[shuttertalk]

Looks like the X Pro 1 and X100 craze are really taking off for Fuji - there are now rumours that they have a new body in the works. The XE-1 will supposedly have the same APS-C sized sensor and lens mount, and compatibility with the X-system lenses but will lose the hybrid viewfinder in lieu of a EVF only type viewfinder.

It is supposed to be more affordable than the X Pro 1. Sounds interesting - definitely a great alternative to M43, if they can address the laggy AF.

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/08/24/leak...ss-camera/

[adam]

Looks like the X Pro 1 and X100 craze are really taking off for Fuji - there are now rumours that they have a new body in the works. The XE-1 will supposedly have the same APS-C sized sensor and lens mount, and compatibility with the X-system lenses but will lose the hybrid viewfinder in lieu of a EVF only type viewfinder.

It is supposed to be more affordable than the X Pro 1. Sounds interesting - definitely a great alternative to M43, if they can address the laggy AF.

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/08/24/leak...ss-camera/

wooo! not bad looking!

[slejhamer]

Like the looks.

Anyone here use the X-Pro1? Are the shutter lag and AF as bad as some reviews claim?

[shuttertalk]

I think it's a bit of both - some people (like my brother) say that you get used to it. Others are less forgiving given the amount of dosh you shell out for it. I think it's improved with a firmware update but still noticeable.

This review does give a bit of insight:
http://zackarias.com/for-photographers/g...-1-review/

[slejhamer]

That's my thought - for the price, AF and lag should not be something you have to 'get used to.'

But I've heard similar comments (about AF) with the Sony NEX-7, too.

Maybe the new higher-end Fuji (X-Pro2, according to rumors) will address these issues.

P.S. Nice write-up and pics!

[slejhamer]

Photorumors (http://photorumors.com/) posted the full X-E1 specifications:

•Same 16MP sensor as in the X-Pro1 (with max ISO of 25,600)
•6 fps
•Light magnesium body
•Improved AF speed
•Price: below $1000
•To be released before Christmas
•Same video recording capabilities as the X-Pro1
•Mic input
•EVF only (not hybrid as the X-Pro1)
•Two colors: black and silver
•Pull 25 ISO to simulate Velvia in JPEG mode


So, if it's essentially the same guts as the X-Pro1 with better AF, is the view finder the only big difference? That's one heck of a pricey viewfinder...

I'm really interested to see how this line evolves.

[shuttertalk]

Thanks for posting that Mitch. So looks like a better X-Pro 1 except for the OVF. That's interesting - I wonder where the X-Pro II will go after this? I mean is the OVF enough of a differentiating factor between the lines?

[slejhamer]

The good thing is Fuji has nothing to lose by innovating in this space. A FF sensor in a rangefinder-style body is a possibility ... probably not with XproII, but eventually. Fuji seems to want to be the lower-priced Leica alternative, so something like the M9 may be in Fuji's plans sooner than later. However, an M9 at a thousand dollars less is still in the out-of-reach category for most people.

I do like Fuji's lens roadmap for this series, too.
http://www.fujixseries.com/discussion/93...12-2013/p1

[adam]

The good thing is Fuji has nothing to lose by innovating in this space. A FF sensor in a rangefinder-style body is a possibility ... probably not with XproII, but eventually. Fuji seems to want to be the lower-priced Leica alternative, so something like the M9 may be in Fuji's plans sooner than later. However, an M9 at a thousand dollars less is still in the out-of-reach category for most people.

I do like Fuji's lens roadmap for this series, too.
http://www.fujixseries.com/discussion/93...12-2013/p1

I'm hoping Leica have the ME! haha

[slejhamer]

They may have a ME, but will it be a real Leica or a rebadged Panasonic? Or heck, a rebadged Fuji?

[shuttertalk]

More photos here - another feature over the X-Pro 1 - built in flash.
http://www.petapixel.com/2012/08/29/new-...-and-back/

[slejhamer]

More photos here - another feature over the X-Pro 1 - built in flash.
http://www.petapixel.com/2012/08/29/new-...-and-back/

Nice.

However, the X-E1 seems to be missing the flash sync port, which may distinguish it from "Pro."

[slejhamer]

Official XE-1 announcement from Fuji, though it looks like it may have been run through a web translator, lol:

http://photorumors.com/2012/09/05/breaki...more-30394

I think I'll get it with the silver top; looks more retro to me.

[slejhamer]

Sorry to keep obsessing over this! I'll wait for reviews of the kit zoom lens before I place my pre-order, but for now this seems to be the camera for which I have been waiting a long long time. Haven't been this interested in a piece of gear since I got my old Canon G1!

http://www.fujixseries.com/discussion/24...-on-videos

The EVF is a brand new design, apparently a joint Fuji-Sony collaboration which will also be in the next NEX (the 6? ). Brighter with higher resolution. If the EVF is good enough I can live w/o the OVF.

The size is right, and Fuji's prime glass is getting rave reviews.

No more DSLR for me!

[Pavel]

Wishing to have a lighter camera with many of the capabilities of top DSLRs makes sense, although few cameras can touch D800 in light sensitivity, dynamic range and resolution. Which small camera/brand to choose? For me the lenses are the most important, as camera age and may be replaced but lenses stay with you for a long time. I prefer the m4/3 system like Olympus OMD-E5 because the plentiful choice of excellent lenses and many more are in the works.

[shuttertalk]

Looks like they've released new firmware for the X-Pro1 which improves the AF speed among other things. This is very positive as the new, "more affordable" model absolutely kicked it's butt...

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/fuji...date_2.00/

[matthew]

I'm impressed by the 18-55mm zoom lens that they announced alongside the new camera. It's f/2.8-4.0, a solid stop faster than the usual 'kit' zoom that all of the other systems have. It's a nice touch, and continues to set apart the X-mount as a 'premium' system.

[slejhamer]

@ Pavel - yes, the lens selection is still very small for Fuji, and that is a concern, but it should grow over time (see Fuji's roadmap I linked above.) Also, there are adapters for many other lenses (Canon FD, Pentax, Leica, etc.) if one is okay with manual focusing (personally, I'm not.) As I want to move completely away from the DSLR body size, an APS-C sensor is less of a compromise to me than the smaller m4/3 sensor. Just my preference/opinion. So, that leads me to Fuji or Sony ... and I want a camera, so it's Fuji. (No offense to Sony device owners, lol.)

@ Jules - the Pro firmware update is nice, but I'm still not paying an incremental US$700 for an OVF (albeit a very technically complex one.) That said, there's a $300-off sale right now if one buys an X-Pro1 with a lens, like a kit discount. Very tempting! But I like the smaller XE-1 body, so I will wait.

@ Matthew - yes, this lens looks like it could be a gem, especially at the 'kit' price, but so far all the XE-1 sample pics are with the production primes. I'd really like to see some reviews of the zoom with samples.

[slejhamer]

Zeiss making Fuji X-mount lenses!

http://www.fujirumors.com/next-great-new...-x-system/

[slejhamer]

For sale now in Asia but not US/EU? Not fair!

http://www.fujirumors.com/fuji-x-e1-sale...eu-and-us/