Review Date: May 14, 2012
Category: Serious to Advanced Amateur
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Photoxels Editor’s Choice 2012 – Interchangeable Lens Camera
IMAGE QUALITY
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is targeted to serious and advanced amateur photographers and features 16.3MP resolution (on an APS-C 23.6mm x 15.6mm X-Trans CMOS image sensor), Fujifilm X mount, interchangeable lenses and a retro-style design.
We find the overall image quality of the Fujifilm X-Pro1 to be excellent at ISO 200 with low noise and excellent image detail. Image quality is very good up to ISO 1600. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 1600 and is usable up to ISO 6400. At higher ISOs, images suffer from noise and loss of detail.
| FUJINON LENS XF35mmF1.4 R [53mm equiv.] |
![FUJINON LENS XF35mmF1.4 R [53mm equiv.]](https://i0.wp.com/www.photoxels.com/images/Fujifilm/xpro1/image%20samples/DSCF0084_800.jpg?ssl=1) |
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 has a Fujifilm X mount that accepts interchangeable lenses. The Focal length multiplier is 1.5x. In the above picture, we show the coverage for the FUJINON XF35mmF1.4 R [53mm equiv.]. The XF35mmF1.4 R has a maximum aperture of F1.4 and a minimum aperture of F16. It has 7 blades with rounded diaphragm opening, 22 1/3EV stops and accepts 52mm diameter filters. The lens is sharp to the edges and produces a beautiful bokeh at max. aperture. Note that the X-Pro1 has no built-in image stabilization and the FUJINON LENS XF35mmF1.4 R is also not stabilized.
There are currently three prime lenses available for the X mount (with more planned for late 2012 and 2013):
- FUJINON LENS XF18mmF2 R [27mm equiv.]
- FUJINON LENS XF35mmF1.4 R [53mm equiv.]
- FUJINON LENS XF60mmF2.4 R Macro [90mm equiv.]
Macro
Closest focusing distance for the XF35mmF1.4 R is 28cm (11 in.), which is great for a 53mm [equiv.] lens. To access this close-up feature, you need to set the camera mode to macro on the Selector.
AF is fast and works very well in good lighting. In low-light, the camera will lock focus but it can take from 1 sec. to 3 sec. to acquire that focus, even with the help of the AF-assist illuminator.
| Auto White Balance Indoors | |
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| AWB | Custom WB |
As the above two pictures show, the Auto White Balance (AWB) is not quite accurate indoors under artificial lighting [I have two energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs on the ceiling]. The Fujifilm X-Pro1 allows WB to be easily set manually and this brings out the real colors. AWB works very well in natural light.
| ISO Comparisons | |
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| ISO 200 | |
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| ISO 400 | ISO 800 |
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| ISO 1600 | ISO 3200 |
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| ISO 6400 | |
| Extended ISOs | |
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| ISO 100 | |
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| ISO 12800 | ISO 25600 |
You can set the ISO on the Fujifilm X-Pro1 from 200 to 6400, plus the ability to have extended output sensitivity equivalent ISO 100, 12800 and 25600. You can set AUTO ISO mode to limit to AUTO (400) / AUTO (800) / AUTO (1600) / AUTO (3200). What is missing is the ability to specify when (i.e. at which slow shutter speed) the camera should start using a higher ISO. The 100% crops above (area delimited by the white square) demonstrate that noise at ISO 200 is under control. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 1600 but is still very usable up to ISO 6400. At higher ISOs, the presence of noise is visible at full image size and with visible loss of detail.
CA (Purple Fringing)
CA is visible in high contrast shots. In the above photo, the top left area delimited by the red square, and reproduced at 100% crop at bottom right, shows purple fringing.
Long Exposure - 35mm, Manual, 30 sec., F16, ISO 200, Self-timer (10 sec.), Macro mode, Tripod used
Our Long Shutter Speed test is a torture test for digital cameras. Here we test whether (and how well) a camera can lock focus, provide accurate WB and obtain a correct exposure in extreme low light situations. The Fujifilm X-Pro1 passes this test very well.
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 allows the use of a long shutter speed of 30 sec. in M mode. This allows us to take some nice Night Shots. For this shot, it locks focus in about 3 seconds with the help of the AF-assist Illuminator. I use trial and error to obtain correct exposure in Manual mode, eventually setting on 30 sec. at F16 as the best exposure. I wished both the Contrast AF and the light meter would be a bit more sensitive and accurate in low light [as they are in many of the newer compact mirrorless DSLRs].
Overall, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 has superb image quality (with low noise and excellent sharpness) that rivals and even bests some enthusiast DSLRs.
View the Fujifilm X-Pro1 Photo Gallery [In the Photo Gallery, click on the picture of the camera to return here.]
Next: Fujifilm X-Pro1 Handling & Feel
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