X-S1 lens

When Fuji announced X-S1 they boasted the ultrahigh quality lens of sophisticated design it is equipped with. Many truly believed it (including myself).

Then there were the first official samples (the famous safari photoset), which were quite soft. The common wisdom said at that time that official samples are always like that and that we should wait for the real photogs to take over. Now everybody agrees the results from X-S1 at the long end ARE typically soft, regardless of the user's skill.

My question is: is it due to poor performance of the image stabilization of it is the lens that are just soft ? And if the former is the case, is it design flaw or a plain lousy manufacturing ?

My point is that I hope the digicam industry does not just give up on the concept of enthusiast bridge cameras (with sensor size at least 1/1.7) after this fiasco. Bridges are just pure pleasure to use for me.

I could not disagree more. Compared to my Panny FZ35, it is far superior.

Rachotilko said:

My question is: is it due to poor performance of the image stabilization of it is the lens that are just soft ? And if the former is the case, is it design flaw or a plain lousy manufacturing ?

Click to expand...

The IS is weird compared to Nikon's VR or Tamron's VC, with both of them you can see the image lock rock steady when you half press the shutter button. I've noticed on the X-S1 that the image through the viewfinder moves around as though there is no IS enabled on the camera. I have to say though that I'm having no trouble shooting it at 624mm hand held so something must be working.

Paul.













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PAUL TILL said:

Rachotilko said:

My question is: is it due to poor performance of the image stabilization of it is the lens that are just soft ? And if the former is the case, is it design flaw or a plain lousy manufacturing ?

Click to expand...

The IS is weird compared to Nikon's VR or Tamron's VC, with both of them you can see the image lock rock steady when you half press the shutter button. I've noticed on the X-S1 that the image through the viewfinder moves around as though there is no IS enabled on the camera. I have to say though that I'm having no trouble shooting it at 624mm hand held so something must be working.

Paul.













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Click to expand...

Excellent pictures. What settings do you use. P or EXR, DR, size, sharpness and so on. I give my X-s1 another chance when the weather improves.

PerH

nice pics Paul..BUT knowing you and your sensitivity to "stuff" in a shot, the grainy element that robs detail seen in the first 200 ISO shot must bother you (even though it is at max zoom). It reminds me of the "look" the HS20 shots had examined up close. Have you found RAW to be the cleaner way to go?
all the best
g
http://skylightvistas.weebly.com/index.html

PerH said:

Excellent pictures. What settings do you use. P or EXR, DR, size, sharpness and so on. I give my X-s1 another chance when the weather improves.

Click to expand...

I'm curious too...especially about in camera sharpness settings. I agree with the OP that images from the X-S1 are quite soft and I'm wondering about sharpening both in camera and post capture.

My FZ150 is noticeably sharper with only VERY slightly more noise than the X-S1. In fact, up to ISO 400 there's no noise advantage at all. However, I would still prefer the functionality and form factor of the Fuji.

Positive and useful discussion above. Please, go on guys!

Hi Rachotilko
I find the lens really sharp.
See here a photo of a cat:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1012&message=40733172&q=Bernie&qf=m
Regards
Bernie

PerH said:

Excellent pictures. What settings do you use. P or EXR, DR, size, sharpness and so on. I give my X-s1 another chance when the weather improves.

Click to expand...

These were shot in:

A Mode (Aperture priority)
Size: Large 3:2 12mp Fine.
ISO200.
DR200%.
Auto WB.
I.S. Mode: Continuous.
Sharpness: Standard.
Highlight Tone: Medium Soft.
Noise Reduction: Low.

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painterdude said:

nice pics Paul..BUT knowing you and your sensitivity to "stuff" in a shot, the grainy element that robs detail seen in the first 200 ISO shot must bother you (even though it is at max zoom). It reminds me of the "look" the HS20 shots had examined up close. Have you found RAW to be the cleaner way to go?
all the best

Click to expand...

I will shoot RAW when it's supported by Adobe, until then I will plod along shooting JPEG. There is a fine grain to all the images, I'm not happy about it but it looks like the way it's going with Fuji, the X10 was the same.

Sorry but please don't blaspheme, the HS20 was a dog of a camera, the only good part of it was the third party battery's you put in it.

Paul.

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Kurt Horsley said:

I'm curious too...especially about in camera sharpness settings. I agree with the OP that images from the X-S1 are quite soft and I'm wondering about sharpening both in camera and post capture.

Click to expand...

Sharpening is usually my strong point but I am struggling with these new CMOS sensors they just don't seem to have that much play in them.

Paul.

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the HS20 was prolly fine for most Paul ..and lots loved it. I sent my copy back..but was impressed with lots about it. Dunno if it was me but try as I might I just could not get sharp enough shots to satisfy me out of it. The color ..humm ..well something was missing ..However ...

I am just one guy with highly idiosyncratic standards ..which could be very flawed ..
Lots liked it and still do.
g

http://skylightvistas.weebly.com/index.html

Rachotilko said:

When Fuji announced X-S1 they boasted the ultrahigh quality lens of sophisticated design it is equipped with. Many truly believed it (including myself).

Then there were the first official samples (the famous safari photoset), which were quite soft. The common wisdom said at that time that official samples are always like that and that we should wait for the real photogs to take over. Now everybody agrees the results from X-S1 at the long end ARE typically soft, regardless of the user's skill.

My question is: is it due to poor performance of the image stabilization of it is the lens that are just soft ? And if the former is the case, is it design flaw or a plain lousy manufacturing ?

My point is that I hope the digicam industry does not just give up on the concept of enthusiast bridge cameras (with sensor size at least 1/1.7) after this fiasco. Bridges are just pure pleasure to use for me.

Click to expand...

then buy the Canon G1X in the meantime.

PAUL TILL said:

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Click to expand...

great shot....which shows the camera is more than capable in the right hands.

the public forget that this is a glorified P&S, even though priced like a base DSLR.

I would have to say I'm pleased with the X-S1 lens. My X-S1 is my first bridge camera in about 7 or 8 years (Panny FZ50 was my last). Most recently I've been shooting with a Pentax K-5 (which followed a K-7, K-20, and K-10). For birding I use a Pentax F*300 f4 (highly rated), and a Tokina 80-400mm (not highly rated). For testing lenses, I have a target (a plastic bottle with several print sizes) on a tree 50 ft. behind my home. I've tested the X-S1 and compared (at full zoom) with my two K-5 birding lenses. Much to my supprise, The S-X1 is the easiest to read. My wife totally agrees. Below are sample shots taken with the Pentax and X-S1. The Pentax shots are all taken in raw, with pp. Perhaps some of these are oversharpend, but for comparison I try to see which is the smalles font size I can read. All are cropped about 50% or so. My brother has photographed my "target" with his Nikon D7000 and 80-400 Nikor lens, and believe it or not, either of my K-5 lenses is sharper than it.

I've also included a shot of two ducks I took yesterday. They were about 30 feet away. I've done modest pp (sharpen + contrast). I've pretty happy with the shot. It was taken at 105mm, so not full zoom. As usual, I'd like it to be sharper, but I'm pretty satisfied with the X-S1 lens.

Great shot of the mallards! The color is wonderful.
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Gary Leland