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Product Description
Product Description
Introducing the FUJIFILM X-Pro1
The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 is an interchangeable lens system camera that features a 16 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, a brand new X lens mount, a Hybrid Multi Viewfinder and 3 prime lenses.
The new colour filter array is inspired by the natural random arrangement of the fine grains of silver halide in film.
Setting new standards in image resolution
FUJIFILM have developed a new CMOS sensor called the X-Trans CMOS capable of delivering resolution that is parallel, if not superior, to a full frame sensor.
The new colour filter array paves the way for an ideal sensor that does not need an optical low-pass filter, that is required to reduce moiré and false colour generated by conventional sensors. Inspired by the random arrangement of fine film grain, the array features RGB pixels arranged in 6x6 pixel sets with high aperiodicity. Increasing the degree of randomness eliminates the fundamental cause of moiré and false colours – a problem that occurs in conventional arrays when shooting stripes and other repeating patterns. The presence of an R, G and B pixel in every vertical and horizontal pixel series minimises the generation of false colours and delivers higher colour reproduction.
As a result of using a film-inspired array, a more powerful processor is required to process the image signal data. So FUJIFILM have created the EXR Processor Pro. This development releases the full potential of the X-Trans CMOS sensor, to deliver high speed and high precision image processing.
Prime FUJINON XF lenses deliver the highest image quality
Fujinon lenses have long been associated with delivering high quality images, with optics used for both broadcast TV and medium format cameras. Now the expertise borne out of this enviable optical heritage has been put into lenses for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1.
The compact XF Fujinon fast aperture prime lenses available include the 'XF18mmF2 R', the 'XF 35mmF1.4 R' and the 'XF60mmF2.4 R Macro', all offering precise control over depth-of-field and delivering excellent out-of-focus bokeh thanks to the design of the moulded aperture diaphragm blades. The blades are curved to create a circular image at all aperture settings, while the very edges of each blade are meticulously rounded off, rather than simply cut off, which delivers a sharper image.
FUJIFILM original "X-Mount" maximises lens performance
Specifically designed to maximise the mirrorless design of the body the X-Mount has a short flange back distance of just 17.7mm. This means the rear lens elements are as close as possible to the sensor. The wide opening allows the lens to be mounted deeper within the body – up to 7.5mm (approx) from the mount surface – reducing the back focus distance of each lens to the minimum possible, thus achieving high resolution all the way to the edge of the image.
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Hybrid Multi Viewfinder - seeing is believing
With its ability to instantly switch between an Optical Viewfinder and an Electronic Viewfinder, the revolutionary Hybrid Viewfinder has added a new dimension to the pleasure of composing photographs. For the brightest viewing image, and to keep shutter lag to a minimum, users should choose the Optical Viewfinder. Those wanting focus confirmation, exposure information, white balance information and depth of field indicators should switch to the Electronic Viewfinder, if required.
The Electronic Viewfinder provides an excellent "Live View" of your composition. This fusion of technologies allows users to enjoy composing their images through a bright viewfinder, but has the option to overlay vital picture taking information should this be required.
When attaching a FUJINON XF-series lens on the X-Pro1, both the viewfinder magnification and bright frame size automatically switches to support the lens focal length. Viewfinder magnification switches to 0.37x for the 18mm lens, and to 0.60x when the 35mm or 60mm lens is mounted, letting you compose your shot with the bright, crystal clarity of an optical image. The X-Pro1 also gives you the freedom to manually set a focal distance and switch between a variety of different viewfinder magnifications.
Cutting-edge technology in a beautiful camera body
The top and base are made from die-cast aluminium alloy which, combined with high quality touches like precise engraving and hand-enamelled lettering on the lenses, proves that the entire X-Pro1 system is built without compromise.
This eye for detail extends to the shutter speed dial and exposure compensation control that is precision milled from solid metal. Details like the shutter speed dial lock mechanism and the recessed exposure compensation dial are designed to prevent accidental movement of settings. The 'Made in Japan' engraving confirms that every part of the construction has had to meet the highest Japanese manufacturing standards.
The X-Pro1's leather-like finish was chosen for two reason, a premium quality finish and to maximise durability. The synthetic leather offers resistance to the elements and high durability, while an original manufacturing process produces a texture with the look and feel of authentic leather.
The X-Pro1 has been designed with the photographer's comfort in mind. The natural fit of the eyepiece provides excellent shielding from light leakage. A dioptric adjustment lens can also be attached.
Extending FUJIFILM's photo film legacy
In film cameras, multiple exposures is the unique photographic technique of superimposing 1 image on another by double exposing a single frame of film. Through advanced digital processing the X-Pro1 can simulate this technique - just select the Multiple Exposure mode and take your first shot. By viewing it in the Hybrid Multi Viewfinder or on the LCD screen, you can see how the finished multiple exposure will look and precisely frame the second shot.
Further enhancements have been made to the Film Simulation modes with the new Professional Colour Negative Film modes designed for X-Pro1 users working in the studio. Additional Film Simulation modes simulates the colours and tonal qualities of popular FUJIFILM emulsions, including the vibrant colours of Velvia, the softer skin tones of ASTIA and the natural look of PROVIA.
Replicating the effects of monochrome film photography, the X-Pro1 lets you use colour filters to expand your photographic interpretation. Heighten contrast with the yellow filter and red filter or brighten greens and deepen reds with the green filter. Just as professional film photographers once selected a filter and printing paper to complement their creative vision, you can easily fine tune image quality with these filters. For those after a more nostalgic theme there's a sepia filter too.
Box Contains
Lithium-Ion Battery NP-W126
Battery Charger BC-W126
Shoulder Strap
Body Cap and Protective Cover,
Clip Attaching Tool
USB Cable
CR-ROM
Owner's Manual
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Customer Reviews
The image quality on this camera is sublime. The colours are absolutely gorgeous, mesmerizing.
It has the best image quality compared to previous cameras I've used, namely Canon 7D (sold), GF1, GH2 and X100. 7D is quite good, except in high ISO, relatively speaking. X-Pro1 is significantly better in image quality than the GH2, which I use frequently for videos. I've also borrowed an Olympus OM-D E-M5 to try out and the Olympus camera is close but the X-Pro1 is still one notch better. I've read that many say that E-M5 is as good as X-Pro1, but you really need to have used both to see the difference.
I don't post-edit much with the X-Pro1 because the jpeg quality is just too good. That's just JPEG. Since I don't need to do post editing, I guess I'll be shooting just JPEGs from now. I've read many complaints regarding the RAW files and photo software being unable to process them to the best of their potential. I can't comment much since I don't shoot a lot of RAW.
After a series of firmware updates, latest being 2.0, AF speed for the three prime lens have improved. The AF speed is now more satisfactory, although still not as fast as DSLR or Micro Four Thirds. I've two tips on even fast AF. Turn Power Save Mode off to have faster OVF AF speed. Another tip is not to pre-focus and hit the shutter all the way - the camera will get the focus most of the time.
The AF speed could be a source of frustration and potential deal breaker for many. But it comes down to what type of photography you're into. This is not a sports camera, that's for sure. So it's not that suitable for shooting subjects moving faster than walking speed. It's definitely not a general purpose do-it-all camera. Depending on what you shoot, you might actually need another camera. It's also not a beginner's camera, although if you're willing to learn, you'll learn a lot. I'm learning a lot.
Speed is quite subjective. For example on the GF1 & X100, I expected them to be slow, so their speed is satisfactory. I expected X-Pro1 to have faster AF speed, so it's slightly unsatisfactory in that sense. But since I'm already used to the X100 speed, this again becomes satisfactory. When you consider the price, it becomes borderline satisfactory. It's all about expectations.
Manual focus is responsive to the turn of the focus wheel. The 3x magnified view is useful as it's large enough to see the subject clearly, but not too large as to have the subject move too much, such as when you're using a long telephoto lens. The overall focus-by-wire implementation has improved a lot, way better than X100, almost as good as Micro Four Thirds.
Handling is excellent. All the things you need to shoot are there: the aperture ring, shutter speed dial and exposure dial. It's taking photos at its simplest form, with no need to go into menus.
After using the camera since March 2012, I've had a lot of people telling me they really like the design of the camera. The design may not be as discreet as I thought. Most people are so used to seeing DSLR and P&S cameras that this rangefinder-shaped camera actually stands out as a result! I've also noticed that people are generally less guarded when being pointed with this camera than with big DSLRs.
So to buy or not?
In my opinion, if you're coming from the best Micro Four Thirds camera, you're gaining high ISO performance, colour rendition and a huge step in image quality.
If you're coming from a heavy DSLR camera, you're gaining high ISO performance and a lot of weight advantage.
This is a camera that challenges expectations, in the most literal sense. You'll either love it, or hate it. I like it very much. There are still some quirks but Fujifilm has shown themselves to being able to listen to customers and release the appropriate firmwares.
5 out of 5 stars for image quality and handling.
4 out of 5 stars for everything else.
+ Excellent build quality
+ Nice weight for body (450g) and lens
+ Discreet just-a-piece-of-black design
+ Lens have aperture rings
+ Rubber hand grip works well enough
+ Exposure dial is tighter, less prone to accidental hits
+ Buttons have nice tactile feel
+ Hybrid viewfinder (OVF and EVF) works nicely
+ Sharp 3-inch LCD
+ Shutter dial has a lock at A
+ Shutter sound is soft, blends with ambient noise
+ Impeccable image quality
+ Legendary high ISO performance
+ Amazing quality JPEG at default setting
+ Auto White Balance is almost always correct
+ AF speed is satisfactory
+ Able to focus in extreme low light, although it takes more time
+ AF accuracy seems slightly improved over X100.
+ Manual focus is responsive
+ Start up is fast
+ Menus have tabs that show everything in plain sight
+ Writes as fast as your SD card can write
+ Average to good battery life. Get an extra battery.
- OVF is smaller than X100
- Not sealed. I've dust inside my EVF (not OVF) after 1 week.
- No way to adjust diopter
- Triangle rings causes lug wear. The ring is more durable than the lug.
- 18mm lens framelines covers less than 100%. Your photos will cover more.
- Drastic parallax adjustment for 60mm lens in OVF for closeup subjects
- Battery lid feels filmsy and placement is bad
- Shutter dial lock is not necessary - Yes, I contradict myself
- Still has slight tendency to back-focus (Shooting with EVF reduces that)
- Strangely, OVF focuses slower than EVF
- No ability to set minimum shutter speed in AutoISO
- Lacking in video settings and lens aren't optimized for video.
- No manual aperture control during video recording
- No digital zoom during video mode (compared to X100)
- Moire effect is easy to create in video
- Video is only 24fps
FIRMWARE REQUEST
- Have the ability to set minimal shutter speed
- Ability to turn the arrow buttons into function buttons
- Ability to turn on depth of field preview ALL THE TIME. E.g. When I turn to f/8, the aperture should close down.
Update 24 April 2012:
Firmware 1.01 removed the noise from chattering aperture blades
Update 8 June 2012:
Firmware 1.1 makes manual focus easier. Images are sharper in OVF/LCD during manual focus zoom in mode.
Update 27 Sep 2012:
EVF no longer freezes while the lens autofocus. MF lag is almost gone now. The focus-by-wire MF has improved significantly and is now more responsive to the turn. A 3x magnification mode during MF is added to the original 10x and the magnified view is more useful now. Autofocus speed has improved for the three lens after the lens firmware. Auto ISO at 6400 has been added but there's still no ability to set minimum shutter speed. Write speed has also improved.
The XP1 has what I'd call 'proper' exposure controls. If you grew up on film SLR or rangefinder cameras like me, you'll feel at home with the look and the operation of the XP1. It is solid and functional looking, not like a lump of melted plastic like most D-SLRs. It feels nicely balanced with controls falling nicely to hand, except the buttons on the left of the LCD where you end up with your finger up your nose if using the OVF/EVF.
You get dedicated aperture rings and shutter speed dial, along with a exposure compensation dial. There is manual focus too with a nicely damped lens focusing ring, though this is electronic 'focus by wire'. People have been moaning about this and although I'd prefer a traditional type focus ring with markings I find it works fine through the EVF and LCD. I've also found the AF to be perfectly usable, again I don't know what people are moaning about.
The camera has a high level of customisation available, as most digital cameras do now, but also will take good pics with the minimum amount of set up. If you know photography basics you can be shooting straight-away without having to go through 8 zillion menus or learning how x-command dial works with x-button and x-mode just to change something simple. With the aperture and ss dials plus clear displays you've got quick confirmation of how the camera is set up and at least for me, a much prefered way of working.
The OVF is nice to use though the EVF is better in bright light and of course has no parralax error. The 3" LCD has good resolution, it is not touch screen though.
A lot of people seemed to have written off the XP1 on first release, complaining of slow AF and chattering lenses etc, I think Fuji shot themselves in the foot a little with early firmware as with recent firmware updates the camera is much improved. I can only see it getting better as Fuji respond to feedback, and it's good to know they support a product and system long-term instead of just bringing out a new camera every few months which leaves your model obsolete.
The IQ from the XP1 is excellent, the jpgs straight out of the camera need very little or no tweaking. I have not tried raw yet as the jpgs are so good. Full HD video recording is provided, and though it's 'hidden' in the Drive Mode menu, it can be assigned to the 'Fn' button to make it quickly accessable.
Menus are clear and easy to navigate and there is also the 'Q' menu, which brings up the most important main menu items in one 'super menu' to quickly check and change settings.
In terms of downsides, the lens line up is limited at present but should be nicely expanded by next year, there is no built-in flash which would have been nice for fill-in duties, there is only one assignable 'function' button (though the Q menu is easy to use), the tripod mount is off-centre and right next to the battery/memory card slot (this should really be at the side). The XF lenses are nicely packaged but the body box feels a little anti-climatic, with a generic looking Fuji strap, cheap-looking battery charger and no HDMI cable included, you do get a short USB one though. I also seem to be the only person who thinks the front panel is too plain, it's calling out for an XP1/Fuji logo on it's large blank expanse.
I think this camera is definately for you if you come from a film camera background, value full control and/or don't like the ugly lumps of plastic that are most D-SLRs but want a very high quality system to build up. Like I suspect a lot of people, I was undecided between the XP1 and the Olympus OM-D, after handling both I'm glad I chose the XP1 as though the OM-D produces good phtos it looks like a toy compared to the XP1 and has tiny controls. The XP1 also is the only camera of this price/type design since the Panasonic/Leica LC1/D-lux 2 to produce what are for me 'film-like' images, I'm guessing this is down to the new fuji sensor.
If you just like to set everything to auto, and/or shoot action, are more interested specs/features over image quality this isn't the camera for you. As said before it operates like a film SLR/rangefinder camera, with the same kind of working procedures. It isn't lightning fast, but it is beautifully made, takes fantastic pictures and makes you feel like you're in control of the camera, rather than just a picture-taking gadget. It is quite an expensive and new system to buy into but one that should serve you well for a long time and once more lenses are available very versatile and satisfying to use.
A minority of well-argued comments point, rightfully, to issues that Fuji is quickly responding to (i.e. with firmware 1.01 and recently 1.10 - and future ones to come). I am not a pro - but I understand the basics of photography and have had a good amount of point and shoot (e.g. Canon S100), SLR (e.g. Canon EOS), DSLR (e.g. Nikon D90), or bridge (e.g. Sony DSC-R1) cameras. Each camera/system is best suited for something. This one is a travel (as well as a street & studio/natural light portrait) light camera of impeccable built. The images are out of this world. I won't go over the technicalities but I can attest with confidence that all "faults & idiosyncrasies" are faults/idiosyncrasies (and laziness to learn) from people who think they know what they are doing (or come from different backgrounds, with wrongly formed expectations - and resistance to improving themselves in order to become better photographers).
Having said that, this camera does everything manually (with super-fast access via external controls to critical adjustments), and it does so in an old-school, really ergonomic and user-friendly way. To counteract any doubts from those of you who hesitate buying a manual/semi-auto system due to "auto-inertia", the learning curve is not that steep as many people think. If you find it acceptable to work/experiment a bit, you 'll catch-up very quickly. See my 4 uploaded pictures (from Prof), which are, literally speaking, among the first 10 pictures I ever took the evening I received the camera - before I got to form a more intimate relationship with her.
I am not an easy customer and I respect my hard-earned money, but I have no buyer's remorse with the X-Pro 1. Worth every penny (and thanks to Fuji's great customer service who mailed me the 1st 2 firmware updates and answer all my long emails!).
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