Of course there will always be some photographers who need a razor thin DoF. And I do really not want to stop anybody from buying a fullframe cam. I used to have an EOS 5D and I liked it a lot.
But I realized that I don't really need a "fullframe" sensor. (BTW, why "fullframe"? Of course, I know that it is because of the same size like a Format 135 film, but wouldn't then medium format be something like "hyper-fullframe" 😉)
OK, all joking aside.
I strongly believe that most hobbyists are kind of seduced by that fullframe hype and by marketing strategies as well as magazine reports and not at last internet boards. 🙂
Most hobby photographers I know could easily do with an APS camera.
Yes, fullframe has advantages. Sure.
- better isolation of subjects (if you need that)
- lower noise (if you need to shoot at ISO 51200)
- more dynamic range (if you need that)
...
But there are also some others "rules" that apply:
- APS sensors are basically only one generation behind fullframe sensors as far as noise is concerned. (My Fuji X-E1 produces lower noise at high ISO than my 5D did.)
- Not every fullframe sensor is euqally good at high ISOs. Compare Nikon D800 and Nikon D4 or Canon EOS 5D MkIII and Sony A7R.
- "Fullframe" also means bigger, heavier and more expensive lenses.
etc. etc.
All I want to say is that we, as hobbyists, should be aware of promises that we don't really need.
Fuji X offers with their 2/18, 1.4/23, 1.4/35 and 1.2/56 a great (though not really low-priced) selection of fast lenses. And for those who, like me, do not want to pay €1000,- for each lens they have, you can easily adapt older, manual lenses to your Fuji X.
Allow me to list my set of lenses for my Fuji X-E1, on order of FL:
Voigtländer 4.5/15 (MF, = 23)
Vivitar 3.8/19 (MF, = 28)
Nikkor-N.C 2.8/24 (MF, = 36)
Voigtländer Ultron 2/28 (MF, = 42)
Fuji XR 1.4/35 (AF, = 53)
Nikkor-S.C 1.2/55 (MF, = 83)
Voigtländer 2.5/75 (MF, = 113)
Nikkor-H 1.8/85 (MF, = 128)
Zuiko 3.5/100 (MF, = 150)
and zooms:
Sigma 4.5-5.6/12-24 (MF, = 18-36 or 13-26 with LensTurbo)
Fuji XR 2.8-4/18-55 (AF, = 27-83)
Fuji XC 4.5-6.7/50-230 (AF, = 75-345)
Now, tell me, is there anything left to be wanted?