Why You Can Trust CNET Fujifilm X-E2: Prosumer ILC gets a handful of essential updates
For the successor to the X-E1, Fujifilm upgraded to a better sensor and attacked some of the performance and design weaknesses.
Okay, so I was pretty late getting around to my review of the X-E1 -- it shipped last November and I didn't post the review until August -- and just a few months later Fujifilm launches its successor. The good news is that for the X-E2 the company has addressed almost all the important issues the X-E1 had. The incorporation of the X-Trans CMOS II (used in the X100S) delivers phase-detection autofocus, and in conjunction with the updated EXR II image processor there's the potential to alleviate the sluggish performance. It also has a bigger and higher resolution LCD that Fujifilm claims provides better visibility along with the digital split-image viewfinder display from the X100S, and the company streamlined the design and layout of the controls a bit. It also gains Wi-Fi connectivity.
However, while the company says it has improved autofocus performance during video and added manual focus peaking, you still can't control ISO or shutter speed in movie mode, though you can still set aperture beforehand.
Shop for Fujifilm X-E2 (Body Only, Silver)
See all pricesA subset of the increasingly crowded field of prosumer ILCs:
| Fujifilm X-E1 | Fujifilm X-E2 | Olympus PEN E-P5 | Sony Alpha ILCE-7/7R | Sony Alpha NEX-6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS n/a | 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS II | 16.1MP Live MOS 12 bits | 24.3MP Exmor CMOS/ 36.4MP Exmor CMOS 14-bit | 16.1MP Exmor HD CMOS n/a |
| 23.6mm x 15.6mm | 23.6 x 15.8mm | 17.3mm x 13mm | 35.8 x 23.9mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm | |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.5x | 1.5x | 2.0x | 1.0x | 1.5x |
| OLPF | No | No | No | Yes/No | Yes |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 (exp)/200 - ISO 6400/ 25600 (exp) | ISO 100 (exp)/200 - ISO 6400/ 25600 (exp) | ISO 100 (exp)/200 - ISO 25600 | ISO 50 (exp)/ ISO 100 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 - ISO 25600 |
| Continuous shooting | 6fps n/a | n/a | 4.5-5fps (lens dependent, IS off) 70 JPEG/20 raw (9fps with fixed AE/AF, no IS) | 2.5fps (5fps with fixed exposure)/ 1.5fps (4fps with fixed focus) n/a | 3fps 11 raw/15 JPEG (10fps with fixed exposure) |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.5-inch 2.4 million dots 100% coverage n/a | EVF 0.5-inch 2.4 million dots 100% coverage n/a | Optional EVF 2.36 million dots 100% coverage 1.48x/ 0.74x | OLED EVF 0.5-inch 2.4 million dots 100% coverage 0.71x | OLED EVF 0.5-inch 2.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.09x/0.73x |
| Hot shoe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | 49-area Contrast AF | n/a Contrast AF; phase-detection AF | 35-area contrast AF | Hybrid AF system 25-area contrast AF;117-pt phase- detection/ 25-area contrast AF | 99-point phase detection, 25-area contrast AF |
| AF sensitivity range | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 - 20 EV | 0 - 20 EV |
| Shutter speed | 30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 60 min; 1/180 x-sync | 30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 60 min; 1/180 x-sync | 60 - 1/8000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes; 1/250 sec x-sync (FP to 1/4000 sec) | 1/8,000 to 30 secs; bulb | 30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 sec x-sync |
| Metering | 256 zones | n/a | 324 area | n/a | 1,200 zones |
| Metering range | n/a | n/a | 0 - 20 EV | 1,200 zones | 0 - 20 EV |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 - 20 EV | Yes |
| Wireless flash | No | No | Yes | No (No on-camera flash) | No |
| Image stabilization | Optical | Optical | Sensor shift | Optical | Optical |
| Best video | 1080/24p H.264 QuickTime MOV | 1080/60p H.264 QuickTime MOV | 1080/30p @ 20Mbps H.264 QuickTime MOV | AVCHD 1080/60p @ 28Mbps, 1080/60i/ 24p @ 24Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60p @ 28Mbps, 1080/24p @ 24Mbps |
| Audio | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input; headphone jack | Stereo; mic input |
| LCD size | 2.8-inch fixed 460,000 dots | 3-inch fixed LCD 1.04 million dots | 3-inch tilting touch-screen LCD 1.04 million dots | 3 inches tilting 921,600 dots | 3-inch tilting touch screen 921,600 dots |
| Wireless connection | None | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, NFC | Wi-Fi |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 350 shots | 350 shots | 330 shots | 340 shots (1080 mAh) | 270 shots (with viewfinder) |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5 | 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5 | 4.8 x 2.7 x 1.5 | 5.0 x 3.8 x 1.9 | 4.8 x 2.8 x 1.1 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 12.6 | n/a | 15.1 | 16.7 (est) | 12.3 |
| Mfr. price | $799.00 (est, body only) | $999.95 (body only) | $949.99 (body only) | $1,699.99 (body only)/ $2,299.99 (body only) | $749.99 (body only) |
| $1,199.95 (est, with 18-55mm lens) | $1,399.95 (with 18-55mm XF lens) | n/a | $1,999.99 (with 28-70mm lens)/n/a | $899.99 (with 15-60mm PZ lens) | |
| n/a | n/a | $1,449.99 (with 17mm f1.8 lens and VF-4 EVF) | n/a | n/a | |
| Ship date | November 2012 | November 2013 | July 2013 | December 2013 | October 2012 |
While it will be a lot more expensive to jump up to full frame -- and even more so if you want OLPF-free full frame -- I think a lot of profressionals who might have jumped at the X-E2 as a supplement (or alternative to) their dSLRs might be lured by one of Sony's options. While I'm not sure the E-P5 can compete on pixel-peeping photo quality, there's still the attraction of the tilting LCD, access to a wider variety of native system lenses, and faster flash sync, and the other Olympus, the OM-D E-M1 additionally has sturdier construction. Still, I really enjoyed shooting with the X-E1 and look forward to giving this an outing. Hopefully within a shorter time frame than its predecessor.