mainly things I was seeing with my own eyes. Glancing over at my son and catching him in a cute moment. I just wanted to be able to photograph those types of moments (with less noise in low light than my iPhone 6 which I think is still pretty terrible for a camera even though all the reviews say it's awesome) and order prints from iPhoto so I feel like this camera should do me well. As for video, I'll be looking into a 4k video camera sometime soon. I hear sony makes a nice one. Feel free to continue the discussion!

Congratz on your new Fuji X camera. Might I suggest you join in at the Fuji X series forums - fujixseries.com where you can ask far more specific question about your camera and all things Fuji X series related.

As well, be aware that Fuji RAW files require some careful consideration. While Lightroom does just okay with Fuji Raw files, there are better options to get the best results (particularly since you say you want to shoot in low light situations). What comes to mind are the following :

Photo Ninja
Capture One
Iridient
Silky (Fuji's offering though kind of inept)

For most people, Photo Ninja would be a good choice for a start. (just an opinion)

 

[Meister]

Hey everyone, just wanted to give you guys an update. I picked up a Fujifilm x100t. I thought hard about what I actually wanted to do with the camera. I didn't want to have to change lenses and I found that the images I wanted to capture were mainly things I was seeing with my own eyes. Glancing over at my son and catching him in a cute moment. I just wanted to be able to photograph those types of moments (with less noise in low light than my iPhone 6 which I think is still pretty terrible for a camera even though all the reviews say it's awesome) and order prints from iPhoto so I feel like this camera should do me well. As for video, I'll be looking into a 4k video camera sometime soon. I hear sony makes a nice one. Feel free to continue the discussion!

Congratz and enjoy

 

[kingalexthe1st]

As well, be aware that Fuji RAW files require some careful consideration. While Lightroom does just okay with Fuji Raw files, there are better options to get the best results (particularly since you say you want to shoot in low light situations). What comes to mind are the following :

Photo Ninja
Capture One
Iridient
Silky (Fuji's offering though kind of inept)

For most people, Photo Ninja would be a good choice for a start. (just an opinion)

I use LR for my Fuji and think it's fine for it, but I'm curious about these other apps you mention. Would you mind elaborating on them a bit on why they're more suited to the Fuji RAF's ?

Also, congrats to the OP, and good choice. Enjoy

Thanks,
Alex

 

[phrehdd]

I use LR for my Fuji and think it's fine for it, but I'm curious about these other apps you mention. Would you mind elaborating on them a bit on why they're more suited to the Fuji RAF's ?

Also, congrats to the OP, and good choice. Enjoy

Thanks,
Alex

LR does a fair job at handling Fuji RAF but fails at certain levels with respect to its counterparts mentioned. Much of this has to do with the Fuji sensor being different than typical sensors. Adobe products don't quite have a handle on optimizing for the Fuji sensor. Fuji doesn't use the Bayer type sensor which is what is fairly common among digital cameras. Adobe products do well with Bayer sensors but in short lack the ideal means of demosaic of RAF files.

There are out on the internet various comparisons of the results of processing RAF files in different software. Again, Lightroom does "okay" but the ones I listed are pretty much all superior at some level for actual processing. I should also mention that even DxO handles RAF better than Lightroom and it too isn't optimized for RAF (it does best with Bayer sensor type images).

Here is an example of a comparison -
http://www.photographerslounge.org/showthread.php?t=15229

I tend to use Capture One. I also have Photoshop CS6 with some plug ins. If I were to go the route of Lightroom for DAM purposes, I would probably consider Photo Ninja in the workflow with Lightroom.

Edit: It appears that LR5.7 seems to be gaining some popularity with some Fuji users. I can't comment on it as I don't have it nor any measurable data on this update to LR.

Terms to consider in comparing results - artifacts, smearing, noise reduction and impact of sharpening (when it goes bad).

 

[kingalexthe1st]

LR does a fair job at handling Fuji RAF but fails at certain levels with respect to its counterparts mentioned. Much of this has to do with the Fuji sensor being different than typical sensors. Adobe products don't quite have a handle on optimizing for the Fuji sensor. Fuji doesn't use the Bayer type sensor which is what is fairly common among digital cameras. Adobe products do well with Bayer sensors but in short lack the ideal means of demosaic of RAF files.

There are out on the internet various comparisons of the results of processing RAF files in different software. Again, Lightroom does "okay" but the ones I listed are pretty much all superior at some level for actual processing. I should also mention that even DxO handles RAF better than Lightroom and it too isn't optimized for RAF (it does best with Bayer sensor type images).

Here is an example of a comparison -
http://www.photographerslounge.org/showthread.php?t=15229

I tend to use Capture One. I also have Photoshop CS6 with some plug ins. If I were to go the route of Lightroom for DAM purposes, I would probably consider Photo Ninja in the workflow with Lightroom.

Edit: It appears that LR5.7 seems to be gaining some popularity with some Fuji users. I can't comment on it as I don't have it nor any measurable data on this update to LR.

Terms to consider in comparing results - artifacts, smearing, noise reduction and impact of sharpening (when it goes bad).

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it! I had a quick look at 'ninja but didn't get round to CO. Though if people are talking abuot the new LR update I'll start there and consider the rest.

Alex

 

[phrehdd]

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it! I had a quick look at 'ninja but didn't get round to CO. Though if people are talking abuot the new LR update I'll start there and consider the rest.

Alex

Sounds wise since you already have LR. Best to you and let us know how RAF works with this latest version of LR. For me, its not about advocating one maker over another but what software is superior on several fronts - processing, perhaps as a DAM and misc items like plug in capable.