Fuji X-pro1

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

This looks like an almost worthy upgrade for my X100

Fujifilm X-Pro1 highlights

The X-Pro1 is the start of an all-new camera system, with a brand new mount and lenses. It's unashamedly targeted at a high-end audience, with analogue control dials and a small set of compact, large-aperture primes to be available at launch. Fujifilm is keen to stress its future commitment to the system, with a promise of two more lenses to appear later in 2012. Key features are:


Fujifilm-designed 16MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor
Novel colour filter array to suppress colour moiré, no optical low-pass filter
EXR Processor Pro image processor
Dual-magnification hybrid optical / electronic viewfinder
Analogue dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation on top of camera
All-new, fully electronic X lens mount; 17.7mm flange-to-sensor distance
Three 'XF' lenses at launch: XF 18mm F2 R, XF 35mm F1.4 R, and XF 60mm F2.4 R Macro
Prime lenses have traditional-style aperture rings (1/3 stop increments) and large manual focus rings
Revised rear-panel control layout
On-screen 'Q' control panel and redesigned tabbed menu system
Focal-plane shutter, 1/4000 sec max speed
3.0" RGBW 1.23M dot LCD

From DP Review

However potentially the most interesting change is on the inside, and specifically the image sensor. The X-Pro 1 uses a proprietary, Fujifilm-designed 16MP APS-C 'X-Trans CMOS' chip that eschews the conventional Bayer-pattern colour filter array in favour of a more complex layout. The result, claims Fujifilm, is a practical immunity to colour moiré, which means that an optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter is no longer required. This suggests that in terms of detail resolution the X-Pro 1 should punch above its weight based on pixel count alone - indeed Fujifilm is claiming it will out-resolve the full frame 21MP Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

[Henk Coetzee]

This looks like an almost worthy upgrade for my X100

And a worthy upgrade for pretty much anything else. It has a shutter speed dial and aperture ring where they belong!

[Andrew Roos]

And a worthy upgrade for pretty much anything else. It has a shutter speed dial and aperture ring where they belong!

Absolutely. Although unfortunately the manual focus is focus-by-wire. But it sure looks good. And cheap compared to an M9! (Although it's not full frame, of course).

[Creeper]

I just figured out what my graduation present will be.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Absolutely. Although unfortunately the manual focus is focus-by-wire. But it sure looks good...

yep, same as the X100, but honestly it's not a big pain, and quite usable. At least it's a focus ring on the lens and not a push button system.

I am worried about 2 things though:

1. removable lenses means dust again
2. cleaning the sensor... there is no bayer filter over the sensor (which, if I understood previous docs correctly also helped to protect the sensor to a degree) I have seen both m8 and m9 filters broken during cleaning

[Andrew Roos]

yep, same as the X100, but honestly it's not a big pain, and quite usable. At least it's a focus ring on the lens and not a push button system.

I am worried about 2 things though:

1. removable lenses means dust again
2. cleaning the sensor... there is no bayer filter over the sensor (which, if I understood previous docs correctly also helped to protect the sensor to a degree) I have seen both m8 and m9 filters broken during cleaning

Well you know the answer to this. An M6 with a few rolls of Delta 400...

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

hahahaha

[Synaesthesia]

Wow, looks like an amazing camera! If I had a bit more bucks no doubt this is what I'd shoot with.

[peterah]

It has a shutter speed dial and aperture ring where they belong!

Henk, you are showing your age here . Aah, the good old days...

[Henk Coetzee]

Henk, you are showing your age here . Aah, the good old days...

Frankly, I've never seen the point of modern camera interfaces.

[EttVenter]

Zack Arias has one of these. I think he's got a hook-up at Fuji, because he had the X100 well before release as well. He says that this camera is amazing. In fact, in a blog post he posted yesterday, he mentioned that image quality rivalled his 5D.

If this camera didn't cost so flippen much, I'd buy one for sure.

EDIT:

Here's an extract from the aforementioned blog post:

In the chaos that is this city I can’t even begin to explain how using this camera makes my life 500% easier because they can just about fit in a pocket and rival my 5d Mk II in image quality. Twelve hours out shooting with my x100 and X-Pro1 and I don’t even feel it at the end of the day.

[vdrielc]

yep, same as the X100, but honestly it's not a big pain, and quite usable. At least it's a focus ring on the lens and not a push button system.

I am worried about 2 things though:

1. removable lenses means dust again
2. cleaning the sensor... there is no bayer filter over the sensor (which, if I understood previous docs correctly also helped to protect the sensor to a degree) I have seen both m8 and m9 filters broken during cleaning

The color pattern filter is still present, just isn't using a bayer pattern, but rather the new silly named Fuji x-trans pattern.

The AA filter has been removed but I still wouldn't worry about cleaning it.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

The AA filter has been removed but I still wouldn't worry about cleaning it.

Have you cleaned one? is it robust? The M9 has a filter but the slightest pressure and it cracks... I have no experience, honestly would like to know (I am contemplating trading in the X100 for Xpro1)

[vdrielc]

Have you cleaned one? is it robust? The M9 has a filter but the slightest pressure and it cracks... I have no experience, honestly would like to know (I am contemplating trading in the X100 for Xpro1)

Hi there,
no, I have not cleand one yet. The thing cracking on the M9's is the IR filter,not the actual sensor. The M8 has a different (but inadequate) IR filter and does not have the cracking issue.

I also believe the IR filter is much thicker for the X-pro1 vs M8/M9.

http://diglloyd.com/blog/2012/201203...o1-sensor.html

Once I can get my hands on a camera instore so that I can make a final decision between a used M8.2 or the Fuji, I'll let you know how the cleaning goes.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Good stuff, thanx. I know it's not the sensor that cracks, but result the same... Whole sensor assembly needs to be replaced. We have seen the m8 and m9 happen to. Initial quote came back for just the filter replacement, but both ended up with full assembly replacement at a hectic cost.

[Henk Coetzee]

I'm not sure how well the Fujis dust removal systems work (if they have them at all). Since I got my Arctic Butterfly I haven't had to resort to wet cleaning at all. This puts very little pressure on the filter.

[vdrielc]

I can believe the quotes for a new sensor are quite scary. Maybe I should actually take that M8 off my wishlist afterall. Thanks for the info Sean.

And ja, I've never been a wet cleaning fan, not for lenses or sensors.

Had a chance to play with an X-Pro1 yesterday. Feels ok, not as solid as the M8/M9, but I think its only the weight difference that gives that impression. Its still on the top of my wishlist, just seriously annoyed with the slow EVF. I can definitely live with the AF speed.

I'll wait another month and see if there is an update that solves the issue.

Kameraz in Rosebank has a display model if anyone wants to go have a look.

[NutKase]

I was in B&H Sandton last week and they had one in store.

[Henk Coetzee]

Note to self. Stay away from Kameraz and B&H. It could become an expensive visit.

[vdrielc]

NutKase, were you able to play with the cam at BH? They wanted a 10% deposit from me to "unbox" one so that I could take a look.

Not interested in paying to test a camera. I'll gladly pay for it if its what I'm lookin for.