Questions about X-Pro1

[Gid]

I have an X100. I bought it when they were first introduced to the UK and like it very much. The current deals on the X-Pro1 are very tempting, but I have a couple question that I hope real users might be able to answer.

How does the focus speed compare to the X100 (with recent FW update)?

Is detail smearing still a real issue and if so what is the best solution?

How loud is the shutter?

Is the lack of diopter a serious problem - I wear +2 glasses for reading but not otherwise - will I get away without a diopter or will I have to use my glasses?

Is the write speed any worse that the X100 (I don't find it a problem)?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[SausalitoDog]

Gid-

The focus is quite a bit faster than the x100 and not quite as fast as the x100s...very useable.

I'm not familiar with any focus smearing issue...

Shutter is about the same as a Leica m9 - it is a focal plane shutter, not leaf like the x100 - no camera I know of is as quiet as the x100

Lack of diopter is a problem. You can easily buy a screw in diopter and all will be fine. They are about $25 and are the same ones as for Nikon DSLRs. Just screw out the glass cover and screw in the diopter of choice. 2x is mine as well.

Write speed is so dependent on the speed of the card you use. I have no real buffer problem with the xp1 or x100 for that matter. I use sandisk extreme cards which have become quite inexpensive...

Tom

 

[GaryLH]

If u are talking about smearing of the green colors like tree leafs for example.. It depends on your raw developer. I don't believe it is can issue if u are shooting Jpgs (i dont use jpg, just raw). The two best raw developers for the xtran raws are capture one and iridient.

If u are talking about evf smearing when u pan the camera, the new xe2 is suppose to eliminate this issue.

Gary

 

[Thomased]

I have both.
XP1 faster focus, but lens dependent of course. Some lenses are better than others. All useable.
Smearing was certainly a problem earlier with RAW files. Less so these days. A lot is about learning the settings and using the camera. I use LR 5.3 and have no real problems. I have used Capture One and liked it a bit more but hated the workflow and catalogue system used. I find that NR in camera and sharpening can be a little harsh and I believe account for a lit of the documented issues of smearing. Dial them down to -2 and sharpen in pp and you will see a big improvement. JPEGS are awesome. Unless you need to recover shadows and highlights, JPEGS might well be all you need.
I still have some frustrations with the camera but I do enjoy the results. It has its limitations as does every camera and the key is learning these. One thing is beyond doubt though and that is the IQ. It is very good when the camera is used properly. Low light can still be a struggle and fast moving subjects is when I reach for my 5D2.
The lenses are absolutely top quality and worth every penny. The bodies will improve over time and you will still be able to use your lenses.
I would say the XP1 is a great camera in its own right, but it may be worth waiting 2 weeks until the new body is announced. I probably wont jump yet as I am happy with my overall setup, but if I was buying in from new then it would be a different story, but lets wait until the new body is announced and I might change my mind!
If the AF and lowlight focus is sorted with an EVF that doesnt lag then it will be pure gold!.

 

[Gid]

Thanks for the responses.

@Thomased

I'm intrigues by your comment about a new body. Is this official or just rumour and are you referring to the ST like SLR body?

 

[back alley]

after all is said and done i prefer the ex bodies…better fit in my smallish hands, more rf like.
that being said, the xpro is a great camera…the lack of a diopter adjustment grew to annoying levels for me.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

If u are talking about smearing of the green colors like tree leafs for example.. It depends on your raw developer. I don't believe it is can issue if u are shooting Jpgs (i dont use jpg, just raw). The two best raw developers for the xtran raws are capture one and iridient.

If u are talking about evf smearing when u pan the camera, the new xe2 is suppose to eliminate this issue.

Gary

I've never seen this so-called smearing. I think it exists only in the minds of pixel peepers. My X-Pro1 prints are beautiful. I use Apple's Aperture 3 for RAW development - it works beautifully.

 

[FA Limited]

I've never seen this so-called smearing. I think it exists only in the minds of pixel peepers. My X-Pro1 prints are beautiful. I use Apple's Aperture 3 for RAW development - it works beautifully.

i've seen it in some of my jpegs it does exist in fine foliage detail ... but i am a pixel peeper

 

[GaryLH]

I have seen it as well.. Mainly in foliage.. Even in aperture 3 sometimes. A lot depends.. But the times I have see it, if I use the raw fine tune, I can usually eliminate the problem.

I normally do not use my Fuji as a landscape camera since I have my sigma cameras for this. But it does not mean that I get into situations with the camera that will not create situations w/ a lot of green leaf foliage. Once u know what to look for, it is fairly easy to spot w/o pixel peeping.

Gary

 

[judsonzhao]

If u are talking about smearing of the green colors like tree leafs for example.. It depends on your raw developer. I don't believe it is can issue if u are shooting Jpgs (i dont use jpg, just raw). The two best raw developers for the xtran raws are capture one and iridient.

If u are talking about evf smearing when u pan the camera, the new xe2 is suppose to eliminate this issue.

Gary

Quite true, depends on your software a lot

 

[danielsterno]

Thomased: In your comment above you entioned: "but it may be worth waiting 2 weeks until the new body is announced". Curious, s the a fact or announced date on a XPII announcement date or assumption? I know we are assuming something maybe coming by something something that Fuji will not announce anything on a XPII until its something substantial…. Thanx!Daniel.

 

[Thomased]

Thomased: In your comment above you entioned: "but it may be worth waiting 2 weeks until the new body is announced". Curious, s the a fact or announced date on a XPII announcement date or assumption? I know we are assuming something maybe coming by something something that Fuji will not announce anything on a XPII until its something substantial…

I do not think we will see an XP2 but an ST like body. Fairly strong rumors going about at the moment about something at the end of Jan. Check out fujirumors.com. They have been pretty accurate in the past and the rumor pattern is pretty similar to the previous releases, so I would say pretty reliable. In any case worth waiting for before buying anything I would suggest. Huge sales of Fuji bodies in some countries as well indicate that something is in the pipeline and not far off.
Yes it is assumption, but nothing to lose by waiting 2 weeks.

 

[willie_901]

As far as raw rendering goes, many of the early issues are no longer relevant.

Because the XTrans sensor has no anti-aliasing filter and the demosaicaing algorithim is different than the Bayer algorithm, the optimum LR 5.3 rendering parameters (sharpness, clarity and others) will likely be different than the parameters you are using now.

I do not thing smearing is a significant issue at this point.

 

[gavinlg]

Smearing is overblown - unless you take photos of dense green shrubbery and then view them at 100% on a computer screen you will never notice anything.

Shutter is bout the same as an m9. Maybe a little louder than the 5dmkIII on silent mode.

Focus speed is good - better than x100.

Takes nikon diopters

Write speeds better than x100.


The new camera out is not a replacement, it actually sits BELOW the x-pro1 - and it has no OVF, only an EVF. It is an SLR style camera.

 

[Deardorff]

Made a similar progression from X100 to X-Pro1, with an X-E1 in between the two.

X-E1 was just too small for my hands. The X-Pro1 fits me much better.

Focus is quick and works well for most things other than fast moving sports. I do shoot some High School basketball with it from the ends under the basket. HS Volleyball as well.

Write speed is better with a fast card.

Nice and light, comfortable in hand and easy to use. Even use my Nikkor 105 f/1.8 and the 200 Micro Nikkor with it and love the results.

 

[Bike Tourist]

With regard to the diopter, I much prefer the separate screw-in variety, as opposed to the built-in adjustment. Why? Because the built-in adjustments never go very high into the plus side of the scale for some reason, usually ending at +1. I use a +3 and no problem.

 

[venchka]

I'm not sure how +1, +2. etc. translate to the scale listed below, but the X-E2 has an adjustable diopter built in. Can someone offer equivalent + diopter measurements for Fuji's numbers?

Viewfinder 0.5-in., approx. 2.360K-dot OLED color viewfinder
Coverage of viewing area vs. capturing area : Approx. 100%
Eye point : approx. 23mm
Diopter adjustment : -4m-1 to +2m-1
Built-in eye sensor

Wayne

 

[Gid]

Thanks again for all the responses. I'm torn between the X-Pro1 and olympus OMD em5. Anybody own both?

 

[venchka]

I have a followup question:
I too am searching for a small digital camera as a way to use some very nice older rangefinder & SLR lenses with a digital sensor.
Why the X-Pro 1 over the X-E 2? Am I missing something?

Wayne

 

[GaryLH]

I own both the omd and the xp1. I mainly use the omd as when I need to shoot long tele work. Since I like to hand hold (never been a tripod type except for when I was doing LF), I like the fact a 200mm is a 400 fov. The ibis on the omd is the best. The bad is that the highest iso I find acceptable is 1600. I don't like the complexity of the Olympus menu system, but after u set things up, most of the other stuff is easy to get to. The location of the on/off switch is a pain. Af speed is faster if u are using the newer Olympus lenses otherwise the latest fw update from Fuji makes af speed pretty close. The evf on the omd is better then xp1 or xe1 but the xe2 evf maybe better then either. The new em1 maybe better then any of the above.

I don't like Olympus or Fuji implementation of continuos af. I do like Fuji colors a bit better then Olympus (pretty subjective to say the least).

The xp1 and xe1 are for my more general purpose work. I like the overall control layout of the Fuji cameras much better. People call Fuji cameras a retro style. I call it back to basics. Everything that u really need is on a button or dial.. One glance tells me f stop, shutter speed and exposure comp even w/o turning on the camera. I don't need an active computer control center to know the basics.. Fuji will hold details better at higher iso then the Olympus. I like the lens roadmap better if we are talking native lenses.

Omd is weatherproof, only the rumored xt1 from Fuji maybe weatherproof but so far none of the lenses are weatherproof.. Whereas, I believe all the msc designated lenses in m43 from Olympus are weatherproof (not sure which ones from Panasonic).

My landscape camera of choice is none of the above. It is any sigma foveon based camera.

Gary