When Your Camera Feels Like a Toy...

And playing is just what I’m doing.

A few months ago, I mentioned wanting to buy a smaller, lighter-weight “travel camera.” And, I did—sort of.

Step One - Google search: Best travel cameras

List after list (after list, after list) popped up in my search results, and at the top of nearly every one was the same camera. How easy was that?!?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not questioning how fantabulous the Fujifilm X100VI is. After all, review after review (after review, after review) touts its awesomeness. But… it comes with a fixed 23mm (35 mm full-frame equivalent) lens. Seriously? At $1,800, a fixed lens?

Turns out, we all have our deal breakers, and for better or for worse, that one was mine. For me, versatility isn’t negotiable.

Back to the drawing board. Tons of reviews read, copious YouTube videos watched, ridiculous amounts of data compared, one choice made.

The Fujifilm X-T50 with a 16-50mm 2.8-4.8 lens

And yowza! This camera is so light to carry, both around my neck and in my hands (less than 1/2 the weight of my beloved Canon). It feels like a toy. Yes, I know the longer lens makes it less stashable in a jacket pocket or a small crossbody bag than a typical travel camera, but switching to the compact 23mm lens is always an option.

In the meantime, it’s easily tucked into my tote bag, which I do almost every time I leave my house. (Look at me, attempting street photography ↓)

I also take it along on most morning walks.

For such a small camera, there are buttons, knobs, and dials galore—not to mention custom settings (so many customizations!).

After using Canon cameras for many years, this is my first experience with Fujifilm, and the learning curve was steep.

The images are sharp (when I get the focus right—seriously, I need new glasses…), and the colors are outstanding, which, yeah… Fujifilm…

Film simulations and customizable film recipes. I mean, why buy a state-of-the-art digital camera only to take crisp, colorful, true-to-life images when you can mimic grainy, off-color analog snapshots?

Seriously, though, this is a lot of fun. The film profiles and recipes are like in-camera presets applied only to the JPEGs.

Although I mainly work with RAW files, the camera’s ability to transfer photos directly to my iPhone has me experimenting with recipes—fun for sharing on social media.

The images directly above and below were both taken using a recipe designed to imitate Kodak Portra 400, a film that produces slightly warm, soft images with subtle color saturation and fine grain.

After importing the JPEGs to my phone, I made minor tweaks to the white balance, exposure, and crop. I’m itching to lighten shadows and adjust clarity, but that kind of defeats the purpose…

The variety of recipes is endless, which means lots more playing ahead.

Other than kinda-sorta wishing I’d bought the silver-trimmed model for that full-on retro look, nope.

And now, as 2025 comes to an end—

I’m wishing you all the best for the holidays and a very happy New Year!

Until next time, be well!