Fujifilm X-A2 jumps on selfie bandwagon

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

	Fujifilm X-A2	Olympus PEN E-PL7	Samsung NX3000	Sony Alpha A5100
Sensor effective resolution	16.3MP CMOS	16.1MP Live MOS	20.3MP CMOS	24.3MP Exmor HD CMOS
Sensor size	23.6 x 15.6mm	17.3mm x 13mm	23.5mm x 15.7mm	23.5 x 15.6mm
Focal-length multiplier	1.5x	2.0x	1.5x	1.5x
OLPF	No	Yes	No	Yes
Sensitivity range	ISO 100 (exp)/ ISO 200 - ISO 6400/ ISO 25600 (exp)	ISO 100 (exp)/ISO 200 - ISO 25600	ISO 100 - ISO 25600	ISO 100 - ISO 25600
Burst shooting	None with continuous focus and exposure (5.6fps with fixed focus and exposure)	3.5fps unlimited JPEG/20 raw (8fps with fixed focus and exposure)	5fps (30fps at reduced resolution) n/a	6fps 56 JPEG/23 raw
Viewfinder (mag/ effective mag)	None	None	None	None
Hot shoe	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Autofocus	49-area Contrast AF	81-area Contrast AF	21-area contrast AF	179-pt phase- detection; 25-area contrast AF
AF sensitivity	n/a	n/a	n/a	-1 - 20 EV
Shutter speed	30 - 1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 60 min; 1/180 x-sync	60-1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 30 minutes; 1/250 sec. x-sync	30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 4 minutes; 1/180 x-sync	30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 x-sync
Metering	256 zones	324 area	221 segment	1,200 zone
Metering sensitivity	n/a	-2 - 20 EV	0 - 18 EV	-1 - 20 EV
Best video	H.264 MPEG-4 Quicktime MOV 1080/30p	H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p @ 24Mbps	H.264 MPEG-4 1080/30p, 25p	XAVC S 1080/60p, 30p, 25p, 24p; 720/120p 50Mbps
Audio	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo
Manual aperture and shutter in video	n/a	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maximum best-quality recording time per clip	14 minutes	22 minutes	4GB/20 minutes	29 minutes
IS	Optical	Sensor shift	Optical	Optical
LCD	3-inch/7.5 cm Tilting 920,000 dots	3-inch/7.5cm Flip-down touch screen 1.04m dots	3-inch/7.5cm Tilting 460,000 dots	3-inch/7.5cm Flip-up touchscreen 921,600 dots
Memory slots	1 x SDXC	1 x SDXC	1 x microSD	1 x SDXC
Wireless connection	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi, NFC	Wi-Fi, NFC
Flash	Yes	Bundled optional	Bundled optional	Yes
Wireless flash	Yes	Yes	No	No
Battery life (CIPA rating)	410 shots	350 shots	370 shots	400 shots
Size (WHD)	4.6 x 2.6 x 1.6 in 116.9 x 66.5 x 404 mm	4.5 x 2.6 x 1.5 in 114.9 x 67 x 38.4 mm	4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 in 117.4 x 65.9 x 39.0 mm	4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4 in 109.6 x 62.8 x 35.7 mm
Body operating weight	12.3 oz. (est.) 350 g (est.)	12.9 oz. 364 g	8.1 oz (est.) 230 g (est.)	10 oz (est.) 283 g (est.)
Primary kit	$550 (with 16-50mm lens)	$600 £400 (with 14-42mm II lens) AU$849 (with 14-42mm PZ lens)	$510 £280 AU$600 (with 16-50mm PZ lens)	$600 £530 AU$800 (with 16-50mm PZ lens)
Release date	February 2015	September 2014	June 2014	September 2014