Retro-styled champion
The Fujifilm X-E1 is really a compact system camera (CSC) unlike the competition available - that's obvious from taking only one look into this well-oiled, retro-designed machine.
But it is what's inside that's most enjoyable. When Fujifilm revealed its X-Pro1 CSC there is a significant buzz about its - rather absurdly named - "X-Trans" CMOS sensor. It really works unlike other things available and produces image quality that punches over the weight on most APS-C sensors. Good job then the X-E1 has ported the identical sensor to the heart, but will it deliver with equally impressive features and gratifaction?
Design & Contacts
It's like winding the time back (in a great way) is not it? The X-E1 plays to Fujifilm's X-series' talents. It doesn't only look gorgeous, it is also built just like a tank. It's heavy, although not inside a hefty far more the type of reassuring weight similar to old range finders. Though let us be obvious: the X-E1 absolutely isn't a range finder camera.
When speaking concerning the X-E1, it's useful to possess some grounding with what the X-Pro1 is about. The second - and Fujifilm's debut CSC - has a lot of methods up its sleeve to create it aside from more mainstream CSCs.
READ: Fujifilm X-Pro1 review
Upon launch the X-Pro1 was provided with a range of three prime contacts. Unconventional, however with its lean toward a professional audience it made sense. The X-E1 can take advantage of those contacts, because they are the identical XF lens mount, nevertheless its slightly, let us say, more casual design sees it introduce the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 contact lens towards the fold.
A zoom, right? That may seem strange to the X-Pro1 customers as that camera's hybrid viewfinder makes great utilization of an optical preview with crop marks (though not too using the contact lens), something the greater budget X-E1 lives without.
The X-E1's design rather favours a digital-only viewfinder, which supplies an ultimately different feeling towards the wider-than-100-per-cent area-of-view optical system from the X-Pro1. The X-E1 is "simpler" for its "a specific item is what you'll getInch area-of-view system does not have parallax error to regulate for either. There it is going again: the X-E1 showing it is simply a smidgen more mainstream.
The Two.8-inch screen around the camera's rear might not match up with the X-Pro1's WRGB 3-inch version, however the X-E1 comprises with this within the viewfinder department. The .5-inch OLED panel consists of 2.4-million dots, which makes it the equal greatest resolution electronic viewfinder in the marketplace. And boy will it seem like it actually it's a lot more than two times the resolution from the X-Pro1's EVF. Nice touch. Our only moan may be the slight delay within the eye-level sensor firing in the preview when raising it towards the eye.
All Fujifilm XF contacts include an aperture ring that may be set to auto or rotated to electronically choose with the available range. The positioning of the aperture ring around the 18-55mm zoom means it's not hard to knock when being used, because it sits carefully behind the spinning zoom barrel.
To operate with the aperture ring is really a shutter speed dial around the primary camera body itself. As both controls feature an "A" for auto you can configure aperture/shutter priority, programme auto or full manual control while you choose. No generic "PSAM" type dial found here - therefore if you are away from least just a little au fait with photography this is not a camera for newcomers.
Gleam separate +/-2EV exposure compensation dial that runs flush using the rear from the body. It's not hard to knock unnatural though, so that as there's neither a lock nor indicator light this is often a nuisance when tugging your camera from the bag. Around the switch side, its sticking out position and simple-to-move motion allow it to be great to make use of when shooting through the viewfinder - a deft touch having a finger and also the modified exposure previews instantly.
Performance
The X-E1 is about customisation. Jump in to the quick menu - utilized through the "Q" button around the camera's rear - and you will find seven customisable presets. Furthermore these discuss the typical ISO along with other primary configurations, additionally they detail noise reduction, highlight/shadow tone levels, colour and sharpness too. You will find also film simulation modes that does not offer only strained black and whitened options, but additionally mimic classic Fujifilm chemistry, including Velvia, Provia, Professional.Neg H and S film types - although the "NH" and "NS" symbols will not always make that immediately obvious, and you are still liberated to adjust ISO sensitivity as preferred therefore it is not the identical really.
To date so great, however the autofocus speed is not able to match towards the competition it's noticeably reduced than else is available on the market.
The X-Pro1 elevated similar concerns and complaints which were addressed, simply, with a firmware update. The X-E1 seems like the X-Pro1 publish-firmware update - it's ok, but it will not operate in the lightning speed of one other CSCs available. It's among the greatest moans we've relating to this camera. Lock the 60mm macro into position, for instance, also it can search - noisily, we may add - for any very long time before finding focus.
For any choose couple of this will not be considered a bother. That macro lens combined with manual focus might see autofocus rarely be utilized, for instance. The X-E1's digital focus-distance indicator also produces aperture-dependent depth of area information to make sure detailed front-to-back focus.
Autofocus is available in two flavours: multi, that is basically "auto", or anchorman. The second could be situated at any of the 49 points as shown on the trunk screen much more the adjustment mode. For greater precision the trunk jog wheel may be used to re-size the AF point from a medium-small size through five different levels lower to an even more pinpoint square. Ideal for still existence work.
Continuous autofocus can also be underwhelming. Its center-only mix-selector AF point is not not going to maintain fast-moving subjects, and will not be particularly helpful in conjunction with the burst mode. In which the burst mode does are available in extra handy is by using its number of bracketing options - whether ISO, exposure, dynamic range or film simulation modes, they are all just a few clicks away.
Nevertheless the "macro" mode - utilized with an upward press from the d-pad - is not capable of producing particularly close-to-lens shots using the 18-55mm lens. Even in the 18mm setting, it's around 20cms in the front from the glass (yet further towards the sensor plane). The 60mm macro lens, since it's designated title indicates, is much more as much as scratch for close-up work.
Fridge magnet shot with 60mm macro lens, handheld at ISO 3200
However the 18-55mm lens is great overall. Its quality and operation is way beyond those of most 18-55mm contacts we have ever used. Only a quick rotation from the wonderfully smooth lens barrel with confirm this, as the f/2.8-4 aperture range can also be better than most.
Elsewhere within the performance stakes there is a burst shooting mode that may hit six fps and rattle off as much as 13 raw + JPEG frames. That's very good going, although the card write time does take some while - hardly surprising, considering that shots are about 5MB per JPEG and 26MB per raw file.
But each one of these treats have quite an effect around the battery existence, which did not last out as lengthy once we had anticipated. Best product up the price of an extra in to the cost then.
Imaging Miracle
The X-E1 is about top-tier image quality. Its secret would be that the X-Trans CMOS sensor includes a unique colour filter array that decodes colours per pixel in a different way from the standard camera. This different processing technique removes the requirement for an anti-aliasing filter that will otherwise soften the look - but is important towards the way almost every other digital camera models work. This is not marketing aficionado either, it's considered engineering that actually works.
The X-E1 produces images similar to the X-Pro1. They are wealthy with detail, assisted along by the plethora of XF contacts which are all sharp, such as the latest 18-55mm zoom. Better yet may be the 60mm macro that, while costly, really packs a punch.
60mm macro at f/2.4 provides a good depth of area and superb detail
The camera's ISO 100-6400 sensitivity range is functional throughout especially impressive at its low-mid configurations. It isn't frequently that the camera can establish shots that appear to be similar from ISO 100-800, but that is the situation here. There's little interfering grain or image noise to talk of, even though it will start to crawl into images from ISO 1600 and upwards, there's still a great degree of sharpness.
The twilight shot above shows the type of exposure, colour and dynamic range that may be accomplished. Which example is really a handheld shot clicked at ISO 1600.
It is possible to better APS-C sensor inside a compact system camera? We are yet to determine one, save for that X-Pro1.
Verdict: The Fujifilm X-E1 is really a modern-day classic, although not within the mainstream sense. It's just like a cult movie - it'll perfectly fit the niche for many, why others will think it's mad.
On one side this retro-styled, medium-sized compact system camera is costly (?1,149 costly) and lacks the type of pepped-up performance of something similar to the The new sony NEX-6 or Panasonic's selection of G-series CSCs.
But however here is a superbly crafted, essentially different, and incredible imaging machine. It is the final excellence of the X-E1's shots that elevate it to such high standards - presuming the so-so autofocus and battery existence, small display size and electronic-only viewfinder are workable factors.
Let us remember that there are no better APS-C sensor inside a compact system camera that we have yet seen, which explains why the X-E1 is, regardless of its listed weak points, a loveable champion.
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Cameras Fujifilm Fujifilm X-E1
Fujifilm X-E1 initially made an appearance on http://world wide web.pocket-lint.com on Comes to an end, 16 November 2012 18:11:00 +0000
