Fuji X Pro-1, Who's Buying?

[Archiver]

Like all new systems, this one piqued my interest for about a week until the excitement wore off and I took stock of what I've already got, or have coming. I have a X100 on order, which should be in my eager fingers next week. I bought this to (rationalization alert on!) fill gaps in my lineup. I have a M9 and a Ricoh GXR as my main cameras. The M9 is fabulous with manual focus lenses. The GXR does both M-mount lenses and autofocus modules, but does not have a fast 35/2 with good viewfinder. Enter the X100. Or at least, that's what I'm teling myself!

The X-Pro 1 does not sit in any unfulfilled niche. The M9 is awesome but sometimes still a bit too big to tote around. There are times when I want a neat camera with AF, good IQ and a viewfinder. The GXR is almost there but lacks a decent OVF. The X-Pro 1 is the same size as the M9 and yet another system of lenses to buy into. It will have an M-mount adapter but has no focus peaking, and the sensor is still a 1.5x crop, like the GXR.

Add the fact that it is untested and may have untold bugaboos awaiting discovery. I really don't want to be the guy to find that it has the aps-c equivalent of giant orbs!

 

[jsrockit]

The X-Pro 1 does not sit in any unfulfilled niche. The M9 is awesome but sometimes still a bit too big to tote around. There are times when I want a neat camera with AF, good IQ and a viewfinder. The GXR is almost there but lacks a decent OVF. The X-Pro 1 is the same size as the M9 and yet another system of lenses to buy into.

For me the X-Pro1 sits in between the X100 and M9. It will be the camera I can use at night with high ISO and a fast 50mm equiv. X100 is my fast lens / high ISO 35mm equiv (and quiet camera) and the M9 is my sunny day camera. 😀

 

[chris00nj]

For me the X-Pro1 sits in between the X100 and M9. It will be the camera I can use at night with high ISO and a fast 50mm equiv. X100 is my fast lens / high ISO 35mm equiv (and quiet camera) and the M9 is my sunny day camera. 😀

For me, the X-Pro 1 sits alone, because I don't have a digital camera yet 😱 I got the Mrs. a Leica D-Lux 4 a few years ago, but that is it.

I might go for broke with the M9 if it was a "perfect", but it certainly lacks at higher ISOs.

What really sold me on the X Pro-1 was the lenses. So many of the other mirrorless systems have a kit zoom and a slower wider pancake lens. I often shoot a 50 and like shallow dof, both of which I can achieve with the Fuji's 35/1.4.

 

[jsrockit]

So many of the other mirrorless systems have a kit zoom and a slower wider pancake lens.

True that. Sad kind of... 🙂

 

[Spyro]

For me the xpro1 is everything I ever wanted from a rangefinder: shape and size, parallax corrected OVF, view outside the frame, M-lens capable, no mirror blackout/slap, top range IQ and non-retrofocus wide angle lenses, less the one thing I never really cared for: rf focusing.

If it had active IR AF so I dont have to stress about focusing in low light it would be perfect.

 

[jsrockit]

For me the xpro1 is everything I ever wanted from a rangefinder: shape and size, parallax corrected OVF, view outside the frame, M-lens capable, no mirror blackout/slap, top range IQ and non-retrofocus wide angle lenses, less the one thing I never really cared for: rf focusing..

So wait, you mean you never liked RF cameras then? 😉 😀 The X-Pro1 is everything you've wanted in a camera period.

 

[nonot]

I'm excited about this camera, not excited enough to pre-order mind you, but I'll definitely be considering this as my only digital camera. It reminds me of the Contax G2, and with the option to mount m lenses I'm more or less sold. Now if Ricoh would make a GRD21 I'd be done with my camera buying for the foreseeable future.

 

[n5jrn]

"I'll wait to see a demo model or reviews, but I'm very interested."

I.e. basically the same answer as for the OM-D. If the EVF is usable for precise manual focusing in low light, it could be just the sort of digital camera I've been waiting for. But that's a big if, based on my past observations of EVF's.

 

[noimmunity]

If you ask me, it sounds like the system body won't really fully mature for another one or two iterations. The OVF/EVF interface, the focus function, adaptability--all of these things are works in progress...But the cool thing is that Fuji has sent out so many signals with this camera that indicate they really know where they are going with this system as a whole. It's actually that, more than anything else, that has swayed me to buy now.

 

[gavinlg]

If you ask me, it sounds like the system body won't really fully mature for another one or two iterations. The OVF/EVF interface, the focus function, adaptability--all of these things are works in progress...But the cool thing is that Fuji has sent out so many signals with this camera that indicate they really know where they are going with this system as a whole. It's actually that, more than anything else, that has swayed me to buy now.

The ovf/evf and focus were pretty much mature from the get go with the x100 - I don't really see why you'd think they need work.. I've been using mine as my main camera for the last few months and it's much much better as a camera than other small digitals - the finder especially is brilliant and brilliantly implemented.

 

[jsrockit]

gavinlg... let's just enjoy our X100s. Seems to me the people who complain about the camera the most are non-owners.

 

[RealXenuis]

For me the xpro1 is everything I ever wanted from a rangefinder: shape and size, parallax corrected OVF, view outside the frame, M-lens capable, no mirror blackout/slap, top range IQ and non-retrofocus wide angle lenses, less the one thing I never really cared for: rf focusing.

If it had active IR AF so I dont have to stress about focusing in low light it would be perfect.

Agreed, it would be really convenient and common sensical to have IR focusing. Actually, I'm rather surprised most cameras don't have hybrid AF systems like the G2 by now. But perhaps there's a technical reason I'm not aware of.

 

[noimmunity]

The ovf/evf and focus were pretty much mature from the get go with the x100 - I don't really see why you'd think they need work.. I've been using mine as my main camera for the last few months and it's much much better as a camera than other small digitals - the finder especially is brilliant and brilliantly implemented.

So many exciting and interesting possibilities have been brought up about ways to integrate new hi-tech focusing features into the OVF. My comment wasn't a criticism, but a gesture to what is possible and what will undoubtedly be introduced.

Edit: Needless to say, there is also a lot of room for improvement on the EVF part of the OVF/EVF...

 

[Spyro]

Agreed, it would be really convenient and common sensical to have IR focusing. Actually, I'm rather surprised most cameras don't have hybrid AF systems like the G2 by now. But perhaps there's a technical reason I'm not aware of.

Ι think it's mostly the single point AF, people want many AF points.

RFs are single point by definition, so I'm not surprised the Hexar AF with its single point IR AF is so popular in this forum. Essentially it does what an RF does: focus in the centre of the image quickly and reliably regardless of lighting conditions. If somehow they managed to implement that in a an interdhangeable lens system I think it would be a major hit in our crowd. The problem is that our crowd is small, so I'm not sure if any manufacturer would want to eat the R&D costs for something like that just to sell it to 5% of the market. It's much easier to just add a couple of AF point in your CDAF/PDAF system and sell it to the masses as "the new Canon XVIIIII with 53 instead of 47 AF points!"

 

[andredossantos]

gavinlg... let's just enjoy our X100s. Seems to me the people who complain about the camera the most are non-owners.

I like my X100 so much I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to buy the X-Pro1 sooner rather than later. I did not pre-order though, so it'll be probably be awhile before I get one.

The good thing is I'll be perfectly content using my X100 until then. Quirks aside, it is everything I've always wished for in a digital camera: Small but with a big enough sensor, MANUAL controls for shutter speed/aperture, and a useable in body OVF (the EVF is an added bonus and crude as it may be its damn useful). And the quirks aren't even that big a deal once you put in the time to learn them and set up the camera to your liking.

I'm not saying everyone should like this camera but the fact of the matter is that is has a lot of the things weve been asking for and complaining that no camera maker would implement.

 

[Archiver]

Now if Ricoh would make a GRD21 I'd be done with my camera buying for the foreseeable future.

You could always use a GRD III or IV with the excellent 21mm converter. 😉 Mind you, it's a fair bit bigger and won't slip into a pocket so easily.

 

[macjim]

I am curious to see how interested people are and how it compares to interest in the OMD.

For me, I've pre-ordered and impatient.

I've just placed my order for one with the 35mm f1.4 lens. Don't yet know when it will come into stock in the uk though but hopefully soon.

 

[Spyro]

Somehow I managed to spend $500 on this camera before I even buy it 😡
thumbs up, strap, softie, 95mb/s SD card, domke bag with additional dividers, spare battery, postage ... it adds up.
good thing I'm not using filters and grips.

 

[macjim]

I've just placed my order for one with the 35mm f1.4 lens. Don't yet know when it will come into stock in the uk though but hopefully soon.

PS. I was an olympus on-1n owner and love using that camera. It was replaced due to fungal getting inside the lens and camera but I've missed that camera ever since. I thought that the new OM-D would have interested my but reading the spec, that finished it for me. 4/3 sensor, unable to use OM lenses without adapter, and the general look of the camera said 'PEn on steroids' too me. I was looking for Olympus to bring out a real OM-1n digital, aps-c at least, OM lens mount and not to look like a Chinese knock off.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm not saying everyone should like this camera but the fact of the matter is that is has a lot of the things weve been asking for and complaining that no camera maker would implement.

Right. It seems many keep waiting for the perfect camera when there will never be one. People seems to forget that Fuji is the only digital camera maker that put a OVF in its mirrorless camera (and not a crude one like the Canon G). That's a big deal to me.

Andre, you can check out my X-Pro1 once I get it. I should have one on day 1 of availability unless I get screwed somehow. 😉