New Gear: Fujifilm X-E1 Interchangeable-Lens Compact Camera
The slimmer, trimmer version of the X-Pro1
The Fujifilm X-Pro 1 has had some photographers lusting after its retro form factor, but its $1,700 price tag can be a bit of a turnoff. Enter the $1,000 Fujifilm X-E1.
Among the few key differences between the new X-E1 and the X-Pro 1: The new model is 30% smaller and uses a strictly electronic viewfinder with a 2.36-million-dot OLED display. That’s a big departure from the hybrid multi-viewfinder found in the X-Pro 1 and sounds like it could be very similar to the EVF found in Sony’s NEX-7. That would be OK with us.
There are still plenty of similarities, though. The X-E1 offers the same manual controls, 16.3MP APS-C C-Trans CMOS sensor, and same X-mount lens compaitbility. There’s still no low-pass filter, instead relying on a nonstandard color filter array to handle moiré and false colors.
Video capture is the same as the X-Pro1: 1920x180p HD at 24 fps with an audio-in port and continuous contrast AF.
Unlike the X-Pro1, the E-X1 offers a pop-up flash with TTL, which is a nice addition for a camera of this size. The rear LCD has also been bumped up to a 2.8” 460K-dot monitor. ISO range is the same as the X-Pro1: 100-25600.
Shipping in November, the Fujifilm X-E1 will run you $1000 for just the body, which, by the way, comes in two-tone black and silver, or classic all black.
In addition to the X-E1 Fujifilm also announced the addition of two new lenses to its X lineup, the XF 14mm f/2.8 (21mm equivalent) and the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 (27-84mm equivalent).
The first will run you $900, while the second will cost $700. Fufjifilm will also be bundling the XF 18-55mm with the XE-1 and selling it as a kit for $1,400. All will be available this November.
