Backpacking Prime Collection vs Zoom + Prime
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:54 am
I recently bought the Fujifilm X-T3 as a lighter alternative to my Canon 6D. It also has much better video at up to 60P 10 bit 4K video. The sensor is a 1.5 crop compared to my Canon 6D. I have had the camera for a few days but I like having all the dedicated controls for aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure.
I bought the camera with the 18-55 (27-83 equivalent) f/2.8-4 IOS zoom since it was only $300 more than the camera alone. I also bought the Rokinon 12mm f/2 for astronomy but it is manual and a little more work as a daytime prime. If I was happy with just zooms I would also buy the 10-24 (15-36 equivalent) f/4 lens since I enjoy my Canon 6D with it's 16-35mm f/4 zoom.
Here is my thought for a modest weight 3 prime kit for longer trips when I do want to play with night scapes with stars. I bought a Trail-Pix so we can leave the tripod at home.
Rokinon 12mm f/2 9 oz.
Fujifilm XF23mm f/2 6 oz.
Fujifilm XF50mm f/2 7 oz.
Total weight 19 camera + 22 lens = 41 oz.
This would give me a 18, 35 and 75mm equivalent set of primes. I would keep my XF23mm f/2 on the camera on a shoulder strap clip for most of my on trail quick shots when I don't want my family waiting for a lens change.
My 2nd choice would be
Fujifilm XF10-24mm f/4 with IOS 14.5 oz
Fujifilm XF50mm f/2 7 oz
Total weight 19 camera + 22.5 lens = 41.5 oz
The IOS on the zoom would be useful for stabilizing video but I wouldn't have a good astrophotography lens unless my son carried the Rokonin 12mm.
3rd choice is what I currently own
Rokinon 12mm f/2 9 oz.
Fujifilm XF18-55 f/2.8-4 11 oz
Total weight 19 camera + 20 lens = 40 oz.
I wonder who else is using 2-3 primes instead of bringing a zoom. I might miss the IOS zoom for video.I like having a less heavy lens on my camera while on the shoulder strap clip but I did find the Canon 16-35mm IS zoom convenient for its focal length range. The X-T3 with XF10-24 would weight about 34 vs the 48 oz of the Canon 6D with 16-35mm that I carried for a 3 week JMT trip. My wife will be carrying a Sony RX100 m6 with a 24-200mm equivalent zoom so we would use that when we need the reach with the longer zoom.
I bought the camera with the 18-55 (27-83 equivalent) f/2.8-4 IOS zoom since it was only $300 more than the camera alone. I also bought the Rokinon 12mm f/2 for astronomy but it is manual and a little more work as a daytime prime. If I was happy with just zooms I would also buy the 10-24 (15-36 equivalent) f/4 lens since I enjoy my Canon 6D with it's 16-35mm f/4 zoom.
Here is my thought for a modest weight 3 prime kit for longer trips when I do want to play with night scapes with stars. I bought a Trail-Pix so we can leave the tripod at home.
Rokinon 12mm f/2 9 oz.
Fujifilm XF23mm f/2 6 oz.
Fujifilm XF50mm f/2 7 oz.
Total weight 19 camera + 22 lens = 41 oz.
This would give me a 18, 35 and 75mm equivalent set of primes. I would keep my XF23mm f/2 on the camera on a shoulder strap clip for most of my on trail quick shots when I don't want my family waiting for a lens change.
My 2nd choice would be
Fujifilm XF10-24mm f/4 with IOS 14.5 oz
Fujifilm XF50mm f/2 7 oz
Total weight 19 camera + 22.5 lens = 41.5 oz
The IOS on the zoom would be useful for stabilizing video but I wouldn't have a good astrophotography lens unless my son carried the Rokonin 12mm.
3rd choice is what I currently own
Rokinon 12mm f/2 9 oz.
Fujifilm XF18-55 f/2.8-4 11 oz
Total weight 19 camera + 20 lens = 40 oz.
I wonder who else is using 2-3 primes instead of bringing a zoom. I might miss the IOS zoom for video.I like having a less heavy lens on my camera while on the shoulder strap clip but I did find the Canon 16-35mm IS zoom convenient for its focal length range. The X-T3 with XF10-24 would weight about 34 vs the 48 oz of the Canon 6D with 16-35mm that I carried for a 3 week JMT trip. My wife will be carrying a Sony RX100 m6 with a 24-200mm equivalent zoom so we would use that when we need the reach with the longer zoom.