Fuji X-Pro1: A Most Versatile Camera

[Jamie Pillers]

I've owned the X-Pro1 for nearly a year now. In that time I've also owned the X100 and X100S, both gone now.

In the beginning of my relationship with this camera, I tried the Fuji autofocus lenses (18, 35, 60, and 18-55). They're all gone now too.

Today, while walking in one of my favorite Bay Area spots for making photographs... Treasure Island, it occured to me that the X-Pro1 is BY FAR the most versatile camera I've ever owned. Today I had a Voigtlander 28/1.9 lens mounted on the Fuji M-adapter. In the bag was my trusty Holga 60/8 mounted on cheap Nikon F adapter. With the X-Pro1, I'm able to use just about any 'legacy' 35mm SLR lens ever made, via cheap adapters. I can use just about any rangefinder lens via cheap adapters or the more expensive Fuji adapter.

I use the camera's focus peaking for any accurate focusing; the optical viewfinder when zone focusing will do.

And NOW... (1) with my new Hawk's helicoid adapter, my rangefinder lenses focus down to 12 inches or so! And (2) with my new Metabones Speed Booster, all my Nikkor SLR lenses are a stop faster and their focal lengths are back to 'natural' (e.g.: my 24/2.8 now acts like a 26/2 and my 50/1.8 acts like a 54/1.3!)

So... the X-Pro1 gives me:
- a big 16Mp non-Bayer sensor with no AA filter (sharpness!)
- a body form that's as much a joy to hold as cameras I've loved in the past (Nikon F3, Leica M3)
- a mount adaptable to just about any lens I've ever wanted to use
- an optical viewfinder that provides enough of the rangefinder experience
- an EVF with focus peaking
- a Q button that gives me instant access to all the camera's important functions
- Fuji colors so good I can easily do without RAW

Its taken a long time for me to get comfortable with this camera... mostly only because there are so many other options to choose from these days. But more and more, I see that this camera does it all. I don't see anything else on the market that's as versatile and as robust as the X-Pro1. I've held onto it long enough to be able to recognize what I've got; I'm happy! 🙂

 

[tomtofa]

Do you find the manual focus lenses that much better than the Fuji lenses you got rid of, or do you just like the mf process better?

 

[willie_901]

It does take most of us a while to become completely comfortable with the camera. But climbing the learning curve is has a nice payoff.

I like all the XF lenses and have no interest in third-party lenses. At the same time, I can see how using third-party lenses would be practical now that focus peaking is available.

While I enjoy using an analog RF most of all, the time required to focus and the in-focus rate with the X-Pro 1 is similar to what I experienced with a Zeiss Ikon M. In some cases using the AF manually (M mode and AFL/AFE button press) is much quicker.

Thank you Fuji.

 

[jsrockit]

The X-Pro1 may fit my photography better than any other camera I've owned, but of course it isn't the most elegant of cameras. I love it though... so much I rarely use the Ricoh GR or X100s I also own.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Do you find the manual focus lenses that much better than the Fuji lenses you got rid of, or do you just like the mf process better?

I just found that the Fuji lenses were unnecessary for my needs. And I felt they gave me images that were maybe too sharp/too modern. I still may get the 35/1.4 or the 18-55 just to have the autofocus feature when I need it.

 

[bwidjaja]

For me, it is X-E1 since i also mostly use the MF lenses. I do not think the image quality are necessarily better than Fuji lenses as they are very good. But the ergonomics, size, and tactical feedback when shooting is much more desirable for me. Since the AF is not that fast anyway, I find that the MF + peaking is not that much slower, especially in lower light.

Jamie, how is the metabones adapter working out? By the way, I am getting the zoom for when I would like to use AF and being lazy. Will report back.

 

[lkgroup]

Jamie,

Could you describe your experiences with metabone speed adapter.

"And (2) with my new Metabones Speed Booster, all my Nikkor SLR lenses are a stop faster and their focal lengths are back to 'natural' (e.g.: my 24/2.8 now acts like a 26/2 and my 50/1.8 acts like a 54/1.3!)"

I also have Nikkor lens too use on my Xpro 1

Thanks

Leo

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Jamie,

Could you describe your experiences with metabone speed adapter.

"And (2) with my new Metabones Speed Booster, all my Nikkor SLR lenses are a stop faster and their focal lengths are back to 'natural' (e.g.: my 24/2.8 now acts like a 26/2 and my 50/1.8 acts like a 54/1.3!)"

I also have Nikkor lens too use on my Xpro 1

Thanks

Leo

Leo, I haven't been able to give the Speed Booster a good day of testing yet. I hope to do so this weekend. I'll report back then. Thanks for asking.

 

[mansio]

i was comparing fuji's 35mm against a cron v1 35 the other day and notice a few things. but they are very close in terms of IQ.
what i like about fuji:
- sharper image, higher contrast
what i like about the cron:
- more pleasing out of focus area
- the glow, somewhat more 3D look to it
- very little bit better handling corner distortion

the comparison was handheld, on a sofa so fov could shift slightly between the two, i was not used to the xpro1 since it wasn't mine. if i don't have my leica i would have zero problem using fuji's lenses.

between xpro1 and xe1 i am more incline to xe1 though, given that we are on evf using mf lenses xe1's 2.4mp evf trumps the xpro1.

 

[YYV_146]

The Fuji X cameras are great systems in their own right, but not universal digital backs like the Sony NEX cameras.

With NEX you can use virtually all DSLR lenses - with AF and in-camera aperture change. Contax lenses also have an AF adapter now. The NEX6/7 EVF is also brighter and has a better refresh rate compared to the X-E1, which can make or break a shot when you are relying on peaking for critical focus...the E-mount lineup is pitiful compared to X glass, though.

 

[mansio]

The Fuji X cameras are great systems in their own right, but not universal digital backs like the Sony NEX cameras.

With NEX you can use virtually all DSLR lenses - with AF and in-camera aperture change. Contax lenses also have an AF adapter now. The NEX6/7 EVF is also brighter and has a better refresh rate compared to the X-E1, which can make or break a shot when you are relying on peaking for critical focus...the E-mount lineup is pitiful compared to X glass, though.

oh the nex6's evf refreshes faster than xe1? i thought they use the same module, good to know

and yes, nex has better adapter selection too, and at cheaper price

 

[jsrockit]

The Fuji X cameras are great systems in their own right, but not universal digital backs like the Sony NEX cameras.

Keep that Sony crap out of this thread! 😛 😀

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

The Fuji X cameras are great systems in their own right, but not universal digital backs like the Sony NEX cameras.

With NEX you can use virtually all DSLR lenses - with AF and in-camera aperture change. Contax lenses also have an AF adapter now. The NEX6/7 EVF is also brighter and has a better refresh rate compared to the X-E1, which can make or break a shot when you are relying on peaking for critical focus...the E-mount lineup is pitiful compared to X glass, though.

but for some, handling is also an important issue and the Sony does not appeal to me for this reason. They don't have the same kind of feel and handling in button placement and whatnot (for me)

 

[taemo]

I love the X-Pro1 but I also can't let go the X100s, it's just small and unobtrusive unlike the X-Pro1, I tend to use it most of the time and only use the X-Pro1 for the 14mm and 55-200 lens.

but maybe in a couple of months, I might change my mind again