Armed with the focusing speed of the X100S, the wireless connectivity of the X-M1, and the design and shell size of the X-E1, Fujifilm’s newest addition to the X-Series is clear proof of the line-up’s progressive evolution.
The X-E2, marketed as the successor of the X-E1, comes with the same X-mount that is used across the entire X-Series line, an EXR II image processor, and a 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor. Fujifilm’s X-Trans sensor does not make use of an optical low-pass filter (OLPF)—a common solution for eliminating moiré (the strange waves or maze-like patterns that appear in pictures of stripes and other patterns) that, on the downside, causes loss in sharpness—since it is equipped with a special color filter arrangement that makes it capable of minimizing the occurrence of moiré on its own.
Incorporated into the X-E2 is a new feature called the Lens Modulation Optimizer (LMO), which is meant to enhance edge-to-edge sharpness when shooting with a stopped down aperture by automatically correcting diffraction blur.
Its electronic viewfinder (EVF) uses OLED technology and displays images in 2.36 million dots, while the 3-inch LCD displays in 1.04 million dots and has an 80-degree viewing angle.
It expands the exposure compensation of the X-E1, bumping it up by one value to ±3 EV, as well as the AF speed which has been upgraded from 0.1 sec. to 0.08 sec, inheriting the speed of the X100S. The frame rate of continuous shooting has also been increased from 6 or 3 fps to 7 or 3 fps.
Sensitivity ranges from 200 to 6400, but can be extended to 100, 12800 or 25600.
Just like the X-M1, the X-E2 enables users to wirelessly transfer photos from the camera to a mobile device if the user has the FUJIFILM Camera Application app (free for both iOS andAndroid). The device’s wireless functions are activated by pressing the Wi-Fi button on its top plate.
Other features include an in-camera RAW converter, a built-in pop-up flash, AE/ISO/Dynamic Range/Film Simulation bracketing, Full HD video recording, and Fujifilm’s trademark Film Simulation modes. Two color variants are available: silver/black and pure black.
The X-E2 will be available mid-November and will sell for a suggested retail price of PHP 69,990 in a kit that includes an 18-55mm Fujinon X-mount lens.