1. On a few occasions I have accidently bumped the focus selector lever from auto single to manual focus and lost quite a few images. Fuji technicians must have noticed this was a possibility when beta testing the camera and should have increased the détente or put a lock button on it. However, now that I am aware of the possibility of bumping the lever I take more care and occasionally check its position. So, user familiarity and caution should solve the problem.
2. On a couple of occasions I have accidently bumped the EV compensation knob and under/over exposed a few images. Solution is same as above and with practice I should have no further problems with it. But…Fuji should have considered a different position or a lock on the control.
3. This one’s an interesting one; I wear prescription dark glasses that are polarised. The electronic viewfinder and the electronic overlay on the optical viewfinder are also polarised! But cross polarised to my specs….so I can’t see anything at all when using the EV and have to lift or change my glasses. And I can’t see the info overlay when using the OV…Bugger! Eventually I will get a new pair of glasses and forego the polarisation. That will solve that one.
4. The camera offers far too many options. I don’t need em and they clutter up the menu. Just give me the essentials.
5. There is still no capable RAW file convertor but it’s not an issue for me. I’ve been shooting JPEGs and they are excellent. If a RAW convertor, (when it comes), can extract even more quality out of the file then that will be a bonus.
Now for the good stuff:
6. The camera handles beautifully. In aperture mode the F/stop is changed on the lens, just like a real film camera. I can change it fast and it’s intuitive, (for me anyway).
7. Picture quality blows me away and that is what it’s all about. Fuji claims it is as good as full frame DSLR. It is, (with the 35mm lens at least).
8. The optical viewfinder has taken a little getting used to but is a delight. It’s bright and fast and if I turn the camera to portrait mode I can even see the overlay! (Polarisation now in synch with my specs!).
9. Low light and high ISO performance is wonderful.
10. I can buy a Nikon lens adaptor and use all of my Nikon lenses with the camera. Also buy adaptors for Leica, Zeiss and Voigtlander, (there’s this incredible little 15mm Voigtlander lens they are all talking about).
11. The camera is easy to carry. Fuji is about to release an 18mm-55mm zoom and if the reviews are favourable then I might add one to my arsenal.
12. The quick menu button is a wonder! Nikon should have thought of it long ago. Hit the Q button and there are all your most needed adjustments. Fast and efficient. I love it.
So, in conclusion, a very expensive but capable camera and one that will take me into some new photographic experiences. Hopefully it will reward me with some interesting imagery. It’s a take everywhere and push the low light type camera and I’m looking forward to gaining some expertise with it. In my opinion it’s the finest mirrorless camera currently available and it delivers imagery as fine as any camera regardless of price.
The following examples are all hand held and shot in aperture mode. The camera or lenses have no inbuilt stabilisation.
[img]Well, it was always going to happen….it was just a matter of time. I had been watching the forums and following the Fuji XPRO posts for quite a while. The camera definitely had me interested but had a number of odd quirks that kept me at bay. It was the release of the version 2 firmware that solved the ridiculous ‘chattering’ aperture blades and improved the autofocus that finally saw me cave in and buy the camera and a 35mm F1.4 lens. For the past 3 weeks I have been putting the camera through its paces and getting familiar with its capabilities. So, what’s to like and what’s to dislike? Let’s start with the bad stuff first:
1. On a few occasions I have accidently bumped the focus selector lever from auto single to manual focus and lost quite a few images. Fuji technicians must have noticed this was a possibility when beta testing the camera and should have increased the détente or put a lock button on it. However, now that I am aware of the possibility of bumping the lever I take more care and occasionally check its position. So, user familiarity and caution should solve the problem.
2. On a couple of occasions I have accidently bumped the EV compensation knob and under/over exposed a few images. Solution is same as above and with practice I should have no further problems with it. But…Fuji should have considered a different position or a lock on the control.
3. This one’s an interesting one; I wear prescription dark glasses that are polarised. The electronic viewfinder and the electronic overlay on the optical viewfinder are also polarised! But cross polarised to my specs….so I can’t see anything at all when using the EV and have to lift or change my glasses. And I can’t see the info overlay when using the OV…Bugger! Eventually I will get a new pair of glasses and forego the polarisation. That will solve that one.
4. The camera offers far too many options. I don’t need em and they clutter up the menu. Just give me the essentials.
5. There is still no capable RAW file convertor but it’s not an issue for me. I’ve been shooting JPEGs and they are excellent. If a RAW convertor, (when it comes), can extract even more quality out of the file then that will be a bonus.
Now for the good stuff:
6. The camera handles beautifully. In aperture mode the F/stop is changed on the lens, just like a real film camera. I can change it fast and it’s intuitive, (for me anyway).
7. Picture quality blows me away and that is what it’s all about. Fuji claims it is as good as full frame DSLR. It is, (with the 35mm lens at least).
8. The optical viewfinder has taken a little getting used to but is a delight. It’s bright and fast and if I turn the camera to portrait mode I can even see the overlay! (Polarisation now in synch with my specs!).
9. Low light and high ISO performance is wonderful.
10. I can buy a Nikon lens adaptor and use all of my Nikon lenses with the camera. Also buy adaptors for Leica, Zeiss and Voigtlander, (there’s this incredible little 15mm Voigtlander lens they are all talking about).
11. The camera is easy to carry. Fuji is about to release an 18mm-55mm zoom and if the reviews are favourable then I might add one to my arsenal.
12. The quick menu button is a wonder! Nikon should have thought of it long ago. Hit the Q button and there are all your most needed adjustments. Fast and efficient. I love it.
So, in conclusion, a very expensive but capable camera and one that will take me into some new photographic experiences. Hopefully it will reward me with some interesting imagery. It’s a take everywhere and push the low light type camera and I’m looking forward to gaining some expertise with it. In my opinion it’s the finest mirrorless camera currently available and it delivers imagery as fine as any camera regardless of price.
The examples are all hand held and shot in aperture mode. The camera or lenses have no inbuilt stabilisation.
