Fujifilm X-E1

2012-09-06 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: EVF, Fujifilm, Fujifilm APS-C, Fujifilm mirrorless, Fujifilm X-E1

Planned for review in ALLVIEW, due to arrive later this month.

The Fujifilm X-E1 (about $1000 or $1400 with 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens) is the little brother to the X-Pro1, and probably will eviscerate the sales of the X-Pro1.

• 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS Sensor
• FUJIFILM X-mount (same as X-Pro1)
• 2.36 Million Dot OLED Viewfinder (same as in Sony NEX-7).
• 2.8" LCD 460K Dot Resolution
• Full HD 1080p Video with Stereo Sound
• Focal Plane Shutter
• High Speed Contrast Autofocus
• 100-25600 ISO Range
• Pop-up flash.
• Magnesium Alloy Body.
• 10.58 oz / 300 g without battery, memory card, accessories [Why do marketing bozos quote weights without a battery— one cannot use the camera without one!]

Several things intrigue me about the Fuji X-E1 (see my review of the Fujifilm X-Pro1 in ALLVIEW):

• A super high resolution EVF (2.36 vs 1.44 megadots for the X-Pro1). I preferred the X-Pro1 with its EVF 99% of the time (vs optical), so the much higher resolution EVF of the X-E1 makes the X-E1 that much more attractive.
• About $700 less than the Fuji X-Pro1, but with the same image quality.
• Quoted as 300g, compared with 451 g for the X-Pro1. That is a BIG difference. But it’s unclear if the X-Pro1 weight is with a battery.
• Quoted as 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5" versus 5.5 x 3.2 x 1.7" for the X-Pro1— significantly more compact, less chunky.
• Built-in popup flash, very handy for fill in outdoors use (carrying an extra flash in the hot shoe mount just never works).
• Will the controls be as attractive to operate ergonomically as the X-Pro1? This is a concern.

I remain concerned about the imaging artifacts from RAW conversion caused by the unusual sensor designas shown with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.