Fujifilm X-T1

Of course he's not alone
I'm a bit over all that "a camera is a tool, I dont care what it looks like" cr@p, and then wherever you look you see photos of cameras 🙄

C'mon, be honest, repeat after me:
"I care what my camera looks like"

Also my car
And my bike
And my shoes LOL

Damn, even when I reach in the toolbox I notice that I always go for the newer screwdriver!
 
Is it silly of me to be excited about the fact that I can use an SLR style camera and an RF style camera with the same lenses and equipment?

As in, if I feel like looking TTL I can use the X-T1. If I feel like shooting through some framelines, I can use the X-Pro.

Not sure, but that seems pretty cool to me.
 
I like this camera a lot too, although I have kinda become smitten with the RF shape, and philosophy.

I think I am subscribing to the Ming Thein school of thought that says cameras have reach a point of sufficiency that the photographer's choosing his tool is reduced to haptics.

For my style of photography and choice of a tool that is pleasurable to use, I have chosen cameras like a M6 and FM2. Decisions are reduced, chances are taken, and visions are un/realized.

I really like the idea of physical dials on digital camera. It means you spend less time looking at parameters in a cluttered viewfinder while twisting a command wheel and trying to make sure you changed aperture or shutter taking your eye off your subject, and less time looking down at a LCD for the combination of settings you need.

I was absolutely floored when Nikon got ride of aperture dials on their professional lenses. I thought that was an abomination....

The layout of the dials looks like a hybrid of a Contax RTS and Nikon F5. ISO dial, exposure comp, shutter speed, metering pattern, and drive. If you shoot raw+jpeg do you really need to ever fiddle with another setting that you physically can't touch?

In fact, if you just shoot raw, you could use the in camera developer to make any style jpeg/print image you would like. I mean you have the camera and darkroom in one hand with a bunch of presets that you will be hard pressed to better on your own.

Nothing really ground breaking but just a device that puts together a lot of things in a logical way that I think makes the XT-1 a great tool.

Still I am holding out for an X-Pro 2 🙂 while pinching pennies for an X100S.
 
i agreed with the 'ming thien' philosophy 100% until i saw the high iso/low light results of the nikon df. that is 'the final frontier', at least for me.
 
rbelyell said:
i agreed with the 'ming thien' philosophy 100% until i saw the high iso/low light results of the nikon df. that is 'the final frontier', at least for me.
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I used to think that increased dynamic range and extended high ISOs were desirable features for my future digital cameras....

Then I realized that I've hardly ever seen a good photo done over ISO 3200. I don't mean technically, I mean good. And then I saw way too many HDR shots. To heck with that, give me punch and contrast.

In other words, I think sensors were great back in 2008 and everything since has been marketing. If the new Fujis handle better and can get things in focus better than the competition then I'll end up with them. But it won't be decided by the chip.
 
N.delaRua said:
...

I think I am subscribing to the Ming Thein school of thought that says cameras have reach a point of sufficiency that the photographer's choosing his tool is reduced to haptics.
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Nice to know I'm not the only one thinking that for my needs many cameras on the market give an acceptable quality, I made prints 50x70 cm from my wife's aps-c dsrl. What is more important for me is size (I have small hands), weight and easy to use basic controls: iso, aperture, speed and eventually focus (if not AF).

The problem is that how you feel comfortable with a camera you only know after you have used it for a time, when you are in a shop everything seems to be ok. At least, this is my impression...

robert
 
robert blu said:
The problem is that how you feel comfortable with a camera you only know after you have used it for a time
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Ain't that the truth.

For people in the USA, where the used market is incredibly lively and many stores offer no-questions asked 30-day returns on opened and used merchandise, it is fairly easy to try things out.

But I think that I can learn to use and thus accept and "vision with" any camera.
 
Checkout the viewfinder size comparison

Checkout the viewfinder size comparison

The xt1 viewfinder looks to be larger than the d800..to me. The em5 is the smallest. I wonder how small the main image will end up when u go to dual image mode. After seeing this comparison, my guess is around omd-em5 size.

http://www.fujirumors.com/5-stars-a...ine-a-better-csc-than-the-x-t1-expertreviews/

It's too bad they did not have a Sony a7 in the comparison. Given the much larger size, I can c why they decided to go the slr look..

Gary
 
Sounds like a great camera, but I wonder if it 'falls between stools'? Apart from a few glowing comments, the consensus seems to be that its not as fast or decisive as a DSLR for AF or tracking, but the viewfinder location and overall camera size means its perhaps not as suited to street or travel as some of its competition (or the X-E2). I guess one person's ideal compromise is another persons 'no man's land', so everyone will have a different view. It looks like it will win lots of fans....

I am a huge fan of optical viewfinders and the hybrid system used on earlier Fujis clearly has plenty more scope for development. Those who suggest lovers of OVFs are caught in the past are missing some considerations important to some users (and for good reason): they clearer, never suffer from lag, they offer the option of no distractions and leave everything in focus all the time. Fast lenses can really mess up your 'sight picture' for street and documentary as you are left with shallow DOF. I'm going to be very interested to see what the X-Pro2 looks like, because if they evolve the hybrid VF by the same margins as everything else, it could rather special. I'm also going to tentatively predict a higher MP making its debut in the new flagship.
 
I like rangefinders. That's why I'm here, after all. But, while I've bought a 'retro(ish)-styled' digital, I've ended up adding an EVF on top of it. The OMD EM10 and the Fuji XT1 are pretty much the same idea for those not in denial about how much they use the EVF. 😱
 
Some Initial Hands-On Impressions Of The X-T1

Some Initial Hands-On Impressions Of The X-T1

I had a chance yesterday to play around with a working copy of the X-T1 at my local camera store yesterday. The Fuji rep was in showing off the new X-T1 and new lenses (including the 56mm, the 10-14mm zoom etc.).

While I am not a current owner of any of the X-series cameras I did have a long relationship with the X-Pro1 and I am always interested to see what Fuji will do next in order to "press the buttons" of the competition. 🙂

Here's a brief snippet of what I found with the X-T1:
  1. Dial Layout
    This is how the dials SHOULD be laid out on a camera.
    To me this makes a lot of sense. ISO on the one side, shutter speed on the other side, with small latches to change from single to continuous shooting (under the ISO dial) and the type of AF exposure (from spot to center to multi - found under the shutter speed dial). A separate Exposure Comp dial is perfectly placed imho. It wasn't excessive and the layout perfect for my hands and the size of the camera. (X-T1 on the left vs Sony A7 on the right)

    02.jpg

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  2. Size
    Ahh... it's roughly the same size as my A7.. maybe a touch bigger in terns of length and height and just about the same in terms of depth. The grip feels good and is not as pronounced as the A7 grip. This may be perfect for some and may make Sony A7/A7r owners think that their grips are "too indented" (for lack of better wording). The big difference is that the Sony carries a full frame sensor in it while the X-T1 is cropped (this may or may not make a difference to some).

    03.jpg

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  3. Hand Feel/Weight
    The camera is a wee bit lighter than the A7 and definitely lighter if you attach a Fuji lens to the X-T1 vs a manual focus Leica M-mount lens to the A7 😀 😀 😀. It feels very natural in my hand.

    I thought the 10-14mm zoom seemed to be "overpowering" the X-T1 body; didn't like how it sat or felt but did recognize the benefits of having that wide zoom range. The 23mm was VERY nice on it - it's suited to the X-T1 in my opinion and the 56mm, surprisingly, wasn't that much bigger but looked and performed wonderfully on the camera. The 27mm pancake would be killer on this.. making the X-T1 extremely portable (but not pocketable of course) 😀

    I have "small" hands (which of course means absolutely NOTHING!! 😀 😀 😀) so for the body to fit into my palm means it's very portable.

    01.jpg

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  4. AF Speed
    This is where the camera let me down.

    You see, part of the reason I had to let the X-Pro1 go is because I did want to use it for weddings. Part of the thing I depend on with an AF camera when used for weddings is the continual focus / focus tracking of a subject. The X-Pro1 didn't have enough focus tracking ability to be able for me to use effectively in wedding situations - trust me, I tired to use it at 3-4 weddings and the focus tracking was horrible on it.

    That said, I was hoping the X-T1 would be a lot better in this department because the single shot AF is very fast. As fast as you'd expect from Fuji's other cameras and quite close to your standard DSLR. Tracking AF however was just as bad as the X-Pro1. I had one of the camera guys walk towards me slowly with the continual AF on, using the 23mm AF lens wide open in good light and the camera struggled to keep up. I really hope Fuji can get this fixed because the camera overall with the lenses available would be KILLER to use. I do have my reservations about the X-Trans sensor but that, I think, will eventually be overcome (or maybe it already has?) with Adobe.

I really think Fuji won't be able to keep pace with requests/orders for this body and especially for that 56mm lens - the bokeh on it wide open is REALLY awesome. It should be interesting to see what's next since Fuji keeps raising the bar here 🙂

Cheers,
Dave
 
dcsang said:
I had a chance yesterday to play around with a working copy of the X-T1 at my local camera store yesterday...

I was hoping the X-T1 would be a lot better in this department [continual tracking focus] because the single shot AF is very fast. As fast as you'd expect from Fuji's other cameras and quite close to your standard DSLR. Tracking AF however was just as bad as the X-Pro1. I had one of the camera guys walk towards me slowly with the continual AF on, using the 23mm AF lens wide open in good light and the camera struggled to keep up. I really hope Fuji can get this fixed because the camera overall with the lenses available would be KILLER to use...

Cheers,
Dave
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I find this interesting, as thecamerastore.com video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW8Cz_v3w1E&list=UUqpOf_Nl5F4tjwlxOVS6h8A&feature=c4-overview) showed tracking an obliquely moving vehicle with very little problem. Did the shop clerk walk directly towards you? I wonder if predictive tracking focus works better at an angle as opposed to head-on. It intuitively makes sense that it would.
 
Lawrence Sheperd said:
I find this interesting, as thecamerastore.com video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW8Cz_v3w1E&list=UUqpOf_Nl5F4tjwlxOVS6h8A&feature=c4-overview) showed tracking an obliquely moving vehicle with very little problem. Did the shop clerk walk directly towards you? I wonder if predictive tracking focus works better at an angle as opposed to head-on. It intuitively makes sense that it would.
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The clerk was at approximately 30-45 degrees to me. I turned slightly at the waist and had the continual / tracking focus on. I took a few shots and all missed.

He was walking at a slower than normal walking speed - think "processional" or "recessional" at a wedding and that will give you an idea.

Cheers,
Dave
 
dcsang thanks for the mini-review, IMO mirrorless still hasnt caught up in focus tracking with the DSLR, especially in less favorable lighting condition.

out of curiosity but have you had the chance of manual focusing with the X-T1 and how does it compare against the A7?
torned between the A7 and X-T1 but I'm leaning more with the X-T1 because I like Fuji and a APS-C sensor means instant tele-converter for my legacy lenses
 
Rodchenko said:
Thanks for the hands on review, Dave. It's a handsome enough camera (silver would be nice, though), and the size/layout comparison with the wonderful Sony is helpful.
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You're most welcome! 🙂

I would seriously buy the X-T1 if I still had Fuji lenses and the X-Pro1. It's a GREAT camera and there's no reason for Fuji (in my opinion mind you) to go full frame - their stable of lenses (especially the new 56mm) are killer.

Cheers,
Dave
 
taemo said:
dcsang thanks for the mini-review, IMO mirrorless still hasnt caught up in focus tracking with the DSLR, especially in less favorable lighting condition.

out of curiosity but have you had the chance of manual focusing with the X-T1 and how does it compare against the A7?
torned between the A7 and X-T1 but I'm leaning more with the X-T1 because I like Fuji and a APS-C sensor means instant tele-converter for my legacy lenses
Click to expand...

I would agree with your comments regarding focus tracking - that's been my experience at least.

Sadly I didn't get to try the manual focus on the Fuji - I didn't have enough time to fully go over everything 🙁 I too would have liked to see how it handles with respect to the focus peaking etc. I found the Sony ridiculously easy to use manual focus lenses on (that's all I have right now) but I don't know if there's a big difference between the Sony and the Fuji in this regard.

Cheers,
Dave
 
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