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  1. I loved up to you will receive performed right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nevertheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be turning in the following. unwell for sure come further formerly again as exactly the similar nearly very regularly inside of case you shield this increase.

  2. All.
    i am sure i could sit and figure out lots of problems about this camera.
    I got one last sat in tokyo.
    Shot it all week.
    My M9 never left the hotel.
    Fun camera. Good images, Easy 2 carry.

    No camera is perfect, they all have quirks, but thats why we all love them.

    pm

  3. Jesus the griping here………
    Do ANY of you people actually make a living making photographs?
    I’ve used (and still own) the Nikon F, F2s, FM, FM2, F3-4, Kodak Digital, D1x ,EOS 1D,5D.
    Currently using a Panny GF1 and LX3 as my walk abouts.It’s all about your eye,vision,and creative
    joi de vivre.
    20 plus years in photojournalism, and learning every day. Open your eyes, not just your wallets.

    • Is it your first comment here?

      This is a place not for realism….
      I’m not get a living from my photography, I am, was a Photographic mechanic instrument maker, so
      therefore technology always interest me. I like your Nikon history, sometimes I still use my Nikon F from 1963, just because of the art.
      Now these days I walk around with my M9, Rolleiflex 3.5/75 from 1960 and yes a GF1 too
      I always loved Nikon….

      Yes I agree on your vision, just look and develop looking, the camera is just a tool.
      I like therefore the say: The best camera is the one who’s with you….

      So for me I separate my interest, the one for the image and the one for the heritage of technology.
      Todays camera’s are almost all capable of registrating what you see, so it’s up to you

    • I was looking for an x1pro review but, following Google’s suggestion, ended up at your forum discussion.

      What passions- Pure Shakespeare! Righteous indignation at the lack of certain features that are not yet lacking as the camera has not been commercially available but are expected to lack nonetheless, though no one knows for sure. How truly ridiculous some people – some of you- are! Though I can envision pen enthusiasts discussing with similar ardor “performance” merits of Montblanc over Parker pens… Not that those petty discussions of either pens or cameras actually matter.

      I cannot afford a Leica M9. Neither do I need it- I am not a pro.
      I am what marketers call an ‘enthusiast’ –i.e. I happen to take OK images, mostly for my own and my family consumption. I care about image quality but care not about “performance” besides image quality or carrying comfort.

      if anyone of you have ever travelled, (not for the sole purpose of taking photos, because if you travel for taking photos, my suggestion to you – get a life), – I mean just travelled for business or leisure, and happened to carry a camera along for taking some photos while travelling, well, you would know that a DSLR is just too thick to be carried in comfort, and a compact camera does not offer the same kind of image quality. Again, the issue is not of size per se – the camera can be wider and taller, and heavier than a mere compact, but the thickness with lens is what affects comfort most.

      On another note, I last used a viewfinder to compose a photo while in college, many years ago, using a film SLR (an excellent Nikon F100).

      I think “composition” – and by that I mean a proper understanding of geometric relationships within flat image, is best seen when “framed” through a display at the back of the camera. Lots of people thinks of this as heresy, but the truth is in fact so trivial that it is hidden in plain view – what you get on display is what you get in a printed photograph – display sufficiently dissociates the view, and thus transforms it into an already flat image.

      So, what I really want in a camera is an option of using a viewfinder without the bulk and thickness of DSLR. In fact, once you got over using a mirror-based camera (SLR or DSLR) – there is no going back.

      One more thing – Not being a pro, I got no brand loyalty. And, unlike most of those people who commented before, I have neither stock nor emotional investment in Fuji, Sony, Pentax, nor any other.
      I want a DSLR quality images without bulk; I want an option of optical viewfinder though will use mostly the back screen to compose my shots.
      Therefore, I am considering a Fuji x1 pro. There are actually lots of people like me out there – in their mid-to-late 30’s, professionals (in a true sense, with professions, practicing which requires state-issued licenses, like Doctors, Architects, Stock-traiders, etc) who can afford this camera (but cannot afford Leica, which is for either the stupidly wealthy or the pro-photographers).
      I hope this clarifies who Fuji may be targeting with this camera.

      Finally, I have my own head on my shoulders, and will form my own opinion once I encounter the camera in a flesh. I think anyone who is considering this camera is better off doing same. Till then, I am actually not needing any opinions on this – I was just looking for an objective comparative review with some data, which I have not found yet… It is just the futility and uselessness of this forum discussion that prompted my response (that’s my first and last post at this forum – I would not waste any more time than I already did)
      Regards,

  4. “Fuji needs to add proper manual focus support or the whole M adapter deal will be a major flop.”

    I would bet you a good chunk of change you are wrong on this count.

  5. I mainly shoot street, and I too have concerns about the AF speed – however, thats my head talking. My heart is throbbing to get one’s sticky little hands on that naughty little Fuji.

    I’m sorry, I got carried away there…

    JC

    • AF is for point and shooters. Buying a big DSLR that never gets out of the ‘AUTO’ mode. I’ve been working many years with film camera’s that didn’t even have AF in a decent way. Learn to estimate your distances, maintain your field of sharpness with your aperture-setting and you’re faster than anyone with whatever super-spec camera to take pictures, certainly when doing street photography!

      • Hi Dirk, now you’re rambling on about zone focusing?

        The Fuji cameras are good fo zone focusing, true, but so is any camera with a manual focus lens attached. The X Pro 1 has zero advantages over other cameras in this regard.

        Also, the idea that zone focusing is faster than auto-focus is bollocks. Its a good technique to use if you’re locked into some weird street photo niche but very slow for many other areas of photography.

        There are heaps of award-winning photos out there that never would have been possible without fast auto-focus algorithms.

        “Street photographers” are not a special breed, they are not more skilled and they are not faster than a DSLR.

        • I assume you like to walk with a giant DSLR and rocket-size zoom through the city landscape. Your choice, not mine and it’s a free world after all which is good for us both. I did carry a lot of ‘luggable camera stuff’ around in the past and since a feqw years, I started disliking it a lot. I also experienced that I lot of people are hating you like this, the reactions were sometimes very negative – even had trouble with the police on some places. Your AF-statements: people like Henry Cartier Bresson or Robert Capa didn’t ever have a camera with your super autofocus algorithms – just like a huge number of other very famous photographers. “Big” does’t make better artists, Mr. Ash.

          • Well you assume wrong because the only camera I own is an X100.

            This is about the X Pro I and why it is a sub-par ‘street’ camera at this stage.

            As an X100 owner I can assure you that the X cameras are designed to be auto-focus cameras. Yes they can zone focus, but to do this quickly they use auto-focus assist, a feature that will not work with manual lenses.

            Here are two reasons why the X-Pro 1 is not a good street camera compared to other cameras:

            First, it is lacking proper manual focus support. Other cameras have better support, namely the focus peaking feature. As the X lacks this, it is very sub-par in this area and will not be able to achieve manual focus as quickly. There is no special old-school skill or magic that can change this obvious fact.

            Second, it is not the most inconspicuous camera out there. It is relatively large compared to other mirror-less cameras, it also looks glossy and expensive. If you want something truly inconspicuous, the NEX cameras have the X beat. Try a NEX-7 with a Perar Triplet lens, far less intimidating than an X Pro 1.

            Just because you like the X doesn’t make it a good street camera choice. Fuji needs to add proper manual focus support or the whole M adapter deal will be a major flop.

  6. the camera is a little more than good, as usual ALL cameras have their quirks and this one has them, so for those that want DSLR AF performance..move on its not for you……but was told AF is a little faster than the X100.

  7. So many comments that sound just like competitors propaganda in disguise here. Who are you Mister Leon Cartier?

    • Most of them. I don’t get it. If you don’t like it just don’t buy it. Focus on what’s positive about the camera you like. I personally could care less about the camera I’m not buying. People are strange to say the least. I think some of these folks need to get a dog. They teach you to focus on being happy.

  9. The Fuji will be anything creative photographers will want. Those that truly know how to operate a camera since the day they were born. Ofcourse, the crowd of ‘point and shooters’ will complain about AF. The feature boys will argue this camera has not a zillion AF-points, not enough pixels, no satisfactory video, not enough buttons, they will compare it with all kinds of menu driven-stuff they will be missing from a NEX-7, a Pen, or whatever. But also with these camera’s they will complain. Even with a 5D or D800, they will complain. Even with a D4 or 1Dx. Remember, photography is everything but looking at specs, look at Mr. Poon which marvelous pictures he made with the X-Pro1. More than convincing enough for me, I put my name on the pre-order list – we’ll see what the future brings.

    • If there will be some things going on with the x pro1 like the sab problems on the x100 ( and I bet there will be) then i ll pass and that has nothing to do with specs.!

      • I agree things like this are not really what you expect and as a consumer, you’re sometimes feeling very lonely. My X100 has worked perfectly uptil now. But I’ve had very comparable problems with Canon, Sony & Nikon-equipment. The worst were the two first ones. Canon because of the fact they used a third-party repair center for guarantee-issues that was a complete disaster. Sony was the most very pretentious, half a year I have been having discussions about a failure in a pro-videocamera that was all over the internet. Nikon – a lens with dust inside – lasted endlessly before I had my stuff back. Is Fuji different, I don’t know – I assume they are not.

      • I had the SAB. Shipped it to Fuji and had it back 5 days later with the firmware update, the camera cleaned and polished, and a brand new lens assembly. They also called me three times to let me know how it was going with the repairs. Their folks in the facility in New Jersey are super nice and very helpful. I have to say without a doubt the best customer service experience I’ve ever had. The even overnighted it back to me no charge. Fuji is top notch. Can’t wait to get my X Pro + 3 lenses!!!!!!!

    • Drirk B, your points are ridiculously contradictory. You make the point that its not about the camera, its about the photographer, and then you gush about Hugo Poon’s photos.

      Do you really think that any other dslr at that same time and same spot in Singapore would not have taken “marvelous pictures”?

      By your logic, a bias for the X Pro is just as silly as a bias for other cameras.

      • Yes indeed, not a lot of DSLR’s would have achieved the same result, with the same quality. Look a bit closer at the Exif-data.

  10. If Fuji want to attract ‘Leica’ people, why don’t they just deliver the Xpro with the Leica M bayonet?

    Lenses enough from Leitz, Zeiss and Voigtlander…

    This one can be easily killed by a serious Leica-CL digital, to forget the X1

    Who’s gonna buy this ? get serious people..

    • I think the Fuji/Leica adaptor is just to persuade those with M-mount glass it would make a good back-up body. IT’S A SWEETENER!

      Fuji does not want to increase the market for Leica lenses – it wants to sell it’s own.

      This would be easier if Leica owners or Leica lens owners (not always the same people) – or those aspiring to Leica glass had a cheaper body than an M9 to attach them to.

      Ergo – Fuji wants to sell bodies to EVERYONE – not just potential XPro-1 lens users.

      It’s called ‘covering all the bases’ ….

      Who’s gonna buy it? More than would if it only used Fuji lenses.

      MARKETING! SIMPLE. QED.

    • ‘Who’s gonna buy this ? get serious people..’
      I will, that’s you. It’s awesome that Fuji produced the adapter themselves, if they didn’t Novoflex or some other company would. There are a tonne of people with Leica lenses that either can’t afford an M9, are tired of waiting for an M10, or are looking for a change from the M8. There are also a tonne of people who don’t own any Leica camera at all and shoot Leica lenses on the NEX system etc.

      Anyway, you get my drift.

      • Awasome……?

        I think in marketing terms a omission more.
        Obviously Fuji want’s to attract ‘Leica-liking’ people, why otherwise doing this.

        And yes lots of people can’t afford an M9 or have a different focus on photography.
        An M9 with one 50/2.0 Summicron is a ‘Zen’ like decision and can be with you for a long long time !

        If you are on the path of RF and Leica it will sooner or later lead to Leica.
        It’s like having a superb Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki you name it…but in the end you want a Harley-davidson.

        And a M10 ? well …let go that desire… I used a M8 of 2006 december and looking back on my images, I still like them very much, especially in Black&White. If you have one today… no need to go for a M9 or M10 unless you like to spend and support the Solms Dynasty.
        I sold my M8 and lenses (and a M8 with sum micron 35 is really satisfying) to go for Nikon D700 and later Canon 5DmkII with Zeiss lenses…. different game, good, but not my game..
        The M9 seems a little odd in the world of perfection of DSLR (light meeting, AF etc) evn the 230K dot LCD screen on the back was outdated at the time of launching.
        But 18MP, low pass anti aliasing, simplicity of menu’s, makes it a ‘photographic tool’ which makes you happy all the time.

        I sold all my DSLR stuff and was able to buy a M9 and a Zeiss 50/2.0… excellent combination. After that I saved and sold other thing to fund A 50/1.4 and a 28/2.0 and a 28 year old tele-elamrit-m 90/2.8

        So it’s a decision you have to make and than make the journey to fill in the pieces.
        I see many people complain that Leica is expensive…it is… why…take a look at their production quality, their lenses etc… and you know…..and if you like that, you want it.

        Fujo Xpro1 as ‘back-up” for my M9? Well first of ll, I have my M9 now for more the 1 year, travel in asia, warm, cold…and it ALLWAYS work…so back-up?
        My back-up is the wonderful Panasonic GF1 with 20/1.7…..

        If you have to make a choice for a back-up, bring in other arguments to, instead op only an LTM adaptor.
        For me if it have to be a M body, consider a used M8, now probably cheaper then a new Xpro1…and very usable.

        And than later this 2012…the M10, maybe…but not for me…the M9 does perfectly what I need in my approach of photography… a CMOS sensor, 25.800 ISo, 1.4Mdot LCD etc will not improve that.

        And that brings me to my conclusion, The M9 or M8 with 1 or 2 lenses will not be your camera, that will be technically outdated one day, but you companion to search for images that makes you smile

        http://www.flickr.com/photos/crowdedhousenl/

        • ‘If you are on the path of RF and Leica it will sooner or later lead to Leica.
          It’s like having a superb Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki you name it…but in the end you want a Harley-davidson.’

          Actually…in my case I ended up with a Ducati….but I get your drift:)

          • I agree with you…

            Ducati, BMW, HD, Triumph…. the originals to say

            I ride a HD but I love Ducati….. it’s Art !

          • MV Agusta is motorcycle art. Ducati? Well, I don’t know. Too common I think. Panigale looks interesting though.

        • But what you don’t take in account, is that we’re speaking about the X-Pro1 – a camera that might become a standard of its own because Fuji knows what the challenges are. Look at the sensor, the (missing) low pass filter, the color-settings close to real film. Leica is what it it – and I’ve been considering and reconsidering this zen-decission a dozen times – I love the idea, but it’s just too much money for a camera with (far out-)dated electronics, an old CCD originating from a chap 11-company with no iso-competences at all. For this amount of money you expect a company behind it that masters the full art of making a camera like this but really, everybody knows what is missing in a Leica. If you want to compare it with a Ducati, it may look like that but it has the engine of a Solex in it. And I don’t want to say one bad word about their wonderful range of lenses.

  11. I have been looking at some of the pictures posted by Lloyd Chambers (diglloyd.com) on his website (subscription pages) with a NEX-7 and a Leica 50mm Summilux F/1.4 and the pictures are insane and unbelievable quality wise. NEX-7 is able to render totally clean files (the images I am referring to were shot at ISO 100) with the lens, and I can barely see any grain even in 100% crops with the resolution and level of detail which I have rarely come across.
    It looks like we have a reached a stage only the BEST lenses like the Summilux 50mm f/1.4 can deliver the potential of the current state of the art sensors from Sony (may be Fuji) etc. I am seriously thinking of holding back any more spend on my Canon gear, banish the thought of buying an X1 Pro (which I was seriously considering) and simply save up to buy just one Summilux and a NEX-7. I think that would turn out to be an incerdibly satisying purchase.

    • I have NEX-7 that I use primarily with Zeiss lenses. I think NEX-7 is an amazing camera in many respects, but its limitations with Leica M is the reason I am looking at Fuji X pro.

      Lenses of 35mm and longer work perfectly on NEX, but wider than that you start seeing purple corners. With my favorite wide angle – Voigtlander 15mm – results are useless without cornerFix. But with cornerFix I do not see the point of using good lenses anymore. WIth NEX-5n I did not see this much color shift, but then there were many other limitations.

      Sony uses a fairly low AA filter. But its effects are still unmistakable. After shooting with Ricoh GXR M-module, the image quality gains of no-AA is hard to ignore. So I think Fuji X Pro will be a superior camera in terms of IQ.

      At the same time list of stupid shortcoming of Fuji is starts taking a toll on my decision to get one: no improvements with AF compare to X100 (which I have used for few month); no peaking for MF lenses; poor quality EVF which is critical for MF in bright day. Especially frustrating is lack of support for MF – no technical difficulties, just did not care…

  12. Here’s a new video:

    http://brandonremler.blogspot.com/

    Some day time images:

    http://brandonremler.blogspot.com/2012/02/fujifilm-x-pro1-first-day-stroll.html

    If you don’t want the camera just don’t buy it.

    This and the new Nikon are my camera purchases for the year. I’m ambivalent about the 36 megapixels, but I have a lot of money invested in Nikon lenses (12-24, 24mm F1.4, 35mm F1.4, 24-70mm, 85mm 1.4, 105 and 135) so I’m a bit stuck. I wish they had used the D4 sensor. I will still be keeping the D700 though. I hate the fact that I might have to buy a new computer to use the camera.

    I have no interest in adapting lenses so the Fuji + the initial three lenses and the 35mm F2.0 will be all I need.

  13. There have been many comments here regarding the X100. I have owned the Lecia X1 and now I own the X100. As far as user functionality goes, the X100 has the X1 beat, hands down, yet, as far as auto-focus goes, I am perplexed as to why as much as 30% of my photos are out of focus with the X100. Even though the X1 did not do macro-focus well, for most normal conditions, I never had a fuzzy photo out of the Lecia X1.

    • I have found I can not use aperture priority on my x100, it grabs the slowest shutter speed 80% of the time. I choose my own values and now i’m good. lost more than a few pictures with the camera early on..

      • George can you expand on that?? I shoot aperture priority all the time my 5D2 and M8 and the only time shutter speeds are too slow is if I am using to small an aperture for the given lighting conditions/ISO that I have selected.

        Sorry, I have not used the x100 so just curious about your comment. Are you saying the x100 uses auto ISO when you shoot aperture priority and then chooses a slow ISO for you (ie: camera picks iso 320 instead of 640)???

        • Hi Clint, all the lost shots with too slow shutter speeds like 0.1 to 0.2 were taken indoors with good available light and preset iso of 500-800 @ f2.8 to 4. This took me by surprise, because I did not find the x100 to be choosing such a low shutter speed under similar circumstances with many of my earlier shots. I always use aperture priority with my d7000 and have never run into any issues. I do now prefer setting my own shutter speeds on the fuji. Sorry for the not very tech description of the issue as i am still in training. I do love the x100 and don’t regret purchasing it.

  14. seeing the picture, i can’t understand why a leica lens owner that want to put the lens to a body that as big as M9, with size, weight that are almost the same with m9? for me, if you want to attached a leica lens to a different body, it should be smaller, lighter. something like a nex7

    • Because the glass is amazing and a Leica size body is as small as some people care for?

    • Your comment doesn’t make sense.

      We are talking about thousands of dollars in price difference and you ask why one would get X-pro1 if it’s physically the same size as M9?

      To someone who already has an M9, your comments may make a bit more sense, but M9 owners aren’t the only target market.

      And why should the second body be smaller than M9? What’s the logic behind this?

      • no no no no.. you all got me wrong. It’s true that M9 is expensive and guess what, so does the lens. So. what is the point for somebody to own the super expensive lens only without owning the body? And now comes the idea of owning the lens and attaching it to fuji? leica 35mm sumicron which is an average leica lens will cost you USD 3000+, and the fuji USD 2000. So, it doesn’t come cheap also.

        So, the idea behind ALL LEICA BRAND is not about the price anymore. and for me, if i want to attached the lens to other body, there should be at least 2 condition :
        1 the image quality better than M9, or..
        2. the size and weight less then M9 without sacrificing too much of image quality

        make sense now?

        • Sorry ferry but you’re still not making sense. You ask, ‘So. what is the point for somebody to own the super expensive lens only without owning the body?’….because for me and many others it is all about the lenses…not the body! Yes the M9 is a great camera, and a great style of shooting. BUT, the X-Pro1 offers a similar look and feel to the camera (granted without the TRUE rangefinder experience), and I would bet in many ways the image quality from the Fuji may prove to be superior to the M9…certainly in ISO anyway.

          Bottom line is that 90% of the people who want an M9 cannot afford one, but maybe they CAN afford an X-Pro1 with a Leica lens or two or one of the many excellent Zeiss/Voightlander alternatives….

          • I think you don’t understand him!

            What he means is that: People are complaning the price tag of a Leica M9 because they say it is too much expensive.
            That is the reason why they are attracted by the X1.

            BUT!!!

            What is the point of complaining about expensive prices of Leica products…if you then buy a Fuji X1 just to fit on it…EXPENSIVE Leica lenses?

            a Leica 35mm F2 ASPH is around 3000 USD.
            Put it on a 2000 USD Fuji X1…and you have a 5000 USD combo.

            That is not cheap…either…

            You could get a CHEAPER and FF Canon 5DMK II plus L lenses for that price too…

            I think that is what he wanted to say.

        • It’s about the lenses. About m-mount lenses, to be more specific, and not only Leica ones. And quiet many of those can be had for less than USD 1000, including older Leica glass. It’s not all about the fetish priced new fast Leica lenses.

  16. The real question that has not been answered for the Fiji M lens mount, is will the camera provide focus confirmation, either in the LCD or the viewfinder. Quick manual focus is no problem is the little central focus square lights up when manual focus is achieved. Does anyone know the answer? Without focus confirmation manual focus on this kind of camera is a real pain.

  17. Want to see some Fuji X-PRO 1 image samples?

    … here we have plenty of new Full Size(!) X PRo 1 image samples: http://www.pbase.com/hpicckcy/fujifilm_xpro1. They have been posted by Hugo Poon: “I’m not a reviewer and this is no review. Have to be frank, I never have the time (nor interest) to do detailed tests and comparison. My only interest in an equipment is how well it can help me capture the moment and document the familiar places that are fast changing and even disappearing… Though I had had only a couple of days to shoot with this new gear, I couldn’t be more convinced that this is Fuji’s one most powerful photo taking machine to date.
    PS. Click “original” for best viewing quality. “

    Source: fujirumors.com

    Note: Check the images of the tall building, a good moiré candidate, however, there is no moiré visible. The Fuji X-PRO 1, like the Nikon D800E, has no AA filter and from these images we can see that the new Fuji X-PRO 1 processor handles moiré very well.

    • I just looked at the photos… they look pretty danged sweet to me. Very clean from my perspective. I am getting the Olympus since I can’t afford all the high-end stuff but that sample page of pics looked really nice for a bunch of night shots.

  21. It may be usable if you can assign a dedicated button to zoom in and out. On my GF1 using legacy lenses I can push the thumb wheel in and the viewfinder zooms in. I focus. Then I push the shutter release half way and the view finder zooms out. I compose and shoot. It’s really a fast process.

  22. FUJI XPRO… HIGH end camera, HIGH pricetag with LOW END PERFORMANCE.

    I have had an long look and try with the FUJI Xpro.
    And my conclusions is the xpro is a NO BUY. Its simply not there yet.

    We have image quality and retrodesign, new lenses, new interface.
    Fujis marketing IS TERRIBLE. they are not out to inform you. They dont even try this time.
    They are basically saying that we dont wanna talk about manual focus or autofocus = performance in real definition. Performance is not just ergonomics, image quality, iso capability and user interface,
    that is just a very tiny fraction of it.

    It is really very simple. The performance is just not there. The idea is to not have any illusions.
    What good is image quality if performance is terrible. Manual focus is terrible, just forget it.
    That means that you can only rely on the autofocus. And the AF is terrible for the money you will be paying fuji for a poorly implemented performance.
    You can now change lenses, what good is that when you are stuck with a low end performance camera body.

    Kayce M. Baker, Director of Marketing Fujifilm
    Her quote when finally asked about the AF ” Its smoking fast”
    She is full of sh#t, It is not even close too near fast.
    Focusing issues mostly because of the fujis contrast detecting of course.
    Now here is where they COULD have implemented one of 2 things.
    Panasonic,Olympus Ep3 AF type implementation.
    Or a semi phase and contrast detecting hybridsystem which would increase performance
    even at lowlight situations. This is not a utopian idea or new, this is even implemented one some
    high end compact cameras.

    In the street this is even more an issue because its not just about performance, its about action performance. For this you need know the tricks and settings beforehand.

    If you want to photograph statues or buildings or weddings where things are not fast, than thats FINE.
    You can do that with any dslr camera.

    This idea that it is cheaper than Leica M system is a marketing trick. Leica is another category no need to compare. Leica glass is good even great but even great glass doesnt make a good picture. That said you definitely dont need a Leica to make a good photo.
    Still people mostly buy into the myth and a Leica marketing idea.

    As I said before fuji are not there yet. If you got the fuji x100, then just stick with it and keep taking
    photos.

    If its image quality you want than you can get that with any other analog slr, compact or mid level dslr camera, just pick a brand. Pick your fav.

    Cheers

    • Wow, the same comment twice.

      And twice you still sound like an idiot judging a camera that isn’t even available for purchase.

      • And you are twice the fool if you beleive the Fuji marketing PR Commentary.
        There is simply no commentary on the focusing issue in their website.
        Which gives Fujis PR strategy away.

        If you work for Fuji than than your comment might make sense because you want too silence reasonable critics and a different view.
        Either way you sound like a wanker.

        So don’t try too silence the questioning of the critics of a camera company’s strategy
        too not highlight these vital issues.

        Yours sincerely

        Annie

          • smh. duh. how can it be if it doesnt have one? jokes aside, the autofocus reports to be slow, and i cant understand how that external pinhole focus meter (its not through the lens) can focus for both ultrawides and then long teles. now for manual focus lenses, would you settle for crossing your fingers whether a shot is in focus? there is no split prism screens, no focus confirm, and because it is an optical vf, no focus peaking and zoom magnify. so if it cant focus right, whats the point of this camera? forgot that they said the sensor beats all the current full frame sensors, really?

          • Focus is through the lens. The bit above the lens is just an assist lamp (and the mics for video). Also, it’s not just an optical VF, it’s a hybrid VF. Switch to electronic, and, yes there is zoom/magnify for focus check. Best system? No… But far more usable than you seem to think.

          • Hey Brh, you’re way off.

            If you have actually used the X100 hydbrid viewfinder you will know that the ‘magnify’ function is simply not a good manual focus tool. It does not work well. This is due largely to the limited resolution of the VF, once you use the ‘magnify’ you can’t really see the sharp point very well at that resolution.

            Yes, you can get a sharp photo if you work at it but it is slow and fiddly at best.

      • From reading the instruction book above, the manual focus appears the same as on the E-P3, you push the centre button on the X-Pro1 dial and it zooms in, you can move the zoomed area around. This is no great hardship, I personally use it on the E-P3 and it works well. The Olympus 12mm prime has focus distance marked on the lens, which is great for zone focus, I am surprised Fuji didn’t do the same with all it’s primes since they are going for the old school feel. Both cameras are focus by wire, so there seems no reason Fuji couldn’t have implemented this.
        but having said this I have no trouble focussing manual lenses on the E-P3, including cctv lenses, so I don’t see why the X-Pro1 should be any different, bring on the M lenses.

    • Ashwin:

      I beg to differ. I have been shooting legacy glass MF for years on an Oly E3, and as far as MF on an EVF, I am a surveillance operator and have shot thousands of frames, and endless hours of video on a Sony HX100V with fly by wire MF. No focus peaking… Auto focus is a no go when shooting through chain link fence, through a vehicle window in the rain, or across a highway with traffic zooming through the frame. I am not implying that the experience will be “rangefinder” fast, but just as using a rangefinder requires practice, so will this.

      Shooting primes makes the technique rather easy.. focus lock at preferable distance, switch to MF and you will find it not long before you are tracking targets in MF, even with fly by wire..

      As far as the earlier comments about the AF and quality, it is head and shoulders faster than the X1, and the jpegs are spectacular. I make no claim at being an artist, but there are a few frames from the Xpro 1, X1 and full frame Alpha 900 with Zeiss prime to compare the “feel”.

      Best Regards,

      Joe

    • FUJI XPRO… HIGH end camera, HIGH pricetag with LOW END PERFORMANCE.

      I have had an long look and try with the FUJI Xpro.
      And my conclusions is the xpro is a NO GO. Its simply not there yet.

      We have image quality and retrodesign, new lenses, new interface.
      Fujis marketing IS TERRIBLE. they are not out to inform you. they dont even try this time.
      They are basically saying that we dont wanna talk about manual focus or autofocus = performance in real definition. Performance is not just ergonomics, image quality, iso capability and user interface,
      that is just a very tiny fraction of it.

      It is really very simple. The performance is just not there. The idea is to not have any illusions.
      What good is image quality if performance is terrible. Manual focus is terrible, just forget it.
      that means that you can only rely on the autofocus. And the AF is terrible for the money you will be paying fuji for a poorly implemented performance.
      You can now change lenses, what good is that when you are stuck with a low end performance camera body.

      Kayce M. Baker, Director of Marketing Fujifilm
      Her quote when finally asked about the AF ” Its Smoking fast”
      She is full of sh#t, It is not even close too near fast.
      Focusing issues mostly because of the fujis contrast detecting of course.
      Now here is where they COULD have implemented one of 2 things.
      Panasonic,Olympus Ep3 AF type implementation.
      Or a semi phase and contrast detecting hybridsystem which would increase performance
      even at low situations. This is not a utopian idea or new, this is even implemented one some
      high end compact cameras.

      In the street this is even more an issue because its not just about performance, its about action performance. For this you need know the tricks and settings beforehand.

      If you want to photograph statues or buildings or weddings where things are not fast, than thats FINE.
      You can do that with any dslr camera.

      This idea that it is cheaper than Leica M system is a marketing trick. Leica is another category no need to compare. Leica glass is good even great but even great glass doesnt make a good picture. That said you definitely dont need a Leica to make a good photo.
      Still people mostly buy into the myth and a Leica marketing idea.

      As I said before fuji are not there yet. If you got the fuji x100, then just stick with it and keep taking
      photos.

      If its image quality you want than you can get that with any other analog slr, compact or mid level dslr camera, just pick a brand. Pick your fav.

      Cheers

      • Have you actually tried the X-Pro? Without any real world experience with this camera, what your saying are just assumptions.

      • Brilliant comments. I have and really enjoy X100 but frustrated as hell with auto focus. I use the manual focus and the AF button. Great to relive an old camera with all the settings so to speak and it has taught me a lot more about framing and using manual settings.I love it’s size and the quality of image, when you work at it, is brilliant. However I like many others was looking forward to either firmware that would correct many of the oddities of the X100 or a new model that would finally blow me away and into Leica territory that is affordable. So Leon thanks for the heads up, I will stop yearning for this X1 pro and stick with my quirky but lovable X100.

        • Upgrade to firmware 1.13 for Fuji X100. Many owners of X100 experience satifactory autofocus improvement.

          • I’m using 1.13, it is improved a bit but still nothing like using a DSLR.

            The X Pro 1 won’t be a DSLR replacement either, neither are Leica cameras, and it really is due largely to a lack of phase-detect autofocus.

            They may be great travel cameras, but there is still nothing that can compare to a DSLR when shooting fast moving subjects.

      • How much time have you actually spent *handling* the X-Pro1? I ask because most/all of the hands-on reviews I’ve read are generally positive with respect to AF, and while “fly-by-wire” MF certainly isn’t ideal I’d like to know your specific complaints after having handled (and taken images with) the camera. Failing that, there appears to be little more than hyperbole in your post. Regards,

        Mark D.

        • I haven’t heard any good things about the auto focus so far. There was a reviewer who had a hands on experience and said the auto focus is the same as in the X100.

          • Interesting — every review I’ve read stated the AF was improved over that of the X100. But information is still scant, at best, so I guess we’ll need to wait for more careful, complete reviews to know for sure. Steve?

            Mark

          • The say that the truth is hard pill to swallow.

            Its tough but true.

            The proof is in the Fujixpro1 website and you can see it in the lack of commentary of the AF and MF by fuji marketing people. Its sad but seems very true. Most reviewers I’ve read stated that they FEEL that the AF improved over x100 by a small margin, others say its BASICALLY THE SAME. But everybody agrees that there is no question that MF is useless, and there is also no peaking mode which totally defeats the purpose.
            Sure u can use digital image magnification but thats for subjects that are perfectly still like buildings.
            Im a what you can call a fulltime street/action photographer and the last thing we photographers need is too fiddle too much with the manual focus. Its basically because in the street you don’t have that time. If you fiddle with the MF one or two seconds than that picture is gone.
            And if the AF is improved but still not good or fast which seems too be the case here, so now Fuji has got a serious problem. And they know it, that is why we see A LACK OF COMMENTARY on this serious issue, onless they are asked by the few which rarely happens.

            If AF and MF was really fixed they would make a big deal about it as mentioned in this thread.

            Therefore Fuji should not promote this as a camera for streetphotographers. Image quality looks good. But that doesn’t help when the camera is too slow for shooting moving subjects. Any amateur can take a picture of a street and buildings. Its the people that are interesting and most interesting people move all the time.

            T.W.

          • The bottom line is there have yet to be any real “reviews” of this camera; there is nothing but PR hype and “handling” reports thus far. And, yes, it is absolutely true that if this camera doesn’t have autofocus comparable to that of other $1700 camera bodies, it’s dead on arrival. (The lack of good MF is really irrelevant is the AF is good.)

            Finally, the fact that Fuji hasn’t been trumpeting “improved” AF means nothing. If they trumpet “improved” AF they are acknowledging the lousy AF on the X100, which they have yet to do. They still want to sell X100s – so why would then be saying they now have a camera that doesn’t have lousy AF like the X100?

            One of these days we’ll get some real reviews of post-release XPros used in the field by real photographers – and then we’ll know whether or not it’s worth considering. Until then it’s as much a pipe dream as a digital Leica that’s useful in low light, and has dust and moisture sealing that makes it useful in the kind of conditions in which people want to use Leicas. 😉

        • Let’s face it, if the AF was really good, Fuji would make a great deal about it as it is a very important selling point. Look how Olympus highlights the “fastest AF of any camera” news for the OM-D. I’m convinced to see disappointed X-Pro users soon because of lackluster AF performance and substandard MF implementation.

        • without any real proof I’d relegate this post as probably somebody who is a spin doctor from another company. I’m not saying this as a fact but such a bold statement needs some substantial proof.

  28. Mmmm looks smart. Interesting choice of lens with the Zeiss Biogon F2 35mm. It would be great if you get hold of this adapter for your review Steve. I hope all the new cameras don’t arrive at once! The key question – out of the X-Pro 1, D800 and OMD E-M5 – which box do you open first?

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