2016 is off to an exciting start with Fujifilm, Nikon and even Kodak making announcements early on about their new camera offerings.
One camera which whipped up quite a frenzy prior to its release, with rampant specification speculation and leaked images aplenty, was the Fujifilm X-Pro2, successor to 2012’s X-Pro1.
Fujifilm X-Pro2
We’ve already had a look at how the X-Pro2 compares to the X-Pro1, but it really wasn’t a fair match. Fujifilm’s more recent release, 2014’s X-T1, is the one to beat.
Fujifilm X-T1
If you’re a pro or enthusiast in the market for an impressive mirrorless camera with an interchangeable lens, these cameras will not disappoint. Both pack a righteous megapixel punch and, in the right hands, will take great images.
Design
No big surprise, they’re both nice to look at. If you prefer your cameras a little bulkier, with some ‘curves to hold on to’ as it were, then the SLR-style X-T1 is going to appeal more.
There is little to tell the X-Pro2 apart from the X-Pro1, both come in neat rangefinder-style packages. If it weren’t for the model number printed on the top and a new rectangular viewfinder window replacing a circular one on the X-Pro1, they’d be identical.
Fujifilm X-Pro2—good things come in small packages.
Fujifilm X-T1
As for ease of carrying, the X-Pro2 comes out a smidgen heavier—495 grams to the X-T1’s 440 grams. For something you’ll be lugging around with your shoulder and holding to your face for extended periods, and to which you may add heavy lenses, it’s could be worth bearing in mind.
Inside
Fujifilm has given its newest flagship a customisable ‘M Menu’ to help users find their favourite settings quickly, while both models can customise their Q menu, unlike the X-Pro1. Both the X-Pro2 and the X-T1 have six customisable buttons, though for the X-T1 this is reduced to two if direct AF select is chosen.
/Fujifilm Australia
Durability
If you’re going to be photographing the great outdoors, you’re going to want to know that your camera can last as long as you without a recharge. The X-T1’s battery will shoot 350 EVF images, while the X-Pro2’s hybrid viewfinder will give you 250 EVF images or 350 OVF, and it will indicate on-screen how much battery power is remaining.
Like the X-Pro1, the X-T1 offers one (UHS II) memory card slot. For the X-Pro2, Fujifilm has added one extra, for added piece of mind.
Fujifilm X-Pro2
The X-T1 has an 80-point seal to protect it from the elements, it was touted for its weatherproof properties when it was released, offering dust and water protection in addition to functionality at -10°C (14°F).
The X-Pro2 has been given a 61-point seal, reportedly giving the camera the same protection.
Image
The X-Pro2 gives you 24 megapixels, against the X-T1 and X-Pro1’s 16 megapixels, but that’s not all that’s been improved. Fujifilm has decked the X-Pro2 out with 273 AF points (77 PDAF), all of which are selectable. The X-T1 offers 77 (15 PDAF) of which 49 are selectable. Both the X-Pro2 and the X-T1 give a maximum ISO of 52,200.
Unlike the X-Pro2, Fujifilm has offered a panoramic mode on its X-T1.
The X-Pro2’s mechanical shutter speed has been brought down from 1/4000 (X-T1) to 1/8000 on the X-Pro2. If you’re looking to record a lot of video, there are other cameras on the market that will give you better results, with Fujifilm still putting their main focus on stills, for the X-Pro2 you can film at 1080p at up to 60 fps, the same as offered by the X-T1, but still a good step up from the X-Pro1’s 1080/24p.
Price
With the X-T1 now two years old, you can now snap one up for under US$1,000. Expect the X-Pro2 to set you back $1,700 for the body only, the same price the X-Pro1 went for back in 2012.
| Fujifilm X-Pro2 | Fujifilm X-T1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor (APS-C) | 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor (APS-C) |
| Processor | X Processor Pro | EXR Processor II |
| ISO Range | 200-12,800 (100-51,200 extended) | 200-6,400 (100-51,200 JPEG-only) |
| AF Points | 273 (77 PDAF) hybrid system, all directly selectable | 77 point (15 PDAF) hybrid system, 49 directly selectable (9 PDAF) |
| AF Tracking | ||
| Max. Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
| Flash Sync. Speed | 1/250s | 1/180s |
| Continuous Burst | 8fps/3fps | 8fps/3fps |
| Movie Shooting | 1080/60p | 1080/60p |
| Mic. Input | ||
| Headphone Output |
X
|
X
|
| Viewfinder | 2.3M-dot OLED/optical hybrid | 2.36M-dot OLED |
| Split Prism Focus Guide | Colour/Mono | Mono |
| LCD Screen | 3″ fixed (3:2) 1.62M-dot (900 x 600) | 3″ Tilting (3:2) 1.04M-dot (720 x 480) |
| Exposure Compensation | ±3EV (±5EV using front dial) | ±3EV |
| Command Dials | 2 (push-button type) | 2 |
| Custom Buttons | 6 | 6 (2 if direct AF select is chosen) |
| Card Slots | 2 (1 UHS II) | 1 (UHS II) |
| Film Simulations | 9 (added: ACROS) | 8 |
| RAW Image Compression | Lossless |
X
|
| WiFi |
The price difference between the two (bought new) is unlikely to be drastic enough to make the choice easy. Sure, Fujifilm has levelled up in certain areas but, for the most part the X-Pro2 is a slightly improved version of the X-T1, the only big ‘game-changer’ differences can be seen between the specs of the X-Pro1 and X-Pro2.
Ultimately, it comes down to a shallow beauty contest and, as the adage goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you’re a fan of the sleek rangefinder look, the X-Pro2 could be the one for you, while if bulky curves are your thing, go for the X-T1 as the X-Pro2 isn’t going to offer you much more.
If you’re looking for video capabilities, it may be better to look elsewhere with so many 4K offerings being released at the moment.
When we get our hands on the X-Pro2, we may just have to put its weatherproof toughness to the test against the X-T1…
Further reading: