Is Old Fuji Color Better? Or Even Different?

In my view, the type of Fuji JPG colour does in fact not really depend on the sensor, it depends on the processor.

If you are looking for the "old" Fuji colour you need to buy a camera with an EXR or EXR pro processor. Here are cameras with three different sensors but the same "old" colour signature:

* Finepix X-100 with Bayer aps-c sensor

* Finepix X-S1 with compact sensor

* X-E1 and X Pro 1 with x-trans I sensor

Using the same sensors as above but with a later processor (say EXR II) you get different colours:

* X-M1 with x-trans I sensor

* Finepix X20 with compact sensor

Again, EXR II colour style also does not depend on the sensor, you get the same type e.g with the x-trans II Sensor:

* X-E2, X100s, x100t etc with APS-C

In short, the JPG colour signature is due to the processor used in the camera. The sensor is important of course for dynamic range, noise, resolution etc but not really for the JPG colour signature.

I thought they changed the color settings in the camera between X-T1 and X-T3, with more graduations of saturation and contrast. This may affect the personal experience.

Also, I perceived a better highlight color in X-T3, the X-T1 blew them more often.

Auto white balance can affect your experience with a camera as well. I found the X-T1 too cool, it was often going for 4800K, so I have since been using fixed 5400-5600 K for most daylight photography. Taken at the same WB the camera results look the same.

John Sevigny wrote:

IMO, Fuji cameras have gone from creating a very unique look at the expense of stone age autofocus to creating a far more generic look with no real increase in AF. I currently shhot an xe2, xe3, xpro3 and previously shot an x100t and v.

Fuji's evolving jpeg processing (or devolving, according to some) is a good reason to just shoot RAW instead. You can enjoy the technical advancements of the newer cameras and process the images to look however you want.

Everything was better when we were younger.

ayolos wrote:

Xtrans1 and Xtrans2 are bad for landscape because they are only 16MP, 12 bits raws and low DR.

But you can get interesting results with theses camera. After readind this post, I tried to capture high DR scene with my XE1 and 27mm for a very compact setup and get the most of it beautifull old sensor.

One shot only with highlight exposure (target sky), handheld, keeping base ISO 200 for max DR, C1 base profile no color correction only sharpening and HDR sliders. it's not A7R but for the age and weight it's not that bad :

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

I know quite a few pro landscape shooters who shot with the 12.8MP Canon 5D very successfully - were the specs or performance of that (admittedly FF) sensor much better than the X-Trans 1 ? Interestingly some Canon fans still rave about that 5D sensor and revere it like some Fuji fans celebrate X-Trans 1. It seems there may be a degree to which early sensors that did not cram lots of MP on them produced a color and/or tonality that some appreciate

ayolos wrote:

Marco Cinnirella wrote:

ayolos wrote:

Xtrans1 and Xtrans2 are bad for landscape because they are only 16MP, 12 bits raws and low DR.

But you can get interesting results with theses camera. After readind this post, I tried to capture high DR scene with my XE1 and 27mm for a very compact setup and get the most of it beautifull old sensor.

One shot only with highlight exposure (target sky), handheld, keeping base ISO 200 for max DR, C1 base profile no color correction only sharpening and HDR sliders. it's not A7R but for the age and weight it's not that bad :

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

XE1 + XF 27MM

I know quite a few pro landscape shooters who shot with the 12.8MP Canon 5D very successfully - were the specs or performance of that (admittedly FF) sensor much better than the X-Trans 1 ? Interestingly some Canon fans still rave about that 5D sensor and revere it like some Fuji fans celebrate X-Trans 1. It seems there may be a degree to which early sensors that did not cram lots of MP on them produced a color and/or tonality that some appreciate

5D classic is the XTrans 1 of canon : low megapixel, 12 bits raw, low DR, low green sensitivity but best colors and tonal range.

5D classic is my favorite sensor ahead xtrans1 because files are even more fantastic. problem : old body heavy 900 gr :/

XPRO1 and XE1 half the weight.

Yup, Canon 5D + a fast 85 was truly beautiful for portraits for example