How Come X-E1 IQ Lags Behind Many Others In Studio Shooting?

fuji sensors are actually quite impressive...

all you have to do is check the ENTIRE ISO range up to the XE-1 max ISO 25600 shown, as it holds it's images quite well, while all of the others fall apart. [NEX-7 shows only ISO 16000]

if you check

@ ISO 12800:
XE-1 vs NEX-7 vs OM-D E-M5 vs K5 IIs

all the rest have fallen behind considerably, only X-E1, is ahead for IQ

and can actually keep up with the 'big boys' [surpass hi-Mp A99]:

@ ISO 12800:
XE-1 vs 5DMkIII vs SLT-A99 vs D4

by the time one is at the XE-1's ISO max:

@ ISO 25600: XE-1 vs NEX-7 (ISO 16000) vs OM-D E-M5 vs K5 IIs
@ ISO 25600: XE-1 vs 5DMkIII vs SLT-A99 vs D4

XE-1 is still holding its own quite well.

again, trade-off is having softer smoother cleaner images free of Moiré, less destructive NR, less noise, fewer digital artifacts of 'over-sharpening, but sacrifice 'finest' of details.

For my own interest (being a Canon shooter):

@ ISO 100: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs OM-D E-M5 (min ISO 200) vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 1600: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs OM-D E-M5 vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 3200: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs OM-D E-M5 vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 6400: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs OM-D E-M5 vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 12800: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs OM-D E-M5 vs PowerShot G1X (max ISO 12800 of G1X)

@ ISO 100: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs My Old 5DMkII vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 1600: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs My Old 5DMkII vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 3200: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs My Old 5DMkII vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 6400: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs My Old 5DMkII vs PowerShot G1X
@ ISO 12800: XE-1 vs X-Pro1 vs My Old 5DMkII vs PowerShot G1X (max ISO 12800 G1X)

@ ISO 12800 (which I usually am reluctant to use on a G1X or XE-1, it still fares better than my old 5DMkII!!! even the X-Pro1 seems to fall behind too.)

THUS, Fujifilm (XE-1 and X-Pro1) EXCELS at suppressing color Moiré more than all others, and does well at higher ISOs, even if sacrificing some 'fine details' with their new sensor tech.

For me, as a Canon shooter, with interest in the PowerShot G1X does well up to ISO 1600 (and 3200) at least with FF dSLRs, but as ISOs reach 6400+ it starts to worsen and join others (and clearly behind NEW FF dSLRs but still AHEAD of OLD FF dSLRs!!!)

Most do not realize 'soft' does not mean lower IQ, but rather Higher IQ, especially as one starts to have more Mp, as a 'soft hi-Mp' image in fact RETAINS the finest 'gradient' for details (less jumpy 'step-like' posterizing). Any desired 'sharpness' (sharpening of finest details not readily seen) should be done only in post AFTER one does any 'size reductions for presentation/printing'. Thus, in-camera 'sharpness' actually should be kept at a minimum, or LOWER, rather than higher, in order to RETAIN/KEEP original 'finest' details. One may not perceive the detail that is there at full resolution (too big to 'look' at), but it readily comes to the surface via proper 'sharpening' after being reduced to viewable sizes.

SO, as a Canon 'fan', as well as many others (Canon folks), are fully aware of what/why Fujifilm is doing with their impressive new sensor tech, with keen interest (any RAW complexities are irrelevant, if the JPEGs come out so clean, and Moiré free, and minimal digital artifacts of heavy NR or heavy over-sharpening; there is no need to fiddle around with RAW as much to 'clean' things up.)

since @ ISO 12800 the XE-1 did better than the X-Pro-1 (above) and my old 5DMkII, I've substituted the Sony RX-1 and SLT-A77, just for comparison (different sensor sizes):

@ ISO 12800: XE-1 vs RX-1 vs SLT-A77 vs PowerShot G1X

the new Fujifilm XE-1 (and Canon PowerShot G1X) are a lot better than most give them credit for.

of course, if you are shooting JUST for fine detail resolving power, the larger 24 Mp wins out at higher ISOs even if it gets 'mushy/blotchy/mottled over-sharpened' messy (none being 'smooth' nor 'clean'; that's the trade-off one has to accept).

for me, the final question is: does a limited fixed lens optics and FL zoom options of an integrated G1X lens-body make up for less flexibility of compact interchangeable mirrorless systems or dSLR systems? my answer is, yes. (which makes the G1X very appealing, even over the fujifilms, in spite of how good they are; which they are)

lol

S