Fujifilm X-M1 review: Great photos for the money

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. The X-M1 is based around the same 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 sports a far more retro design, 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.

7.8

Fujifilm X-M1

$598 at Amazon

The Good

Thanks to the company's X-Trans sensor and good JPEG processing, the <b>Fujifilm X-M1</b> delivers some of the best image quality we've seen for less than $1,000. The camera's also well designed and attractive.

The Bad

Poor video quality and a subpar Wi-Fi implementation prove annoying drawbacks.

The Bottom Line

While it may not be the best overall camera available for less than $1,000, the Fujifilm X-M1 does deliver the best photo quality in its price class.

I tested both the X-M1 and X-E1 more or less simultaneously, which turned out to be a mixed blessing. While I have no qualms about the photo quality, which is excellent and seems like a steal in the cheaper X-M1, I kept wishing for a camera that combined the best of both models: the body and kit lens of the X-E1 with the better, tilting LCD of the X-M1. The X-M1's Wi-Fi connectivity is also a nice option, but the current (albeit fixable) implementation leaves quite a bit to be desired.

Image quality
For what it's worth, the X-M1 displays the best photo quality I've seen thus far in a sub-$1,000 camera kit. Thanks to Fujifilm's X-Trans sensor and excellent image processing, even the JPEG photos are not just usable, but really good up through ISO 1600. Shots as high as ISO 6400 remain pretty usable at full size as well, depending upon image content.

Fujifilm X-M1 photo samples

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See all photos

But I really wish the company hadn't felt compelled to invoke expanded ISO sensitivity range marketing voodoo on the high end (I have no problem with it for ISO 100). Before I realized that the expanded range option simply wasn't appearing because I shoot raw+JPEG -- it's not available with raw -- I thought "Wow. A camera that actually produces usable shots across it's entire ISO sensitivity range." Then I realized my error and found the useless upper ranges.

Click to download

ISO 200

ISO 1600

ISO 6400

The camera also displays a great dynamic range for its class, certainly better than similarly priced dSLRs I've tested recently. If you shoot raw, it retains quite a bit of highlight detail in blown-out areas and you can bring back seemingly clipped shadows without introducing color noise.

I like the camera's color accuracy and color handling as well; it seems a little better than the X20, thout that may be because the larger sensor gives the M1 more play for exposure and dynamic range.

Like the X20, however, the video quality disappoints. Because the sensor lacks an anti-aliasing filter, edges look terribly jaggy in videos. Most manufacturers who offer an AA-free sensor add some postprocessing to correct the video -- it doesn't look like Fujifilm is even trying here.

Performance
Though the M1 is no speedster, it performs well enough for most general-purpose and street photography; however, the autofocus system it probably can't keep up with hyped-up kids and pets, and its continuous-shooting fixes focus and exposure on the first frame. The manual focus works well, thanks to the nice focus-peaking (edge display during focus) implementation, so if that's your thing you should be satisfied with the camera.

It takes about 1.8 seconds to power on, focus, and shoot; pretty typical for its class. Focusing, exposing, and shooting in good light runs about 0.3-second, also average; in dim light it gets relatively slow, though, at 0.7-second. Two sequential JPEG shots average about 1 second, with 0.9-second for raw, though the latter varied significantly during testing -- from about 0.9 to 1.5 seconds. (We average the three fastest times in cases like this.) Adding flash bumps the time up to 1.7 seconds. As long as you're shooting a still subject, the camera's 5.6fps can burst for an effectively unlimited number of JPEGs (at least 31 shots in our testing with a 95MB/sec SD card) and as much as 6fps for raw as long as it's for less than 12 shots.

The autofocus is reasonably quick and accurate, though like all contrast AF systems it hunts a bit before locking. The biggest issue I've encountered with some of the Fujifilm X-mount lenses -- including the X-M1's 16-50mm kit lens and the new 27mm f2.8 -- is their inability to focus closer than a foot, even in macro mode.

Since the LCD can tilt it remains reasonably usable in direct sunlight and, in conjunction with peaking, works very well for manual focus. Unlike most tilting LCD implementations it can tilt perpendicular to the body facing down as well as the more usual faceup orientation.

Shooting speed
(In seconds; shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Raw shot-to-shot time

Typical shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim)

Shutter lag (typical)

Olympus PEN E-P5

0.8

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.2

Sony Alpha NEX-6

2

0.2

0.2

0.5

0.2

Olympus OM-D E-M5

1.1

0.6

0.5

0.5

0.3

Fujifilm X-M1

1.8

0.9

1

0.7

0.3

Fujifilm X-E1

1.4

1

1

0.8

0.5

Design and features
Attractive and intelligently designed, the X-M1 features a fairly typical consumer architecture. I liked shooting with it, though there are a few drawbacks for manual freaks. The grip feels a little too shallow for comfortable single-handed shooting, though Fujifilm offers an optional grip add-on. (It doesn't seem to be available yet in the U.S. so I can't tell how much it costs.)

On top is a mode dial with the usual manual, semimanual and automatic modes, though as usual Fujifilm gets a little confusing with its auto selections. There's dumb auto-everything mode; Advanced SR auto, a smarter, scene recognition auto mode; and SP (scene position) mode, the more typical scene mode. Advanced filter mode offers up the typical set of special effects, but you can't really change any of the parameters, and it doesn't save an untouched original or raw file. The three oldest scene modes -- portrait, sports, and landscape -- are also called out on the mode dial. And there's a single custom setting slot.

A programmable function button sits to the right of the shutter, in front of an adjustment dial. In addition to a hot shoe, the camera has a pretty decent pop up flash that can be tilted back to bounce or as a quick-and-dirty way to reduce intensity.

On the back there's a vertical thumb-operated adjustment dial that I thought I'd have issues with, but turned out to operate as comfortably as a horizontal dial. Four directional buttons handle autofocus area, white balance, drive mode and macro. There's also a dedicated movie record button and quick control panel button.

My only quibble with the interface is the lack of a direct-access option for metering (or "photometry" as Fujifilm traditionally dubs it) and a physical auto-exposure lock button. You can program the function button for either one, but there's no way to program both operations. So you're stuck going into the menu system to change the metering -- it doesn't even appear on the control panel -- or going without the AE lock entirely.

The only exception to the relatively basic feature set is support for Wi-Fi uploads and geotagging via a mobile device connection. But Fujifilm's app is so...lame. Basically, you can connect and browse or transfer images, or pass geotag coordinates back to the photos. No remote control. And if you, for example, jump out to the gallery to check the download, it disconnects. Of course, app functionality changes hourly, so it's possible that the company can beef it up a little.

For a complete accounting of the X-M1's features and operation, download the PDF manual.

Conclusion
I really do hate proclaiming a camera has the "best" of anything, as that's such a moving target. (Hence, the dearth of Editors' Choices I award.) Even now, looking at comparable cameras I have yet to review -- the Samsung NX300 springs to mind -- I wonder if the next one will surpass it. But I'm fairly confident that, at least until we see a new sensor from another manufacturer, the X-M1 will retain the "best quality" title in its price class.

That said, overall the camera is a little weaker purchase proposition than I'd like -- the disappointing video and its sufficient but generally lackluster performance hold it back. I also wish Fujifilm offered a discounted kit with the better 18-55mm f2.8-4 lens; if you buy the X-M1 body and the lens separately, it'll cost as much as the X-E1 kit, since the lens currently sells for about $799. Neither of the lenses focuses as close as a typical 18-55mm kit lens, though.