Great IQ

gohunter wrote:

I chose the X-M1 as I could not justify the extra expense for the X-E1 or X-Pro1, plus Fuji were offering it with a free XC 50-230mm lens as well as the XC 16-50mm. As it has the same sensor as the X-Pro1, my expectations for IQ were very high and I was not disappointed.

I chose the camera in the tan/silver option, which meant it came with the silver lens instead of black. It just looks SO classy and so many people ask to look at it. More importantly, it takes great shots. IQ is superb, colour rendition is superb - so much so that one of the first photos I took with it (with XC 50-230mm) of a pink camellia bloom in our garden is now my desktop background. I have had several Fujifilm cameras before - F200EXR, F300EXR, HS10, 2 x S5 Pro's (used for wedding photography) and X10, but this one just blows the rest away - even the S5 Pro with a decent lens comes nowhere near the IQ of the X-M1.

With the film simulation modes, it is great to be able with this and many other Fuji cameras, to go from Sensia, to Velvia or Astia quickly without messing with saturation, etc. as with some other brands and the simulations are pretty realistic too.

Also, the idea of being able to just press and hold the Q button to switch from indoor to outdoor setting for the screen brightness is just genius. No need to go into menus and start increasing the brightness, it switches back and forth in seconds with the press of a button.

I can honestly say that I am over the moon with this gem of a camera and the only thing that stops it from getting a full 5 stars is the lack of a viewfinder.

Great review. The xm1 is a gem.