Equipment

Fujifilm X-E1: From DSLR to Mirrorless

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(March 2014: Fujifilm has continued to update the X-trans cameras since I acquired my X-E1 in the spring of 2013. While this article refers specifically to that model—since updated to the similar but improved X-E2—the experiences recounted here should still be relevant to others looking at the Fujifilm system. For broader and updated coverage also see Taking Stock of the Fujifilm X-E1, X-E2, X-T1 Mirrorless Cameras, and check out links to the Fujifilm line of cameras at lenses at the end of this article.)

Recently I have read a lot of good things about some of the new “rangefinder-style” (a useful though not completely accurate description) or “mirrorless” cameras from Fujifilm. As a result I acquired the Fujifilm X-E1 with a few lenses, and I have now had the chance to start using it a bit. I thought I would share some initial thoughts and impressions now, with more thorough reports later on as I use the camera and lenses more.

Background

I am primarily a confirmed full-frame DSLR photographer – I rely on the versatility of these cameras, their speed, the availability of a wide variety of lenses and other accessories, and especially on the excellent image quality that they can produce. However, one downside of this equipment is that it is most certainly not small nor light, especially once you add some (or all!) of the lenses I like to use.

While much of my photography requires what the full frame DSLR system provides, sometimes I have wished for high-quality but smaller and lighter equipment – for example when doing certain kinds of street photography, for certain types of travel, or when I just want to have a camera with me when I’m out and about. I have used a few of the smaller high end point & shoot style cameras ranging from the Canon S95 back to the old Canon Pro One, and I have looked at quite a few others.

I have heard enthusiastic reports on various cameras, including a number of the four-thirds cameras, but I decided that I did not want to consider a camera with a sensor smaller than APS-C, the size of the “cropped sensor” DSLRs. For my intended use, that level of quality – in terms of resolution, useful range of apertures, low-light performance, etc. – will work quite well. Recently several mirrorless cameras with such sensors have been introduced, and they all have their attractions. What led me to settle on the Fujifilm cameras was the combination of an expanding selection of excellent lenses, their somewhat “retro” design that provides hardware knobs and buttons to control settings, and encouraging reports on image quality.Fujifilm X-E1 Mirrorless Camera

I considered the more expensive Fujifilm X-Pro-1, with its hybrid optical-electronic viewfinder, but decided that for my intended use the electronic viewfinder (EVF) of the X-E1 would likely work. (As I read reports from other users, quite a few reported that they used the optical viewfinder option of the Pro-1 less than they expected.) I did not consider the reportedly-excellent X100 since I want interchangeable lenses.

Initial Impressions

What follows is highly subjective, and some of my initial reactions will likely need revision after I adapt to the camera. Speaking of “adapting,” some of this is perhaps based as much on my familiarity and comfort with my Canon DSLRs as on the nature of the X-E1 itself. I have used my Canon EOS 5D II so much that its operation is very much second-nature for me at this point. I rarely have to think about how to do something on that camera, since the “how” has become more or less instinctive. I’m far from that point with the X-E1, but that is to be expected. 

The camera is physically very different, though it looks and feels like a “serious” camera in every way. The lenses share the same quality of the body, and they remind me quite a bit of the old school lenses from a few decades ago – smaller, compact, and with a solid feeling. (Most DSLR lenses are designed in a way that suggests that small size and weight were not important considerations.) The lenses attach solidly and seem to be balanced with the camera in terms of weight and size. If I had my preference, some of the operational friction might be changed a bit. For example, the zoom mechanism on the 18-55mm zoom seems a bit tight to me, while the aperture click-stops on the 35mm f/1.4 could be a bit more distinct. Both are within the range of normal and acceptable, so regard this as the subjective impression from a new user who will probably adapt!

The camera is, of course, much smaller – which was the point! Equipped with the Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 lens (equivalent to a 50mm+ lens on my 5D2) it makes a very small and light package. As a result of making the Fujifilm camera body so small, and simply because it is a different camera from a different manufacturer, various control buttons and wheels are in unfamiliar places… and sometimes in places where they were accidentally activated by my initial manner of holding the camera. For example, more than once I discovered that I had accidentally pressed a button or moved a switch and changed the operation of the camera. I found out the hard way that I could move the AF mode switch to “manual,” put the camera into macro mode (slowing down the AF system), or move the aperture ring on the lens barrel without knowing it. I don’t regard these issues as criticism of the camera (with the possible exception of the macro mode issue) as much as evidence that it will take me some time to become fully intuitive about this camera. I did quickly adopt a slightly different hand position that keeps my fingers away from buttons that I don’t want to accidentally press!

Porch, Bench, and Driveway
Porch, Bench, and Driveway

Based on the small number of photographs I have made so far, image quality seems to be very good. The photo above was shot handheld using the 35mm f/1.4 prime. I shot in RAW mode, converted the file using ACR, and then did a bit of post-processing in Photoshop CS6. The resolution of this lens seems absolutely top notch, and there is very little distortion or CA. (Neither would be visible even if left uncorrected in post.) I have also used the 14mm f/2.8 lens, and it also seems like a standout optical performer. I briefly put the 18-55 zoom on the camera but have not shot enough to report on it yet.

These cameras use the unique Fuji “X-trans” 16MP sensor, which uses a different arrangement of red, green, and blue photosites and which eliminates the anti-aliasing filter found on most sensors. There have been some reports of RAW conversion issues when using conversion software other than that provide by Fuji, but I didn’t see any problems when I inspected my RAW files fairly carefully. (Update: After I posted this I realized that I had not mentioned one small issue with RAW conversion. Both Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw want to crop imported RAW files to 16:9 format, necessitating manual intervention to expand the crop to include the entire frame.)

Auto-focus (AF) speed is often mentioned as a concern with these mirrorless cameras. AF speed is not as fast on this camera as it is on a high-quality current DSLR. How fast is it? It depends. With one of the lenses that has best AF performance – like the 35mm f/1.4 or the 14mm f/2.8 – it is quite decent, especially in good light. It is slower with the 60mm f/2.8 macro, especially when the lens/camera is in macro mode, forcing the system to consider a very wide range of possible subject distance. I know this answer is a bit vague, but overall I’m happy with the AF system and I’m confident about it in normal situations where very fast AF is not necessary. That said, I’m not likely to use it for sports or bird photography!

The quiet operation of the camera is a welcome change in certain situations. While the mechanical shutter does produce some sound, there is not DSLR mirror, so the overall sound level is much lower. I used the camera to make photographs at an art gallery opening as artists spoke about their work. The sound of the E-X1 was very unobtrusive to the point that most people probably didn’t notice it in a situation where they certainly would have been aware of the sound of my DSLR.

Bottom Line

It is probably a bit presumptuous to be offering a “bottom line” evaluation so soon, and after only using the camera for a few days – so take this with a grain of salt. However, I’m quite pleased with the camera’s ability to perform for the use I had in mind when I got it, and the files I’ve worked with so far are looking very good.

That’s enough for now. After I have had a chance to use the camera a bit more I’ll share some more about what I discover as I continue to use it. In the meantime, here are links to the X-E1, a number of Fujinon lenses, and some additional related mirrorless bodies from Fujifilm. (The links go to site-sponsor B&H Photo.)

Fujifilm mirrorless gear at B&H:


Cameras/bundles

Accessories

Lenses

Also see:

© Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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9 thoughts on “Fujifilm X-E1: From DSLR to Mirrorless”

  1. Hi Dan: i wandered over hear from the FB link. In the “small world” department, I too have been watching the mirrorless development. A couple of weeks ago, I bought a Sony Nex-6. My considerations were much the same as yours. I shoot a Nikon D800 “FF” and “pro” lenses, mostly working from a large tripod. I really wanted something smaller for the same 3 reasons you cited. I agree that the APS sensor size was the minimum I was interested in. Three things led me to the Sony: (1) Its APS sensor is the same one as the Nikon D7000 which renders very high, (relatively) noise free IQ, at higher ISO and low light conditions, (2) its ability to accept my Nikon lenses (albeit, only full manual and with a third party adaper) and (3) Ignorance LOL. I have a ver good (and ver talented pro friend who is shooting them professionally and egged me on).

    What I mean by the “ignorance” comment is that I didn’t do the homework I usually do and now am discovering the other choices out there. So I really enjoyed your blog on this camera. I will be looking for your updates. I havent been able to shoot mine as much as I would like, but am anxious to give it more of a real world workout, soon. Will be posting my review of the Nex on my blog this weekend.

    Best, and keep the great information and great images coming.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for dropping by the blog, Andy. I looked the Nikon and Sony (and Olympus and a few other) options as well. It is somewhat amazing how quickly we have moved from having almost no affordable, good quality options for such cameras to having such a wide range of good choices!

      Dan

      Reply

  2. I have been using Nikon SLRs and DSLs for years. Though I didn’t sell my D300, I bought the X-E1 with the 18-55 bundle lens. Unfortunately, the 35mm that I wanted as well was out of stock.

    It is indeed a light package overall. I love the exposure compensation button, however it should have been secured to 0 and maybe pushed and turned to change to + or -.
    The built in flash is way too weak. I am stuck with Fuji’s propositions here since the supposedly newer unit EF X20 does not support bounce flashing as the older EF20. I hope they come up with unit of equivalent size that will support bounce.
    I definitely prefer ASTIA settings for portrait as well as for everyday street shooting. Though I love vivid color settings for nature, I found VELVIA too unreal. I welcome any suggestions on fine tuning the VELVIA settings.
    Battery life is below the D300 let alone the fantastic performance of D70. I carry a second battery.
    I ADORE the Custom Settings Memory Bank fascility. It’s very useful, so is the Fn key that the user can allocate a preferred function.
    The image stabilization on the 18-55mm really works!

    I haven’t had the chance to use the camera much yet. However, the first impressions are definitely positive. I hope that we will receive more user’s reviews and impressions so that we can all help each other take the most out of this lovely camera.

    Reply

    1. Adam: Thanks for that thoughtful and detailed reply! I’m not a big flash user and I recognized this as a weakness of the smaller camera compared to the big electronic flash I can use on my DSLR. I’ve heard the same thing about battery life. I haven’t run mine down all the way yet to find out where the limit is, but one report I read suggested it might be in the range of a bit more than 300 exposures. (I can get that shooting entirely in live view with my DSLR or many times that number of exposures with “normal” shooting on my DSLR.) I went into this knowing that battery capacity would be lower, so I purchased a second battery along with the camera.

      I’ve heard positive things about the film imitation settings. I virtually never shoot in jpg mode, preferring to work with the original capture and make my adjustments in post. However, several reviews I read before purchasing suggest that the jpg mode on the X-E1 is really quite good and perhaps more usable by critical photographers than it might be on some other cameras. The function button is an interesting idea – though I think I want more than one! ;-)

      Dan

      Reply

  3. Patty Mitchell is the macro photographer in the household… so I barely have any experience with the 60mm lens. I’m sure she will have more to say about that lens on the X-E1, and perhaps also about how it feels (pluses and minuses) to use it by comparison to her work with the Canon 5D2 and the EF 100mm f/2.8 L macro.

    John, you bring up a lot of interesting points. First, I also shot with the old Pentax ME and MX “back in the day,” also using that fine 50mm f/1.4 Pentax prime, along with the 40mm pancake lens and the 100m f/2. That was a very fine system for backpacking! Second, I also considered going the t2i (or txi where x is a number other than 2) route rather than investing in the rangefinder-style X-E1. Advantages included lower cost, the pluses of using a DSLR in terms of performance, and being able to use my Canon lenses. Minuses included the somewhat larger size and being able to use my Canon lenses (!). The latter would have meant relying on those same larger and bulkier lenses, thus negating a number of the size/weight advantages of the X-E1. Third, I also was looking for “something quiet, reasonably light, and small enough” for travel and other sorts of use that don’t require the whole kit and the tripod.

    The X-E1 sure looks like it is going to perform well in this capacity.

    Dan

    Reply

  4. I am not the photographer Dan is, but I am learning (I’m blessed to have a good teacher nearby!, and since he and I happen to share the same house we bought the X-E1 at the same time and we can share lenses. Nice!

    Sooo … if anyone is interested in seeing some macro work I have a few photos up from my very first two days of attempting to learn how to use it: http://goo.gl/0KHLk

    I use Lightroom 4, and the photos imported at a cropped size. Dan updated some firmware yesterday so we’ll see if that fixes the issue, but if it doesn’t it’s fairly easy to switch all the imported photos all at once to their original size.

    Not that Dan won’t fill everyone in on everything, really, but I’m the one who usually steals (!) the macro. ;-)

    Reply

  5. Dan,

    First, thanks for taking the time to share you initial impressions. I’m hoping you’ll continue to update these as you add more experience.

    I’d like to echo Greg’s sentiments! I have a Canon 5DMII and an older/smaller XSi that I’m really enjoying. But as Greg pointed out, fully kitted out with camera bodies, an assortment of lenses, various filters, a sturdy tripod and head, and I start feeling like a pack mule! Most of the time I don’t mind.. it’s just part of the sport. But there are times when I’d like something quiet, reasonably light, and small enough to slip into a coat or jacket pocket.

    My XSi with the basic kit lens is light and still gives me respectable images. But it’s too large to go in a coat pocket, and loud enough to turn heads when shooting in a public location.

    I still have my “first” 35 mm – a Pentax ME Super with the f/1.4 prime. It is a solid little brick of a camera that still feels good in the hands. I’d love to have a camera of that size/build that was able to produce good quality images. I’ve been convinced of the virtues of tripod shooting, but still love the freedom of hand-held photography.

    Anyway, thanks again!

    John

    Reply

  6. Hi Dan,

    I immediatgely went to this post whilst perusing my feeds this afternoon. I’ll be VERY interested to hear if you find this system a satisfactory alternative too full-frame full-size DSLR kit. I’ll also be interested if there is any difference in PS workflow from your APS DSLR days… Thanks for posting – I follow you regularly already, infrequent commenter.

    As my day hikes go from 10+ miles a day, to 5-10 miles a day, schlepping 25 pounds may make my cardiologist happy, but I’ll soon have to add an orthopedist to my posse…

    Love your work ~ LOVE this topic!

    Greg

    Reply

    1. Hi Greg – and thanks for stopping by, reading, and posting! You bring up a bunch of interesting and important subjects and questions.

      For me, I don’t think that such a camera will “replace” a full frame DSLR for quite a bit of my work. That’s not a criticism of the E-X1 or of mirrorless cameras in general, but more a recognition of where each type of camera excels. I hinted at some of the virtues of the full-frame DSLR in my post: the larger sensor potentially provides greater resolution for large prints, the DSLR can provide overall faster and more responsive operation, a larger selection of lenses is available, a larger range of useful apertures is available before diffraction blur becomes an issue.

      On the other hand, APS-C sensor cameras can produce excellent image quality – better in virtually all measurable ways than 35mm film – and advantages of smaller size and weight, and so forth.

      So many choices in photography are about weighing the importance of a range of factors relative to the particular shooting at hand. While full frame might provide somewhat better image quality options, when I’m shooting handheld and light weight and small size are important, that IQ advantage probably won’t amount to much. Here, the size and weight advantage clearly goes to the small rangefinder style cameras as long as the image quality is sufficiently good to keep up with careful handheld shooting. From my brief use so far, the E-X1 certainly seems to meet that test – excellent portability and very fine image quality from everything that I’m seeing.

      Regarding your hiking question, I think that these cameras are going to be a great option for many people who tend to shoot handheld, want to keep the camera handy (rather than buried in a pack), are particular about image quality, and who value light weight and smaller bulk. I’m still going to be on of those die-hards who carries 15 pounds of gear including a tripod into the back-country, but I expect to see folks doing some excellent photography with these smaller cameras.

      Dan

      Reply

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