Photography News Issue 29

Camera test 36

Photography News Issue 29 absolutephoto.com

FujifilmX-Pro2 Fujifilm launched its X-series five years ago. With an innovative sensor and high-spec lenses to give image quality comparable to full-frame, the system has since flourished and the X-Pro2 is its latest flagship

Specs

Price £1349 body only Sensor 24.3 megapixels, 6000x4000 pixels Sensor format 23.6x15.6mmAPS-C X-Trans CMOS III ISO range ISO 200-12,800, extended ISO 100, 25,600, 51,200. Raw available at all speeds. 3 Auto ISO settings Shutter range 8fps continuous, up to 83 JPEGs, or 33 lossless compressed Raws. At 3fps, endless JPEGs and lossless compressed Raws Metering system TTL 256-zone. Multi-zone, centre- weighted, average, spot Exposuremodes PASM Exposure compensation +/-5EV in 0.3EV steps Monitor 3in, approx. 1.62 million dots Focusing Single, continuous, manual. Intelligent hybrid AF Focus points 273 points in 21x13 grid, single point selectable Zone AF 3x3, 5x5, 7x7 from 77 points in a 11x7 grid Wide-tracking – up to 18 zones Video Full HD, 1920x1080 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p Connectivity Wireless image transfer, geotagging, USB2.0, HDMI Storagemedia 2xSD slots Dimensions (wxhxd) 140.5x82.8x45.9mm Weight 495g with battery and SD card Contact fujifilm.eu/uk Mechanical shutter: 30secs to 1/8000sec with flash sync at 1/250sec. B up to 60mins, Electronic shutter 1sec to 1/32,000sec, bulb 1sec Drivemodes

speed of 1/8000sec with flash sync at 1/250sec and there’s the option of top speed of 1/32,000sec with the electronic shutter. The AF system is new too. The size of the autofocus phase-detection area is 234% larger than the X-Pro1’s with 273 AF points, 77 of which come into play when Zone or Wide Tracking AF is engaged. With a predictive AF algorithm the X-Pro2 can track subjects and shoot at 8fps. The body design brings yet more new features. The body is weather resistant with 61 seals, there is a lift and drop ISO control, the exposure compensation has a C position where setting compensation is done by the front command dial and allows +/-5EV and one of my favourite new features, a back-mounted focus lever. Thiseight-wayjoystickmeansmoving the single AF point or zone focusing area is really quick and much more intuitive not to mention comfortable compared with using the four-way control way on the XT-1/X-Pro1. One feature Ihaven’t yetmentioned is thehybridviewfinder, but it is about time I did. On the X-Pro1, the option of an optical or electronic viewfinder was one of its key selling points and it is the same on the X-Pro2 but there have been improvements. The EVF has 2.36 million dots and a faster refresh speed so minimal delay and image blackout with moving subjects. A dioptre correction mechanism is available and while using the optical viewfinder there is theoptionofanelectronicrangefinder. This magnified image sits bottom right of the image view and can be used to check critical focus but also

ReviewbyWill Cheung

The Fujifilm X-Pro2 made its much- anticipated appearance last month to coincide with the system’s fifth anniversary. In five years the X-series has grown to feature camera bodies at all price levels and the lens system has grown to 21 options with the launch of the latest 100-400mm zoom. It’s fair to say that the system has established an enthusiastic and growing following. The X-Pro2 is the first X-camera to feature the 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III APS-C sensor so a significant resolution leap from the current 16-megapixel X-Trans II unit. The new sensor features Fujifilm’s random colour array which means there is no need for an optical low- pass filter (OLPF) because of the minimal risk of moiré and false colour artefacts. No OLPF means the resolving power of the high-spec X-series lenses is maximised for impressive image quality. This sensor is front-illuminated and features copper – aluminium was used in previous sensors – for thinner, narrower wiring and faster all-round performance including AF and continuous shooting. It also helps in high ISO performance and the top native ISO is 12,800 with the options of ISO 25,600 and 51,200. There’s a new imaging processor, the X-Processor Pro to deliver a fast start-up time of 0.4sec, super-fast AF andminimal shutter lag. The sensor is just one of several key features that are new in the X-Pro2. A new shutter gives a top mechanical

The ISO control is a lovely piece of design, redolent of film SLRs and comprises 38 components

gives a real-time exposure and white- balance guide even when using the optical viewfinder. Finally, an important feature for manywillbetheX-Pro2’sdualSDcard slot. This, in commonwithother twin- slot cameras, can be set to serve as a backup, to record files sequentially in order to maximise shooting capacity or to have one cardwriting JPEGs and the other Raws. For existing X-users getting to grips with the X-Pro2 should be straightforward enough, but that should apply to X-series newbies too. X-Pro1 owners will feel perfectly at home with the X-Pro2, with the positioning of key controls in identical or similar places. The positioning of the viewfinder eyepiece – top left in classic Leica fashion – can take getting used to for some weaned on DSLRs. For right-eyed users there is the benefit that the left-eye can retain direct contactwith the subject though. The X-Pro2 does have a dioptre correction control which is very welcome but the downside is it’s too easily caught, so on several occasions I found myself staring at a totally blurred image and missed the odd shot because of this. A piece of gaffer tape cured the problem but that doesn’t disguise a design flaw.

The ISO control is a lovely piece of design, redolent of film SLRs and comprises 38 components. However, I didn’t find it very practical. In filmdays, the ISOdialwas rarely adjusted. With digital, personally I like regularly adjusting ISO. My default might be ISO 400, but walk into strong light I’d set ISO 200, move indoorsit’suptoISO1600andbackon the street it’s down to ISO400again. I appreciate auto ISO can be used and the X-Pro2 has three customisable settings, but I like looking at and thinking about the light levels and the lift and drop design of the dial is inconvenient for frequent use. In dim light,withoutmyglasses on, I referred to the monitor as I adjusted the dial to check what ISO was set which seems to defeat the object. I know many will like the retro lift and drop design and that’s fine but an extra override position with the option of ISO selection via the menu or custom function would have been good so the user has the choice. One control on the X-Pro1 that attracted user criticism was the exposure compensation dial. There’s still no lock on the X-Pro2’s but there is a C position which allows up to +/-5EV set by pressing and rotating the front command dial. Move the