Back in the film days, a camera body was basically a light, tight box with a shutter and some sort of film transport system. When it came down to the actual image, the lens and film choice were the most important considerations. Today, the modern digital camera contains the imaging sensor, processor and software that makes up most of what is needed to create a digital image. Lenses are still important, of course, but manufacturers tend to put the spotlight on the capabilities of their cameras and their various technological features (face detection, subject tracking, burst speeds, etc.) versus the lenses.
From a marketing perspective, this makes sense. How many bullet points can you make about a relatively simple eight-elements-in-six-groups lens design with a single aspherical element? At the same time, without a good selection of native mount lenses, what’s the point of marketing just camera bodies, right? As an example, the new Nikon Z series cameras are impressive but their selection of prime lenses is abysmal. I’m not interested until they introduce more prime lenses that match the aesthetics and philosophy of their new cameras. In contrast, Fujifilm’s X Series has a plethora of primes and zoom lenses to appease both professionals and hobbyists alike. This is the primary reason why I usually recommend Fujifilm’s X Series for those who want to get into photography compared to other ILC systems. For me, it’s about the lens selection that makes for a well-rounded ecosystem. The following X Series lenses are my favourites…
This is an excerpt from an article by Take Kayo in issue 101 of FUJILOVE MAGAZINE (August 2024). Subscribers, you can find this article by downloading this issue from your subscriber area.
You will find the remaining part of this article in FUJILOVE MAGAZINE.
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