ebayUS has the X-E1 kit + permanent X-PRO1 price drop

Hi… again! ;)

First: We read here on brandonremler that the price drop on the X-PRO1 body goes only from Nov 25th to Feb 2, 2013. But we’ve received the information today that the price drop should be permanent! So you have time until 02/2/2013 to benefit of the $600 rebate (X-PRO1 + lens), and afterwards the X-PRO1 body only will remain at $1400!

Second: Just wanted to tell you, that there is the first X-E1 kit with 18-55mm lens available at ebayUS (click here). For $1300 you can purchase the package.

You’re still thinking if you should buy it or not? Well, bertstephani.com (click here) has already made his decision: the X-E1 will be his perfect second camera. “As soon as I get it, I won’t have to lug a big DSLR with me for backup anymore on most of my assignments and I’ll probably sell some of my DSLR gear.” Read the third and final part of his review and look at his images here.

Third: amazon has started shipping the X-E1 kit (click here), according to emails of Fujirumors reader.

_

notified via slidoo.com

$600 rebate on X-PRO1 with lens until 02/2/2013

 

Oh, this time I made you hurry, sorry. But the offer on the X-PRO1 + 18mm or 35mm lens is still valid until 02/2/2013. So, there is no haste. Grab the $600 deal on the X PRO 1 + lens purchase at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and on many eBay US stores (via Slidoo).

So lxcellent was right in the comments to this post. Still time to think about it, and decide, X-E1 or X-PRO1? I’ll give you one more review to read and think about.

What camera would frankdoorhof choose? X-PRO1 or X-E1? His first impressions of the X-E1 can be read here: “I would choose the X-E1, it’s about 90% of the fun of the X-Pro1 but at a much lower price, and the image quality is equal… so for me…. well the X-E1 is a 100% winner and I would HIGHLY recommend the camera for everyone that is on the lookout for a great smaller camera that has different very high quality lenses and gives an image quality that is 100% on the level of a DSLR.” He also posted part two of his review here. In the second part, after comparing the X-E1 and Sony A99 he says: “Now when you are shooting as a hobby and you really only want one camera….. get the Fuji…… without any doubt, it’s a camera that is about everything you will get from a DSLR but it’s smaller, the lenses are smaller/lighter AND…. the image quality rivels many DSLRs… When you want to work in the studio, do model photography, maybe sometimes a wedding or a paid shoot….. now get the Sony/DSLR. It’s a real all rounder and it looks much better in the studio for a client than the Fuji.”

Would frankdoorhof still recommend the X-E1, also now, that there is the $600 deal on the X-PRO1 with lens?

X-E1 bug found

In short: A Fujirumors follower wrote me an email. He says that: “When shooting in JPG you have the option of choosing the picture format just as with the XPRO1, 3-2 equals 4896×3264.  This is the same if you choose Raw+Fine also, and it works properly with the generated RAW file being 4896×3264. BUT If you choose RAW only, the format changes to RAW and the file size locks at 4896×2760!  The XPRO1 if set the same way is 4896×3264!  There seems to be NO way to change this. This has been very frustrating.”

There is also a dpreview post about it here.

PS.: Another feedback on the X-E1: Alexander startet this blog, fujifilm-x-opinions, because he now owns a X-E1, and although it’s a good camera, there are some irritating quirks that he would like Fuji to improve with updates in future. above all the focus in backlit situations. The AF of camera really struggles with backlight situations. “I have used a Panasonic GF1, G5 and a Sony NEX-7. These cameras all don’t offer lightning fast AF. But I had never experienced that they almost completely refused to focus like the Fujifilm X-E1.”

And thanks James for sharing this information with us.

 

X-PRO1/35mm and kickboxing: sport photography with the X-series

image courtesy: fotoaprendiz.com

We read in different reviews, that the X-PRO1 and X-E1 are great cameras, but if you want to use them for sport photography, then these cameras are not the best for such a purpose.

Now I found a Spanish review on fotoaprendiz.com with a field trial of the X-PRO1 on a kickboxing match. I’ll make just a short translation, or go directly to the translated version here.

A big room, it’s night, bad light conditions and no flash. How will the X-PRO1 handle this? He uses the Fujinon 35mm 1.4. Well, the AF had indeed some problems. So he decided to shot images with the MF to achieve better results, by adjusting the depth of focus. But then another problem arose when he tried to shoot many images in a row: the camera was able to shoot just 8 or 9 images in rapid succession because of the buffer, and the problem was not the SD-card, because he used the Sandisk Extreme Pro SD 16GB (click here), the very best and fastest out there in the market.

Take a look at his shots on flickr (click here) or read the original review here… I’d like him to go on the ring again with the 18-55mm lens, and make this test again.

if you want share your opinions in the comments.

PS.: Well, there was someone else out there that also challenged his X-PRO1, trying to freeze the motion “while not going crazy with a super high ISO and shooting tons of frames“… the set? No kickboxing ring, but a Justin Bieber concert. So, if you want, click the link here and see the images of the concert.

 

 

X-E1: the perfect travel companion? on tour in Copenhagen

image courtesy: www.25daysoff.com

Beautiful, compact, great lenses  and outstanding image quality. The X-E1 could have everything what it takes to become the perfect travel companion. 25daysoff sent me an email, and I’m glad to publish his review.

25daysoff.com made a week end trip to Copenhagen with his X-E1. He likes it to travel light, put the X-E1, the 35mm and 18-55mm lens, 2 spare batteries and a circular polarizer in his leather bag. He wanted to know if this camera is a good travel companion! All in all less than 1 kg. So he starts his trip.

You know, great handling, great images, good built quality. The usability is much, much better than the E-M5.

If you are used to the DSLR, you will notice the differences with the autofocus of a DSLR, and you have to get used to it. “If you try and treat this camera’s focus system like you would a DSLR, you will be disappointed.” And “the contrast detection AF system of this camera is very different to the system that DSLRs use. You really need to understand how CDAF systems work in order to get the most of it. I suggest reading the manual if you don’t already know. Once you know the limitations of the AF system, you can work around them with ease.”

He also made a list of bugs and suggestions. Many of them are also in our X-mas wish list to Fuji (keep on voting the poll at the end of this post… choose three options)

There is more to read. But there are also many images. So look at the sort of background blur you can get with the 35mm and 18-55 lens. He “used the zoom’s optical image stabilisation to shoot this at 2 sec, f/11, ISO 200. Surprised it came out so sharp given the long exposure. I was braced against a wall.” He also “shot in aperture priority mode, and auto ISO chose this stupid minimum shutter speed. The photo could have done with 1/125 – Fuji please let us choose the minimum speed!” And the 35mm is almost perfect (apart from the focus speed). Look at how the zoom renders the out-of-focus areas, how is the bokeh with the zoom lens, at the great job of the OIS and more here!

From the conclusions: “As a street shooting camera, the X-E1 excels mostly thanks to its stealthy appearance. Not a single person noticed or cared what I was doing… For quick landscapes and indoor/static scenes, the zoom is an excellent choice which is sharp across the frame even from the widest aperture… As a portrait camera, the X-E1 coupled with the 35mm f/1.4 lens (53mm equiv) is absolutely outstanding… The reduced size and bulk made a massive difference… The loss of the OVF is not such a big deal because the EVF is very good. I actually prefer the 100% accuracy of the EVF over the loose framelines on the X-Pro 1.”

“Overall though, the camera passed the main test during this trip: I didn’t miss the D800.”

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