09 mart. My Story with Fuji – How I Fell in Love with Fujifilm Cameras
Hello!
My name is Stefan and I am a photographer from Bucharest, Romania. Photography was not always a passion for me.
In fact, the idea of taking photography seriously appeared relatively late, during a trip to New York in 2017. Before that moment I traveled quite a lot, but I was always satisfied with photos taken on my phone or with simple compact cameras.
Everything changed when I decided to buy my first “real” camera.
Looking back, that decision started a journey that eventually led me to Fujifilm cameras and to a completely different relationship with photography.
My first camera
Before traveling to New York I realized something simple.
I have visited many countries in the past years but never owned a proper camera.
So I did what many beginner photographers do. I started researching the well-known brands: Canon, Nikon and Sony.
Eventually I bought a Sony A5000 with the kit lens.
At that time I had almost no understanding of photography.
Concepts like aperture, shutter speed or ISO meant very little to me. Most of the photos I took during that trip were shot using AUTO mode.
Despite that, the trip to New York opened my eyes.
I realized that photography could be much more interesting than simply taking quick snapshots.
Discovering Photography
After returning home from New York I started looking at my photos more carefully.
Some of them were decent, but many could have been much better.
I began watching photography tutorials, reading articles and learning the basics.
Shortly after that, I booked another trip — this time to Thailand.
Before leaving, I spent time learning more about composition, exposure and camera settings.
When I returned from that trip I could already see small improvements in my images.
And that was enough to get me completely hooked.
The Gear Upgrade Phase
Like many photographers, once I became more interested in photography I started upgrading my equipment.
My first upgrade was a Sony A6300, replacing the A5000.
Then came new lenses, including a Sigma 16mm f/1.4, which quickly became one of my favorite lenses.
With this new setup I traveled to places like Andalusia and later to England, where I captured some of the first photos that I was genuinely proud of.
However, something else started to bother me.
My gear was becoming heavier and more complicated.
Carrying a large backpack full of equipment during long travel days became exhausting.
The Problem with My Sony Setup
The Sony A6300 is a fantastic camera.
Image quality was excellent and the Sigma lens produced beautiful results.
But over time I realized something important.
I was not enjoying the process of using the camera.
The menus felt complicated, the controls were not intuitive for me and the system required constant menu navigation.
Even though the camera produced good results, I did not enjoy using it as much as I expected.
And that is when I started looking for an alternative.
Discovering Fujifilm
One day I traded my Sony 35mm lens and bought a Fujifilm X-E2 together with the famous 18-55mm lens.
That moment completely changed my relationship with photography.
From the very first day I loved using the Fuji camera.
The physical dials, the manual controls and the simplicity of adjusting exposure directly from the camera body made photography feel much more natural.
Before leaving for a trip to Morocco, I found myself constantly taking photos with the Fuji.
My Sony camera stayed inside the backpack while the Fuji was always in my hands.
Fully Switching to Fuji
When I returned from Morocco, the decision was already clear.
I sold my Sony gear and switched completely to Fujifilm.
My new setup included a Fujifilm X-T1, which quickly became my main camera.
This camera changed something fundamental for me.
For the first time I truly enjoyed the process of taking photographs.
I started shooting almost every day.
Not only during trips, but also at home, experimenting with objects, light and compositions.
Why Enjoying Your Camera Matters
Many photographers focus heavily on technical specifications.
Autofocus speed, ISO performance and sensor resolution are discussed endlessly online.
But my experience taught me something different.
What really matters is how much you enjoy using your camera.
If a camera inspires you to take photos every day, you will improve much faster than if you own the most advanced camera but rarely use it.
Photography improves through practice.
And practice only happens when you enjoy the process.
My Current Fuji Kit
Over time my Fuji system grew into a simple but very capable travel setup.
My kit currently includes:
Cameras
Fujifilm X-T1
Fujifilm X-T20
Lenses
Fujifilm 18-55mm
Fujifilm 50-230mm
Fujifilm 23mm f/2
Fujifilm 35mm f/2
Most of this equipment was purchased second-hand, which helped keep the total cost reasonable.
Despite being relatively simple, this kit allows me to photograph almost anything during my travels.
A Simpler Photography Workflow
One aspect I particularly enjoy with Fuji cameras is the ability to use JPEG images directly from the camera.
For travel photography and street photography I often use SOOC JPEG images with minor adjustments in Lightroom Mobile.
In many cases the edit takes less than 30 seconds before sharing the image online.
For landscapes and night photography I still prefer working with RAW files and editing them in Capture One.
This flexible workflow makes photography much more enjoyable and efficient.
What Photography Means to Me Today
Photography is no longer just about gear or specifications.
For me it is about enjoying the process, exploring new places and capturing meaningful moments.
Switching to Fujifilm did not magically make me a better photographer.
But it made photography fun again.
And when you enjoy the process, you naturally take more photos, experiment more and improve faster.
That is the real secret.
Final Thoughts
Every photographer has a different journey.
Some people start with expensive equipment and slowly refine their skills.
Others begin with simple cameras and gradually discover their passion.
My story with Fuji is simply about rediscovering the joy of photography.
Not because the cameras are perfect.
But because they make me want to go out and shoot.
And sometimes that is the most important feature a camera can have.
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