X-E2 vs. X-E2S: Ending the Confusion

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X-E2 vs. X-E2S: Ending the Confusion

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

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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.

Rico_BannerThis 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

X-E2S_silver_back

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!

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First Look: Fujifilm X70

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Fujifilm X70: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP / PCHstore / WexUK / AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

First Look: Fujifilm X70

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

Rico’s X70 Full-Size Sample Images

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Size Does Matter: The tiny Fujifilm X70 was inspired by the Ricoh GR II. Beyond their pocketable size and weight, both cameras share a Sony-built APS-C sensor with 16.3 MP, a 18.5mmF2.8 lens and plenty of street cred as premium compacts that you can carry with you all the time.

The X70 also incorporates the spirit of the X-series: a solid design with dials for everything, the functionality and image quality of the popular X-T10, and a very well-made lens. It also premieres a tiltable display with touch control for quick focusing, instant shutter release and intuitive image playback.

A black X70 (pre-production) pretending to be weather-resistant

Initially, the X70 was supposed to be introduced in concert with the X-T1 in early 2014, but Fujifilm shelved these plans in favor of the underrated X30. Of, course, the new X70 of 2016 embodies all the major goodies and features that have been developed in the past two years: the new AF system with more sensitive PDAF pixels, AF zones and “3D tracking”, Classic Chrome, a new and improved user interface and now even a touchscreen.

Click here for full camera specs and here for full-size sample images.

The X70 is available in black and silver versions

Main features include…

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First Look: Fujifilm X-Pro2

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Fujifilm X-Pro2
USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / WexUK / PCHstore / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP /   AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

 

 First Look: Fujifilm X-Pro2

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

Rico’s X-Pro2 Full-Size Sample Images (NEW: now also with Lightroom CC RAW samples)

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A New Hope: The retro-styled X-Pro2 kicks off Fujifilm’s next generation of enthusiast X-series cameras, based on a state-of-the-art 24.3 MP X-Trans sensor and a much more powerful processor. At first, everything seems strikingly familiar, but a closer look reveals that quite a lot has changed.

A Fujifilm X-Pro2 after a few days of light use

Four years after the introduction of the X-Pro1, Fujifilm is finally ready to open a new chapter in their book of mirrorless cameras. At first glance, the X-Pro2 looks just like its predecessor. However, it’s a different story on the inside (click here for full camera specs and here for more than 150 straight-out-of-camera and Lightroom CC RAW conversion sample images).

X-Pro2 with XF35mmF1.4 R

New features include…

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First Look: Fujifilm XF35mmF2 R WR

 

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First Look: Fujifilm XF35mmF2 R WR

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

Rico’s XF35mmF2 R WR Full-Size Sample Images

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X-T10 with optional handgrip and XF35mmF2 R WR
(shot with X-T1, XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4x TC WR)

At first glance, adding a XF35mmF2 prime to an already existing lineup of XF35mmF1.4 and Zeiss Touit 1.8/32 offerings looks like an unusual choice. But then again, the new XF35mmF2 R WR is slimmer, lighter and less expensive than its internal competition. It’s also weather resistant and tailored to the hybrid viewfinder of the X-Pro1 (and its highly anticipated successor).

Size comparison: Zeiss Touit 1.8/32, XF35mmF1.4 R and XF35mmF2 R WR
(shot with X-T1, XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4x TC WR)

Despite its attractive price tag, the XF35mmF2 R WR is made in Japan with a high build quality and an all metal exterior. The aperture ring may very well be the best I’ve ever encountered in an XF lens, and I also like the handling of the focus ring. To me, they feel “just right”.

X-T10, XF35mmF2 R WR, f/3.2, Lightroom

With 9 rounded aperture blades, the XF35mmF2 R WR delivers pretty smooth bokeh. The minimum focus distance (MFD) is 35cm, so you can get close to your subject. However, similar to the X100/S/T, shooting wide open at or near MFD can lead to some dreamy softness. It disappears as soon as you stop down to f/2.8 or f/3.2.

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First Look: Fujifilm XF1.4x TC WR Teleconverter Lens

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First Look: Fujifilm XF1.4x TC WR Teleconverter Lens

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Rico’s Books at Rocky Nook – Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

Rico’s XF1.4x TC WR Full-Size Sample Images

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X-T1 with XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4x TC WR
(shot with X-T1, XF56mmF1.2 R APD)

By attaching Fuji’s new 1.4x teleconverter between the XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR zoom lens and any Fuji X-mount camera, you can expand its focal reach to 70-196mm. In “full-frame” terms, this equals a maximum focal length of almost 300mm.

X-T1, XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4x TC WR, 196mm, f/4, Lightroom

By expanding the original focal length by a factor of 1.4, we are basically cropping the image that’s captured by the host lens, so only 50% of the light that’s entering the lens is actually transmitted to the sensor. This means that the speed of our lens+teleconverter combo is going down one stop: our fast XF50-140mmF2.8 lens turns into a slower XF70-196mmF4 zoom lens.

X-T1, XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4x TC WR, 196mm, f/4, Lightroom

In order to communicate correctly when a teleconverter is attached, the lens and the camera both require firmware updates to transmit the correct EXIF data and to make sure that the electronic distance and DOF scale remains accurate. The new firmware files are supposed to be available on October 29. Fuji says that for things to work correctly, we have to first update the camera body and then the lens.

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