Cameras
The X-T3 offers two notable improvements over the X-T2: Better auto-focus and better video quality.
In late 2016 I officially made the switch from DSLR to mirrorless and since then, I haven’t looked back. Image and video quality on the X-T2 are excellent, and its lightweight and compact design make it the perfect camera for bringing everywhere.
Lenses
Everything you’ve read about the 16mm is true — it’s fantastic. I made the switch to Fuji in late 2016 but it took me over two years before I finally added it to my collection. I put it off for the longest time because I rationalized that I already had a wide angle with the 23mm, but I soon realized that the 23mm wasn’t quite wide enough to give me the fun and quirky angles I craved in my fashion work.
The 16mm is super sharp, fast to focus, and has very well-controlled distortion. Both of the images below were shot with it. It lets me take strong environmental to show off the scene and get close to my subject for flattering portraiture — something unheard of for most wide-angle lenses. Another HUGE bonus: the minimum focusing distance is just under 6 inches! It’s practically a macro lens. I cannot recommend this lens enough.
The 23mm is my go-to lens when I want to shoot full-body portraits. I find myself shooting with it wide open quite a bit. It’s also the perfect lens to take with you when traveling since it’s so lightweight and small. I shot the two photos below with it.
The 35mm focal length (50mm full-frame equivalent) has so much versatility. This lens is excellent for street photography and even does well with portraits too. It’s the smallest of all my Fuji lenses, making it perfect for travel.
The 56mm f/1.2 creates stunning portraits. It’s a little heavy, but not overwhelming. I never shoot a portrait session without it. If you shoot Fuji, it’s an absolute must-have in your kit.
Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 Fuji Mount
If I had to name the one lens that’s helped me create my most epic shots, it’s this one. I don’t use it for every shoot, but whenever I do bring it out of my bag, I make magic with it. It’s manual focus, so sometimes it’s a tricky to nail focus, especially when photographing moving subjects, but that just adds to its character for me.
Lighting
When it comes to strobes, there are millions of options out there. From my research, Flashpoint (which is the same as Godox, just rebranded under a different name) offers the best value. The Flashpoint Xplor 600 is well-built and very cost-effective. Suits me well when I need it for studio work or even on-location.
Memory Cards
Sony 64GB SDXC UHS-II Class 10 U3 Memory Card
All memory cards are not equal! There’s more to them than just storage space. If you shoot continuous burst or any video at all, you’ll want a memory card with fast read and write speeds. I like to shoot 4k video with high bit-rates which demands the fastest memory card speeds I can get. This one made by Sony delivers.
Why this card is certainly is no slouch, it’s not as fast as the Sony card above. If I’m just shooting stills or full HD video though, it’s more than adequate. I have a handful of these in my bag at all times.
Lighting Modifiers
Sound
RodeLink Wireless Filmmaker System
When I got into video, I quickly realized how important it is to have good audio too. This lav mic set-up is incredibly easy and the quality is fantastic. Only requires four double-A batteries. Just plug the receiver into your camera, place the mic on your subject, and you’re off to the races. The audio automatically syncs with your video, so you don’t have to worry about syncing things up in post.
Gimbal Stabilizer
Portable Power
External Hard Drives
Western Digital My Passport 4TB (For archive purposes only)
Solid state drives are pricey, but they’re worth the money, especially if you need fast-transfer speeds and something that’s super portable. I bring this hard drive with me whenever I need to edit files on the go.