Fuji X-T50, XF 16-50mm lens and the world we live in

Fuji announced a new X-T50 camera, a major update for X-T30II, as well as a new standard zoom lens, XF 16-50mm. The new camera can be pre-ordered at cost that is similar to the X-T5 price  (currently advertised in several shops at discount). Ted's Cameras offers X-T50 for AU$2500 and X-T5 for AU$2545. Fuji X-S20 is available at AU$2k. While X-T5 is listed at discounted price, some major local camera shops do not have it in stock. A local Camera House shop had no Fuji cameras at display, when I visited it a month or two ago. Apparently, Fuji is in high demand in Down Under, but I don't understand why Fuji cannot ship more cameras and lenses. 

X-T50 is packed with new features, like 40 MP sensor and in body stabilisation. It is powered by NP-W126S battery, the same as in X-Ex and X-Tx0 cameras.  

The new XF 16-50mm lens can focus at very short distance at the tele zoom end, a great feature for me. Close-up capability of the current standard zoom, XF 18-55, is not very impressive, and it was one of the reason, why I do not use it very often. Resolution of the new lens is better. After all, it is promoted as a standard zoom lens for cameras equipped with 40 MP sensor. It is wider, again, a great improvement for me. The price is high, if sold separately: AU$1182 at Ted's, special order, of cause. Even in kits it is expensive, for example, over AU$700 when sold with X-T5 (Ted's), but only AU$500 when sold with X-T50 in CameraPro. 

Spring Mountain Conservation Estate

 

Common waxflower, or waxvine, Hoya australis. Near the Balancing Rock.

Accidentally I discovered a hidden jewel in local bush: the Balancing Rock, Dragon Spine and Spring Mountain in the Spring Mountain Conservation Estate, Springfield, SE Queensland. The track goes on top of ridge, with nice rocky outcrops all along the way. It is bush, or eucalypt forest. The area has very little obvious signs of human activities, but occasionally you can spot a pole from an old fence or piece of rusty iron. 

The last several years were very wet, and the bush is green. I went on walk after three days of rains, including 122mm (4.8″) in one day. I don't know if rains played a role, but I found many Common waxflower vines with flowers. All pictures were taken with Fuji X-E1 & FX 10-24mm lens. 6th April 2024. 

The Balancing Rock. It made of couple boulders located on top of each other. 

Near the Balancing Rock. There are many small grass trees in the area, but I have not seen any grass tree with big trunk. 

Near the Balancing Rock. Wide lens definitely helped with this shot, because I was close to small abyss.

Taking pictures on a casual walk

 

Baby Red-belled Black snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus. Taken on a walk near Discovery Lake at Springfield Lakes, SE Queensland. 30 March 2024. Fuji X10. 

The snake was small, but I came across an adult snake several months ago. Red belled snakes are poisonous but apparently not deadly, at least, not for adults. I prefer a camera with longer zoom for situation like this one. Usually I walk in early evening, when the light is not great, so I am dreaming about a bright 28-200mm lens a la Minolta A2 with 1" type sensor. Canon G7X has bright 24-100mm lens, and it seems it is in very high demand. Sony RX100 VII is equipped with 24-200mm lens, which is amazing considering that the camera is very compact and very light, only 302g with a card and battery. However, the lens it is rather dark at long end, f2.8-4.5, plus it expensive. Panasonic TZ220 has dark lens, f3.3-6.4.

I like adjustable monitors (rear screens) on modern cameras. Tiltable monitors are very useful for near ground shots. Fuji X10 has a fixed screen.