Switching from Fujifilm to Nikon Z: Why I Finally Made the Change
Letting Go of Fujifilm After a Decade
After a decade of using Fujifilm, I’ve finally decided to let go of the system and move on to bigger sensor sizes. Ever since I picked up a camera fifteen years ago, photography has been a constant part of my life.
The Fujifilm X system is genuinely one of the best. It’s the king of APS-C, and arguably the king of medium format too. But I’ve reached a point in my career where I need more from my camera system. Switching from Fujifilm to Nikon Z was not a rash decision. It came from recognising that the demands of my work were starting to outgrow what the Fujifilm system could offer.
Why I Chose to Switch to Nikon Z
My work has shifted heavily into areas where I need faster and more accurate autofocus, reliable low-light performance, sharper lenses, and faster memory cards. None of this is to say that Fujifilm can't handle these situations, but the pace of development started to feel like it was leaving me behind.
Fujifilm has built two remarkable systems with the X and GFX series. They remain ideal for portrait, street, documentary, architecture, and even wildlife photography. If you’re a shooter in any of those spaces, you’ve got everything you need from the X-Pro2 to the GFX100 II. But for me—working across photojournalism, portraits, fashion, and music—I needed a change.
Where Fujifilm Started to Show Its Limits
Like any camera, Fujifilm performs incredibly well in good light. But once the lights go down, things get tricky. Over the last few years, I’ve been shooting more music events and concerts. That means working in challenging lighting where you need your camera to respond instantly.
In those environments, I found myself constantly fighting with ISO and shutter speed just to keep up. Autofocus would sometimes fall short. The result was an increased dependency on noise reduction during post-processing. Lightroom saved me on many occasions, but that additional pressure in fast-paced situations just wasn’t sustainable.
Starting Fresh with the Nikon Z System
At the end of April, I made the jump. I’m basically starting over, just like I did back in 2019 when I first picked up the Fujifilm X-H1. Now I’m using the Nikon Z6 II, paired with the NIKKOR Z 24–70mm f/2.8 S and the Nikon MB-N11 Battery Grip. And yes, I absolutely need a battery grip. It’s not negotiable for me.
Adapting to the Nikon Z system has been interesting. After so long with Fujifilm, muscle memory has become the biggest hurdle. Having physical dials within view was something I grew used to. Losing that overnight takes adjustment.
Adjusting to Nikon Z: The Practical Changes
There are a few things I’ve had to learn and get used to.
First, the autofocus system is solid, but the focus area options feel limited. I was used to a larger single focus point that allowed me to reframe easily using AF-ON. With Nikon, the ‘wide’ option doesn’t cover as much ground. It pushes me toward moving the point around manually, which interrupts my flow. I’d rather be the one moving—not the camera.
Next is the aperture ring on the 24–70mm f/2.8. It’s not a traditional ring. It uses an accelerometer and feels too sensitive. A small twist can jump from f/2.8 to f/22. I’ve ended up using the camera body dials instead, as they’re far more reliable for precision.
Then there’s the on/off dial. It’s positioned quite close to the front dial on the MB-N11 grip. I’ve switched the camera off by mistake more times than I care to admit. The delay in startup time when this happens is noticeable, likely due to the grip having to sync with the body. Not a deal-breaker, but worth noting when timing is critical.
Why Nikon's Lossless RAW Compression is a Game-Changer
I’ve already run over 30,000 images through the Z6 II with a month, which sounds excessive but is normal - What caught me off guard was Nikon’s lossless RAW compression.
On the X-H1 and X-Pro2, which both produce 24MP files, lossless RAW files are typically 50MB. That gives you around 2,400 images on a 128GB card. On the Z6 II, I shot 3,000 images in a single day and still had nearly 60% card space left. Files range from 20–30MB, offering a major space-saving benefit without sacrificing image quality.
For me, that’s a serious advantage. It changes how recklessly I can shoot and helps me streamline storage, especially when covering events where image count stacks up fast.
Saying Goodbye to the Fujifilm X Series
It’s hard to say goodbye. The Fujifilm X series has been with me for over a decade—from the X-M1 to the X-H1. I was there early and saw it grow into the respected system it is today.
But the Nikon Z system meets my current needs more directly. It’s not about chasing specs. It’s about how the camera performs under pressure, how it feels in hand, and how it supports the way I work now.
Switching from Fujifilm to Nikon Z is a big step, but it feels like the right one. I’ve got a lot of learning still to do with this system, but I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me next.