the “unfair” comparison: X-E1 with 55-200 vs Canon 5D Mark III with 70-300 (and in stock at AmazonUK and US)

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IN STOCK: A limited number of XF 55-200 is now in stock at AmazonUK here (shipped and sold by AmazonUK) and also three at AmazonUS, but via third party reseller here (you have to pay $100 more to purchase it).

Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892] photo stacks_image_6736_zps6c4ee6df.jpg

image courtesy: martin-doppelbauer

Martin made a quite unfair comparison between the [shoplink 12881]X-E1[/shoplink] with [shoplink 12892 ebay]XF 55-200[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 13457]Canon EOS 5D Mark III[/shoplink] with [shoplink 13458]Canon 70-300 IS L[/shoplink]. “But yet, Fuji claims itself to achieve the image quality of a full-frame camera. So let’s see“. You can read the whole comparison here (available in English and German). Some extracts:

“In direct comparison, I could not detect any significant drawback in the focus speed compared to the Canon 70-300 IS L at least in static, high contrast scenes. To run the focus from infinity to close range takes similar time on both optics. I already have noted the limitations of the X-E1 when recording fast-moving objects (birds in the air, or motor cycling, but also: Crawling babies head from the front) elsewhere. Because both the focus point and the viewfinder image freeze after the first shot in continuous shooting mode, there are little to no chances to get a good picture in such situations. Here, the DSLR is still unbeatable (and the EOS 5D Mark III shines in particular with its uber-autofocus anyway).

Somewhat disappointing is the vignetting of the XF 55-200 at maximum aperture. At least you can correct this well by software.

For a comparison of system resolution, I have run the X-E1 and the XF 55-200 against the EOS 5D Mark III with the excellent 70-300 f/4-5.6 L IS USM. Not quite a fair comparison, as I admit frankly, because the Canon lens costs easily twice as much as the Fuji zoom. And we don’t even talk of the camera body […] Compared with the EOS 5D Mark III, however, Fuji’s zoom has a significantly lower resolution. The Canon 70-300 L resolves about a third more lines across the board, occasionally even 50% more. An equivalence to the Canon full-frame system is beyond question.

The XF 55-200 […] convinces with a very solid overall performance. Across all focal lengths and apertures it has a good sharpness with minimal chromatic aberrations without significant weaknesses. Sure, it can not keep up with a very good full-frame camera and lens. But this is outweighed by price, weight and size.

Fuji XF 55-200mm [shopcountry 12892]

image courtesy: martin-doppelbauer

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Zack Arias: “Life without DSLRs”… X100S follow up review

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image courtesy: Zack Arias

Zack Arias announced it a couple of weeks ago, when he tested the X100S: “DSLR is dead”. And now, how is his life without the DSLR? What changed in Zack’s photography after he switched to Fuji? See his shots and read the whole blog post here. And if you plan to switch too, check out the X-superkit deals.

“I was recently asked on my Q&A blog whether I was switching to Fuji just to be different and not because they are better. I replied saying it is part of the equation. Not a large part. Not even half of the part, but yeah, that’s part of it. Who has a DSLR these days? Everyone. Moms, grandpas, clients, kids, that guy in accounting, everyone. Nikon this. Canon that. […]

It’s mostly a mental departure from how I’ve done things for a long time and how much of the rest of the photography world works. It makes a difference with my clients and subjects as well. DSLRs are so generic these days that when you show up with something different like a Fuji or a medium format people take notice. They ask questions. These cameras start conversations. When I shot DSLRs I always heard about what camera my client or subject had. “Oh. You shoot Canon. I have a Nikon.” Etc. Etc. And then those conversations would take place. Not any more. “Wow. What is that? I’ve never seen one of those.” is now the opening line. […]

When you change those tools there’s a mental change as well. The retro styling of the Fuji cameras isn’t just for show. There’s a reason cameras have been set up like those for decades. There’s a very practical reasoning behind dedicated aperture dials on the lens and shutter speed dials. I can “feel” where my settings are.

I say all of this to say I’m emotionally connected to my Fujis. I’ve never been emotionally connected to a DSLR. Ever. That connection matters. It’s not on a spec sheet. It can’t be tested in the lab. I look at my Fuji cameras and I want to go shoot. I want to make photos. They don’t belong in a bag. They belong on in my hand.”

Fuji X100S: [shopcountry 12883]

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Waiting for Godot… the X100S “under review (?)” at AmazonUS

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You probably know Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” (wikipedia – [shoplink 13415]your Amazon[/shoplink]), where two homeless men are waiting for Godot, but he never arrives.

Well, we are not looking for Godot, but for the X100S. Announced at the 7th of January (but FR told you about it for first already weeks before), in stock for the first time in late March for a very short time, now it almost disappeared from stores. And so we are here, waiting for our pre-ordered X100S to come, but nothing happens.

And now this: I’ve checked the X100S status at Amazon every day. They said “in stock in 1-3 weeks”, “in stock in 1-3 months”, “in stock in 3-5 weeks” and now AmazonUS says “ITEM UNDER REVIEW” Here is the full text. What went wrong with AmazonUS?:

“Item Under Review: While this item is available from other marketplace sellers on this page, it is not currently offered by Amazon.com because customers have told us there may be something wrong with our inventory of the item, the way we are shipping it, or the way it’s described here. (Thanks for the tip!) We’re working to fix the problem as quickly as possible.”

btw, I also believe that Fuji was surprised by the high demand for this camera and has now problems to deliver the camera to the stores. As you know, Fuji announced to cut down the compact camera lineup by 50%. It’s a good news: let’s focus on the X-series and not waste energy into bottom-end models.

Fuji, concentrate your power on the X-series, everything else is just distraction!

We started with Godot and therefore we have to find an absurd final for this story: so, while nobody knows when the X100S will be in stock at AmazonUS, the guys over at dealsrunner.com just found it in stock at AmazonUK (shipped and sold by AmazonUK). And if you find them in stock too, subscribe to dealsrunner and spread the word!

curtain
Patrick

Fuji X100S: [shopcountry 12883]

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Nikon A vs X100S (ISO) + Video comparison: X100S vs NikonA vs RicohGR

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1) Cameralabs compared the [shoplink 12883]X100S[/shoplink] with the [shoplink 13071]Nikon A[/shoplink] and we have (again) a clear winner: the X100S with his X-Trans sensor:

“Compared with the COOLPIX A, at the lower ISO settings, the X100S looks a little sharper, but in noise terms there’s little to choose between them with the COOLPIX A’s 100 ISO crop a close match for the X100S’s 200 ISO. At 400 ISO it’s still a pretty close call, but at 800 ISO it looks to me like there’s noticeably more noise in the COOLPIX A crop. At 1600 ISO there’s clearly more texture in the wall, the text panel looks softer and the edge detail is beginning to crumble on the COOLPIX A crop where the X100S is still holding strong.

But read more and see all the ISO-comparison shots here at cameralabs.

No need to tell you which images comes from the X100S X-Trans sensor ;)

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2) Mike Kobal posted his video comparison of the [shoplink 12883 ebay]X100S[/shoplink], [shoplink 13071 ebay]NikonA[/shoplink] and [shoplink 13349 ebay]RicohGR[/shoplink] at his website here.

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