Fujifilm XF1

Classic with a twist. The Fujifilm XF1 is a compact premium digital camera with a retracting lens. It is beautifully designed with a clean retro look and incorporates the latest technology of the Fujifilm ‘X’ series. Its body is lightweight with durable aluminum body parts and synthetic leather covering. The XF1 makes a fashionable statement and is available in black, tan (brown) or red.

The XF1 uses a 2/3-in. 12MP EXR CMOS sensor paired with a bright F1.8 lens. The lens provides 4x optical zoom and optical image stabilization. Point and shoot with EXR Auto mode or select one of the PASM modes for total control of exposure settings. The XF1 features Film Simulation and Advanced Filter for creative effects.

The XF1 is fast with no practical shutter lag and AF is precise. The camera does not have a power button; instead, a 3-step process (twist the lens, pull and twist further) extends the lens and power the camera on at the same time. Zoom is manual and so you get precise control on the zooming speed and focal length desired. The 4x optical zoom provides a 25mm ultra-wide angle coverage as well as 100mm portrait coverage.

The 3.0-in. (460k-dot) LCD allows approx. 100% coverage and is ideal when composing macro shots (as close as 3cm) and other scenes that demand high-precision framing. The LCD gains up in low-light and a brighten feature makes it easier to view in bright sunlight.

The XF1 has 2 command dials and you can customize almost all the control buttons to set up the camera the way you like to shoot. Practical features include a Live Histogram and Electronic Horizon Leveling Gauge. Creative features include Partial Color, Multiple Exposure and Motion Panorama 360°.

Movie is shot at Full HD 1080p Movie 1920×1080 pixels at 30fps with stereo sound. Since the zoom is manual, you can zoom during movie recording.

The Fujifilm XF1 is for beginners who want a premium point-and-shoot digital camera or advanced photographers desiring an all-purpose everyday digital camera with point-and-shoot ease-of-use. This pocketable camera is as automatic or as manual as you desire it to be.

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Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR

Super zoom with wireless capability. The Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR is a compact super zoom with 20x [25-500mm equiv.] optical zoom, sensor-shift image stabilization, PASM modes and wireless sharing capabilities via smartphones and tablets. The FinePix F800EXR features a 16MP resolution on a 1/2-in. EXR CMOS image sensor.

The Fujifilm F800EXR is able to wirelessly connect to a smartphone or tablet, record the user’s current location data provided by the smartphone or tablet’s location data (latitude and longitude), and display it on the F800EXR’s LCD. You can also send the camera’s images to your smartphone or tablet to display on a map where images were shot. It has a database of approximately 1 million landmarks worldwide. Do you want to figure out the distance from your present location to the place where a tagged photo was taken? You can! Or do you want to find a nearby landmark but are not sure which way to go? Just take a picture of the scene in front of you, then use the database to find the distance to a nearby landmark in the direction the camera is facing.

Wireless Image Transfer function also allows you to connect the F800EXR to your smartphone or tablet and to upload high-quality images to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. However, you cannot wirelessly transfer to your PC.

EXR AUTO function automatically selects the optimum shooting mode from 103 shooting patterns, making it easy for the point-and-shoot user. Advanced users will appreciate PASM modes and RAW.

Six new filter effects are available and you can see the effects right on the LCD screen. Continuous shooting is 8fps at full resolution. You can capture Full HD (1080p) movie at 30fps with stereo sound.

Other features include:

• 3.0-inch LCD with 460,000 dots and Monitor Sunlight Mode
• Dual Image Stabilization (CCD shift and multi-frame technology)
• Multiple Exposure and 3D Shooting Modes
• Seamless Motion Panorama 360
• Pro Low Light mode plus capability up to ISO 12800

The Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR is an easy-to-use super zoom that packs a powerful 20x optical zoom in a compact pocketable body.

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Fujifilm X-Pro1

Redefining Perfection. Following in the footsteps of the award-winning X100, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 is a mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera that is both technologically advanced and beautifully designed. The X-Pro1 uses a new APS-C 16MP X-Trans CMOS image sensor that features an innovative color filter array. By enhancing the aperiodicity (randomness) in the array arrangement, the color filter minimizes the generation of moire and false colors, eliminating the necessity for an optical low-pass filter in the lens. This enables the sensor to capture the full “unfiltered” resolution and extremely sharp pictures.

The X-Pro1 accepts interchangeable XF lenses and introduces a new Fujifilm X Mount. To start with, there are currently 3 XF lenses available, all prime (single focal lenght) lenses: XF18mmF2 R (27mm equiv.), XF35mmF1.4 R (53mm equiv.) and XF60mmF2.4 R Macro (91mm equiv.). More lenses, including zoom lenses, are planned for later introduction.

As on the X100, the viewfinder on the X-Pro1 is a Hybrid Multi Viewfinder, giving you the ability to switch seamlessly between an optical viewfinder (OVF) and an electronic viewfinder (EVF). The optical viewfinder can be overlayed with a frame and you can customize what information. When you change XF-series lenses, both the viewfinder magnification and frame size automatically switch to support the lens focal length: viewfinder magnification switches to 0.37x when the 18mm lens is mounted, and to 0.60x for the 35mm or 60mm lens. You can also manually set a focal distance and switch between viewfinder magnifications by holding down the viewfinder switch lever for more 2 seconds. A precision-milled metal lens hood is included with each lens.

The 0.47-in. high definition (1440k-dot) EVF allows 100% coverage and is ideal when composing macro shots and other scenes that demand high-precision framing. A 3.0-in. high resolution (1230k-dot) LCD features special anti-reflective coating (surface reflectivity of under 0.2%*), high water repellency, a stain-resistant acrylic film and superb anti-glare performance for comfortable composition and confirmation of shots even under bright sunlight.

The top cover is magnesium die-cast and features a Shutter Speed Dial and an Exposure Compensation Dial. Each lens features an Aperture Ring with 1/3 Step. There is no built-in flash, but there is a hot shoe to attach an external flash. The Shoe Mount Flash EF-X20 (sold separately) is a compact external flash that has a matching retro design. Also optional is the Hand Grip HG-XPro1 (sold separately) for those who prefer a bigger handgrip. Other accessories include Protector Filters and Leather Case LC-XPro1.

The Fujifilm X-Pro1 boasts a shutter-release time lag of approx. 0.05-sec and a high-speed and high-precision contrast-detect AF. Continuous Shooting is at a fast 6fps at full resolution.

The X-Pro1 also offers the Film Simulation Mode popularized in its compact digital cameras to simulate the color and tonal qualities of its acclaimed film brands: PROVIA for a true-to-scene natural look, Velvia for vibrant tonality and saturated colors and ASTIA, for a silky soft look and beautiful skin tones. In addition, Multiplex Exposure mode lets you take multiple exposures: take the first shot and while viewing it on the LCD screen, frame and shoot the second exposure.

Advanced photographers can use PASM modes and RAW for full control over exposure and image creation. Other practical features include 4 Auto Bracketing Functions (AE Bracketing, ISO Sensitivity Bracketing, Dynamic Range Bracketing and Film Simulation Bracketing), selectable AF with a 49-point Metering Matrix, Motion Panorama, and Full HD 1080p Movie 1920×1080 pixels at 24fps with stereo sound.

The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is targeted to enthusiasts and professional photographers. Its hybrid viewfinder, traditional control dials and high quality images may help many photographers discover/rediscover the joy of photography.

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Fujifilm FinePix X10

Prosumer compact redefined. The Fujifilm FinePix X10 is Fujifilm’s entry into the prosumer compact category with a beautifully designed model that uses the 2/3-in. image sensor. In fact, that sensor used to be in all prosumer cameras a number of years back but was abandoned for the smaller 1/1.7-in. (or 1/1.8-in.) sensor, probably for economic reasons. It is therefore good to see the return of the larger 2/3-in. sensor in compact digicams. The larger the image sensor, the better its high ISO low noise capability. The FinePix X10 features a 12MP resolution on an EXR CMOS image sensor and a fixed F2.0 4x wide-angle optical manual zoom lens (28-112mm, equiv.) in a magnesium-alloy body.

Because there is inevitably going to be comparison between the X10 and its bigger award-winning brother, the X100, we’ll cover the X10′s features while pointing out the differences from the X100.

As on the X100, The lens on the X10 is also fixed, i.e. not interchangeable. While the X100 lens is also of fixed focal length, the X10 has a 4x wide-angle optical zoom lens. The manual zoom is fly-by-wire.

The zoom ring also functions as the Power switch. When in the OFF position, the lens is retracted and the camera is turned OFF. Turn the ring to the 28mm position and the lens extends to that focal length and the camera turns ON. This retractable design makes the X10 smaller and easier to carry when powered OFF. The lens has optical image stabilization and can take macro shots as close as 1 cm. It has a reasonably fast F2.0 max. aperture at wide angle and F2.8 max aperture at telephoto that should help obtain nice background defocus (or bokeh).

The X10 design also bears some resemblance to the X100 retro design that garnered much accolade. It should however be pointed out that the X10 does not have the shutter speed dial and aperture ring that give the X100 its enduring appeal. Instead, the dial you see on top is the Mode Dial and you use the Command Dial and Subcommand Dial on the back of the camera to set shutter speed and aperture. There is also an exposure compensation dial that makes it easy to quickly adjust exposure.

Like the X100, the viewfinder on the X10 is optical, but it is not hybrid like on the X100, i.e it does not have an EVF capability and overlay. Fujififilm claims the X10 viewfinder provides a wide field of view and a bright image. As expected, the optical viewfinder zooms in tandem with the lens. For those who prefer the LCD, it is 2.8-in. (460K-dot).

The Fujifilm X10 boasts a shutter-release time lag of approx. 0.01 sec. and a high-speed and high-precision contrast-detect AF. Continuous Shooting is at a fast 7fps at full resolution.

The FinePix X10 also offers the EXR Mode and Film Simulation Mode popularized in its compact digital cameras. Advanced photographers can use PASM modes and RAW for full control over exposure and image creation. Other practical features include an Electronic Horizon Leveling Gauge, built-in popup flash, a hot shoe to attach an external flash, 360° Motion Panorama, and Full HD 1080p Movie 1920×1080 pixels at 30fps with stereo sound.

The Fujifilm FinePix X10 seems ready to set a new standard for digital cameras in the prosumer compact category.

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