Fujifilm X-Pro2 Field Test

When it came out in 2012, I was intrigued by the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and its hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder. It seemed like it might be great for the kind of street photography I like to do around New York City, but I never got a chance to use one. I did have the opportunity to use a similar hybrid viewfinder when I reviewed Fujfilm's X100T a year ago, and I gave it fairly high praise. So, when I was offered the chance to field test the X-Pro2, the answer was easy: 'Yes, indeed." Would I like to also try out the lovely new XF 35mm F2 R WR lens as well? "Well, sure!"

Fuji X-Pro2: not exactly small but quite portable
When I received my Fujifilm X-Pro2 sample, I unpacked it, slapped the XF 35mm F2 lens on it, and checked out the weight and feel. It's not a small camera, especially compared to other mirrorless models. That said, its rangefinder shape and relatively modest weight mean it's not much of a burden to handle and carry — at least with the also relatively compact 35mm lens mounted. I immediately spent some time working the dials and buttons and handling the body, and found that the X-Pro2 feels sturdy and very well-made. Heavier pro-level DSLR cameras may feel more robust than the Fuji X-Pro2 to some people, but I suspect that's partly an illusion provided by the greater weight alone.

I ve used some X-series cameras from Fujifilm that had somewhat middling performance, but the X-Pro2, while not the fastest camera I ve ever used, gave me very little cause for complaint. In my first tests of the camera, it was clear that its control response is fast and crisp. The very slight exception is that the X-Pro2 was sometimes a bit slow to wake from sleep in cases where I had left it idle for many minutes between shots. In other basic ways, such as shot-to-shot-time and buffer depth, I had no problems with the X-Pro2 in any of my shoots -- never missed a shot because of either factor.

In my early walks with the Fujifilm X-Pro2, I paid particular attention to the speed and decisiveness of its autofocus system in the most typical use case single AF on stationary subjects. In walks along the East River and around the Lower East Side, I shot in bright light and at dusk, and the camera s AF system was quick and sure. During one walk at night, in very dim light with low contrast subjects, the AF system was perfectly acceptable but not as good as the best AF cameras I've used, and it behaved the same in several later tests in very dim light.