The New Fujifilm X-E1 and New Lenses
Fujfilm has just announced a new member of their continuously growing X-series: the X-E1 digital camera, in black or silver.
This camera continues to round out the popular system, favoring retro
styling, manual capabilities and high imaging performance. The X-E1
follows the trail blazed by the other Fujifilm X cameras by maintaining a
low-profile design and handsome styling. It bridges the gap between the
X-Pro1 and X100 by being slightly larger than the X100, but gains the
interchangeable lens capabilities of the X-Pro1. Like the X-Pro1, the
X-E1 has a 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, focal plane
shutter, RAW file format support, ISO sensitivity to 25600 and full
manual exposure control.
Benefitting from this unique sensor technology, the X-E1 is capable of recording high resolution still images in JPEG or RAW file formats as well as full HD 1080p video. Full-resolution images can be recorded continuously, up to a rate of six frames per second. The recording abilities are taken one step further with the ability to work in different Film Simulation modes. These modes are designed to emulate existing Fujifilm films directly by modifying the image curves to mimic those of films such as Astia, Provia, Velvia and Pro S and H color negative films. Additionally, there are four monochrome settings: regular monochrome and monochrome with the contrast benefits of a yellow, red or green filter.
Exposure metering is handled using a 256-zone TTL system for
acquiring precise exposure. This metering can be used to determine your
exposure settings or can be used as a guide for setting your own
exposure when working in manual mode. Similarly, high speed TTL contrast
AF detection is used to determine focus in as little as 0.1/second and
can function in either a single or continuous style. The lenses also
have an easy to control manual focus ring, which can be altered through
the menu to respond to either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation,
depending on the user's preference.
Overall, the X-E1 adheres to similar design features as the X-Pro1,
X100 and X10 with its film-camera-inspired look and construction;
however, it updates the functionality slightly with the inclusion of an
external microphone jack and electrical
remote shutter release input. The magnesium-alloy build provides
durability as well as a comfortable amount of heft for the camera,
making it easy to handle for long periods of time. The layout of the
controls is highly simplified and visible, with the exposure control
dials located on the top of the body. These dials allow you to manually
alter your shutter speed or exposure compensation by emulating the
layout of film cameras. There is also a customizable Fn (function)
button located on top of the body that helps to expedite your transition
from standard program, aperture priority, shutter priority or manual
mode to more specialized modes, such as multiple exposure mode, film
simulation mode, video recording, RAW override and several others. This
alleviates the need to scroll through menus in order to apply oft-used
imaging techniques to your images. Also enabling quick functionality, a
Quick Menu is accessible through a Q button located on the back of the
body. When working in Quick Menu, you are presented with somewhat
abbreviated menus for faster changing of certain exposure, focus and
other creative settings—such as adjusting the ISO sensitivity between
100 and 25600; selecting between Adobe RGB and sRGB color spaces;
choosing between seven different white balance settings; and changing
the file size or aspect ratio—without having to delve into the larger
menu tree.
For viewing and composing imagery, there are two distinct options: a 2.8” rear LCD monitor or an aspherical OLED electronic viewfinder. The LCD has 460,000-dot resolution, whereas the OLED features 2,360,000-dot resolution for highly fluid motion rendering and detailing. The EVF is constructed from two glass elements and one double aspheric element for optical purity, resembling that of a true optical viewfinder. It also incorporates a built-in detection sensor for automatic switching between the LCD and finder, as well as a built-in diopter for more comfortable viewing. An apparent horizontal field of view of 25° allows easy scanning of the entire scene, and with an eye-point of 23mm, users do not need to remove their glasses in order to work with the finder.
The overall handling of the camera is a highly intuitive process—all of the exposure controls are modified physically, either by the shutter and exposure compensation dials or the aperture ring on the lenses. Rather than selecting distinct P, A, S or M modes, you set either the shutter speed or lens to A or choose which speed and f/stop combination you wish to use. When one or the other is set to A, you will essentially be working in shutter priority or aperture priority; when both are set to A, you will be working in automatic exposure mode; control will be fully manual if neither is set to A. The exposure compensation dial allows you to control your exposure further by 2 stops in 1/3-stop increments.
Differentiating itself from the X-Pro1, the X-E1 integrates an internal pop-up flash with a guide number of 7m at ISO 200. There is also a built-in hot shoe, which allows the direct attachment of auxiliary flashes, including the EF-X20 flash, for TTL flash sync.
The XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS lens
renders a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27.4-83.8mm, which
essentially encompasses the lengths of the first three lens offerings.
The wide end of this
lens has a wide maximum aperture of f/2.8, meaning it can be an
attractive alternative to the 18mm f/2 prime lens. This lens also
features built in optical image stabilization for lessening camera shake
and image blur, which become more apparent when working at the longer
end of the zoom range. The XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS is composed of 14
elements in 10 groups and includes three aspherical elements and one
abnormal dispersion element.
The XF 14mm f/2.8 R lens provides a 35mm equivalent focal length of 21mm, making it the widest Fujinon lens currently available with the X mount. This ultra-wide-angle lens is composed of 10 elements in 7 groups and includes two aspherical elements and three abnormal dispersion elements. Both of the new lenses follow suit as with the past lenses and feature Super EBC coating for reducing lens flare, ghosting and chromatic aberration, while also making the lenses easier to clean.
The X-E1 is available in silver or black, as well as part of a kit with the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS lens (also available with the silver or black body).
The Fujifilm X-E1 is a step further in expanding the functionality of the X-mount lenses and serves to be a middle point between the flagship X-Pro1 and the fixed-lens X100 and X10. The X-E1 interchangeable lens interface gives it greater versatility while still maintaining compactness due to the inclusion of an EVF instead of an optical viewfinder. The newly introduced lenses also further the X series by giving more options, including the first zoom lens of the series, for covering a wider range of shooting situations. Among the innovations presented by the X-E1 and lenses, Fujifilm continues to maintain the high standards and similar design quality that already places the X series in its own unique realm.
Imaging
Keeping the same unique image sensor as the X-Pro1 should be invaluable in regard to the additional sharpness and image quality produced by the X-E1. The 16.3MP CMOS X-Trans sensor is designed by Fujifilm and features a modified RGB color array in order to reduce moiré and false colors without the need of an optical low-pass filter. The sensor strays from the standard 2 x 2 Bayer-array pixel arrangement and features a more complex 6 x 6 patterned group of pixels. By creating a more complex grouping system, there is room for greater randomness in the way light is gathered by the sensor, leading to smoother image quality that is reminiscent of the grain structure of film. This inherent randomness also solves the same problem a low-pass filter does; however, it does so without the loss of sharpness that an additional optical substrate in front of the sensor creates.Benefitting from this unique sensor technology, the X-E1 is capable of recording high resolution still images in JPEG or RAW file formats as well as full HD 1080p video. Full-resolution images can be recorded continuously, up to a rate of six frames per second. The recording abilities are taken one step further with the ability to work in different Film Simulation modes. These modes are designed to emulate existing Fujifilm films directly by modifying the image curves to mimic those of films such as Astia, Provia, Velvia and Pro S and H color negative films. Additionally, there are four monochrome settings: regular monochrome and monochrome with the contrast benefits of a yellow, red or green filter.
Design
For viewing and composing imagery, there are two distinct options: a 2.8” rear LCD monitor or an aspherical OLED electronic viewfinder. The LCD has 460,000-dot resolution, whereas the OLED features 2,360,000-dot resolution for highly fluid motion rendering and detailing. The EVF is constructed from two glass elements and one double aspheric element for optical purity, resembling that of a true optical viewfinder. It also incorporates a built-in detection sensor for automatic switching between the LCD and finder, as well as a built-in diopter for more comfortable viewing. An apparent horizontal field of view of 25° allows easy scanning of the entire scene, and with an eye-point of 23mm, users do not need to remove their glasses in order to work with the finder.
The overall handling of the camera is a highly intuitive process—all of the exposure controls are modified physically, either by the shutter and exposure compensation dials or the aperture ring on the lenses. Rather than selecting distinct P, A, S or M modes, you set either the shutter speed or lens to A or choose which speed and f/stop combination you wish to use. When one or the other is set to A, you will essentially be working in shutter priority or aperture priority; when both are set to A, you will be working in automatic exposure mode; control will be fully manual if neither is set to A. The exposure compensation dial allows you to control your exposure further by 2 stops in 1/3-stop increments.
Differentiating itself from the X-Pro1, the X-E1 integrates an internal pop-up flash with a guide number of 7m at ISO 200. There is also a built-in hot shoe, which allows the direct attachment of auxiliary flashes, including the EF-X20 flash, for TTL flash sync.
Lenses
Complementing the X-E1 and the X-Pro1, Fujifilm has also recently added two new lenses to the lineup, bringing the total to 5 Fujinon X-mount lenses. The X mount is a proprietary lens mount design that permits a shorter flange distance of 17.7mm, which allows for more even light spread across the sensor. While the first three available lenses were prime, fixed focal length lenses, this new release brings the first zoom lens to the system.The XF 14mm f/2.8 R lens provides a 35mm equivalent focal length of 21mm, making it the widest Fujinon lens currently available with the X mount. This ultra-wide-angle lens is composed of 10 elements in 7 groups and includes two aspherical elements and three abnormal dispersion elements. Both of the new lenses follow suit as with the past lenses and feature Super EBC coating for reducing lens flare, ghosting and chromatic aberration, while also making the lenses easier to clean.
The X-E1 is available in silver or black, as well as part of a kit with the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS lens (also available with the silver or black body).
The Fujifilm X-E1 is a step further in expanding the functionality of the X-mount lenses and serves to be a middle point between the flagship X-Pro1 and the fixed-lens X100 and X10. The X-E1 interchangeable lens interface gives it greater versatility while still maintaining compactness due to the inclusion of an EVF instead of an optical viewfinder. The newly introduced lenses also further the X series by giving more options, including the first zoom lens of the series, for covering a wider range of shooting situations. Among the innovations presented by the X-E1 and lenses, Fujifilm continues to maintain the high standards and similar design quality that already places the X series in its own unique realm.
| Fujifilm X-E1 | |
| Effective Pixels | 16.3MP |
| Image Sensor | 23.6 x 15.6mm APS-C X-Trans CMOS with primary color filter |
| Sensor Cleaning System | Ultra Sonic Vibration |
| Still Image File Format | JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG |
| Movie File Format | H.264 (MOV) with stereo sound |
| Number of Recorded Pixels |
3:2: L: 4896 x 3264 M: 3456 x 2304 S: 2496 x 1664 16:9: L: 4896 x 2760 M: 3456 x 1944 S: 2496 x 1408 1:1: L: 3264 x 3264 M: 2304 x 2304 S: 1664 x 1664 Motion Panorama: L: Vertical- 7860 x 2160 / Horizontal- 7680 x 1440 M: Vertical- 5120 x 2160 / Horizontal- 5120 x 1440 |
| Sensitivity | Auto, ISO 200-6400 (expandable to ISO 100-25600) |
| Exposure Control | TTL 256-zones metering; Multi, Spot, Average |
| Exposure Mode | Programmed AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual exposure |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 2EV in 1/3 steps |
| Image Stabilizer | Lens shift type (when OIS type lens is set) |
| Shutter Type | Focal plane shutter |
| Shutter Speed Range | 30-1/4000 sec., bulb up to 60 min. |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/180 sec. or slower |
| Continuous Shooting Rate | 6 fps or 3 fps (selectable) |
| Auto Bracketing | AE Bracketing (+/-1/3, 2/3, 1 EV) Film Simulation Bracketing (Any 3 type of film simulation selectable) Dynamic Range Bracketing (100%, 200%, 400%) ISO sensitivity Bracketing (+/-1/3, 2/3, 1 EV) |
| Focus Mode | Single AF, Continuous AF, MF distance indicator |
| Focus Type | TTL contrast AF (AF assist illuminator available) |
| AF Frame Selection | Area (EVF/LCD: 49 areas with 7 x 7), Multi |
| White Balance Modes | Automatic scene recognition Custom, Color temperature selection (K) Preset: Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light, underwater |
| Film Simulation Modes | PROVIA/STANDARD, Velvia/VIVID, ASTIA/SOFT, PRO Neg Hi, PRO Neg Std, MONOCHROME, MONOCHROME+Ye FILTER, MONOCHROME+R FILTER, MONOCHROME+G FILTER, SEPIA |
| Dynamic Range Settings | Auto, 100%, 200%, 400% |
| Self-Timer | 10, 2 sec. |
| Built-In Flash | Manual pop-up flash, guide no. approx. 7 (ISO 200/m) |
| Flash Connection | Hot shoe (dedicated TTL flash compatible) |
| Flash Modes | Red-eye removal OFF: Auto, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro, Rear-curtain Synchro, Commander Red-eye removal ON: Red-eye Reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction & Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Red-eye Reduction & Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction & Rear-curtain Synchro, Commander |
| Electronic Viewfinder | 0.5" / 12.7mm, 2.36 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder |
| Electronic Viewfinder Frame Coverage | Approx. 100% |
| Eye Point | Approx. 23mm |
| Diopter Adjustment | -4m to +2m |
| LCD Monitor | 2.8" / 71.1mm, 460K-dot TFT color LCD (approx. 100% coverage) |
| Movie Recording | 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720 at 24fps with stereo sound |
| Maximum Clip Length | Up to 29 min. |
| Photography Functions | Select custom setting, Motion panorama, Color space, Color (Saturation), Sharpness, Dynamic range, Film simulation, Gradation, Auto red-eye removal, Framing guideline, Frame No. memory, Histogram display, Preview depth of focus, Focus check, Electronic level, Multiple exposure, Date input, Fn button setting (RAW, Movie, etc) |
| Playback Functions | RAW conversion, Image rotate, Red-eye reduction, Photobook assist, Erase selected frames, Image search, Multi-frame playback (with micro thumbnail), Slide show, Mark for upload, Protect, Crop, Resize, Panorama, Favorites |
| Digital Interface | USB 2.0 |
| HDMI Output | HDMI mini connector (Type C) |
| Microphone/Shutter Release Input | 2.5mm stereo mini connector |
| Power Supply | NP-W126 rechargeable lithium-ion battery |
| Battery Life | Approx. 350 frames |
| Startup Time | Approx. 0.5 sec. in QuickStart Mode, approx. 1.0 sec. when QuickStart mode is off |
| Storage Media | SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-I) |
| Lens Mount | Fujifilm X mount |
| Operating Temperature | 32-104°F / 0-40°C |
| Operating Humidity | 10-80% (no condensation) |
| Dimensions | 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5" / 129 x 74.9 x 38.3mm |
| Weight | 12.3 oz / 350 g |
