X-PRO 1 - X-E1 - X-E2, Genuine advice

Hi,

I'd like to offer my advice based on my experience with the XP1 / XE1 & XE2. When I got the XP1, it was with the 35 1.4, and used it happily till I felt I needed a smaller body. The XE1 was released soon after and I went for it. Loved the camera, a financial issue led me to sell it. After a few years, I bought it 2nd hand, and about a month later my work colleague asked if I could photograph his wedding. He just expected the day to be documented with no high expectations. The only Af lens I had then was the native18-55 and my MF lenses - Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm 2.4 / Helios 44M / Zeiss Jena 135mm 3.5.

So off I hop onto the flight to Poland with all of the above and a few extra batteries. I've no experience of wedding shoots, so doing a bit of homework on the flight I got a bit nervous. So on the day, I recall using the 18-55 for only a few shots - just was not working for me. But with MF lenses, it just felt easier somehow... cannot explain this but have a look at the gallery link https://galleries.page.link/byvSS

This was an experience in itself, so much so, on my trip to India, I carried the XE1 along with Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm 2.4 & Helios 44M, shooting fully manual.

I've since had GAS and tried many of the newer bodies, and while they are technologically more advanced, but at the root, where the output counts, I feel (and this is entirely subjective) the results from Xtrans1 are best of anything that's out now. I shoot RAW and JPEG, always have. I'm in the printing business and run various large format printers - ie my eye picks up blemishes and details easily, sharp / unsharp / blurr... it's 2nd nature to me with years of working in the field. My point being, (albeit subjective) even the RAW files are quicker and easier to work with compared to Xtrans 2.

Personally prefer the XE1 to the XP1 (it handles better in my hands) - so my advice might be biased - but look for a good XE1, they're not that expensive, but difficult to find. I picked a terrible condition one a few months ago, and paid Fuji to service it properly... Love it.

All the best, I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever one you decide to go with.

Anand