The beauty and the beast! Petapixel X-E1 review

Now also petapixel (click here) tested the new X-E1. No doubt, great image quality. Great ISO performance. But also some quirks. For example the autofocus and the EVF.

Autofocus: The new update brought faster autofocus. And in good light conditions autofocus is decently fast and accurate: But “While shooting fast moving objects may still be a challenge, the autofocus will do the job in most everyday situations... Step into a dimly-lit environment, and the camera becomes a bit less predictable. It will be obedient to your focusing wishes most of the time, but sometimes it’s unable to get a lock on things you’d expect it to focus on. This doesn’t happen very often, but it’s frustrating when it does.”

EVF: Most of the time you won’t miss the OVF. But in darker settings the EVF starts becoming laggy and blurred.

The Eye Sensor: “If you set your “View Mode” to “Eye Sensor”, the camera defaults to the LCD screen but switches over to the EVF when it senses your face up against the camera. When you pull the camera away from your head, it quickly switches back.… The quirk is that this handoff doesn’t happen during the image review period after you snap a shot. For DSLR users who are accustomed to “chimping,” you’ll find that you can’t.“
Verdict: The most beautiful camera on the market, a true joy to use. It’s a a “fine DSLR replacement for everyday photography. Just make sure you can live with the slightly slower AF and the lack of an OVF. If you’re sure you can, then go out and buy this camera — it’s worth every penny.”

XF18-55 review + AmazonUS started shipping preordered lenses

The Spanish DSLR magazine (click here) tested the XF18-55mm lens. At the conclusions they say that this lens is, for his performance and built quality, a “prime lens” in zoom version. Read much more and look at the test shots… and share your thoughts in the comments.

According to a comment in this post, AmazonUS started shipping this lens “to those who pre-ordered back in September. My September 6th order is in transit to be delivered December 4.”

 

Aperture 3 update: still no X-Trans support

 

I thought to share this good news with you! It’s good for Fuji and maybe also for X-series photographers waiting for Adobe and Apple to support the X-Trans files properly. Apple has just issued Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 4.02, adding support for 8 cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto ’11. Nothing again for Fuji’s X-Trans sensor. Click here to see the post at dpreview or here to see all the supported cameras. And Adobe support… well, you know. Just look at previous posts on FR like this one!

Now that the sales of Fuji X-E1 are very high, Adobe and Apple will hopefully work faster in developing the X-TRANS support for their products.

Check the in stock status here:

AmazonUS: X-E1 kit BLACK / X-E1 kit SILVER / X-E1 body only BLACK / X-E1 body only SILVER

Adorama: X-E1 kit BLACK / X-E1 kit SILVER / X-E1 body only BLACK / X-E1 body only SILVER

B&H: X-E1 kit BLACK / X-E1 kit SILVER / X-E1 body only BLACK / X-E1 body only SILVER

Wexphotographic: X-E1 body only BLACK / X-E1 body only SILVER

Jessops: X-E1 kit SILVER

Amazon GER: X-E1 body only BLACK / X-E1 body only SILVER

Mastering X-PRO1 at Amazon GER + X-PRO1 review

Mastering the X-PRO1 (…advantages and disadvantages compared to the AF of a DSLR)

The “Fujifilm X-Pro1 Handbuch” (click here) is now available at Amazon GER. The first reviews at Amazon are really enthusiastic. Buyers say that this book is full of useful tips and tricks. It’s of course also a very technical book. The reader should have a basic knowledge of photography before reading this book. But it’s well written, so that also not so well-versed photographers could find this book very useful. Rico (the author) leads you deep inside the technical aspects of the X-PRO1 without getting lost in details.

A useful book, also for X-100 [and X-E1] users, and also for those who are coming from DSLR cameras. What can they expect from this camera? At chapter 2.4 for example, Rico explains very clearly the differences, advantages and disadvantages compared to the autofocus of a DSLR. (click here to read the translated versions of the customer reviews)

From Amazon US: “Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 provides a wealth of experienced-based information and insights for owners of the new X-Pro 1 camera. Readers will learn about the features and capabilities of the X-Pro 1 and will discover numerous tips and tricks for how to maximize its potential.”

US citizens have still to wait for this useful book to be available at Amazon US (click here to preorder).

X-PRO1 review

Here is another “real life” review. No studio crew, no editorial staff. Just give this camera in the hands of a photographer. So you can read, for example, that of course the X-PRO1 is smaller than a DSLR, but “my point is this: we specialise in documentary wedding photography, and at a wedding, I think this camera will allow us to get closer to people and capture images without the intrusion a pro DSLR camera/lens combo can often bring. This means more natural images and a less obvious presence of the photographer, this is good!… I can’t remember a single person even taking any notice of me and the little camera.” I’ll just tell you the title of his post: X-PRO1 part 1… WOW! (click here). Yes, there will be a part 2. He will talk about OVF versus EVF, image quality, ISO performance, off camera flash and Lightroom 4 workflow… we are waiting for it!

iPad App

And one more thing: Version 2.0.0 of the offical X-PRO1 guidebook is now available for the iPad (click here). From the descriptions: “This is an official guidebook for the premium interchangeable lens camera, FUJIFILM X-Pro1. It is intended to help users enjoy photography even more with tips on how to use each of the various functions. It also includes an interview of photographer Mr.Yoichi Sone on the spectaculars of X-Pro1 and a gallery of his works from Macao. The guidebook will also provide users with instructions on how to use the attached RAW file converter, RAW FILE CONVERTER EX powered by SILKYPIX®.”