I’ve already told you about fujifilmxmount over a year ago here, a handy online tool, where you can test & compare the whole range of Fujinon lenses.
Well, a bunch of new lenses has been added to the virtual Lens test site, including the 35mmF2 and 1.4x Teleconverter. Still not included at the moment, the brand new XF100-400. I also hope they will add the X-Pro2 as virtual test camera soon.
Also new: you can now test different Film Simulations.
Recently TheCameraStoreTV said in their X-Pro2 review, that Fuji’s new flagship is just not really better than the X-T1 in terms AF-speed (more in terms of AF-handling – Joystick/More AF-Points)
Once again they proof not to be afraid to say what they think… and that’s great we have guys like them out there.
And yet, what TheCameraStoreTV said, doesn’t quite fit with what we could read so far on the web. I’m not saying somebody is wrong. I just notice that there is an inconsistency regarding the AF-speed comments of reviewers so far. So I’ll still wait before making any final conclusions.
In the meantime, here is some new feedback:
AUTOFOCUS
We have already seen, how lab tests of lesnumerique (extremely popular French site) show that in Low Light the AF of the X-Pro2 beats any other mirroless camera. And focus-numerique says it also outperforms some DSLRs! Also Cruz.ae says: “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 ligh“.
And what about AF-C? macleancomms tested it at a Rally in the forest: low light, bad weather and fast cars… can the X-Pro2 deal with it (with 90mm, 50-140 and 100-400)? Here some excerpts:
“I used the 50-140mm f2.8 and with the camera set manually to 1/500 @ f2.8 ISO1600 I took a set of images as the first car came towards me in along the forest track. The X-Pro2 followed the car perfectly, producing a set of eight images all perfectly sharp.
I decided to switch to the XF100-400mm and set the X-Pro2 to 1/250s @ f4.7 ISO2000 with the focal length at 125mm. The results were pretty impressive considering the very poor lighting conditions, the camera only losing the lock on one of the nine shots taken in the sequence.
The X-Pro2 produced some great images in some very challenging light and weather conditions. I ran the X-T1 alongside the X-Pro2 and I have to report that the AF on the X-Pro2 did a better job of following the cars.“
Another one who tested the AF of the X-Pro2 with the XF100-400 is Simone Raso (youtube). He’s one of those photographer that you always see standing on the border of the soccer fields.
This time he took his X-Pro2 and XF100-400 to the game Real Madrid Vs. Rome. Will the X-Pro2 be able to track and focus on the fast and unpredictable movements of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo?
Apparently yes, since Simone Raso says at the end that “at this point, it doesn’t make sense anymore to lug around 10 kg of gear… and I say this without any fear that somebody can contraddict me. You’ll see all the pictures, and judge by yourself.” He worked often at high ISO since he never used a shutter speed slower than 1/500 and the XF100-400 is F5.6 at the long end, “but the X-Pro2 allows me to shoot at ISO 6400, since the files look good… no problems.”
Simone Raso’s video is in Italian and can be seen here on youtube (enjoy the live google translation tool).
Honestly, I can’t think of the X-Pro2 (or any mirrorless camera) being ready to replace a High End DSLR for sports… but apparently there are some guys out there, who are already using it for such a purpose.
Fujifilm XPRO2 Review – The Reality at bokeh-monster / Top 10 questions about the X-Pro2 at olafphotoblog / Review at photoreview / Climbing Slieve Donard with the Fujifilm X-Pro2 at flixelpix / X-Pro2 does 1978 at kagecollective / Vancouver Moments with the ACROS film simulation at olafphotoblog / X-Pro2 – Vintage’d at jonasraskphotography / Fuji X-Pro2 review at techradar / Fuji X-Pro2 Review Part Three: Vancouver Cityscapes, Long Exposures, and Street Photography at ianmacdonaldphotography / Fujifilm X-pro2 in Slovenia , Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina at williamchua / Magnum photographer Alec Soth has been using a X-Pro2 – instagram /
By upgrading your Fujifilm X-E2 with firmware 4, you are giving up the camera that you knew: Your X-E2 will turn into an X-T10—only with a rangefinder design. However, on the inside, both the X-E2v4 and the new X-E2S offer (almost) the same features, the same menu options and the same graphical user interface as the X-T10.
This is important. To begin with, it means that your old X-E2 user manual has become pretty much obsolete. That’s why Fujifilm has created an entirely new manual along with firmware 4. You can download it here as a PDF file. It also means that my eBook on the X-E2 doesn’t apply to cameras running firmware 4 or the new X-E2S. It’s still great if you don’t upgrade your X-E2, but users who have made the jump are now much better off with my book on the X-T10.
I am not kidding! As long as you can see beyond the different form factors (rangefinder style vs. SLR style), my X-T10 book is now almost perfectly applicable. It really is, because Fuji did a terrific job transforming the X-E2 into an X-T10 with camouflage. This means that my X-E2 eBook won’t be updated. It doesn’t have to, because the update is already here.
Same Same, But Different
Okay, so your X-E2 is now a rangefinder-style version of the X-T10. Great! But what exactly are the differences between an X-E2 running firmware 4 and the new X-E2S? There seems to be some confusion, so let’s straighten it out.
X-E2 vs. X-E2S
On the outside, the differences are minimal. The X-E2S offers an “improved” hand grip, but to be honest, I can’t feel much of a difference. However, pressing the four selector buttons on the back of the X-E2S does feel better, so this may be another small improvement over the classic X-E2. With firmware 4, you can forget the MACRO and AF descriptions on two of the X-E2’s selector buttons, as all four selector keys now serve as Fn buttons, just like in the X-E2S. This gives both cameras a total of 7 Fn buttons!
Fuji Managers said it here: “Customers are requesting more compact lenses. Our 35mm F2 is one example. So we may need to supplement this lens [with others of this kind].”
And tell me… over the last few years, which has been the most requested compact lens by the FujiRumors community in different Polls we have launched on this blog? You got it… it’s the Fujinon XF23mmF2! Now guess what? It seems Fujifilm listened (and you know they read FujiRumors).
According to our reliable sources, the XF23mmF2 (which is still not in the roadmap), will be launched this year… and probably even before the XF120mm (which is in the roadmap)!
So it’s time for me to update again the rumored-lens-roadmap.
The X-Pro2 Metal Hand Grip is now available at BHphoto and Adorama. It’s still unavailable at AmazonUS.
It will hardly mitigate the pain for the unexpected long X-Pro2 waiting, but it seems that whatever the issue was, Fuji fixed it and will start shipping the camera in early March (probably March 10).
” The light at the end of the tunnel is brighter and looking not as far down as it’s been.. here’s a screen shot from B&H showing latest update to X-Pro2 expected availability.. MARCH 10th! Very good, very good.. please let it be even soon if possible.
Maybe the recent report/rumor that the final production firmware release from Kevin Mullins is good and finally production can move forward not be delayed as much as it’s been reported over the past weeks.”
FR-reader ChiPhi confirmed:
“Just received a note from B & H letting me know that my order’s ‘Expected availability’ is now March 10th. I really hope it does not get pushed much more as I am chomping at the bit.”
Several Lensmate customers are getting this notification: the Fujifilm X-Pro2 shipping could be moved out until April! Fujfilm customer service says that Fuji is “tweaking the firmware“. This confirms that this rumor could be correct. However, as we know from Kevin Mullins, the production Firmware has apparently just been released. So I doubt it is still a firmware issue. Maybe Lensmate isn’t just up to date with the latest news from Fujifilm.
After eoshd here, now also dpreview confirms: for Fujfilm, the X-Pro2 marks a huge step forward. No 4K, no S-Log, sure, but what it does, it seems to do really good. Here is what dpreview says:
“Video has previously been one of the great weaknesses of Fujifilm’s X-Trans cameras but that’s all changed with the X-Pro2. We’ve shot our test scene, pounded the streets of New York and captured all the visual clichés we could, to show you what the X-Pro2 can do.
The X-Pro2’s headline video specs are broadly unchanged compared to previous models but the quality has moved forwards dramatically. It’s still not going to be the first choice for professional use but it’s now more than competitive amongst its 1080-shooting peers. Add in the ability to apply Film Simulations to your shooting and video becomes another storytelling tool in the camera’s arsenal.“
Fuji X-Pro2 First Shots: Flagship Fuji rangefinder-styled body struts highest resolution X-trans sensor. See the comparometer studio shots at imaging-resource
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