Fujifilm X-E1 & Meike 35mm
Digital cameras are disposable.
Camera manufacturers introduce the replacement models, the next generation, about every two years on average. This isn’t always true–the X100T came out just one year after the X100S while the X-Pro2 came out four years after the X-Pro1–but, generally speaking, it’s true. Your new camera will be “last year’s model” soon enough.
It’s no surprise that photographers, on average, upgrade roughly every two years, as well. When that new model comes out, it’s very tempting to buy it. The new model is better in this way and that way–faster, more resolution, etc.–you know the song and dance. You might still keep your current camera as a “backup body” once the new one arrives in the mail, and it will mostly collect dust.
There are plenty of photographers who don’t buy new. They’ll wait awhile until they can get a good deal on a gently used camera. But it’s still the same story of “upgrading” every other year or so. They’re just a model behind what’s current.
There are some who keep their cameras for many years. There are plenty of photographers who happily use their five-year-old camera. A much smaller number happily use their ten-year-old camera. Almost nobody happily uses their fifteen-year-old camera, because the cheapest interchangeable-lens cameras today are more advanced and capable of better image quality than the best “pro” cameras of 2003. Digital technology changes quickly, and advancements have come at breakneck speed.
We’ve reached a point of diminishing returns. Digital technology is still advancing quickly and the cameras released in 2017 are better in every way to their counterparts released in 2012. But how much better do they need to be? If a camera already has more resolution than what most need, what does even more resolution do? If a camera is already quick enough for most photographers, how does a faster camera help? If a camera already has amazing high-ISO performance, do you really need a stop more? Yes, there are people who need more, but that’s a small percentage. Most photographers already had everything that they needed in cameras from years past, and all the advancements since then have just been overkill. Cameras are becoming better all the time, but they were already more than good enough before.
Barn By The Tetons – Grand Teton NP, WY – Fujifilm X-E1
I’m not suggesting that camera manufacturers should stop pushing forward. What I am suggesting is that this habit of upgrading to the latest camera model every couple of years is unnecessary. If you want to buy a new camera, go ahead and do it, I’m not trying to stop you. But I do want to make aware to the photographic community that many very good and highly capable cameras are being disposed simply because they’re several years old. I’m telling myself this just as much as I’m telling others, because I’ve been caught up in this routine just as much as the next guy.
My first “real” camera, a Canon AE-1, was over 20-years-old when I bought it. I used it for several years, and even at 25 it was still going strong. I sold it, and that’s one of my photographic regrets, because, even though it is around 40-years-old now, I’m sure someone out there is still capturing wonderful pictures with it. I have several film cameras on my shelf that I occasionally dust off, a couple of which are over 50-years-old, that still function properly and are still capable of capturing excellent pictures.
The idea of someone using a 50-year-old digital camera for anything remotely serious is laughable, and not just because a 50-year-old digital camera doesn’t exist, but because of the poor image quality and usability of the early models. Someday, though, the cameras manufactured today will be 50-years-old, and I can see some of them, if they’re still working, being used by photographers who want that “retro digital” feel. I don’t think too many cameras made before 2010 will ever be used at age 50 or even when they’re 20-year-old. A few of the higher-end models, perhaps, but by-and-large the technology just wasn’t there yet. However, the ones being made today, and even five to eight years ago, have advanced enough that they could still be used to capture quality photographs well into the future.
The Fujifilm X-E1 is not as good as the X-E3, but it is more than good enough for creating wonderful photographs. It is five-years-old, almost six, but it is still an excellent camera. You can find them for under $300 pretty easily because people have moved on. The X-E2 replaced it, and then the X-E2S came out a couple years later, and now the X-E3 is approaching the one year mark and there’s already talk about an X-E4. In the realm of digital cameras it might as well be 50-years-old because it is three and soon-to-be four models old. It’s archaic. It’s a has-been. It’s disposable.
I recently picked up an old X-E1 because they’re so cheap. I liked the one that I used to own, and I wish that I had kept it. I sold it to help fund the purchase of my X100F, which is another camera that I love. The X-E1, or “Sexy One” as it was nicknamed back in 2012, is still an excellent little camera, and for the price that it currently goes for, why wouldn’t you want one? It’s great for travel because of its size and weight, and if it gets stolen or damaged it’s not a huge deal because it didn’t cost much. It’s not as good as the cameras made in 2018, but it’s more than good enough to capture great pictures for years to come.
Digital cameras are disposable, or, perhaps they used to be. We’re at the point now, and have been for several years, where we can hold onto our cameras longer because they’re more than capable photographic tools. The latest and greatest cameras are wonderful, but, really, the advancements are mostly overkill stacked on top of overkill. Maybe it’s time to be content with what we have, myself included. Maybe it’s time to rediscover these wonderful “vintage” digital cameras, such as the original X100, the X-Pro1 and the X-E1. There was a time not very long ago when people raved over these models and stores had a hard time keeping them in stock. Now they go for a few hundred bucks on eBay.
I agree with your post. We always want the latest and greatest but do we really need it? Usually not, unless you are using it for some sort of speciality photographic genre. Nice to see the X-E1 getting some respect. I picked up one of these cheap last year in the UK. It was about £125 if I remember correctly. I got it as a second camera to my X-T2. I used the X-E1 on Safari in Tanzania last summer and it performed admirably. Would be great to see if you have some magic film sim sauce for straight out of JPEGs for it? Or are you using RAW with it?
I’m using RAW+JPEG right now so that I can redevelop in-camera. If I come up with a good film simulation recipe I will definitely share it.
Great! Thanks very much.
There are different classes of photographers though… not everyone is a gear enthusiast, and in some ways these low prices stimulate new people to get into the hobby. The young lady who works at the rental desk at my local camera store was telling me how she just bought a used X-E1 and a manual focus 23mm lens, and she was just really so enthusiastic it reminded me how I felt when I got into the hobby. I’ve seen her shooting around town a few times since. She’s also fortunate that there’s a used camera/lens store just down the street open only on Saturday mornings run by some retired guys who don’t seem to care about making a profit. (They were happy to sell me a Helios 44m in absolutely perfect condition for $20, including tax.) There’s always lots of young photographers in that store on Saturday mornings. This kind of thing keeps photography alive for the next generation who might otherwise just stick with cell phones.
That’s such a great story! It’s good to hear. I’m personally enjoying using the X-E1 with the Meike 35mm manual lens, it’s very enjoyable. The Helios 44-2 is another favorite of mine, those old Soviet lenses have so much character. Thank you for sharing!
Interesting article. My first Fuji was the X-E1 which I loved but now sold. I was lusting after the X-Pro1 but couldn’t justify the cost. Since then I’ve gone a bit bonkers, X-T1 & X-Pro2 now both sold. X-T2 mainly for use with the 100-400mm. re purchase of the X-t1 to replace the X-Pro2, As for the xp2 I just didn’t get on with it, my main gripes were the ISO dial and the weight, Oh & the fact I kept switching on the optical viewfinder when I didnt want to. Then I came across a bargain X-100S so I had to buy it & I do enjoy it, in fact I used it today at a classic car show & shot about 400 frames, but again I kept turning on the optical viewfinder by mistake. Then along came the X-H1, I wasn’t interested, its for video, I’m not much into video but I do a little bit. Then I watched / read various reviews re the IBIS & photography as opposed to video & convinced myself I needed one! So after lots of searching the web I found a great deal on the X-H1 + Grip & saved myself 600 euros. I must say I love it, Its got the 100-400 on it & it’ll probably never come off. I’m into wildlife & Bird photography & thats what its for, which is what the X-T2 was for. But I’m not gonna sell the XT2, I lost too much on the XPro2, not doing that again. So now I have XH1, XT2, XT1, X100S. The X100S might go, but I do love the fact I shove it in my pocket & go. Maybe sometime I’ll upgrade it to the X-100T but not the F because it has that ISO dial again. I shouldn’t mind the ISO dial as I grew up with such things but my eyesight isn’t what it used to be so I am continually having to put my glasses on, take them off again, put them on again. You get the picture! as for the XT1, I was thinking I should flog it but along the way I’m also thinking I should splurge on an XE1 or 2 to convert to monochrome, I’d love an Leica Monochrom as B&W is my second interest in photography but the cost! so XE1 or XE2, pull it apart, convert & here we go. But having said that, I’ve got the XT1, maybe I could pull that apart & convert it, lets face it, it isn’t worth much more than a good XE1 now. Dilemma, I love the rangefider look. my bigest Fuji regret is selling the XE1, my second bigest regret was selling the XT1 which is why I bought another one & my third biggest regret was buying the XPro2 which I was convinced would be the camera for me.
Phew, thats alot of Fuji babble, hope thats OK, I think I just needed to say it!
That’s a mouthful, for sure! I love the X-E1 and X100F and X-Pro2. I really appreciate the X-E1, but it doesn’t have Classic Chrome or Acros. I love Acros, and I’ve contemplated more than once of shooting b&w exclusively, using the Acros film simulation. I still might. Anyway, I hope you find the camera that is the right fit for you. There is a reason why they make so many different models.
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I know you wrote this a year ago, but I think the post is still relevant. The Fuji X-E1 + Fujinon XF18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS was the very first Fujifilm X gear I tried almost six years ago. Initially, I had some issues with auto-focus, but after a few days, I had learned how to use the camera. After reading this, I may add a used X-E2 to my camera kit.
I’ve been thinking about getting an older camera, such as X-E1, X-E2, X100S, X100T, X-T1 or X-Pro1, to convert to IR. The price has to be right, though. I think that would be a lot of fun and a great way to renew an old camera.
I love that we have so many choices.
Yes, very much so!
The Fujifilm cameras that I had, all broke within five years. In contrast, my Canon 5D (the original) still works.
I am still very happy with the output Fujifilm gives me (specifically the X-Trans III), and I would happily keep using them.
But if even a X-T1, once their flagship, breaks beyond economic repair within five years (okay, almost six in this case), then they become disposable indeed.
My 5D is certainly not disposable. It has its limitations (partly because of the sensor, partly because of the AF) but even after 15 years, it is still a great tool. I wish that was the same with the X-T1 and X-Pro1 cameras.
Sorry to hear that. Hopefully Fujifilm is constantly improving durability, but I don’t know. My X-T1 works great, hopefully it will continue to do so, but I don’t imagine still using it when it is 15 years old, if it were to last that long, but maybe I would. Glad to hear your Canon is still going strong!
Thanks! In the meantime I have decided to buy a “new” X-T1. Hopefully the gods on the Fuji mountain are with this camera, so that it will last a long time.
I don’t know why I would not still use the X-T1 ten years from now, unless there is going to be a major change in photography (or display) technology. 16MP is absolutely fine for my printing and viewing demands, and the X-T1 colours are great.
I really like my X-T1. Works well, produces good results. I don’t use it all of the time, but I always appreciate it when I do.
Whenever I consider moving beyond film, which I do often, I recall the very first time I focused an early 500 Hasselblad and watched the image pop into focus. I was hooked. I am considering a x100V and most probably will buy one leaving behind a 4/3rds system, and a few Sony 1” sensor cameras that have traveled well. With the associated issues of travel with film and the immediate feedback of successful capture digital, websites like yours, and well executed design like a 100v what’s not to like?
The X100V is so great! Probably the closest to a “film” camera in the digital realm.