NOTE: This article was first published over at johncaz.net on the 24th October 2014
After 10 months of shooting reportage, portraits, weddings, street, fashion, concerts, wildlife, lightning, landscapes, kids and other events I think it’s time that I passed on my experiences and feelings about the revolutionary Fujifilm X-T1.
FUJIFILM X-T1 REVIEW
SHORT HISTORY
The whole X-Series revolution started in 2011 with the amazing X100. For many photographers it was the camera that brought them close to a name long left behind but not forgotten. Fujifilm gave us the “pocket-able" camera every serious photographer had been craving for and gave us a chance to see firsthand what the X-trans sensor can do. A year after the X100, Fujifilm introduced their first interchangeable X-series model, the X-Pro1 which also was a big hit. Soon afterwards we got the XE-1, XE-2, XM-1 and the XA-1. Towards the end of 2013 there were a lot of rumors of a new premium model, so while everyone was expecting the X-Pro2, the announcement of the X-T1 caught everyone by surprise.
FUJIFILM X-T1
The X-T1 breaks away from the range finder design that all previous models followed and marks Fujifilm’s first attempt at an SLR style body. Price wise, the X-T1 sits between the X-Pro1 (which is more expensive mainly due to its optical viewfinder) and the XE-2. Personally I feel the X-T1 is the new flagship model for Fujifilm mainly due to the highly specified specifications and the SLR style form factor. I have used a whole heap of Nikon cameras in the past, and with every new model there was a lot of enthusiasm for sure, but I never felt the love that I now feel for the Fuji X-T1. The X-T1 may not offer the same speed or resolution that some of my Nikons offered but it is the first camera that feels like it was built for me, a human - an artist!
The X-T1 is beautiful and sexy, but above all else it’s functional! With its three beautifully machined aluminum dials on the top plate and an aperture ring on its prime lenses, the X-T1 does not interfere with the shooting process while letting the photographer blend in unobtrusively. It’s a very capable photographic tool that can be used almost blindingly. But let’s see in detail what features really set it apart from the rest.
EVF
Over the years I have used some of the best professional film and digital cameras. One common denominator in all of them was the large optical viewfinder which offered an immersive shooting experience. Thankfully the X-T1 not only has a large viewfinder but it’s the largest ever offered. The high-resolution OLED EVF display in the X-T1 is made up of 2.36million dots of resolution and has a high magnification ratio of 0.77x which is much larger than the Nikon D4. What is shown on the EVF is a 31° view of the outside world in real time (lag time of just 0.005 sec) which no other mirrorless camera can match.
Unfortunately for many photographers, the fact that it’s not an optical VF but an electronic one means that they won’t even try it. All I can say is that the X-T1’s EVF is large, bright, customizable and advanced like no other. You'll immediately see any changes to your composition and exposure, keeping you in touch with whatever you're shooting. I’m sure if you give the X-T1 a try with a fresh mind, your traditional perceptions of EVF’s will change forever!
The EVF is fully customizable and comes in four different flavors depending on your menu settings and shooting conditions: Full, Normal, Vertical and Dual mode.
- In Full view, the scene fills the viewfinder from edge to edge and is an experience like no other camera can offer.
- In Normal view the scene is squeezed a little into a tighter area of the EVF enabling eye glass wearers to see the whole scene easier but still retaining a large view.
- Switching the camera from horizontal to vertical position can also switch the info in the EVF to vertical mode allowing all information on the screen to stay in their initial positions.
- Switching from AF to manual focus puts the viewfinder into Dual mode offering a full view of the screen on the left and a smaller magnified view on the right for easier focusing confirmation.
MANUAL FOCUSING
As mentioned above a nice touch for manual focusing are the menu options “Digital Split Image” and “Focus Peak Highlight” that allow for faster and more precise focusing with any lens. Let me note here that you can use practically any lenses from any maker successfully as long as you find an appropriate adapter for it. Most users of the X-T1 so far are reporting - just like I am - that due to the extremely large EVF and “Focus Peaking” we can nail focus quicker and more accurately than with any other camera.
AUTO FOCUSING
When the XE-2 was introduced there was a lot of talk about its much improved AF acquisition and low light accuracy due mainly to a lot of software tweaking and a new AF algorithm. When the X-T1 was introduced a few months later we got the same AF technology but with a better overall performance mainly due to the new and twice as powerful EXR II processor. On the imaging sensor Fujifilm has placed both the “Contrast-Detect AF” sensors with the “Phase-Detection” sensors providing the X-T1 with an ultra fast hybrid AF system that works really well even in low light. This hybrid system allows for automatic switching depending on the requirements of the scene and conditions. I have found that the AF is plenty fast and can be made to work faster albeit with less accuracy – ( see my AF article here and here ) and coming from a Nikon DSLR doesn’t leave me wanting more though I’m sure Fuji will improve both speed and low light capability.
Let me point out here that the Fuji trumps any DSLR when it comes to accuracy and this is because the mirrorless format has the advantage of more precision due to the absence of the mirror box assembly. But what really stands out is something Fujifilm never really promoted and is hidden away as an option deep in the menu system. I’m talking about “Face detection”, you point the camera towards your subject and a green box appears that tracks your subjects face as you compose the shot. Face detection works fast enough leaving you to compose freely. You can read more on my AF post here
RESPONSIVENESS
When it comes to speed, overall the X-T1 is not a lesser tool when compared to a pro DSLR. Thanks to the 2nd generation EXR Processor which basically is made up of two CPU’s the overall computational performance has doubled from the XE-2. This is why the X-T1 can offer a start up time of 0.5 sec, a shutter lag time of just 0,05sec, can lock focus in under 0.08 sec (under certain test conditions) and can shoot in CH speed mode with AF tracking at over 8fps. Also worthy of note, the X-T1 is the first camera to support the new UHS-II SD cards which offer a data writing speed in continuous mode about twice that of a conventional cards, though personally I haven’t found the need to upgrade from my 95mb/s SanDisk cards so far.
New to the X-T1 (thanks to next month’s firmware release – December 2014) will be a top shutter speed of 1/32,000 sec which trumps any camera before it by leaps and bounds. A silent electrical shutter for all speeds up to 1/32,000 sec and a mechanical shutter all the way up to 1/4000 sec. Apart from the Mechanical or Electrical options, the X-T1 also offers a hybrid mode option where the electrical shutter will jump in only when higher shutter speeds more than 1/4000sec are required. The choice for just an electrical shutter will be handy for those times when silence is of the up-most importance. What other camera offers such choices?
APS-C Image Sensor 23.6 x 15.6mm, Micro Four Thirds 17 x 13mm, 1-inch 13.2 x 8.8mm Sensor
SENSOR
The X-Trans CMOS II sensor in the X-T1 has a resolution of 16.3 million pixels and is the same sensor as that found in the XE-2. With a pixel structure more akin to the silver halide of film the X-Trans sensor has proven its superiority at keeping moiré and false color to a minimum eliminating both the need for a anti-aliasing filter and color correction to get satisfactory skin tones. Most, but not all mirrorless cameras have a much smaller sensor than the X-T1 since the APS-C sized sensor measures 23,6mm x 15,6mm which puts it size wise, between the Micro Four Thirds cameras (such as the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Panasonic GH4) and the full frame Sony A7 series of cameras.
BUILD QUALITY
All of Fuji’s X-Series cameras have garnered an excellent reputation for being robust and very well put together and the X-T1 is no exception with its magnesium–alloy body that is complemented by 80 seals to keep dust, dirt and moisture out. Its weather sealing also allows for uninterrupted operation in temperatures as low as -10°C which means most of us don’t need to worry about the weather or any other harsh shooting environment. So when you came across stories of unbelievable endurance such as this girls Fujifilm X20 compact camera, then one can only imagine how tough the X-T1 might be!
So the body is pro tough, what about the lenses? Well, as strange as it may sound at the time of launch, the weather sealed X-T1 was offered with no sealed lens since no sealed lenses were available. Currently as of October 2014, we have one weather sealed lens the XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6R LM OIS WR and two more coming next month, the XF 50-140mm f/2.8R LM OIS WR and the 16-55mm f/2.8R WR.
LCD
The LCD has a 3:2 aspect ratio and 1,04 million dots of resolution. But the best part is that it is tilt-able which makes it well suited for those otherwise difficult high and low angle shots. Personally, this is my first camera with a tilt-able screen and once you have used one you can’t do without it – it’s a wonder why Nikon and Canon haven’t utilized this feature on all there DSLR models - it’s just so bloody useful!
No, this is not a production X-T1. This is what an X-T1 would liked if Fuji had went ahead and produced the touch screen version. This is not a Photoshop image, this is an photo of an early prototype from Fujifilm.
ERGONOMICS
If you haven’t used a Fuji X-Series camera before, then your first impression when you grab hold of the X-T1 is that there is something very special about the way it feels in the hands. It’s a lot less cumbersome and the overall size feels refreshingly smaller than your typical DSLR but not so small that you can’t wrap your hands around it for a solid grip. The protruding handgrip on the front is just about the right size without becoming uncomfortable and combined with the sizeable thumb rest at the rear offers a fairly good grip. Though good enough, a Lensmate thumbrest would offer an even better grip for those who won’t be using the optional vertical battery grip VG-XT1.
DIALS AND MENU
The machined dials on the top plate are for ISO, Shutter Speed and Exposure Compensation. The Shutter Speed dial only locks in the A position and under it are the cameras three metering modes: Multi, Spot and Average which can be adjusted using the index finger. Under the ISO dial is the Drive mode selector dial for BKT, CH, CL, S, DOUBLE EXP, ADV and PANO. Unlike the Shutter Speed dial, the ISO dial locks in all positions and the Exposure Compensation dial has just the right amount of tension for one finger operation (note: I have large hands and fat fingers so others may find that two fingers are needed)
Overall the dials, button layout and the GUI on the X-T1 are quite easy to understand even for those coming to the Fuji camp for the first time. There is no program mode such as those found on DSLR’s. You have an A setting on the aperture ring and on the shutter speed dial. When both are set to A you are in “Program mode”. If you move the Shutter Speed dial from A you are then in Shutter Priority mode. If instead you move the Aperture dial from the A position you then are in Aperture Priority mode. If you move both from the A position, you are then in Manual Exposure mode. Most of the buttons on the back of the camera including the D-pad buttons are not easy to discern by the touch and are at times hard to find and use but overall, the experience of photographing with the X-T1 is like no other camera.
METERING
Even though Fujifilm uses a 256-zone metering pattern, it manages to deliver pleasingly accurate exposures even in difficult lighting situations. Sometimes some exposure comp is needed when shooting into the light. One of the pleasures of the X-T1 is the exposure compensation dial. I find it a pleasure to use. I don’t use the histogram any more since switching to Fuji unless I’m shooting a landscape. In conjunction with the WYSIWYG EVF I find I have complete control of my image creation like never before.
WIFI
My X-T1 combined with a smartphone that has Fujifilm’s free app “Camera Remote” installed becomes lethal for some street photography scenarios as well as some wildlife situations. Please look here for more info.
NOT SO GREAT - FLASH & ISO
FLASH: OK, so not everything is great on the X-T1. Flash can be a pain since we don’t get many choices and overall flash photography with a Fuji can be kind of tricky. The X-T1 (and most of Fuji cameras from what I understand) isn’t very well supported when it comes to flash. Sure, Fuji offers a small range of flash guns, but none are especially “great” compared to the options available from Nikon or Canon. Plus all are relatively expensive for what they really are. Until Fuji announces a new flash, most users will probably sit and wait for the i40 mini Nissin flash unit that has built in LED plus TTL and HSS. The i40 should be a great option for X-T1 owners, but its constantly being pushed back due to delays in getting TTL to work on the X-T1.
ISO: Unfortunately for some, the ISO range for RAW is only 200-6400. Personally I don’t find this limiting for my shooting but I’m sure it will affect others. It can be expanded to ISO 12,800, 25,600 and 51,200 at the high end and ISO 100 at the low end, however images at these settings are recorded only as JPEG’s.
LAST WORDS
Its no secret that I'm in love with the X-T1. My back is in favor of the small size which means my whole bag with cameras, lenses and accessories is also a lot smaller and lighter. The smaller size of the X-T1 allows me to blend in more without intimidating my subjects plus the quality of the files, both JPEG and RAW are amazing. So far I haven't felt the need to go back to a DSLR nor do i feel that I am missing something. On the contrary, i don't understand why anyone would want to use a large and heavy DSLR when you can be using the X-T1! - (Sports and wildlife photographers excluded)
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