In praise of my X Pro 1

lxmike

lxmike

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It would take far too much time, cause embarrassment and open old wounds if I reflected on the cameras I have owned and eventually let go in my quest for the 'perfect camera' that suited my style and photographic needs. the closest I have come, after 40 years, is the Fuji system, I have an XE-1 with an 18/2 mounted plus an x100 but my all time favorite is my X Pro 1 with 35/1.4 mounted, for me it is just perfect. I realise that one mans meat is another mans poison, but for my humble needs the X Pro 1 is just right🙂 Which begs the question what is your favorite camera/lens combo at this time.
 
I also have that combo. I love the controls and feel of the camera, but I never felt the resulting pictures reflected the quality feel of the camera. I have problems with focusing while shooting anything with action. For some reason, I am much more pleased with the results from my Ricoh GXR, whether the M-Mount or the 28mm lensor.

From the sounds of it, the X-Pro2 solves a lot of the problems I have with the X-Pro1, but it'll be a while before I can afford it. I'm also tempted to pick up the 56mm f/1.2, but I fear my focusing issues will be amplified.
 
CliveC said:
I also have that combo. I love the controls and feel of the camera, but I never felt the resulting pictures reflected the quality feel of the camera. I have problems with focusing while shooting anything with action. For some reason, I am much more pleased with the results from my Ricoh GXR, whether the M-Mount or the 28mm lensor.

From the sounds of it, the X-Pro2 solves a lot of the problems I have with the X-Pro1, but it'll be a while before I can afford it. I'm also tempted to pick up the 56mm f/1.2, but I fear my focusing issues will be amplified.
Click to expand...

luckily I do not shoot to much action so the X Pro suits my needs but I know where you are coming from
 
The X-Pro2 with the 35/2 is a lovely combination and is as good as anything I've ever used, film or digital. The camera is such an amazing confluence of features that can be easily customized to replicate so many other cameras I've owned. Just as an example, the excellent OVF/EVF is sooooo cool! I can use the EVF with adapted lenses and then pop back into the OVF + 35/2 for an experience very similar to my old film gear. I love it.
 
I have both the X-Pro1 and the X-T1, and find that I prefer the X-Pro1. Someday I'll get the X-Pro2...I really like having the OVF; using it and not chimping is the closest I can come to the experience of using a film camera. Take the shot(s), wait till I have a chance for post processing to see what I've gotten. That's a lot of the fun to me.

Guess I could do the same with a Leica digital, but that's a lottery win away...
 
I shot the X-E1 + XF 35mm 1.4 combo exclusively for 2 years. I traded that for a X100. I'm still considering picking up a X-Pro1 and the XF 35mm 2.0.

The pick of the pile these days is more often than not Leica M4-P +35mm summicron v4
 
I hear you on the XPro1. Feels great in hand, love the OVF, fast enough for my type of shooting. No issues with the quality of the photos. I use the 35 1.4 and the 28 pancake. Have an XT1 as well, and it's good, faster, but somehow not as satisfying. Best when I need a zoom. For fixed lens, the XPro1 is terrific.
 
XE-2 w/ 35mm 1.4
The size, feel and operating procedures of this camera suit me well.

The 35 f2 seems all the rage the past two months. Can't comment, never having used it, but I am more than satisfied with the 1.4.
 
I use the X-100T most of the time. When a different focal length is useful I switch to the X-T1. I like the 35/2 or the 27/2.8.
 
The X Pro 1 is the first camera since film days does doesn't feel like an appliance that needs to be replaced every couple of years. I was an early buyer and love mine.

Adam Bonn has a great series of articles/blogs on his experience with it.
 
When the XP1 came along around 2012, I couldn't afford it but I surely wanted one. When the XP2 was announced and the prices of the XP1 dropped, I bought two of the XP1s. It's been a bumpy but highly satisfying road. Bumpy because the cameras are really kinda quirky but satisfying because they do so many things well and handle superbly. Within a few months of those XP1s, I had also bought several lenses (the 14/2.8, 23/1.4 and 35/1.4 are my favorites of the group). I also bought a used X100S and I love the little camera more than I thought I possibly could. Fuji has not been kind to my bank account or credit card balance.

I agree the XP1 is not much for action photography. But I don't do much of that and I still have a pretty extensive Canon outfit if I need fast shooting cameras with zooms and long lenses. The XP1 is filling the same roll for me as the Leica M6 did when film was king. The XP1 also lacks some features I've come to expect as standard in other cameras--why no diopter adjustment, a feature I've had in every other camera I've owned since the '90s? Or "real" back button focus with focus confirmation in the viewfinder? Just a couple of the bumps I mentioned.

But the beauty of the Fujis is in the results. Just excellent image quality with fully useable JPEGs if desired. I originally thought I could work with the JPEGs only but I decided the Fuji film simulation colors are just not for me (Fuji colors: florescent greens, too much yellow in the greens, too warm overall and reds that are really orange). If I wasn't so picky, I could save some time working in Lightroom.

If I live long enough to see the XP2 be discounted like the XP1, I'll certainly buy one. But the XP1 will satisfy until then.
 
My 1st ' analogue ' digital classic was and is the Leica Digilux 3 and twin Panasonic L1 .
The new X-pro1 is my recent update !!
dee
 
I'm a huge fan of the X-Pro1.

I've currently got a X-Pro2 as well, and to be honest, there's a great many things that the 1 does better than the 2

Of course AF isn't one of them, and in general the 2 is faster to use in every way, from start up to SD write times.

If you can make your peace with a slow camera, don't need wifi, colossal ISO range and electronic shutters, customisable menus, superduper EVF specs etc; and if you're happy with X-Trans rendering and 16mp then as a camera the Pro1 is pretty much flawless IMHO

By contrast, the Pro2 has just a few too many 'what were they thinking when they signed off on that' parts IMO (some buttons have crappy haptics, the OVF display is easily overwhelmed in bright light and can't be adjusted, the relationship between the usage of the OVF and LCD is flawed. Stuff like that. Stuff that Fuji really should of got right, in fact stuff that Fuji got right the first time)

If it's of interest... I'll be starting the X-Pro2 write up on my site on Sunday. We begin comparing it to its predecessor... PERSONALLY I've just read to many there's not a single reason other than price to recommend the 1 over the 2 comments on the net, and I want to try and address that balance....
 
texchappy said:
The X Pro 1 is the first camera since film days does doesn't feel like an appliance that needs to be replaced every couple of years. I was an early buyer and love mine.
Click to expand...

I think Leica was the first with the M8. People still buy the M8 10 years later for $1000+ ...a similarly configured DSLR is sub $200.
 
I started with the X Pro 1 and loved it. Then I started playing with both adapted lenses and the Preview Exposure In Manual settings. That led to the XT1 for the better EVF which is critical for both of the things I was doing. Having said that, I still love the X Pro 1 cameras and, just so I'd never be tempted to sell them, I just re-skinned them with Aki Asahi coverings.
i-GJ4HQ7r.jpg
 
I want to try the Fuji system, and since my backordered 35/2 WR finally shipped I need to find a body. A clean used X-Pro1 is on my shortlist, I'd like an X-Pro2 but not at the current pricing. I'm glad to see how many X-Pro1 users are still standing by their cameras.
 
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