Fujifilm X-Pro1 Mirrorless Camera Thrills

Fujifilm's first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, Fujifilm X-Pro1, announced on Monday, January 9, lived up to expectations fanned by Fujifilm's earlier products, such as FinePix X100 and FinePix F300EXR.

The X-Pro1's headlining features are: a 16 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, Hybrid Multi Viewfinder and a brand new X lens mount.

Fujifilm also announced the release of three X-mount prime lenses.

X-Trans CMOS Sensor

The most outstanding feature of the X-Pro1 is its newly developed X-Trans CMOS sensor which Fujifilm says delivers resolution matching that of a full frame sensor!

The sensor uses a 6x6 pixel color filter array, instead of the traditional 2x2, which reduces moiré and false color, eliminating the need of an optical low pass filter, which degrades resolution.

Fujifilm says the new color filter array is inspired by the random arrangement of fine film grain.

RGB pixels are arranged randomly in each 6x6 pixel set, eliminating moiré and false colors observed when shooting stripes and other repeating patterns with conventional 2x2 color array and no low pass filter.

The X-Pro1 features a more powerful image processor - EXR Processor Pro - to crunch the more complex output signal from the new sensor. The processor is capable of high precision image processing at high speed.

The camera shoots full HD video as well, up to 1080p.

Hybrid Multi Viewfinder

The Hybrid Viewfinder, which first appeared in the FinePix X100, combines a "bright frame" optical viewfinder found in DSLRs with an electronic viewfinder system typical of mirrorless digital cameras. Using an integrated prism, the X-Pro1 can project either the image on its 1.44 MP viewfinder LCD panel or the view from the illuminating window into the viewfinder.

You can switch between the two modes with a "one touch" switch on the front of the X-Pro1 body.

The Hybrid Viewfinder can show both the shooting frame and a variety of shooting data. You can use it to compose or playback shots.

For a bright viewing image and minimum shutter lag, choose the Optical Viewfinder. When capture settings are important - exposure, focus, white balance and depth of field - switch to Electronic Viewfinder.

X-Mount

Fujifilm has developed the X-Mount to leverage the mirrorless design. The mount has a short flange back distance of just 17.7mm, allowing the rear lens elements to come as close as possible to the sensor. The wide opening allows the lens to be mounted deeper within the body — up to 7.5mm (approx.) from the mount surface — reducing the back focus distance of each lens to the minimum possible, thus achieving high resolution all the way to the edge of the image

Lenses

The X-Pro1 will be launched with three XF Fujinon fast aperture prime lenses - XF18mmF2 R (27mm equivalent) f/2.0, XF 35mmF1.4 R (53mm equivalent) f/1.4, and XF60mmF2.4 R Macro (90mm equivalent) F/2.4

The molded aperture diaphragm blades of the lenses are curved to create a circular image at all aperture settings and blade edges are meticulously rounded off to deliver a sharper image.

Other Features

1.4 million pixel LCD screen.
The top and base of the camera body are made from die-cast aluminum alloy.
The body has a leather like finish, but is covered with synthetic leather. An original manufacturing process produces a texture with the look and feel of authentic leather.