New Fuji X-E1?

[Chris Dodkin]

Japanese website digicame-info.com has leaked some very official looking images of a new Fuji mirrorless camera, the X-E1.

The camera looks to be a lower price-point version of the X-Pro1, with the same lens mount and body style, but no optical viewfinder - this would make it EVF only, hence the 'E' in the name perhaps?

Looks like it's going to be available in black and black/silver - and is shown alongside the new Image Stabilized 18-55m F2.8-4 R OIS lens.

This would be consistent with the path taken after the X100 was released, it was followed by the X10 as a lower price-point model with no Hybrid viewfinder.

No news on a new X100 model (X200?) but there are images on a new ultra-slim X Model on the internet, the XF1?

No doubt Photokina will put all of this to bed as the product announcements for 2013 are made.

 

[Hamish Gill]

That xf1 is one tasty looking bit of kit!

 

[Kev Pugh]

Fuji on a roll by the looks....

 

[Hamish Gill]

As long as they work out how to get auto focus to work

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Yeah - I've yet to get a sharp picture Hamish

 

[Beth Anthony]

no aperture ring on the lens? the x-e1 might make a decent second body, can't wait to see more specs. is that a popup flash on top? would have rather seen a redesigned battery compartment/tripod socket..

edit - just saw the little door on the side of the first pic. hopefully that's used for more than hiding cable ports!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Yeah - I've yet to get a sharp picture Hamish

Well I didn't want to say anything ... ...

 

[Pete Askew]

Mind we only have his word for it that they are in focus. He doesn't look through the viewfinder so who knows what he was intending to take a picture of!

 

[Jim Kuo]

He doesn't look through the viewfinder so who knows what he was intending to take a picture of!

Even if the viewfinder was used, it was still not possible to check focus as it's a rangefinder (like) camera .

 

[Paul Lange]

Although it seems to make sense to have a lower price point version of the X1 Pro as I guess Fuji don't want to make a X100 with a zoom I do wonder if they will be competing on tough ground. There are already quite a few interchangeable lens cameras that are similar. Part of what's nice about Fuji is that they were going their own way and coming out with genuine different alternatives to the standard camera types currently marketed.

 

[Larry Bolch]

I was shooting with the X-Pro1 at a cookout last night. Light was from the fire and sky-glow. The final shot was at 9:09:27 pm—more than a half hour after sunset—with the 35mm f/1.4 at 1/10th of a second, f/1.4 at ISO6400. After that, camera and subject motion was simply too much to get sharpness. While it certainly took care, the camera was still able to focus on the subject, though of course, depth of field became very limiting.

Unlike all the perfect cameras, the XP1 does require some skill to use in extreme conditions.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Additional photos have surfaced on the same website - showing the pop-up flash, the top plate, and the rear of the camera.

on the fujix Forum - rdelbar has done some photoshop size comparisons with the X-Pro1

Shows the new model to be smaller as expected.

[rumors] Fujifilm X-E1 - Fuji X Forum - Page 4

 

[Chris Dodkin]

[video=youtube;Jo97siRDKDw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo97siRDKDw[/video]

Hands on of new camera

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Hmm...not the most thrilling video I've ever seen...Interesting camera, though. I'd love an XPro1, but can't afford it this year, which is why I bought the XS1, to give me a sense of having different lenses, without actually having different lenses. Of course, that plan could only be partially successful. The processor in the X100 is much higher quality than the XS1. I'd like a DSLR one of these days, but might just hang back and wait for the XPro1, or something different altogether.

 

[Beth Anthony]

crap. looks like the sd card is still in the battery compartment.. i want a second body, but not sure if i'll pick up one of these or another x-pro 1.

rob- the x-e1 is supposed to be cheaper than the x-pro 1.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, but I'll always be thinking I should have saved for the XPro1...maybe. I'll think about it. I'm wondering whether I should instead choose something completely different. The OMD, or is it OMG?

 

[Beth Anthony]

bit of news, i think...
x-e1 official announcement
not exactly news since we've known about it for awhile, but it does give an estimated price for the x-e1 of $1400 (USD) with the 18-55 lens or $1000 without.

and a firmware upgrade for the x-pro 1 is in the works.
x-pro 1 firmware upgrade announcement
auto and manual focus and buffer improvements are promised on sept. 18th.

 

[Beth Anthony]

from dpreview:
Because the 18-55mm F2.8-4 has a variable maximum aperture, its aperture ring is no longer marked - instead it rotates continuously, with click-stops for every third-stop change.

dpreview hands on preview x-e1/