X-Pro 1 body - just because ...

[dee]

I was pondering the sense of buying an inexpensive Pro 1 body just to adapt a CV 35 f2.5 .
I am gratified with all the responses to various questions , but , to be honest , I loved the style of the camera from when they were , well out of reach .

This one is within my limited means , some might pay £300 for a classic camera [ Leica M ? ] , this is my classic dig-box .

The IQ from the photos I have seen is perfectly acceptable , the ultimate handling is yet to be checked out , but if it does not work out , I guess that I won't lose too much on it .

Thanks
dee

 

[Dogman]

There is a learning curve to the XP1. Don't despair. Once understood, set up and learned, it's pretty easy to handle. Like most digitals I've used, I sometimes unknowingly press a button and change a setting and have to stop and determine how to fix it. It can be frustrating but it's sort of the nature of the digital beast--trying to be all things to all people but just making it complicated.

I had a CV 35/2.5 when I had my Leicas and it's a very good compact lens. Performance-wise it actually rivaled the 35mm Summicron. But I like the Fujifilm cameras for their own native lenses. The Fujinons are simply outstanding. For a small, wide normal the 27/2.8 pancake is worth looking into. The 35/2 is also excellent and fairly small. Both these lenses are fairly inexpensive...at least within the Fujinon line up.

 

[nongfuspring]

I was pondering the sense of buying an inexpensive Pro 1 body just to adapt a CV 35 f2.5 .

Not much. The XP1 has no focussing aids in the OVF, you can use focus peaking in the EVF but it's not very good. It makes an ok AF camera but no sense as a dedicated body for adapted lenses. An X-E1 would make a better choice for that within your budget.

So you've given up the idea of the 35mm f2?

 

[dee]

Currently , the X-Pro 1 was a kind of stealth buy - I managed to convince my ' finance adviser ' that the body is a bargain ... it was missing from the showcase , so I though that it was all over , but one more was found and we kinda drifted into it .

Post August holiday , I shall try to raise some finance from sales of pair of lovely Leica Ii , 1st and 2nd batches to fund the 35 f2.
Frankly , this will be my dream machine .. maybe more so than my Leica Digilux 3 .
I mean , I do have 10x Digital cameras , almost all DSLRs AND an M8 bought new [ with the CV 35 f2.5 ] so she has a point .
Softly...softly ...
dee

 

[Lss]

I don't understand why you wish to use this camera over your M8 with the CV lens. If you just want a new camera at a cheap price, get the cheapest native lens you can find for it and see if it works for you.

The X-Pro1 EVF is rather bad and you would be using it a lot with an adapted lens. You may zone focus with the OVF, but the framelines will be off. It's a compromise at best.


Edit. Ok, I just read in another thread that you have a battery problem with the M8. Would a new battery help?

 

[m0n0]

I don't understand why you wish to use this camera over your M8 with the CV lens. If you just want a new camera at a cheap price, get the cheapest native lens you can find for it and see if it works for you.

The X-Pro1 EVF is rather bad and you would be using it a lot with an adapted lens. You may zone focus with the OVF, but the framelines will be off. It's a compromise at best.

I second that. The XP1 is far and away better with its own lenses. The new, well priced 35 f/2 is particularly good value for an XP1. It autofocuses so quickly and accurately on the XP1 that it feels like a new lease of life for a camera whose main weakness, even for its most ardent fans, has always been its sluggish AF. If you get the XP1 and 35 f/2, I wager you'll end up collecting more of Fuji's new line of faster lenses in the mould of the 35 f/2 rather than using M-mount lenses on it.

If you're only looking to do the latter (and perhaps you're not 🙂), the Ricoh GXR with Leica Mount module, if you're lucky enough to find one, is a better option, in my experience. Indeed the module and sensor were designed solely for this. Focus peaking, in both modes provided, works better than on the XP1. You can read the reviews on the superb IQ and professional build quality. I'd recommend getting its external viewfinder with it. It's small and almost comically low res by today's standards but works better than shooting off the LCD. It also tilts so you can shoot looking down.

 

[dee]

Many thanks .
I shall wait until I can afford the 35mm - but the 27mm is currently on offer .

 

[adamjbonn]

If you use adapted lenses on the XP1, then set the FL in the manual lens menu.

This will give you framelines for your adapted lens FL

In MF mode, if you press the rear command dial in, it changes the OVF view to a magnified view of the focus box.

Do this. Focus your lens.

Go back to the OVF and shoot as normal.

It's a lot longer to type out than too actually do 🙂

 

[dee]

Thanks adamjbonn = I shall write this down and put it in the manual !!
I have sold a Leica II to fund a 27mm @ £150 .
dee

 

[taemo]

^congrats and please share pictures of your xpro1 + 27mm, great small and light combo!

 

[adamjbonn]

No problem Dee,

Seriously, check my website* there's TONS of X-Pro1 set up/usage stuff there

Or just ask, I find XP1 shooters to be a friendly bunch!!

For example:

here's my XF27 page:

http://adambonn.com/my-love-affair-with-the-fujifilm-x-pro1/xp1-sixteen/

*just for 100% clarity, my site features NO / ZERO: buy prints, donate to me, hire me, buy your gear from these affiliate links content. The ads you see are from WordPress and I don't get a penny from it. (which is probably something I need to look at 🙂 )

What my site does feature is a 26,000 word article, broken up into instalments about the XP1, how I use it, what lenses I use with it etcetc

It's about the same length as a doctorate thesis 😀

 

[dee]

The 27 f2.8 lens arrived yesterday .

I have just started to play around with auto and manual , get to grips with the usual perspective of 4imm [ using a DSLR 35mm , 40mm [ screen checked against the X-Pro 1 ] and 50mm [ my usual viewpoint with 35mm Sony ]
I am also accustomed to near 70mm with a 50 on the M8 .

It seriously works for me - I did check it out roughly , but could only guess the position of the zoom .

I love the size , weight , really clear screen and , by A35 standards crystal clear EVF !
I have a £5 lens hood and a borrowed hand strap from an old Olympus film camera - blow the expense .

I am confident that I can use it initially in idiot/dee mode just with manual . I found some settings , such as manual using the dial and thumb wheel familiar ? though from where I don't know - the Pentax K10d had two thumb wheels .
Deleting is similar to the M8 , so not as concerning as I anticipated .

Put simply , it's a dream camera for me - whatever new settings I learn in time .

For me , with ASD , it's as much the experience of taking a snapshot / occasional proper photograph , than the resultant file - it's the ability to frame a view and focus without distractions or confusion . I worked out , some while ago , that in my work as an interior designer / visualiser , that a 2 metre circle of focus around me was OK , but beyond that I would enter into a form of dream state , this helped with focus on details in my seeing , rather like tunnel vision , I guess a camera acts like a filter for me .

It will be the perfect companion to my family trip to Malaysia - all of whom , are content for me to be outside looking in .

dee