Fuji Have officially announced their new X-Pro1, a CSC (compact system camera) ... Or in layman's terms a camera smaller than a digital slr but still with an interchangeable lens! This sort of camera has been around for a few years now, starting with the olympus pen ep1 and panasonic g1 that use the mirco four thirds system.
The one thing that none of these cameras has managed to achieve is a proper optical view finder... of course you can slide accessory finders on to a hot shoe, but its never quite the same!
The fuji X100 came along and thanks to its optical finder, retro feel, and good features became very popular despite the lack of interchangeable lenses.
Well now we have the Fuji X-Pro1.
On paper this camera looks very interesting, it appears to have all the features us x100 users love, but with the added bonus of the ability to change lenses!
So have Fuji hit the nail on the head with this camera and finally bought out a serious CSC that's not reliant on a EFV?
Time will tell I suppose, but the internet hype machine says a lot about what might and might not be a success and there has been a LOT of hype about this release, maybe not as much as these was about the x100, but a lot none the less...
So what do the features and spec list look like... well, impressive ... but then these things usually do!
First we have the "APS-C 16M “X-Trans CMOS” -Developed to take advantage of the exceptional resolution of the XF lens, a revolutionary new sensor inspired by film."
FUJIFILM X-Pro1 | features - APS-C 16M “X-Trans CMOS” | Fujifilm Global
This does look interesting!
Most digital cameras have a low pass filter (anti alias filter); basically a filter that very slightly softens the image ... that of course sounds madness, surely we what sharp photos? Well yes, but these filters are important to stop moire pattern and aliasing and the softness can be gotten over by applying post process sharpness ...
But this camera dosnt have one at all, and that puts it into a very rare breed of camera... leica M9 for eg and I believe medium format digital cameras!
Fuji claim to have gotten over the aliasing issue by reinventing the the sensor array
Moiré is tackled at its root cause by the revolutionary X-Trans CMOS sensor's color filter array. By enhancing aperiodicity (randomness) in the array arrangement, the color filter minimizes generation of both moiré and false colors, eliminating the necessity for an optical low-pass filter in the lens and enabling X-Trans CMOS sensor to capture full “unfiltered” lens performance.
The EXR Processor Pro is supported by an integrated co-processor for higher speed and higher precision image processing performance.
Conventional array
New Filter Array
They even claim it to be more like the randomness of grains of silver halide in film ... Quite the claim!
Next on the important feature list are the 3 lenses
FUJINON Interchangeable “XF LENS” and Original “X Mount”
No limits to image quality. 3 excellent single-focal length lenses and Fujifilm original “X Mount” desgined for maximum perfomance of the lens will promise excellent image quality.
FUJIFILM X-Pro1 | features - FUJINON Interchangeable “XF LENS” and Original “X Mount” | Fujifilm Global
18mm f2 (27mm equiv)
35mm F1.4
60mm F2.4
Not much to say, nice range... they apparently plan to release a whole bunch more in the next 3 years!
And the bit that interests me, the viewfinder...
I have been wondering for a while how they were going to tackle the variety of focal lengths with one viewfinder and it remain ... well ... not crap...
well, as with the x100 we have a hybrid finder that can switch from OFV to EFV (optical to lcd)
and now the interesting bit, how the VF copes with wide and tele lenses ... well if i have understood the spiel properly, the viewfinder has two settings "standard" and "wide"
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujifilm_x_pro1/features/img/page_03/pic_02.jpg
automatically changing depending on which lens is attached!
very clever!
And finally a bunch of very smart looking accessories including an accessory flash ... bit disappointing that it doesn't have one built in ... but anyone who is familiar with old leica/gossen/vc/etc accessory light meters will no doubt appreciate the aesthetic
sample images here
FUJIFILM X-Pro1 | Sample Images | Fujifilm Global
So do I want one?
Yes of course I do .. the x100 is a great camera and this seems to be an advancement of that!
Will I buy one?
Well, it depends if they come out at the rumoured $1799 or other rumoured $1299? and what that translates into quids ... and of course how much "better" than the x100 it is ...
I might just wait for someone other than leica to shoe horn a full frame sensor into a camera like this ... Now that really would tickle me bits
very unlike the sexy x100 and even sexier x10 
