Fuji x-pro1 APS-C range finder

[kvg]

Looks like Fuji is gonna be releasing an awesome new system. An interchangeable APS-C rangefinder camera.

http://www.slashgear.com/fujifilm-x-...imes-05206345/

[D'z Nutz]

Wow, if that price is at all accurate, I'm definitely interested in getting one (pending reviews and image samples). I'm still eyeballing the X100 haha

[Mitsu3000gt]

Looks awesome, I think it will get a lot of interest. So far nobody has made a killer mirrorless camera system yet. As long as the AF isn't crippled like most other mirrorless cams, this should be a bit hit with the APS-C sensor. Nice fast lenses, too, but I hope they can do the same with zooms.

[kvg]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
As long as the AF isn't crippled like most other mirrorless cams, this should be a bit hit with the APS-C sensor.

Where do you get this from? You keep saying that yet you have never owned one. I have had a Nikon dslr and a mirrorless and your really splitting hairs to find the differences. If it makes you feel better it is rumored to have both phase and contrast.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by kvg


Where do you get this from? You keep saying that yet you have never owned one. I have had a Nikon dslr and a mirrorless and your really splitting hairs to find the differences. If it makes you feel better it is rumored to have both phase and contrast.

I've used them, though. Try and track rapidly changing or erratic movement going directly towards or away from the camera. Contrast AF can't do it. Contrast AF also struggles in low light. Everywhere I've ever read, by far the largest drawback of current mirrorless cameras is the AF. Obviously for P&S stuff it's fine, but their continuous AF abilities are quite average, and are bested by even the most entry level DSLRs.

Contrast detect uses a quick & sophisticated "guess and check" algorithm, for lack of a better term, to determine AF. Phase detect AF can calculate precisely how to move the lens to bring the subject into focus at any given time - that is why it's so much better at tracking movement.

If you don't want to take my word for it, have a look on other review sites. I googled it really quick, and the first thing to pop up is DPreview's 2011 mirrorless round up. They make a point of saying how bad the AF is for tracking in all current mirrorless cams except the Nikon V1 who makes a decent effort at it with it's phase detect. Here's the wording: "The Nikon 1 cameras are the only ones to make a convincing stab at continuous autofocus but that's about the only significant weakness of Mirrorless as a concept"

Not everyone needs AF that can track movement extremely well, but a lot of people do, including myself.

And yes, it makes me feel better that the new Fuji supposed to have phase detect

[kvg]

My Nikon was better for fast movement, now I get you. I thought you meant to it wasn't accurate.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by kvg
My Nikon was better for fast movement, now I get you. I thought you meant to it wasn't accurate.

Nope - sorry for the confusion. Accuracy is not a problem for contrast AF except in poor light. It really sucks at tracking movement, though, which is why I'm happy to see more manufactuers (Nikon, and now Fuji), trying to add phase detect AF into their mirrorless systems

If they put out a decent range of lenses and add good phase detect AF to that thing, I don't think they will be able to make enough of them as it will basically solve everyone's current complaints with mirrorless (sensor size, lenses, and AF). Although, APS-C means more glass to cover the image circle, so lenses might be a little bigger.

[kvg]

I might get one if its as good as I think it will be

[taemo]

wow interested as well
hopefully when this is out they drop the X100 price as I want both.

would be sick if they create an M mount adapter for this.

[msommers]

I thought rangefinders and mirrorless were different?

[kvg]

kinda sorta, not really. A range finder is a type of mirrorless.

[msommers]

The focusing system between an RF and a M4/3 is completely different...

[kvg]

In a Fuji x100, etc is a hybrid viewfinder with an evf built in and you hit a switch to look through the glass or use the evf. The af system is whatever system they choose to use and rumor is the x pro1 will use both phase and contrast. The x100 range finder is a contrast detect just like a m43 camera.

[msommers]

So Rangefinders are no longer superimposing two images to determine range and obtain focus? And I thought you could have a lot slower shutter speeds on RF's vs the other camera systems? And if not, it begs the question why RFs are even in use anymore. Size I guess? So then M4/3s are going to out them? I'm still confused.

[kvg]

The nice thing small rangefinder style with an EVF built in as I have to attach an EVF to my hot shoe on my Panny, plus Fuji lenses have historically been known to rival Leica and Zeiss.

[dragonone]

Photo Rumors

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by msommers
I thought rangefinders and mirrorless were different?

I'm not too sure why you're confused since you've already pointed out the difference:

Originally posted by msommers
The focusing system between an RF and a M4/3 is completely different...

Maybe because you're interchanging mirrorless cameras with m4/3 cameras?

Rangefinders, m4/3, and even P&S cameras are all mirrorless because there is no mirror between the lens and the imaging plane.

Rangefinders cameras are called that because they use rangefinders to determine subject distance for focusing whereas other mirrorless cameras use different methods of achieving focus.

In the cases of SLRs where there is a mirror, when you press the shutter button, the mirror has to go up before the shutter can open. This introduces two potential drawbacks: a momentary delay from when you press the shutter button and when the camera takes the picture, and potential camera shake from the mirror slap. Before when you had all manual rangefinder cameras, the supposed benefits was that there was no delay from when you press the shutter button and when you take the picture and since there was no shutter slap, you could theoretically hand hold the camera at slower speeds. However that might not be the case with modern cameras that use autofocus since they tend to be pretty laggy.

[Mitsu3000gt]

X-Pro1 is official.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/01...mXPro1_Preview

[msommers]

Thanks D, that helped.

[D'z Nutz]

Specifically designed to maximise the mirror less design of the body the X-Mount has a short flange back distance of just 17.7mm.

Nice, Fuji definitely thought this out well and given the short flange distance, it'll be really easy to come out with a Leica M-mount adapter (among others).