The Fuji X-Pro1 was a hit. But at $1700 for the body alone, it was (and still is) bonkers expensive. The new X-E1 is Fuji’s reaction to that. With a pared down body and new kit lens, Fuji could maintain its enthusiast appeal — and attract a broader market.
What Is It?
Another Leica-lookalike mirrorless cam from Fuji. Basically, it’s the X-Pro1 minus an optical viewfinder, plus a pop-up flash, and for a lot less money.
Who’s It For?
Purist photographers who want high image quality over versatility.
Design
Fuji might mimic retro rangefinders, but the results looks damn good, so it’s hard to complain. The body feels light, plasticky, and cheap, but once you pop a lens on there, it’s pretty beefy. It’s smaller than the X-Pro1, but still larger than most mirrorless cams.
Using It
Once you settle in to the control scheme, it’s intuitive and wonderful to use. You rarely have to scroll through menus to hunt for functions. The auto-focus is quick, sometimes, but it doesn’t always meet the high standard set by the lightning-fast Olympus mirrorless cameras. The X-E1’s incredibly clear electronic viewfinder lags when in motion, but the clarity and lack of colourful noise in low light makes up for it.
The Best Part
The control scheme is simply the best ouf of any camera in recent memory. There is a physical switch for every major function, and everything is clearly labelled and well placed.
Tragic Flaw
RAW files out of the X-E1 are a bit off. The noise pattern at high ISOs is splotchy when compared with the even, tight, grain-like noise of many other cameras. It is almost as if Fuji is applying some noise reduction to the RAW files, which would be very peculiar. It’s a nit-picky complaint — but this kind of thing can affect detail at high ISOs.
This Is Weird…
You can’t adjust ANY settings while recording video. Cool, guys.
Test Notes
- We love the plentiful bracketing options. You can bracket exposure, ISO, dynamic range, and even Fuji’s film simulations (essentially colour profile presets).
- The shutter-speed wheel is a bit tough to rotate. You usually need two fingers to turn it, where it would be great to just use your thumb.
- Fuji’s lens lineup is limited. Only a 18mm f/2, 35mm f/1.4, and 60mm f/2.4 are available, with another 6 or so lenses arriving in the next year, according to this lens roadmap. ‘Til now, at least, all of Fuji’s lenses have been of great quality at moderate prices.
Should You Buy It?
Absolutely, for stellar images. But not if you want bells and whistles. This isn’t a camera for video, for in-camera effects, wi-fi, or scene modes. It’s for unadulterated photography, with fantastic image quality and control.
The caveats include mediocre autofocus, crappy video mode, and weird RAW noise patterns. But this is a good low-cost alternative to the X-Pro1. Aside from that model’s better build quality, are nearly zero qualities that we miss on this lower-priced camera.
If you’re in the market for this, consider a few alternatives — there’s the Sony NEX-7, which is due for a refresh in 2013, and could be a bargain. The Sony NEX-6 is definitely more versatile, but it’s slightly behind in control scheme. Then, the Olympus OMD-EM5 rules the world of auto-focus — but it can’t match the sheer image quality of the X-E1.
View our gallery of full size images on Flickr
Fuji X-E1
• Sensor: 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS
• ISO Range: 200-6400 (100-25,600 expanded)
• Lens Mount: Fuji X-Mount
• Display: 2.8-inch 460,000 dot
• Video: 1920×1080, 1280×720 @ 24 fps only
• Price: $1199 RRP in Australia body only, $1599 RRP in Australia with 18-55mm f/2.8-4 kit lens