Changing from full frame to mirrorless.. ...

Moey

Moey

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Hi folks,

I have two Nikon D750 bodies which I use for my photography work, however, I am thinking of changing over to mirrorless simply for the smaller bodies. Lugging these two around for full day weddings has become, well, hard work. I recently bought a Fuji X100v and I am loving venturing out with that, when I am not working, the Fuji is what I carry with me, the Nikons stay at home. So, with that said, I am considering getting rid of the Nikons along with all the lenses which include 24-70mm, 14-24mm, 70-200mm, 200-500mm etc etc and investing in mirrorless. As I already have the X100v, I am considering a full frame Fuji.
I'm sure other have been in this position, so any ideas on the best way to go about this would be appreciated. As it happens, due to personal circumstances, I have a gap in my wedding work and the first one isn't until June next year, so if I can get sorted sooner rather than later, that would be a bonus for me to get used to a new camera system.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Just to be pedantic there isn't a full frame Fuji. Maybe you're thinking of medium format?
 
Moey said:
Hi folks,

I have two Nikon D750 bodies which I use for my photography work, however, I am thinking of changing over to mirrorless simply for the smaller bodies. Lugging these two around for full day weddings has become, well, hard work. I recently bought a Fuji X100v and I am loving venturing out with that, when I am not working, the Fuji is what I carry with me, the Nikons stay at home. So, with that said, I am considering getting rid of the Nikons along with all the lenses which include 24-70mm, 14-24mm, 70-200mm, 200-500mm etc etc and investing in mirrorless. As I already have the X100v, I am considering a full frame Fuji.
I'm sure other have been in this position, so any ideas on the best way to go about this would be appreciated. As it happens, due to personal circumstances, I have a gap in my wedding work and the first one isn't until June next year, so if I can get sorted sooner rather than later, that would be a bonus for me to get used to a new camera system.

Thanks in advance for any help.
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Unfortunately for you, Nikon's mirrorless offerings aren't lightweight, so you would have to change your otherwise good lenses too. As said, there's no FF Fuji, though there is a Panasonic.

Sony A7IV is 650g vs Nikon Z8 910g. Be aware that Mirrorless lenses are often larger and heavier than their DSLR equivalents, although they're often optically superior too.
 
LeeRatters said:
You aren't going to get a full frame Fuji ;)

Budget & lens choice will probably bring you towards Sony tbh esp if you don't mind third party lenses.
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I do like the Fuji, but I wasn't aware that there was no full frame option, which to be honest, isn't really a deal breaker for me :) I know after getting rid of all the gear I have listed above, I'll probably need to declare myself bankrupt :)


Plain Nev said:
Just to be pedantic there isn't a full frame Fuji. Maybe you're thinking of medium format?
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I wasn't aware of that at all, until I read Lee's reply above. :)

GreenNinja67 said:
I'd go Z8, keep the lenses and get the FTZ adaptor.
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I had a feeling someone was going to suggest that and to be honest, I have pondered on it, but I'm wondering if it would make much difference considering the weight of the lenses? I maybe should have pointed out in my original post that I was thinking of going minimal with lenses too and not replacing the ones listed with like for like, so to speak. In other words, empty out the camera bag and partly refill it :)
 
FWIW I went from a 750 to a Z6ii earlier in the year. Guess what, I sold the Z6 and have just bought a mint low mileage 750. Just could not get on with the z6, maybe because I was so used to the 750 after owning one for a number of years.
 
Although for different usage, I changed to M43 a few years ago for the same reason, to make things easier to carry.

Just for comparison, (not suggesting it is the right camera for you, though I don't see why it couldn't be) I now have two G9s, and the "everyday bag" has a G9 with a 14-140 lens on it, a 100-300 lens, a 7-14 lens and a 20mm 1.7 lens, two spare batteries, remote, cleaning kit, rain cover, spare glasses, compass, spare SD cards in a very comfortable shoulder bag measuring 30X20X15 cm and weighs just under 2.7kg.

It is not the lightest of cameras, but it has the features I want, and though rarely used, takes excellent video.

To be honest, I don't see why most good cameras can't be used for weddings, at least I haven't really seen any concrete reasons, it seems to boil down to "it's not the done thing" or "you can't take chances on weddings"
 
Crop Fuji is probably the best option if you want to go smaller / lighter.

I moved from a similar size canon DSLR to a mirrorless canon and there’s no real space / weight gain unless I replace my 70-200. But the 24-70, 50 and 85 I got are no real savings.

I have this alternative universe in my head where I sold up and went Fuji years ago. I occasionally go looking lustfully at them still. But… I still know that the current canon mirrorless AF is much better than Fuji, and better enough to be a game changer.
 
I went from FF Sony to M43 to save weight and bought an EM1X.

Idiot. Lovely camera though and would withstand anything the elements threw at it.
 
ancient_mariner said:
Some do shoot weddings with crop fuji gear, if that's the route you wanted.
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I used to shoot crop too, my last crop camera being the D300s. I moved over to full frame for the better low light performance (at that time) and also, the wider view. That said, I have been using the Fuji X100V as of late, not for weddings, but just as a carry about camera and I just feel that I would enjoy weddings more with something much lighter. I didn't think I would get used to having a fixed focal length, but I really am enjoying it. So going back to crop hasn't really been an issue. :)
 
Phil V said:
Crop Fuji is probably the best option if you want to go smaller / lighter.

I moved from a similar size canon DSLR to a mirrorless canon and there’s no real space / weight gain unless I replace my 70-200. But the 24-70, 50 and 85 I got are no real savings.

I have this alternative universe in my head where I sold up and went Fuji years ago. I occasionally go looking lustfully at them still. But… I still know that the current canon mirrorless AF is much better than Fuji, and better enough to be a game changer.
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That alternate universe you mentioned.. .. ..that is where I have arrived lately. The thing you mention about the Canon, that's where I am also with my Nikons. I don't know, I feel kind of safe with the Nikons as I have used them for so long now. But, a full day wedding lugging two of them around isn't enjoyable. The AF on the Nikons though is something that would keep me hanging on to them over the Fuji, if all Fuji AF systems are similar to the X100V.
 
It seems to me that, if you want to save weight, you need a system, built around a crop sensor - ie Fuji or 4/3. If you go Canikon there’s not a full range of crop lenses available so you’ll have to resort to FF lenses, which are heavy.
 
I went from Nikon DSLR full frame cameras over to Panasonic four third cameras. The average person would not see anv difference.
 
Mirrorless are also more battery hungry. So a typical Nikon mirrorless will need 4 times as many batteries as a D750 (increasing weight by 230g). The power would also need more management to avoid power loss at critical points.
 
A few years ago I gave up my Canon FF stuff for Fuji, mainly because I actually enjoyed using it more. The current 40mp bodies are excellent, and Fuji glass, on the whole is pretty good too. Have you considered doing the 48 hour loan thing that Fuji do?
 
I find the battery usage to be a non-issue with later Sony mirrorless, and generally get 1000 plus frames from a single charge, especially if shot in a narrow time frame like when I'm on holiday.
 
Moey said:
I used to shoot crop too, my last crop camera being the D300s. I moved over to full frame for the better low light performance (at that time) and also, the wider view. That said, I have been using the Fuji X100V as of late, not for weddings, but just as a carry about camera and I just feel that I would enjoy weddings more with something much lighter. I didn't think I would get used to having a fixed focal length, but I really am enjoying it. So going back to crop hasn't really been an issue. :)
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How much weight/size increase was there when you stepped up to the D750? Because that is the kind of benefit you are talking about by going back to an APS system.

The main difference is the Fuji you are using is a rangefinder type body with a fixed pancake prime. IMO it is a different kind of camera for a different kind of photography; especially if you are critical about image IQ for clients/work. It is not the same as the Fuji interchangeable lens system (e.g. Fuji H2S). I get it, one of my favorite cameras to carry around for happy-go-lucky photography is my Fuji X20, but there is no way I would replace my FF Nikons with similar (D850/Z9).

I suppose there is another option besides the MILC system... you could buy several Fuji rangefinders with fixed primes of suitable lengths (if they offer that, IDK).
 
6 years ago I switched from FF Canon to Fuji, on the basis that with FF mirrorless the bodies are smaller, but the lenses still need to produce the same size image circle, so there isn't much that can be done to shrink the lenses.

If you like your X100V, you could try a Fuji set up, you can do a free 48 hour test drive, I would suggest trying both the X-H2(s) "hybrid" PASM cameras and the X-T5 camera, which is smaller and aimed more at still photographers. The Fuji lenses are decent, but the autofocus is the weak spot for the system, even the X-H2S, which is the "fast" model still isn't as good as the latest Sony/Canon/Nikon alternatives. But for me the trade off of the smaller body and lenses is worthwhile for me.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I find the battery usage to be a non-issue with later Sony mirrorless, and generally get 1000 plus frames from a single charge, especially if shot in a narrow time frame like when I'm on holiday.
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Same here - I have an A7iv and added a dual charger and pair of spare batteries as soon as I got it.
I've yet to exhaust a battery in a days shooting - but the spares have saved me more than once when I've forgotten to recharge the battery from the last days shooting.... :LOL:
 
I’m planning to go from Nikon DSLRs to Canon mirrorlesses, the weight and size being significant factors.

As I want to buy greys, I’m waiting for a lull between shoots, plus weighing up (sorry!) Wex/MPB vs self-selling.

I’ve been spending a lot of time handling the bodies, with and without the 24-70 and 70-200s to familiarise myself with them before they arrive.

The Nikon range doesn’t have the performance I need for my work, plus they’re not lighter enough - but the battery life will be frustrating at first, I’m so spoiled by my D5 and D6 not needing charging very often!
 
Following this thread with interest as I’m ant a roundabout with my current setup - a D750 has become too chunky to carry about for city breaks etc

I may keep the D750 or switch to a nitro less setup for wildlife etc, but get one of the smaller fujis for wandering about
 
TheTimeChamber said:
Following this thread with interest as I’m ant a roundabout with my current setup - a D750 has become too chunky to carry about for city breaks etc

I may keep the D750 or switch to a nitro less setup for wildlife etc, but get one of the smaller fujis for wandering about
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I bought the Fuji X100V last year and initially, I wasn't taken by it, but now, I love it. If I'm not using the cameras for work, the Nikons stay home whilst the Fuji is with me all the time.
 
Moey said:
I bought the Fuji X100V last year and initially, I wasn't taken by it, but now, I love it. If I'm not using the cameras for work, the Nikons stay home whilst the Fuji is with me all the time.
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I done the same with an 'F' :)

Dedicated sunrise/sunset/night skies/etc then it's the Sony FF kit. But otherwise the X100f & film camera if it's sunny :)
 
Erty said:
Mirrorless are also more battery hungry. So a typical Nikon mirrorless will need 4 times as many batteries as a D750 (increasing weight by 230g). The power would also need more management to avoid power loss at critical points.
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I went from D750 to Z6ii. No discernible difference in battery usage.
 
I spent a day with Fuji a couple of years back, VERY impressive, and I nearly switched to the XT4 then as the camera is smaller, but the lenses much smaller (like for like); only the cost stopped me moving from my 2x D750 setup

I then bought a Z6ii and the 50mm f1.8, its not much smaller/lighter really, and I was so disinterested in it I didn't even open the boxes for over 2 weeks!

Once I did, and had a play for a day, I was shocked at how much better it was and so easy to use - that week I traded in ALL my DSLR gear for another Z6ii and 2 more lenses

If I was looking again, I'd defo go the XT5 route now, but otherwise I'm really happy with the Z6ii setup I have now :)
 
GreenNinja67 said:
I went from FF Sony to M43 to save weight and bought an EM1X.

Idiot. Lovely camera though and would withstand anything the elements threw at it.
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The weight is why I sold it Terry , I hesitated over getting the OM1 but it’s now my right arm .if you get the chance to try one take it the speed ,weight ,EVF , and most of all the ability to shoot high I.s.o shots without a worry are worth every penny
 
the black fox said:
The weight is why I sold it Terry , I hesitated over getting the OM1 but it’s now my right arm .if you get the chance to try one take it the speed ,weight ,EVF , and most of all the ability to shoot high I.s.o shots without a worry are worth every penny
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Thanks Jeff.

I see the HDEW price of the OM1 MK2 is coming down so may go for that one day.
 
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