Object of desire? Our Fujifilm X-T1 in-depth review

I am very impressed with the image quality of the XT1 but I am very disappointed with the build quality of this camera. Less than a year of using it and it's starting to come apart already. The rubber cover has already peeled off, the doors that covers various connection won't close already and the dials are so hard to move and sometimes just stuck. Took it to the Fujifilm Philippines repair center and my warranty was not honored and they were asking me almost $300 in repairs. They said the dials are stuck because of corrosion caused by dust and water (whatever happened to that highly regarded "weather proof" capability). Again, I love the image quality of this camera but this is not something I will recommend due to its build quality. Definitely not an alternative to the Leica.

"The X-T1 completely eclipses the old LEICA M240 by comparison. This Fuji is faster and cleaner, is at least as well made optically and mechanically, it has more and better external controls and ergonomics, has far superior autofocus, and has a decades-better viewfinder — oh, and the LEICA's EVF electronic finder is offshored to China and made out of plastic!"

Keep Improving Fuji.
use new sensor which work better on low light.
and also try to improve the Video
Improve the control and button

Dear DPR, please reshoot Fuji X-T1 Studio comparison samples with LMO set to On. All images are little blurry, not sharp. Either problem with focus, LMO, or lens.

One of my main reason for buying this camera was build quality (I love made in japan products in general) but unfortunately it's not as durable as to be intended , The rear dial is dead and top plate dials are not as steady as before in a short period of time( less than a year) . I have a lot of Sony gadgets since years ago but none of them faced a problem due to a quality issue .they are really durable.My 10 year old made in japan vaio laptop is working pretty good yet and all my sony cameras never have a problem yet . Fuji please don't ruin reputation of japanese product with your low quality (or quality control issues) products. if X-T1 was made in china I wouldn't have these expectation really.

This is an excellent review but with all due respect, it could use an update. The Firmware upgrade version 3.0 has made this an even more fantastic camera! IMHO.

The features and overview described here do not reflect the cameras current state and I think that the camera, and Fuji deserve a more accurate representation of their product as so many people come to DPreview for information prior to purchasing a camera.

As I see it, Fuji seems to be the only major manufacturer that offers such fundamental changes to their cameras and lenses trough Firmware updates and that should be noted and applauded.

I bought Fujiflim X-T1 on 24 Dec 2015, and I love this camera. but recently say in Feb 2015, I found that the rubber skin on the surface and on the camera lens zoom ring started to loosen up. The lens is 18-135mm the rubber sufface had shows sign of detachment so are the rubber sufface on the Camera.
Then come last month in early April 2015 the Camera Flash fail to fire. I had try to shoot in forced flash to test it but the Flash that came along with the X-T1 failed.

The last problem i found is the Shutter Speed Dail had also show its problem As i move to dail to adjust shutter speed. The metering dail also follow to move. The Shutter Speed dail seems to had also failed.

Can I have my X-T1 replaced? Just bought Dec 24th 2015 and now all these problems pop up.

Can Fujiflim make their flag ship camera tougher..? and easier to hold on too, ? Why must we bought extra handle for such so called well designed camera?

Thank you.

The Fuji jpeg colors are for me unmatched, not even by the NX1. With the X-T1 I've more options to travel light than that still more bulky NX1 ! Even if i want go more pro-ish I've the 56mm f1.2 or the pro-zooms or all the other lenses FUJI is famous for.

While video is secondary and probably sees little use, it's still unacceptable to see it falling so far behind every other camera out there.

I see that the video mode scored the lowest in this review. Needs a major step up for for X-T2

What the reviewer says about ISO accuracy is fascinating and matches my experience with the X-T1 (assuming I understand the iso accuracy part of the review correctly!)

I have a Canon 6D and I kept being surprised when first shooting with the X-T1, because it seemed (in aperture priority mode) to be choosing a slower shutter speed for a given scene at a given ISO than I was used to.

I wondered if I was imagining it, so I set the two cameras up together and shot the same scenes and found that this was consistently the case. For a (fictitious) example, when shooting the same scene at ISO 1600 at f/5.6, the 6D would suggest 1/30th and the Fuji would suggest 1/15th.

It changes how I shoot because with the 6D, I know exactly the degree to which I can lean on the image stabilisation in low light. My instincts don't apply to the X-T1 in the same way and I find I need to be much more careful about keeping steady.

Most interesting and thorough review as always.

Low light performance and weather-resistance of camera and lenses is a big plus.
Another good review that could mention the firmware update someone mentioned earlier.
http://mvkilgore.hubpages.com/hub/fujifilm-x-t1-16mp-compact-system-camera-with-3-0-inch-lcd

The April 2014 review deserves considerable change following the Firmware v3.0 update. The X-T1 is now a very serious camera...and the joy is that I haven't had to buy a new camera !!!

I hope Fuji improving the Movie mode by Firmware update.

pity they didnt go with 24mpx apsc sensor, if thats posible,

I just realized that the camera is designed only for ambient light. I tried to expose in manual mode with flash and the screen and viewfinder are black. In manual mode the screen/viewfinder shows the correct exposition for ambient light, but it does not work if I want to expose only the flash light. If someone know how to solve this issue please let me know. Don´t tell me please that this is it, and there´s no solution for that.

I'm interested in this camera and would like to know two things from anyone with experience.

1. Would the pictures be in a resolution and quality high enough to make large prints, like 24"x36"?

2. Would the sensor and available fast lenses give very good results in low light without flash?

thank you

The xt-1 is a great camera let down by a few nasty bits.Both the 'doors' on the camera are unbeleivably frail.X-pro1 ones seem like tanks in comparison. I love the flush buttons on the back as I've been prone to connecting with buttons on digi cameras over the years I don't want to.Like the x-pro and the x100 series the exposure correction dial has a mind of it's own and is never where I left it.Pictures are superb and in my opinion rival anything from anywhere else including some full frame cameras. Certainly better than either of my Nikon DSLR's.The x100s is my perfect street camera lacking little and with stunning results.The x-pro1 is my Leica M substitute used alongside the x100s with a 35mm lens and the optical finder it's just a pleasure to hold and use.The xt-1 is a week or two old and going to replacing one of the DSLR's (need one for action).Don't forget the picture is the 'thing' and the 'thing' that makes the picture is the one pressing the button not the bits in between!

I've had the X-T1 for a couple of months now and just want to say kudos to Fuji. This is the first camera in decades that's inspired me to get out and take photos. I think it's the manual controls that I've been missing. I've been slowly lulled away to programmable buttons and touch screens, all the while not realizing I really missed the feel of my Olympus OM 35mm cameras of the 70's. Thanks to Fuji, it's great to be back.

I really wanted to love this camera. But, I opted for the OMD EM1 which I'm not disappointed with. It certainly has its own issues - too much crapware - but the images appear neutral and true and very detailed when enlarged.
I think I would have liked the Fuji colors more than Olympus and Fuji has a very good set of lenses. It's a great design and better built (more metal) than the EM1.
My reasons for not buying it:

- It needs a deeper handgrip
- The dials were a little too difficult for me to finger/thumb flick. Granted, they are much stronger than the EM1's plastic buttons but they were too stiff for me.
- The eyecup needs to be deeper. I wear glasses and am left-eyed. I couldn't get to the back buttons which, yes, are a bit spongy, but, usable.

I also looked at the XE2 which was easier to use because the viewfinder is on the left. But, still the dials were a bit too stiff for me to flick.

I hope Fuji reads this, makes some changes and I might become a buyer:)

All the bells, dials and whistles on this one. I handled her once. Nice! But surprisingly heavy. The impression of weight (and a lasting impression of value.. what a make!) was increased by its relatively compact size.

See a complete album shot with Fuji xt-1, 14mm f/2.8, 10-24, 56 f/1.2 and35mm f/1.4. I left my Nikon d700 and other full frame lenses behind.
http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/HxsgqcLD/1/6575546

(Part 2)
No matter which lens I mated the cameras with (about four to five of them), after you think you’ve locked focus by the confirmation green light and the beep sound, you move your focus area away from the subject to re-frame for better composition like everybody normally would before taking a shot. The subject would be slightly out of focus (when it is not at the focus point at the time when the shutter release was pressed)!

After I found out about this issue and asked the Fujifilm rep, he actually QUIETLY confirmed my finding. We were very curious why no one brought this up in the their review. Now you understand why I withheld the exact location of this showroom earlier.

Did the reps and I do something wrong? Is there anybody else that has the same experience? If you do, how do you go about it?

I am on the verge of buying the X system as I like everything else so much. This focus problem is absolutely a deal breaker. Anybody in the know, please shed some light. Thank you.

silly question probably but why cant i compare the TX-1 to the OM E-M1? since they are going head to head in the same market...

X-E1 delivers best images quality compared to X-E2 and X-T1 and has the widest DR. Hope Fuji will improve them (X-T1 and X-E2) in next firmware update.

I received my X-T1 six days ago and installed the Sandisk ExtremePro 32Gb card and took the camera to the Air Show at Ocean City this weekend. The results for Saturday, using the 55 - 200 mm lens, including single shots, high-speed bursts and video were outstanding.

The problem came when I removed the memory card. When I did that the outer plastic cover of the memory card slot cover popped off. The inner metal slot cover now sticks out at a 90 degree angle from the side of the camera. There seems no way to reattach the plastic outer cover and I may have to cover the slot with black plastic tape to finish tomorrow's Air Show.

It's hard to believe that this fine camera, whose designers appear to have paid so much attention to detail, could have designed and assembled a part that gets such potentially heavy use as a memory card slot cover so cheaply that it would make the manufacturer of a Dollar General P&S camera blush. Color me disappointed.

I have the XT1 for about 2 months now and the battery grip as well. I love using it. Reminds me of my F2.