Fujifilm X-E1

The Fujifilm X-E1 ($1,399 list with 18-55mm lens) is the second interchangeable lens camera in Fuji's X series. It omits the hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder that is included with the top-end X-Pro1, and instead includes an extremely sharp OLED EVF. Its 16-megapixel X-Trans CMOS image sensor uses a larger 6-by-6 array pattern of red, green, and blue pixels, which promises to produce more natural, film-like images than standard 4-by-4 Bayer pattern; it also eliminates the need for a low-pass filter, as it is not prone to the moir? effect. The camera does produce excellent images and will make the right type of shooter very happy, but it isn't quite as good as our Editors' Choice for high-end compact interchangeable lens cameras, the Olympus OM-D E-M5.

Design and Features
The X-E1 features the same retro styling that has adorned many a mirrorless camera. Our review unit was chrome with black leatherette, but there's also an all-black version available. It measures just 2.9 by 5.1 by 1.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 12.3 ounces without a lens. Styled after classic rangefinder cameras, the EVF is located on the top left corner of the camera rather than in the center as it would be with an SLR. The Sony Alpha NEX-7 also has its EVF in the same location, but it is not nearly as heavy on the retro styling as the X-E1.

The camera's control layout is also something out of the past. Aperture is controlled via a dial on the lens, there's a Shutter Speed dial on the top plate, as well as an Exposure Compenstation dial. There isn't a mode dial, instead you put the camera into Aperture Priority by manually adjusting the aperture and leaving other settings to automatic, Shutter Priority by doing the same to the shutter speed setting, and Program mode by leaving both set to auto, adjusting your exposure via the EV Compensation dial.

There are two Manual modes?both are activated by setting the Aperture and Shutter Speed manually. The first is a type of ISO Priority mode?it allows you to control the aperture and shutter speed manually, but automatically varies the ISO within the set limits to create a proper exposure. You also have the option of manually setting the ISO, which gives you full control over your exposure. There's a programmable Fn button on the top plate that, by default, brings up a menu to adjust ISO.

Rear physical controls include a button to release the pop-up flash. It's placed on a hinge so that you can tilt it up and bounce light off of a ceiling for more even illumination. The View Mode button toggles between the rear LCD, EVF, and an eye-sensor mode that automatically switches between the two. To the left of the LCD you'll find a Play button, a Drive Mode button (from which you also set the self timer, activate Panoramic mode, or switch to Movie mode), an AE button that sets the metering area, and an AF button that sets the active focus point. To the right of the LCD you'll find the Menu button, a four-way directional pad, a Display button to change what is shown on the rear LCD, the AE-L/AF-L button to lock exposure or focus for a shot, and the Q button. That brings up a menu which lets you quickly adjust any of a number of shooting settings. The front of the camera houses a toggle switch to change between AF-S, AF-C, and manual focus modes.

The included kit lens is the Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS, which covers a 27-82.5mm field of view in terms of classic full-frame photography. Most kit lenses are rather inexpensive?they work, but you'll get better images if you invest more in a lens. We knocked the otherwise excellent Sony Alpha NEX-7 for a kit lens that couldn't keep up with its 24-megapixel image sensor, was a bit slow in terms of aperture, and displayed plenty of distortion; this 18-55mm is a f/2.8-4 design, is optically stabilized, is extremely sharp, and doesn't add noticeable distortion to images. You pay for this. Most kit lenses add $100 or perhaps $150 to the price of a camera. The X-E1 is priced at $999 as a body only, so you're paying a $400 premium to add the zoom?a lens that will set you back $599 if purchased on its own.

In addition to its native lenses, Fuji supports Leica M lenses via an official adapter?and you can mount pretty much any SLR lens to the camera via a bevy of unofficial adapters available at photo specialty stores, Amazon, and eBay. There's no shortage of shooters who look at the X-E1 and X-Pro1 as a poor man's Leica M9-P, as the APS-C sensor only introduces a modest 1.5x crop factor to beloved wide-angle optics; much less bothersome than the 2x crop factor of Micro Four Thirds. The Sony NEX system is generally considered the best platform for adapted manual focus lenses, as cameras like the NEX-6 support focus peaking, which highlights in-focus areas of an image to help you more quickly confirm focus. Despite having a fantastic OLED viewfinder, the X-E1 does not support peaking.

Of course, you always have the option to use Fuji's native lenses?they support autofocus and are a bit less expensive than German-made Leica lenses. The Fuji 35mm f/1.4 sells for $600; Leica's equivalent will set you back $5,000.

The OLED EVF is extremely sharp thanks to a 2.4-million dot resolution. It is in every way as good as the excellent EVFs built into the Sony NEX-6 and NEX-7 cameras, and is much sharper than the disappointing LCD EVF in the Samsung NX20. It's a great way to frame images?though not as high quality as the bright optical finder in the X-Pro1. The fixed rear LCD is disappointing. At 3 inches, it's big, but the 460k-resolution is low. Even Sony's entry-level NEX-F3 has a tilting ?921k-dot display, and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 has a tilting, touch-sensitive OLED display.

The camera doesn't have any whiz-bang features like Wi-Fi or weather-sealing. All of Samsung's current NX cameras, as well as the Sony NEX-5R and NEX-6 have built-in Wi-Fi so you can share photos online with ease. You do have the option of adding an Eye-Fi memory card to the X-E1?it offers support for the card's Wi-Fi features within its image playback menu. If you want a camera that you can take out in the rain without worry, you'll want to look at the Olympus OM-D E-M5; its splash-proof design is one of many factors that help it earn our Editors' Choice in this category.

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