XE1 Arrived - Loving it - Photos and M-Lenses

[efix]

Nice stuff, Amy!

How do you process your raw files, or are you shooting jpeg? And if raw, how would you judge the quality? I found that the X-Trans color filter layout causes problems when converting with Lr / ACR.

[tomnrides]

XE-1 is more like an SLR without optical view finder and I suppose there is no field around the finder image as we have in range finder camera, correct? Then the shooting approach maybe just as in SLR?
Could you elaborate on that aspect?

I have been on the fence and it is hard to resist, at the same time if I go Fuji route, then This type of cameras would replace for many people conventional SLR's eventually and , if I am to get one, my Nikon assembly except long teles.

I might use much less of film range finder (R4A), so I am on the fence of buying a lens or two also.

[Shab]

I'm thinking on this camera.

How is the EVF? Is really a pleasure to view the image in the EVF? Some months ago I used a GH2 and I didn't like its EVF... is it very different?

Great shots!

[willie_901]

Tom,

Framing technique with the EVF is essentially identical to using a DLSR/SLR with a 100% viewfinder.

The EVF deficiencies are most notable in very bright light and very low light. Also, There can be a lag if you pan quickly.

On the plus side, you can include or exclude a great deal of information. I like the focus scale and horizontal level indicator. I don't use the histogram for a couple of reasons. The digital zoom function (3X or 10X) is very useful to confirm the AF focus region and accuracy. The 3X zoom make focusing with analog lenses practical.

I use the OVF on the XP-1 often because I like to see outside of the frame. But I quickly switch to the EVF without hesitation as circumstances dictate.

[DRabbit]

The EVF is VERY good. I will say EVIL/EVF-only mirrorless cameras all take a little getting used to when you've come from years of SLR or rangefinder optical viewfinders... but now that the EVFs are getting so good, it's much less a problem. To make a fair assessment though, you can't make a snap judgement in just one try or a few days... you really have to use them for a couple of weeks to give yourself the chance to get used to an EVF-only camera. The EVFs on the XE1 (along with the latest Olympus cameras and the NEX-7) really are VERY nice. They have their downsides, but so does any viewfinder... it's just giving yourself the time to adjust to it.

Rangefinder and Hybrid OV are the only viewfinders out there that give you framelines, where you get to see that area outside the framing of your photo. The EVF of the XE1 (just like all EVFs) is an eletronic view through the lens... so yes, framing is like that of an SLR. The upside from an SLR is that your see the DOF and exposure in realtime. The downside is that it's not often as responsive (some EVF lag).

I do still own a DSLR... though over the last two years it gets used less and less in favor of EVF/mirrorless cameras... and I still love my M8. Mirrorless is the future, IMO. In a year or two (or three) when mirrorless catches up to SLRs in viewfinder responsiveness and lens availability, there will be little benefit to carrying a big honking DSLR around. The only reason I keep my K-5 at this point, is so that I have it when mirrorless might not do the job - mostly because of lenses. For example, shooting my daughter's theater events when I need a long fast zoom.

[stompyq]

Any chance you could make it to the October meetup? Would really like to see the cam in real life!!

[DRabbit]

Originally Posted by stompyq

Any chance you could make it to the October meetup? Would really like to see the cam in real life!!

Link to details? When and where? I'd love to go if I can...

[Ezzie]

Soon, soon.

[DRabbit]

Sorry I missed your question Felix!
I'm shooting JPG for now. Even on the x100, I was SO pleased with the JPG files that I didn't see the benefit to shooting RAW... and so far that's the case with the XE1. I know I've heard about some "weirdness" with the RAW files from the XPro1 and I just didn't feel like fighting with that either, so for now, I'm sticking with JPG

[Shab]

Amy, is there a big difference between X-E1 and X100 in Image Quality? Are the colors different?

And, is X-E1 AF faster than in the X100?

[Ezzie]

And here she is:

Sporting an M adapter and the VC Utron, Fuji 18mm F2 next to it.

X-E1 with VC 28mm Ultron by Eirik0304, on Flickr

With the 18/2 compared to the M4-2 with Ultron

X-E1 vs M4-2 by Eirik0304, on Flickr

All I have to do now is sell off some SLR stuff.

[stompyq]

Originally Posted by DRabbit

Link to details? When and where? I'd love to go if I can...

Here's the link to the October meetup

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...d.php?t=124475

We meet at puck fair at 1 pm. It looks like this months meetup will be on Saturday. I can pm you details if you want, although from LI you might need to get to penn station and take a subway ride.

[Ezzie]

The 18mm supposed not to be the sharpest of the bunch, but shot at f2.5 I don´t think this is too bad:


2012_1018AC by Eirik0304, on Flickr

Click on it and chose the 12Mpix version

[DRabbit]

Originally Posted by stompyq

Here's the link to the October meetup

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...d.php?t=124475

We meet at puck fair at 1 pm. It looks like this months meetup will be on Saturday. I can pm you details if you want, although from LI you might need to get to penn station and take a subway ride.

Thanks!
I am back and forth to the city SOOO much these days, my god if I could afford to I'd move much closer in there. It's probably easier to drive in, but I'll have to give it some thought. For now, let me say I'll maybe be there... but I'd like to try and make it

- - - - -

Ezzie - thanks for the sample. The 18mm arrived today, so I'll be anxious to try it out tomorrow.

I tried the Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon today, and my initial impression is that I wasn't too impressed. Focusing was easy enough, but it seems there was some smearing on the edges when wide open (which I didn't expect with 35mm)... and I think we all know the Zeiss is capable of sharp sharp sharp images. I actually think on the XE1, the 40mm Nokton did better... but maybe it's too early to tell for sure.

I did test out some of the high ISO capabilities tonight. ISO 1000 was a breeze...



...and I'd have no fear going right up to ISO 6400 if needed (I didn't try higher than that tonight). Pretty amazing how good the latest cameras are getting with high ISO stuff.... like I said earlier, it's not something I need often, but it's nice to have the option.

Shab: I was always impressed with the IQ of the x100... and I am even more impressed with the XE1. I'd call performance similar, with the edge going to the XE1 -- slightly bigger files and sharper -- at least when shooting wide open -- the x100 wasn't always super sharp at f/2. Of course, that's down to the lenses more than the camera itself. Colors are also very similar... at least they seem to be to me.

The XE1 is a little more responsive overall. Focusing seems faster to me (with the 35mm f/1.4). EVF is better in all ways except maybe in how it wakes from sleep (seems a little slow in bright conditions).

[GaryLH]

Af on the 18 is even faster.. Less mass to move around..

Gary

[tomnrides]

Amy, Willie, thanks for your comments and superb photos. I am much tempted and my birthday is only 2 weeks away...

[willie_901]

The 18/2 is fine. The problem is: the 35/1.4 is simply excellent so people with both lenses harshly judge the 18/2.

The 18/2's biggest flaw is it's lateral CA. The corner sharpness is similar to other wide-angle lenses in this price range in that it doesn't clean up until f 5.6 - 8.

I use it as a reportage lens.

[Shab]

Thank you very much, Amy. :-)

[Ezzie]

My logic for going with the 18 f2 is that I will be using my M-mount 28, 35, 50 and 90. I could well have done with a more compact 35 than the VC f1.2, but I can now add another focal length to the mix. And manual focusing with the M-mount lenses works very well, better than manual on the Fuji at least.

[awilder]

I have always found that Fujinon lenses to be far better than other Japanese offerings from Canon or Nikon, easily competative with the best German lenses fron Zeiss or Leitz. I also understand they will be coming out with some fast long teles in the neighborhood of 200 mm for this camera.

[efix]

Originally Posted by DRabbit

Sorry I missed your question Felix!
I'm shooting JPG for now. Even on the x100, I was SO pleased with the JPG files that I didn't see the benefit to shooting RAW... and so far that's the case with the XE1. I know I've heard about some "weirdness" with the RAW files from the XPro1 and I just didn't feel like fighting with that either, so for now, I'm sticking with JPG

I see! I couldn't have told from your pictures - impressive quality!

[Ezzie]

Not sure what it is, maybe the camera is just too capable, too easy to use, to easy to attain good results, but it hasn´t yet got my blood boiling.

On the subject of capable, this is shot standing upright in the rain and wind at 1/17th of second. I could most likely do 1/15th with the M4-2 and get useable results with the 28f1.9, but only if I really concentrated. This I just shot, no controlled breathing, bracing of elbows are anything. And its sharp enough. f5.6 by the way:

The clinic by Eirik0304, on Flickr

[stompyq]

Originally Posted by Ezzie

Not sure what it is, maybe the camera is just too capable, too easy to use, to easy to attain good results, but it hasn´t yet got my blood boiling.

On the subject of capable, this is shot standing upright in the rain and wind at 1/17th of second. I could most likely do 1/15th with the M4-2 and get useable results with the 28f1.9, but only if I really concentrated. This I just shot, no controlled breathing, bracing of elbows are anything. And its sharp enough. f5.6 by the way:

The clinic by Eirik0304, on Flickr

IS it sharp at 100%?? That's very impressive if it is.

[Ezzie]

It is, I'll see if I can post a crop later today.

[Ezzie]

Screen shot of a 100% crop in Aperture. As you can see, its not half bad. XF20/f2 handheld, f5.6, 1/17s, ISO 400. This combination could turn out to be a stellar low light street shooter. Looking forward to an evening walk in Oslo next week.


X-E1 test shot 100 pc crop by Eirik0304, on Flickr