Fuji X-T1: a speed demon with weather sealing, fastest EVF on the planet. Is this the X-series camera of your dreams?
posted Monday, January 27, 2014 at 11:30 PM EST
If you've been holding off on Fujifilm's X-series mirrorless cameras because you weren't a fan of the rangefinder-like form factor, it may be time to reevaluate your decision and get in your preorder! The 16.3-megapixel Fuji X-T1 compact system camera has just been announced, and it takes the X-series in a brand-new direction, ergonomically speaking.
Aimed at SLR shooters who've so far not made the jump to mirrorless, the Fujifilm X-T1 acknowledges the need to provide a compelling argument for the optical viewfinder's death, boasting a simply awesome electronic viewfinder. Based around an Organic LED panel, the X-T1's EVF provides both the highest-magnification and the shortest update lag of those in any compact system camera to date, according to Fujifilm. Based on our use of the camera at CES, Fujifilm's claim of the shortest update lag seems to be accurate: it was so fast that we almost didn't notice we were using an EVF.
As well as the viewfinder, the Fuji X-T1's magnesium body plays host to a profusion of external, manual controls that will doubtless draw comparisons to the Nikon Df. And like that camera -- but unlike all of its X-series mirrorless brethren -- the Fuji T1 is fully weather-sealed. It's also freeze and dust-resistant.
Based around the same X-Trans CMOS II image sensor and EXR Processor II as in the Fuji X-E2, the X-T1 nevertheless boasts slightly greater performance and ISO sensitivity range thanks to improvements in other areas. And performance is something it looks to offer in shedloads, with a manufacturer-claimed 8 fps full-res burst shooting performance and 0.08-second autofocus response time. It's also the first compact system camera that's compatible with UHS-II flash cards, which are even faster than their UHS-I SD predecessors.
Available from February 2014, the Fujifilm X-T1 is priced at around US$1,300 body-only. A kit version bundling a non-weather sealed 18-55mm XF lens will be available at the same time, priced at around US$1,700. A variety of new accessories are also promised, including a weather-sealed vertical battery grip with duplicate controls for portrait-orientation shooting, a hand grip, an all-leather case, and more. Pricing and availability for the accessories hadn't been disclosed at press time.
For a whole lot more on Fuji's latest X-mount mirrorless camera -- and arguably, greatest, although the company says the X-Pro1 is still its flagship -- read our in-depth Fuji X-T1 preview!
Just want to reserve your spot in line for what's likely to be one very hot camera? Place your pre-order with a trusted Imaging Resource affiliate now: