Fuji..Finally..Nails It! The X-T1 seems to be “the” Fuji Body to wait for..

fuji

Fuji..Finally..Nails It. The X-T1 seems to be “the” Fuji Body to wait for..

Just as I said Sony grew some balls when they designed and released the (now older) NEX-7, it appears Fuji finally did what I have been waiting for them to do. Yes, it appears Fuji finally ditched the hollow and cheaper feeling bodies and decided to design and create and release a truly solid and professional X body. One of the reasons I was so hard inn Fuji since the X-Pro 1 is because I KNEW that they could do better..much better. Sure, they had the color and IQ but everything else was sub par, especially in their “flagship” the X-Pro 1.

I predicted two years ago that Fuji would some day release a truly great X body worthy of their great lenses. The time is just about here 🙂 

It appears that this X-T1 will also be a SOLID, WEATHER SEALED and MUCH FASTER body with external controls ala Nikon Df and Olympus E-M1. (THIS is a GOOD thing).

XT11

The body is very Olympus E-M1 and A7 like in design. You have the grip and the EVF hump. As for the EVF it should be much larger and nicer than previous EVF’s.

xt1b

The EVF will be center mounted with all controls easily accessible. From these leaked images (courtesy of mirrrorless rumors) it appears that yes, Fuji did get it right. The rumored price is said to be $1700 US for the Body only. Add the superb 23 1.4 and you have a $2600 combo, about the same price as a full frame Sony A7 and Zeiss 35 2.8. It appears the competition and new tech just never ever stops!

I can feel it in my bones..this is the Fuji that will be “the one” many have been waiting for from Fuji. Will it be the “no compromise” body? Who knows but the X-E2 was and is a step in the right direction but I am really looking forward to this new one. Let us see what awaits on the 28th!

171 Comments

  1. The camera the DF should have been at half the price, Fuji are on fire at the moment whilst others are content to sleep walk into trouble. Only Sony seem to be trying to keep up, Sigma being tiny but brave with their new Quattro, Leica being Leica (old technology at stupid prices aimed at a very small target market).

  2. Looks pretty clear that the A7 files are miles out in front IMO. I love Fuji and Sony and own M43 too, but there is no denying that in terms of imaging performance for larger prints, the Sony is in a different league. You are definitely going to see this in a 30″ print Steve, esp in areas of fine detail, texture or detailed line. The EM-1 will fall to bits in comparison to the A7 and the XE-1 will look a little ‘vague’. The drawing seems a bit smeared to me from the Fuji.

  3. I purchased the DF and have no issues with the mode dial. Nikon had to use a mode dial for the camera to use older lenses. As you stated Grey Fuji started from a clean slate and implemented the A system on both the lenses and the speed dial. Nikon has never had lenses with a A function. They therefore needed to use the mode dial system to accomodate older lenses and to work in program and speed modes.

    • No, Nikon has never had an ‘A’ mode on any of its lenses. They got around that during the earlier autofocus days, however, by setting the lens to its maximum aperture and then providing a little switch to lock it in place. From there you could use your camera in shutter priority or programmed mode.

  4. Something that wasn’t mentionned, is there will be a split screen viewfinder aid and focus peaking.
    A thing we all wanted on the Df.
    That why there’s the focus assist button, right at your thumb.
    Brilliant design i must say.
    I was going with a Df, but seeing this i’m going 200% with fuji.
    The XE-1 was nice, so if this is way better, i can’t see why it will be a flop.
    The Xpro1/x100s is the rangefinder style, for ppl who wants to see the WHOLE scene, and frame a part of it.
    While the XT-1 will be the same as a DSLR, with what you see is what you get (with 100% viewfinder coverage, that is).
    Two methods of shooting, two camera bodies.
    Way to go, Fuji!!

    • I like the focus assist button where it is on the back of the X-T1, also. I am glad to see AE-L & AF-L separated, actually.. I think that allows just a bit more exposure and focus control to take the shot you want to take in tricky situations.

      Almost certainly there should be focus peaking (kind of a standard focus assist options on newer cameras).. the split-image focusing like what is in the X100S would also be pretty cool and another focus assisting tool.. if it has a set of phase detect sensors, as it should, then it should be capable of having that split-image focusing… does the X-E2 have it?… it has phase detect as well. if it doesn’t, then it’s strange fuji didn’t bother to also implement it like it did on the X100S. Anyways, not sure, but hope it has both forms of focus assist options like the X100S.

      Again, for me personally, I like the rangefinder style of the X100/X100S & X-Pro1, and the OVF is pretty cool, but in practice it never worked out for me as much as I wanted.. and I really wanted it to work.. just could never rely on the AF as it often would miss focus and hit the background or anywhere but my intended target of focus. Ended up using the EVF more and then it became a feeling of slight disappointment I couldn’t reliably use the OVF without being frustrated or having to chimp to be sure I got the shot I wanted (even secretly when viewing in the EVF instead of the rear LCD screen). Anyways…

      I’m pretty excited for the X-T1 to make it’s official debut soon.. please, please, please have the AF properly functional… reliable, consistent and accurate. AF speed?… I can’t imagine any AF these days being THAT slow, so I’m sure speed should be fine.. but,seriously, speed doesn’t matter if it ain’t hitting the mark.. just hitting a random mark (but the one you want) fast does nothing good in the end. Please have good – NO, GREAT AF in the X-T1 (and any other future X camera or further push current/past X models to be even better with more firmware updates).

      • “Again, for me personally, I like the rangefinder style of the X100/X100S & X-Pro1, and the OVF is pretty cool, but in practice it never worked out for me as much as I wanted.. and I really wanted it to work.. just could never rely on the AF as it often would miss focus and hit the background or anywhere but my intended target of focus. Ended up using the EVF more and then it became a feeling of slight disappointment I couldn’t reliably use the OVF without being frustrated or having to chimp to be sure I got the shot I wanted (even secretly when viewing in the EVF instead of the rear LCD screen). Anyways…”

        That was my chief problem with the X-Pro 1, too, along with several points of “control lagginess”. That, plus the lack of a built-in diopter is now starting to cause me more grief. And finally, post-processing of RAW files is still a major PITA for anyone who wants to remain inside the Adobe workflow (which most pros do).

  5. Where exactly does this camera fit into Fuji’s ever expanding line of “X” cameras? It doesn’t say “Pro” so I assume that it is not the successor to the X-Pro 1. Is it supposed to be the equal of the pro camera without the rangefinder type finder? In many respects it appears it will beat the Pro in capabilities.

    • I think Fuji, and like most other companies, will keep their future plans quiet for a while as to not disrupt sales or current or soon to be replaced models… they do a good job at keeping their customers happy with solid firmware support and updates that make current & past models progressively better.

      With that in mind, and the fact it seems there is no sight to a X-Pro 1 successor (either as a X-Pro 2 or X-Pro 1s, i’ve heard both names), I suspect the X-T1 will be the new flagship.. it doesn’t need to say “pro” to have pro features and capabilities. However, currently, I personally feel the X-E2 is the current top flagship model for Fuji, it seems to have the latest and greatest hardware, firmware & versatility of all the X cameras… until the X-T1 comes out.

      I don’t mind the switch of the X cameras going from rangefinder style to slr style. I do like the rangefinder look, also. However, I am disappointed they haven’t done anything to produce a true X-Pro 1 successor and flagship camera… way overdue. I appreciate the firmware and improved performance lately, but the hardware is just becoming dated compared to their latest revamped models such as the X100s and X-E2, but I suppose it still works good for what it is, no doubt. Still, I’ve been eager to see a new X-Pro model for what seems like a long time.

      A new X-Pro Whatever won’t be in sight probably until they’ve made some significant advancement in tech to really make a bold new statement… perhaps once they work out their organic sensor you may have heard in forums and other rumor sites. Until then, I strongly feel the X-T1 is going to be the new “pro” camera and flagship for Fuji just based on the leaked and rumored specs and it’s suggested market towards providing a X camera with the fastest performance to date… dual card slots, faster write and AF speeds, pro grips, slr/dslr style, etc… if it can hold it’s own with action and sports compared to current dslr pro cameras, it should rightfully take the lead title of flagship camera.

      My 2 pennies plus a nickel.

  6. I wonder how better this camera will do compared to my beloved Ricoh GXR A12/28mm. I’m looking for a faster AF ; if better low light capability comes with faster AF, I won’t complain …

  7. Beautiful camera. I love iso wheel, focus mode selector etc. But Imho the price is wrong in A7 and compact FF days. I prefer Fuji over Sony. I also think the 16mp raw+jpeg file from the aps-c sensor are the better compromise for my needs as long as i can get small DOF from my 1.4 xf 35 preserving a superb quality.

    The high iso performance are ok (i never like to use iso over 1600…).I love the quality of fuji OOC jpeg but i still think the price is too high at launch, to consider the substitution of my x-e1. I can afford it but i don’t have sufficient motivation to afford it….
    I don’t think the new model worth 3 time the price of my x-e-1 in terms of IQ, usability and every point of view. Not to mention for people who recently bought X-e2.
    I prefer to wait or use the budget to buy some more lenses…..

  8. Sony will announce the successor to the Nex 7 about the same time as the official X-T1 announcement. For me the choice will be between those two. The others are not really comparable.

  9. I detest viewfinder humps – optical/pentaprism or electronic – and will never consider a camera with one. At least not again. This I realized after a few weeks with the A7.

    I lusted for the old Pana DMC L1 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-L1
    Thankfully Fuji heard my pining and released the X100 and X-Pro1.

    I have no time for a ISO wheel -don’t know the last time I checked ISO. (It’s on auto.) And I have no desire for my nose to hit screen. Weather sealing – huh? Lenses too? Fast FPS and non-predictive AF? Huh huh?

  10. I don’t get it. What is so special about this camera? The hump? Does anybody really like the hump? So the AF is probably going to be a little faster and the EVF a little better…. Who cares! I don’t like the SLR look. I like a rangefinder look. That’s the main reason I got into the X line in the first place (and so did many other Fuji X shooters for sure). I already have a real DSLR and it’s wonderful. I like Fuji for pretending to be a rangefinder. The images it can produce are pretty excellent too, but overhyped, if you ask me, so the rangefinder look and feel is still the main attraction.

    I’m sticking with my X100 and X10 (the sensors in these two are better anyway than X-Trans, at least I can see it clearly). I’ll buy a new Fuji X if it still has a rangefinder-like body, a hybrid VF, and a super fast operation and AF. Just my two cents.

    • Who cares?

      Me and a bunch of others who are tired of big and bulky DSLR but wants the quality and functionality of a past 35mm SLR with the technology of today.
      If the XT-1 doesn’t bring ypu joy, then move on to the future x200.
      I waited yeats for a design like the Df/XT-1.
      Some ppl wants a small SLR design.
      Theres not only rangefinder photographers in the world… Lol
      It’s not because fuji released rangefinders, that they need to ONLY release this kind of designed bodies…

    • I think what’s most interesting here is that Fuji is trying to satisfy BOTH these markets (“rangefinder” and “DSLR” – even though these cameras are neither).

      This tells me that they are very, very serious about taking market share away from the established players.

  11. Someone in APS-C and FF mirrorless has got to close the autofocus performance gap with DSLR soon. Micro four thirds have done it, particularly Olympus, and you have to wonder how many more iterations it will take. Let’s hope the Fuji XT-1 is a big stride forward in this regard.

    • Yes. To me it is just ridiculous that all of the camera manufacturers can pump out camera model after camera model with the same sensor and slight specs, but cannot implement blazing fast and accurate autofocus. Is it really that hard to do?

      • On mirror less it apparently is that hard to do, or we would have had it by now. M43 is a much smaller sensor than APS-C and FF, and at least if one looks at mirror less cameras to date, the larger the sensor the harder it is to get AF really fast.

        DSLRs are safe for the time being.

        • “…or we would have had it by now.”

          Not so much. Different engineering principles involved in mirrorless, which is a much newer format [relatively]. It still has a ways to go. Like everything else, the tech here will improve, is improving, and I’ve no doubt will eventually match the DSLR [which has reached its engineering pinnacle mechanically].

          “M43 is a much smaller sensor than APS-C and FF”

          It’s signficantly smaller than full frame, but not much smaller than APS-C, actually.

      • Remember that at least 50% of sensor performance is in the processing. Adding a brand-new processor to a 2-year-old sensor will often yield startlingly better results. But the industry is brainwashed into this megapixel war because “bigger numbers” are the easiest way to market cameras.

        Fuji is sticking to their 16 megapixel X-Trans sensor for now, and instead working on processing algorithms that further improve the QUALITY of the pixels already on hand.

        Having more megapixels is like having more horsepower. At some point you have more than enough to go faster than you’ll ever need to go given the conditions at hand and the rule of law.

        As to improving autofocus speeds, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 is already as fast or faster than the top DSLRs, except in low light or when tracking fast-moving subjects. There are good design differentials for this, but the gap is closing year by year.

  12. I prefer dials over menus ANY day, but although this looks like a nice camera I’l stick with my X100S until a FF version comes out.

    • Fuji has no plans to introduce a full frame camera. They’ve been pretty adamant about this recently, even challenging people to show them how a full frame sensor would offer any real advantage.

      They’re pretty confident about the X-Trans APS-C sensor … and with [mostly] good reason. If they can just sort out the de-mosaicing issues properly with Adobe by the time this new camera arrives, then they’ll really have something that will nibble further at the big boys dominance of the pro market.

  13. Yawn. Would have been class-leading in 2011, but how is this better than a NEX7, let alone an A7?

  14. I too think it should be full-frame. 5×4 to be precise. Inches.

    Of course I’m sure there would be someone out there rubbishing it for not being 10×8 or something.

  15. I’m the only one who still prefer optical viewfinders? looks like a nice camera. fuji is amazing, but EVF is a deal breaker for me.

    • The EVF in the E-M1 beats any optical I have ever used, so me, I prefer a GOOD EVF and as of today there are only 2 of them out there. If the one in this Fuji is as good as the one in the E-m1 then it will be amazing.

      • Thanks for your answer Steve!! what do you think about the – i don´t know how to call it- psychological ? difference between opticals and EVF ? many years ago, when i was studying photography and shooting just with slr, i grab a TLR. a Rolleiflex, and the first time i saw trough the viewfinder i fell in love. i was amazed. later on i had the same feeling the first time i saw trough a 4×5 big format camera. don’t you think theres something abut seeing the real light reflected on objects coming trough the camera to your eyes, that is much better than an EVF??

        • Nothing beats a GOOD optical viewfinder for clarity and resolution. You can’t get more real than “real”, after all. It’s also superior for shooting action sequences, where most EVFs will start to lag and prevent you from tracking/observing what’s happening in real time.

          On the other hand, a GOOD EVF offers lots of benefits, too: the ability to overlay lots more information; to see what your exposure will look like before shooting (and adjust accordingly in the viewfinder); and the option to “gain up” your brightness to better see what you’re shooting in dim or low light situations.

          Horses for courses.

  16. It’s beautiful. If it were full-frame, i’d be on it like a hornet. But, with APS-C, i will continue to wait on the sidelines if i don’t do the Sony.

  17. I rented the X-E2, 23 1.4 and 18-55 over the weekend to see if I could get behind this system. In short, I cannot. The X-E2 feels really cheap, and the focus throw is really long with the 23 1.4. The photos are nice, but there’s no way I’m chasing my 2.5 year old around a playground with that thing being able to keep up. So, hopefully the X-T1 has improved (greatly) autofocus speed, ergonomics, and “feel”. Not sure why it is $1700 though… if Olympus can make the OM-D EM-1 at $1400, and Pentax can make the AWESOME K3 at ~$1100, I don’t see why Fuji is pricing their non-full frame (right?) body at $1700.

    • The $1700 is with the kit lens. At least that’s the rumor. Body will be about $1100 to $1200.

      • Ah, that makes much more sense. Steve said $1700 and $2600 with the 23 1.4… would be pricey if just body and one lens. I had the OM-D EM-5, the X100S, and have tried the X-E2. Also own the Ricoh GR (amazing gem) and now the Pentax K3. The Pentax is perfect IMO. I hope Steve does a detailed review of that, being the best APS-C camera right now.

      • I don’t think so. I think that’s $1700 just for the body. Remember that the X-Pro 1 body was $1700 when it came out. This will be Fuji’s new flagship and it’s significantly more evolved. It won’t sell for $1100 to $1200 new. Also, as a flagship, Fuji typically don’t sell their cameras with a “kit” zoom.

        • That’s what the rumor sites are claiming. It’s not the X-Pro 1 replacement. It is meant to sit between the XE-2 and the X-Pro 2 whenever it comes out. The x-Pro 2 will be the flagship model. I haven’t read anywhere that the xT-1 claims to be the “flagship”.

          • It will be the flagship when it arrives, as it will be the highest-spec’d camera Fuji makes. Currently there are no plans for an X-Pro 1 successor in the near future (though I’ve no doubt it will come eventually).

            So for the time being, the XT-1 will be their top of the line camera, and I doubt the body will go for $1100.

            Hope I’m wrong, though.

  18. This is going to be a VERY nice camera, I believe.

    I feel this may be the new Fuji flagship camera.. at least until a respectable upgrade to the X-Pro 1 rightfully can take that title away. It has all the best specs and features I think Fuji has to offer right now. I love the other more rangefinder-styled X cameras, they have great IQ and styling, but I still feel the AF/MF and overall package isn’t the best it could be.. some refinements here and there.. and to be honest, the OVF/EVF is a bit of a novelty rather than truly functional.. you’ll get the best most accurate results sticking with the EVF mode (as far as hybrid VF’s go), so then what’s the point of the OVF other than for a fun or cool factor, not quite as useful in actual practice. But, I digress… back to the X-T1…

    If the X-T1 has at least as much of the best tech from the most recent X cameras in regards to hardware and firmware, you can bet the IQ and overall performance will be at the very best.

    I like the Nikon Df, and this reminds me a bit of that retro style philosophy (as does the E-M1 & A7/A7R), but at least it’s done in a proper compact form that really makes it look tight and sexy. Advantage mirrorless! The X-trans cmos ape-c sensors can perform nearly as good, if not better in some cases, than full frame… I think the X-Pro 1 (and other X cameras close to that model) stand out for having perhaps the best low light high iso performance for a ape-c sensor… I think can be nearly as good as the Df performance for most people.. I think you’ll get a great sensor and cool retro style with buttons and functionality that make more a bit more sense and has less confusion and redundancy. It should work well and even more intuitively.. not to mention it looks like it may have a fold out rear lcd?!.. you have to admit that’s useful for those shots you just can’t get when you want the high or very low angles.

    THE MAIN THING THAT WILL REALLY SET THIS NEW CAMERA ON TOP (OR NOT) IS IF FUJI finally fixes or improves the AF system. Image quality and color is one of the best I’ve ever seen and used in a camera coming from owning 2 previous X cameras, but the AF (&MF) sucked! so unreliable compared to a lot of competitors. If Fuji finally gets the AF/MF to be accurate AND consistent to a non-frustrating or non-workflow retarding pace, then it will truly be a force to be reckoned with!

    With that said and hopes up, I think anyone who wants retro with awesome performance and great set of lenses should seriously consider the X-T1 over a Df.. it’ll cost considerably less and offer considerably more.

    • The XT1 doesn’t necessarily cost less than a DF. Read what I wrote in post number 30. I really like the look of the Fujifilm camera and we have an X100 in the family which is fantastic, but to replace my Nikkor lenses with new Fuji ones would cost a fortune. So for some, the XT1 is far more expensive than the Nikon DF. Even if you don’t have much Nikkor glass you can pick up loads of lovely manual Nikkors for very little money. I love the look of the XT 1 but it would cost a fortune.

      And how does the XT1 “offer considerably more” than the DF? They are very different cameras. I mainly use medium format film cameras and already the step down to 135 format means I lose a lot of the narrow DOF that 120 enables. To move even further down to APS-C would compromise the look I like even more.
      Don’t get me wrong, I love the look of this new lightweight system, but it’s very different from the DF. If I was offered either system for free I would still pick the DF because it fits me better, but that doesn’t mean that the Df is best for everyone. I think the XT1 is probably a better camera for most.

      • Well, for body and a fast 50mm equivalent lens alone, you already spend less than the DF setup by almost $1k (maybe closer to $800 or so).. talking brand new everything. Of course, if you have a decent lens collection already, then you won’t have to pay that as much to get a whole new set.. still, a body alone Df is $2800 and not a small amount for a 1 trick pony (not literally, but it only takes photos is what I meant).

        Sure, not exactly the same camera systems, FF vs APS-C.

        Leave that detail to the side, and measure up the features, the usable ISO range isn’t that far off, you still get the fancy dials, controls and retro design, but there is less redundancy.. For ex, unless you pay attention to exactly what your controls are showing you, you could easily try to adjust your shutter speed but not realize you have the mode set to A (for Aperture priority) and the dial does nothing for you. you have to specifically set another dial to get into a specific mode to control another dial which probably could have been handled a little better with one dial… like the Fuji’s. Then there’s all the lens options and how you have to program and set older lenses into camera so it will recognize it and meter or expose properly. Granted there are limitations to using the older lenses that require such presets for the camera to recognize, but it feels overly complicated for a camera which is suppose to keep photography simple or “pure”.

        Do you need movie? probably not, but removing it as a possibility doesn’t really seem to make the pure photography aspect that much more pure necessarily.. simply don’t use it and it’s out of the way.. I don’t understand how a movie mode could get in the way of one’s still photography?

        Tilting screen? It’s not retro or old school, but let’s be honest and recognize the Df isn’t purely retro or old school anyways.. hard to reach angles would benefit from such a useful device such as a tilting screen.

        So, yeah.. with a lower budget and feature and performance relatively high, I would still maintain that the X-T1 offers considerably more than how much you could potentially invest in a Nikon Df right off the bat.

        I won’t argue if you need the high res and performance from a FF sensor and that’s your sensor of choice for the work you do, by all means use it and I agree it will be the best for you. If smaller sensor is compromising what you are use to using and IQ you desire, definitely do not consider getting anything less.

        But, I think a greater majority of photographers will rarely need those kinds of benefits from a FF camera and do very well with highly capable smaller sensor cameras.

        I like actually like the Df a lot, but for me personally, I can’t justify the cost to buy into that system… I don’t have a lot of (of any) Nikon lenses and if we’re talking about starting from the ground up with mostly new stuff, the Fuji X-T1 should offer me the most for not as much in the long run. IQ-wise, I don’t think I’d miss much for the work I do, but that’s just me and my personal thoughts on which one I’d pick given my circumstance and needs.

        I know everyone has their own work needs and tastes and I encourage the pursuit of camera and gear that suits yourself best.

        • Fair enough mate, although it’s really not a hassle to register your glass with the camera (you do this once) and although I agree the Fuji control layout is better, the reason for that is that Fuji could start from a clean slate whereas Nikon caters to over 50 years of different lenses. The Df borrows its control scheme directly from the legendary F4 and funnily enough that camera never gets critique for “confusing” controls but is instead often celebrated.
          For me video just makes cameras more cluttered and I’m always suspicious that the parts for still photography has somehow been compromised by the inclusion of yet another feature. I would instantly pay 4000$ if they also removed the Df autofocus and made it a digital FM3A. Unfortunately they included everything because in this day and age people count features. As if that had anything to do with how good a camera is.
          Having said all this I still think the XT1 looks really good but it would be expensive for me to replace 4-5 Nikkors with new Fujinon lenses. I also doubt that the Fuji manual focus feels anywhere near as good as an MF Nikkor.

          It’s a difficult decision even for me though, and I would advice anyone not owning Nikon lenses or who specifically needs the full frame format to buy the XT1.

  19. Judging by these images, to me it’s a far prettier looking camera than Nikon’s DF or the Olympus OM-D E-M1.
    It’s interesting what Fuji are doing with their cameras.

  20. Agreed. AF really needs to improve. If this camera fixes AF I’m sold. I love the ISO dial. I’ve wanted one for years. I wish my x100s had one.

  21. I can’t believe that Full Frame hystery seen on any forum these days. If it ain’t FF, it’s crap. I do own a FF camera and enjoy it. I also own a X100 since 3 years, and I can guarantee you it’s still my favourite camera. Fuji’s IQ is great, period, and their dedication to client support is appreciated. The last iteration of the X100 firmware offered me a new camera. The only case I would systematically use my FF D700 is shooting portrait with a fast 85 mm. The controls of this X-T1 combined with the new 56 mm 1.2 could make me change my mind. I use OVF on the X-100, but found it less useful on X-P1. XT-1 seems to be the perfect compromise. But I’m not in a hurry. I have two great cameras for different uses, sorry, three with the Ricoh GR. There’s absolutely no reason to upgrade my camera(s) every two year. The real issue is not asking yourself “Do I need that new gear ?” but “Do I deserve this new gear?”

    • You’re exaggerating. No one is saying that any sensor smaller than FF is crap. But as nice as they are, Fuji has been releasing one APS-C “X” camera after another for years. It’s high time for them to take it to the next level.

      • Why? I think it’s great that Fujifilm are ambitious with APS-C. Different formats have different advantages and disadvantages. I honestly hope that Fuji does not spread their focus but concentrates on this smaller lighter format. As technology improves it will inevitably become the new standard. Just as medium format took over from large and just like 135 replaced 120. Consumers always want lighter and smaller and apsc will take over from 135 no doubt.

        This going on and on how Fuji should do 135mm is getting really old. A lot of this problem stems from the terminology “full frame” as if 135 was some sort of complete format. I have worked a lot with large and medium format and for anyone to call the “crappy snappy” format full frame is laughable. Just putting things in perspective for you.

        Whenever Nikon releases a camera, do you then hurry to write that Nikon should take it to the next level and release a medium format camera?

        • I’d tend to agree, perhaps a fixed lens FF model along the lines of the X100 might be worth attempting but really they need to focus on ASPC if there going to build a solid system.

          Personally I’d still argue that mirrorless is simply better suited to ASPC or 4/3rds format sizes than it is FF. Sony have had to offer rather low spec lenses to make the A7 compact after all and even then they’ve needed to be pretty long, I’d guess to correct light angles that become more of an issue the larger the format size becomes. As a wise man once said, “ye cannae change the laws of physics”, a 24-70mm F/2.8 lens is always going to be a beast on FF that needs a hefty camera to balance it.

      • Let me illustrate something by asking you a question: When Canon or Nikon release a new model, do you then write on forums that it is time for Canon “to take it to the next level”?

        (Next level in this case being medium format.)

        • Now there’s a ridiculous question for you. Nikon and Canon have never, to my knowledge, made any cameras in a format larger than 35mm. Their camera lineup already covers both APS-C and full frame. There’s no reason for them to dive into the relatively tiny, and extremely expensive, medium format market. Fuji, on the other hand, already has a venerable history in 35mm film. It’s only natural to expect them to cover that format in digital as well.

          A much better question is why people get so hot and bothered when someone dares to say they want Fuji to make a full frame digital camera. I mean, really? With all the problems in this world you get upset over THAT? I think you need to take a deep breath and think seriously about your priorities.

          • “Someone ‘dare’ say”? Rather a relentless hang up anywhere Fuji is mentioned than some sort of rare courage. APS-C is a different format with smaller bodies and lenses. I bet there were people who were going on about how they wanted Nikon to make a “full frame” ‘F’ so they could enjoy the same short DOF as with their FF Rolleiflex.
            You have understand that what is provoking is to use terms like “step up”, as if a smaller format is inherently less good. Different formats are good for different things. I tried to be “ironic” when I wrote that Canon should “step up” to medium format. Why should they? They don’t do medium format. Canon and Nikon have been doing 135 for a long time, it’s their field which they dominate.
            Likewise, why should a Fuji change format? Doesn’t make any sense. If you want a 135 camera, buy a 135 camera like Canon or Nikon. If you want medium format – get a Hasselblad or Rollei. Want a small system? Get an APSC Fujifilm.

            I use Nikon myself but judging from the image quality we see from Fuji, Olympus and Pentax – the 135 format will very soon become a niche market. I think Fuji, Pentax and Olympus seem have a very good idea of where the puck is going to be.

        • Oddly enough, I have used a variety of Fuji medium format cameras: The 6X7 “Texas Leica,” (GSW) the great little folders, the 6×4.5 “point and shoot” (GA6452i). Fuji’s been more innovative “at the next level” than any other company!

  22. I really like what I’m seeing. I currently shoot with the x100s and love the output, but I am less than impressed with AF. For my system camera I will either go with the OMD E-M1 or this new Fuji. It will come down to AF though. If the new system is much faster than the x100s than that’s what I’ll buy. It doesn’t have to be faster than the OMD just close to it in speed. Is there any indication of what to expect as far as AF from this camera?

  23. Wake me up when Fuji releases a full-frame X-Trans system with a full lineup of FF lenses. THAT would indeed be news. But the X-T1 definitely has a “been there done that” feeling to it. Fuji has already proven that they have the mojo to make a decent camera with a compact sensor. They’ve beaten the APS-C sensor format to death. What they need to do now, and are perfectly capable of doing, is run with the big dogs. Enough of APS-C already. Give us full frame!

  24. Among all the humps this one looks most pleasing, due to the lower profile with a more gradual rise. In comparison, EM-5 is like a cone-head. But the backside is not done as well, a disproportionally thick rubber eye piece is more fitting for a microscope.
    Overall, it looks like the love child of EM-1 and GX-7 (the lower part)

  25. Another temptingly nice newcomer. I wonder how it feels holding it. Too bad it’s APS-C; that’s a dead end street if I ever “saw” one.

  26. I started out with the X100 then moved to the XE-1. I was very happy with the lenses and they produced great images in most conditions, especially low light up to iso 3200. The problem I had with it was that under optimal conditions with low iso and flash, I was unable to get the quality I was after. I’ve sold all my fuji gear after trying out and purchasing the Sony A7 and haven’t looked back yet. I dont think this camera will change that.

    • I do agree that in less than ideal light the Fuji drops the ball a bit. I have had this issue with every single X-Trans sensor camera. The original X100 did not have this problem.

      • Yeah I think the problem lies with the RAW conversion of the X-trans sensor. The X100 still had a CMOS so there was no problem there. The xtrans should have more detail that my nikon d300s had but I was never able to find a converter that really nailed the fine details without that smudged painterly look.

  27. I own a fuji x-e1 and consequently sold my nikon ff. I love the lightweight body and fantastic lenses. I chose fuji over olympus because the jump from ff down to aps-c was hard enough. I followed the sony a7 and a7r reviews but refrained because the lenses are big and I don’t gain anything from aps-c 35mm f/1.4 to ff 50 f/1.8. The fuji lens lineup is great. I don’t trust sony to do as well. I dream of a better sensor in the fuji cameras, as of faster af, remote wifi control, tilt screen. Sony af is nothing special, fuji is getting better… Fuji is on it’s 4th x mount body, sony it’s first. I think the shooting experience is still better with fuji at the moment… I will keep an eye on Sony, but might pick up the fuji xt-1.
    I nearly got an a7r, but the reviews all talk about hunting af and high shutter speeds to nail a sharp picture… Reminiscent of my d800! The focus may be just ok with the x-e1 but it is always always spot on!

  28. I was drawn to the Fuji X system because, aside from the amazing IQ, I liked the sleek “rangefinder” look of the bodies. I don’t get why some say the X bodies feel “cheap ass”… there is nothing cheap about them! So many equate “weight” with “quality”, but I moved away from the OM-D E-M5 because it was too heavy for it’s size! The X-T1 does seem to be about the same size as the X-E2, so that’s good, but I strongly dislike the “hump”, and cluttered top and dials. Retro-schmetro. Don’t need all that. Luckily, I have NO desire for a new X body since the X-E2 arrived. Does everything I need it to do and more! 😉

    • Of all the complaints I’ve heard against the EM-5, being too heavy is a new one. (15oz according to BH). I looked up the x-e2 and it is 12.35 oz, so it is lighter. However, I would think the heavier fuji lenses would shift the weight advantage back to m4/3. Either way glad you found something that works for you.

  29. For me, it’s all about the focus speed. I love my fuji X-100 and X-E1 for portraits and landscapes, but the slow focus (especially in low light) limits their applications. If this camera gets Fuji over that hump, I’m sold. Full frame? Don’t need it. I’d rather have smaller lenses and a lighter bag.

  30. Woohoo, Valentines’ Day for Fuji on SHP! Now maybe all the fanboys who accuse you of anti-Fuji heresy will let you off the hook. (I hope that wasn’t the ONLY reason for this speculative post!)

    Annoyance: Why is it that all the manufacturers lately seem to be saying: “For our BEST model, we’ll stick with the format of a centrally-located finder eyepiece and a hump on top”? Panasonic is the only exception that occurs to me: they seem to have endowed the GX7 and GH3 equally (other than the latter’s video-centric features.)

  31. I also very much applaud the comeback of real visual controls. They are a crucial aid for deliberate and involved photography. Some people seem to lament the fact that we now havve more different cameras to fit different photographers styles whereas I think that’s something we should all celebrate.

    People who think in terms of “retro look” has got it all totally wrong. “Design is not how it looks but how it works.” -Steve Jobs

    • This may never come. It’s not a bad thing though. All that matters is image quality and as much as I would like a FF Fuji sensor too, this route might be considered old technology in a few years from now. Fuji and Panasonic have been working on “organic” sensor technology. We will see if it comes into fruition:
      http://www.fujifilm.com/news/n130611.html

      • I would not say “never”. The market always dictates how manufacturers decide to move forward. Fuji has no reason at the moment to go full frame because they will need a new mount and glass. However, if people begin to flock to Sony in the future once the system matures, Fuji may change their tune.

  32. Hmm, an interesting option to the Df. I will stay with my initial decision to get the Df though. My reasons:
    – The Fujifilm XT-1 with lens is the same price as a Df without. The Nikkor kit lens is cheap but useful to add for those rare occasions where I’d like to have autofocus (very rare).
    – I currently use an FM2 with Nikkor AI 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 55 macro and a 105mm. All with lens hoods. To purchase a similar set of primes for the XT1 would cost me a fortune.
    – With the Df I share system with my FM2 which I will keep using for the joys and qualities of black and white and slide film.
    – There are tons of cheap second hand Nikkor lenses. Of all imaginable shape and form and great feel.
    – I am a manual focus guy. I highly doubt that the Fuji lenses feel anywhere near as good in use as MF Nikkor. The build quality of older Nikkors are also unmatched. Only Leica competes in this regard.

    What do you think about this Steve? How are the Fuji lenses compared to Nikkor ais in regards to manual focus and build quality?

    For me the XT-1 looks like a truly great camera but I will save tons and tons of money if I buy the Df. I also like the idea of being able to pick up odd second hand all-metal Nikkors for little money.

    • “The build quality of older Nikkors are also unmatched. Only Leica competes in this regard.”

      I have Nikkor AIS 24 2.8, 50 1.2, 55 2.8, 105 1.2. Build is nice, but in no way do they come close to matching Leica glass. Even my 60 yr old collapsible Summicron feels smoother and tighter than any of my Nikkors, let alone comparing them to my modern stuff.
      And the only one that matches them in optical quality is the 55 2.8 Micro

      But where’s the surprise? They cost much more.

      • You are right that Leica lenses are the best. But I would argue that MF Nikkor is much closer to Leica in quality and feel than any plastic AF Nikkor lens.

        What is the Fujinon manual focus like? Are the lenses metal? The manual focus on our X100 is totally unusable compared to a true manual focus lens.

    • I’d argue that your exactly the kind of shooter the Df is aimed at Grey. A Nikon users who’s potentially looking for another digital body with more retro controls. I’m guessing Nikon were tired of losing this market to Fuji so by releasing the Df they allow buyers to use the same set of lenses across both.

      I can see the argument for the X-T1 over A7 due to the interface and the Sony lens prices but if you already have a good F-mount lens collection then in terms of value the Df is tough to beat.

  33. I like 1.5 sized Cameras and lenses, Not realty wanting to pay for FF sized cameras and drag them out the door. I just ditched all my Canon stuff.

  34. I’m with Steve on this, Fuji always create nice images but I can’t get past the cheap ass feel.

    If this feels as good as it looks, it will be THE Fuji to make me want to buy one.

    That being said…thanks to Sony, does ANYONE really want to NOT have a FF sensor in a camera that size?

    I used to not mind having crop, because I was unwilling to compromise my laziness. But now I can be lazy, AND have a nice juicy full frame sensor.

    • Yes i dont want FF. The difference in IQ is negligible, but the lenses would be bigger, price higher etc.

    • Me, me! I DON’T want grandpa’s “FF” sensor! I want a camera body just big enough to handle easily (but no bigger) plus a set of lenses small enough to carry around conveniently. As Henry says, even if you make a very small “nostalgia format” body, the lenses still will have to be larger than those designed for an optimally sized sensor.

      Besides, I’m a bit of a photo history buff, and I know that the dimensions 36x24mm were not brought down by Moses on tablets of stone. Just because the Simplex Multi-Speed Shutter Company of New York decided back in 1914 that doubling the standard cine frame size was the easiest and cheapest way to get decent still-camera results out of cine film, that’s no reason we should be stuck with those dimensions today!

      • Those dimensions seem to work remarkably well for such a foolish idea. But ok, jump to the mini sensors. They produce nice sharp postcard images.

  35. Now, if the LCD screen can be turned against the camera body (Epson R-D1 like), this might be the camera for me

  36. No built in flash by the looks of it. Factor in the cost of an external flash such as their EF-42

  37. Everyone has their priorities and knows what is important to them…I always said I didn’t care what a camera looks like…but to me this is ugly with the 23 1.4 on it…and it will be fairly large and quite heavy…the 23 is a heavy piece of glass..but I am sure the image quality will be fantastic . But I will guess that autofocus will still be slow….I find the X-E2 and X100s are still light years behind the E-M1 in autofocus…to me this looks like baby steps…but if you expect fuji to have a long zoom for this…then the setup will be large and heavy…For now I will stay with the E-M1 and do post with DxO optics 9…I feel my results are every bit as good as the fuji x-trans images…I just have to do a little more work . Namaste

    • To be honest, I don’t believe any camera with catch the EM1 in terms of autofocus simply because the m 43 sensor makes it possible.

  38. Hey Steve-don’t forget that that viewfinder looks simply gorgeous-cant wait to have a look thru it

  39. Yeah! Sweet!

    The Contax design is back…check out the RX or RTSIII – wonderful cameras, perfect ergonomics.

    So good to see Fuji do things right – I loved the X-Pro1 as a “rangefinder” camera and this one looks like Fuji does it right desinwise again!

    Image quality and lenses are already perfect.

  40. I’m very pleased that Fuji have produced this lovely looking little camera. Seems that they have been listening to their clients. Glad that they have avoided the angular harshness of other similar offerings from another company.

    Reminds me of the Contax 139 – one of the little gems of the film era!

    Whilst I applaud Fiji for the XT-1, I hope they continue to also produce XE-2 style bodies and while they’re at it, please Fuji can we have a 90mm f2?

    • Don’t applaud too loud though, as this may encourage Fuji to speed up their new body release even faster. I wish Fuji would play with open cards (at least towards customers), as the X-Pro and XE-1 became “vintage” a bit too fast for my taste, and releasing the XT-1 less than two month after the XE-2 (released just for X-Mas) is a very mean trick towards people who bought it.

      • Yes, I see your point, but the XE-2 and the XT-1 will probably appeal to different people. Some (myself included) like the “rangefinder style” whereas some will favour the “DSLR style”, so they aren’t really being all that mean.

        I have an XE-1 which I’ve only very recently bought, and I’m more than content with that.In any case I don’t see the point of getting an XT-1 until the price drops to a more affordable level.

        • That is true, they appeal to different people, but that applies to anyone who has not purchased the XE-2 yet. The newer camera have better or improved features so for anyone with an XE-2. they may feel screwed. I can see people who bought an XE-2 sell their camera to get the XT-1.

  41. I am going to wait to see the X-PRO 2. I will not sell my X-PRO 1, but keep it as a second body. Fuji has a whole line of lens. I really do not see a FF Fuji for a long time. The Sony A7s have their place, but a full size DSLR is better at AF and the balance of lens with wide F stops.Let’s face it you buy a camera like a Nikon D4 for fast AF and strong body, 16MP is good enough for the pros that use them. No camera is going to prefect, get what works for you.Sony, Fuji, Canon, Nikon, CZ and Leica make great lens and cameras. The rest is up to you. The X-T1 looks like it may someday have a FF sensor.

    • You may have a long wait. I see too often real world xp1 shooters saying most of their use is with the evf. For the evf on the xt1, I suspect many will abandon the xp1.

      Perhaps then Fuji will make a bet on displacing Leica. But that would mean FF, expensive and new lenses. That’s not around the corner.

  42. For that price, the A7 wins out. I can’t imagine spending that much money on a crop sensor camera when the same cash will buy you a FF camera. But that’s just me =o]

    • ditto! 😀

      add that you can keep your system’s lenses by buying a mount adapter, so you don’t need to ditch all your hardly earned gear to give the A7 a try, it’s a no brainer to me (but it’s just me, of course)

        • “adapters work on the Fuji as well”

          right, so? I just meant that the A7 beats the Fujis on the ground of pure quality and high ISO (i.e., low light) performance, while allowing me not to completely switch system (I’ve got Canon at the moment), as I can retain all my lenses, so the choice between an APS-C and a FF, it’s a “no brainer” to me

          Unless Fuji have some trick hidden in their hat, I’m going for a FF, for the same price tag. Not 100% sure yet, but that’s how I feel right now (and I will have to make a decision in a couple of months) 😀

          Still, I’m curious about the final specs of this little beast X-T1, I’ve been shooting with an X-Pro1 and I liked the Fuji general feeling, but not to the point of getting me one.

    • Crop cameras have advantage over FF cameras when it comes to DOF.

      FF cameras have too thin DOF that 90% of the time make you use smaller aperture and higher ISO, negating the advantage of larger sensor.

      Try shooting pictures where you have many people and want all of them to be in focus, not just the tip of the nose of of one of them.

      Even aps-c struggles from time to time to make a picture that is easily made by even higher crop factor sensors found in phones.

      FF over aps-c today has no benefit. It’s a choice between DOF so thin it is hard to focus the whole face and a DOF that is much more versatile.

      f2.8 58mm lens on an aps-c sensor separates perfectly well a person from its background.

      f1.8 35mm lens on an aps-c sensor is already too thin to be useful on anything closer than 3m.

      So, I have no idea why people say “I want FF for that money.”

      Today, dynamic range, high ISO image quality of APS-C and even micro 4/3 is on par with FF sensors.

      • Sorry, you probably have different requirements, but in no way is APS-C or m4/3 DR and High ISO is on par with FF sensors.

        Besides, for those who own Leica lenses and would want to use it to its full potential, Full Frame is the only way to go.

      • that is right….the FF is an advantage for those who really need thin DOF as you stated.
        For the conditions we are looking for a deep DOF the m43 will be unbeatable

    • First i liked the A7 but with Zoom Lense the small body is obsolet with FF. With this new Crop Cam the Lens+Body Combination is much smaller than the A7…

  43. Looks good. The question is: “Can it match Olympus AF?” (For better or worse, EM1 is new standard for AF speed and accuracy.)

    It is similar to what Apple did when they introduced the iPhone. From that moment on, every new phone had to be smaller, faster, cheaper, or better in some other way. (If not, people just bought the iPhone.)

    Fuji has a bigger sensor, but I am not sure that is good enough any more.

    • Not sure who named the EM1 as the standard, especially since the going-on-three-year-old Nikon V1 is still faster in the mirrorless world, and any number of DSLRs are faster in the regular-sized world.

      • You’d be hard pressed to find a faster DSLR over the EM1 that doesn’t cost more than the EM1 does. The EM1 isn’t just about being fast, it’s about being the best photographic tool. It has little to no quirks. It just works and works well. If you wanted to, you could find various cameras that beat the EM1 at one thing or another but as a complete package, you’ll only get better at a price bracket well above the cost of the em1.

        Like it or not, in the mirrorless world, the EM1 leads the way. Fuji’s are great with colour and IQ but lack in other areas. Sony are technological marvels of engineering but again, lack in other ways. Right now, only the OMD models are the most well rounded cameras. They have good IQ, good technology, good features, comfortable, easy to use. Any issues with them are minor at worst.

        The performance of the EM1 is superb and I wouldn’t be the first person to say this but with the EM1, you get a 1Dx for 1/4 the cost and 1/3 the size.

      • No DSLR on earth is faster to focus than the E-M1 during normal daylight shooting.

        When the light fades, only the 5DIII, 1D series and Nikon D4 and D3s are faster.

        I have the E-M1 and the D3s. During normal conditions, the E-M1 focuses faster. And the E-M1 is most definitely faster than the Nikon V1.

  44. The hat trick: The same lenses use a Dslr-ish body (X-T), a rangefinder-ish body (X-P), and a ‘digital brick’ body (X-E, etc.). WITHOUT adapters.

  45. I like the clean, uncluttered back side. At a glance, it seems like a well thought out layout to get so much out of the way, yet gaining many manual controls (not just the ISO dial — I see the full drive menu is there as well as the exposure weighting modes). I like that the full exposure can now be controlled manually. That would be just great to have in the cold weather here.

    Personally, this camera looks more useful to me than the Nikon Df — one that I’m reminded of a lot when I see it. Full frame gives me little image quality that I need, and I like the subject isolation well enough with APS-C, especially from what I’ve seen coming from their new 56mm f/1.2 lens. Finally full body, yet “3D”/isolated shots! The one thing full frame had that I still wanted. I also much prefer the lighter weight, heavier wallet, and smaller lenses that APS-C gives me.

    Seems like a camera where the idea was “no compromises”. A grip that was lacking before for heavier lenses, WiFi, more manual controls, swivel display (and not just on their intro bodies), etc. It all seems to be there.

    • YES STEVE!!!

      Uncluttered back, brilliant, everything you need 99% of the time is at the finger tips. Brilliant use of space. The most trivial wish I have is that either the viewfinder eyepiece juts out or there will be a provision for eyepiece accessories.. The A7r eyepiece makes left eye shooting a breeze and it’s what my mom needs 🙂

      Much better location of the AE/L and AF/L as well.

      • I own a x20 and i can never get used to ae/af/l. I want to be able to lock with the shooter button, but its not a function available with the x20 (the simplest of all fujifilm x models). Is this available with the other models (and with xt-1)?

  46. So many people seem to harp on about the ‘old fashioned’ SLR design as though it’s merely a nostalgic backward step, with no good practical advantage. In fact, the SLR design has lasted so many years because it is a comfortable design that fits the hand naturally. Just ask anyone who uses the OMD EM-1.

    • The ‘old fashioned’ SLR (and Leica M rangefinder) design followed function. Look at the technical innards and understand that there was no other way to shape the camera body. And with all based on 35mm film the body nicely related to the size of the human hand.

      DSLRs started the other way around, with Kodak converting Nikon and Canon film bodies with digital innards. Nikon and Canon decided to keep the shape after they made DSLRs themselves, even though there no longer were film canisters and film take-up spools to accommodate.

      • I agree with you, Peter, and I think that the ergonomics of the SLR form were high among the reasons that Nikon and Canon stayed with a tried and tested design. Although it’s possible to tweak and adjust here and there, it’s kind of hard to see how it could be fundamentally improved upon. It just works.

  47. Great A7 competitor indeed. Looking forward for a X-T1 v/s A7 v/s EM-1 test comparaison.
    It seems that it does not have pop-up built in flash ? this will have been handy !

  48. I don’t think it’s a case of trying to bulk up. The smaller X cameras will no doubt continue. This looks like an attempt to provide something bigger for those who need or prefer a bigger grip, dual cards, big viewfinder, flip out LCD, etc., but still don’t want something as large as regular DSLR system. The viewfinder looks quite large int the photos above and I’m guessing it will be quite nice to look through.

    • Zlatko…I think you’re right…this will give more performance in speed and AF which I really need to make the switch to Fuji completely. If this does that AND beefs up the video, well, I will be a happy camper…

  49. According to rumors, the X-T1 will have a larger EVF compared to EM1, with 0.77x magnification compared to 0.74x on the EM1. (Canon 1DX has 0.76 and Nikon D4 has 0.7)

  50. As much as I love my X100S, Sony threw down the gauntlet with their full-frame compacts. I’m still waiting for ‘Fuji’s FF compact’ response. If Fuji doesn’t respond, I think I might jump off the Fuji bandwagon and join Sony. Also, I kinda agree with ‘ko’; why are these new cameras trying to bulk up and look like full scale DSLRs? I don’t think I would dump my X100S for the X-T1.

  51. Why am I absolutely underwhelmed by this news? Probably because it looks like this is just another iteration of the 16MP X trans APS-C in a different wrapping. It appears to bring absolutely nothing new regarding the actual image to the table. Roll on X200, then I’ll open my wallet.

    • This was my reaction to the announcement as well. It looks like the same old in a new housing to keep Fuji in the game. They got my money as beta tester for the X10, X100, X-Pro1 and XE-1. Not this time. When it comes to innovation, Sony and Olympus seem to lead the pack these days.

    • So surprised to read this! This is the first time fans of the Fuji JPEG’s and colors have a swivel LCD, WiFi, ISO dial, weather sealing in a pro body. Sure, none of these are new features, but I think it all comes together to form a paradigm shift for Fujifilm. The sum becomes greater than the parts as they develop their first camera to truly take on the DSLR’s and cameras like the Olympus E-M1. For Fujifilm users and those wanting higher image quality than from micro 4/3 yet avoid going all the way to full frame, this is huge news.

      • Initial pre-orders are heavily skewed towards bodies only. Those requiring a switch in systems will need more time to decide. What’s “new” about the camera is it opens Fuji up to a lot of non-Fuji shooters.

    • I think that if the XT1 makes large strides in operational speed and AF speed it would be a huge step forward for Fuji. That said, I was hoping for a higher res 24 MP sensor to take advantage of their great lenses. The Fujis already do fantastic in low light. I want more detail to make some huge prints.

    • I thought the same. How does this compete with the Sony A7, a full frame in a comparable body?

  52. Can’t wait for this. I bought the XE-1 with a bunch of lenses during their huge sale with the plan to upgrade the body when the next generation came out. This is gonna be great!

  53. If this is a mix between the em1 & df I’m sold. Now i have to hold back purchase of the df to see if this will be faster, (hopefully) have the same low light performance & added video feature.

    • Hope that Steve gets an advance copy of the Fuji X-T1 and compares it not only to the Olympus E-M1 (leader in M4/3 format), but also versus the full frame Sony A7 (similar price), and Nikon Df (similar controls).

  54. I’d rather see a true digital rangefinder, full-frame. If Fuji took EPSON RD-1 and threw their “full frame” sensor in, we would be in better shape. At least I would commit!
    thanks

    • That is what I’m waiting for too! I keep watching eBay closely for a used RD-1 camera but I can’t pull the trigger thinking that a modern, non Leica rangefinder will be announced. Fingers crossed!

    • +1

      I’m still excited by this Fuji, mainly because thy finally took ISO control out of he menu and tuck it on the body, which my trusty R-D1 has.

  55. I prefer the design of small mirrorless cameras like NEX 6 & 7 but this looks like the new trend, going retro. If some of the predictions are right, DSLRs are gonna die out… only to be replaced by small mirrorless wanting to look like old school bulky DSLRs. I don’t get it.

    • Bulky? haha man, I can’t even take that seriously. The relatively large OM-D E-M1 compared to actual pro DSLRs from right now http://camerasize.com/compact/#482,290,243,ha,b

      And this X-T1? It appears to actually be narrower than the X-E2, shorter except the hump, and otherwise about the same size (depth-wise) with a bit of a grip that will not register in size comparisons unless you take off the lens.

      The resemblance that these recent camera designs bear is to older film SLR cameras which were never particularly big and have all shared the same basic appearance for 70+ years. It’s what people like or it would’ve changed ages ago.

      Personally, I like the layout of cameras like the NEX-7 and X-E2, but, I also like the huge EVF in the Sony A7 and if this is similar… that’s appealing even if I have to smash my face on the camera to use it. The handling of this camera will almost certainly be a big upgrade over my X-E2 as well. I’m definitely interested. I just don’t know if it can justify the rumored price, especially so soon after upgrading to the X-E2.

        • attach some lenses on them and you will see how your Nikon stands against the m43…say attach F4 constant zoom or 2.8 zoom on each

        • Why should you compare a semi-pro camera with a semi-amateur camera? If you compare it with a top-view and add a lens you will certainly see that the OM-D beats the living daylights out of the competitors…my daughter has a Canon EOS 1100D – its like an elephant compared to my OM-D…I have the E-M5…

          Anyway, here is a comparison between some small cameras:

          http://camerasize.com/compact/#482,493,323,487,ha,b

          I agree about the grip, though. I wish it would be optional.

      • I’ve seen $1200 as the rumored price for body only. We’ll find out in just a few days (Jan 28th).
        Also- the EVF will be much improved over the xe-2.

    • It’s not about looks but functionality. Older cameras had the functionality that some/many photographers now miss and hence forth this and similar cameras do look a bit retro with the external dials.

      • THAT´S EXACTLY THE POINT: DIRECT CONTROL AND USABILITY..

        i will go fir this body with much more enthusiasm as for the un-mature Sony or also digitally overloaded Olympus bodies – direct steering of the most important shooting parameters— time, aperture, iso, and slaps metering

        GREAT JOB

        • I like the ISO dial and that the exp compensation dial goes to +/- 3 (not just 2). But I don’t like the VF in the center. Maybe I have a big nose, but I prefer my viewfinder rangefinder-style. Also, my favorite thing about Fuji is the hybrid viewfinder. I always use the OVF on my X100 during the day because I like the RF style frame lines. And it feels more down-to-earth not looking at an EVF.

        • Manual controls are great, no mistake, but they are from an era when we didn’t have access to dials and customizeable buttons that do the same job even more efficiently. I’m less impressed with the direct control here for ISO – I can do this much quicker on the A7 with the control dial in reach of my thumb without having to change my grip – but I really like the secondary controls like metering, bracketing, etc. that the X-T1 makes available without menu diving.

          The truth is that any of these modern cameras can be driven just as fast if not faster than old manual control cameras but the nostalgia is strong with this one.

          Changing metering on the X-T1 will be easy, as long as you take your eye away from the viewfinder, change your grip and fiddle with the dial. You can do the same thing with the A7 (and I’m using this as a placeholder for a modern camera – nothing special about it) with a button push, without changing grip or taking your eye away from the EVF.

          At the end of the day, you gravitate to what is familiar and comfortable but I think any of these modern systems, with some time behind the shutter, can be made to fly.

          • I think it has a lot to do with what people use their cameras for. Professionals need quick access to almost everything, which is why they buy pro DSLRs.

            I’m just a travel photography enthusiast. The only thing I adjust is shutter and aperture (leaving ISO on auto). Fuji is perfect for people like me. Though I do wish there was a green AUTO button on my X100 for when I hand it over to my girlfriend 😉

            Either way, this is a great time for cameras! Nikon D800E, Canon 6D, Sony A7, Oly EM-1, Panny GX7, Fuji X100S, Ricoh GRD… Was there ever a time when photographers had so many different options to meet their own individual needs??

          • To be fair though what the Sony’s(or indeed any mirrorless system) cannot offer is the ability to view the camera’s settings from above, you need to look though the VF or check the back screen. The Fuji also of course allows you to input settings when the camera is turned off.

            I thought before the Df/X-T1 that the weakness with a lot of recent digital retro cameras was that you couldn’t see the ISO easily. In the days of film there wasn’t so much of a need for it as you were stuck with one ISO per roll but with digital its obviously a much more dynamic setting.

            Personally for me this is really something you don’t value until you experience it. Not having to raise the camera of activate the backscreen might seem like a tiny issue but times several tens of thousands it becomes much larger.

          • “Changing metering on the X-T1 will be easy, as long as you take your eye away from the viewfinder, change your grip and fiddle with the dial.”

            Take another look. If I approach a shot where metering mode may come into play, my right hand grips the body on the right, where the switch is. Most of the lenses I shoot are too small to grip. So my hand is where the switch is anyway.

            No, this is great execution by Fuji, you don’t have to “change” and “fiddle”.

    • It took time until motor cars lost the non-functional design elements inherited from the horse carriage. Buyers and corporate brass tend to be conservative. And marketing managers tend to copy what the competition is doing in order to remain on the safe side, too.

      • This is very different. There are plenty of options for the techie types, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, etc. This camera is a throwback and is having success, because so many of us can’t stand the endless menus. We have been begging for a system like the Fujifilm cameras with a shutter dial and aperture control on the lens like in the good old days of shooting film. This is not a case of the camera companies refusing to move forward, This is a case of one company deciding that there was more lost in the tech era than just nostalgia, and the success of this “new brand” is proof.

        This camera reminds me of the old Contax RTS that I owned for years. Simple, yet I took awesome photos with it.

    • “this looks like the new trend, going retro”

      The other trend is hefty price tags. Olympus jumped out with a $1400 bod with no real advances in image output. Nikon doubled down with a $2700 bod with no real advance in image output. Could we expect anything less from Fuji?

      I like this Fuji and may consider it when it’s at a remaindered price on Black Friday 2015. But, jeez, with these kind of prices no wonder the consumer luxury camera industry is in free fall.

      • 20-30+ years ago, many a premium film camera price point was $1000. Adjusted for 30 years, today’s prices for this kind of amazing and outstanding quality and technology is a bargain.

        • In the early 80s a top of the line Nikon F3 could be had for just under $400 us. That would still be delivering state of the art results today, with tonality and contrast range digital could only dream of. The F3 was full frame, had interchangeable finders, true real life reflex viewing, and you could even shoot it without a battery at 1/60.

          Looking at common online inflation calculators, the equivalent 30 years later is about $890. That is about half the price they are talking for this Fuji. That’s not what I consider much of a bargain.

          • “In the early 80s a top of the line Nikon F3 could be had for just under $400 us.”

            Not new it couldn’t. MSRP for the F3 body even in the early ’90s was $2399.50. Dealer net was $1599.67.

            I know, I have the Nikon Advanced/Professional Systems Confidential Dealer Price List from 1993 to prove it.

          • The MSRP from 1993 is not the same as the street price in the early 1980s. $400 to $700 for a new F3 in the early 80s is splattered all over the net if you care to look. No one pays MSRP – ever.

          • Ever work in camera sales? I did, long ago. And while folks rarely paid MSRP, they didn’t pay that far below it back then.

            What’s splattered all over the Internet today often bares little resemblance to what was actually going on in yesteryear. The F3 never cost $400 new in the early ’80s. Ever. I was there, I remember.

            My parents bought me a Canon EF, used, in 1977. They paid $400 for that camera, then (which was about $600 new). A year later, a Nikon F2S Photomic cost about $1100 new with a 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor. The pro Nikons almost always fetched MSRP back then due to their reputation and high demand among pros.

            When the F3 arrived three years later, it was substantially above $1000 new, and similarly fetched high prices like the F2 before it.

          • You can get a used F3 today. That it will beat the contrast of todays cameras, I doubt. At any rate it had nothing to do with camera body, only film vs sensor.

          • ronin, you’re my man! If you ever get stuck for work we have lots of writers needed here at Disneyland to make us dream! Good man yourself Ronin!

          • Even if you could purchase one in the early 80’s for that price, you seem to forget what you would have paid for film and developing over the next 20-50k shutter releases. The Fuji and other digitals are a BARGAIN!

    • The big announcement will come by the end of the month. The Nex 7 successor and the X-T1. For me, that will be the comparison that counts.

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