🟡 FUJI X vs LEICA: First Impressions + The Leica Look (Fuji X-T2)

Can a Leica photographer take good photos with a Fuji X camera? Leica Look with Fuji-X? X-T2

❕ DISCLAIMER: This description may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item via clicking a link I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support. Matt

#leica #fujix #fujixt2 #mrleicacom

[stu-ax]

​ @MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It's so great you have taken an interest in Fujifilm. Some excellent comments here.

Yes, the centre-press of the rear control dial shows a magnified view, and if you rotate that wheel it toggles between two zoomed settings offering one with slightly more. Really helps to nail the subject when using focus peaking.

Other noteworthy point is that Focus Peaking has a high and low setting; on high it shows the peaks on things that aren't quite as in focus as it does for low - so low is the preferred one.

Looking forward to seeing your upcoming videos of the other models. Thanks for all the education you've put together!

[zoltankaparthy]

Well researched, well prepared and well presented as usual. Thanks.

[A]

One thing I found when comparing Fujis is that the white balance is usually brighter than the rest and the way it effects the image especially the B&W jpegs. Great review Matt cheers from Oz 🇦🇺

[mghJD]

Matt on the Fuji you have to dive into the menu and set the grain, turn the clarity way down, turn off the noise reduction, and turn down the sharpness in order to get the look you are trying to achieve. I’d need to check my x-t2 to see how much control it has, my x-t5 has a ton of settings to control output, the x-t2 doesn’t have as many; but I’m pretty sure it has the ones i mentioned.

I can get the Fuji pics fairly close to my Leica CL and SL.

[TheoDahlemPickups]

Sometimes reading the forbidden manual makes sense 😉. Super fast and accurate focussing w. focus peaking. Button dial custom setting helps having a fluent work flow. I'm a mainly man. shooter, so I set the fn button which is located next to the shutter to focus Magification/ Peaking. In the settings, reducing sharpness is a snap. Also reducing noise reduction to -4 plus a ton of other custom settings will make your Fuji taking vintage/ analog kind of photos a blast. If you havent't already, give the system some more time to get into it and you'll be surprised how much fun it is to use.

[MrStevelitt]

Hi Matt, thanks for your kind comments. Yes, the files are more digital than Leica. When I use manual focusing I use the red or yellow focus peaking and zoom in by pressing the rear command dial . I don't Manual focus with any AF lens ( except for the Summilux on the Q2) . Interesting first impression review looking forward to seeing what you do next. The XT2 makes a great film scanning camera too :)

[WHEELBIKER]

Great comparison! Love Fuji’s lenses and their film simulations especially the in camera black and white filters. Very convenient. The only cameras I shoot other than my Leicas.

[Tekrel]

Good impressions video . The x-t2 was my first fujifilm so fun to see it be yours too.

[jeromearnould]

Great job ...Excellent video thanks for sharing

[tomhopkins]

For manual focus with fuji cameras you need to turn on focus peaking. I use the red setting and it's so easily to nail focus 100% of the time.

[ianroe]

Fuji cameras are excellent. The only reason I sold my X-T4 and X-T30 was because I wanted a digital camera (which ended up being the M Typ 240, based on your videos) that could adapt my LTM lenses without a crop. I think you have a unique perspective in that you already used the seemingly not very common Leica CL and were accustomed to the crop, so Fuji cameras make a ton of sense for you. The modern Fujifilm X-T5/X-H2/X100VI viewfinders and sensor are quite excellent. In case you decide to further explore Fujifilm cameras and their features, I would recommend the channel Pal2Tech, who almost exclusively covers their products and settings tips. One other thing, if you're editing Fuji raw files in Lightroom, Lightroom is poor at demosaicing the file format. Capture One worked with Fuji engineers to ensure there isn't odd artifacting and noise due to the unusual X-Trans sensor filter.

[lensman]

Very good and balanced review/comparison and unbiased at the same time. Persoanlly, I am of the opinion that most of the modern cameras are pretty good for just about anyone. The choice one makes is more based on personal preference, style and above all budget. Thank you.

[DavidG-uk]

I'm pretty sure you can zoom in on your subject by pressing in on the rear command dial. Fuji's focus peaking usually works very well though.

[_H_]

Hi Matt, try and get your hands on the XH1 it's really good for all manual work. As for the EVF your rght I hate the viewfinder as I think even the XH1 could have a better screen, it's something I remember complaining to Fuji about when I bought the camera but the plus side is you have focus assist (highlight) which is great for street work as it usually gets you in focus every time on a manual lens.

[artur.charaev]

Hi Matt, my fav Fuji is 2 gen 16mp xtrans sensor: it gives just amazing results with vintage glass, most of the time I use my Fuji XE2s with cheap pixco speedboster to "remove" crop from vintage FF glass.
As about digital look - my noise reduction always set -2.
Some tips on fuji manual focus:
1. set focus peaking for manual focus assistance
2. you can also press back dial in manual focus mode - than it will magnify area around your focus point.

Though I wish to have better evf / screen for manual focus when I tried XT3 I feel pictures lost some magic sauce low res 16mp XE2 sensor had. So I trade XT3 and still using XE2.

[artsilva]

Keep in mind, the X-T2 was released in the Summer of 2016. SL2 came out at the end of 2019. In that time EVF [and other] tech greatly improved across all manufacturers.
As far as IQ comparison, if you use the same lens and a bit of minor post tonal adjustments, I found it can be almost identical to the point of not seeing them side by side, one would have a hard time determining what the image was shot with.

[Smokej]

Hi Matt, I believe with each generation of x-trans sensor the files are a bit different (not sure if this applies only to the jpegs and not the RAW files?) so I’m not sure if the Leica presets you made for the xt-2 would work with files from xt-3 or xt-5? I guess you will know once you get a xt-3 to test and validate.

[stuartmeador]

Definitely there are differences... I have used many Fuji Cameras over the years and as many Leicas. I moved off each of the Fujis in short order had kept the recently when I moved off even the Leicas and got a Nikon Zf. Personal preference for ease of use, accessibility of features, good color & BW.

[Ron-jm]

Hi Matt, nice video
I had numerous Fuji cameras in the past, including the X Pro 3, XT3, XT 4, XT 30 and GFX 100.
As I shoot Jpeg only, I was always a little disappointed with the images compared to Nikon, Leica or Hasselblad. There was always something missing and lacked the wow factor so i I eventually sold them all, personally as an armature photographer I don’t believe in manipulating images, often referred to as editing so I depend entirely on results straight out of camera.
Keep well and kindest regards, Ron

[stephanpaier]

Hi Matt! Glad you try my Suggestion😉
Of course you can punch in magnification, just press the rear dial an you are magnified….
Enjoy,
Stephan