Fuji My flirtation with the XPro1 and a few photos from the engagement

Armanius

Bring Jack back!
Location
Houston, Texas
Name
Jack
So I flirted with the XPro1 for three weeks, and it is without a doubt a top notch camera when it comes to image quality, as everyone has reported already. But I'm sending it back for now and will anxiously sit on the sidelines to see what Fuji does to address the previously discussed quirks that bother me. If I were a betting man, I would bet that I will likely re-buy the XPro1 at some point. Fuji is definitely at the forefront of sensor development and JPG processing, and the X10, X100 and XPro1 are realizations of that development.

Here are the photos that I took with the XPro1 during the engagement day trip. All of them were taken with the 35/1.4 lens, which is a MUST have lens for any XPro1 owner. They were all JPG, some PP in LR4, and reduced to 1024 pixels.

One of the indicators that I used in ultimately deciding not to keep the XPro1 (for now) is that during the engagement day and night, I found myself reaching for the M9 much more. I actually carried three cameras with me that day -- M9, XPro1 and X10. And my fiance was carrying the Canon S95. But the M9 got much more use.

First three photos were at the Blue Bell factory in Brenham, Texas. Awesome combination of sharpness + creamy out of focus renderings on the first three photos.

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The remaining photos were all at the Inn at Dos Brisas near Chapel Hill, Texas. First two were at the stables as we got ready to go on a carriage ride.

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At the bar texting family and friends after she got the rock!

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The booze that I got to drink after proposing. I definitely deserved a few drinks! :) Just kidding! I'm not an alkie!

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At the private patio (fending off bugs) and about to enjoy the 8 course meal. X10 looking good on that photo as well.

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View across from where we were sitting. XPro1's high ISO capabilities at work.

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And a last parting photo of a great night!

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Well, Armando, you gotta do what you gotta do. If a camera bothers you more than it gets out of the way, its not for you. BUT, I gotta say, I'd seen a couple of the shots of your fiance before and they're very nice. But these samples show a whole lot more REALLY FINE SHOOTING you did with that camera! You might want to reconsider! Or maybe not - gotta go with what works for you in terms of both process and final result. But you sure got some nice results!

-Ray
 
I have to agree, those images are pretty nice, sorry it did not work out for you, for me, I plan on keeping mine and using my Nikon SPs for whenever I need a manual focus fix
 
Well good for you. It takes some solid thinking to be able to return a camera capable of such fine results. If it doesn't work for you, then so be it.

BTW: I suppose you know you are a lucky guy?
 
Y'all crack me up!!! And thank you very much for the congratulations and nice comments. I am probably trying (in a subconscious way) and hoping to be convinced to keep the camera. LOL! Nic knows me better than I know myself.

It is a good thing that it seems like Fuji has kept the retailers well stocked. So it should (hopefully) not be too difficult to get another one in the future. The biggest challenge will be getting the missus to approve the purchases in the future. I still have some freedom to spend for the next few months!!
 
Y'all crack me up!!! And thank you very much for the congratulations and nice comments. I am probably trying (in a subconscious way) and hoping to be convinced to keep the camera. LOL! Nic knows me better than I know myself.

It is a good thing that it seems like Fuji has kept the retailers well stocked. So it should (hopefully) not be too difficult to get another one in the future. The biggest challenge will be getting the missus to approve the purchases in the future. I still have some freedom to spend for the next few months!!

I too think the X Pro's image quality is really good. But, what do you think kept bringing you back to the M9 during the day?

Was it the 9's simplicity? You didn't mention what lens you have with you for the M9, could it have been the different look you knew the M9 could do?

Just wondering.

BTW, congrats on a very stressful day!!!!
 
I had the Zeiss 35/2.8 Biogon-C mounted on the M9. As to why I reached for the M9 more, there were a number of factors. And now that you ask Duane (which required me to think a little bit more about it), some factors had nothing to do with the XP1's quirks such as my preference of 35mm over 50mm. My comfort level with the M9 was another factor. Comfort level changes with familiarity, which I obviously have more with the M9 given that I've had it for a couple of years. But part of comfort level for me is also the confidence that I know that when I focus on something, it will be in focus. The series of the photos in the bar was actually lengthier than that. I took several photos of the manager, who was making drinks for me. But after we left the bar, I started going through the photos and saw that a number of the photos of the manager were blurred. Some because I got inaccurate AF lock, and others because of the shutter lag as the subject started moving again before exposure was made. The lighting in the bar was challenging though, as I also had trouble with the AF on photo of the juicer. The aperture chatter ended up not bothering me very much that day as the background/ambiance noise plus the action surrounding me drowned out the chatter or distracted me sufficiently to forget about the chatter.
 
.....The lighting in the bar was challenging though, as I also had trouble with the AF on photo of the juicer. The aperture chatter ended up not bothering me very much that day as the background/ambiance noise plus the action surrounding me drowned out the chatter or distracted me sufficiently to forget about the chatter.

Thanks for your thoughts on your reasoning. I had a similar situation this past weekend at a scouting event where the lighting wasn't great and I hate using flash if I don't have to, (Plus now that I have my flash gaffer taped due to a broken catch) I prefer not to. In my case I was able to pre focus my manual lens to the exact distance I needed for an awards ceremony at the end of the day. I've gotten to where I can focus pretty quickly with my manual lens and know exactly what's in focus.
 
I admit any AF could be better the Xpro1 has been pretty good, I have only had about 5-7 frames out of hundreds that locked on incorrectly, there have been a few times in bad light where it has hunted a little, but when it locked it was right on, There is a small lag but it has only come up when shooting fast moving objects like the puppies. All of this behavior is far better than and almost unnoticed when compared to my EP-1, GF1, EP-2 and GXR (which with the 50mm could lock on only about 70% of the time) experiences. I had to use a Canon 5DII the other day and it missed focus on 10 or 15 frames out of a 100, depending on the light all of these cameras can have issues with AF. While there is something to be said for comfort and familiarity with one's camera, there is no way anyone can tell me there is not a delay between focus and shot with a manually focusing camera if one focus between each frame. As a change of pace, I just started using a Nikon SP and I have to admit for me there is a relearning curve in how to focus and shoot quickly with a manual focus rangefinder, while zone focus can be great it does not work well at close distances at F2 and faster
At the end of the day we all like what we like, the M9 is a wonderful camera.
 
I completely agree with what you've said Bob. I'm sure it's a bit different experience with you as your profession is photography. I'm just saying I'm enjoying this manual focus experience that I've not had to handle for I don't know how many years.

My shooting doesn't normally require rapid speed and it has forced me to take more time with my framing and what I'm really seeing before taking the snap.

Its great having all these choices today!
 
While there is something to be said for comfort and familiarity with one's camera, there is no way anyone can tell me there is not a delay between focus and shot with a manually focusing camera if one focus between each frame.

I am with you. 80% of the time, the XP1 auto focuses faster than I can manually focus any camera. And the XP1 sure beats the pants off the EP2 I used to have. And I also agree with you that there is no camera I've come across that has a fool-proof auto focus system in less than ideal lighting conditions. But at the end of the day, I just couldn't justify (at this time) keeping the XP1. Maybe I'll justify it next month. :)


Its great having all these choices today!

That's what Master Card said to me!
 
I admit any AF could be better the Xpro1 has been pretty good, I have only had about 5-7 frames out of hundreds that locked on incorrectly, there have been a few times in bad light where it has hunted a little, but when it locked it was right on, There is a small lag but it has only come up when shooting fast moving objects like the puppies. All of this behavior is far better than and almost unnoticed when compared to my EP-1, GF1, EP-2 and GXR (which with the 50mm could lock on only about 70% of the time) experiences. I had to use a Canon 5DII the other day and it missed focus on 10 or 15 frames out of a 100, depending on the light all of these cameras can have issues with AF. While there is something to be said for comfort and familiarity with one's camera, there is no way anyone can tell me there is not a delay between focus and shot with a manually focusing camera if one focus between each frame. As a change of pace, I just started using a Nikon SP and I have to admit for me there is a relearning curve in how to focus and shoot quickly with a manual focus rangefinder, while zone focus can be great it does not work well at close distances at F2 and faster
At the end of the day we all like what we like, the M9 is a wonderful camera.

Interesting. I have always been happy with the GF1 as far as speed and accuracy goes. And Armanius says the Fuji is also faster than the EP2 - I was reasonably happy with that too. For my subject matter and style it's looking good.
 
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