X-E2 roundup + XF23mm available at ebayUS!

[shoplink 19630 ebay][/shoplink]

A limited number of XF23mm is now available at [shoplink 19630 ebay]top rated plus ebayUS reseller kenmorecamera[/shoplink]. BHphoto (click here) expects to have it available tomorrow.

X-E2
USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / Fotomundus24 GER / PCHstore / AmazonDE (via DR)

– A good X-E2 review of Tony Bridge at the magazine f11 here. The best to summarize his review is contained in his last sentence: “I have my order in!” He also recommends Photo Ninja! Check out the review here (and the whole magazine is well worth a read!).

– AF speed video comparison X-E1 vs X-E2 here on youtube.

– Great for stills, bad for video (with lot of artifacts and moiree). Faster AF, but it still can’t break the OM-D records. Read the good and the bad of the Fuji X-E2 according to CNET here: “For its image quality and shooting experience, the Fujifilm X-E2 remains a winner in its price bracket. But it falls short for action shooting and video, for which you can get a better experience by paying a few hundred more for a camera like the Olympus OM-D E-M1 or a dSLR like the Nikon D7100.” There is also a first impression video on youtube here.

– Pierre-Simon Bouix (blog) wrote me an email with his feedback to the X-E2 which I’m glad to share with all of you:

“Hi Patrick, Quick news and feedback on the X-E2 😉 ! I recently bought the new Fuji X-E2 for my work ( + 23mm and 14mm ), luckily i guess it’s one of the few we received here in France actualy.

Overall impressions i’m very pleased with it. Focusing is pretty snappy compared to my X-Pro 1. Almost instantaneous in certain lighting situation. Even in a dark room, it gets in focus most of the time without hunting, and also very accurately !

EVF feels really nice, no more lag and very responsive with Eye Sensor. Focus peaking is better thant my updated X-Pro 1, more precise and clear.

Although i was a bit disappointed with the new ‘split screen’ like focusing method inherited from the X100s, could be interesting in some specific situations when manual focusing or with non AF lens; fuji engineers did a great job on that features but in real-use situation it feel more like a gadget compared to focus peaking.

And i have to agree with all my fellow photographers who already commented on the lack of  ‘view mode’ button…it’s a real pain, no joke…c’mon Fuji, fix that in the next firmware ! I’m real used to it on my X-Pro 1 and in my opinion it’s maybe the only major disappointment i can tell so far from the X-E2.

So is it worth upgrading ?

Well yes, for pros and street photographers who are looking for a light and very responsive camera with outstanding iQ…go for it ! If you don’t, keep your old gear and enjoy it, X-Pro 1 and XE-1 are still great cameras.

And by the way, the XF 23mm is so delicious ! A real joy to use, well built, smooth MF, AF motor is quiet compared to XF 35mm and it got that unique ‘look’ that only great lens delivers…”