66 AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COMO
ne of the perks of this job is
the unbridled freedom it gives
you to test the latest gear.
Want to try the new Canon
80D or the Sony A7S? Not a problem.
Trouble is, if you use enough cameras,
your favourite camera becomes a mash-up
of every camera you’ve ever tested. Love
that sensor, these lenses, the weight of
this body and the usability of that system.
You also end up with an equally long list
of dislikes. It’s a nice surprise then when
a camera comes along that ticks so many
boxes it almost forces you to part with your
money. Meet my new camera (more on
that later) – the Fuji X-Pro2.
The X-Pro2’s predecessor was launched
in March 2012 and attracted plenty of
love from pros and enthusiasts alike. AtTESTED Fujif ilm X-Pro2
The X-Pro2 is finally here.
James Ostinga takes this newpowerhouse out for a spin and
learns just what four years in
the world of camera tech gets
you. The short answer? A lot.TOP RIGHT
Yoga at Bondi
Beach. Fujifilm
X-Pro2, 23mm f1.4
lens, 1/210s @ f/8,
ISO 400.BELOW
The X-Pro2’s
hybrid viewfinder
lets users choose
between an optical
or electronic view.Fujifilm
X-Pro2
AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY JUNE 2016the heart of the X-Pro1 was an innovative
16-megapixel sensor that took advantage of
an irregular RGB pixel array to eliminate
the need for a low-pass filter – an image
softening slice of glass that normally sits
in front of the camera’s sensor to counter
the effect of colour moire. Without it, the
camera promised sharper images.
Other innovations included a clever
viewfinder which let users switch between
an optical rangefinder-style view (with all
the usual camera info such as exposure
and focus point), or a more conventional
electronic viewfinder (EVF) view.
Analogue controls for shutter speed,
aperture and exposure compensation
were a welcome relief, particularly
compared to the slew of post-digital
cameras that require you to hold one
button, while turning another (or worse,
delve into the menu system) to access the
camera’s most important controls.
While the X-Pro1 built a keen following,
it wasn’t long before people started to ask for
more. More megapixels, video capabilities,
improved, autofocus... the list went on.
Enter the X-Pro2. Released in February
2016, this camera is an absolute delight to
use. And it’s streaks ahead of the X-Pro1.
So what’s changed? First, the sensor is
much more capable. It’s still an APS-CCMOS sensor, but the resolution has
been boosted from 16 to 24.3 megapixels
and it can now handle a wider dynamic
range. ISO extends from 200 to 12,800
(extendable to 100-51,200) – a big step
up from the 200-6400 (100-25,600) of its
predecessor – and there are dual SD card
slots that can be configured to record Raw
images on one card JPEG on the other,
to record images sequentially, or create a
backup on the second card.
And that’s just the beginning. Fujifilm
has worked hard to address some of
the concerns with the original model’s
autofocus system. The X-Pro2 now offers
273 focus points (up from 49) directly
selectable via a new – and very welcome- joystick on the back of the camera. The
more effective AF is paired with new focus-
check features including focus peaking,
digital split image, and a 10 or 20x zoomed
picture-in-picture option. The verdict: focus
is fast, accurate and easy to confirm – both
in auto and manual modes.
The layout has been revamped and
there’s a new lift-and-turn ISO dial that sits
on top of the shutter speed wheel. Some
people have complained it’s difficult to
change quickly, but I doubt this will be an
issue for many photographers. Personally,
I change shutter speed and aperture much