Posted earlier today:
– Huge Fujinon Sale in Canada on alomst all Fuji XF Lenses! – click here
– RUMOR: No Fujifilm X-E3 in 2016 (SRP)… And Why the Fujifilm X-E2S is Very Important for X-E Line Lovers! – click here
– X-TransIII and Fantastic 5 Stops Shadow Recovery :: Why DxOMark Doesn’t Test X-Trans :: RFC EX 2.0 Available :: Free ClassicChrome profile – click here
To those waiting for the Fujifilm X-E3. I’ve been contacted by a source, who was right in the past, and it told me that there won’t be an X-E3 in 2016.
End of the Rumor
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The Importance of the X-E2S
Now the big question is: will there ever be an X-E3? I don’t know yet. And I don’t think Fujifilm has made the final decision about it.
Fujifilm might take a close look how theFujifilm X-E2S sells compared to the X-T10 in the next months. If the X-E2S sells well and won’t be cannibalized by the X-T10, showing Fuji that there is a good market also for rangefinder styled cameras, then I have high hopes that Fujifilm will launch the Fujifilm X-E3 in 2017… but if the X-E2S doesn’t sell, then I’m afraid we can say good-bye to the X-E line.
So, I’m crossing fingers that the X-E2S will sell like hot cakes, because I consider the X-E line very interesting, and just like the X-T1 with the X-T10, also the X-Pro2 should have a more affordable rangefinder sibiling.
Why DxOMark Doesn’t Test Fujifilm Cameras? Petapixel spoke with DxO, and the answer is as to expect:
“We do not measure X-Trans sensor because of the specific technology, […] We would need a lot of time to adapt our protocol for such sensor and we did not had the chance to do that.
It is a bit technical but here is the main issue: the X-Trans file do not support the same Bayer pixel mapping,[…] That means that we will need to develop specific reader to read these specific raw files, and then apply a lot of changes on our measurement protocol.”
All of DxOMark’s RAW measurements were designed for Bayer RGB files, so X-Trans-equipped Fujifilm cameras over the past 3 years just haven’t been testable. No word yet on if or when this may change
To me, DxO is doing the right thing: not test the X-Trans sensor, because their current measurment protocol would not lead to 100% accurate results, and it could damage the “image” of the X-Trans sensor.
Look for example the dpreview studio shots. They use Photoshop to demosaic the X-Trans files, but Adobe works best for the conventional Bayer CFA. And even if Adobe introduced several improvements for X-Trans in these years (and promised to improve support further), it is still not quite up with converters like Iridient. That’s why the studio shots at dpreview will never really make justice to the real potential of Fuji’s X-Trans technology.
That said, I wish DxO would take it seriously and optimize their testing also for Fujifilm X-series cameras, because I’m so sure that the magic X-Trans would deliver great test results.
Amazing X-Trans III 5 stop shadow recovery & more
Fujifilm X-Pro2 with Lightroom at Kevin Mullins youtube + X-Pro2 Support in Adobe Lightroom CC at f16.click. As recommended by Dave in the comments: “go to the 7:49 mark and there he shows the effect of 5 stop adjustment in lightroom cc on both jpg and raw files…there are 2 separate images he does this with. The effects on raw files is incredible.”
Choosing a Raw Processor for Fuji X-Trans Files – Updated at thomasfitzgeraldphotography / An interesting look to Black and White Images from Fuji X-Trans cameras with Iridient Developer and Lightroom at thomasfitzgeraldphotography / Fujifilm X-T1 – Lightroom & Silver Efex workflow at Samuel Zeller youtube
RAW FILE CONVERTER EX 2.0 powered by SILKYPIX
RAW FILE CONVERTER EX 2.0 powered by SILKYPIX available at Fujifilm
“AUTOFOCUS: Studio, reinforced X-Pro2 of 16-55 mm f / 2.8 is very reactive and beyond the X-T1 . The focus is always less than 0.3 s and the wide-angle, latency is 0.2 s. Excellent performance that hoist the new housing at the best hybrids.
On the ground, we confronted the X-Pro2 equipped with 16-55 mm Panasonic GX8 with the 12-40 mm f / 2.8 Olympus . In bright light, the Panasonic Hybrid dominates: the focus is almost instantaneous, but the X-Pro2 is not far. Night photo (without AF), the Fujifilm takes clear advantage. The X-Pro2 will be perfectly comfortable in all light conditions. We noted that the development time greatly depends on the optics used. Thus, the 23 mm f / 1.4 was less reactive, with a much more sensitive pumping effect.
In the darkness, he holds a candle to the best Micro 4/3 and outperforms some reflex. In bright light, the contrast detection Olympus or Panasonic is a bit more responsive. In all cases, the progress made by Fujifilm in the field are impressive.
On the subject tracking burst mode, progress is notable and in our tests, we managed to capture moving subjects with an excellent success rate.“
HIGH ISO & IQ: Even at ISO 12 800, the X-Pro2 images are impressive. While the grain is visible, dynamic drop, borders are increasingly blurred, but overall, the picture is easily readable and keeps the material. The texture is fine and light-colored and therefore quite pleasant.
It is interesting to compare the performance of the X-Trans III APS-C sensor of Fujifilm those of Sony A7II24×36 sensor. Both imagers have the same resolution (24 megapixels), but the sensitive surface of the photosites is very different, the side measuring 3.9 microns at Fujifilm and Sony almost 6 microns. Yet the images are quite similar and it is not easy to separate the two housings to ISO 6400: a good performance for an APS-Ccase.
Faced with the X-T1 and 16MP, the X-Pro2 also fits easily comparison despite a much higher definition. Again, the performance is outstanding. Canon’s CMOS sensor in the 7D Mark II pales in comparison and it sports the Canon case is far behind in the management of electronic noise.
The magic of imaging X-Trans always work and this 3rd iteration reveals splendid, with excellent noise control up to ISO 6400 and usable images up to 12,800 ISO”
More X-Pro2 Feedback
Most of us were really excited, when we’ve read how, according to lesnumerique tests (Test 1 and Test 2), the X-Pro2 basically sees in the dark, beating all the various flagships to what belongs AF-speed in low light. FR-reader Michael had the opportunity to play shortly with the X-Pro2 (with the 35mmF1.4) and shared the video on youtube here.
So, what do I think? The new sensor, OVF, dual card slots, joystick and ISO dial are nice improvements over the X-Pro 1. I’m looking forward to trying this camera out some more and perhaps having a bit more comprehensive review later on.
ISO seems great from 100iso – 3200 and useable above depending on what you’re using it for. Personally I’ll be keeping 6400 as my max, with 3200 and below being my safe zone. But YMMV.
“AF speed. It is not an exaggeration if I say it is a thousand times faster than the X-Pro1. The Fuji X-T1 post firmware 4.0 is already quite fast and reliable, but the X-Pro2 takes it to another level, specially in low light. […] I’m pretty happy with the X-T1 AF speed, but the X-Pro2 just upped the game in that department.”
Samples and comments on Fuji’s improved RAW quality at the Spanish site dslrmagazine (translation).
Previously announced for end of Janaury, now postponed to 4th of February
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So you have it once again: even Fujifilm itself posts wrong rumors. ;)
They announced the new X-T1 firmware (which should fix the bug introduced with FW 4.20) for “late January”. But Fujifilm postponed the release to February 4… the same day, when the new X-E2 Firmware will be available for download.
