Fuji X-E1/X-E2/X-E2S/X-E3 Owners Thread

Throttle said:
Based on the current latest firmware is the X-E1 auto focus speed improved at all and comparable to the latest M43 cameras now ?

I'm tempted to try one out but all the slow focusing comments are swaying me of buying as i mostly take my family photos, so I'd prefer the focusing to be similar to recent M43 speed...
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No it isn't. I love mine, but the AF is not in the same league as the OMD in my opinion. It's much better on the latest 18-55 but still not comparable with the class leaders. Works for me, but I don't use it for sports and action. I use my 50D.

Regards
Steve
 
Cheers Steve,
I'm in process of waiting or a refund on a faulty OMD but I'll get a replacement once i do as i was happy with it,
I'll keep my eye on the Fuji incase any new firmware update speeds the AF up more as i was under the impression the latest one had.
 
stevebuk said:
No it isn't. I love mine, but the AF is not in the same league as the OMD in my opinion. It's much better on the latest 18-55 but still not comparable with the class leaders. Works for me, but I don't use it for sports and action. I use my 50D.

Regards
Steve
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Fuji AF seems to differ across lenses too. I find it perfectly adequate on 18 and 35 but still poor on the 60 (which is a macro). There is a rumoured July firmware that will supposedly improve AF though. But OMD AF is still faster and more reliable.
 
the zoom lens is pretty good for AF as well, the X-E1 isn't in the same league as the OMD though for AF. Much nicer to use (IMHO) and the lenses I have are of a consistantly high quality...
 
I've decided to go and get the fuji after all (still will be getting a OMD once my refund appears) i thought I'd like to try one and there's another firmware update due with AF improvement, so if im not sure when it arrives I'll have another update due later to improve or possible forum sale in worse case.

Went for the refurbished X-E1 with kit lens and the fuji half case :-)
 
I am loving my X-E1 with the 18-55 zoom lens and have at last found my Holy Grail of a relatively compact camera which has superb image quality.

I would love to invest in the Fuji prime lenses but can't afford these at the moment so got thinking about getting an adapter and using some old manual primes.

I work near to a company which make excellent quality adapters for most lenses and wondered if anyone had some information as to whether any particular lenses were better than others. I have no personal preference except I can't stretch to the Leica route so happy with Olympus, Pentax, Canon, Nikon etc.

Would be great to hear of any recommendations before I buy an adapter
 
I use Minolta Rokkor and now and again Olympus Zuiko lenses on my Panny G1 via adapters. 28, 50 and 135mm lenses are widely available, get a little set plus a macro and what more could you want :D
 
Can anyone who was jumped around a few different systems sell the XE-1 to me (not literally!) I've owned DSLRs and Micro 4/3s gear before, and really I'm looking for the best balance between the two for my travel needs.

I have a Sony a77 and 100-300mm f4 for motorsport, so that's staying as is, but I wondered if it would better to have a separate walkaround/travel system, rather than expanding the a77 as it will just be too big. Is image quality there or thereabouts with a decent DSLR? AF speed is not a major concern, as my sport needs are covered by the a77.

I'm thinking X-E1, 18-55 and 55-200 assuming that's good (hopefully as a bundle once that is released), which seems perfect for our tour around America later this year. Just to throw a curve ball in, I've agreed to one final wedding next year, but it's a very laid back one for family so it's not critical, by that point I would probably be adding a few primes into the mix anyway.
 
I've been pondering the same thing actually.

I have a Nikon D7000 and a collection of primes and took it to Paris and i wasn't as much of a hassle as I'd thought it might been but to get the lenses and field of view I really want (wider) I really need to either go for zooms which I'd rather avoid due to size or upgrade to full frame (D600) and use my existing primes.

I've considered however picking up another X-Pro 1 (I had one last year) and getting either the 18-55 or primes (14mm and 35mm) to cover my travel needs.

AF wise the m 4/3 cameras (EM5) are much faster but for travel it might not matter much anyway.

Never had an XE-1 but I was very impressed with the quality of the X-Pro 1 image quality and they're both the same from that standpoint!
 
I considered another M4/3 set-up but the ideal two lens travel set-up (GX1, 12-35, 35-100) is £2000. The roughly equivalent X-E1/18-55/55-200 is about £1400, so a big big difference which would comfortably cover something like the 35mm 1.4 as well.

I think I've made my mind up, just a shame virtually nowhere has them to play around with (or even see in reality the size of the kit).
 
ukaskew said:
Can anyone who was jumped around a few different systems sell the XE-1 to me (not literally!) I've owned DSLRs and Micro 4/3s gear before, and really I'm looking for the best balance between the two for my travel needs.

I have a Sony a77 and 100-300mm f4 for motorsport, so that's staying as is, but I wondered if it would better to have a separate walkaround/travel system, rather than expanding the a77 as it will just be too big. Is image quality there or thereabouts with a decent DSLR? AF speed is not a major concern, as my sport needs are covered by the a77.

I'm thinking X-E1, 18-55 and 55-200 assuming that's good (hopefully as a bundle once that is released), which seems perfect for our tour around America later this year. Just to throw a curve ball in, I've agreed to one final wedding next year, but it's a very laid back one for family so it's not critical, by that point I would probably be adding a few primes into the mix anyway.
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I think it is perfect for what you want it especially if you are not bothered with AF speed much. I have a K-5 and I am keeping it and the 50-135. However everything else is getting covered by my X-E1 (I only have the 18-55 but will get the 10-24 when it comes out and the 35mm 1.4 when I find it at good price s/h).

Image quality is superb especially if you just want it for travel in which case JPEGs OOC are really excellent (the film modes are really useful), every single lens that has come out of Fuji seems to be a winner in terms of build quality and IQ, the EVF is great and the handling in my opinion really well thought out especially for small to medium sized hands. Being able to change aperture on the lens is really handy too and I love the fact that exp comp has its own dial. Also Fuji seems quite on the ball with firmware updates that really improve the camera with an extra one announced for this June with further improvements to AF speed/accuracy.

The spanner in the works is the new EP5 which might worth a look as well.

IQ should be pretty close, there is already a decent array of good quality lenses, build quality looks good, JPEGs OOC have been Olympus's strong point as well and AF, if the EM5 is anything to go by, should be well above the levels of the X-E1. You also get a bigger / higher res articulated display and probably more effective image stabilisation.

Of course you need to spend extra for a view finder which sticks on top and spoils both the design and the ability to carry the camera (the vf bump is why my K-5 even with a 40mm pancake is a pain to get in and out of my bag). Also there is only one high quality fast standard zoom and it still retails well above the Fuji 18-55 and of course the smaller sensor means more DoF so less scope of out of focus backgrounds.

If the E-P5 had come out a few months ago I might have been tempted but I'd probably still would have chosen the X-E1, built in VF, really well made lenses well thought out controls and continuous firmware updates with real improvements make the decision quite easy for me.
 
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I have an X-E1 which I have been pondering whether to change for the last week or so.

However ........ having thought sensibly I habe realised the urge to change is driven by change just for the sake of it rather than any dissatisfaction with the Fuji.

I have tried just about every system but settled over the last couple of years on various CSC's as I don't want to carry a heavy bag around. I was lucky enough for a while to have a Leica M8 which produced stunning images but my skills were not good enough to use it as my main camera - I was far to slow focusing sometimes. I yearned for an AF Leica M8.

I have tried MFT and the Sony NEX series. I have never been 100% convinced that MFT is up to larger sensors (even APS-C) in tricky conditions. Some of the Olympus lenses are superb though. The NEX has a good sensor but to me it didn't feel like a 'proper' camera and not very involving - if that makes sense.

The Fuji has a stunning sensor - to me it gets close to full frame. The colour rendition is fantastic beating my previous favourite, Olympus. The in camera processing is so good that for the vast majority of the time the jpegs negate the need to shoot RAW.

It takes a bit of getting to know but does feel like it had been designed by someone who uses a camera.

I love the 18-55 lens, calling it a kit lens does it a disservice as it is relatively fast, very well made and super sharp across the frame. Sadly I cannot affford any primes (yet!!!) But I have tried a friends and they are lovely - I really lust after the 35 1.4. To satisfy my yearning for some primes I think I may try some old manual focus lenses with adapters.

It is only my opinion, which counts for little, but if you want the ultimate image quality from a relatively small body combined with great handling and build quality, the Fuji X-E1 and X-Pro are top of the tree
 
I've owned a few systems (mft panasonics, nex 7) and now an X-E1 with 18, 35 and 60 primes. I think the nex with primes was it's equal for IQ, quicker focusing and has a tilt screen but felt like lenses attached to a computer, I'm always a little disappointed with mft IQ (dynamic range in particular) but focus is quick and lenses small. What I really like about the fuji system is the mix of IQ, high quality lenses and handling, I really feel involved in creating images and the camera works as I want it too.

I've also just bought an A77 as a general purpose camera (Landscapes, sport, kids) so am looking forward to trying it out.
 
Thanks for the detailed opinions. The NEX lens line up just doesn't do it for me so I've not really considered that, despite some lovely features shared with my a77 that would have genuine usefulness on my travels (auto panoramas, for example).

Staying as is my option would be a77, 16-50mm 2.8 and Sigma 50-150mm 2.8, which snugly fits in my travel Crumpler but wouldn't allow room for a fast prime, which I would really like.

I guess my main concern is what would I gain over that Sony set-up, it's very difficult to work out if the size difference is big enough to squeeze an X-E1, 18-55, 55-200 and 35mm 1.4 into the same space.
 
ukaskew said:
Thanks for the detailed opinions. The NEX lens line up just doesn't do it for me so I've not really considered that, despite some lovely features shared with my a77 that would have genuine usefulness on my travels (auto panoramas, for example).

Staying as is my option would be a77, 16-50mm 2.8 and Sigma 50-150mm 2.8, which snugly fits in my travel Crumpler but wouldn't allow room for a fast prime, which I would really like.

I guess my main concern is what would I gain over that Sony set-up, it's very difficult to work out if the size difference is big enough to squeeze an X-E1, 18-55, 55-200 and 35mm 1.4 into the same space.
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If the A77 is comparable in size to theD7000 then I think you'll find the Fuji combination MUCH lighter and more compact. I carry a very small Domke bag when I'm out for the day and, when I was away recently, it carried my X-E1 with the zoom lens and hood, my friends 14mm prime which he lent me (superb lens!), a spare battery, polarising filter, cable release, phone, passport and wallet. I reckon I could still have got another prime lens in it!
 
my K-5 alone is heavier than the X-E1+18-55. I used to have a 50-150 Sigma and I currently have the similarly sized 50-135 2.8 Pentax I think that lens alone will be about the same weight as the 18-55 and 55-200 Fuji! So you are looking about half the weight/bulk than your A77 setup.

K-5+16-50 for a few hours feels really uncomfortable , I barely notice the X-E1 and the 18-55 though.
 
daveproctor said:
Just took delivery of my very expensive 35mm F1.7 lens (£24.99 delivered from Hong Kong!) - hardly the sharpest lens across the frame but is great for isolating focus points
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What is it?
 
Thanks.

It looks a lot better than the 25mm f1.4 CCTV lens I have, it vignettes awfully on my MFT G1.
 
woof woof said:
Thanks.

It looks a lot better than the 25mm f1.4 CCTV lens I have, it vignettes awfully on my MFT G1.
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I'm very pleasantly surprised with it - for £25 you don't expect much but it is certainly sharp in the centre and has an interesting look to the images
 
I'm interested in the XE-1, probably with the 18-55 zoom. Whether I actually get one is another matter! Currently I've got a X10, which is brilliant. A treat feature of the X10 is the extraordinary ability of the lens/sensor combination when shot straight into the sun. There are some examples from the X10 thread here:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=5290103&postcount=5612

and http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=5290103&postcount=5622

My question is: how well does the XE-1/18-55 combination work in circumstances like that? Any ideas?
 
nearly into the sun


8619898940_21ef9a12a7_z.jpg
 
"Nearly"? Very nice, thanks. Lovely shot. Is there a tiny touch of flare just below the centre? (It would be amazing if there wasn't; there's much more sun than in my examples!)
 
My X-E1 and 18mm f2 arrived yesterday, and 35mm 1.4 today, just in time for 4 days off work. Really really pleased with it, I feel like I've made the right choice. I was worried about learning something so different, but it's super intuitive. I think the only thing I don't understand is how exactly Auto ISO works, so I need to read up on that.

Not keen on the 18mm, just not a focal length I'm comfortable with, but the 35mm is a keeper for sure. I think I will end up with the 14mm, 35mm and 55-200.

As somebody who really dislikes editing I was hugely impressed with the Auto WB and JPEGs out of camera, it also feels very full-frame like, oddly. I've owned a 5D, Nikon Crop, Micro 4/3 and Sony SLT before, but this feels like the right balance for me. A quick couple from Haynes Motor Museum today..


Austin-Healey Sprite by Harry_S, on Flickr


Haynes Motor Museum by Harry_S, on Flickr
 
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Just a quick question about RAW files...

I've read about problems converting RAW's with Adobe software but I've just down loaded a couple of RAW's from DPR, one ISO 200 and the other 6400, and I can't see any problem with them.

I converted them to DNG and imported them into CS5 and used my usual sharpness and noise reduction settings, boosted the contrast, saturation and vibrance by modest amounts and then viewed the DPR test scene at 100% and I was very impressed with the results and I can't see any problem with them.

So, what's the issue with running Fuji RAW's through Adobe software and when do these issues show up?

I'm still really tempted by one of these or an X Pro but I just can't get over the base ISO being 200 so I'll almost certainly not buy one, I was just interested in what the files would look like.
 
Since the last adobe updaye I've not seen any issues with the raw files. Previously a "watercolour" effect would randomly appear in foliage detail, almost a smearing/brushed effect, also false colouring between black lettering on pale backgrounds.

People say it still occurs but at far less frequency, personally it's a non issue as far as I'm concerned since the update.. The files are probably the sharpest I've seen, easily matching the 24mp aps-c cameras but with stunning colours and depth, plus of course the brilliant iso ability.
 
I'm on CS5 and the latest version of camera raw I can use is 6.7... I think... anyway, I've got the latest version that'll work with CS5...

Looking a little closer at the ISO 200 DPR test image (300%) I can see a grid of dots which covers the image which isn't visible in the 6400 shot, I assume because there's some smearing or noise reduction applied (although I applied axactly the same changes to both files.)

The grid of dots is a shame and I'd like to be able to process the files with something else but CS5 is what I have.

Maybe these dots are a part of the issue?
 
Any X-E1 owners feeling that they should have bought the XPro1 instead? I'm thinking of getting Fuji X series camera for traveling (something lighter than 5D3) but not sure if I get the X-E1 and then regret not getting the XPro1. :)
 
Having had an X Pro 1 for a time last year I've been wondering the same. Fancy a smaller travel camera bit not sure if I'd miss the OVF and slightly larger size of the XP1 over the Xe.

Price difference is significant though so it would need to be much much better to opt for the dearer model.
 
kokakaste2 said:
Any X-E1 owners feeling that they should have bought the XPro1 instead? I'm thinking of getting Fuji X series camera for traveling (something lighter than 5D3) but not sure if I get the X-E1 and then regret not getting the XPro1. :)
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No regrets so far, the price difference is fairly significant and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, particularly as I'm using the zooms so the OVF would have limited use to me as I understand it.
 
ah.... the 55-200 looks awesome....... looking forward to the 10-24.

Where did you purchase your lens from?
 
yslim88 said:
ah.... the 55-200 looks awesome....... looking forward to the 10-24.

Where did you purchase your lens from?
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Mine came from WEX, didn't pre-order, just noticed it in stock one day a few weeks back during my relentless (and unsuccessful) search for an in-stock X100S in this country.
 
kokakaste2 said:
Any X-E1 owners feeling that they should have bought the XPro1 instead? I'm thinking of getting Fuji X series camera for traveling (something lighter than 5D3) but not sure if I get the X-E1 and then regret not getting the XPro1. :)
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X-E1 EVF is, IIRC, much better than the XPRO.
New firmware next week http://www.fujirumors.com/
 
I like the X-E1 EVF it's very good and is ideal for viewing photos through that you have just took on a sunny day where the rear screen would be harder to view.
I hope that the new firmware actually adds new features such as quicker AF speeds and a minimum shutter speed rather than just new lens support.
 
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