Fujifilm X-A2 jumps on selfie bandwagon

Fujifilm X-A2 gets a flip-up display (pictures)

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Fujifilm incrementally updates its entry-level interchangeable-lens camera model, the X-A1 . The Fujifilm X-A2 will ship in two official kits, a $550 option with a revised version of the XC16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OIS lens (denoted with a II) and a $700 kit with that lens and the XC50-230mm II f4.5-6.7 lens.

Directly converted, those prices equate to £363/£462 and AU$673/AU$857; I don't have actual kit configurations or pricing for those regions yet, but I'll update as soon as I do.

What's new

• Selfie display: While the X-A1's LCD tilted, the X-A2 follows the crowd and flips up -- 175 degrees, as opposed to 180 -- for convenient selfie shots.
• New autofocus options: Picking up some of Fujifilm's newer autofocus technologies, the camera now incorporates Multi-Target AF, which expands the selected focus points over a detected subject; Eye AF, a common AF setting that compensates for bad face detection by looking specifically for eyes; and Auto Macro AF, which switches into macro mode when you try to autofocus within a certain distance range, comes in really handy.
• Updated mode dial: There's now a night mode right on it.
• Classic Chrome: Like every other X-series model, the A2 gets the slide-film effect preset.
• Updated app: Fujifilm is stressing that you can print to an Instax printer directly from the app after downloading an image from the camera via Wi-Fi.

Both updated lenses have better build quality and tweaked designs. For the 50-230mm lens, Fujifilm says it slightly improved image stabilization, and decreased the closest focus on the 16-50mm lens to 2.8in/7cm from its predecessor's 5.9in/15cm from the front of the lens.

My take

As far as I can tell, those are the only changes -- the specifications are essentially identical to the A1 -- and it doesn't seem terribly compelling compared to what's out there. It's still a physically attractive camera, but there's so much competition -- and cheaper models -- that it does nothing to meaningfully distinguish it from the pack.

Comparative specs