When the excellent Sony RX100 came out from hiding, we fawned over its huge one inch sensor, f/1.8 aperture, and positively tiny point-and-shoot frame. Now another has arrived in the form of the FujiFilm XF1, and while it only has a 2/3-inch sensor, it too has a f/1.8 aperture and a diminutive figure draped in retro-inspired design.
With its 12-megapixel EXR sensor, EXR processor and 25-100mm lens, it might be easy to dismiss this as a mere clone, but the XF1 has a few interesting tricks of its own. For starters, instead of a programmable lens ring that the RX-100 has, the XF1 has 4x manual zoom controls which cause the lens to extend and retract as you twist the ring. When powered down, FujiFilm says the camera is 10.6 centimetres by 6.09 centimetres by 3.04 centimetres (with the lens slightly protruding the camera body). Powered on and at its widest angle, the look and feel of the camera is similar to it being equipped with a pancake lens. Plus the thing can handle macro as close as three centimeters.
As far as other specs go, the XF1 has a 3-inch LCD packing 460,000 dots, an auto ISO range of 100-12800, 1080p video recording at 30 FPS, a battery good for 300 shots and full manual controls (which includes a dial on back and top). And when the XF1 arrives in November, you’ll have your choice of dressing the $549 camera in brown, black or red fake leather. [FujiFilm]