And here it is: the look behind the X-E2. It seems to confirm what trusted sources told me: a new position for the Q button and a Fn2 button!
Thanks a lot to the anonymous source who shared it with Fujirumors.
A trusted source just confirmed that this image is not a fake.
And now spread the word via facebook and twitter
cheers and thanks for the pics Dr. Photo rumour and also to MJr who compared the screens of the X-E1 and X-E2. “Turns out the screen is not ‘bigger’, just wider. Buttons on the left a bit smaller. I liked how the 4:3 screen left room for info under 3:2 images. This way it all has to be overlay … which doesn’t look very good imho. But oh well, the image is nice and big. At least it’s not like 16:9 like some m4/3 with black bars on the sides! and info half over the image half not, now that is horrible !”
63 Responses
Looks like good improvements to me. Means that I will be able to assign ISO and WB to the two Fn buttons. I guess that view mode will be hidden in menus then, but that is not a big problem for me since I do not change view mode often if at all.
The Fn2 button is nice but very inconveniently placed! Hopefully the arrow keys can be set to move AF points without hitting down arrow first. Then bring that firmware change to the X-E1!
Could be useful to have the AF point immediately adjustable with the arrow buttons, but since it says AF on the down button (and macro on the up button) I doubt that. Remember that in S and M ‘mode’ the left and right buttons are used to adjust shutter speed in 1/3 EVs as well which would not be possible at the same time as having the AF point immediately adjustable.
I would’ve also welcomed direct access to AF points. I don’t understand why they have to make it more difficult than should be for one of the most important and used functions. 🙁
Why no just assign it to the FN key right beside the shutter. Its doesn’t get much convienient then that. It works perfect on my X-Pro 1.
mmh, I’ve never tried that. Thanks for the tip
That would be more convenient if they provided a better quick access to the ISO. The Fn button is best used for ISO I think. Maybe a button on the front like how Nikon does it?
I would prefer to use Fn for ISO and Fn2 for WB. I can live with that I need to press the AF (down) button before moving the AF box around with any of the four arrow buttons.
Tip: In case you have not already noticed, once you have moved the AF box on the X-E1 you can directly half press the trigger and your selection will be set.
Rear screen has a similar frame, but the screen itself looks a bit bigger, which would be a nice upgrade.
it’s rumored to be a 3 inch screen
Looks about 3″ if the current one is a 2.8″. Hopefully it’s higher res!
It’s not actually ‘bigger’, just wider: http://goo.gl/D8ex6N
So yeah alright.. it’s bigger. 😉
And still no news of the AF speed???
according to an anonymous source: 0.08 sec autofocus speed
Thank you Patrick, i’seen that… I hope that it’s true 🙂
but without more explaination, such an improvment is dificult to beleve for the moment
The camera may be capable of that, but I doubt that any of the current lens’s focus motors are fast enough to match that time.
yes, thats true Ben 🙁
X-E2 has now separated AEL/AFL buttons !
So glad they moved the Q Button out of the mix, Hard to hind them in a rush. Hit Q a lot looking for AFL and Q screen pops up not fun!
So it is, in fact, an X-E1s, just like the X100s : keep the body, change the insides. A bit boring and unambitious, I think there are many things that are wrong with the current X-E1’s body (dials, handling, etc.).
Given that the directional pad has markings on it, I assume we won’t be able to directly move AF points with it but have to press the “AF” button first, and then move the AF point around, just lie on the X100s, which makes me loose time.
Buttons on the thumb rest aren’t exactly the easiest to use. It’s too bad, the “play” button on the X-pro 1 is located exactly where a Fn or AF/AE lock button should be, but on the X-E1 it was replaced by the microphone (really idiotic placement).
I wonder where the view mode button has gone.
The rear dial looks like it hasn’t changed, meaning that it’s going to feel awful (cheap, plastic, not very “positive” clicks), and it likely will remain underused.
Then we have the row of button on the left, which is just unusable when shooting, they should have moved the screen to the left instead and put more Fn buttons, switches or dials on the right side.
The Q button isn’t any easier to reach.
The exposure mode dial still is a little trickier to use than what I’d like to be (weird thumb position when operating it).
No tilt screen.
The only positive thing is that we now have two lock control buttons. Let’s hope they’re extensively customisable, but I doubt it.
Fuji has done exactly what I feared they’d do, i.e. another X100 / X100s kind of upgrade.
As an old film guy the body is just right for me, Having shot OLY OM’s and Canon MF and EOS I just shoot till I know it and like it. Not a big deal just glad the Q moved, Last hope is the AF C works this time.
Wow, Did you get out of bed on the wrong side or are you always so miserable. I guess you won’t be buying one then. I’ve never read such a negative post about anything let alone a camera.
Because camera manufacturers deserve a pat on the back ? The entire industry is quite struggling at the moment, and I’d say they deserve it for constantly churning out half-arses iterative products one after the other.
Fuji did something interesting with the X100 and X-pro 1. Now they’re just aiming at doing what everyone else is doing. For the most part it would actually be a good idea (auto ISO for example, or the shutter button behaviour), but it won’t make them turn a profit in.
I’m still waiting for a complete overall of camera ergonomics that will do away with the dated PASM paradigm. I’m still waiting for a larger sensor that will allow me to shoot in either portrait or landscape orientation without rotating the camera to a very awkward and completely anti-ergonomic position unless i’ve got the space to carry a grip with me. I’m still waiting for a camera with proper ETTR metering. And the list goes on.
I was hopeful that getting rid of the mirror would entice camera manufacturers to innovate and create useful ideas (the larger sensor idea is one of them, you can’t do that on a DSLR because of the mirror box). But no. In fact, right now, the only thing you get from mirrorless cameras is something that’s a undeniably smaller than a DSLR but has much crappier ergonomics for the most part – except perhaps the new E-M1. No wonder all mirrorless cameras are selling less than expected.
I’m not exactly saying the camera industry should follow the pace of innovation / development of the smartphone industry, but right now, from a design and conceptual point of view, they’re couch potatoes. Too bad since they’ve got brilliant engineers (except software).
That’s funny…..smartphones are all the same too. They are phones with computers and cameras. You buy the one you like best for ergonomics, features, price, etc, but it isn’t as if there’s some night-and-day difference between an iPhone and a Blackberry. They do the same thing.
I chose nikon over canon years ago due only to ergonomics. Both are perfectly fine equipment for the purpose. What I DIDNT do is go find a Canon Internet forum to go complain in because I didn’t like their ergonomics.
If the Fuji design is truly the nightmare you describe it to be it would behoove you to buy a different system altogether. That way you’d also have a new forum to complain in whenever that manufacturer fails to introduce upgrades from outer space that just blow you away.
Yes indeed smartphones are all the same now. In itself I’m starting to feel we need a change after several years of app-centric operating systems designs. But what I mostly meant was that I’d like to see an “iPhone moment” in the camera world right now. Something that really changes and improves the way we use our cameras.
Guess what ? I mostly complain about what I own (Fuji X and Canon). And guess what ? I think all camera manufacturers are pretty bad if not rubbish when it comes to design, conceptual thinking, ergonomics, user interface and so on. The simple fact that it’s a smartphone company (Apple) that came up with an extremely interesting solution to a decades-old problem about flash white balance, and not a decades old camera company with lots of experience is telling : they’ve lost the plot when it comes to implementing useful, ground-breaking features. But at least, oh joy, we get scene modes on a $1500 OM-D E-M1.
Now what I’m only asking of Fuji is just to copy the good ideas from others. Just copy : no need for a lot of design brainstorming. But no : we get the same body as the X-E1 with only a few changes in button labels. Better than nothing ? Yes. But since camera manufacturers have been doing pretty much nothing in the way of user interface for a long time, doing only better than nothing isn’t enough to add a lot of value to a camera.
Right now the entire industry struggles. If you think that it’s by continuously producing small iterations of old products, updating the sensor and the processor now and then, and doing barely anything besides it, that the industry will get back on its feet, I’d bet you’re wrong. We need disruptive products.
This really is more of a X-E1S. I assume the X-TRANS II sensor from the x100S is going to be a give. Some of these other changes could be done with firmware. The larger LCD will be good for some, but those of who use the viewfinder most of the time it’s a marginal improvement.
I do like the separate AEL/AFL and 2nd fn button though. Wished Fuji allow us to turn the Viewmode button to an Fn2 on the next firmware update. That button is rather useless to me. I’m sure others will have other opinion about which button is “useless” to them.
Any speculation on price point yet?
Same as before $999.00 is my guess. All others came in the same?
It also looks to be some kind of lock/button on the exposure comp. dial. If this is a lock, hopefully it works like the one on Olympus E-M1 where it’s a toggle for you to decide if its locked or moving…
Hmm, maybe in hind sight, it looks to be the Fn1 button, however, it seems to be bigger, no?
I think it’s just the existing FN button that you see behind the dial.
Indeed. Otherwise that would be some wobbly dial as it isn’t centered.
All of those changes could be done to the X-E1 though firmware update since no new buttons were added… hopefully Fujifilm will help us X-E1 owners out! (although, to be honest, I like how the X-E1 is set up already but more choice is always good hehehe).
I think one of the biggest improvements of the X-E2 is the manual controls in video mode. The system could be really good for video, its just that Fuji hasn’t put the effort into.
Lastly, I think the next area where I would love Fuji to work on is flashes; there is no small, tilt-able, fully manual flash that fits in with the Fuji X look… I think if Fuji def has the potential to create something better than their current flash lineup, and honestly its a space that not many lighting companies have gone into. The flash in the X-E1 is awful (unless you like people to look pale and blue a la iPhone picture), and Fuji’s current flashes can’t really compete to other flash lines in terms of features and performance. I think a lot of people would love a cool retro looking Fuji flash, as long as its reasonably priced and has nice features.
Agree with you about flash…they could stand to develop a pro grade flash system.
I’ve been using an oldish Nikon SB80Dx with my X-E1 and it seems to work fine for bounce and for fill flash. But you’re right, a dedicated multi-channel flash system similar to Nikon CLS would make this camera perfect.
I really hope there are settings to assign the AE/AF-L buttons to do both at once, otherwise having to press both buttons to do both would get annoying.
I agree. Would be nice if you could set either of AF-L and AE-L to do AF on when pushed or AF lock when held (i.e. the same functions that you can choose for AF-L on the X-E1). This way both AF-L functions would be accessible without reconfiguration.
I expect that option will still exist in the menu
I imagine it can be assigned through menu such as on the X-Pro1 or X100.
OK let us see what is fixed from my list of showstoppers that would stop me from upgrading from X-E1 to X-E2:
1. Fast and accurate PDAF together with faster overall camera reactions (?)
2. Face detection AF (OK)
3. Auto ISO that lets me select shutter speed (?)
4. An improved freeze free EVF with very low lag (?)
One out of four according to known info so far. There is still hope though. 😉
I agree but I will be getting one as it has to be a major upgrade to jump to #2
that’s definitely a lockable exposure compensation button 🙂
I hope so, maybe a little off-centered ?
Definitely a Fn button behind the exposure compensation dial 🙂
the good thing about keeping the size and placement of buttons the same is that the grip and my Thumbs-Up will still fit the same, if i intend to upgrade.
One could retort that the simple fact that you seem to need a thumbs-up and a grip means that the original camera’s grip is badly designed :D.
Actually, I wouldn’t be able to say what I miss in the X-E1. With the new firmware it’s perfect for me.
(I do miss an XF 2.4/90, though. ;))
shame that Fuji hasn’t change the design of the x-e1.
It was a good thing that the x100s kept the same design of the beautifull x100. But the x-e1 definitely is the worst looking camera of the X-serie camera’s with viewfinder…..
In my opinion the grip needs a better styling (maybe like the x100/x20) and the corner of the missing OVF needs a restyle in my opnion (look at the e-p5)
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by styling, but the ergonomics of the X100s grip is miles worse than the one on the X-E1… which isn’t brilliant in the first place anyway.
I was talking about esthetics 🙂
The x100(s) feels more luxury, but i like the strong lines of the X-E1/2 better. It’s properly classic with the direct controls but looks just slightly modern enough for today. Hard to choose if it was about looks and feel only.
How about a real usable split image screen for eye focus to help when manually focusing.
Then ISO settings to 25 for those of us who still miss Kodachrome 25.
With the B&W filters, how about Wratten designations so we know just which yellow/red/green or whatever we are dialing in?
A built in neutral density filter as well as a Polarizing filter?
I would be happy with just ISO100 natively. 25 would be almost revolutionary .. though i believe medium format camera’s do have it.
There was not alot wrong with the 1 but….Looks like just a dusting of suger to me. Heres some more important points on top of what is a great camera.
1. A battery grip that takes two batteries (longer life would be nice, but I can always buy extra batteries for a wedding, and longer life may mean bigger batteries so not such a small body), but keep the grip small please. I have an iShoot grip which I love and gives me similar size handling to the X Pro 1.
2. AF…Ok I know its always out there, I could probably manage as it is 🙂 but a little faster would be nice. For personal work I have been using manual focus for 30% of shooting, a nice change and takes me back ten yrs +.
3. EVF… have never liked them but the X-E1 changed that and I am impressed. It would be nice to have a next gen version at double the res (if the tech is out there yet).
4. Custom Menu… A firmware fix???? It would be nice to just delve into my own menu for most of the time.
5. Image review with histogram… I love the image review but to show the histogram it goes 1/4 screen, it would be nice to have a full screen review with histogram overlaid. Firmware??
6. 20ish MP.
Will have to wait for the X Pro 2.
Never liked the EVF in my X100 or X-Pro1. Found it useful at times when I need to use it, but it is too laggy.
If this camera can focus as quickly as it is reported to do and it handles high ISO noise better than the Olympus OM D E-M-1…I think this would be the smarter choice…especially if you could get a nice fast prime on this
Is it me or does the screen look like it won’t be tiltable…
Is there any office plan from Fuji for the exchange from X-E1 to X-E2? Or do I have to sell X-E1 to a camera dealer?
The question is… is this all real. Aren’t we looking at a kind of camera mock up model or just a Photoshop story? There are a few things I find very strange… why would Fuji change the aspect ratio? Why separate AE-buttons, and other button rearrangements that are not in line with the other models? I’m still having difficulty to understand why the X-E1 is being changed, earlier than the X-Pro1, and if it does, why it would be called X-E2 and not X-E1s, again very inconsistent.
This is BAD NEWS IMO. But as long as they DO NOT do the same to the X-Pro 2, it’s fine. The position of the VIEW MODE is absolutely perfectly placed where it is now in the X-E1/X-Pro 1, and should not have been replaced. True, the ‘old’ position of the Q button did get bumped a lot (remedied with a Thumb’s Up grip). But for a working pro, the View Mode button is essential and perfectly placed.
PLEASE FUJI, DO NOT CHANGE THE BUTTON LAYOUT OF THE X-PRO 2!
I only hope that – if there is going to be a XPro-2 – it won`t be only a X-E2 with a X100s viewfinder.
But in terms of economical decisions, that is what every company would do, minor product updates.
And move the bigger jump = big product change, to another 2years term, started with a FF X100s.
Don’t like the new Q button placement. I use that far more often than AE-L/AF-L.
I ghope they improve in the video department. stills was pretty good already.