First light Fuji XT1

[gregbradley]

Being a gearhead and liking the newest and latest here is a shot of Orion using the new Fuji XT1 - their best X series APS camera yet.

14mm F2.8, 30 seconds ISO3200. It appears they have been successful in lowering the noise from their already very low levels.

Fuji have an ever expanding impressive range of lenses as well - 10-24 F4, 14 2.8, 18 2, 23 1.4, 35 1.4, 56 1.2!, 18-55 2.8-4, 55-200 F3.5 with weather sealed 18-135 F2.8, 16-55 F2.8 coming out soon.

The 56 F1.2 is possibly one of the great lenses currently made by any manufacturer. Another is the Zeiss FE 55mm 1.8 for the Sony Emount.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/154742762/large

If the skies clear again I will do a more arty version.

Greg.

[traveller]

That's jaw dropping colours for a 30 sec exposure.
Well done Greg.
Bo

[gregbradley]

Thanks Bo. Fuji X are famous for fabulous colours and skin tones (except for high ISO skin tones).

Greg.

[Peter Ward]

Ah...come on Greg...be a little more terse with your "snapshot reviews"

It doesn't look like this exposure had any tracking/guiding/polar alignment....so I'm guessing it's a straight tripod shot.

The optics might be the best since sliced bread...but...sorry... that image just doesn't show it.

How about a link to a full-res RAW frame? i.e. no in dark rings from in-camera sharpening ( It's OK .. we have cable-internet in the Shire :) )

I like the fact you post this stuff...but as presented, it's hard to get a handle on just how good/bad the new toys might be. :thumbsup:

[dutch2]

Lovely image Greg. The star colours are incredible.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[seeker372011]

That's a pretty picture. Look forward to more.

[gregbradley]

No camera sharpening as this was RAW and I usually shoot in RAW.Perhaps a tad in post processing. It does not really need sharpening in this type of shot as it does not have an AA filter and is already pretty sharp usually.

It really was just a quick test image and yes no Polarie. Most of the improvements are more for daylight imaging but some affect nightscapes. Like the best EVF out now that would make hardened optical viewfinder only enthusiasts tend to change their mind. Advanced manual focusing aids like a picture in a picture with magnified view, or focus peaking or a split digital image making manual focusing much easier. A tilt screen is always handy for nightscapes, advanced wi-fi and smartphone app control that is very good is another good thing. A built in intervalometer also helps but a wired remote is still needed for 30+ seconds but the intervalometer will be good for time lapse with the optional grip for extra battery life.
Tracking AF at 8 fps each individually AF is amazing in daylight and a new level of AF for mirrorless that is finally closer to DSLR standards.
All in a compact form with lots and lots of external dials and knobs (a dial for ISO for example).
For astro there has been an improvement in high ISO noise performance, a much faster dual core CPU,14 bit processing. ISO should be useable up to ISO12800 or even ISO25600 (dynamic range though is likely to suffer beyond ISO6400). Fuji overstates their ISO by about 1/3rd of a stop or more so ISO6400 is more like ISO4000 on the Sony.
Auto white balance has always been one of the best.
The Fuji 14mm is a rare lens. Hardly any widefield lenses are good for astro nightscapes and they are usually large, heavy and expensive. This one is small, metal, has an aperture ring (how rare is that now?) no distortion, no chromatic aberration. There is a very small section of the view in the top corner where the correction stops but if doing a pano this gets lost in the overlaps. A locking manual focus ring is a nice touch as well, so you don't knock focus in the dark once set. All in a light, well built weather sealed magnesium alloy body. This and the Sony A7r are the 2 top mirrorless cameras at present in my opinion. They are similar in IQ (neither have an AA filter) with the A7r a bit better and more pop and zing is possible (I did a shoot yesterday with A7r and Canon 70-200 F4L and some shots really had a great 3D pop to them). The LCD screen images are also the best I have seen on a camera - very clear and sharp with excellent colours. Fuji also has film simulations that can add some additional effects which are pleasant like Velvia to emulate Fuji Velvia film (more vivid) or Provia which is standard and others for softer, or black and white.

A big plus is all this weighs well within the weight capacity of a Polarie which does still work overloaded (with a Canon or Nikon DSLR).

For some comparison images between Sony A7r with Canon 70-200 F4L and Fuji XT1 with Fuji 55-200mm lens see this thread I started:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53271594

The advantage of the Sony for Canon shooters is you get that hi rez Sony 36mp sensor and use your L glass too for landscapes. There is a Metabones adapter that gives very laggy but accurate AF for the Sony. For Fuji there are plenty of dumb adapters for Canon and every other lens.


Greg.



Thank for that.

[Shiggy]

Thanks for posting this Greg, interesting to see a wide field from the Fuji.
I just bought a Fuji XT1 with 18-55 and the 56 f1.2.
I have been wondering about using the wireless set up to drive it with my phone.
Anyway, nice to see a demonstration.
I have only played around with the 56mm so far but wow, it is a simply amazing lens and the viewfinder on this camera is a real pleasure to use too.

Cheers
Shaun

[gregbradley]

Ooh!

The 56mm is must have I think and is the celebrity lens in the Fuji line up.
From what I have seen it is currently one of the best lenses out there from anyone. Sharp wide open for F1.2 - unheard of!

It might be handy for narrower nightscapes as well. You often see 50mm shots here on APSc cameras. It will need a tracker like Polarie though to be really useful.

Greg.

[nebulosity.]

Gee thats cool Greg :thumbsup:

I didn't know Fuji had another camera coming out, it's looking like a winner.

It's great to have your opinions on the on the newest gear! Your review was a nice informative read, Thanks :thumbsup:

Cheers
Jo

[gregbradley]

You're welcome Jo.

Here is a thread I started with sample images from XE1, XT1 and Sony A7r of the same scene. These are some of the hottest cameras around at the moment:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53306489

Greg.