Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I have been interested in the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 for some time now. I have the X100 and enjoy using it for street shooting. I liked the idea of the interchangeable lens on the X-Pro1 as a step up. At the Exposure show yesterday I had the chance to handle the camera and discovered immediately a huge design fault. The viewfinder has no diopter adjustment unlike the X100. Apparently Fuji decided to leave this off the X-Pro1 as installing an adjustment would have interfered with the aesthetics. Diopter lens can be screwed into the eyepiece, but how ridiculous is that in this day and age. And Fuji doesn't offer them, you have to find a source that is actually carrying them from a third party.

Its odd that this has not come up in any of the reviews I looked at and is buried in the Fuji literature.

This is a huge miss as it makes the camera unusable for me or for pretty much anyone else who has less than perfect eyesight or uses glasses. Why should I have to pay in the range of $2,500 for the camera and then have to go buy a third party accessory to make it useable. Apparently for some people use of a diopter lens may solve the focus issue with the EVF but then they cannot see the OVF. I don't know of another current camera that claims to be pro level that doesn't have a diopter adjustment.

To me this is a far greater design fault then the minor issues that set of the Canon and Nikon fans with the 5D Mk III and D800. I am disappointed and am seriously rethinking this camera now. I still like a lot of things about the X-Pro1, but it has complicated the decision. If you are considering this camera I thought you should know about this rather than discover you can't use your new toy when you pull it out of the box.

DG

Interesting, I think I did read about that somewhere. I am also very interested in this camera, but having never used the diopter of any of my other cameras, this is definitely not a deal breaker for me. I generally wear contacts when I shoot, or just fumble through with glasses on the rare occasion.

J.

Same here, never use diopter. I can't see much without my glasses, and my 2 eyes need different diopter settings anyway, the diopter adjustment is too restrictive (both my movement and shooting habit) IMHO. I would gladly save a few bucks and some space if they forgo the diopter adjustment all together.

If you can see the in viewfinder info and focusing without the adjustment then you won't miss the adjustment. When I looked through this view finder it was impossible for me to tell if the camera was focused or not, and all the info was fuzzy and difficult to read. I found it no better with or without my glasses. With the X100 I have a sharp image in the EVF with the diopter adapter. Fuji did not do this to save anyone money, the camera is still an expensive $2,500 with lens. One could argue you are paying the price for a pro camera that should have this basic piece of equipment built in, but you are not getting it. If Fuji had provided in the kit a selection of diopter lenses it would be a non issue. But they don't even offer the diopter lenses; you have to go third party.

Any way, my intention was to call this out so if you are looking at the camera make sure you check out both electronic and optical viewfinders and makes sure they are focused and sharp enough for you. Because if they are not, you can't adjust it without spending another $20-25 on a screw in lens from a third party (that you will likely have to order as they don't seem to be a stock item for most stores).

DG

I am with Daryl - no diopter is not great. People have different eye sight needs.

Thanks Dave. Thom Hogan seems to agree as well. If you are interested in the X-Pro1 you may like to read his newly posted review.

http://www.sansmirror.com/cameras/a-not ... -pro1.html

You know if Fuji had decided to leave out the diopter adjustment, but provided in the kit a set of screw on lenses in common values it would have been acceptable to me, but when you design the camera this way and then offer absolutely no option to the user except to track down a solution from Nikon or someone else it is a true epic customer service fail.

DG

Hey Daryl,

I am just curious if the diopter issue has indeed been a deal breaker or if you decided to buy this camera, quirks, faults and all?

J.

Hi Jordan

Sorry I was out of town for a few days and am just getting caught up.

No I wouldn't say this is a deal breaker, but it is a deal delayer. One of the reason I wanted to play with the camera at the Exposure Show was to make a decision on buying one. But not being able to see through the viewfinder cut down on the playing with it.

I was ready to buy it and would have probably had it now, except for this issue. Now I will have to find time to go to a camera store that has the camera and a selection of screw on diopter so I can try it out and decide if I like the camera and if I like the screw in lens. Frankly the money that was earmarked for the X-Pro1 is now looking like it is going towards another toy. I am still interested in the X-Pro1, but it may be a while before I get one now.

And who knows what may come out before then. I did go over to the Nikon booth at the Exposure Show after the Fuji fiasco and looked at the V1, but just couldn't love it.

What about you?

DG

Hey Daryl,

I pretty much decided to get the x-pro1. Work is sending me to Edmonton in a few weeks, so I'm hoping to scrap enough $ together to get it and the 35 1.4. Figured pull the trigger on my trip and save 8% on no PST.

Jordan

Good plan. There is a chance I may be in Calgary later this year maybe I should think along the same lines. By then I should know if I want to go ahead.

DG

You might find this review interesting. Nothing terribly different, but it is a review of the camera with the updated firmware so the aperture issue has been resolved.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/revie ... edux.shtml

DG

Ya I read that review this afternoon - there is another impressions review on the camera on LL's site a few days before hand, the guy used the camera in Havana.

What I found most interesting is that the one complaint almost everyone had, even after firmware update, was on the slowness of the AF, but he found it to be a non-issue for him. Although it seems that still as of right now Raw conversion is an issue even when using Adobes Raw converter. I checked out some of the links on the issue. A little over my head but something I'm noting (guess i'll be shooting raw+jpg for the time being).

I find it so funny that even with all of this cameras quirks (most of which can be fixed by firmware, I hope), I cannot stop myself when just really wanting this camera. It's the first camera I can think of that I want for both technical and emotional reasons lol.

J.

I played with the camera a bit at Vistek's show and did find the AF slow. I put it down to user error due to unfamiliarity. Maybe not?

Yes, I read the Cuba article as well. There was one in a magazine about shooting there with the X100 as well earlier this year. These articles made me want to go to the island. TPMG event?

I understand the attraction. Frankly most of the mirror-less cameras are just plain ugly and strange looking. I really like the old school controls on my X100.

DG

To be honest I haven't fully played around with it. But with that said I don't find my x10 slow in the AF department, but it's certainly no DSLR. I think that is the main problem, people are comparing it to DSLRs with phase detection AF, which it can't compete. It is also slower than some of the newer mirror less cameras, like the NEX7, but again its by no means slow (based on my research). And fuji has shown the ability to fix things via firmware updates.

J.

I'll be taking a trip down south this November. Where I don't know, it's my friends decision, but it could be Cuba, which I kinda hope cause I'd love to do a day trip into Havana. Once I know the details of the trip, closer to November, I'd be happy to arrange a TPMG event

J.

Cuba sounds good.

Hey Daryl, another recent review you may be interested in

http://www.laroquephoto.com/blog/2012/6 ... ooter.html


J.

Ugh, that guy needs to discover the left margin.

ya I know - at first I thought my ipad was not displaying the page correctly - then realized his website needs some work.

Me too. I then tried it on Chrome on the MBP before I posted.

Just played with the x-pro1 and the NEX7 at Henry's. Both are nice cameras. The NEX is definitely faster at focusing over the x-pro1, but the x-pro is not slow by any means. they both feel a bit weird in the hand - I am use to the D300s with the grip though - I think like my x10 a case/half case is needed for the x-pro.

While the NEX7 is very tempting, and cheaper, I think the fuji is still pulling the heart strings (and I much prefer the OVF/EVF combo viewfinder). I wanted to check out the new Olympus E-M5 but they didn't have a store sample at the time. Although the guy I was talking to said easily NEX or X-Pro over the Olympus.

J.

Olympus E-M5 is getting rave reviews.

For those interested, fuji has announced their lens roadmap for the x-pro1. Some nice lenses coming out this fall and in 2013.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/06/26 ... 5mm-F2-8-4


J.

If I had cash to burn, I'd buy the Sony Nex-7 with the Zeiss 24/1.8 and the Olympus OM-D with Panasonic G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8.

That's all I need.

That 56mm f/1.4 looks cool as does the 23mm f/1.4.

DG

Most of those primes look sweet. When I purchase the x-pro1 I'm getting it with the 35 1.4 and I want that new wide angle 14 2.8. I'll probably get the 60 2.4 to round things out. Put I also want that 23 1.4. We'll see about the 56 1.4 - I'm sure at some point it will find its way into my bag

J.

Ha ha, Fuji is going to love you! Check that 60 out first. I found it was truly slow to focus. Probably the macro side of the lens.

DG

Dpreview has their review of the x-pro1 available. Even with some of its faults it gets a pretty good score. Check it out.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilm-x-pro1/


J.

Lol - tell me about, especially I didn't want to get into a another camera system. Well that is out the door now! Agree I would much prefer the 56 1.4, just don't know if I could wait that long without a telephoto type lens. We shall see, but the 60 is 3rd on my list. 35 and the 14 first.

J.