Review Date: May 14, 2012
Category: Serious to Advanced Amateur
Fujifilm X-Pro1 with optional Shoe Mount Flash EF-X20
Photoxels Editor’s Choice 2012 – Interchangeable Lens Camera
USER’S EXPERIENCE
Friday, April 6, 2012 – Here’s what I receive in the box:
- X-Pro1
- No memory card [I used a regular 16GB SDHC memory card for the review]
- Li-ion Battery NP-W126 7.2V 1260mAh 8.7Wh
- BC-W126 Battery Charger
- Shoulder Strap
- USB Cable
- Body Cap
- Metal strap clips (2) with Protective covers (2) and a Clip attaching tool
- Documentation: Owner’s Manual
- Software CDs: MyFinePix Studio v3.2, RAW File Converter EX and Owner’s Manual (for Windows), FinePixViewer v3.6 and RAW File Converter (for Mac OS X)
- FUJINON LENS XF35mmF1.4 R [53mm equiv.]
Mirrorless excellence. If ever you thought mirrorless DSLRs would never replace traditional mirrored DSLRs, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 erases all lingering doubts with a premium camera that some pros are comparing to the legendary Leica. High praise indeed! So, if you have ever lusted for a Leica M (and who hasn’t), then the X-Pro1, at a fraction of the cost (but still pricey), may well satisfy that craving.
Just so we’re clear: the X-Pro1 is not just another mirrorless DSLR. This is the mirrorless DSLR camera you want to read about, buy and use because I believe that the X-Pro1 is a defining moment in camera history, especially when you hear professional photographers (Roël, Zack Arias) who have tried it openly wishing that its next upgrade will once and for all usher in the end of the traditional mirrored DSLR era. I have not read so much positive gushing about a camera since the Leica digital rangefinder came out. To say that the Fujifilm X-Pro1 has touched raw nerves in the camera industry is an understatement.
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is not compact but I was plesantly surprised that it feels lighter than its size might indicate. It looks [and works] really nice with the XF35mmF1.4 R lens and lens shade.
Here is a comparison of the sizes of the X-Pro1 with various other popular mirrorless and traditionally mirrored DSLRs (APS-C and full-frame), comparisons courtesy of camerasizes.com (click on a picture to see exact dimensions):
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is wider and taller than the Olympus OM-D E-M5, but they are both about the same depth:
Fujifilm X-Pro1 vs Olympus OM-D E-M5
The Nikon D3200 is about the same size as the Fujifilm X-Pro1, but it has a much deeper grip:
Fujifilm X-Pro1 vs Nikon D3200
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 seems relatively compact when compared to a full frame DSLR:
Fujifilm X-Pro1 vs Nikon D800
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 looks dimunitive when compared to the top of the line DSLR:
Fujifilm X-Pro1 vs Nikon D4
You can easily run your own comparisons with other cameras at camerasizes.com.
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 with its beautiful retro design is not a wholly mechanical camera, instead blending the best of analog with modern digital electronics: the Aperture Ring is in fact electronic and the Focus Ring around the lens is fly-by-wire. The Aperture Ring is very well implemented but the Focus Ring takes way too many turns to cover the range of available distances. On the positive side, this does mean that you can get pretty accurate focusing, just not fast.
TIP: For those who are not used to the Shutter Speed Dial and Aperture Ring, here’s a primer. These two make it very intuitive to switch between Programmed, Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority, and Manual modes. For Programmed mode, simply leave both on the A setting. For Aperture-Priority mode, leave the Shutter Speed dial on A setting and twist the Aperture ring to select your desired Aperture. For Shutter-Priority mode, leave the Aperture Ring on A setting and twist the Shutter Speed dial to select your desired Shutter Speed. For Manual mode, set desired Shutter Speed and Aperture. Nothing could be simpler.
Startup is about 1 sec. from Power ON to LCD ready for capture, i.e. time-to-first-shot with Quick Start ON and double that time, at about 2 sec. with “Sensor Cleaning when switched ON.” Shot to shot times are about 1.25 sec. (@ 8 shots in 10 sec. in M mode, 1/125sec.).
In good lighting, there is no practical shutter lag and AF is fast and precise. In very low lighting, the camera does lock focus though it can take up to 3 sec. to acquire it. This is definitely an area for improvement as we have seen other mirrorless cameras achieve near instant Contrast-detect AF in both good and low lighting.
TIP: The LCD/EVF gains up very well in low light. When it’s dark and you can barely see anything through the OVF, simply switch to EVF and the scene is suddenly visible to enable you to compose your shot. Great for night photography!
The FUJINON XF35mmF1.4 R lens is simply astounding, giving sharp images and beautiful bokeh. If you had to choose between the three prime lenses, I recommend the 35mm with its super fast F1.4 aperture. I found the lens cover of the XF35mmF1.4 R lens extremely difficult to remove: you literally have to pinch it off with two fingers but there’s not enough space to get a good finger grip. The XF35mmF1.4 R lens comes with a beautiful metal lens shade that attaches with a smooth bayonet quarter turn and comes with its own rubber cover that, while easier to put on and take off, is unfortunately also too easy to inadvertently knock off.
TIP: If you line up the dot on the lens shade with the mark on the lens, the lens shade snaps in place with the Fujifilm logo displaying on top. But if you have more than one lenses in your bag, mount the lens shade “upside down” so that the focal length of the lens is displayed on top allowing you to quickly tell at a glance which lens is mounted.
TIP: If you still have version 1.0 firmware, don’t forget to apply the firmware updates to silence the annoying chattering noise that occurs when using the camera [especially] in bright light due to the iris opening and closing constantly.
Besides the current three prime lenses, Fujifilm is “planning” [i.e. not confirmed] for 2012:
- 14mm [21mm equiv.] F2.8 wide
- 18-72mm [27-108mm equiv.] F4.0 IS zoom (or could be F2.8 non IS)
Fujifilm is “planning” [i.e. not confirmed] for 2013:
- 28mm [42mm equiv.] F2.8 pancake lens
- 23mm [35mm equiv.] F2.0 standard lens
- 70-200mm [105-300mm equiv.] F4.0 OIS Telephoto lens
- 12-24mm [18-36mm equiv.] F4.0 OIS Wide Zoom lens
Here’s what the XF Lens Roadmap looks like for 2012-2013 [35mm equiv.]:
I would see most people making sure they have the 18-72mm [27-108mm equiv.] zoom for wide landscape, street, everyday and portrait shooting; and the 70-200mm [105-300mm equiv.] Telephoto lens for sports and wildlife photography. The 18-72mm [27-108mm equiv.] zoom would be a killer lens if it is offered at F2.8 even if it is not stabilized.
So, what is the verdict on the X-Pro1? Simply this. You’ve got to try one. Whether you buy, rent or loan one from a friend, try it for a month or so. If you’ve never used a Shutter Speed dial and an Aperture Ring, it will take some getting used to. After the month is over, you will either be grinning from ear to ear — or you will want to stay with your press a button and rotate a dial DSLR. But I have a feeling it will be the former.
One important note before I forget. There is one retro feature on the X-Pro1 that definitely went back too far: the viewfinder does not have built-in diopter adjustment and only accepts a third-party (Fujifilm recommends COSINA) diopter adjustment lens that you screw into the viewfinder window. So if you wear glasses and the view through the viewfinder does not appear tack sharp, you probably need to purchase a diopter adjustment lens for your vision needs. If there are other people in your family who will also use the camera, you need to purchase the appropriate diopter adjustment lens for each person’s vision needs. [I would think that it would be inconvenient to constantly having to remember to screw in the right diopter adjustment lens.]
On the X100 when in self-timer mode, after the camera has focused on the subject’s face, counted down, and, before it triggers, it would refocus all over again. That is now fixed on the X-Pro1 and no refocusing is performed.
There was an unspoken understanding in the days of film cameras that a serious camera would always have its tripod mount centered with the lens and inline with the film plane. In our age of bendable curcuit boards, you would think that should be immensely feasible, but we too often see the opposite as in the X-Pro1. It’s these little attention to detail that gives pleasure to the use of a camera. Likewise, having to unmount the X-Pro1 from a tripod to change batteries and/or memory card is a “botheration.”
There are a number of things to be aware of, which are not necessarily problems, but a note of caution is nevertheless warranted:
- When you are peering through the OVF, you can still take pictures even when the lens cap is still on the lens. The camera will even try to focus and take a completely dark picture.
- The battery goes in four ways (the right way, plus 3 other wrong ways) which can be disconcerting.
- I mentioned the need to purchase a diopter adjustment lens for those who wear glasses.
What I like about the X-Pro1:
- Excellent image quality at ISO 200. Very good image quality up to ISO 1600. Very usable images up to ISO 6400.
- Very good build and design.
- The FUJINON LENS XF35mmF1.4 R is simply excellent.
- Love the shutter speed dial and aperture ring.
- LCD/EVF gains up very well in low light.
- Built-in Hybrid viewfinder means no need for external viewfinder.
No review is complete without a couple of improvement suggestions:
- Improve the AF speed and precision in low light.
- Improve the light meter accuracy in low light.
- Provide a tiltable LCD.
- Provide ability to specify shutter speed with AUTO ISO.
- Fly-by-wire AF Ring requires way too many turns.
If you have read other reviews of the X-Pro1, you know that it has been often compared to the Leica M9. In features and size, it is indeed comparable to a Leica M9. Remember however that the M9 is full-frame (24×36 mm) while the X-Pro1 is APS-C (roughly, half-frame at 23.6×15.6 mm). It’s amazing, isn’t it, how Leica has managed to build a full-frame digital rangefinder far ahead of everyone else! It goes without saying that if the Leica M9 can fit a full-frame sensor in a body that is the same size as the X-Pro1, there is no technological barrier for the X-Pro1 to also use a full-frame sensor. In fact, professional photographers are clamoring for a full-frame X-Pro[2?]. That, and an improved AF, would certainly hasten the demise of the traditional mirrored DSLR.
In summary, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 is a beautifully designed digital camera that is a joy to use and produces excellent image quality that rival and even bests that of some enthusiast and top-end DSLRs. Highly recommended.
Next: Fujifilm X-Pro1 QuickFact Sheet / Buy
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