Shooting in the studio fujifilm x t1. Fujifilm X-T1 camera review: waterproof mirrorless

Part 1: getting to know the system

This article represents the first acquaintance of the author with both the system and, by and large, with Fujifilm cameras. Not that the author first heard about this company, just up to the present moment his acquaintance with the cameras of this company was very superficial. Now, when the opportunity to feel the style of Fujifilm has appeared, the author has formed personal assessments, which are no longer superficial. But this does not mean that the article as a whole and private conclusions will be subjective, or in general, everything will come down to the author's inner holivar of the kind “Which is better: Canon or Nikon?”. Everything will be said as honestly and impartially as possible. And this introduction is needed only in order not to abuse the abbreviation "IMHO" further in the text.

Not so long ago, a review of the Fujifilm X-E2 camera was published in our section. And not so long ago, the Fujifilm X series was replenished with an interesting new X-T1 camera. It is pointless to argue about what has changed in it compared to its predecessors, since it is unique in its own way - what are the many controls and dust and moisture protection! However, let's not spread our thoughts along the tree and move on to a detailed acquaintance.

Specifications

Appearance

Interface and features of work

It is not often that a camera falls into the hands, taking which, you begin to feel like a Martian. Or vice versa: an earthling in whose hands a Martian instrument fell. And the point here is not so much in the national Japanese flavor, which should nevertheless appear behind the name of the camera, but in the philosophy of the company itself. The already fairly familiar Canon, Nikon and even Sony do not cause the kind of confusion that Fuji cameras can cause. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that their fellow countryman Olympus also sometimes likes to surprise with rather non-standard "antics".

So, let me clarify what confused me. Unlike Canon, which, in my opinion, has gone further from the origins towards simplicity, Fuji and Olympus, on the contrary, do not strive for it - both, interestingly, are named (if not delving into the history of the name) in honor of the sacred mountains. With a little knowledge of Japanese culture (true, not modern), you can see that the Japanese have never strived for simplicity, and even vice versa. Many Fuji and Olympus cameras that I had in my hands gave the feeling that the creator scooped up a handful of physical controls - buttons, dials, toggle switches - with a light hand threw them onto the camera body and left them lying down. Actually, what is this lyrical introduction to? It is to the X-T1 and its ergonomics.

Let's start with the fact that there are more controls than necessary, which is quite rare. And everything would be fine if they were all in accessible places. When you start working with the camera, you console yourself with the thought that the toggle switches will develop and your fingers will grow thinner. But, oddly enough, neither one nor the other happens. Although my fingers are quite thin (as I used to think), the "Fn" and "video" buttons remained practically inaccessible to me, as well as the metering mode toggle switch. However, it is a little easier with him. The presence of two shutter speed dials - rough and precise - also remained a mystery. The style, of course, has been preserved, and the inclusion of the automatic mode by aligning the marks "A" of the three discs - exposure, sensitivity and aperture - does not raise any questions. But the presence of numerous "twists" causes confusion, and after a while you start to get lost in them ...

But after a while everything falls into place - you just need to get used to the "Martian" camera. And it is comfortable to work with it (although the listed hard-to-reach organs remain difficult to access). By the way, you have to turn the shutter speed dial with two fingers even in the positions free from the lock - it fixes the dial only in the “A” position.

Having made his way through the jungle of controls, the traveler meets a new obstacle - the menu. The very appearance does not particularly scare him. However, the abundance of layers, tabs, and just the number of points creates an image that is far from the brevity and brevity of the hokku. And everything would be fine if not for a lot of abbreviations. Presumably, the menu looked much nicer in Japanese, but Russian words simply do not fit into this format. But let's not exaggerate. For an experienced or just versed photographer (and for whom else is this camera!) The main points will be quite clear.

You will have to sit with something and even look into the instructions, but in general, everything is not so bad. Of the features, two insignificant points can be distinguished. First, not all modes can shoot in RAW. For example, you cannot shoot in RAW at low (ISO 100) and high (ISO 12800, 25600) sensitivities. Secondly, when walking through the drop-down menus, you need to be careful: such a seemingly obvious action as pressing the back arrow selects and sets the item under the cursor, and to go back without changes, you must press the Back button.

First impressions are the most violent, so they couldn't just be omitted in the case of a camera like this. But the second impressions are already extremely boring: after a few hours of working with the camera, almost all controls mysteriously fall into place, and their hands find them blindly. It is interesting that in their chaotic arrangement, quite understandable logic and hierarchy begins to emerge. As a result, every other day you use only those that are closer, and only occasionally you climb deeper, while not lacking in anything. Although the inconveniences, to which we have not been able to get used to, will still surface in the text, there are very few of them.

Even after a thorough acquaintance with the camera, the function Fn button still had to be pressed with a fingernail. With the video button, everything turned out to be both easier and more complicated. Since it is practically invisible, when you hold the camera in the working position, you have to press it blindly - and control the pressing on the video recording indicator on the screen in the absence of a tangible tactile response when pressed. Since the button is small enough, the finger hardly feels it. Over time, you seem to get used to it, and it becomes possible to control the force and place of pressing, but at first it turns out through time.

The two adjustment discs located at the front and rear do not cause any particular inconvenience. The dial located on the front panel is responsible for fine adjustment of the shutter speed, while the rear dial is for adjusting the aperture on lenses without a corresponding ring. In playback mode, they are responsible for switching and enlarging images, respectively. The rear dial is also responsible for navigating menus, which is not always convenient, especially when using the viewfinder. Although, with a certain skill, you can reconfigure the camera, practically without looking up from the viewfinder.

The camera information screen is clear and friendly. There is even nothing to comment on - the information on the display is comprehensive. The sensitivity value here shows the upper limit set in the menu, and only when you half-press the shutter button, it changes to the real one, at which the picture will be taken. The DR400 icon means the dynamic range is set to 400% and the camera will shoot at minimum ISO 800; 200% - at a minimum ISO 400. We could not determine what this parameter affects. Although the manual promises, in fact, HDR mode, we did not notice any visible differences between 100% and 400%.

Fujifilm X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition

September 11, 2014 Fujifilm announces the release of the X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition camera. The novelty differs from the X-T1 (black) not only in a very spectacular appearance. Due to the updated electronic shutter, the camera is capable of shooting at shutter speeds up to 1/32000 s, which, however, will not interest everyone. There are not so often situations in life when, even with an open aperture, the camera cannot cope with light at ISO 100 and 1/4000 s. But the potential to get into such conditions cannot but warm the soul. In addition, Classic Chrome has been added to the existing filters that simulate films.

An interesting Natural Live View function has appeared in the electronic viewfinder. It turns off all picture adjustments such as contrast and color saturation, making the EVF image as close to reality as possible. However, while the essence of the function is clear, the meaning remains a mystery. On the other hand, for connoisseurs of optical viewfinders, such an imitation will allow them to get closer to the ideal.

In December, a software update for both cameras is planned, promising small but pleasant improvements in the interface and shooting modes.

Image quality

As it turned out, the camera's display is not quite accurate in terms of color rendition and "cools" the colors a little, so the pictures of the stand came out yellowish, although the white balance on the screen seemed quite acceptable. In addition, the display coverage turned out to be slightly less than 100%, so it turned out to be very difficult to frame the stand “under the bleed”.

As mentioned, RAW shooting is not possible in the extended range, so results are shown separately in JPEG format.

The graphs show the dependence of the resolution on the photosensitivity under different conditions of illumination and noise reduction.

Depending on the shooting conditions, the behavior of the camera changes at times in a very strange way, but all the fluctuations in resolution occur almost around the same value. As you can see from the graphs, RAW behaves most chaotically, while JPEG behavior can be called stable. In addition, an average value of 0.82 lines per pixel for the ISO 100-6400 range is an excellent result, not every DSLR is capable of producing such a high resolution in such a wide range.

We didn’t show the extended range of ISO 12800 and 25600 in the graphs in order not to clutter them up. It can be noted that in this range the camera resolution is characterized by an average value of 0.68 lines per pixel, which is also quite good. It is, of course, difficult to call these values ​​workers, especially in terms of artistic photography. However, they are able to capture not the smallest details. In addition, the camera works so accurately that even artistic shots taken with such a sensitivity, in black and white, have a right to life. On the other hand, perfectionists even at ISO 3200-6400 will be able to see the deterioration of the sharpness of small details. But everyone decides the question of the working maximum sensitivity for himself, based on his tasks and habits. We can only praise the camera for its very good performance in a fairly wide range of photosensitivity.

Fujinon XF 18-55mm f / 2.8-4 R LM OIS Lens

The lens has two switches - stabilizer and aperture, and three rings - aperture, focus and zoom. All rings, with the exception of the zoom ring, are electronic with infinite travel. The aperture ring only works in the position of the switch marked with the blades.

The graph shows the results obtained well. At medium apertures, the camera shows relatively high resolutions. With open and closed diaphragms, quite natural deterioration is noticeable, but the result is generally quite good.

The average value of the resolution decreases naturally with increasing focal length. Nevertheless, the overall picture remains good enough. You can also notice a noticeable scatter of values ​​in the center and at the edge when the aperture is open, which in general is also quite natural.

It can be seen from the graphs that the lens behaves best at 18mm. Further, the maximum resolution value drops. It can also be noted that the lens gives the sharpest picture at f / 10 aperture.

As you can see, the lens has a slight barrel-type distortion that decreases with increasing focal length. No noticeable chromatic aberration is visible.

Stabilization

As is often the case when you try to deliberately shake the camera, imitating the "natural" shake of hands, the movements for some reason come out smooth, and this is enough for the camera to get a sharp enough picture. However, after a certain amount of training, you can still shake your hands with the camera in order to try to evaluate the work of the stabilizer. Here you can digress a little by the spoiler and mention that the camera we tested had three lenses: XF 18-55mm, XF 56mm (by the way, it was with this lens that the noise test was carried out) and XF 23mm. The last two will be discussed in relative detail in the second part of the article. Actually, this all means that after the transition from the XF 18-55mm to the unstabilized fixed-mount, the absence of a stabilizer is quite noticeable. But these are just impressions. Let's move on to the numbers. The graph, built according to a technique already temporarily established in our country, makes it clear that the stabilizer allows you to work with 70% confidence at shutter speeds up to 1/10 of a second, which, in general, is a good result.

Shooting speed

You can't blame the camera for slow focusing. It focuses and refocuses quickly enough. Of course, she is still far from SLR cameras in this regard, but she behaves very dignified - she thinks only in really difficult situations. However, this parameter is rather difficult to measure with improvised means, so you have to rely only on relative impressions. But you can measure the speed of burst shooting.

The shooting speed measurement technique is extremely simple and straightforward. And, importantly, it is accurate enough. The camera is placed on a laptop or placed on the table next to the smartphone on which the voice recorder is running. Then the recorder turns on and the camera starts burst shooting for up to two minutes. The resulting sound file is loaded into an audio editor, where the timeline counts an integer number of shutter releases in an integer number of seconds, after which the average number of frames per second can be calculated.

The table shows the average shooting speed for different modes. Unfortunately, we could not test the camera with a UHS-II card due to the lack of one, so the tests were carried out with a UHS-I card (SanDisk Extreme SDHC UHS-I 16 GB 45 MB / s). Let's call the first speed the one with which the burst shooting starts. Its limit is the time after which shooting slows down and continues at a second speed. Units of measurement are frames per second and seconds, respectively. The infinity symbol means that the speed has not changed for two minutes.

As we can see, in the RAW + JPEG mode the camera meets the declared characteristics for some time within the measurement error.

Fujifilm X-T1 camera review

Received a solid increase in comparison with the part of the serial shooting. "Maximum speed" has not grown very much, up to 8 frames per second, but autofocus can work during all eight. This is a decent figure, even for a professional reportage camera. The buffer was also on the level. In the most power hungry RAW + JPEG format, the camera can take 23 photos. This, of course, is not 50 shots, but still very decent.

Comparison with the top-end arises when talking about an electronic viewfinder. We admired the EVI "olik", but he is not worse. Fuji's engineers relied on size - the viewfinder is really huge, even slightly larger than the optical “TVs” of full-frame DSLRs. It is difficult for people with glasses who cannot bring their eyes close to the eyepiece to see the entire frame as a whole, but there is a special mode for them when the picture does not occupy the entire VI area. In addition to the size, there is a high resolution of almost 2.5 million pixels, a record low, according to the company itself, lag, as well as a clever system that works when shooting in vertical position. The camera not only flips the picture, but also reorients additional information. Very comfortably.

For those who do not want to use such a wonderful viewfinder, the device offers a three-inch display. It is quite good, and most importantly, it finally got a rotary design. This is the first such case in top-end Fuji.

Finally, normal Wi-Fi

The device has lost the built-in flash, while the bundle comes with a simple external one that works through a "hot shoe". She does not have enough stars from the sky, but in a critical situation she will give a little light. Naturally, through the "hot shoe" the camera can work with more advanced lighting fixtures. For studio shooting, a separate sync connector is provided, which solves the compatibility problem.

Less than three years later, a full-fledged Wi-Fi appeared in the Fuji device. Our regular readers remember that the modules are in, and they turned out to be very limited in capabilities - through them it was impossible to remotely control the camera. This is finally possible. Download the dedicated app to your smartphone or tablet and get an excellent remote control with wide customization options. GPS, however, never appeared in the camera.

Video capabilities completely repeat those of. In short, for a professional videography the toolkit is not enough, but for amateur filming, there is even an excess of opportunities.

Working with the camera

In terms of electronic functions and work with the device, it incorporated everything that simpler models could offer, ranging from filters, effects and film modulation, which we considered in, and ending with the light modulation system that appeared in. Five types of bracketing, stitching panoramas, autoISO and much more, which we have already written about. Aside from HDR gluing, it probably has all the electronic features you could wish for. Even time-lapse photography, which allows you to take a series of pictures for time-lapse with flexible settings.

Only one memory card

Separately, I would like to say about the manual focus assistance systems. There are already three of them in the cell. The first mode is standard and consists in enlarging the central fragment of the image. The second is focus peaking, and we have already talked about it in. But he also had a third, exclusive assistant. It does not have an official name; on the Internet, this system is nicknamed "digital wedges", because it simulates the effect of analog focusing screens (which are precisely called "wedges"). The principle of operation is well known to older photographers who have used rangefinder cameras. An image that is out of focus appears to be split in two, and when the photographer focuses on the subject, it becomes sharp. This is an extremely convenient and accurate focusing system.

Obviously very well suited for manual focus lenses. Considering the short flange distance of the camera itself, it is possible to install a lot of different optics on it through special adapters, from retro lenses to modern "glasses" from DSLRs and Canon. This will come in handy for photographers who already have a mirror kit and are looking for a lightweight and compact second camera.

conclusions

Taking into account all of the above, the price of 55 thousand rubles for without a lens does not look fantastic. This, of course, is a lot, but do not forget that the device competes with the initial full-frame cameras such as or, which are not cheaper. And another type of competitor, top-end mirrorless cameras, is also not cheap.

Perhaps, Fuji was not cunning, calling it a professional model. Everything in the device is at the highest level - image quality, amazing ergonomics, reliable, easy-to-fit body, wide functionality and a lot of additional accessories. One cannot complain about the narrowness of the lineup of lenses - Fuji has recently made its lineup very wide.

Of course, minor questions remain. For example, why is there no GPS and HDR, shutter speed is limited to 1/4000 s, and there is only one memory card? But these are particulars. It's still impossible to imagine a reporter with (autofocus is rather weak for such work), but a landscape painter, portrait painter or studio worker is quite. It remains to overcome the stereotype that a professional's camera should be a DSLR. This will be the most difficult task for.

Fujifilm is famous for its stylish, advanced compact cameras such as the X100S or X-E2, but they are all completely defenseless against water droplets, sand and other external annoyances. Fujifilm has protected models only in the budget compact class, as well as in the ultrazoom class.

Fujifilm X-T1 Official Portrait

A quick glance at the Fujifilm X-T1 specs is enough to realize that a lot has been borrowed from the X-E2 mirrorless camera. At the same time, the novelty is positioned as a higher-end device, costs more and is able to compete even with the Olympus OM-D E-M1. Last year was remembered for the release of budget mirrorless cameras such as the X-M1 and X-A1, and now it seems that the time has come for flagships. However, there is still no reliable information about the replacement of the X-Pro 1. The Fujifilm X-T1 was not only the first weatherproof system camera in the family, but also the first camera with the appearance of a film SLR of the last century.

Specifications, equipment, accessories

Fujifilm does not have a wide range of camera accessories. It mainly offers a variety of cases, optional grips and flashes. With the release of the X-T1, this set has been expanded with a VG-XT1 battery grip suitable for portrait photography, as well as another regular MGH-XT grip. This pair of accessories is only compatible with the Fujifilm X-T1. However, all subsequent cameras will surely receive their support.

Fujifilm X-T1 Package Contents

The camera comes with a charger and NP-W126 battery, a set of covers and plugs, a shoulder strap, an external flash, a USB cable and a CD with software and user manual. It's also worth noting that the Fujifilm X-T1 comes with an advanced 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 zoom lens. However, this lens is not weatherproof - this should be borne in mind first.

Design and ergonomics

It is difficult to determine with certainty what exactly the Fujifilm X-T1 looks like. Most likely, this is a 1970 Fujica ST701 camera. However, you can see similarities with recent Olympus cameras. For the first time, the Fujifilm mirrorless camera features a more pronounced grip, pseudo-pentaprism with a viewfinder unit and an optional battery grip. In general, everything is like classic DSLR-like cameras. Cameras in this form factor have been in the collections of Panasonic, Olympus and Samsung for a long time. A durable magnesium alloy acts as the main body material, and its protection from moisture and dust is provided by gaskets at 80 points. The robust housing also guarantees stable operation of the camera in ten-degree frost.

Fujifilm X-T1 paired with high-aperture optics

The front panel, in addition to an ergonomic protrusion, contains a number of essential controls. At the top of the handle is the front scroller. Next to it is the AF-assist LED and one of six programmable keys. The bayonet is equipped with a lock, and on the right side of the panel you can see the sync terminal for external flashes and a focus mode switch, already familiar to us from the previous Fujifilm mirrorless cameras. The entire front panel, along with the handle, is covered with a pleasant-tactile textured synthetic material. The handle itself isn't particularly ergonomic, but it's better than nothing anyway. In addition, there is an optional grip on sale, and even a heavy battery grip.

It should be noted that the scroller is not convex enough - the area of ​​contact with the finger is small. Therefore, when scrolling, you literally have to iron the rubber of the case. The same flaw was found in the rear scroller, but we'll talk about it below.

Fujifilm X-T1 without lens

The top panel is literally cluttered with large selectors and buttons. No Fujifilm mirrorless camera has been so abundant. The ISO setting dial is located on the left side, and the drive mode switch is built in on the floor below. There is a diopter adjustment wheel on the left side of the viewfinder unit, and a standard "hot shoe" on top of it. On the right side there is a shutter speed dial similar to the left with a switch for the type of exposure metering. On the right edge of the panel sits an exposure compensation input dial. The shutter button is combined with the camera turn-on lever, and to the right of it, the video recording start button is recessed into the body. Another small button next to the exposure compensation dial is responsible for activating Wi-Fi.

All selector dials are made of aluminum, with shutter speed and ISO dials equipped with position latches. This is generally one of the most controversial elements of ergonomics. Fixing a position is useful in a number of cases, but managing such a scroller is more difficult in the end. This inconvenience is especially pronounced when shooting in shutter priority mode. In our opinion, the most correct thing to do is to make the scrollers tight enough to avoid accidental displacements.

On the top panel, you will notice the absence of a dedicated shooting mode switch. In top-end Fujifilm cameras, the shooting mode is changed by setting the aperture or shutter speed to "A" mode. On the right side of the pseudo-pentaprism there is a screen / viewfinder switch button. It is possible to completely turn off the display, and turn on the viewfinder only when the proximity sensor is triggered. This will significantly save battery power, especially since the basic shooting parameters can be changed mechanically.

Fujifilm X-T1 Top Panel

On the rear panel, the first thing that catches your eye is a large viewfinder with an impressive rubber eyecup. Fujifilm claims the X-T1's viewfinder is the largest in terms of area of ​​any mirrorless camera. Subjectively, its area corresponds to the size of viewfinders in top-end full-frame cameras like Nikon D800 / D800E. To the left of it there are buttons for entering the viewing mode and deleting images. On the right is the exposure lock button, rear control wheel, and a separate autofocus lock button. The protrusion slightly interferes with the work with the scroller, since it protrudes slightly from the body. This, as we said, forces you to stroke the case with your fingers and apply more effort to scroll. It's a trifle, but we hope that the company will take this moment into account when developing the next cameras.

To the right of the display are the Focus Assist, Q and Disp / Back buttons. The first of these launches various tools to assist with manual focusing, for example, the focus peaking function. The second is responsible for calling the quick menu, and the third switches the types of information displayed on the display. The button to enter and enter the main menu of the camera is surrounded by four navigation keys without any signatures. The extreme right part of the panel is rubberized and has a noticeable protrusion for abutment at the place of the thumb.

The left side panel is occupied by a door, which hides HDMI and USB connectors, as well as a 2.5 mm jack for connecting an external microphone or remote control device. The opposite side includes a memory card compartment. By the way, the Fujifilm X-T1 is the first digital camera to support the latest high-speed UHS-II class SD cards.

Slot for a memory desk on the right side of the Fujifilm X-T1

Compartment for external connections on the left side of the Fujifilm X-T1

On the bottom panel in the grip area is the battery compartment, and next to it is the tripod thread. For mounting the battery grip, there is a special connector covered with a rubber plug.

Fujifilm X-T1 Bottom Panel

The camera is available exclusively in black, at least for now. The camera measures 129x90x47 mm and weighs 440 grams. The closest competitor, Olympus OM-D E-M1, has about the same parameters.

Display, viewfinder, interface

Fujifilm X-T1 Rear Panel

Note that until now, none of the higher-end Fujifilm cameras have had a tilting screen. Only budget mirrorless cameras were equipped with such displays.

The viewfinder remains the same as that of the Fujifilm X-E2, that is, it is completely electronic and even retained the 2.36 million dot resolution and 100% frame coverage. It is likely that Fujifilm has reserved its hybrid viewfinder for a higher-ranking model that has not yet been heard from. In the menu, you can turn off both the viewfinder and the display at the same time, which is useful in astrophotography. The viewfinder is equipped with a diopter adjustment wheel and a proximity sensor. This is one of the best electronic viewfinders we have dealt with. In terms of image quality, it surpasses the analogue in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and subjectively looks better than in the Sony A7 / A7R. In addition, the X-T1's viewfinder boasts a record high magnification of 0.77x, as well as relatively low image lag.

The menu has hardly changed. Only new items have been added for programming the keys. As noted, the six mechanical buttons are reprogrammed.

Functionality

The Fujifilm X-T1 borrows the 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor from the Fujifilm X-E2 unchanged. The same sensor is installed in the Fujifilm X100S. Its main feature, we recall, is not only the absence of an AA filter, but also support for hybrid autofocus thanks to phase sensors in the structure of the matrix itself. In addition, RAW files are recorded at 14-bit resolution for better grayscale reproduction.

The standard sensitivity range is ISO 200-6400, but can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The camera allows you to set the minimum shutter speed when operating in Auto ISO mode, which is 1/500 of a second. The exposure compensation dial allows you to make adjustments in the range of -3 to +3 EV. And when shooting video, the ISO limit is 6400.

X-Trans CMOS sensor and EXR II processor

No changes in comparison with the X-E2 are observed in the processor part either. The already familiar EXR II chip is installed here. The continuous shooting rate is 8 frames per second with active autofocus, and the buffer depth reaches 47 frames in JPEG format or 23 in RAW format when using UHS-II class memory cards. Continuous focus shooting with active live view lowers the rate of fire to three frames per second, and the buffer depth is limited by the size of the memory card. The shutter lag is only five hundredths of a second, and it takes about half a second to turn the camera on and off.

One of the important features of the EXR II processor is the Lens Modulation Optimizer algorithm, which removes aberration and diffraction effects from optics. This is how it is implemented - the camera contains data for each compatible lens in memory and compensates for distortions in software based on such data. This function, if desired, can be turned off, and all arising distortions can be corrected in the future manually in a RAW converter.

The vertical-curtain focal-plane shutter is capable of operating at shutter speeds up to 1/4000 s, and can also be operated in Bulb mode. Strictly speaking, 1/4000 of a second is a fairly slow shutter speed when shooting at a wide aperture on a bright sunny day, and the camera does not contain a built-in ND filter to reduce exposure. The shutter itself seemed to us noisy, and the electronic shutter, as in the Lumix GM1, is not provided here. The shutter is synchronized with the flash at shutter speeds no faster than 1/180 s, which is a rather modest value today. Olympus OM-D E-M1 can sync at shutter speeds up to 1/320 sec.

One cannot fail to note the Fujifilm focusing system, which made a leap forward in just a year. Until recently, Fujifilm cameras were associated with extremely slow autofocus, a modest set of video modes, and lack of Wi-Fi. But with the release of the X-E2 and the budget X-M1, the situation has dramatically improved. The Fujifilm X-T1 features a 49-point hybrid focusing system with subject tracking function. Thanks to high-speed autofocus, it was possible to achieve the above rate of fire. In addition, this is one of the few cameras that offers three tools at once to help with manual focusing - the focus peaking function, an increase in a fragment of the frame, as well as the Digital Split Image tool (apparently spied on from rangefinder film cameras).

It should be added that the focusing speed is highly dependent on which lens is mounted on the camera. With the complete "glass" 18-55 mm, the camera focuses very quickly and practically does not make mistakes. And when using the 35mm F1.4 lens, focusing becomes much slower. The reward for this inconvenience is excellent picture quality. This is our favorite Fujifilm camera lens, no kidding.

Fujifilm X-T1, despite its size, does not contain a built-in flash, but it is still included in the package. It has a guide number of 8m at ISO 100. The supplied flash mounts to a standard hot shoe, and there is a sync pin on the front of the camera for connecting external strobes.

For Fujifilm mirrorless cameras, in-camera RAW processing has already become a standard, from which the X-T1 has not departed either. It also has features such as panorama shooting (2160x9600), a set of ten film simulation effects, eight art filters, ISO bracketing, white balance, dynamic range and film simulation effects, multiple exposure, and time-lapse photography (with burst limitation, no more than 999 frames).

As already mentioned, Fujifilm X-T1 supports Wi-Fi thanks to the built-in module. Using a smartphone or tablet, you can control the shooting process, take captured images, upload data to social networks, and even assign geotags. The set of wireless functions here is far from the richest, but all this is implemented intuitively and simply. For Android and iOS devices, there are two camera apps - Fujifilm Camera App and Fujifilm Camera Remote. The latter allows you to use your smartphone as a remote viewfinder, change settings, focus and even record video. Basically, the Fujifilm Camera Remote includes all the features of the older Fujifilm Camera App. By the way, Fujifilm X-T1 was the first camera to support remote shooting functions.

And now we come to the most delicate moment. Namely, a fleet of compatible optics. The X-T1 was Fujifilm's first weatherproof mirrorless camera, but the company simply did not have time to release at least a couple of corresponding lenses. Let's remind, Nikon 1 AW1 went on sale simultaneously with two sealed "glasses". All that is left for Fujifilm is to publish its plans to release optics for the next year or two. Protected lenses will bear the WR mark and there will be three models in 2014. This is what the trio looks like: 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R OIS WR, 16-55mm F2.8 R OIS WR and 50-140mm F2.8 R OIS WR. The first zoom lens will be released this June. But, of course, the camera is fully compatible with ordinary, unprotected lenses, some of which are of very high quality.

Test shots, videos, battery life

Since we have already dealt with an X-Trans CMOS II sensor, expectations for noise levels were quite high. But despite the fact that the sensor here is the same as in the X-E2, we still took a test shot, since the result may depend on the internal image processing algorithms. Recall that the test shooting is carried out at night, under artificial lighting with a 40 W incandescent lamp. The noise canceling functions are completely disabled or, if it is impossible to completely disable them, they are activated with minimum power.

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 100

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 200

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 400

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 800

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 1600

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 3200

02.02.2014 25138 Tests and reviews 0

Fujifilm has introduced the X-T1, a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. The new X-T1 was one of the most anticipated products from Fuji at the start of 2014, and has already been known to photography enthusiasts in the last weeks before the announcement - from photos to specs.

So, what is the Fujifilm X-T1. Design. The novelty looks very good, like all the latest Fuji novelties. The camera has only a black version of the body, which is cast from magnesium alloy and has 80 sealing points. This protects the camera sufficiently from external factors.

At the back of the camera is a screen that has a resolution of 1040 thousand pixels, and it is completely identical to the screen of the X-E2 - the same 3 inches diagonally with an aspect ratio of 3: 2. The screen, however, has a "trick": it is inclined, which should be very convenient for photographers, and has a tempered glass protection. In addition to the standard display of the horizon and adding rotation information to the frame, the tilt sensor built into the camera can also rotate the interface.

A viewfinder with a resolution of 2.36 million dots makes the camera look like a DSLR most of all. The viewfinder is fully electronic. The viewfinder display is very good in terms of characteristics and can update the picture 54 times per second. For comparison, this characteristic is equal to X-E2 only 20. The indicator of increase is 0.77 versus 0.64 for X-E2.

The viewfinder display has four modes of operation:

In the "FULL" mode, the X-T1 camera viewfinder's high magnification factor is used, so that the photographer sees the shooting scene as fully as possible.
- “NORMAL” provides optimal viewing including shooting settings.
- The DUAL mode is specially designed for manual focusing, and the display is divided into two zones. However, the normal viewing area and the manual focus area can be controlled simultaneously with Digital Split ImageTM or Focus Peak Highlight)
- For portrait photography in "NORMAL" and "FULL" modes, the interface automatically rotates when the camera is held vertically.

The camera will really appeal to retro lovers. The top panel houses five mechanical dials, two front and rear command dials, and six customizable function buttons. Top-positioned machined aluminum twin dials control shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, and shooting modes. Each dial is designed with a clearly audible click to change modes, and the embossed surface makes it easy to set the frame parameters.

The camera does not have a flash, but the manufacturer promises a small mini-flash for a hot shoe in the kit. The camera accepts UHS-II SD cards with a maximum recording speed of 240 megabytes per second, and the internal memory stores up to 23 pictures at maximum recording quality JPEG + RAW.

But the most delicious, of course, is hidden inside. The characteristics, of course, are not revolutionary, but quite decent. The sensor is identical to the X-E2 and X100S cameras - it is the X-Trans II with 16 megapixels. The new X-Trans II ™ sensor features a phase-detection AF system that fires in a record 0.08 seconds. The camera also allows you to shoot bursts of up to 8 frames per second with autofocus working. X-Trans II sensor minimizes moiré and color distortion thanks to an original color filter with high pixel irregularity. This eliminates the need for an optical low-pass filter (OLPF), which results in a loss of detail.

Processes the picture the same as in X-E2 and X100S - EXR Processor II. Optimal Light Modulation (LMO) for interchangeable lens cameras further enhances image quality. This technology, taking into account the optical characteristics of individual lenses, was made possible by the joint development of the lens, sensor and processor. The company talks about improvements that make the X-T1 the fastest camera in the series: the processor allows the camera to go to the working position in 0.5 seconds, provides a shutter release in 0.05 seconds and an interval of 0.5 seconds between shots. At the same time, the minimum shutter speed is limited to 1/4000, and the flash operation is limited to 1/180.

Other characteristics of the novelty are as follows: a Wi-Fi wireless adapter, a stereo microphone, USB 2.0 and HDMI interfaces, video recording support with a resolution of 1920x1080 (30p, 60p) or 1280x720 (30p, 60p) pixels. The free FUJIFILM Camera Remote app and wireless function let you shoot remotely using smartphones and tablets. The device weighs 440 g and measures 129x90x47 mm.

Fujifilm X-T1 Specifications

Fujifilm is famous for its stylish, advanced compact cameras such as the X100S or X-E2, but they are all completely defenseless against water droplets, sand and other external annoyances. Fujifilm has protected models only in the budget compact class, as well as in the ultrazoom class.

Fujifilm X-T1 Official Portrait

A quick glance at the Fujifilm X-T1 specs is enough to realize that a lot has been borrowed from the X-E2 mirrorless camera. At the same time, the novelty is positioned as a higher-end device, costs more and is able to compete even with the Olympus OM-D E-M1. Last year was remembered for the release of budget mirrorless cameras such as the X-M1 and X-A1, and now it seems that the time has come for flagships. However, there is still no reliable information about the replacement of the X-Pro 1. The Fujifilm X-T1 was not only the first weatherproof system camera in the family, but also the first camera with the appearance of a film SLR of the last century.

Specifications, equipment, accessories

Fujifilm does not have a wide range of camera accessories. It mainly offers a variety of cases, optional grips and flashes. With the release of the X-T1, this set has been expanded with a VG-XT1 battery grip suitable for portrait photography, as well as another regular MGH-XT grip. This pair of accessories is only compatible with the Fujifilm X-T1. However, all subsequent cameras will surely receive their support.

Fujifilm X-T1 Package Contents

The camera comes with a charger and NP-W126 battery, a set of covers and plugs, a shoulder strap, an external flash, a USB cable and a CD with software and user manual. It's also worth noting that the Fujifilm X-T1 comes with an advanced 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 zoom lens. However, this lens is not weatherproof - this should be borne in mind first.

Design and ergonomics

It is difficult to determine with certainty what exactly the Fujifilm X-T1 looks like. Most likely, this is a 1970 Fujica ST701 camera. However, you can see similarities with recent Olympus cameras. For the first time, the Fujifilm mirrorless camera features a more pronounced grip, pseudo-pentaprism with a viewfinder unit and an optional battery grip. In general, everything is like classic DSLR-like cameras. Cameras in this form factor have been in the collections of Panasonic, Olympus and Samsung for a long time. A durable magnesium alloy acts as the main body material, and its protection from moisture and dust is provided by gaskets at 80 points. The robust housing also guarantees stable operation of the camera in ten-degree frost.

Fujifilm X-T1 paired with high-aperture optics

The front panel, in addition to an ergonomic protrusion, contains a number of essential controls. At the top of the handle is the front scroller. Next to it is the AF-assist LED and one of six programmable keys. The bayonet is equipped with a lock, and on the right side of the panel you can see the sync terminal for external flashes and a focus mode switch, already familiar to us from the previous Fujifilm mirrorless cameras. The entire front panel, along with the handle, is covered with a pleasant-tactile textured synthetic material. The handle itself isn't particularly ergonomic, but it's better than nothing anyway. In addition, there is an optional grip on sale, and even a heavy battery grip.

It should be noted that the scroller is not convex enough - the area of ​​contact with the finger is small. Therefore, when scrolling, you literally have to iron the rubber of the case. The same flaw was found in the rear scroller, but we'll talk about it below.

Fujifilm X-T1 without lens

The top panel is literally cluttered with large selectors and buttons. No Fujifilm mirrorless camera has been so abundant. The ISO setting dial is located on the left side, and the drive mode switch is built in on the floor below. There is a diopter adjustment wheel on the left side of the viewfinder unit, and a standard "hot shoe" on top of it. On the right side there is a shutter speed dial similar to the left with a switch for the type of exposure metering. On the right edge of the panel sits an exposure compensation input dial. The shutter button is combined with the camera turn-on lever, and to the right of it, the video recording start button is recessed into the body. Another small button next to the exposure compensation dial is responsible for activating Wi-Fi.

All selector dials are made of aluminum, with shutter speed and ISO dials equipped with position latches. This is generally one of the most controversial elements of ergonomics. Fixing a position is useful in a number of cases, but managing such a scroller is more difficult in the end. This inconvenience is especially pronounced when shooting in shutter priority mode. In our opinion, the most correct thing to do is to make the scrollers tight enough to avoid accidental displacements.

On the top panel, you will notice the absence of a dedicated shooting mode switch. In top-end Fujifilm cameras, the shooting mode is changed by setting the aperture or shutter speed to "A" mode. On the right side of the pseudo-pentaprism there is a screen / viewfinder switch button. It is possible to completely turn off the display, and turn on the viewfinder only when the proximity sensor is triggered. This will significantly save battery power, especially since the basic shooting parameters can be changed mechanically.

Fujifilm X-T1 Top Panel

On the rear panel, the first thing that catches your eye is a large viewfinder with an impressive rubber eyecup. Fujifilm claims the X-T1's viewfinder is the largest in terms of area of ​​any mirrorless camera. Subjectively, its area corresponds to the size of viewfinders in top-end full-frame cameras like Nikon D800 / D800E. To the left of it there are buttons for entering the viewing mode and deleting images. On the right is the exposure lock button, rear control wheel, and a separate autofocus lock button. The protrusion slightly interferes with the work with the scroller, since it protrudes slightly from the body. This, as we said, forces you to stroke the case with your fingers and apply more effort to scroll. It's a trifle, but we hope that the company will take this moment into account when developing the next cameras.

To the right of the display are the Focus Assist, Q and Disp / Back buttons. The first of these launches various tools to assist with manual focusing, for example, the focus peaking function. The second is responsible for calling the quick menu, and the third switches the types of information displayed on the display. The button to enter and enter the main menu of the camera is surrounded by four navigation keys without any signatures. The extreme right part of the panel is rubberized and has a noticeable protrusion for abutment at the place of the thumb.

The left side panel is occupied by a door, which hides HDMI and USB connectors, as well as a 2.5 mm jack for connecting an external microphone or remote control device. The opposite side includes a memory card compartment. By the way, the Fujifilm X-T1 is the first digital camera to support the latest high-speed UHS-II class SD cards.

Slot for a memory desk on the right side of the Fujifilm X-T1

Compartment for external connections on the left side of the Fujifilm X-T1

On the bottom panel in the grip area is the battery compartment, and next to it is the tripod thread. For mounting the battery grip, there is a special connector covered with a rubber plug.

Fujifilm X-T1 Bottom Panel

The camera is available exclusively in black, at least for now. The camera measures 129x90x47 mm and weighs 440 grams. The closest competitor, Olympus OM-D E-M1, has about the same parameters.

Display, viewfinder, interface

Fujifilm X-T1 Rear Panel

Note that until now, none of the higher-end Fujifilm cameras have had a tilting screen. Only budget mirrorless cameras were equipped with such displays.

The viewfinder remains the same as that of the Fujifilm X-E2, that is, it is completely electronic and even retained the 2.36 million dot resolution and 100% frame coverage. It is likely that Fujifilm has reserved its hybrid viewfinder for a higher-ranking model that has not yet been heard from. In the menu, you can turn off both the viewfinder and the display at the same time, which is useful in astrophotography. The viewfinder is equipped with a diopter adjustment wheel and a proximity sensor. This is one of the best electronic viewfinders we have dealt with. In terms of image quality, it surpasses the analogue in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and subjectively looks better than in the Sony A7 / A7R. In addition, the X-T1's viewfinder boasts a record high magnification of 0.77x, as well as relatively low image lag.

The menu has hardly changed. Only new items have been added for programming the keys. As noted, the six mechanical buttons are reprogrammed.

Functionality

The Fujifilm X-T1 borrows the 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor from the Fujifilm X-E2 unchanged. The same sensor is installed in the Fujifilm X100S. Its main feature, we recall, is not only the absence of an AA filter, but also support for hybrid autofocus thanks to phase sensors in the structure of the matrix itself. In addition, RAW files are recorded at 14-bit resolution for better grayscale reproduction.

The standard sensitivity range is ISO 200-6400, but can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The camera allows you to set the minimum shutter speed when operating in Auto ISO mode, which is 1/500 of a second. The exposure compensation dial allows you to make adjustments in the range of -3 to +3 EV. And when shooting video, the ISO limit is 6400.

X-Trans CMOS sensor and EXR II processor

No changes in comparison with the X-E2 are observed in the processor part either. The already familiar EXR II chip is installed here. The continuous shooting rate is 8 frames per second with active autofocus, and the buffer depth reaches 47 frames in JPEG format or 23 in RAW format when using UHS-II class memory cards. Continuous focus shooting with active live view lowers the rate of fire to three frames per second, and the buffer depth is limited by the size of the memory card. The shutter lag is only five hundredths of a second, and it takes about half a second to turn the camera on and off.

One of the important features of the EXR II processor is the Lens Modulation Optimizer algorithm, which removes aberration and diffraction effects from optics. This is how it is implemented - the camera contains data for each compatible lens in memory and compensates for distortions in software based on such data. This function, if desired, can be turned off, and all arising distortions can be corrected in the future manually in a RAW converter.

The vertical-curtain focal-plane shutter is capable of operating at shutter speeds up to 1/4000 s, and can also be operated in Bulb mode. Strictly speaking, 1/4000 of a second is a fairly slow shutter speed when shooting at a wide aperture on a bright sunny day, and the camera does not contain a built-in ND filter to reduce exposure. The shutter itself seemed to us noisy, and the electronic shutter, as in the Lumix GM1, is not provided here. The shutter is synchronized with the flash at shutter speeds no faster than 1/180 s, which is a rather modest value today. Olympus OM-D E-M1 can sync at shutter speeds up to 1/320 sec.

One cannot fail to note the Fujifilm focusing system, which made a leap forward in just a year. Until recently, Fujifilm cameras were associated with extremely slow autofocus, a modest set of video modes, and lack of Wi-Fi. But with the release of the X-E2 and the budget X-M1, the situation has dramatically improved. The Fujifilm X-T1 features a 49-point hybrid focusing system with subject tracking function. Thanks to high-speed autofocus, it was possible to achieve the above rate of fire. In addition, this is one of the few cameras that offers three tools at once to help with manual focusing - the focus peaking function, an increase in a fragment of the frame, as well as the Digital Split Image tool (apparently spied on from rangefinder film cameras).

It should be added that the focusing speed is highly dependent on which lens is mounted on the camera. With the complete "glass" 18-55 mm, the camera focuses very quickly and practically does not make mistakes. And when using the 35mm F1.4 lens, focusing becomes much slower. The reward for this inconvenience is excellent picture quality. This is our favorite Fujifilm camera lens, no kidding.

Fujifilm X-T1, despite its size, does not contain a built-in flash, but it is still included in the package. It has a guide number of 8m at ISO 100. The supplied flash mounts to a standard hot shoe, and there is a sync pin on the front of the camera for connecting external strobes.

For Fujifilm mirrorless cameras, in-camera RAW processing has already become a standard, from which the X-T1 has not departed either. It also has features such as panorama shooting (2160x9600), a set of ten film simulation effects, eight art filters, ISO bracketing, white balance, dynamic range and film simulation effects, multiple exposure, and time-lapse photography (with burst limitation, no more than 999 frames).

As already mentioned, Fujifilm X-T1 supports Wi-Fi thanks to the built-in module. Using a smartphone or tablet, you can control the shooting process, take captured images, upload data to social networks, and even assign geotags. The set of wireless functions here is far from the richest, but all this is implemented intuitively and simply. For Android and iOS devices, there are two camera apps - Fujifilm Camera App and Fujifilm Camera Remote. The latter allows you to use your smartphone as a remote viewfinder, change settings, focus and even record video. Basically, the Fujifilm Camera Remote includes all the features of the older Fujifilm Camera App. By the way, Fujifilm X-T1 was the first camera to support remote shooting functions.

And now we come to the most delicate moment. Namely, a fleet of compatible optics. The X-T1 was Fujifilm's first weatherproof mirrorless camera, but the company simply did not have time to release at least a couple of corresponding lenses. Let's remind, Nikon 1 AW1 went on sale simultaneously with two sealed "glasses". All that is left for Fujifilm is to publish its plans to release optics for the next year or two. Protected lenses will bear the WR mark and there will be three models in 2014. This is what the trio looks like: 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R OIS WR, 16-55mm F2.8 R OIS WR and 50-140mm F2.8 R OIS WR. The first zoom lens will be released this June. But, of course, the camera is fully compatible with ordinary, unprotected lenses, some of which are of very high quality.

Test shots, videos, battery life

Since we have already dealt with an X-Trans CMOS II sensor, expectations for noise levels were quite high. But despite the fact that the sensor here is the same as in the X-E2, we still took a test shot, since the result may depend on the internal image processing algorithms. Recall that the test shooting is carried out at night, under artificial lighting with a 40 W incandescent lamp. The noise canceling functions are completely disabled or, if it is impossible to completely disable them, they are activated with minimum power.

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 100

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 200

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 400

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 800

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 1600

Fujifilm X-T1 @ ISO 3200