Fuji X-Pro1
Ever since I switched from Canon to Nikon in 2009 (due to annoying focus issues with my Canon gear) I was happily shooting my D700 with the Nikkor 50mm ƒ/1.4 G. The 50mm became second nature over the years. I think I used this combo for about 90% of all my pictures.
One thing that always annoyed me about Nikon were the SOOC colors. For me everything looks too yellow and skin tones with the default settings are a disaster. Yes, I know – if you want accurate colors you can use the ColorChecker Passport and calibrate. But I don’t want accurate colors, I want aesthetic colors that look natural.
I never felt home with that and my Nikon. But the build quality and the fact that everything about the Nikon always just works outweigh the frustration I had with the SOOC colors. It took months, countless work, experiments and a lot of trial and error in post work to finally get a result that I like without tweaking every picture endlessly.
I wrote about my experiments with emulating Porta 400 NC a while back. I finally ended up with special self made color presets and camera profiles for my Nikon to be able to emulate certain colors of specific films.
Here is an example:
From left to right: Nikon SOOC, JP Fuji 400H, JP Portra 400 NC
Even these results look close to me and I am happily working with them, I always wanted a digital camera that could reproduce authentic film colors and, even more importantly, the dynamic range of film without having to tweak anything major in my post processing. Shooting film professionally doesn’t work for me – even though I like it a lot for my personal work (I wrote an article about this topic for Kwerfeldein if you are interested).
After loving Fuji 400H, having read about Fuji’s new sensor design and being thrilled about my little Fuji X10 point-and-shoot camera, I was very tempted to purchase the Fuji X-Pro1. Just like Zack Arias, I expected this to be the DSLR-Killer. Not for everyone, but at least for myself.
I started reading more reviews and the bottom line really threw me off. Too many people were complaining about the obvious downs of the X-Pro1: Slow speed, no responsiveness, unusable autofocus and manual focus. That wasn’t enough to make up for the expected build and image quality. I thought I would rather wait a little until Fuji would hopefully fix the firmware for the X-Pro1 which was obviously still beta when they first released the camera.
With the release of the new firmware (version 2.0) all my concerns were addressed and I went ahead and ordered the camera. I got my X-Pro1 about a week ago and the camera grows on me quickly. If you switch over from a DSLR I suggest you give it time. Don’t expect this to be some sort of DSLR replacement, it’s not. It’s not a rangefinder either and not a point-and-shoot. Try to approach the X-Pro1 with a clean mindset and you will be amazed. Especially if you like to shoot film or with a slower pace and more awareness.
The image quality of the Fuji X-Pro1 is seriously mind blowing and outperforms most cameras I have used so far, including my D700. The dynamic range is better than film, highlights roll off beautifully and smooth and the colors are stunning straight out of camera. I love the compact size, the build quality, the quiet shutter that sounds like a shutter and not like a machine gun. It’s discreet and not show-off-y which I love as well. The quality of the Fujinon 35mm 1.4 lens (which is the equivalent of 50mm ƒ/2.0 on a full frame) is stunning. It’s tack sharp wide open.
This camera is a gem and I cannot remember being so excited about anything new I have tried, seen or read about for years. The only thing that I don’t like is the fact that I have to take it out of the OEM leather case every single time I want to either download the images from the memory card or replace the battery. But I have the same problem with the X10 and got used to it by now.
Here are a couple of images shot with the X-Pro1 and the 35mm 1.4 (more to follow soon):
Many thanks to Thomas Menk for featuring this review on Scoop.It.
15 Comments
Mohamad Ramadan
19. September 2012I’m not an owner of an X-Pro 1 but I did buy the x100 (mainly after reading every single photographers review out there including Zach Aria’s extensive review) after using the D3s for a while I was a bit frustrated with the x100 but slowely that camera crept up on me and slowely became my favorite for slow shoots as you said!!
A great comeback for Fuji!
And some great pics by you sir!
Rebecca Lily
20. September 2012You and the X-Pro1 make beautiful pictures! Great review, Johnny. As someone who places a lot of value on colors, I appreciate that you addressed this. I’m excited to see more of your work with the Fuji!
Mike
21. September 2012I’ve been shooting with my X100 for 8 months or so, and its the first digital camera I’ve come to love. I’m glad you like the X-Pro1. I am thinking of giving up my Canon 40D and a bunch of heavy lenses for a Fuji X-E1 and some of that lovely Fuji glass. There’s a lot to be said for a camera you are actually going to carry with you!
Johnny
21. September 2012Thanks to all of you for your kind feedback.
I am seriously tempted about the X100 and I will try to order the X-E1 for Rebecca as soon as it’s out. More and more people are falling in love with these it seems.
I personally hope the rumors about the new Fuji full-frame compact system are true.
Mike
24. September 2012Sorry, I have the XP1 and I shoot BW film. No way, no how does the DR on the XP1 compete with the DR of BW film. Yeah, you won’t get much DR with BW film if you send it out to a lab to get developed. But if you develop it yourself and learn how to compress the highlights, you get amazing results. I have the results to prove it.
Johnny
25. September 2012Mike, thanks for your opinion and your feedback on this topic.
I tried to be very careful about how I worded this. I didn’t want any of the review sounding too technical, because that’s not how I approach photography in general.
The Fuji X-Pro1 outperforms the Nikon D800 (which is rated with 14,4 EV) in highlight detail. DR200 on the X-Pro1 offers a huge 4.7 stops of highlight range, and DR400 goes another stop beyond this. That is better than any other digital camera at the moment. Film offers a total of about 15 EV. You can find a good comparison chart about the dynamic range on DPR.
Depending on how you expose and develop you might be able to tweak things a little in post work, the same with merging two digital exposures into a HDR. But that wasn’t my point. I was talking about what you would get under “normal” shooting conditions which are a “normal” scan from a good lab vs. a “normal” exposure sooc without extensive post work in either medium.
Markus
4. October 2012I recently stumbled upon your site, really like your work a lot.
When you say SOOC, do you mean RAW, or the jpgs in particular? Personally, I have difficulties matching the (fantastic) colour rendition of my X100′s jpg’s when I work with the RAW files in Lightroom, and I hear it’s not exactly easier with the X-Pro.
Can’t wait for the day you (hopefully) review the X-E1!
Johnny
7. October 2012Markus, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts.
With SOOC I normally refer to either one, JPG or RAW. I have difficulties with the default colors of both formats on my Nikon if I don’t use a couple of tweaks (in camera and in LR).
Personally I don’t find the RAW files of the X-Pro1 bad at all. I see room for improvement, especially because the in-camera profiles are still missing. But I can’t really understand where all these rumors came from that the RAW files of the X-Pro1 are not usable in LR.
I am very excited to get my hands on the X-E1 as well.
Nik C
25. November 2012Like many who have a DSLR, but find it a bit cumbersome to lug around everywhere but put up with it because of the image quality pay off, I’m seriously looking at an X100, or the new XE1.
I’ve not used my Canon 600D that much recently because I’m usually out with a 3 year old in tow, who also enjoys sitting on my shoulders! so the extra weight of a DSLR, a 17-50mm and any other baggage leaves me wishing for a simpler, smaller, more compact alternative, I’ve resorted to using my old Panny LX3 as my everyday alternative, slow by today’s standards, but still gives me some good shots set to Aperture priority and lowest F no. so I’m looking for a camera which will give me the best of both worlds, and I love the look of the X100 and the new XE1…dear Santa!
Johnny
25. November 2012Nik, thanks very much for your feedback.
I can definitely recommend the X-E1. We just got a copy for Rebecca and the IQ is exactly identical to the X-Pro1. If you don’t need the OVF and like the looks, I would go for it.
Nate
23. December 2012Those colours, are soooo Fuji Xpro1. Great set of photos.
Dawn Shiree
15. March 2013Johnny, thanks to you + Rebecca both for sharing your lovely personal work with us and your thoughts on the fuji film cameras. I’ve spent a bit of time today on both of your sites and am so enamored by your (both of you) beautiful way of seeing. My question for you is whether or not you think this or the ex-1 would be a good fit for documentary style family photography both indoor and outdoor? My husband and I are serious amateurs who choose not to be in business but our love for beautiful documentary photography has found us with quite an investment in canon full frame + various lenses. We are tired of traveling so heavy and would LOVE to trade it all for a set up like the fuji film system in a heart beat. But kids don’t sit still for long and especially not where the light is always pretty. ;) Thoughts? Thanks so much. Have very much enjoyed both of your sites today. xx
Johnny
15. March 2013Dawn, thank you and your husband very much for your kind feedback.
Your question is difficult to answer. For me personally it’s a definite yes. I sold all my Nikon gear after I got the X-Pro1 and I don’t regret it for one second. The only thing I do regret is that I didn’t make the decision earlier. It’s the same for Rebecca.
But it really depends on what you are going for. The image quality, dynamic range and the colors of the Fuji are outstanding. The AF is precise but noticeably slower than a DSLR, but that never really bothered me personally.
I would suggest you guys rent it for a weekend and try it out. It’s a very different shooting experience and you will probably need some time to get used to it. Then you can try if it fits you, your style and your way of shooting.
Dawn Shiree
15. March 2013Thank you for the reply. We were thinking along the same lines regarding renting it for it a weekend and giving it a test run. Thanks so much! :)
Leah Canseco
16. April 2013You are making me want to get one of these!