Sony NEX 6 vs Fuji XE-1

I must say that this is one of the most interesting match ups to come out in quite a while.  Both cameras are of a similar size, both have the Sony 16MP sensor (Fuji's has some of their own magic fairy dust added), both use the Sony XLA OLED viewfinder (the NEX-6 having a faster refresh rate), both come with interesting kit lenses (Sony's collapsible and wide 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 vs the fast aperture Fuji 18-55mm f2.8-4) and both are premium priced in the mirrorless market.

However the Fuji is quite a bit more than the Sony.  With the kit lens the Fuji is a full $400 more (MSRP $999 vs $1399).   Is it worth it?  That remains to be seen, but I think for Fuji it will be a stretch to show customers the extra value.

As a side bar, I've seen used X-Pro1 bodies now starting to really drop in price on the used market.  Most are going for $1,100 or less now, a little under a new XE-1 with tax.

Sony NEX 5n with Leica 50mm Summicron M

Playing with a Fuji XPro-1

A few days ago, while I was trying to put a pre-order in for a Nikon D600, I asked if I could have a look at the Fujifilm XPro-1.  As soon as I picked it up, the camera felt familiar to my X-100.  Sure, it was a bit larger, but all the controls were similar, the hybrid viewfinder the same, and similar excellent results.  It also shares its uncanny ability to surprise with its lightness, as you are expecting to be lifting up a hewn-from-billet steel Leica M3.

It looks like an excellent camera, but at $2,300 all in with one lens, it sure ain't cheap.

Fuji X100

Auto Distortion correction on Fuji XPro-1

One thing I was disappointed to find out was that the X mount lenses for the Fuji XPro-1 rely on in camera distortion.  This is like micro four thirds lenses as well.  This means that as the camera must correct distortion, it therefore compromises sharpness, which to me is not a compromise I want to make.

This, however, got  me thinking - I wonder if the X-100 does this as well.  I'm not sure, and I don't know if the RAW files will be able to tell you.

Ottawa - Whispering Wall          Fuji X100

Ottawa          Fuji X100

Rating the lens systems on Mirrorless cameras

My Sony NEX 5n is a terrific camera, but the native lenses available from Sony for the E mount is quite limited.  Of all the mirrorless systems, here's my quick ranking of the lens packages available.

1) Micro-four thirds

This mount has been around the longest and Panasonic and Olympus have focused on building up a complete range of lenses for these cameras.  The availability is very wide, from wide angle to telephoto zooms, a range of specialist primes and quality pro level zooms.  There is truly something for everyone.

2) Samsung NX

While I don't like the fact that there is very limited compatibility with Leica lenses for NX mount, Samsung have launched a range of primes that are cheap and good quality.  The recently launched 85mm f1.4 was quite a surprise, and its excellent quality levels more so.  Not much in the way of pro zooms or specialist primes (other than the 85mm), but I believe there will be more to come.

3) Fuji X mount

Fuji took a very interesting approach with launching only fast primes with the new X-Pro 1.  This certainly gave the camera enthusiast credibility, and allowed Fuji to focus on coming up with other lenses.  This is one to watch.

4) Sony E mount

Aside from the Carl Zeiss 24mm f1.8, there's not much to get excited about in Sony E mount.  This is a shame, as the NEX series are truly excellent cameras and arguably the best mirror-less camera from an image quality perspective.  Most of the Sony lenses tested haven't performed well, especially on the demanding 24MP sensor in the NEX-7.  However, if you shoot adapted lenses, the focus peaking feature makes it the best of the lot.

5) Ricoh modules

This is system is either very innovative or very weird, depending on where you sit.  I sit on the weird side.  Ricoh's lens modules incorporate sensors directly into them, rather than into the camera, meaning that a different lens could come with a completely different size sensor.  I think this would spin me out when trying to use it.  However, they do offer an array of different modules, with probably the Leica lens module being the most interesting.

6) Nikon 1

So far only consumer zooms are available, so not much to get excited about.

7) Pentax Q and K

The Pentax Q and K are truly at the complete opposite ends of the spectrum.   The K mount is basically a mirrorless D-SLR that takes Pentax K mount lenses, while the Q is interchangeable lens compact, featuring mostly toy lenses.

It really depends on what you need in a camera.  If a wide range of native lenses is very important, then get a micro four thirds camera.  If you shoot adapted lenses, then get the NEX.  If you want to do both, and don't mind a little extra size and cost, then and the Fuji X Pro1 would be perfect.

Nikon D800 / D800E

Well that I didn’t expect!  Nikon’s D700 replacement has been announced with an amazing 36MP!  I had read some rumours along these lines, but I firmly believed that the D800 would have the D4 16MP sensor.  It seems like Nikon has changed the focus of this camera, becoming more of a studio and video camera than a pro-‘junior’ camera, as the D700 was really just a scaled down D3.

The other interesting feature is the introduction of the D800E model – its the same as the D800, but without an anti-aliasing filter to increase sharpness.  AA filters greatly reduce moiré effects, but at the expense of a slight loss of sharpness.  I really am not sure which one I’d get, but probably the standard model as it would be more of an all round camera.

Another interesting point is the usable ISO.  It is very similar to the D700, despite the significantly increased pixel density.  I expect that noise will be slightly higher than a D700 at an given ISO, but this is still an amazing result given the megapixel count.

I must say the price tag isn’t at all unreasonable either.  I was certainly expecting it to be higher.  For me though it is right at the limit in terms of what I am prepared to pay for a replacement to my D700 that I sold 6 months ago, so I will have to make a call as to whether I will buy this or buy a used D700.  If I buy a D800, updating the NEX will be pretty much unaffordable, but if I buy a used D700, then I could more easily afford a NEX7 or Fuji XPro1.

Edward Gardens - Nikon D700 with Tamron 180mm f3.5 macro

X Factor

Have you noticed that almost every Mirrorless camera launched recently has an ‘X’ in it’s name?  Strange but true.  Leica started the trend with the X1 (ie first mirror-less camera with an ‘X’ in the name); then came the X100 from Fuji who then added the X10 and XPro-1 recently.   Sony released their NEX series about 18 months ago, followed by the unusual Ricoh GXR.  Canon just named their fixed lens mirrorless compact the G1X, which looks almost exactly the same as the also just announced Panasonic GX1.

I call it all a bit exxy, pardon the pun; but at least Nikon and Olympus haven’t fallen into the X trap yet, though I am sure it won’t be long.

Kingston, ON - Sony NEX 3 with Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton