Why You Can Trust CNET Fujifilm's compact camera for hipster hobbyists
The XF1 trades off on the fast lens of the X10 for a smaller, more stylish design.
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Fujifilm adds another compact to its X series of "pro" cameras, the smallest-in-the-line XF1. Targeting photographers who want something stylish and small but full-featured and with presumably higher quality than a typical point-and-shoot, the XF1/X10 dichotomy seems to mimic Canon's strategy with the PowerShot S95/S100 and the G series.
It incorporates the same sensor as the X10 and has several feature advantages, including a larger LCD, faster burst shooting, and longer battery life but it lacks an optical viewfinder -- typical for the more compact enthusiast models -- and the lens isn't nearly as nice. While it starts off a third of a stop faster and a little wider angle, the X10's lens has a wider aperture throughout much of its focal range. Plus the X10 has a seven-bladed aperture compared to the XF1's six blades. Fujifilm does say it uses a new HT-EBC (High-Transmittance Electron Beam Coating) on lens surfaces, but for what it's worth, the X10 uses a Super EBC.
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Wrapped in snazzy faux leather over an aluminum body, the XF1 has a similar twist-to-turn-on lens as the X10, but Fujifilm has ostensibly improved its operation so that you can leave the lens extended but still in standby. It has a new user interface that allows you to quickly map the functions of the six buttons on the back of the camera, and the jog dial on the back will allow you to quickly adjust both shutter and aperture without switching modes.
Here it is compared with a few of its competitors (9/19/12: updated with a comparison to the subsequently announced S110):
| Canon PowerShot S110 | Fujifilm X10 | Fujifilm XF1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 | Samsung EX2F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 12.1mp CMOS | 12mp EXR CMOS | 12mp EXR CMOS | 10.1mp MOS | 12.4mp BSI CMOS |
| 1/1.7-inch | 2/3-inch | 2/3-inch | 1/1.7-inch | 1/1.7-inch | |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 80 - 6400 | ISO 100 - ISO 3200 | ISO 100 - ISO 12800 | ISO 80 - ISO 6400 | ISO 80 - ISO 3200/ 12800 (expanded) |
| Lens | 24-120mm f2-5.9 5x | 28-112mm f2-2.8 4x | 25-100mm f1.8 - 4.9 4x | 24-90mm f1.4-2.3 3.8x | 24-80mm f1.4-2.7 3.3x |
| Closest focus (inches) | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Continuous shooting | 0.9 fps (with AF) 2.1fps (without AF) | 7fps 8 JPEG/n/a raw | 10fps n/a | 5 fps 12 JPEG/ n/a raw (11fps without tracking AF) | n/a |
| Viewfinder | None | Optical | None | Optional EVF | None |
| Autofocus | n/a Contrast AF | n/a Contrast AF | n/a Contrast AF | 23-area Contrast AF | n/a Contrast AF |
| Metering | n/a | 256 zones | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Shutter | 15 - 1/2,000 sec | 30 - 1/4000 sec | n/a | 60-1/4000 sec | 30-1/2000 sec |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hot shoe | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| LCD | 3-inch fixed touch screen 461,000 dots | 2.8-inch fixed 460,000 dots | 3-inch fixed 460,000 dots | 3-inch fixed 920,000 dots | 3-inch articulated AMOLED 614,000 dots |
| Image stabilization | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| Video (best quality) | 1080/24p H.264 QuickTime MOV Stereo | 1080/30p H.264 QuickTime MOV Stereo | 1080/30p H.264 Quicktime MOV | 1080/60p AVCHD @ 28, Mbps; 1080/60p QuickTime MOV @ 28 Mbps Stereo | 1080/30p H.264 MP4 Stereo |
| Manual iris and shutter in video | Yes | No | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Optical zoom while recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | n/a | Yes |
| External mic support | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 200 shots | 270 shots | 300 shots | 330 shots | n/a |
| Dimensions (WHD, inches) | 3.9 x 2.3 x 1.1 | 4.6 x 2.7 x 2.2 | 4.2 x 2.4 x 1.2 | 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 | 4.4 x 2.4 x 1.1 |
| Weight (ounces) | 7.0 (est) | 12.4 | n/a | 10.6 (est) | 11.4 (est) |
| Mfr. price | $449.99 | $599.99 | $499.95 | $499 | $499.99 |
| Availability | October 2012 | November 2011 | October 2012 | August 2012 | August 2012 |
I hope the XF1's successor will have a faster lens; that really looks like it'll be the weakest aspect of the camera, which otherwise has decent specs -- and looks pretty and pocketable for the crowd who doesn't care about a viewfinder. I'd much rather have f2.8 and be able to shoot at ISO 3200 than be forced to bump to ISO 12800, which is likely even less unusable. The lens operation is similar to the X10, which I'm not a huge fan of but lots of people don't mind.
A lot of the camera's attraction will depend on how good and consistent the photo quality is; if it can produce nice shots despite the lens, then it will likely be pretty compelling.