Review: Initial Impressions of the Fujifilm X-Pro1

Well here it is, the new addition to the MacLean Photographic arsenal, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 Compact System Camera and four lenses.  After nearly a year with the superb Fujifilm X100 and a three month trial with the X100S, I now have the opportunity to test the X-Pro1 with four prime lenses.

The first thing I noticed about the X-Pro1 was the size.  Even with the optional hand grip fitted to the camera, the X-Pro1 is like an over grown X100, the same proportions, just slightly larger in every department. 

However when you compare it to the Nikon D800, fitted with the MB-D12 grip, it suddenly hits you how much smaller the X-Pro1 is compared to a DSLR and this is one of the many reasons this camera appeals.    

Sensor

The X-Pro1 comes with a 16mp X-Trans sensor, the same as the one employed in the X100S I reviewed this summer.  This is 4mp larger than the sensor in the X100, but, as I have written many times, more megapixels do not equal better quality.  Having said that the 16mp X-Trans sensor is one of the best on the market and produces professional quality images time after time.

Fuji X-Series Family

The Fuji X-Pro1 is a familiar camera to anyone who has used any of Fuji's X-Series range.  

The large analogue controls are mainly in the same place as my existing X100, with some of the secondary functions in slightly different locations but I easily found them.  This is a hands on photographic tool and everything is typically Fuji - beautifully made, very tactile and ergonomically superb.  This is a professionals dream camera.

Shutter Noise

The first thing I noticed when I used the X-Pro1 for the first time was the noise of the shutter when the release was pressed.  I use my X100 on silent (all electronic shutter noises turned off) and the leaf shutter is whisper quiet; it is a real stealth camera.  Because the X-Pro1 employs a focal plane shutter it makes a louder noise, even with all the electronic noises turned off, it is the nature of the beast.  Now it isn't a loud noise, especially when you compare it to a DSLR with the noise they make when the mirror mechanism operates. However, even without the need to have a mirror mechanism, the X-Pro1 is still louder than the X100 - but I am sure I will get used to it. 

The advantage of a focal plane shutter is you can use all of the shutter speeds available (up to 1/4000s) at all apertures - the X100s leaf shutter limits the shutter speed when the lens is wide open from f2 to f4, which can cause the camera to over exposure in bright light and is one of the reasons the X100 has a built in 3-stop ND filter.

X-Mount Lenses

The advantage of the X-Pro1 is the ability to change lenses and the kit I have comes with four fast prime Fujinon lenses - 14mm f2.8 (21mm in 35mm terms), 18mm f2 (27mm equiv), 35mm f1.4 (52mm equiv) and 60mm f2.4 macro (90mm equiv).  

Fuji do make two professional zoom lenses, an 18mm-55mm f2.8/f4 and a 55mm-200mm f3.5/f4.8, but I decided that this camera deserved the best prime lenses Fuji had to offer. This isn't to say that I wont add a zoom lens in the future but I decided prime lenses was the route my photography was taking me at the moment. 

I will be posting my thoughts on the various lenses over the coming months but I have already given my initial thoughts on the 18mm f2 and the 60mm f2.4 macro and you can read these initial reviews by clicking on the links.

The four lenses have superb build quality and the results they produce are top draw, as you would expect from a professional level system.  All of the lenses have an aperture ring (do you remember those?) and, unlike the 23mm f2 lens on the X100, the ring can be set in 1/3 stops.  

Manual Focus System

I have also tried the manual focus system on each of the lenses and while it is still a fly-by-wire electronic system, it is a big improvement over the X100, which I found to be fiddly and the worse item on an otherwise superb camera (though this has been improved with the recent Firmware 2.0 upgrade that Fuji have brought out).

Camera Controls

As I said above the control layout is very familiar and the X-Pro1 includes the Q or Quick Menu button that found its way onto the X100S.  This brings up the quick menu and, as the name suggests, it allows the user to find the items that are used the most in one easy to use menu.  

The main menu layout is also very easy to use and almost identical to the one I used on the X100S in the recent test.  It is almost the same as the menu on the older X100 but it has more tabs to find items quickly without having to scroll through each page as you have to on the X100.

The one item that isn't as good as the older X100 is the command dial.  The dial on the X100 is a wheel, like Canon use on their DSLRs, which makes scrolling through images or the menu a doddle.  On the X-Pro1 the command dial is four buttons, like Nikon use, and this is slower to operate as you have to press the button to move to the next item.  I'm surprised that Fuji didn't use the same command dial as the X100/X100S.

Conclusion

My first impressions on picking up this camera were it was everything I expected it to be.  I have owned an X100 for 12 months now and that camera took my photography in a whole new direction and made it fun again.  Now the X-Pro1 is another step up from the X100.  It gives me the same superb quality images in a small package but now I have the option of swapping lenses.

My X100 will not be sold, it will be a companion to the X-Pro1, and will certainly compliment this new camera outfit.   I will be reporting back on a regular basis on how I am getting on with the Fujifilm X-Pro1, so please keep checking back as I familiarise myself with the X-Pro1.

CLICK HERE to see some sample images from the X-Pro1 on the MacLean Photographic Flickr gallery

CLICK HERE for the previous review of the Fujifilm X100S

CLICK HERE for the previous reviews of the Fujifilm X100 Black Limited Edition

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