Costa Rica and Iceland - one camera, one lens

Which Camera?
Which Lens?

Which camera and which one lens? I need one of the lightest weight Fuji cameras with IBIS, a decent grip, and weather resistance to pair with one lightweight weather resistant lens for trips to Costa Rica and Iceland. I would greatly appreciate as many ideas as possible. I currently have the X S10 but it is not weather resistant…I do have insurance however.

There are a few suggestions I can make but a few questions first. When one thinks of "one lens" one considers a reasonable zoom for a variety of situations. If you are interested in a zoom, Fuji's standard zooms that are WR are almost the same weight (teeters at about 1lb).... 18-135 and the 16-80 are just a smidge lighter than the 16-55. The 16-80 is the newest of the bunch. If you are not interested in a zoom there are some lighter "prime" options.

Body? The lightest bodies with IBIS and good weather sealing points are the X-T4 and X-T5. You talk about a "decent" grip." My suggestion is, if you live within a reasonable distance to any brick and mortar store, is to try out the cams in your hands. My hands are large and that is why I initially went for the X-H2 but since have gotten an X-T5 which is okay in my hands but better with the optional Fuji hand grip.

The only issue with a combo of the above (sans a prime lens) is its weight. The combos are not heavy compared to many other systems but they are not light. For an alternate example, if I want something really light and just want snapshots and not concerned with high MP, I just grab the X-T30 with the 16mm/2.8. Don't shoot if it is raining and that combo is like having nothing on my shoulder.

To sum up there are Fuji combos that will fit your requirements. The only issues is weight and comfort that can best be evaluated by actually holding the items. Hope this little bit helps.

Bob

Thank you!

Once upon a time Canon had a 28-300mm EF lens for the EOS system that catered for this type of situations. It was L class even, and many pros used it. What are you planning to photograph in CR and Iceland? Birds? Macro? Landscapes? I don't see a lens doing it all.

Great questions Biza43. I will be doing some hiking on both trips and I want something I can have around my neck and not in a pack while hiking. Either a short zoom or a prime. I am not sure I will carry it while riding the Icelandic horses. For that I will probably use my iphone. I love everything I hear about the XT5 and will try and do what Bob suggested and find one I can check out in person. I am also leaning toward a 100V. I realize they are hard to find.

I posted the following reply to this question on DPReview earlier. Might as well save it here for posterity:

Erik (Baumgartner) had suggested the 16-55 f/2.8.

Fujifilm currently lists the 100v as available factory refurbished on their site: fujifilm-x.registria.com/products_search/?se=refurb

Your camera will work perfectly fine. If you want to take pictures under some cascade in Costa Rica, then maybe an Olympus EM1 would do the trick, for every other application you are good to go!

One camera, two lenses (-:)
Fuji X 18/2.0 R and Fuji X 35/1.4 R.
These lenses are light, have a wide aperture and will cover 95% of your needs. The 18 is very good, the 35 is excellent.
Don't bother about 'weatherproof'. In 45 years of photography and travels, mostly with 'non-weatherproof' equipment, I didn't have once a problem of water penetration.

A fine suggestion unless you happen to be interested in capturing images of the incredibly diverse and interesting wildlife found in Costa Rica. If that's not interesting to the OP, then by all means ignore this, but CR is one of the best places that I've visited -- a couple of times now -- for wildlife (birds in particular) photography. If that's of any interest, then also toting along a longer lens might also be a pretty good idea.

Agreed, but we are on a slippery slope, we are now at a minimum of 3 primes and 1 zoom: for example the 18/2 + 35/1.4 + 60/2.4 Macro (many opportunities to use a macro lens in Costa Rica) + 70-300/4-5.6 (for wildlife, including birds)

We’re only on a slope that we put ourselves on. As I said (most recently) in the thread over on Review, My secret to one lens is to not worry about pictures I can't make and focus on making better images that I can. I'd give serious consideration to carrying only the V on either trip but, as Jerry suggests, you have to consider your goals for the trip. What's important to you?

I could see myself making either trip carrying only the X100V. (Substitute any single prime lens and body of choice). Close-ups to be covered by the V, and the iPhone. If I decide the safari bits are important, and the itinerary (and transport) allows, I'll pack the X-S10 (again, substitute body of choice) and 70-300. Because I have it, I would add the x1.4 teleconverter to the kit. This will serve my interests as a “birds of opportunity” photographer — at least until a 150-600 lands in my bag. Obviously, a devoted birder will opt for, or at least consider, bigger, longer, heavier glass. I suspect that photographer isn't asking this particular (original) question. At that point I'd consider whether I'm better off forgoing the V and packing the shorter zoom for the ILC. That would be a harder decision for me than forgoing the safari kit altogether.

I think the most important consideration to come from the Review thread is the importance of a truly waterproof bag.

Thanks for the reply. But you still don't say what you plan to photograph.

www.paulobizarro.com/
blog.paulobizarro.com/

I would strongly recommend the X-T5 with the XF 16-55 f/2.8. I'd also recommend adding the 70 -300 and the 10-24. You can put those two lenses in a peak Design 3L Sling along with a couple of extra batteries. I'm 67 and can carry the camera and lenses all day long without ever noticing the weight.

If I could carry only one lens, it would be the 16-55.

The 70-300 is for all the beautiful birds, monkeys and other wildlife you will see in CR. It can also come in handy for some landscapes. It would be a shame not to take this lens to CR.

The 10-24 is for grand landscapes and tight streets, but not absolutely necessary.

Have fun with your shopping.

One last comment… it’s been mentioned more than once here that you really haven’t outlined what it is you’d like to photograph on this trip. Costa Rica is a dream destination for wildlife photographers, and if that’s one of our interests, you’re going to need a fairly long lens. There are also countless opportunities for landscape photography there, which would benefit from a wider lens. The recent suggestion for the 10-24 (or anything similar in that range) coupled with the 70-300 would give you enable you to take advantage of photographing both the incredible wildlife you’ll find in CR and the amazing landscapes you’ll see in both locations. You certainly can go with a single lens, but if photography is an important part of this trip — having been to both locations (CR a few times now) — you’ll regret not having both a wider lens (like the 10-24, or even the 16-55 as a more versatile choice) as well as a longer lens 100-400/70-300… or any of the others with similar reach.

Enjoy the trip. Both of these locations are among my very favorites and will offer amazing opportunities for both landscape and wildlife photography. Bon Voyage!

I forgot to mention that the 70-300 can also be useful as a "macro" lens.

When I go on a walk in an new place, I take the X-T3 with the 16-80. If I need to go wider, I pano, if I need to go tighter, I crop. The 16-80 is stabilized, so I don't need the latest whizz-bang IBIS body, and it's weather resistant, so I don't need to worry about the weather forecast. It's reasonably small and light, too, and focused relatively close. And on top of that it has a surprisingly nice bokeh for a zoom lens that makes it quite usable for portraits. I actually prefer its bokeh over the bigger-but-harsher bokeh of the 16-55.

It's a very versatile setup that won't let you down. And it won't break the bank if it gets lost or stolen, either, so I don't baby it.

In inclement weather, I add the lens hood and lens cap, to keep the front element dry. Sometimes I add a closeup filter for better macro (a 67mm acromat with a step-down ring, usable without vignetting at >23mm).