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Fujifilm X-A2 jumps on selfie bandwagon
Very, very incremental updates from the X-A1 include a flip-up display.
Lori Grunin
Senior Editor / Advice
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Shop for Fujifilm X-A2 (with 16-50mm lens, Silver)
See all pricesFujifilm 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 | 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 |