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Fuji X-A1
16MP APS-C, flip screen, no viewfinder
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Fuji X-A1

Fujifilm X-A1 (11.6 oz./330g with battery and card, ) and XF 16-50mm OIS (58mm filter), about $599 for both. enlarge. The X-A1 comes in black or blue, complete with the new 16-50mm lens, for $599 total. This free website's biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially these directly to it at Adorama and at Amazon, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.

 

Fuji X-A1

Top, Fujifilm X-A1

 

Fuji X-A1

Back, Fujifilm X-A1.

 

September 2013   Fuji Reviews   Fuji Lenses   LEICA Reviews   All Reviews

Mirrorless vs. DSLR cameras

Lens Adapters

 

Introduction         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

Adorama pays top dollar for your used gear.

Amazon

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Missing    Lens Compatibility

The X-A1 is a fantastic small camera at a give-away price. If you want a small camera with great image quality for people and low-light pictures, this could be the one.

The Fujifilm X-A1 is a cheaper version of the Fuji X-Pro1 and Fuji X-E1 because it deletes any kind of viewfinder. It has no optical finder like the X-Pro1 and has no electronic finder as do both the X-Pro1 and X-E1.

The X-A1 has a swiveling LCD, and also adds Wi-Fi, but takes away the threaded cable release socket.

With no finder except for the lippy rear LCD, I don't consider the X-A1 much more than a toy, but I love toy cameras. If you want one of these, I'm sure you'll love it, but Fuji knows you'll be coming back for a version with a finder next time. If I want to shoot without a viewfinder or need Wi-Fi, I use my iPhone.

The X-A1 has the same resolution, but doesn't claim to have the same voodoo sensor as the other cameras. Even if it is different and if it were worse, I doubt it would make any significant diffence in pictures between them, unless you're just a tweak.

It has the same pop-up flash as the Fuji X-E1. The Fuji X-Pro1 is inferior because it has no built-in flash.

I will presume that otherwise the X-A1 is mostly the same as the Fuji X-Pro1 and Fuji X-E1, both of which are superb cameras, especially for people pictures.

Personally I prefer my Fuji X100s or Fuji X100 because each has a better finder system than any of the interchangeable lens versions, and the  Fuji X100s and Fuji X100 each have the best lens Fuji has made, the incomparable 23mm f/2 ASPH, on it. The X100S also has an electronic shutter which can synchronize with flash at 1/2,000, allowing far better fill-flash performance than any of these mechanical-shuttered interchangeable lens beasts.

 

Lens Compatibility    top

These all work with the Fuji X-Mount XF lenses.

I don't recommend lens adapters to use anything else, although tweakers love these.

 

Specifications     top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

 

Lens Mount

Fuji X-Mount.

Flange focal distance: 17.7mm.

Electronic aperture.

Electronic focus.

 

Sensor

No claims of non-Bayer voodoo.

23.6 mm x 15.6 mm DX.

1.5:1 aspect ratio.

16 MP.

4,896 x 3,264 pixels native.

Ultrasonic cleaner.

 

Image Sizes

Automatic internally-stitched panorama: L (16.6 MP): 7,680 x 2,160 and M (7 MP) 5,120 x 1,440.

L: (3:2, 16 MP) 4,896 x 3,264, (16:9) 4,896 x 2,760, (1:1) 3,264 x 3,264.

M: (3:2, 8 MP) 3,456 x 2,304, (16:9) 3,456 x 1,944, (1:1) 2,304 x 2,304.

S: (3:2, 4 MP) 2,496 x 1,664, (16:9) 2,496 x 1,408, (1:1) 1,664 x 1,664.

I love the square crop!

 

ISO

ISO 200 ~ ISO 6,400.

Pull mode to ISO 100, and push to ISO 25,600.

AUTO ISO 200 ~ 6,400.

AUTO ISO sets the slowest shutter speed at 1/(equivalent focal length), or 1/50 second with the normal 35mm f/1.4 lens.

 

Dynamic Range Options

100%, 200%, 400%, or AUTO (100%-400%).

 

Finders

NO OPTICAL VIEWFINDER.

NO ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER.

 

Video

1,920 x 1,080 @ 24p.

1,280 x 720 @ 24p.

Maximum take length: 29 minutes.

 

Audio

Stereo mica built-in.

Linear PCM, recorded only along with video.

 

Autofocus

TTL off-the-sensor autofocus for zero AF error.

7 x 7 array of sensed areas, 49 total.

One AF area at a time, but you can move that area all over the frame.

 

Light Meter

TTL.

256-zone matrix, spot or average.

 

Flash

Built-in flash: GN 5 meters, 16 feet, at ISO 100. (7 meters, 22 feet, at ISO 200).

Dedicated hot shoe.

Rated for up to 300V sync voltage.

No PC sync terminal.

Rated 1/180 sync, but I never saw the camera shoot above 1/140 with flash in daylight.

 

Shutter

Metal focal-plane.

It supposedly allows multiple exposures; I never tried.

6 FPS (fast) and 3 FPS (slow), but no AF or exposure changes.

1/4,000 ~ 1/4 second in PROGRAM and Aperture-Priority modes.

To 30 seconds in Manual mode.

To one hour in Bulb mode.

Maximum speed with flash (sync): Rated 1/180, but I never saw the camera shoot above 1/140 with flash in daylight.

No thread for a standard cable release.

 

Movies

1080/29.97p or 720/29.97p.

14 minute maximum length, 27 minutes at 720.

Uses the same film simulation, color and B&W modes as the still camera.

 

Audio

Stereo mica

2.5mm stereo mica input.

 

File Formats

Photos

JPEG

RAF raw.

RAF+JPEG

 

Video

.MOV files.

 

Storage

SD, SDHC or SDXC (UHS-1) slot.

 

Data Communication

Wi-Fi b, g and n.

USB 2.0.

HDMI mini connector.

 

Rear LCD

3" LCD.

920,000 dots.

100% coverage.

 

Power

Battery

NP-W126 Li-Ion battery (same as X-Pro1 and X-E1).

Rated about 350 shots, same as other cameras.

 

Charger

BC-W126.

Corded, uses common "∞" shaped plug end.

100~240V, 50-60 Hz.

Made in China by JET.

Rated 13~21 VA input, 8.4VDC 0.6A output.

 

Quality

Made in Japan.

Die-cast magnesium top and bottom covers.

 

Environmental

32 ~ 104°F (0 ~ 40°C).

10 ~ 80% RH, no condensation.

 

Size

4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches WHD.

116.9 x 66.5 x 39 millimeters WHD.

Minimum depth: 32.1 mm/ 1.3 in.

(X-Pro1 is 5.5 x 3.2 x 1.7 inches/139.5 x 81.8 x 42.5 millimeters WHD, and X-E1 is 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5 inches/129 x 74.9 x 38.3 millimeters WHD.)

 

Weight

Fuji rates it as 11.6 oz. (330g) with battery and card.

(The X-Pro1 weighs 15.672 oz. (444.3g) with battery and card and the X-E1 weighs 12.365 oz. (350.5g) with battery and card.)

 

Colors

Black or dark blue.

 

Includes

Fujifilm X-A1 Digital Camera Body.

16-50mm lens.

Li-Ion Battery NP-W126.

Battery Charger BC-W126.

Shoulder Strap.

USB Cable.

Body Cap.

Metal Strap Clip.

Protective Cover.

Clip Attaching Tool.

CD-ROM (Viewer software, RAW File Converter etc.).

Owners Manual.

Fuji Warranty.

 

Optional Accessories

High quality leather half case

FUJINON XF Lenses (3 available and 2 announced today, 10 total by end of 2013)

LEICA M Mount Adapter

Ergonomically designed hand grip

Three dedicated flash models to choose from depending on requirements (EF20, EF40, EFX20)

Protector filters (39mm, 52mm, 58mm)

Remote release cable (RR-80)

 

Announced

17 September 2013.

 

Prices, USA      top

Fall 2013:

X-A1 and 16-50mm kit: $599.

 

Performance         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

The X-A1 appears to be exactly the same camera as the Fuji X-E1, just without the viewfinder.

Therefore, see my Fuji X-E1 Review for what I expect will be the same performance.

 

Compared         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

 

Versus the Fuji X-Pro1

Both use the same XF lens mount, slow shutter speed ranges and battery.

They are 99% the same thing, except that the X-A1 costs less, adds a built-in-flash and larger flipping LCD, but loses and and every sort of viewfinder and the threaded cable release socket.

 

Versus the Fuji X-E1

Both use the same XF lens mount, slow shutter speed ranges and battery.

They are 99% the same, except that the X-A1 costs less and adds a larger flipping LCD — but loses the electronic viewfinder and the threaded cable release socket.

 

Versus the Fuji X100S

The X100S has a built-in flash that never needs to be popped-up or put back down, and it has a superior ultrafast electronic shutter which allows flash sync to 1/2,000 and therefore far superior daylight fill-flash performance.

The X100S has the best finder of any of these cameras, with an optimized dual electronic and optical finder. It's the best because it is optimized to its fantastic fixed 23mm f/2 ASPH (35mm equiv.) lens. The X-Pro1 is close, but has weird magnifications for the optical finder that don't match the electronic finder.

The X100S is also smaller and lighter than any of the interchangeable-lens cameras.

Most of you reading this love to carry too much equipment, but since the fixed lens of the X100S is the only lens I need, personally, I prefer and own the X100S for my own use.

 

Versus the Fuji X100

The Fuji X100 is the same thing as the X100S, with a slightly lower resolution sensor and slightly slower operation.

Otherwise, the X100 is exactly the same as the X100S.

 

Comparison Table

See also my 2014 Comparison Table.

 
Electronic Finder
NONE
2.36MP 0.5" OLED
1.44MP 0.47" LCD
2.36 Mdot 0.47" OLED
1.44MP 0.47" LCD
Optical finder?
NONE
NONE
Yes
Yes
Yes
Finder eye relief
NO FINDER
14mm
15mm
14mm
Finder diopters
NO FINDER
Defective, needs accessory diopter to bring into focus.
-2 ~ +1 diopters
adjustable.
Rear LCD

3" 920k dots

flippy

2.8" 460k dots
3" 1,230k dots
2.8" 460k dots
2.8" 460k dots
Sync speed
1/140
1/140
   
1/1,000 +
Maximum shutter speed
1/4,000
1/4,000
1/8,000
1/4,000
1/4,000
Built-in flash
YES
YES
no
YES
YES
Battery rated
350 shots
350 shots
300 shots
330 shots
300 shots
Built-in mic
stereo
stereo
stereo
 
mono
Standard cable release socket
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
Size
4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches
5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5 inches
5.5 x 3.2 x 1.7 inches
5.0 x 2.9 x 2.1 inches
5.0 x 2.9 x 2.1 inches
Size
116.9 x 66.5 x 39 mm
129 x 74.9 x 38.3 mm
139.5 x 81.8 x 42.5 mm
126.5 x 74.4 x 53.9 mm
126.5 x 74.4 x 53.9 mm
Weight, w/btty & card
11.6 oz.,
no lens
12.35 oz.,
no lens
15.672 oz.,
no lens
15.7 oz.,
with lens
15.5 oz.,
with lens
Weight, w/btty & card
330 g,
no lens
350 g,
no lens
444.3 g,
no lens
445 g,
with lens
440 g,
with lens
Body price, 10/2012
n/a
$1,000
body only
$1,700
body only
n/a
$1,200
with lens
Body price, 02/2013
n/a
$1,000
body only
$1,400
body only
$1,300
with lens
$650 used, with lens
Price, 09/2013
$599 with lens
$800
body only
$1,200
body only
$1,300
with lens
$600 used, with lens

 

Recommendations         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

I own the X100s and X100 because they have better viewfinders and are smaller and lighter. Each has exactly the lens I need.

I'm not a fan of the X-A1, except for its price. With no viewfinder of any kind, I can do without the X-A1. When I shoot with no finder, I may as well use my iPhone.

If I wanted one of these interchangeable-lens Fujis (which I don't, because I prefer the fixed lens and small size of my X100S), I prefer the X-E1 because it has an electronic finder.

The X-A1 is an excellent camera for people photos and for people who want a lightweight camera that performs as well or better than DSLRs. Its color rendition for people is superb, but not very good for nature and landscape snaps. The X-A1 has far better color than the LEICA M9, but that's not saying much.

Personally, I don't need or want all the lenses offered in the Fuji X system; one fixed lens is more than enough for me, so I prefer my old Fuji X100S over this larger and more expensive X-A1, especially for the X100's smaller size, added optical and electronic finders. If you, like most people, prefer interchangeable lenses, then the X-A1 is superb if you don't really need to see what's in your picture before you shoot it.

If you've found the time and expense I've incurred to research and share all this information, this free website's biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially these directly to it at Adorama and at Amazon, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken.

 

More Information         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

Fujifilm's Fuji X-A1 press release

 

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17 September 2013