Why You Can Trust CNET Fujifilm's latest X marks a better-priced spot
With a friendlier price and some worthwhile trade-offs, the latest addition to Fujifilm's X series of interchangeable-lens compacts aims for the more mainstream photographer.
Fujifilm brings its interchangeable-lens camera line down another price notch with the addition of the X-M1. It's essentially a cheaper version of the X-E1, which swaps the viewfinder for a host of other features -- a move that's probably bound to confuse some buyers.
The X-M1 is based around the same antialiasing-filter-free X-Trans sensor as the X-E1, probably the new model's most notable feature compared with competitors. While the X-E1 has an electronic viewfinder and mic input, plus uses less metal in the body, in trade-off the much cheaper X-M1 has a larger, higher-resolution LCD, built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer, and an updated EXR Processor II from the X100S. Continuous-shooting specs are just a hair slower.
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From a design standpoint, the X-M1 is a very different animal than the X-E1. With physical shutter-speed and exposure-compensation dials and a reliance on a manual aperture ring on the lens, the latter directly targets analog-shooting enthusiasts. The X-M1 is far more "digital," with a typical mode dial, frequently used shooting functions mapped to the directional navigation buttons, and an odd vertical adjustment dial on the back.
Another trade-off is the new kit lens, which sounds like a typical 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OIS. One of the nice things about the X-E1 kit is its relatively fast (f2.8-4) 18-55mm OIS lens. It will be interesting to see if retailers offer a custom kit combining the X-M1 body with the better 18-55mm lens; a lot of folks don't care about the viewfinder and are willing to forgo the all-metal body. If the street price of the X-M1 body eventually falls to about $100 below manufacturer price (which is quite likely) it seems like it's be an excellent matchup for the same price as the X-E1 kit.
On the flip side, if you like the EVF of the X-E1, the XF 16-50mm will be the cheapest XF lens yet -- though Fujifilm won't be selling it standalone, at least initially -- and might make a buy-in to the series a little more palatable for some. One of the biggest issues with the X series ILCs are the expensive lenses; they're good, to match the sensor, but make it hard for nonprofessionals to justify buying into the series. (However, at first glance I don't see an aperture switch or ring on the lens, which is pretty much a requirement to operate with the X-E1.)
And speaking of lenses, Fujifilm took the opportunity to announce its XF27mm f2.8 lens a (for them) rather modestly priced $449.95 pancake lens that, like the 16-50mm lens, uses the company's Super EBC coating and has a seven-bladed aperture. It also looks like it lacks an aperture control for operation with the X-E1.
Here are some comparative specs (will update with more complete X-M1 specs when they become available):
| Fujifilm X-M1 | Fujifilm X-E1 | Samsung NX300 | Sony Alpha NEX-6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS n/a | 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS n/a | 20.3MP hybrid CMOS | 16.1MP Exmor HD CMOS n/a |
| 23.6mm x 15.6mm | 23.6mm x 15.6mm | 23.5mm x 15.7mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm | |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 (exp)/ 200 - ISO 6400/25600 (exp) | ISO 100 (exp)/ 200 - ISO 6400/25600 (exp) | ISO 100 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 - ISO 25600 |
| Continuous shooting | 5.6fps 30 JPEG | 6fps n/a | 8.6fps n/a | 3fps 11 raw/15 JPEG (10fps with fixed exposure) |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF 0.5-inch 2.36 million dots 100% coverage n/a | None | OLED EVF 0.5-inch 2.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.09x/0.73x |
| Hot shoe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | n/a | 49-area Contrast AF | 105-point phase-detection, 247-point contrast AF | 99-point phase detection, 25-area contrast AF |
| AF sensitivity range | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 - 20 EV |
| Shutter speed | n/a | 30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 60 min; 1/180 x-sync | 30-1/6000 sec.; bulb to 4 minutes; 1/180 x-sync | 30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 sec x-sync |
| Metering | n/a | 256 zones | n/a | 1,200 zones |
| Metering range | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 - 20 EV |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Included optional | Yes |
| Wireless flash | n/a | No | No | No |
| Image stabilization | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| Video | 1080/30p H.264 | 1080/24p H.264 | 1080/60p/30p; 1080 x 810/24p; 720/30p H.264 MPEG-4 | AVCHD 1080/60p @ 28, 24Mbps, 1080/ 24p @ 24, 17Mbps, 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440 x 1080/30p @ 12Mbps |
| Audio | Stereo | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input |
| LCD size | 3-inch tilting 920,000 dots | 2.8-inch fixed 460,000 dots | 3.3-inch tilting AMOLED touch screen 768,000 dots | 3-inch tilting touch screen 921,600 dots |
| Wireless connection | Wi-Fi | None | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | n/a | 350 shots | n/a | 270 shots (with viewfinder) |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 | 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5 | 4.8 x 2.5 x 1.6 | 4.8 x 2.8 x 1.1 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 12.1 (est) | 12.4 (est.) | 10.9 (est) | 12.3 |
| Mfr. price | $699 (body only) | $999.95 (body only) | n/a | $749.99 (body only) |
| $799 (with 16-50mm lens) | $1,399.95 (with 18-55mm lens) | $649.99 (with 20-50mm i-Function lens) | $899.99 (with 15-60mm PZ lens) | |
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Ship date | July 2013 | November 2012 | March 2013 | October 2012 |
The X-M1 jumps into a very competitive segment; there are a lot of cheaper, excellent ILCs, and the X-Trans sensor tends to be a little weak on video, so the camera might not appeal as much to the consumer crowd. And the Samsung NX300 comes in a similarly two-tone look with the digital feel. It seems nice, but only testing will tell.