Remember the Fujifilm X-Pro 1? Remember its mirrorless, 16.3-megapixel APS-C sensor and range of XF lenses? Yep, well look closely at the X-E1, because it's virtually the same camera in a smaller package.
Miraculously, all the same controls are intact. As is the hotshoe. And the EXR Processor Pro. Yes, the 2.8-inch screen is slightly smaller, and the hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder has been replaced by an OLED one pushing out 2.36 million dots of resolution, but it's hard to fault Fujifilm for that. And in the spirit of consumer friendliness, there's now a pop-up flash.
Like the X-Pro 1, the XE-1 has a full metal body swaddled in faux-leather that comes in your choice of all-black, or two-tone black and silver. It shoots 1080p video at 24p and has an auto ISO range of 200-6400 (25600 MAX). Plus, the battery is good for up to 350 shots.
Also announced alongside the X-E1 are two new lenses. One is an 18-55mm (27-84mm equivalent) kit lens with an aperture ranging between F2.8-4. Fuji promises that autofocus and shutter speed will improve with this lens attached, which are two areas in which the X-Pro1 suffered. Meanwhile, the 14mm (21mm equivalent) F2.8 lens is a fixed length lens promising an ultra-wide angle and sharp images.
So then, what do you really lose with the X-E1? Both the pros and cons come in its physical form. Because it's smaller than the X=Pro 1, it's easier to tote around, but when it comes time to fire off shots, it'll also be a bit harder to handle. And because of a smaller battery, less shots. Really the name of the game is making the X-Pro1 more appealing to consumers with its smaller size and added features which emphasize ease of use. But even with its cheaper $1000 body-only pricetag ($1500 with the kit lens), it might be a bit of a hard sell for Fujifilm when this drops in November. [Fujifilm]