Tech bytes for tea?

Fujifilm launched the X-Pro1 mirrorless interchangeable lens (MIL) camera in Singapore today.

The 16-MP retro beauty will be available here in March at S$2,400 for the camera body and S$900-S$1,000 for a basic lens. (All prices include 7% GST.)

Fujifilm X-Pro1 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (Body only: S$2,400)

First interchangeable lens camera in Fujifilm's X series.

First impressions

I tried out the camera during the launch event.

First impression, apart from the exorbitant price-tag, is that the retro design is incredibly beautiful.

It is relatively big and heavy compared to other MIL cameras.

But I love the direct controls enabled by the dials and well-placed buttons all over the camera.

You can adjust the shutter speed and exposure compensation on knurled metal dials on the top of the camera, and the aperture in ⅓ stop increments on a ring on the lens itself.

The shutter release also had the firm but springy feel reminiscent of film SLRs.

Focus was fast and pictures came out sharp and vividly coloured, with little noise even at high ISO and low light.

It’s definitely a camera to drool over.

The X-Pro1 is the first MIL camera from Fujifilm and features a 16-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, a new X lens mount, a Hybrid Multi Viewfinder, and three prime lenses.

Three prime lenses have been launched together with the X-Pro1.

The sensor is physically larger than the 1-inch sensor in the Nikon J1/V1 MIL offering, and the four thirds and micro four thirds sensors in the MIL and DSLR cameras from Olympus and Panasonic.

The APS-C sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is the same size as those found in the Samsung NX and Sony NEX series of MIL cameras and most DSLRs.

New sensor colour filter array

Fujifilm claims that the X-Pro1 can produce pictures with lower noise and greater detail than other MIL and DSLR cameras.

The usual optical low pass filter – which reduces moire and false colour generation at the expense of image detail resolution – has been foregone.

The X Trans CMOS sensor has a new array design for its colour filter to remove moire.

Instead, a new colour filter array in the sensor array has replaced the usual Bayer-patterned array to reduce moiré in photos containing stripes/chequered patterns or other regular/repeating patterns.

16-megapixel APS-C sensor

In the array, RGB pixels are arranged in 6×6 pixel sets with high aperiodicity (randomness).

Increasing the degree of randomness eliminates the fundamental cause of moiré and false colours.

These are problems that occur in conventional arrays when shooting stripes and other repeating patterns.

The new sensor array contains slightly more green sensor elements than the traditional Bayer array, and is inspired by the irregular physical dispersion of silver halide particles in film, which did not suffer from moiré problems.

The additional image processing demands required by the new array is met by a new EXR Processor Pro which will maximise the full potential of the X-Trans CMOS sensor and deliver high speed and high precision image processing.

Prime FUJINON XF lenses

Three compact XF FUJINON fast aperture prime lenses will be available in March 2012.

The “XF18mmF2 R”, “XF 35mmF1.4 R” and “XF60mmF2.4 R Macro” lenses promise precise control over depth-of-field and excellent out-of-focus bokeh.

The new X-Mount has a short flange back distance of just 17.7mm.

The X-Pro1 and its accessories.

Hybrid Multi Viewfinder

The Hybrid Viewfinder first appeared in the X100 and allows the user to instantly switch between an Optical Viewfinder and Electronic Viewfinder.

For viewing images in the brightest mode and to keep shutter lag to a minimum, users should choose the Optical Viewfinder.

Those wanting focus confirmation, exposure information, white balance information and depth of field indicators should switch to the Electronic Viewfinder.

This retro beauty has a high drool factor.

Simulated film effects

Leveraging on Fujifilm’s photo film legacy, the X-Pro1 comes with 10 in-camera pre-canned special effects that simulate different types traditional film effects in the photos, from different film types to different film development techniques.

Check out the detailed features of the Fujifilm X-Pro1 below:

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