By Marianne Chua
Fujifilm offers a range of mirrorless APS-C cameras and deciding which is right for you can sometimes be difficult. In this article, I compare the FUJIFILM X-T2 and the X-Pro2 for what I know and love… wedding photography.
The main thing to be aware of is that the internal sensors in the X-T2 and X-Pro2 are identical, so you will get the same quality and colour image output. The cameras mostly differ in terms of the hardware a.k.a the external shell. I am going to assume a lot of people will have arrived here with some knowledge of the technical specs, so I’ll aim for a review of how the two cameras differ in experience. The X-Pro2 reminds me of a classic rangefinder camera, whereas the X-T2 resembles an old 35mm SLR. As a wedding photographer, both cameras offer the advantages of being discreet, compact, quiet and stylish (prepare for wedding guests to ask you whether you’re shooting film!), so the decision of which to buy really comes down to personal preference.
Starting with the X-Pro 2: The Viewfinders
Personally, I started with the X-Pro2 because when I first decided to switch to Fujifilm for my professional photography work, the X-T2 was not available, and I knew the X-Pro2 was more advanced than the X-T1. Initially I loved how clean and minimalist it felt to handle, the joystick is a real… joy to use (sorry couldn’t help it!), to the point where, when I recently tried a non-joystick body, I was blown away by how reliant I had become on the Fujifilm AF joystick, and I still now can’t believe other photographers can put up with a keypad style function!
A key difference between the two models is the position and technology of the viewfinder. The X-T2 viewfinder sits centrally and is electronic only, whereas the X-Pro2 viewfinder sits to the left and offers both an optical and electronic viewfinder. However for me, the optical viewfinder wasn’t something I was willing to put the time in to get used to, so I ended up resting on shooting solely with the electronic viewfinder. The OVF in the X-Pro2 has the advantage of showing you what’s coming into the frame from your peripherals, so it’s pretty ideal for street style photographers or those who catch a lot of action. The price you pay is getting used to the parallax correction, which might be easier for some more than others, and I think, if I wasn’t shooting in such a constantly fast paced environment, I’d have been OK with it, but generally I am the type of shooter where I want my equipment to minimise the effort my brain needs to make when taking a shot. I want to conserve my attention and focus on what’s outside of the camera, and for me a camera is the tool which helps me execute the shot as reliably and smoothly as possible! So, I think the ease of using the OVF is something you have to try for yourself to know, I have plenty of friends who shoot with it and absolutely love it.
Discovering the X-T2: The Flip Screen
Alongside me not maximising the OVF, the other factors that tipped me into trying an X-T2 were firstly, the rear flip screen, and secondly the top command dials. I had never shot a camera with any system featuring a flip screen before, and up until the X-T2 I had been playing at guesswork constantly. I’d seen a friend shooting with an X-T2 flip screen and I decided it was crucial for me, as someone who is constantly composing wedding photos from weird angles and small crevices! The flip screen on the X-T2 folds out both horizontally and vertically, and I use it at every single wedding at some point or I don’t think I could ever buy a non-flip screen camera again!
Loving the X-T2: The Dials
My only minor gripe with the X-Pro2 was that, because the exposure compensation dial is quite close to the edge, I would occasionally bump it and accidentally change my exposure. I use auto ISO quite a lot so this did affect my shots. However, I wanted quick access to some of the functions I use the most under pressure, in a more intuitive and tactile manner; during first kisses, recessionals and confetti throws I always change the drive mode from S to CH. Even though I originally liked the minimalist appearance of the X-Pro2, on a practical level I actually wished it had optimised the retail space per se, and the X-T2 achieved all these things for me.
On the X-T2 the exposure compensation dial is in the same corner as the X-Pro2, so it’s still accessible with the thumb, but it is elevated and tucked into the top plate more. I tend to switch between auto ISO and manual ISO for shooting with flash, so having the ISO dial on the left of the X-T2 was much more useful for me than having to access it by lifting the dial on the X-Pro2, especially as the time I’d be most likely to be switching would be in the near total darkness of a dancefloor. As previously mentioned, having the drive mode changeable without having to look at it (you get used to remembering how many clicks across you need) has just really helped me in high pressure moments. The shutter speed dial is in a similar position on both models and can both be locked. Both the X-T2 and the X-Pro2 have the same front dial to switch between AF-S, AF-C and manual.
Handling the X-Pro2 and X-T2
I find the body of the X-Pro2 feels longer and sleeker, whilst the X-T2 feels more squat. The front grip is deeper on the X-T2, but some people with bigger hands might choose to buy an even deeper hand grip, and Fujifilm make three different sizes for the X-T2. I think, when it comes to how the camera fits into your hand, it’s impossible to review that so I would say definitely go in store and try before you buy.
Shooting Weddings with the X-Pro2 and X-T2
As I said at the start, choosing the camera for you is very much a ‘horses for courses’ situation. Both camera bodies are more than capable of shooting weddings. They exhibit beautiful rich colours in low light and lovely skin tones in the day that cut down on my editing time. The free firmware upgrades Fujifilm keep rolling out (I think I’ve lived through maybe four?) made an already competent AF system in both cameras even jazzier, in terms of speed, low light performance and AF-C functionality. For me the FUJIFILM X-T2 just nudges ahead for wedding photography simply because I feel I can use its functions faster, and it suits my constant need to handhold the camera high above a crazy Jewish dance floor, and down to the height of a kid sneaking under a table.
More from Marianne Chua
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More about FUJIFILM X-T2
In its compact, lightweight and robust body, the FUJIFILM X-T2 delivers everything you need. A large, high definition EVF, easy to use dials, high-speed AF, compatibility with an extensive range of high-performance interchangeable lenses, Film Simulation modes that inherit the legacy of Fujifilm colors, unparalleled image quality and outstanding 4K movie recording, made possible by the latest sensor and processing engine, It is the X series perfected.
Find out more here.
More about FUJIFILM X-Pro2
Taking performance to new heights, the FUJIFILM X-Pro2 offers the world’s only Hybrid Multi Viewfinder and features a brand new 24MP X-Trans III sensor.
The FUJIFILM X-Pro2 boasts a Hybrid Viewfinder capable of instantly switching between optical and electronic finders, plus an updated image sensor and processor, which dramatically improve image quality. By combining these features with the ultra-high image quality of FUJINON X-Mount lenses and the color reproduction technology accumulated through more than 80 years as a photographic film manufacturer, the FUJIFILM X-Pro2 delivers the best ever results from an X-series camera.
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