Fujifilm X-E1 is the second interchangeable lens camera from Fujifilm's X-series. It costs $1,399 with an 18-55mm lens (Opens in a new browser) and retails for $699.00. The X-E1 does not include the hybrid electronic/optical viewfinder found on the top-end X-Pro1, but instead features an OLED EVF. Its 16-megapixel X-Trans CMOS image sensor uses a larger 6-by-6 array pattern of red, green, and blue pixels, which promises to produce Continue reading natural, film-like images than standard 4-by-4 Bayer pattern; it also eliminates the need for a low-pass filter, as it is not prone to the moiré effect. Although the camera produces excellent images, it won't make every photographer happy.
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Features and Design
The X-E1 has the same retro style that is found on many a mirrorless camera. The chrome version we reviewed was made with black leatherette. However, there is also an all-black option. The unit measures 2.9 by 1.5 by 1.5 inches (HWD), and is 12.3 ounces with no lens. The EVF, which is modeled after vintage rangefinder cameras and located in the upper left corner rather than the middle as with an SLR, can be found on the camera's top right corner. Although the Sony Alpha NEX-7 (at Amazon) has the EVF at the same place, it's not as retro-styled as the X-E1.
It's also a departure from the traditional control layout of the camera. The dial controls the aperture, the Shutter Speed dial is on top of the camera, and the Exposure Compenstation dial. You can set the camera to Aperture Priority, manually adjusting the aperture, while the other settings remain automatic. Shutter Priority is achieved by manually adjusting shutter speed and aperture, then program mode, by setting both to Auto and EV Compensation.
There are two Manual modes—both are activated by setting the Aperture and Shutter Speed manually. The first is a type of ISO Priority mode—it allows you to control the aperture and shutter speed manually, but automatically varies the ISO within the set limits to create a proper exposure. The ISO can also be manually set, giving you complete control of your exposure. The top plate has a Fn button that can be programmed to open a menu with options for adjusting ISO.
The button that releases the pop-up flash is located at the rear of the physical controls. The hinge allows you to tilt the device up so it can bounce light off the ceiling. You can toggle between EVF and rear LCD using the View Mode button. An eye-sensor mode automatically switches between them. The Play button is located to the left of LCD. There's also a Drive Mode button which can be used to activate Panoramic or set the self-timer. An AE button sets the area for metering and an AF button sets the focus point.
The Menu button is located to the left of the LCD. It contains a four-way direction pad and a Display button. You can also change the content on the rear LCD. There's also an AE/AF-L/AF+L button that locks exposure or focus, as well as the Q button. This will open a menu that allows you to quickly change any number of settings. A toggle switch is located at the front of your camera to select between AF/S, AF/C and manual focus modes.
Fujinon XF18-55mm F2.8-4 OIS (Amazon: $5517.21; opens in a new browser) is included as a kit lens. It covers a 27-82.5mm field for classic full-frame shooting. Most kit lenses are rather inexpensive—they work, but you'll get better images if you invest more in a lens. The otherwise great Sony Alpha NEX-7 was a poor choice. It couldn't cope with the 24-megapixel sensor and had a lot of distortion. This 18-55mm lens, which is a f/2.8-4 design is very sharp and optically stabilized.
This is what you pay. Kit lenses can add up to $100, or even $150 to the cost of your camera. The X-E1 is priced at $999 as a body only, so you're paying a $400 premium to add the zoom—a lens that will set you back $599 if purchased on its own.
In addition to its native lenses, Fuji supports Leica M lenses via an official adapter—and you can mount pretty much any SLR lens to the camera via a bevy of unofficial adapters available at photo specialty stores, Amazon, and eBay. Many photographers view the X-E1/X-Pro1 cameras as a "poor man's Leica M9-P" (Opens in a New Window).
The APS-C sensor introduces a 1.5x crop factor to the beloved wide-angle optics. This is much more manageable than the Micro Four Thirds' 2x crop factor. Sony NEX is the most popular platform for adapted manual focal lenses. Cameras like the NEX-6 (at Amazon) (Opens in a New Window) allow focus peaking to highlight in-focus areas in an image, helping you confirm focus faster. Despite its OLED viewfinder being amazing, the X-E1 doesn't support peaking.
Of course, you always have the option to use Fuji's native lenses—they support autofocus and are a bit less expensive than German-made Leica lenses. Fuji's 35mm f/1.4 is available for purchase at $600, while Leica's equivalent costs $5,000.
OLED EVFs are extremely sharp due to their 2.4 million dot resolution. The OLED EVF is sharper than those in the Sony NEX-6 or NEX-7 camera's excellent EVFs. It also has a much better resolution than the Samsung NX20 LCD EVF (opens in a new tab). It's a great way to frame images—though not as high quality as the bright optical finder in the X-Pro1. It is disappointed by the fixed rear LCD. It's large at 3 inches but has a low resolution of 460k. Even Sony's entry-level NEX-F3($599.98 at Amazon) has a tilting 921k-dot display, and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 has a tilting, touch-sensitive OLED display.
This camera does not have Wi-Fi and weather-sealing features. The current NX camera models from Samsung, along with the Sony NEX-5R (at Amazon)(Opens a new window), and NEX-6 all have Wi-Fi built in so that you can easily share your photos online. You do have the option of adding an Eye-Fi memory card to the X-E1—it offers support for the card's Wi-Fi features within its image playback menu. The Olympus OM–D E-M5 is a waterproof camera you should consider if you are looking for a camera you can use in rain.
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Performance and conclusions
With a start-up speed of just 1.2 seconds and continuous shooting speeds of 4.6fps, the X-E1 mirrorless camera is among our fastest. The shutter lag of the X-E1 is very noticeable. In good lighting, it takes 0.3 seconds for the camera's focus to fire and focus.
However, in dimming light, this speed drops to just 2 seconds. The 1.04 firmware was used to test the focus speed. This will improve autofocus performance. Olympus E-55 has a slow start-up, taking 1.5 seconds to fire up and then firing a shot. However, it only takes 0.09 second shutter lag and can shoot at 9 frames per minute.
Burst speed is restricted by the X-E1's internal buffer. The number of shots it can take before slowing down is determined by your memory card speed. The camera was tested with a SanDisk card at 95MBps. We were able to capture 17 JPG photos before it started to slow down, taking 7.8 seconds to save them. The number of photos reduced to 12 when we switched to Raw and Raw+JPG. In Raw mode, 13.3 seconds were required for all shots. Raw+JPG took 16.2 seconds.
Imatest was used to test the sharpness and quality of the 18-55mm lens. The results were impressive—it's one of the best-performing 18-55mm lenses we've seen. It records 2,252 lines per inch at 18mm F/2.8, 2,329 lines at 36mm F/3.6 and 2,329 lines at 55mm F/4. The sharpness of the lens is 2,399 lines. The scores will not change if the aperture is reduced.
This allows you to adjust depth of field control without worrying about your image's sharpness being lost by an open aperture. Distortion isn't an issue at any focal length—at worst it shows is a negligible 0.7 percent barrel distortion at 18mm. Sony NEX-7's 18 to 55mm kit zoom is a far cry from the NEX-7. It records 1,723 lines at 18, 1,738 lines 35mm and 1,703 lines 55mm. The lens' 18mm barrel distortion is very noticeable. It still displays 2.7 percent pincushion distortion for 35mm, and 1.3 percent at 55mm.
The X-E1 is also capable of reducing noise when ISO levels are higher. Fuji claims that the X Trans sensor design will produce a grain pattern more like film. Although there are subtle differences in these images compared to traditional Bayer sensors they are difficult to quantify.
You can push the camera to its top standard ISO 6400 setting and keep noise below 1.5 percent—more importantly, there's only a slight loss of fine detail at that setting, regardless of whether you shoot in Raw or JPG. Although the camera can support ISO 12800 in JPG mode and ISO 25600 at JPG, detail is affected. Although the Samsung NX20 keeps noise levels under control with ISO 6400 it quickly loses detail when ISO is higher than 1600.
However, video recording is only supported at 1080p24 and 720p24 resolutions in QuickTime format. The camera sometimes had trouble locking the focus while recording during our video testing. We noticed a little wobble, likely caused by the rolling CMOS shutter, during pans—the top of the frame will get ahead of the bottom of the frame during quick camera movements.
If you don't want to hear the sound of the lens focus, there are mic inputs that can be used. The video looks great, despite the wobble and focus issues. You can also set saturation levels to mimic Fuji film stock like Provia or Velvia.
The X-E1 supports SDHC and SDXC cards and has mini USB and standard HDMI ports.
Although the X-E1 mirrorless camera is a high-quality, serious model built around an advanced image sensor, it doesn't offer as many options as other models in its category. The X-E1 comes with a superb kit lens that is far superior to the one included with the Sony NEX-7. Adapted manual focus lenses can be used with this camera, and the NEX-6. Focus peaking is an excellent feature. The NEX models offer more frame rates and reliable autofocus while video recording.
The Editor's Choice Olympus OM–D E-M5 is smaller than other models. It's less suitable for adapting wide-angle legacy lenses. However, it has a large library of Micro Four Thirds lens, weather sealing, and focuses faster than the XE1. If video isn't a major concern, the X-E1 is a viable option—especially if you are interested in supplementing its 18-55mm zoom with a fast prime lens or two. The X-E1's controls will please demanding photographers, the EVF is superb, and its retro design will be a big hit with people.