Australian_Photography_-_June_2016_

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more than I do ISO so it’s not an issue
for me. At least the ISO control is in a
prominent position, clearly displayed on a
physical dial. No complaints here.
A bigger issue for me is the positioning
of the exposure compensation dial which
I have accidentally bumped nearly every
time I’ve used the camera. It’s something
I’m slowly getting used to – at least
checking it before I start shooting – but
a central push-to-release detent, like the
one on the shutter-speed dial, might help
to prevent inadvertent exposure problems.
Overall the camera is beautifully simple
to use, whether you’re shooting in auto,
assisted auto (shutter and aperture priority)
or full manual. Much has been made of
the X-Pro2’s retro styling, but to focus on
that too much misses the point. If you
ever shoot manually (or semi-manually)
the inclusion of a dedicated aperture ring,
and old-school shutter-speed, ISO and
exposure compensation dials is just good
design. Sure, it’s retro, but it also makes a
lot of sense.
The X-Pro2 adds video to its feature list
and while it tops out at 1080p – no 4K here

• the quality is impressive. In our first few
  days with the camera we shot a short video
  with an X-Pro2 and a Sony Alpha A7s at
  Turimetta Beach, NSW. With both cameras

shooting 1080/60p it was hard to pick the

difference. That said, the Sony has the

ability to shoot 4K and offers more options

for video users. Serious video users might

lament the absence of a headphone jack.

But most buyers of this camera will

be more interested in stills than video,

and this is where the X-Pro2 shines. The

new X-Trans CMOS III sensor is a cracker.

Low-light handling is magnificent all

the way up to its maximum native ISO

of 12,800 and the camera handles colour

and tone beautifully. You also have the

option to shoot in several colour and black-

and-white film-simulation modes, including

Fujifilm classics Provia, Velvia, Astia,

Classic Chrome and Acros, each with their

own subtle colour and tonal differences.

All up, the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 is a

compelling package. It’s light and

compact – certainly compared to any

comparable DSLR – and it’s fun to

use. The sensor is a revelation for a

mirrorless camera and paired with any

of Fujifilm’s growing line-up of fast pro

lenses the X-Pro2 produces beautifully

detailed images. For those reasons, and

a few more, the X-Pro2 and the excellent

23mm f1.4 R lens have won a place in my

camera bag. I can’t recommend it more

highly than that. ❂

Price: $2699 (body only)

Resolution: 24.3 megapixels

Sensor size: 23.6 x 15.6mm, APS-C

Sensor type: X-Trans CMOS III with primary

colour filter

Focal length factor: 1.5x

Lens mount: Fujifilm X mount

LCD monitor: 3-in,1.62 million dots

Viewfinder: Optical, electronic hybrid

viewfinder.

Electronic viewfinder: 2.38 million dots,

built-in eye sensor

Exposure modes: Program, aperture,

shutter, manual

Exposure control: TTL 256-zone metering,

multi, spot, average, centre weighted

Sensitivity: 200-12,800 ISO extendable to

100-51,200 ISO.

Focus modes: Single AF, continuous AF,

manual MF.

Focus types: Intelligent hybrid AF (contrast

and phase detection)

Continuous shooting: 8fps

Still image formats: JPEG, Raw

(uncompressed and lossless compressed),

Raw + JPEG

Movie recording: Full HD 1920 x 1080 60p,

50p, 30p, 25p, 24p

Storage media: Two SD slots

Wireless: Wi-Fi for transfer, view images,

remote control

Power supply: Li-ion battery

Size: 140.5 x 82.8 x 45.9mm

Weight: 495g (battery and card)

Specifications

HANDLING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Well laid out controls (including an aperture ring on the lens and

a dedicated shutter-speed control) make this camera a delight to

use in manual mode. It’s bigger than some mirrorless cameras, but

comfortable to hold and smaller than your average DSLR. Exposure

compensation dial is prone to accidental bumping.

FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dual SD card slots, AF joystick selector, clever hybrid viewfinder, weather-

resistant body, 1080p video and Wi-Fi image transfer and remote control.

Impressive AF (including continuous AF) is fast and accurate. If video is

your thing you might miss 4K and in-body stabilisation.

EXPOSURE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Auto exposure and white balance are excellent – as good as any

camera we’ve tested.

IMAGE QUALITY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Images captured with the 23mm f1.4 lens were tack sharp with

plenty of detail. Excellent low-light performance with usable images

up to the camera’s maximum native ISO of 12,800.

VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The X-Pro 2 is a brilliant camera but it’s not cheap. If you’re looking for

a well-made body that’s easy to use and produces beautiful images it’s

great value. If video is your thing, or you’re not fussed

about manual controls, you’ll find other cameras that

do more for less.

FINAL WORD

An intelligently designed camera with a long list

of useful features. Produces sharp, well-exposed

images. It’s pricey, but you get a lot for your

money. Highly recommended.

Results

SCORE

9.2

AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY JUNE 2016

READ A REVIEW OF THE

X-PRO2 FROM A STREET

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PERSPECTIVE