Paul T.
Veteran
That is good news. I won't upgrade until 2014, I hope.... but this is close enough to the digital Hexar AF I always craved.
rbelyell
Well-known
dont know how, but my meaning was wholly misinterpreted. i wasnt seeking sympathy, as i,m quite happy both with leica glass on my gxr and with my x100. i just made a pretty straightforward statement that this new method of focusing is THE game changer for using ANY legacy manual focusing glass on a mirrorless camera. not sure why you seem to kind of enjoy going off in a non-sequitor way on using the xpro with legacy glass. its obviously not your thing, but no need to pour vinegar on those whose thing it is. and for them, this focusing method, if efffective, will be a huge deal. frankly, imo, it will be a much bigger deal in that market segment than in the market segment of the x100, the fixed lens autofocus segment. simple point and all are free to disagree.
Paul T.
Veteran
legacy glass is of interest to many people beyond Leica lens-owners. A radical and, most of all, efficient, new means of manual focusing will be a very big deal.
I guess I'm just sick of seeing legacy lenses mentioned in every Fuji thread... but then again it is in every mirrorless thread of note. Fuji is one of the only mirrorless brands bringing out great lenses IMO.
Your vinegar jab is noted though...since we are on rangefinder forum and this is about as exciting news for the future of a form of rangefinder. Sorry to get all pissy about this stuff.
rbelyell
Well-known
no problem, we all have our sore points, right? ): and youre absolutely right, fuji IS making some incredible AF glass. when this new technology makes its way to the xpro line, i will strongly consider buying one for MF lens use, but i certainly would also choose at least one or two of fuji's very special AF glass as well, especially on the wide side, to complement my MF collection. my initial thoughts are the coming fuji 12-24 and the 35/1.4, while holding on to my cron 40/2, summarit 50/1.5, cv 75/2.5 and elmar-c 90/4. best of both worlds kind of thing...
N.delaRua
Well-known
If the paradigm holds, the features of the X100S will soon find their way into the X-Pro 2 X-E2....
It seems like Fuji uses the little pocketable do it all camera as a gateway drug. They hook you with the potential of this little machine, and they the port it to something with the name PRO on it and then we are all chasing the dragon.
If I had bought an X-Pro 1, I would be a little disappointed. Obviously, the X-Trans II with its phase detect pixels will be incorporated into future models.
I second the opinion that these new manual focusing techniques are just a showcase of whats to come. An interchangeable lens, mirrorless camera that mounts essentially anything would be much better off having multiple manual focusing methods than a fixed focal length camera. But that's how they hook you!
It seems like Fuji uses the little pocketable do it all camera as a gateway drug. They hook you with the potential of this little machine, and they the port it to something with the name PRO on it and then we are all chasing the dragon.
If I had bought an X-Pro 1, I would be a little disappointed. Obviously, the X-Trans II with its phase detect pixels will be incorporated into future models.
I second the opinion that these new manual focusing techniques are just a showcase of whats to come. An interchangeable lens, mirrorless camera that mounts essentially anything would be much better off having multiple manual focusing methods than a fixed focal length camera. But that's how they hook you!
willie_901
Veteran
I am not disappointed at all. Actually I thrilled. Fuji is clearly committed to producing cameras that I enjoy using. The lenses are excellent values. It's wonderful to know Fuji's platform is likely to be a long-term player. I will almost certainly sell all my Nikon bodies and lenses when the XF 15/3.5 tilt-shift lens hits the streets. There is no way I am buying anything new from Nikon (unless they completely change their product strategy).
f16sunshine
Moderator
Although I understand what you say here could be felt as frustration from early adopters (I am an early adopter for x100 and XP-1).
The fact is we are still in an evolutionary stage in technology.
Manufacturers like Fuji can not be expected to sit tight until they come up with a completely mature "perfect" design.
That is not how things work. They need to sell product to continue with R+D.
Think of it this way.
Should Mercedes not have sold their Turbo Diesel 300 series back in the 80's but rather, continue to develop it to the CDI technology they have today? Or Toyota withheld the Camry 25 years ago until the They developed the current Hybrids? Boeing ... airplanes. Apple.. computers ? etc..
I'm happy fuji keeps at it with improvements.
My Camera has paid for itself many times over even though, when I bought it it was to be a personal use camera.
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
Agree completely. The X-E1 is a phenomenally good camera already, the most capable photographic tool that I've ever used -- with a hit rate vastly better, If I'm honest about it, than with the film M gear that I've used as my main kit for over a decade and which I love. But results speak for themselves.
The $1000 spent on the X-E1 is already worth it to me, and the body has at least a couple of years of useful life left.
The $1000 spent on the X-E1 is already worth it to me, and the body has at least a couple of years of useful life left.
N.delaRua
Well-known
Oh I didn't mean to discredit the success and functionality of both the current X bodies. I am sure they are fantastic tools.
Its just the X100 seems to be Fuji preview of what's to come for the future generation of the X Bodies. Which of course is a good thing.
Its just the X100 seems to be Fuji preview of what's to come for the future generation of the X Bodies. Which of course is a good thing.
I feel the same way about the Fujis vs. the M. I still love the way the M feels in my hands, but when i know I'm going out to photograph all day, the Fujis come with me and the M is left home these days. I came to this conclusion after reviewing my images for the last 2 years.
N.delaRua
Well-known
Here is an interesting article describing the creation of the digital split imaging technology.
http://fujifilm-x.com/development_story/en/digital_split_image/
http://fujifilm-x.com/development_story/en/digital_split_image/
N.delaRua
Well-known
And some discussion about the new processing and EXR chip.
http://fujifilm-x.com/development_story/en/processor/
http://fujifilm-x.com/development_story/en/processor/
Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
Huge grain of salt time...
Having been a long-term X100 user (since the beginning of X100 time), it is nice to se that the camera has been upgraded with a better sensor (the X-Trans is really something to behold once the images actually render on your computer).
But the focusing speed of the X100 has not - for some time - been an issue. The firmware significantly sped it up. The issue I see has always more related to the use of TTL passive AF that requires the camera to focus, then close the shutter, then open it to expose. This produces a pretty egregious shutter lag that is not going to go away with phase-detect AF. It also induces a ton of wear and tear on the lens/shutter assembly. Phase-detect cuts down on the "over-run" that happens with contrast-detect AF - but it is no silver bullet for low-contrast subjects or low light.
A good way to improve the responsiveness of this camera, especially on moving targets, would be to introduce AF that does not "go blind" when the shutter is closed or during continuous shooting. This could be solved by combining external active (IR) and passive AF information (a la Fuji GA645) or just going to active AF (like a Hexar AF). These cameras had finite numbers of focusing steps, and the systems work well for lenses of the DOF of 35mm f/2 (or 23mm f/2 here).
And don't go into paroxysms over the stated maximum focusing time - as is evidenced by the 18-55mm and its stats vs. actual use, that's a bright-light number.
This is a great refresh for new users, people who would otherwise like to complain about the old version, or X-trans fans, but it's not a revelation.
Dante
Having been a long-term X100 user (since the beginning of X100 time), it is nice to se that the camera has been upgraded with a better sensor (the X-Trans is really something to behold once the images actually render on your computer).
But the focusing speed of the X100 has not - for some time - been an issue. The firmware significantly sped it up. The issue I see has always more related to the use of TTL passive AF that requires the camera to focus, then close the shutter, then open it to expose. This produces a pretty egregious shutter lag that is not going to go away with phase-detect AF. It also induces a ton of wear and tear on the lens/shutter assembly. Phase-detect cuts down on the "over-run" that happens with contrast-detect AF - but it is no silver bullet for low-contrast subjects or low light.
A good way to improve the responsiveness of this camera, especially on moving targets, would be to introduce AF that does not "go blind" when the shutter is closed or during continuous shooting. This could be solved by combining external active (IR) and passive AF information (a la Fuji GA645) or just going to active AF (like a Hexar AF). These cameras had finite numbers of focusing steps, and the systems work well for lenses of the DOF of 35mm f/2 (or 23mm f/2 here).
And don't go into paroxysms over the stated maximum focusing time - as is evidenced by the 18-55mm and its stats vs. actual use, that's a bright-light number.
This is a great refresh for new users, people who would otherwise like to complain about the old version, or X-trans fans, but it's not a revelation.
Dante
Not disagreeing, except for the digital split image feature, which I believe is somewhat of a revelation. Will be great to see that on future X offerings, as I am a big fan of adapted manual focus glass. 
Athos6
Tao Master
Has anybody mentioned that you could buy this camera and your wife would never know it wasn't your trusty X100??
Like.
5:00 PM
It's a light machine
No. But I can hear people thinking that very thing.
Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
Agreed - on an X-Pro1 replacement - but kind of puzzling on an X100 lens that is relatively undemanding to focus using AF and the EVF.
Dante
Dante
Not disagreeing, except for the digital split image feature, which I believe is somewhat of a revelation. Will be great to see that on future X offerings, as I am a big fan of adapted manual focus glass.
bwcolor
Veteran
No, we didn't mention this because we are all smarter than to post a public challenge to our superiors.