A week of “living” with the Fuji X-Pro 1 by CMHHK

Chris (CMHHK) has put down some thoughts after having the Fuji X-Pro 1 for a week and I've included them below.

I've also included the samples again that Chris made available, now expanded. My thanks to Chris for both providing the samples and for writing his thoughts on the camera. As I've written often before, I'm much more inclined to take notice of pieces like this rather than the usual review sites and all their various agendas. Plus Chris has the advantage of working with a production camera.

Please note:- In exactly the same way that all the material I publish here is subject to copyright, this is also the case for Chris's images and text. Please respect this.

 

"I placed a pre-order for the X-Pro 1 with my local camera shop in Hong Kong, my choice being the camera, and both 18mm & 35mm lenses, however on the 1st day of release last week it was all or nothing. All meant the X-Pro 1 body, 18mm, 35mm and 60mm lenses, 3 filters, leather camera case and strap, leather 18mm lens case and camera grip. The total sum of which was considerably more than I had initially intended to spend, however with the components laid out on the counter top and with an appreciative eye for quality a purchase was made. If the touch and feel of the camera and lenses had been lower than my expectation I would have passed on the opportunity.

Now having used the X-Pro 1 for a week I have some thoughts which are worth sharing, I’m not going to comment on image quality. I’ve taken plenty of shots which I have shared via my Flickr page which speak for themselves.

The X-Pro 1 offers three modes of focusing, manual, continuous and single shot. Manual focus is easy to achieve via the lens focus ring, although it has a somewhat remote “fly by wire feel”, and the focus area can be zoomed as an aid, however the focus peaking as seen on the Sony NEX series and Ricoh GXR is not available which is disappointing. The auto focus system comparative to “today’s” cameras is poor, in both modes focusing is slow and sometimes fails to achieve focus. If anyone is considering purchasing a camera for shooting conditions which require, quick and accurate or continuous focusing of moving subjects the X-Pro 1 might not be your 1st choice.

As an M9 owner I was surprised to find the X-Pro 1 to be slightly larger when placed side by side, for me this is acceptable as I find many current cameras including Micro 3/4 too small for anything other than running off a couple of quick shots and the layout of the buttons compromise the useability. The large size begs the question, is there room for a full size sensor?

The layout of the X-Pro 1 buttons is similar to the X100, although far superior in that they have been refined and improved. The most significant is the change from the irritating ring and OK button of the X100 to four directional buttons and a centre OK button, all of which are nicely sized and positive. These buttons form the basis of the menu selection and adjustment. A nice addition is the quick menu button (Q) which offers direct access to a single screen from which a multitude of functions can be adjusted on the fly.

The design of the lens cap is frustrating, I prefer caps which require gripping the full diameter as this gives the best grip and leverage, but Fuji has gone with two clips which require releasing by squeezing together the centre portion of the cap. It’s fiddly, awkward and if like me you have “man” hands it will result in dropped caps, especially on a cold day – don’t even think about gloves! Perhaps the Fuji B team, or perhaps even the Z team were given this design task.

Shooting with the X-Pro 1, its fun and enjoyable and with an all black finish discrete enough to wander around cities without intruding personal space. I found myself predominantly shooting manual with a fixed speed, then playing with aperture and ISO to set the exposure, I never touched the white balance as this seems to be accurate enough when left in auto mode. For the majority of the time I have used the half leather case as this includes a raised grip, or the additional grip simply because I have them. The camera and lens combo is light enough to carry around for long periods of time suspended from the wrist especially as I tend to wind the strap around my hand and use this to pull the camera into my hand.

A fundamental flaw I spotted when first using the camera is the inaccuracy of the electronic horizontal indicator. Surprisingly the indicator induces a two or three degree tilt to images, and a quick check on a level surface showed the indicator to be inaccurate. For me this is annoying as I already have a built in tilt to the left, perhaps Fuji can address this with a firmware upgrade, assuming it’s a calibration issue and common to the camera.

My conclusion? Perhaps I first need to qualify my approach and thinking. I’m not a professional photographer, I don’t directly earn a living through photography, but I do design and manufacture retail products so have an eye and feel for quality and what feels both right and wrong.

As a “photographer” I’m fortunate to own, experiment and sometimes choose to keep cameras/ lenses which I purchase and like. So is the X-Pro 1 a keeper? Yes, but only because I have other cameras which perform far better in the areas where the X-Pro 1 fails which predominately is any form of photography reliant on autofocus capturing a difficult/ moving subject.

For anyone who enjoys shooting stationery objects such as, architecture, documentation, portrait, landscape and kids who sit still, this camera should be one to consider, especially if you have large hands and enjoy a more “manly” and traditional techno styling.

If I were only allowed one camera, it would not be an X-Pro. If I were allowed two cameras, then maybe one would be an X-Pro 1.

Chris"

Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Fuji X PRO 1 - hands-on at Focus on Imaging

A TALE OF TWO CAMERAS

Yesterday I had the chance to handle and shoot with both the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Fuji X Pro 1. I obviously cannot comment on the image quality, but this are my (very personal) impressions of using the two cameras.

THE OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5

The Olympus stand at this years show was somewhat different. It consisted of a catwalk, on which there was a photographer shooting with some models. Occasionally the models would pose for the assembled photographers. There were presentations from time to time with video. There were Olympus reps. standing around talking to people and handing them cameras to try. It sounds a bit loose and chaotic but it actually worked very well. The atmosphere was relaxed and I got a chance to use the camera for some time, both with and without the two grips.

Initially I was handed the camera with both grips. Now I like grips, and I liked this one a lot. The camera felt instantly very comfortable, both in horizontal and vertical positions. It also felt comfortable without the battery holder portion of the grip as well. Without either, its actually quite small and essentally much like any other CSC.

As I said, I like the feel of a camera with a grip, and feel the handling is often much improved. The advantage with the OM-D is that its still pretty light with it attached. The two grip sections are actually quite small and add little weight. There is some extra weight obviously from the battery. The whole thing in the hand is not unlike cameras like the Nikon FM2 and Pentax MZ-5, which is no higher complement in my book.

Olympus seem keen not to class this as "professional" m4/3 but it essence thats exactly what it feels like. Finally someone has produced a digital camera that looks (its VERY classy) like a professional tool without the ridiculous weight and bulk that some modern DSLR's can have.

Taking pictures with it you become aware af several things. The rear screen and viewfinder are really good, sharp and clear. The AF is just lightning and THERE IS NO SHUTTER LAG!!! I pressed the shutter down and it felt that by the time I'd got the shutter down all the way it had already taken 4 pictures! Absolutely astonishing and completely different from any other m4/3 cameras. It doesn't seem to struggle in low light with low contrast and was one of the fastest cameras I've ever handled.

Using it, I wanted one very badly. However, at this current time its not a camera I have a lot of use for. Olympus were offering a show only deal, which meant if you pre ordered it there you got the grips plus case plus extra battery and a couple of other things thrown in. I even managed to resist that.

As you can tell I was very impressed. If at some point I ever go back to shooting weddings, portraits, events etc. I will buy one like a shot. Many of the samples circulating that I have seen indicate that this sensor and processing engine has improved high ISO performance and dynamic range, and combined with the modular design, superb (there's no other word for it) handling and sheer speed this is a camera that I would really enjoy using and that should be a real alternative to cameras like the Nikon D7000 and Canon 7D.

THE FUJI X PRO 1

Between coming back from the show yesterday and writing this I've been wondering how to pitch this. Indeed in the car driving back with my nephew Ben who took the hands-on pictures above and shot the video, we were discussing as to whether I would write what I really think or keep this relatively bland.

As you probably would have guessed, I'm going with the former, but first of all here's a few disclaimers.

Firstly this is my personal opinion. Its not objective, its a purely subjective reaction. Secondly, I only had 10 minutes or so with the camera. Thirdly, I can make no comment about the image quality. I've discussed the samples I've found in previous posts and am still hopeful of seeing something better. Finally the cameras on show may have had some heavy use and not be typical of what would arrive on your doorstep.

I imagine you will get some idea of how this is going to go!!

To begin with a positive. It feels very nice for weight and size. Its somewhat more substantial than the X100 and is close to the weight and size of a Leica M8 or M9. Unfortunately thats where the similarities end. I had much the same reaction to the X Pro 1 as I had to the Fuji X100. It looks great in pictures but in reality is somewhat disappointing in the flesh. Aesthetically there's something I really don't like about it. It seems to lack a "personality". I did actually get my hands on it straight after the OM-D and my initial reaction was disappointment. I dislike the grip as its one of those neither one thing or the other types. I struggled to feel comfortable with it. There is an add-on grip that will be available that could improve this however. 

Like the X100, I'm disappointed with the finish. This is a £1400 body only camera after all. I have to say it, and I'm sure I'll get lots of reaction to this, but I thought it looked and felt cheap. Somewhat like a compact camera on steroids. The one I was given to try looked like some of the finish on the top plate was peeling off. As I indicated this may have been at lots of shows and have become somewhat battered, but even so. OK this is really a personal thing and its just my reaction to it.

What really concerned me was the AF performance. The camera I used was VERY slow to lock focus. In fact on several occasions it failed to achieve focus lock at all. I was using it on targets that were similar to those I had used the OM-D for and it was chalk and cheese. In desperation and to check if it was faulty, I aimed it at a very bright screen with black and white writing and it finally locked on. I was incidentally using the 35mm lens. I then tried various other high contrast targets and while it successfully achieved focus every time there was a significant delay. I actually thought this was worse than the X100. I talked to the rep. and he assured me that the AF was faster than the X100, however I have no evidence for that. 

I tried the optical vewfinder and the EVF, which is nothing remarkable and looked like the one thats in the X100. Regarding the optical viewfinder, I'm not quite sure why people get so excited about it. Yes Leicas have something similar, but as far as I was concerned the framelines was the thing I liked least about my Leicas. They weren't accurate was my primary criticism. Neither was the one on my X100. The argument for this optical viewfinder with a frame line is that you can see beyond the frame, which can be useful for anticipating and composition. OK I'm no street photographer, but is this any advantage with such sluggish AF? This slow focusing would also I imagine affect the cameras great virtue. As with the X100 there is no argument that this camera is superb at high ISO's. If the samples indicate anything, they certainly indicate that. However, the problems I had getting it to focus at all, let alone with any kind of useful speed, would indicate, if the camera I was using is typical, that this low light ability would be somewhat compromised. It wasn't after all, very dark in the hall. The shots that my nephew took of me holding the camera were typically 1/60th. sec at f/2.8 at ISO 1600. A pretty typical indoor situation. (Incidentally the NEX-7 and the Zeiss 35mm f/1.8 he was using performed flawlessly under these conditions.)

So, it gives me no pleasure to report like this, and I can only hope that I had a problem camera. Contrary to what has been written elsewhere, I really do not have any agenda to "slag off" the X Pro 1. Indeed when it was first announced I was excited by it and was keen to try one. Over time with the fairly dismal samples I have seen and now this handling disappointment I am actually wondering what is going on. Is what I'm seeing typical? Now that the cameras are shipping, I would be happy to publish anybody elses point of view and if anybody is willing to make samples (particularly raw) available then I'm happy to link to those.

I do want to be fair here and certainly don't want to get a reputation as a "Fuji Basher". However I can only report on what I see and how the camera I used handled.

So with the two cameras I wanted to try, very much a mixed reaction. I really do think that the Olympus OM-D is taking m4/3 to new levels and I'm crossing my fingers that the Olympus camera division doesn't get broken up because of the current troubles, as it seems they are moving in a very exciting direction.

As to the Fuji, I'm actually bewildered. Am I just unlucky? As ever, since the readership here is undoubtedly sensible, literate and intelligent, you will take what I have written and compare with all the words that have been written on this camera. Whether I'm swimming against the tide will become apparent in the future. I'm not going to be buying an X Pro 1 anyway. Even if the AF was a lot better and I saw some wonderful image samples I still don't like the look and feel of it. So you have to bear that in mind.

Finally just to reinforce some peoples notion that I am after all just a born-again Sony fanboy, this was actually the first time I've ever used (or had someone else use it) my NEX-7 at ISO 1600 indoors. It was actually pretty good. Certainly nothing spectacular and the X Pro 1 would certainly be better and probably (amazing that I would ever write this) the m4/3 sensor of the OM-D as well. But I'd be quite happy with the results from the NEX-7. The AF indoors in this light was good too. No, not as fast as the OM-D which was very good indeed but fast enough for me.

An interesting afternoon.

UPDATE - 8/3/2012

Just to say that I don't seem to be completely alone in my assessment of the X-Pro 1!!
http://www.43rumors.com/an-e-m5-and-x-pro-1-hands-on-comparison-and-e-m5-portrait-nude-photography/

"Fuji X Pro 1 better than a Leica M9" - 2

If you follow the link to the Fuji X Pro 1 samples - http://brandonremler.com/ & http://brandonremler.blogspot.com/ and scroll down his site(s) you come to this interesting little titbit of information.

Oh sure. Your own "personal views". Of course we believe you, nothing to do with a Fuji internet propaganda job or anything like that. Wouldn't dream of suggesting that your views might be biased and influenced by your employer. Absolutely not. No really, I mean it, truly, absolutely. Wouldn't doubt your objectivity and integrity for a single minute, and certainly wouldn't dream of suggesting that everything you wrote is completely bogus, not even for  a second, no really, yes truly, really, I sincerely really mean it and you can trust me and my statements on this just as much as I can trust yours!!!

"Fuji X Pro 1 better than a Leica M9"

There's a link on mirrorlesrumors - http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/massive-new-fuji-x-pro-1-image-and-video-samples-brandon-remler-says-its-betetr-than-m9/ - through to someone who has posted samples from the X Pro 1, with this quote from the "photographer" 

"He also had the chance to make a very quick comparison with the Leica M9: “I feel the X-Pro1 is delivering a nicer color palette and I don’t want to set any precedents here – but when the tests are done I think the X-Pro1 will show a higher resolution.”

So I had a look at these samples:-

Here's a few blowups.

Better than an M9!! These are complete junk. Is there supposed to be a picture in the midst of this "mush". One day I guess we might get something that shows whether this camera is any good or not. 

Up to now all of the samples, without exception, have been mostly terrible and mediocre at best. At least when the X100 was announced the samples that surfaced were of a mixed quality, some were not great but some were very impressive. Everything thats coming currently coming from this camera is awful and is doing Fuji no favours.

And am I alone in thinking if this is the best you can come up with, why bother posting it?

UPDATE - I should just make it clear that I'm not referrring to the quality of the images and photography, which I think are very good, but rather the technical quality of the files themselves.

A Sony fanboys rubbishing of the Fuji X-Pro 1. (That should get a few hits!)

At their press conference the other day, Fuji went through the somewhat undignified process of putting up a chart and placing all other cameras in inferior positions. The Fuji X-Pro 1, was of course at the pinnacle of style and quality. The only problem with doing this is that you have to be pretty sure that you can deliver the goods. From what I was reading as this "rubbishing" chart was unveiled, it seems as if m4/3 and NEX were relegated to a pretty lowly position.

My reaction yesterday was to actively want to use both m4/3 and NEX cameras. It is somewhat disappointing when companies feel the need to emphasise the negatives of their rivals rather than their own positives. Fuji aren't alone in doing this, but it was a cheap shot, and of course complete BS. 

So yesterday afternoon I went out with what I consider to be the best all-round CSC you can buy, the Sony NEX-5n, just to see what it can do. Unlike the Fuji, not a lookaleica, however to get into the spirit I decided to use two metal Voigtlander lenses, the 28mm f/2 Ultron, and 75mm f/2.5 Heliar. The camera and lenses looked rather nice with leather case, strap and add-on viewfinder. No-one would mistake it for a Leica, but hey you can't have everything.

I was particularly interested in seeing how the NEX-5n performed as a general all-round camera, and I did what I virtually never do, which was fire off a series of continuous shots. Its a fairly modest 2.3 fps, but I held down my finger on the shutter button and it starting firing and then it just kept going and going and going..... eventually I stopped as it was getting tedious. I got up to 25 shots in total of which I've put together 16 below. It would have done more, and while these were jpgs only, there was no buffer lockup whatsoever.

I wonder how the "Pro" Fuji will do at something like that?

In the place I was in I've always wanted to take a particular shot. There is a main railway line behind a canal basin and I've always wanted a picture of an express train with canal boats in the foreground. I've had several go's at it and haven't actually managed to get what I wanted usually due to AF hunting and shutter lag. Using manual focusing to pre-focus I waited for a train and one duly thundered along at about 60mph.

As you can see I managed to get both ends of the train frozen and pin sharp in exactly the right position. Since the shutter button on the NEX-5n is instantaneous, it was a question of my reactions, fortunately even with freezing cold fingers I got what I wanted. If you think I was there for hours trying to get this I wasn't, this was my first and only attempt.

I wonder how the "Pro" Fuji will do at something like that?

Fuji have made a lot of fuss about their new sensor array. Lots of diagrams of coloured squares. More is better, right? This apparently gives full-frame quality in terms of high ISO performance, image quality and dynamic range. Though why they want to duplicate the DR of something like a Leica M9, which is pretty poor, I'm not sure. However since they had felt the need to relegate the Sony NEX system to the status of an also-ran in their "chart of merit" here's a few examples of what the NEX-5n can do.

DYNAMIC RANGE

SHARPNESS

HANDLING DIFFICULT HIGH CONTRAST LIGHTING SITUATIONS

Fuji's previous lookaleica, the X100 (The Professionals choice), wasn't known as being particularly particularly good at either auto or manual focus. Since I was using manual focus lenses, I had no opportunity to use AF, but I would mention that I could probably have shot off half of the images in the top montage before the X100 had even locked on to something. In terms of manual focusing, the NEX systems focus peaking feature takes this to new levels.

I decided to give it a reasonable test by attempting to focus on some swans using an aperture of f/2. OK, this isn't a cheetah racing across the Serengeti national park, but those swans can swim pretty quick... really.

I will admit they aren't that quick on land, but the object of the exercise was to see how quickly I could follow something around, continually altering manual focus at a very wide aperture. As it happens I could do that very successfully. Not all my pictures were perfectly composed but of the 20 or so shots I took, every single one was perfectly focused.

I wonder how the "Pro" Fuji will do at something like that?

On the subject of wide apertures Fuji make a great thing of how their camera / lens combinations can do all this fancy depth of field stuff (as if other cameras can't) Heres a couple of examples of the NEX-5n / Voigtlander combination in action.

Finally an example of how the NEX-5n copes with dramatic, contrasty lighting and the colour depth its capable of producing.

The shot above is a multi-image panoramic stitch, which is a 100MB file that looks simply breathtaking on my screen.

So, all of this probably reads like some Sony fanboy having a pop at Fuji. Well, yes it is and it isn't. Its my reaction to the nonsense that gets talked by camera manufacturers, internet pundits and your everyday internet forum contributor. As with the X100 there is the usual nonsense about how the Fuji X-Pro 1 (Couldn't they come up with a name without the Pro AND the now obligatory X) is going to change photography as we know it. I've seen "reviews" that are proclaiming that the new Fuji has better image quality than the Leica M9 and the Sony NEX-7 amongst others. This incidentally on the basis of a few, somewhat underwhelming, jpg samples on the Fuji website.

I'm still smitten by the look of the FPX1 (my new name for it) and though I'm telling myself that I'm going to wait and see what its capable of, the chances are that I will probably slap a pre-order in as soon as I can and wait impatiently for it to arrive. Even though I've been describing it as a lookaleica, I LIKE lookaleicas, and anyone who reads here on a regular basis will know that I go weak at the knees whenever I see anything with a hint of retro.

I do however feel my blood pressure rising when I read the nonsense that passes for serious comment on this thing. The almost religious faith that people put in the camera brand of their choice is amusing but at the same time unnerving in its ferocity.

I've been "bothered" recently by someone who seems to be trying to carve out a career as an internet stalker. An avowed NEX hater, he (I presume its a he) swoops on any of my posts when I dare to suggest that Sony make quite decent cameras and maybe we should actually wait to see if new wonder cameras such as the Fuji actually live up to what their manufacturers say about them. One particular set of snide comments to an innocuous post from me, pointing out that the FXP1 was actually quite heavy and how I personally was more concerned with weight rather than size, caused me to flip, with the result that I have now left a forum that I have enjoyed contributing to. However its either that or steam coming out of my ears on a permanent basis.

As I'm you sure you are all aware, I do make it very clear that what I write is personal opinion. I constantly write phrases such as "In my opinion" "It seems to me" "For me personally" etc. etc. I may, on the odd occasion leave one of these out, but if I do its because I'm not concentrating, and anyone who has read anything I write knows that I always endeavour to NOT present my personal point of view as a statement of fact.

However, I'll survive. I've been spending far too much time recently on forums anyway.

Returning from my rambles to the point of this piece, it may seem mundane and blindingly obvious to state that its perfectly possible to see the virtues of a particular piece of photographic equipment and also see its faults. It is also possible to see that one piece of equipment is good at one thing and not at another. It is also possible to point out that camera manufacturers may be prone to occasionally, possibly, be the teeniest bit biased when it comes to comparing their product to a rivals. They also, god forbid, may indulge in a bit of selective informing and exaggeration when it comes to describing the virtues of their new offering. And finally we can actually like something without signing away our souls to some multi-national and promising to proclaim them as the one true god of camera manufacture from now on and for ever more. OK, this is a bit over the top, but how often have you read and seen things that approach that level of nonsense?

In my opinion, to my mind, in my experience, from what I have seen and used, with regard to my personal use etc. etc. The Sony NEX-5n is a decent, capable, versatile high quality camera. It doesn't have as many coloured squares on its sensor as the Fuji, it doesn't look like a hand made German rangefinder, it doesn't (to my knowledge) have a soft core porn website but it works really well and does everything (and more) that I could ever want it to. I would also mention that you can buy a NEX-5n body and a couple of lenses for about half the price of the FXP1 body only, and if you want to investigate the wonderful world of m-mount lenses there are loads of S/H Voigtlanders, Zeiss's and even Leicas out there at prices within the range of virtually every serious photographer.

And last but not least, you can actually make an assessment of how it works for you since there are countless samples, reviews and user experiences to sift through. It may not be the second coming, but its here, you can buy it, and more importantly you can check out for yourself what its capable of.

Fuji X-Pro 1 Video

Fuji lunacy - Leica envy gone mad?

The Fuji X Pro 1 - The answer to life, the universe and everything.

"And the new M-mount adapter will allow current owners to buy a cheap alike camera that will probably beat the M9 image quality"

"Fujifilm representative claimed that their upcoming mirrorless interchangeable lens camera will have resolution and low noise that will rival the performance of 35mm full size sensor."

"The NEX 7 is already better than a M9 at base ISO, and the Fuji won’t have an AA filter, so I think it obviously will have a better image than the M9,"

etc. etc..........

FUJI's TRACK RECORD.

S series - Claimed they had 12MP sensors when they didn't. Super CCD, for high dynamic range (or dull, flat, soft pictures as it turned out)

X100 - menu system from hell. Slow AF. Optical Viewfinder with innacurate framelines, Build quality and low ISO image quality very similar to m4/3. Lens soft wide open.

X10 - "Revolutionary" compact camera. In fact just another micro sensor compact with a faux rangefinder look and some impressive letters. Including the now obligatory "X". (Must be good!)

Fuji seem to be able to sell large numbers of the internet photographic community the kings new clothes. They did it with the X100, which was an OK camera, with some serious flaws, and the butterflies are heading to the next pretty flower in much the same way.

Before a single image taken with the camera has even been published, its already better than a Leica M9. All other camera manufacturers need to learn lessons from Fuji. They obviously have viral internet marketing down to a fine art.

It would be nice if they actually, just for once, delivered on their "promises". I guess we will see soon enough.