Fujifilm x-pro 1

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Re: Fujifilm XF 1

 

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Re: Fujifilm XF 1

 

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Re: Fujifilm XF 1

 

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Re: Fujifilm XF 1

 

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Re: Fujifilm XF 1

 

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http://www.popco.net/zboard/view.php?id=dica_review&no=825


<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/49438118" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

 

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X-Pro1 Firmware Update Ver.2.00
Detail of the update

The firmware update Ver.2.00 from Ver. 1.11 incorporates the following issue

To enable those features, please update the firmware of your Fujinon XF lenses into Ver 2.00 at the same time.

1. Improvement of Auto Focus Performance
(1)Auto focusing speed has become much faster under a various shooting condition such as dark scenes, bright scenes and so on.
(2)The shortest focusing distance without switching to macro mode has become shorter.
2.Improvement of Manual Focus Performance
(1)The speed of images coming into focus when turning the focus ring has become faster.
(2)When adjusting the focus with the EVF or the LCD, displaying live view with the minimum depth of field in full aperture has made it easier to focus on subjects.
(3)In addition to the focus checking with the 10-time magnification function, the checking with "3-time" magnification function has been added.
3. Improvement of Writing and Processing Speed
(1)Writing speed to a memory card has become faster with the maximum speed doubled.

<Note> The speed may vary depending on card type and sizes of images.
(2)The waiting time of viewing image after shooting has become shorter.
(3)An image will be displayed approx. one second after pressing the playback button.
4.Other improvements
(1)The ISO setting of "Auto (6400)" has been added.
(2)When EVF or OVF is used, the indicator lamp will turn off because the lamp comes to just in front of your right eye if you see the finder with your left eye.
(3)When shooting in low light situation, a recorded image will look like more natural atmosphere you saw.

The firmware update Ver.1.11 from Ver. 1.10 incorporates the following issue

1.When FUJIFILM M-mount adapter is set to the camera body and the correction menu of "COLOR SHADING CORRECTION" or "PERIPHERAL ILLUMINATION CORRECTION" for the mount adapter is operated, corrected live image can be displayed on EVF/LCD for setting appropriate value with ease.

For operation of M mount adapter effectively, please check and download PDF file at the following URL.

Using a M mount adapter

The firmware update Ver.1.10 from Ver. 1.01 incorporates the following issue

1.New function for "FUJIFILM M mount adapter" is added to the shooting menu.
2.The MENU name "FOCAL LENGTH SETTING" is changed into "MOUNT ADAPTER SETTING", and new correction menu is added.
DISTORTION CORRECTION,
COLOR SHADING CORRECTION
PERIPHERAL ILLUMINATION CORRECTION
3.Even if "LENS 5" or "LENS 6" (adjustable focal length) is set, the Bright Frame can be displayed on OVF in accordance with focal length.
(Recommended lens focal length for OVF to check the Bright Frame: from 18mm to 60mm)
4.In MF (manual focus) mode, sharpness of live image at 10x magnified operation (by pressing the command dial) is set to high and focusing point can be much easily confirmed.
5.When FUJIFILM M mount adapter is connected to the camera body, the following issues are effective.
(1)By pressing the function button of M mount adapter", "MOUNT ADAPTER SETTING" menu is displayed quickly.
(2)"SHOOT WITHOUT LENS" is automatically set to "ON"
(3)"Distance indicator (Manual focus indicator)" in "Standard display" mode on EVF/OVF is automatically set to "OFF"
(4)3 types of correction menu (DISTORTION / COLOR SHADING / PERIPHERAL ILLUMINATION) are activated.

The firmware update Ver.1.01 incorporates the following issues:

1.Reduction of chattering noise from iris of lenses in shooting mode.
2.Improvement of phenomenon that parallax compensation does not work under condition of manual focus with OVF bright frame mode.
3.Improvement of phenomenon that OVF quality as low visibility due to too bright OVF under the condition of power save mode during pressing the shutter button halfway.
4.Improvement of phenomenon that delete function does not work after viewing continues shooting mode images.

For activate above issues completely, firmware update for XF lens is also required.

Please update the firmware of XF lens.

 

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n my initial review of the X-Pro1 I talked about the Agile iterative development method, drawing a parallel with the way Fujifilm seems to be working with the X series cameras.

Today, we get to see how powerful these updates can be. The new 2.00 firmware version for the X-Pro1 camera and XF lenses is a gigantic leap forward. No, ginourmous . Over these last months I’d gotten used to the camera’s reaction times and had learned to either compensate or simply accept these quirks as part of the experience. But anytime I picked up the X100 I was reminded of the performance discrepancy, especially in low light situations. No longer: this is now a brand new camera — a total reboot.
FOCAL POINT

We’d been aware of this update and its content for a few weeks now but it’s still surprising when you actually get your own hands on it. The AF speed is downright snappy and now surpasses the X100 by a mile. As promised, writing to the card is also much faster. But the biggest improvement for me has to be the manual focus: it almost feels mechanical. I can’t believe it to be honest. That annoying lag and imprecision that made you feel as though you were focussing in Jell-O has been almost completely eliminated. I still feel it a little bit when going from one end of the scale to the other but it’s minimal. Manual focussing now feels like… Well, actual manual focussing.

And that new 3X focus zoom mode is a godsend. This is now the default zoom factor and it makes a lot more sense than the 10X we had before. Much easier to see what you’re doing. You can switch from 3X to 10X by flicking the command dial left or right for minute adjustments.
RESPONSIVE

Another thing I noticed which isn’t documented: switching back to capture mode from image preview is much quicker. I usually keep the 1.5 seconds image preview while shooting, but sometimes I don’t really need that much time: I half-press the shutter to dismiss the preview and go on working. Before this update the camera wouldn’t react instantly and I’d sometimes have to disable the feature to avoid the lag time. Now it’s instantaneous. The preview image is gone the moment you touch the shutter, the camera ready to take a picture.

MISSING

The ONE glaring issue that still hasn’t been resolved is Auto ISO: we still cannot set a minimum shutter speed. Grrr. I’d like to know why this isn’t being addressed. Is it a technical problem? An error in design? And if not why the heck isn’t this fixed already?

I tend to lean towards an actual problem surrounding this feature. Clearly Fujifilm is aware of the need for this. They’ve even added a new Auto ISO 6400 mode. But here’s the thing: even with this enabled I still get the same shutter speed calculations from the system, shutter = focal length. Useless.

I would so love to use the X-Pro1 in Auto ISO the way I use the X100. And no, working manually while leaving Auto ISO ON isn’t an option. I don’t want all my pictures exposed on average. Not an option.
LOOK, I’M A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY!

When the X-Pro1 was announced, Fuji spoke to great lengths about the speed of the new processor and how much more powerful it would be when compared to the X100. Until today this wasn’t obvious at all. Now, it’s an inescapable fact. The 2.00 firmware update is like a brain transplant and body makeover rolled into one.

Folks: meet the new X-Pro1.

 

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Fujifilm X-E1

It feels redundant to re-introduce the Fujifilm X Series at this point. At Photokina 2010, Fuji debuted the X100, a fixed-lens camera with a big sensor and a groundbreaking optical/electronic hybrid viewfinder. It was Fuji’s biggest move in quite some time, and it set them up for a big run over these last couple of years.

Since the last show in Cologne, they’ve produced a line of mostly successful high-end cameras starting with that X100, followed by the X10 compact and the interchangeable-lens X-Pro1, with which they also introduced the X mount and the XF family of lenses. All Fuji cameras have quirks, and the X-Pro1 was no exception, but it earned plenty of kudos for its pin-sharp image quality and its hybrid viewfinder, carried over from the X100.

Now Fuji has introduced the X-E1, as close as they’ve come to a mass-market mirrorless compact system camera so far. It’s basically the X-Pro1 without the hybrid finder, and at a significantly lower price: $999 for the X-E1 body, compared to $1,699 for the X-Pro1. We’re not the only ones thinking it: The X-E1 looks to be a much better deal than its predecessor.
FI Hero
Design & Usability

We’re not exaggerating when we say that the X-E1 is basically a smaller, more affordable version of the X-Pro1. Just about every question we asked at the Fujifilm booth at Photokina was answered with, “Yes, that is also the same as the X-Pro1.” (Read that in a German accent.)

The lens mount, button layout, and general menu design on the X-E1 is basically the same as its bigger brother. The hook, though, is the 2.36-million dot OLED electronic viewfinder. This new unit is a massive improvement 1.44-million dot LCD EVF found in the X-Pro1. Manual focus is pretty easy with such a responsive, high-quality screen, though a focus peaking feature would really seal the deal; such a feature was rumored to be included on the camera, but Fuji product managers sadly confirmed that it is not. At least you’ll never have to deal with small framing boxes in the OVF at longer focal lengths. The LCD is slightly smaller (2.8 inches) and lower-res (460k pixels), but the sharp quality of the EVF is a fair trade.

The hybrid finder on the X-Pro1 is nice in theory because people love OVFs, and they get to feel like a jet pilot or the Terminator with the overlaid heads-up display. It’s been fine in practice, too, because X-mount lenses so far have been relatively wide primes (though that’s debatable with the 60mm macro). But now that the XF family has expanded into zoom-lens territory with the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens, with narrower focal lengths rumored to follow, the optical finder is more of a liability than an asset—it’s one more feature to turn off.

The X-E1 body also drops some substantial bulk—it’s still too big for a pocket, but it’s smaller and lighter. Handling is similar, too. It’s light for its size and has nothing resembling an ergonomic design; it’s old school all the way. It carries a pop-up flash, as well as a hot shoe. Dial-based operation is still in full-effect, with shutter-speed and exposure dials on the body, and the aperture ring on the lenses. There’s no standalone mode dial anywhere. The X-E1 menu system is the same as the X-Pro1, with the nimble Q menu carried over as one of the most helpful interfaces on the market. Unfortunately there’s one other interface-related quibble that’s also been carried over—you’ll still need to manually activate macro mode for close focusing, even if you’re using a dedicated X-mount macro lens.

Operational speed continues to be an issue with the X-series. The contrast-detection autofocus (in a 49-point matrix) is a touch quicker than it was on the X-Pro1, but still relatively slow, and not always spot-on reliable. Start-up times seem to have improved, and burst shooting is a respectable 6fps, which is nice. But because of the AF speeds, the X-E1 won’t be known as an action camera. If your targets can hold still, you’ll do fine.
Gallery
The front of the Fujifilm X-E1. Not pictured: Focus-mode selector, and lens release button.
Features

Again, most features have been carried over from the X-Pro1; the X-E1 is an advanced camera for enthusiasts who want a lot of fine control. It uses the same 16.3 megapixel APS-C sensor with a non-conventional color-filter array and no low-pass filter, so image quality should be identical. The film simulation (color profile) modes are here as well. ISO stretches from 100 to 25,600. RAW capture is supported, of course. White balance can be fine-tuned. Color, tone, and sharpness are adjustable and there are plenty of bracketing options. There’s a motion-panorama mode, too.

Video is still 1080/24p; while it’s never been Fuji’s strong suit, they’ve gone the extra mile to include a microphone jack. The mic level is adjustable, and a few color profiles work with video mode as well.

The X-E1 will come in a kit configuration with the new 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens. It’s the first zoom lens for the XF-mount, and works a little bit differently from the others in the family. It has no f-stop markings on the aperture ring, which is fully electronic (like the focusing ring); instead, there’s a switch to toggle between auto and manual aperture modes. In manual aperture mode, the aperture ring turns freely, and the setting is displayed on the rear LCD or in the EVF. It also has an AF/MF toggle, as expected.
FI Handling Photo 1
Handling the Fuji X-E1 from the front.
Conclusion

We previewed the X-Pro1 last January, and fully reviewed it in May. We’ve always had a great time with that camera, and learned to love it, even with its quirks.

But in the time that we spent with the X-E1 on the Photokina floor, it stood out to us as a potentially better camera than the X-Pro1, regardless of price. It’s a newer model so it’s a touch quicker, and we have no reason to believe that performance is otherwise different from the X-Pro1—pictures should still be razor sharp, and it comes with access to a great and ever-growing family of glass. The 18-55mm f/2.8-4 bundled lens is brighter than the usual f/3.5-5.6 you get from most kits, too, and cuts down on the buy-in price for the XF system.

And mainly, the OLED EVF is excellent. It’s on par with the best on the market—the Sony A77 springs to mind as a comparison point. Optical finders are fetishized, but in retrospect, the OVF on the X-Pro1 can be seen as more of a distraction than a helpful feature in many cases. The X-E1 is arguably better off for going electronic-only—if Fujifilm can implement focus peaking through a firmware update, it’ll be a slam dunk.

We’re looking forward to getting the X-E1 into our labs for testing and into our camera bags for some serious shooting. There’s no release date pinned down yet, but it’ll be available in silver and black, $999 for the body only or $1,399 with the 18-55mm lens. It’s a little steep, but in the same wheelhouse as cameras like the Sony NEX-7 and Olympus OM-D E-M5.

 

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