Upgrade from X-E1 to....X-E2 or X-E2s ?

babart said:

darngooddesign said:

One feature of the X-E2S that seldom gets mentioned is Motion Detect.

Since AUTO mode adds bits of new hardware, the X-E2S also gains another feature: motion detection. This function adds two options to the OIS menu (SHOOTING MENU > IS MODE). What is it about? As you know, the OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) is part of several Fujinon XF and XC lenses. It reduces camera shake and allows you to shoot handheld with slower shutter speeds than usual. However, slow shutter speeds are only useful when your subject isn’t moving, because moving subjects in concert with slow shutter speeds can lead to unwanted motion blur. This is where motion detection comes into play: With the X-E2S, you can still set Auto-ISO to slow shutter speeds to make full use of your camera’s OIS system. However, when the camera detects subject movement as you press the shutter button, it will temporarily increase the minimum shutter speed by one or two stops (and increase the ISO setting along the way). Of course, if you don’t want motion detection, you can simply turn it off in the X-E2S and use one of the two regular OIS modes...

http://www.fujirumors.com/x-e2-vs-x-e2s-ending-the-confusion/

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Interesting option, and thanks much for mentioning it. I think I can live without it though, so I'm going to trade for a good quality used E2.

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darngooddesign said:

babart said:

darngooddesign said:

One feature of the X-E2S that seldom gets mentioned is Motion Detect.

Since AUTO mode adds bits of new hardware, the X-E2S also gains another feature: motion detection. This function adds two options to the OIS menu (SHOOTING MENU > IS MODE). What is it about? As you know, the OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) is part of several Fujinon XF and XC lenses. It reduces camera shake and allows you to shoot handheld with slower shutter speeds than usual. However, slow shutter speeds are only useful when your subject isn’t moving, because moving subjects in concert with slow shutter speeds can lead to unwanted motion blur. This is where motion detection comes into play: With the X-E2S, you can still set Auto-ISO to slow shutter speeds to make full use of your camera’s OIS system. However, when the camera detects subject movement as you press the shutter button, it will temporarily increase the minimum shutter speed by one or two stops (and increase the ISO setting along the way). Of course, if you don’t want motion detection, you can simply turn it off in the X-E2S and use one of the two regular OIS modes...

http://www.fujirumors.com/x-e2-vs-x-e2s-ending-the-confusion/

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Interesting option, and thanks much for mentioning it. I think I can live without it though, so I'm going to trade for a good quality used E2.

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Well that feature is an extension of the full-automatic mode that the X-E2S has but the X-E2 doesn't. Aside from that they are basically the same camera.

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babart said:

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. Trading the E1 for an E2 and upgrading to version 4.0 is the obvious approach. Thanks for your help!

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Ben Herrmann said:

IMO - and after all, these are all just personal opinions that we're offering here - the X-E1 is still a fantastic camera, so much so that I've kept it in my vast collection of "keeper" toys. Sure, it would have been easy to upgrade (or should I say, move on) to the X-E2 when it was announced, but then I thought about the fact that it still has a 16 MP sensor, the form factor is the same, and then I heard (read) about the JPG's not being as nice as on the X-E1. Yes, there some additional niceties added such as more af points, slightly faster AF (and a series of other improvements), but overall, it wasn't enough for me to assume that "the IQ will be vastly improved over the X-E1.

However, if you were to contemplate moving up to the X-T1, well, that's a different story then as it introduces an entirely different form factor, speed, and a wealth of other options - and that's what I did. And even though in this case we're still talkin' about only a 16 MP sensor, the performance parameters are (again, IMO) vastly superior.

The bottom line for me is that since they all use the 16 MP X-trans sensor, the IQ levels will be very difficult to distinguish among the different Fuji models, and other than certain performance parameters, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference when reviewing the images.

Just my two cents worth and I'm stickin' with it.... ;-)

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darngooddesign said:

babart said:

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. Trading the E1 for an E2 and upgrading to version 4.0 is the obvious approach. Thanks for your help!

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Something that came up in a different thread is that the 4.0 firmware decreases the font size in the viewfinder. That might be a consideration for you.

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babart said:

Ben Herrmann said:

IMO - and after all, these are all just personal opinions that we're offering here - the X-E1 is still a fantastic camera, so much so that I've kept it in my vast collection of "keeper" toys. Sure, it would have been easy to upgrade (or should I say, move on) to the X-E2 when it was announced, but then I thought about the fact that it still has a 16 MP sensor, the form factor is the same, and then I heard (read) about the JPG's not being as nice as on the X-E1. Yes, there some additional niceties added such as more af points, slightly faster AF (and a series of other improvements), but overall, it wasn't enough for me to assume that "the IQ will be vastly improved over the X-E1.

However, if you were to contemplate moving up to the X-T1, well, that's a different story then as it introduces an entirely different form factor, speed, and a wealth of other options - and that's what I did. And even though in this case we're still talkin' about only a 16 MP sensor, the performance parameters are (again, IMO) vastly superior.

The bottom line for me is that since they all use the 16 MP X-trans sensor, the IQ levels will be very difficult to distinguish among the different Fuji models, and other than certain performance parameters, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference when reviewing the images.

Just my two cents worth and I'm stickin' with it.... ;-)

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Sal Baker said:

babart said:

Sal Baker said:

North Carolina, USA

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Thanks, and I have, indeed, considered the X-T1. There should be plenty on the market after the T2 is announced. It is my understanding, however, that the 4.0 firmware update makes the E2 pretty close to the T1 in focus accuracy and speed, and that is my only desire. The E1 is a great little camera.....it's the one I grab first when going anywhere. Key word is "little." The lack of a central viewfinder tower allows carrying the camera in a jacket pocket when mounted with the 27mm lens. I always shoot in raw, and can't remember the last time I put anything on "auto" with a digital camera. So the E2 with the firmware update is, to me, the better choice. I would love the EVF of the T1....if Fuji had put it on the side as in the E1/E2. If you wear eyeglasses and use sunscreen you'll know why......the side viewfinder is much easier to shield from sunllight sneaking under the eyeglasses, and I never smear sunscreen on the rear LCD. I don't care for the locking ISO dial on the T1......although there's nothing better than the ISO wheel on the Sony a7 I use. So, as you mentioned, it just depends on what you want in your Fuji.

Cheers, and thanks for the input,

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babart said:

Threaded said:

babart said:

Xe11ent said:

Threaded said:

If you shoot jpegs, and especially if you allow your ISO to go higher than 1600, then you're right to be wary of the X-E2 and other X-trans II cameras like the X-T1 and XT10. The newer jpeg engine is simply not as good. Unfortunately the waxy skin issue is very real and for me, coming from an X-E1, it ruined my experience of the X-E2 - so much so that I "downgraded" back to a first generation X-Pro1. Same slower performance of the X-E1, but also the same stellar IQ.

In all other respects the X-E2 is a better and more capable camera than the X-E1, so it's a shame they messed up in that one area. If I exclusively shot raw I'd definitely go with the 2, but I don't so it was never the right camera for me, and now I wouldn't consider upgrading to anything less than an X-Trans III camera (not that I can begin to afford the X-Pro2 right now).

Re the 2 vs 2S - as I understand it, the only meaningful internal hardware change between the two is the addition of some sensors to allow a full "intelligent" auto mode in the latter - so you can hand the camera to a stranger/family member and the camera will underrstand the scene and any movement etc and choose its own settings appropriately. If you intend to shoot these cameras as they're really meant to be shot - ie with you making the decisions - then there's really no advantage to the 2S and you're better off finding a good deal on the older camera, imho.

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Thanks threaded. Much appreciated. I always shoot raw+jpg but always find myself working with the raws so then the xe2 can be a good deal for me. The xpro1 is also still a possibility. Performance wise it will not be better than the xe1, but the ovf kind of fascinates me. But I do wonder if that beats the better performance of the xe2. And i like the evf of the xe1, allthough I know it lags. Thanks for replying.

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You should look over the DPR review of the X-Pro1, and then discuss the less optimal points with Threaded before purchasing that model. There are advantages and disadvantages to both models. Cheers,

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babart said:

I really enjoy using my X-E1 and have put together a nice travel kit: 18-55, 55-200, and 27/2.8 urban walk around lens. I also have adapters for Zeiss C/Y and Pentax lenses.

Fine. But I'd really like better moving subject performance, especially with flying birds. And grandchildren . I suspect there will soon be a plethora of X-T1 bodies available after the updated T2 hits the market, which seems to be the Fuji model with the best follow movement focusing. And as much as I like the EVF on the X-T1, I don't like the locked ISO dial nor the viewfinder in a projecting tower in the middle of the body.

So. How has the 4.0 firmware update gone with the X-E2? And what does the E2s add to this latest firmware update?

Thanks,

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Xe11ent said:

babart said:

I really enjoy using my X-E1 and have put together a nice travel kit: 18-55, 55-200, and 27/2.8 urban walk around lens. I also have adapters for Zeiss C/Y and Pentax lenses.

Fine. But I'd really like better moving subject performance, especially with flying birds. And grandchildren . I suspect there will soon be a plethora of X-T1 bodies available after the updated T2 hits the market, which seems to be the Fuji model with the best follow movement focusing. And as much as I like the EVF on the X-T1, I don't like the locked ISO dial nor the viewfinder in a projecting tower in the middle of the body.

So. How has the 4.0 firmware update gone with the X-E2? And what does the E2s add to this latest firmware update?

Thanks,

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Xe11ent said:

babart said:

I really enjoy using my X-E1 and have put together a nice travel kit: 18-55, 55-200, and 27/2.8 urban walk around lens. I also have adapters for Zeiss C/Y and Pentax lenses.

Fine. But I'd really like better moving subject performance, especially with flying birds. And grandchildren . I suspect there will soon be a plethora of X-T1 bodies available after the updated T2 hits the market, which seems to be the Fuji model with the best follow movement focusing. And as much as I like the EVF on the X-T1, I don't like the locked ISO dial nor the viewfinder in a projecting tower in the middle of the body.

So. How has the 4.0 firmware update gone with the X-E2? And what does the E2s add to this latest firmware update?

Thanks,

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Andrei L said:

Jumping in a little late, but nevertheless it might be worthwhile to also point out what you lose by upgrading to FW 4.0 or grabbing an X-E2s (not much, but anyway):

- Fonts are much smaller and it might make some options harder to read;

- Also gone is the ability to personalize the menu's color scheme (not much, again, but I did like to keep it green);

- Because of the decreased size or increase in option number, the iso quick selection menu stutters compared to the previous firmware; The WB selection menu can stutter as well

- Movie mode no longer in Drive menu, which is extremely stupid, because you have to waste an Fn to be able to start recording movies, not to mention it's not that hard to press any right hand side Fn by accident

- For some strange reasone, the continuous shooting ability seems to me less stable than with the previous firmware. Then again, maybe it's just a feeling and not objective reality; I hardly ever use continuous shooting.

What you also get, that has not really been mentioned:

- Much improved focus peaking accuracy, extraordinary if you sometimes prefer manual focus or use adapted lenses with no AF ability

I'd say that overall, safe for the form factor preference, weather sealing and significantly larger and more comfortable EVF plus tiltable LCD, there isn't THAT much bang for the buck in upgrading to X-T1 rather than X-E2. IQ is essentially the same.

In Romania, a used X-E2 can go for as low as 350-400 USD, whereas I have never seen an X-T1 below 800 USD. If the aforementioned stuff warrants doubling the investment in the body, that's up to you. In my book, those 400 go a long way towards grabbing an additional Fuji X lens.

Subjectively, I find the X-E2 more pleasurable to operate and often use the bounce flash of the X-E2 indoors (something which requires at least an EF-400 external flash unit with the X-T1, and the EF-400 has longer recycling times in average. If I did have the money to go nuts with a new body, it would probably be the X-Pro2. If an X-E3 came out, I'd provably save and buy that for the improved speed and sensor alone. Not that I'd be bothered should it have weather sealing, switchable eyecup for the viewfinder and perhaps a mobile display.

If I were you, I'd keep the X-E1 for low light portraiture (or switch it for an X-Pro1), as with the first gen cameras there's no smearing compared to what X-E2(s) / X-T10 / X-T1 / X100S/T apply. The one and only workaround for that is using RAW, underexposing so that you don't use an ISO value above 800 and correct exposure with in-camera or in-computer raw development.

The X-Trans II rendition however works much better for landscapes / things and the Chrome preset is something of a fallback to the previous Provia if Shadows, Color and highlights are set to - or Standard if the aforementioned are a bit boosted.

I was historically mocking Ken Rockwell for some of the stuff he's been writing, however in case of the Fujis, I believe he nailed it quite well: Sony is usually better for pictures of 'things' (landscapes included), while Fuji is better for pictures of people because of the rendering. We're talking SOOC. In addition, Sony is better for fast action or grandchildren, while Fuji has a much more photography-oriented control and menu system and provides an incomparably better shooting experience than... well, most systems around. That's why I also got the RX 100 II: it's better at shooting action and much easier to use by wifeTM, not to mention it outputs excellent movies for home use (so does X-E2, but only when confined to MF, as movie C-AF is a disaster with hunting).

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marco1974 said:

I went from X-E1 to X-E2s and I am happy with that.

In particular, I found the AF to be snappier and the EVF to be better.

YMMV

Marco

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Andrei L said:

It's good to hear you're happy with it. To be honest, after initially trying the X-E2 out for three weeks, I've sent it back mainly because of the smearing and seemingly sluggish focus, but called to cancel my return once FW 4.0 was confirmed and I'm really happy I did.

At the end of the day, I can surely say that no other camera I've used (and I have been on film SLRs, rangefinders, some medium format digital and countless mainstream compacts/bridge cameras and bodies) comes close to my now dear X-E2. Would not part with it at least until trying out an X-E3.

I've also been using some old Konica lenses (noticeably smaller than M42, FD, FA and so on) with interesting results. Nope, they're not as sharp as most Fuji X lenses, but the do offer superlative manual focus and really fantastic colors in many situations.

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