Though the compact camera area of the market is shrinking pretty fast, Fujifilm is trying to still fight in the space with thin cameras featuring big sensors and fast lenses. When the company announced the new XQ1 not long ago, we found it be a very standard compact camera that would be great to just tote around or for anyone looking for something stylish and with a large sensor.
But is it enough for folks that want to consider DSLRs and interchangeable lens cameras?
Tech Specs
12 MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II Sensor
• EXR Processor II
o Start-up time of 0.5
o Shutter lag time of 0.15
o Shooting interval time of 0.3
• AF speed 0.06 seconds
• F1.8-F4.9 4x optical zoom equivalent to 25-100mm in 35mm format
• 4x Intelligent Digital Zoom (16X combined with optical zoom)
• Lens Modulation Optimizer for improved image quality
• 3” (920,000 dot) premium clear LCD (High contrast, High Brightness and Wide viewing angle)
• Built-in Super Intelligent pop-up Flash
• ISO100 – 12800
• Full HD Movie
• In-camera RAW converter
• Film simulation modes (Velvia, ASTIA, PROVIA, Sepia and Monochrome)
• Artistic features: Toy Camera, Miniature, Dynamic Tone, Pop Color, Soft Focus, High Key, Low Key, and Partial Color Selection of Bracketing functions (AE/ISO/Dynamic Range & Film Simulation)
The FUJIFILM XQ1 will be available in October 2013 for $499.95 in both all-black and all-silver.
Ergonomics
Fujifilm’s XQ1 is super sleek; and in all honesty we’re not sure that we even have the right terminology for how sleek this camera is. Now don’t get us wrong–it’s not slippery. Instead, it’s very classic cool.
With that said, the front is very minimal in design. In terms of control, what you’ve got is a dial around the lens. This dial is one of the smoothest that you’ll ever feel.
The top of the camera has a pop-up flash, on/off button, shutter release, zoom in/out, and mode dial. Otherwise, it’s once again quite sleek.
The back of the XQ1 has a couple of controls that are once again quite standard for compact cameras. The back of the camera is dominated by a giant LCD screen with a couple of controls on the right side. These dials and buttons feel great and in real use are quite comfortable.
Build Quality
The XQ1 is small, skinny, and pocketable with an overall solid feel in the hand. It is incredibly comfortable to shoot with–even better than Canon’s equivalent S series cameras.
Autofocus
The autofocus wasn’t anything special in our eyes, but instead you can probably put it on par with something like other modern point and shoot cameras. With that said though, it still means that you can snap split second moments in good lighting with little fuss.
Image Quality
We weren’t able to put a card in the camera due to them being pre-production units, but Fujifilm’s X Trans sensors have always impressed us and we’re positive that for a compact camera, this one will surely be a winner.
First Impressions
Though we don’t think that there is anything wrong per se with the XQ1, we’re not sure who may purchase it with Fujifilm also pricing interchangeable lens cameras at such low points. Additionally, we also think that the camera may need more features and a larger sensor for us to want to pick it up as an everyday camera.
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