Switching from Fujifilm X to THE Nikon Z

Switching camera systems is not a trivial task, so I wanted to help anyone who is looking to do the same and specifically for photographers considering moving from Fujifilm to Nikon. Fujifilm readers, also note I spent months considering the different camera systems including the Fujifilm medium format, in short, the lenses and camera reliability of Nikon meet my needs as a landscape photographer. 

Above: Images created with the X-T3+10-24mm F4, my favourite wide angle lens on the Fujfilm X system.

My Fujifilm History

Let me first say, I love Fujifilm and actually once had career aspirations to be part of the Fujifilm product team. I am a product manager by trade so Fujifilm if you ever come across this post still reach out ;). Anyway I digress, I was in the Fujifilm ecosystem for 6 wonderful years, and attribute a lot of my growth to the brand which reignited my passion for photography with some great cameras. Over the years I have owned at some point the following Fuji gear: X-Pro 2, XT-30 II, X100V Black, X100T Silver 16mm F1.4, 35mm F1.4, 56mm F1.2, 18-55 F2.8-4, 16-55 F2.8 and  55-200 F3.5-4.8.

My final Kit before switching to the Nikon Z system was the following:

*Note: I had 2 XT3 cameras with one body having the wide angle and one body having the long lens.

Above: Images created with the X-T3+16-80mm F4, my favorite mid-range versatile lens on the Fujifilm X system.

What was the trigger for leaving Fujifilm?

1. Dynamic Range - Fujifilm is no slouch but after going out in the field and seeing my fellow photographer friends editing the same scenes and just seeing that extra few stops of DR, I will admit it piqued my interest to the point I have now left the ecosystem.

2. Higher Megapixel - I wanted extra resolution as I love to crop in post production as I see different compositions within the scene after the fact. Yes the X-T5 now has 40 Mpx but when Fujifilm mentioned that only some lenses resolve the higher resolution that made me think it's time to move on.

3. Full Frame Mirrorless is maturing after the big companies besides Sony refused to enter the market early. What this has meant is full frame is not the big weight difference it used to be, in fact, some lenses are the same weight as the full frame equivalent. 

4. Fuji Raw Files are not easy - I am the first to say post-processing is still a focus of improvement for my photography and I really do think the Fujifilm raw file is harder to get the maximum out of with Adobe products, it may sound like a bit of an excuse but it is something that factored into my decision.

5. Lastly and this one has made me a little sad after shooting in a lot of harsh environments, (I do take care of my gear) I had issues with the X-Pro 2 (shutter died), my black X-T3 the top plate, and shutter release button had to be replaced and the silver X-T3 screen was failing sometimes not switching on, so all these had to be fixed and they weren’t cheap. I also had the mount of the 50-140 break when it was in my bag after a light fall. This left a bad taste in my mouth and was the trigger to sell up and move.

Above: Images created with the X-T3+50-140mm F2.8, my favourite long lens and lens in general on the Fujifilm X system.

My new Nikon Z system

I didn’t muck around here and after 6 years of shooting landscapes frequently and selling my Fujifilm gear, I waited for the Black Friday sales and went into my local camera shop and negotiated my whole kit. I wanted to take the opportunity to expand my horizons and allow myself to do some wildlife photography as well as some super telephoto within the landscapes. This meant I wanted the 14-400mm focal range over a maximum of 3 lenses. Lastly, I wanted to not have a dedicated lens for Astro/aurora photography so for my wide angle I went with the F2.8 rather than the F4 version to give me that flexibility as well as first-class optics. The Nikon Z14-24 2.8 is a stellar lens albeit expensive but not crazy heavy considering it is an F2.8

The kit I decided on was the following:

Above: Images created with the Nikon Z7II+14-24 F2.8

First Impressions of the gear 

So when I used the camera in the camera store, it immediately felt great in the hand, solid, comfortable, and premium. When unboxing the camera and lenses, the Nikon felt a step above the Fujifilm in build quality and just felt superior to anything I had used before. My first thoughts were damn I should have moved to Nikon a lot earlier!

After the serotonin hit of new purchases subsided, it was time to get to work and set up the camera, and prepare for my first shoot. The learning curve began, and things started to feel so foreign, all settings and button layouts felt wrong and counterintuitive. There are some quirks with this Z system but it probably was the same with the X system when I first jumped in.  Here are a few things to be aware of:

• Due to dials for shutter, aperture, iso no longer existing on my new camera, the tactile feel had gone and with the Nikon Z, you need to get used to using the button and dial combos to change these types of settings.

• Getting used to PSAM made me a little sad, I felt like I was going backward rather than forwards with technology even though technically it's the other way around.

• Most if not all Nikon lenses have a dial ring which is like an aperture ring like on the Fuji lenses, sounds amazing that you can have a ring that you can customise, here is the weird thing I never use it! It can move easily unlike the aperture ring on a fuji which has clicks per aperture, which feels like a missed opportunity here.

• The top screen is very handy and a great addition.

• Nikon has quirks like you can use certain features unless in manual mode eg focus stack, timer above 30 seconds, etc. This may have changed when reading the article.

• Nikon Z7 II screen does not flip vertically, it’s a big miss on such an expensive camera, my old Fuji did have this and it was half the price and was older than the Z7II. 

• The EVF is an upgrade from my Fuji but still not class-leading, no complaints though from me.

Above: Trying to capture the Australian landscape with the Nikon Z7II - 100-400mm on the left and 14-24 on the right.

First days in the field with Nikon Z 

I didn't have the best conditions for my first few outings which didn't help my confidence with the new camera. I felt like I was starting again in photography and was a newbie. I felt the camera had no soul, so I contacted a friend who also had switched from Fuji but he went to Sony and he mentioned to me his camera also had no soul! He said he felt the same with Sony and it's an adjustment period and things will change, you can check out Carmine’s great work here. I have to say there is just something about Fuji and its cameras that can't be explained. I also remember saying to my partner, I think I have made a huge mistake leaving Fuji, it kind of felt like I was using  DSLR again and I think I get why this is as Nikon are trying to help transition their faithful DSLR users to mirrorless whereas Fuji had a fresh start more or less. 

Above: All images shot with the Nikon Z7II + 100-400mm

How do I feel now?

Well, I am happy to report I feel a lot happier. I have now shot extensively at home in Australia, New Zealand and even Africa on Safari, here are my impressions after 9 months with the Nikon Z7 II and its lenses.

• Lenses don't let you down, they feel great and they are sharp. Nikon has done a great job with their glass. The 100-400 is my new favourite lens, I also used the 24-120 a lot more than I thought I would. 

• The Z7 II is built like a tank but also super very comfy in my hands, the ergonomics really are on point. The “I” button and its functionality are fantastic. I have customised it so I can get to the settings I need fast and easily when in the middle of shooting a landscape. 

• It feels like the Nikon was designed for landscape photographers with button placements and customizability. There are a few additional buttons I wish you could change but it's close to perfect for this type of camera. 

• The Dynamic Range difference is noticeable, put a photo in Adobe Lightroom and use the slider and see how easy it is to recover highlights or open up the shadows compared to the XT3.

• The screen not titling really is annoying in portrait orientation

• The autofocus even for landscape needs to be improved in low light, it goes hunting, I actually think the XT3 had better autofocus! Not kidding! There are rumours of a firmware update, let’s hope. You get by but it's disappointing from this level of camera. I was also able to shoot wildlife but only slow-moving or static animals.

• I wish it had a sensor cover. My X series cameras did not have these but the difference is, I could afford 2 camera bodies with my Fujis so I hardly needed to change lenses, I may go down the same avenue with Nikon at some stage.

my Conclusion

Switching systems is hard, expensive, uncomfortable and time-consuming. Make sure you are switching for the right reason, i.e. not just for something shiny and new, it’s not going to make your photography improve overnight. For me, I think it’s a worthwhile switch, I have more resolution, better dynamic range and a great focal range for 14-400mm in a relatively small package for what it is. I am excited to now continue to shoot and travel with my Nikon Z system. I am finding the more I use the camera the more I am attached to it due to the memories and photographs I am creating. If you have any questions, feel free to visit my Instagram page and send me a DM.

All the best with your photography and the switch.