Shootout At the Little Studio Garage - Day 4

Well, it took two or three goes, and several changes of cars and underwear, but I think I have finally been able to set the Fujifilm X-T series cameras in the ring against each other and compelled them to show their best. Remember that this was internal testing - no glorious landscapes or attractive girls to distract the scientist/writer/geek. Nothing but the sound of the air conditioning running and the old-time radio. The X-T10 is my camera. The X-T2 and X-T20 were shop stock. The lenses used - a Tokina 35mm f:2.8 macro in an adapter and the native Fujinon 35mm F1.4 - are my possessions. The 35mm Fujinon is being run without a filter on the front and the lens optimizer turned on. The Tokina and adapter are just whatever they are...there is no normal f stop marked on the adapter but I suspect it effectively closes down to f:22...with diffraction. Doesn't really matter in a comparison because it will do the same fuzziness with any of the bodies. The Cadillac is long, and if any of the combinations are going to chuck a wobbly it will be evident by the time you get to the rear bumper. They have not, and the detail on the tiny hubcap insignia is excellent. It is slightly more excellent on the X-T20 than the X-10, which I put to the increased division of the sensor and possibly the new processor. The chief effect of this is to render the same result but at a larger image - I assessed the X-T10 at 100% but was able to reduce the X-T20 to 80% for the same screen size. The difference for me will be when I use Photoshop to cut out the cars and the live models to composite them. There will be smaller jaggies at the edges of the selections and these will reduce to smoother lines in the final cut and paste. Plus, if I ever want to do printed images larger than A2, the extra resolution will stand me in good stead. I choose A2 as an example, because I printed a Fujinon 35mm f:1.4 image taken with an X-Pro1 on A2 at the shop a few years ago - Epson printer - and the results have been the standard of comparison for me ever since. A tip of the Little Studio hat to Epson... To quiet the suspicious: I did take separate pictures here. The body shape of the X-T10 and X-T20 are identical as far as the mounting plate. I just left everything set up on the tripod and switched bodies. No cheatin'. Well, the overall result was much the same when I pitted the X-T10 against the X-T2 with the Perrier van. An easier shot as it did not need to see a great depth of field but enough detail in the van side ( Loooove the French penchant for corrugated metal panels...) and signage to let me assess the two sensors. In both cases I would gain by purchasing the new cameras. So which to get? The whole will turn upon four factors: a. The different LCD screen articulation. I do not do too many portrait-orientation toy car shots but that changes when a dancer or portrait sitter comes into the studio. Then the fact that the X-T2 screen can tilt vertically is invaluable. Also good for magazine cover shots. b. The use of the joystick on the X-T2 vs the touch-sensitive screen of the X-T20. Given that I do have to select the different parts of the scene for either AF or critical manual focus, these are going to get used a lot. I favour the joystick as using it does not get my hand over the eye-sensor of the viewfinder and the screen does not black out at critical moments. c. There is a PC sync socket on the front of the X-T2 and I use corded sync for a lot more things than you'd think. d. The price. There's a cashback from Fujifilm on right now, but the price of domestic electricity has gone up a lot. As does every other blessed utility. Insert your own particular growl at the state government here: ___________________________! Won't do any good but you'll feel better. So now it is down to the Finances Committee. They will be going through the pockets and sofa cushions for spare change and we'll have to see what the result is by January. Featured Image: " Get in. Uncle Louie wants you should take a ride..."