Fujifilm X

This is the first DSLR style X-Series camera from Fujifilm.

Fujifilm has rapidly established itself as the Apple of the digital photography world with its slew of new digital cameras based around compact mirrorless bodies, Fujinon interchangeable lenses and an analogue feel that harks back to the days of film. The cameras have become firm favourites with enthusiasts trying to get away from the bulky DSLR systems of Nikon and Canon, but with a classic retro handling that's reminiscent of old-school Leica cameras.

Although the X-Series may feel classically retro, the technology inside the four current models is far from retro. Fujifilm designs its own range X-Trans CMOS sensors that are unlike any other imaging sensors on the market. The sensors use random colour filter arrays and have no anti-aliasing filter which produces an image quality that's supremely sharp and has colour reproduction that's unique to Fujifilm

Now Fujifilm has taken the next step in the evolution of the X-Series with the announcement today of the brand new Fujifilm X-T1. It's the latest addition to the range and mimics the form factor of a compact SLR camera with a gorgeous range of manual dials as well as fully automatic control. The X-T1 is a direct competitor to the OM-D from Olympus, except it has a larger APS-C sized 16.3-megapixel sensor instead of the OM-D's Four-Thirds sensor. The new XT-1 accepts Fujifilm's ever-expanding range of X-Mount lenses and its weather-resistant body is wrought from a hunk of die-cast magnesium and weighs in at 440g with battery and memory card.

The XT-1 features a ground-breaking piece of technology in the form of its viewfinder. Because the X-T1 is mirrorless, the viewfinder doesn't use a pentaprism like conventional DSLR models; instead it has an OLED electronic eye-level viewfinder with a refresh lag of just 0.005 seconds. This fast refresh rate, which Fujifilm claims is one tenth the speed of conventional digital cameras, offers a lifelike experience from an electronic viewfinder that can keep up with fast-moving subjects or when panning. With a 2.36-million dot resolution, the OLED display promises a crisply detailed view of what's being shot thanks to four display modes.

The first viewfinder mode is 'FULL', which takes advantage of the high magnification ratio of the X-T1′s viewfinder and displays shooting information at the top and bottom of the screen to avoid obstruction of the view . The second mode is 'NORMAL' which gives a standard view along with a display of the shooting settings. The third is 'DUAL' mode, which is designed for manual focusing using a split view where the regular view and manual focus area can be simultaneously checked with Digital Split Image or Focus Peak Highlight. Finally there's an automatic 'VERTICAL' mode for when the camera is shooting in portrait view. The image is automatically rotated in 'FULL' and 'NORMAL' modes whenever the camera is held vertically. In addition to the eye-level viewfinder, the X-T1 also has a 3-inch LCD colour monitor with 1,040k dots that can tilt for low-angle shots.

To match the superfast refresh rate of the OLED viewfinder, there's also a new autofocus system. The X-TransCMOS II sensor at the heart of the camera has phase detection autofocus built in and that means it can offer what Fujifilm claims is the world's fastest focus response time of just 0.08 seconds. Add this to a start-up time of 0.5 seconds (thanks to a new EXR Processor II) and the X-T1 promises to be ready for action almost instantly. Shooting is possible at a very respectable rate of eight frames per second with tracking autofocus. With specs like that the X-T1 will prove a firm favourite with sports and wildlife photographers. The X-T1 is also the first model to be compatible with SDXC UHS-II format memory cards, so the data-writing speed in continuous shooting mode increases to about twice the rate of a conventional memory card.

Since the X-T1 is likely to appeal to outdoor shooters its 80 points of weather sealing on the dust and water-resistant body should give it plenty of protection from dirt and moisture. It can also operate at temperatures as low as -10°C and that makes it ideal as a tough field camera in hostile conditions. To top off what sounds like a seriously exciting design, the X-T1 features built-in wi-fi capability and there's a Smartphone application for controlling the camera remotely.

We haven't had an opportunity to review the X-T1 yet as it's only just been announced, but from the specifications chart it looks as if it will be setting the standard for a new and exciting category of professional digital camera.

The X-T1 is available mid-to-late February and will retail at $1,299/£1,099/€1,300 for the body on its own or $1,699/£1,499/€1,800/ with the excellent XF 18-55mm zoom kit lens.

X-T1 Specification Chart

Number of effective pixels

16.3 million pixels

Image sensor

23.6mm×15.6mm（APS-C）X-Trans II CMOS with primary colour filter Total number of pixels: 16.7 million pixels

Sensor Cleaning system

Ultra Sonic Vibration

Storage media

SD memory card / SDHC memory card / SDXC( UHS-II) memory card *1

File format (still image)

JPEG (Exif Ver 2.3 *2), RAW (RAF format), RAW+JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system compliant, DPOF-compatible)

(movie)

Movie File Format : MOV Movie Video Compression : H.264 Audio : Linear PCM Stereo

Number of recorded pixels

L：<3:2>4896ｘ3264 / <16:9>4896ｘ2760 / <1:1>3264 × 3264 M：<3:2>3456ｘ2304 / <16:9>3456ｘ1944 / <1:1>2304 × 2304 S：<3:2>2496ｘ1664 / <16:9>2496ｘ1408 / <1:1>1664 ×1664 ＜Motion Panorama＞ L　 Vertical：2160ｘ9600　/ Horizontal：9600ｘ1440 M Vertical：2160ｘ6400　/ Horizontal：6400ｘ1440

AUTO (Control available up to ISO6400) Equivalent to ISO 200 - 6400 　(Standard Output Sensitivity) Extended output sensitivity : Equivalent to ISO 100, 12800, 25600 and 51200

Exposure control

TTL 256-zone metering, Multi / Spot / Average

Exposure mode

Programmed AE/ Shutter Speed priority AE/ Aperture priority AE / Manual exposure

Exposure compensation

-3.0EV - +3.0EV,　1/3EV step （movie recording : -2.0EV - +2.0EV)

Image Stabiliser

Supported with OIS type lenses

Shutter speed

(P mode) 1/4 sec. to 1/4000 sec., (All other modes) 30 sec. to 1/4000 sec. Bulb (max.60min.) Time　1/2 to 30 sec Synchronized shutter speed for flash：1/180 sec or slower

Continuous shooting

Approx. 8.0 fps (JPEG : max. approx. 47 frames) Approx. 3.0 fps (JPEG :up to the capacity of the card) * Recordable frame number may vary depending on the type of memory card used. * The frame rate varies with shooting condition and the number of images recorded.

Auto bracketing

AE Bracketing (±1/3EV, ±2/3EV, ±1EV) Film Simulation Bracketing (Any 3 types of film simulation selectable) Dynamic Range Bracketing (100% ・ 200% ・ 400%) ISO sensitivity Bracketing (±1/3EV, ±2/3EV, ±1EV) White balance Bracketing （±1, ±2, ±3）

Focus mode

Single AF / Continuous AF/MF　Distance Indicator

Focus type

Intelligent Hybrid AF (TTL contrast AF/TTL phase detection AF) , AF assist illuminator available

(AF frame selection)

Area （EVF/LCD : 49 areas with 7ｘ7）/ Multi * Changeable size of AF frame among 5 types

White balance

Automatic scene recognition Custom / Colour temperature selection (K) Preset: Fine / Shade / Fluorescent light (Daylight) / Fluorescent light (Warm White) / Fluorescent light (Cool White) / Incandescent light / Underwater

Interval timer shooting

YES Setting: Interval, Number of shots, Starting time

Flash

External flash EF-X8 （included ） (Super Intelligent Flash) Guide number : approx. 8（ISO100・m) / approx 11 (ISO200・m)

Flash modes

Activated when external flash is connected Red-eye removal OFF: Auto / Forced Flash / Slow Synchro / Suppressed Flash / Rear-curtain Synchro / Commander Red-eye removal ON: Red-eye Reduction Auto / Red-eye Reduction & Forced Flash / Suppressed Flash / Red-eye Reduction & Slow Synchro / Red-eye Reduction & Rear-curtain Synchro / Commander *Red-eye removal is active when Face Detection is set to ON.

Hot shoe

Yes (Dedicated TTL　Flash compatible)

Viewfinder

0.5-in., approx.2,360K-dot OLED colour viewfinder Coverage of viewing area vs. capturing area : approx. 100％ Eye point : approx. 23 mm (from the rear end of the camera's eyepiece) Diopter adjustment : -4m^-1 to +2m^-1 Magnification :0.77x with 50 mm lens (35 mm format equivalent) at infinity and diopter set to - 1.0 m ^-1) Diagonal angle of view : approx. 38° (Horizontal angle of view :approx. 31°) Built-in eye sensor

LCD monitor

3.0-in, aspect ratio 3:2, approx. 1,040K-dot, Tilt type colour LCD monitor (Approx. 100% coverage）

Movie recording

Full HD 1920×1080 60p/30p　 Continuous recording : up to approx. 14 min. HD 1280x 720 60p/30p　　Continuous recording : up to approx. 27min. * Use a card with SD Speed Class with 'Class10″ or higher.

Film Simulation mode

10 type　（PROVIA/STANDARD, Velvia/VIVID, ASTIA/SOFT, PRO Neg Hi, PRO Neg. Std, MONOCHROME, MONOCHROME+Ye FILTER, MONOCHROME+R FILTER, MONOCHROME+G FILTER, SEPIA）

Dynamic range setting

AUTO(100-400%), 100%, 200%, 400%

Advanced filter

Toy camera / Miniature / Pop color / High-key / Low-key / Dynamic tone / Soft focus / Partial color (Red / Orange / Yellow / Green / Blue / Purple）

Other photography functions

Auto Red-eye Removal, Setting (Colour, Sharpness, D-range, Gradation), Select custom setting, Motion panorama, Colour space, Framing guideline, Frame No. memory, Histogram display, Preview depth of focus, Lens Modulation Optimizer, Pre-AF, Focus check, Focus Peak Highlight, , Digital Split Image*3, Electronic level, Multiple exposure, Interval timer shooting, Release priority/Focus priority selection, Function button setting, (RAW, Movie, etc.）, ISO AUTO　control, Instant AF setting (AF-S/AF-C)

Playback functions

RAW conversion, Image rotate, Red-eye reduction, Photobook assist, Erase selected frames, image search, Multi-frame playback (with micro thumbnail), Slide show, Mark for upload, Protect, Crop, Resize, Panorama, Favourites

Wireless transmitter (standard)

IEEE 802.11b/g/n (standard wireless protocol)

Wireless function

Geotagging / Wireless communication (Image transfer) / View & Obtain Images / Remote camera shooting / PC Autosave

Other functions

PictBridge, Exif Print, Language selection, Time difference, High Performance mode, Silent mode

USB2.0（High-Speed) / micro USB terminal connectable with Remote Release RR-90 (sold separately)

HDMI mini connector (Type C)

(Others)

Microphone/shutter release input: Φ2.5mm, stereo mini connector

Power supply

NP-W126 Li-ion battery (included)

Dimensions

129.0 (W) mm x 89.8(H) mm x 46.7(D) mm / 5.0 in. (W) x 3.5 in. (H) x 1.8 in. (D) (Minimum depth: 33.4 mm/ 1.3 in.)

Weight

Approx. 440g / 15.4 oz. (including battery and memory card)

Approx. 390 g / 13.7 oz. (excluding accessories, battery and memory card)

Operating Humidity

10 - 80% (no condensation)

Battery life for stills

Approx 350 frames (When XF35mmF1.4R is set, LCD monitor/viewfinder on, and supplied flash EF-X8 not attached)

Battery life for movies

Consecutive movie recording : Approx. 103 min. (Face detection is set to OFF) *Individual movies cannot exceed approx. 14 min on Full HD mode, and approx. 27 min on HD mode in length.

Starting-up period

Approx. 0.5 sec, when High Performance mode set to ON Approx. 1.0 sec, when High Performance mode set to OFF

Accessories included

Li-ion Battery NP-W126 Battery Charger BC-W126 Shoe-mounted flash unit EF-X8 Shoulder strap Body cap Metal strap clip Protective cover Clip attaching tool Hot shoe cover Tall-orientation battery grip connector cover Sync terminal cover CD-ROM (Viewer software, RAW File Converter etc. Owner's manual