Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – Hands on Review – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 vs Nex-7 and Nex-5n Image Quality and More….

Image Quality

The Fijufilm X-Pro 1 took a slightly different direction than the norm when it comes to their color filter array. Basically they completely changed the pattern making it more random. This allows for the Anti-Aliasing filter to go bye bye, as it normally corrects issues caused by the color filter pattern. In theory the image quality should be a bit sharper than sensors with the filter, because the light has to travel through less filters.

I’ve taken a bunch of photos so far and the image quality is consistently excellent across the board in my opinion. The Jpegs are not over-processed at all which is nice as the creative modes can easily add more saturation for you if you want. The sharpness is also excellent across the board. The images are incredible sharp in fact, especially in the center area. I’ll go into more specific image quality details as I go through the sample photos below

Sample Pics

Just to let you know their is no raw converter program out their for the Mac yet unfortunately. Adobe is working on it, and so are the other after market companies and the Fujifilm software is limiting for Mac just like the Sony software. Hmm strange similarity.

What that means is I’m going to shoot Raw + Jpeg or just Jpeg  format from now on as the raw files are just sitting unreadable taking up my hard drive space..

One of the first photos I took believe it or not were of Layla’s Easter Basket on Sunday Morning   The light was poor and figured it was a good time to try out some High ISO shots. I set the camera from Raw to Jpeg Fine and then the grayed out High ISO’s of 12800 and 25600 were then available for selection. They don’t work in raw I guess, or I need to turn something on that I have not figured out yet.

High ISO Jpeg Fine

As always, be sure to CLICK on the photos for the large and crisp 100% crop version!!

ISO 25600

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/200sec, ISO 25600, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

ISO 12800

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/90sec, ISO 12800, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/2, 1/1400sec, ISO 12800, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

From what I can see these images look great and are on par with the Nex-5n High ISO abilities in JPEG mode.  The X-Pro 1 seems to go less far on the post processing than the Sony and I personally tend to like this.  Sharpening applied to the Fujifilm JPEGs is less although the noise reduction applied is pretty high just like the Sony’s when shooting High ISO. The Fujifilm JPEGs are also much saturated than the Sony’s for sure.

Check this shot out of this highly detailed building just down the road from where we live. The scene has a lot of dynamic range and I had the metering mode of the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 set to Average Metering. Focus was on Auto and in the center of the frame.

f/8

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/340sec, ISO 200, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

This photo is looking down the road behind me towards the sun and clouds that were lighting the building above. The dynamic range in this scene was off the charts and the sky clipped out on the upper left. The shadows are also pretty dark, but for a scene like this on average metering it looks pretty good to me.

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/950sec, ISO 200, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Here’s a few more snapshots from around the house that really show off what the Fujifilm can do in the real world. For example, if you’ve ever tried to take a picture of a moving child, you know what I mean!! Layla never stops moving and with the slight shutter lag of the X-Pro 1 I wanted to see what kind of hit rate I would get. Overall, with the 18mm wide angle lens it was pretty easy although a bit distorted for portraits

As always, be sure to CLICK on the photos for the large and crisp 100% crop version!!

Layla – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/5.6, 1/320sec, ISO 400, Jpeg Fine

Layla – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/5.6, 1/320sec, ISO 400, Jpeg Fine

Layla – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/5.6, 1/125sec, ISO 400, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Layla – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/5.6, 1/125sec, ISO 400, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Fujifilm 18mm f/2.0 XF R Lens

I’m really liking the fast Fujifilm 18mm f/2.0 XF R Lens big time.  The Bokeh is really creamy and reminds me of the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 a bit. I also like the fact that it has a minimum focus distance of 8.0cm, which allows you to take advantage of the sensor resolution more by getting close to your small subject. In addition, being able to focus close to objects is the best, and easiest way to exploit the incredible Depth of Field that this lens and camera combo offers.

The sharpness is excellent in the center of the frame wide open at f/2 and softens a bit towards the corners. I still need to do some “lab” style testing to compare the aperture’s and exact sharpness fall off, etc.. but overall the lens is a solid performer in my opinion and I would totally buy it. The build quality is rugged style, just like the camera body, and doesn’t look afraid of much!

I wish Sony offered something like this for the Nex E-Mount line-up!!

Here’s a few snapshots showing off the lens bokeh a bit.

As always, be sure to CLICK on the photos for the large and crisp 100% crop version!!

f/2.0

Gatorade Bottle Top – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/2, 1/80sec, ISO 200, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Flag Out of Focus – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/2, 1/2200sec, ISO 200, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/2, 1/3200sec, ISO 200, Jpeg Fine

f/8

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/210sec, ISO 200, Jpeg Fine

I got a chance to take a few more pics over the last few days and I think these highly detailed shots will add a nice real world variety to the mix. They will also highlight some lens flaws a bit in the process as well.

Check out this awesome sculpture in a nearby industrial park. These guys are clearly masters at the art of welding!! Specific to the photos though, check out the detail that the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 is able to retain using the 18mm lens @ f/8 in aperture priority mode ISO 400, handheld. In the 100% Crops you will see some noticeable blue Chromatic Aberrations on the high contrast edges where the metal meets the sky.

As always, be sure to CLICK on the photos for the large and crisp 100% crop version!!

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/180sec, ISO 400, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Check out this really cool old abandoned pool I found a few miles from home. It offers a nice amount of detail and the color is spot on!

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/550sec, ISO 200, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Here’s another angle and a few different Aperture’s using the same scene.

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/340sec, ISO 200, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

And here is a few flowers from the front steps that Michele and I planted the other day. Their starting to look pretty good and I was able to get really close with the 18mm lens.

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/2.8, 1/200sec, ISO 800, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

100% Crop – Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/8, 1/320sec, ISO 200, Handheld, Jpeg Fine

Lastly for Today I wanted to show you one more image I cropped as a pano just cause I thought it made for a stronger comp. I love the way the Bokeh is rendered by the Fujifilm 18mm lens, and the senor can handle a lot of dynamic range!!

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f/2 Lens @ f/2.8, 1/1100sec, ISO 800, Handheld, Jpeg Fine