The Fujifilm X-F1 Compact Camera is the latest model to come out of the X-Series, and it breaks into a new class of camera for the series. While the X10 grazed the compact camera field, the X-F1 bravely enters and takes the center stage as their flagship pocketable compact camera. Bowing up to larger competitors like the Canon S100 and Sony RX100, this camera takes a stand as a new way of addressing a common consumer market. With its exclusive lens extension system and the trend-setting retro return to leatherette and metal bodies, this camera boldly stakes its claim in the top shelf as a premium compact camera.
Not one to breeze by on looks alone, the Fuji X-F1 boasts some impressive performance capabilities and the image quality that has become a trademark feature of the X-Series next to their undeniably sexy exteriors. The functionality and interface that Fuji has crafted for this particular model in their lineup also makes for an enjoyable and rewarding shooting experience that makes one wonder how necessary some of the larger and more unwieldy cameras on the market really are for the average daily carry.
So, obviously the Fujifilm X-F1 can boast considerably in various qualities and accolades, but how does this camera really measure up in daily use? I held this question fully in mind as I touted this little wonder around for a couple weeks and hope to impart a little of the experiences I had with this camera as faithfully as I possibly can. Let’s dive in to see just what makes this small image maker really shine and where it flounders.
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The X-E1 Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera is an interesting take by Fujifilm on the EVF cameras that have been dominating the mirrorless category for a couple of years now. Since the mirrorless camera by nature does not allow for a true through-the-lens viewfinder, if manufacturers wanted to put a viewfinder on the camera they had to used an electronic one. That is, until the Fuji X100 came along. (I’m leaving digital rangefinders out of this statement because they are not the same thing as a mirrorless camera although they are functionally similar).
While technically a compact professional camera, the Fujifilm X100 was such a game-changer that Fuji expanded upon that camera with a few more fixed lens models before finally releasing the Fuji X-Pro1 Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera in 2012 based on that same innovative Hybrid Viewfinder that wowed so many of us in 2011. The combination of interchangeable lenses with that unique viewfinder proved to be a mighty force in the camera world and has proved to be a decent seller despite the apparently steep introductory price tag.
With so many people crying again for a better EVF for use in manual focusing and with legacy lenses, Fuji has responded promptly with the Fujifilm X-E1 Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera. This is all very interesting of course, but the real question stands, does it hold it’s own against its predecessors and really compete with its contemporaries?
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Even before I had a chance for a first impression, I really did not have great expectations for the Fuji X-E1 Mirrorless Interchangable Lens Camera. I like what Fuji is doing with their X-Series and I am really excited about the directions that the company is heading in the mirrorless market; but, when I heard that it would be an EVF only camera and completely ditch the hybrid viewfinder that made both the X100 and X-Pro1 so groundbreaking, I was less than ecstatic. How can an EVF camera ever hold it’s own against the kind of ingenuity and classic camera experience that the Fuji X-E1’s predecessors offer?
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The Fujifilm X-F1 Compact Camera is the 5th camera in the popular X-Series. This camera is marked like the rest of the series by a reminiscent return to the heyday of camera design (In my opinion, of course) with leatherette accents and simplified manual controls. This model is the most compact of the bunch, even smaller than it’s slightly bigger brother the X10.
With a collapsible lens system paired with a unique on/off switch design and a clean minimal physical design, this camera has a market among the style-savvy and photographer nerd in all of us.
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JVC has a fresh new camera out made for the shooter/run-and-gun news gatherer who needs something small, and realitvely light in weight. The GY-HM650 is a 3-chip 1/3″ 12-bit CMOS sensor camera with dual processors that lets you record two different flavors of video at the same time on seperate SDHC or SDXC cards: MPEG 2 (web friendly compression), AVCHD or SD in H.264. Plus, it records HD or SD in multiple formats, including native XDCAM EX (.MP4), Final Cut Pro friendly (.MOV), AVCHD, .MXF files as well. Other features include a 23x optical Fujinon lens (29-667mm equivalent), 3.5 inch LCD, 1.22MP color viewfinder, two XLR inputs, and HD-SDI and HDMI outputs.
But even those don’t trump the killer feature: it’s WiFi ready. Now here is the interesting thing, say you shot all of your footage and you need to get it back to the station or to your video editor in a hurry–this camera has the ability to send footage with WiFi and FTP ready access. No need for satellite or microwave access that is used in this kind of segment of the industry.
Maybe that will help videographers who are often harassed by cops.
Since the release of the Noktor 50mm F0.95 prime lens for Micro Four Thirds, users have been wanting more lenses like this one. The lens is essentially a CCTV lens remounted for the Micro Four Thirds system. In general, users of Micro Four Thirds cameras really appreciate small or pancake primes. That said, here is a list of great CCTV lenses that you may want to get your hands on.
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