Fujifilm X-Pro2

24MP APS-C, 8FPS, 2-SD slots

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Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2 (17.1 oz./485 g with battery and card, about $1,699) and 35mm f/2 lens. bigger. I got mine at B&H; I'd also get it at Adorama or at Amazon.

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Fuji does not seal its boxes, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.

 

June 2016    Fuji Reviews   Fuji Lenses   Sony   Nikon   Canon   LEICA   All Reviews

Mirrorless vs. DSLR cameras

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Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

 

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

 

Sample Images

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Magenta Flower

Magenta Flower, 07 June 2016. Fujifilm X-Pro2, Auto White Balance (shot under overcast light), Fujinon 100~400mm set to 400mm and shot wide-open with Fujinon XF 1.4x teleconverter which gives T8 at 560mm at 1/85 at Auto ISO 200, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution file to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely display full resolution images at full resolution.

(more samples throughout the review below)

 

Introduction

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New   Good   Bad   Missing

Adorama Pays Top Dollar for Used Gear

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B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

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The Fujifilm X-Pro2 is an interchangeable lens mirrorless "rangefinder" style camera that has both optical and electronic viewfinders. It's also the first mirrorless camera of which I know that has two card slots, which is mandatory for use as backup for any professional use. Neither Sony nor LEICA are there yet; with only one card slot these other cameras are fun, but not suitable for any professional use where you absolutely, positively need to get your photos.

The XPro2 is a huge update from the now primitive X-Pro1 of 2012. This X-Pro2 is Fuji's best camera if you want an interchangeable lens mirrorless camera and need both electronic and optical viewfinders.

I don't find the optical finder very useful since EVFs today are real-time, and the electronic finder (EVF) isn't very good when compared to Sony's far superior EVFs. A huge problem with the X-Pro2's EVF is that it's rarely the correct brightness. It's usually too dark indoors, and sometimes too bright, in Auto brightness mode. In Manual brightness mode, it's never the right brightness as you move around. Sony's EVFs just work, while I'm always cursing at this Fuji's EVF.

I prefer Fujifilm's X-T10 which adds a built-in flash. It weighs less, too. The X-T10 skips the optical finder and otherwise has the same practical performance as this X-Pro2 — for less than half the price.

If you want a tough, well-made camera and don't need an optical finder (you don't), I prefer the X-T1, and it also costs much less. I'm serious; if I have all three on my shelf, I grab the X-T10, and if not the X-T10, I'd grab the X-T1 before I took the X-Pro2. I don't like the X-Pro2 compared to the others; it weighs more and certainly doesn't work any better.

The X-Pro2 is especially popular with hobbyists who appreciate a mechanically well-made camera. This X-Pro2 has the best mechanics of any camera coming out of the Orient today. The main reason to get an X-Pro2 is if how a camera feels in your hand is more important than how well it takes pictures. The X-Pro2 is for people whose work isn't yet good enough to warrant the ownership of the LEICA system, but still want a camera that feels well-made.

I'm not impressed with the X-Pro2. Its Auto-Area AF system works so poorly so I have to assign AF points manually, it won't focus well in very dark conditions, and its EVF is poor because it's often too dark or too bright.

The X-Pro1 was extremely innovative in its day, but it had its weirdnesses. Sadly the X-Pro2 retains all the quirkiness of the X-Pro1, and simply piles-on more features without bothering to organize any of them, so it's even harder to figure out and shoot. I was hoping that Fuji would spend its efforts streamlining its interface, while instead it just threw more garbage on the feature pile. For instance, while the ISO dial is nice, both ISO 51,200 and ISO 25,600 come up at the "H" setting; you have to select which one you get in a menu! You have to press MENU > wrench menu > button/dial setup > ISO dial setting (H) > 12,800 or 51,200, which is not easy to do when you're under pressure in the dark. The X-Pro2 does a lot of dumb things that I no longer will tolerate now that Sony has come out with better cameras that weren't around back in 2012; the world has moved on.

Quirkiness was cute back in the day when the X-Pro1 was novel and we expected Fuji to iron out the quirks. Sadly today instead of refining the X-Pro, Fuji simply piled more features on top of the existing mess.

Fuji has a history of adding even features via firmware updates, even retroactively to old models. This is fantastic for hobbyists since the camera you buy today will be even better in a year, but useless for those of us to have to produce photos today in order to eat today. I can't make a picture today with a firmware update that arrives tomorrow.

As expected, this Fuji's skin tones are awesome in any light, and OK for nature and landscapes. Use these Fujis for people pictures, but don't get a Fuji if people aren't most of what you shoot.

 

New

● Two SD card slots, a first in mirrorless as far as I know.

● The color saturation adjustment now goes to ± 4 from ± 2. I shoot at +4, and shoot my other Fujis at their maximum of +2. I seem to be able to get more vivid colors from my X-Pro2 than I can from my other Fuji cameras, all as-shot as JPGs.

● A new thumb nubbin makes it easier to select AF areas and to scroll around playback images.

● Adjustable diopter on the viewfinder like every other camera in the past 20 years; the old X-Pro1 needed fixed diopters — even for normal vision!

● Optical finder has different magnifications to set itself to different ranges of lenses, just like a 1990s 35mm point-and-shoot.

 

Good

● Superior all-metal construction.

● Produced domestically in Japan.

● Almost all the buttons are on the right, so it's easy to shoot with only one hand.

● Great skin tones in any light.

● Super-sharp sensor.

● AF areas cover most of the sensor.

● Direct, dedicated shutter, exposure mode, compensation, ISO and often aperture dials.

● Has a silent electronic shutter mode, and even the standard mechanical shutter mode is quiet and refined.

● Wi-Fi.

 

Bad

● Crummy electronic viewfinder by 2016 standards; Sony has left Fuji in the dirt. It's sharp, but this Fuji's EVF is usually too bright or too dark to see well.

● Surprisingly poor low-light autofocus. Would have been OK in 2005, but you can't focus on people when it gets dim in a restaurant without an AF illuminator. Most other cameras, even the Sony RX10 Mk III, have no problem with this today.

● Unusable Auto AF-Area selection. You have to select an AF sensor manually; otherwise in Auto AF-Area mode the X-Pro2 rarely finds the subject and usually focuses on the background! The Fuji X100T is far better here; I have no idea how Fujifilm could have screwed this up.

● ● Obtuse menu and control system. Even the most basic settings like the clock or formatting are hidden at MENU > Wrench > USER SETTING > Date/Time. Screen brightness is at MENU > Wrench > Screen Setup. Good luck trying to find anything unless you shoot every day.

 

Missing

● No flash.

● No GPS.

● Auto ISO can't be programmed for minimum shutter speed to track lens focal length; has manual slowest-speed settings only.

● No real preset modes; the "Custom Settings" only store and recall a very limited subset of parameters.

● No touch screen.

● No RGB histogram, but not needed because the X-Pro2 does so well at handing highlight overload.

● Only a one-axis level for roll ("Dutching" or left-right tilt); no second axis for pitch (up-down).

● No deeper zero detent on the exposure compensation dial makes it impossible to find Zero quickly by feel.

● Tiny exposure compensation display in the finder means you could shoot an hour before you realize you're at +1 stop from last night.

● No battery percentage in finder, just a bar. (You can see percentage on the rear LCD.)

● Charges only by taking battery out and putting in a separate charger; can't charge via USB.

 

Lens Compatibility

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Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

It uses only Fuji's X-mount lenses, which are excellent.

Zeiss makes some lenses for the X-mount as well.

You can use adapters to use just about any other kind of lens, but I don't recommend this since its hokey and Fuji's own lenses are so good. Don't buy this expecting to use the other lenses you already have; plan on buying all new Fuji lenses or you're wasting your time.

 

Specifications

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Image Sensor

24 MP.

No low-pass (anti-alias) filter; special random-distribution color-filter array eliminates the need for it.

15.6 x 23.6 mm.

1.5:1 aspect ratio.

1.53x crop factor.

 

Image Sizes

Native: 4,000 x 6,000 pixels (24 MP).

Medium: 4,240 x 2,832 (12 MP).

Small: 3,008 x 2,000 (6 MP).

 

Cropped Aspect Ratios

16:9 or square crops from the above:

 

Large

16:9: 6,000 x 3,376 (20 MP).

Square: 4,000 x 4,000 (16MP).

 

Medium

16:9: 4,240 x 2,384 (10 MP).

Square: 2,832 x 2,832 (8 MP).

 

Small

16:9: 3,008 x 1,688 (5 MP).

Square: 2,000 x 2,000 (4 MP).

 

Dynamic Range Modes

AUTO (100% or 200%),

Manual: 100%, 200% or 400%.

200% only works with ISO 400 or above.

400% only works at ISO 800 or above.

 

Crazy "Film" Modes

PROVIA / Standard

Velvia / Vivid

ASTIA / Soft

CLASSIC CHROME

PRO Neg. Hi

PRO Neg. Std

ACROS/ Black & White

Sepia

B&W also as Sepia or with Yellow, Green or Red filters.

 

Crazy kid's modes

Toy camera

Miniature

Pop color

High-key

Low-key

Dynamic tone

Soft focus

Partial color (Red / Orange / Yellow / Green / Blue / Purple)

 

ISO

ISO 200 ~ 12,800.

ISO 200 is optimum.

To ISO 25,600 or 51,200 in "H" modes and ISO 100 in the "L" mode on the ISO dial.

 

Auto ISO

Three adjustable settings.

Maximum Auto ISO programmable to 12,800.

Minimum shutter speeds settable from 1/4 to 1/500.

No Auto setting for the slowest speed to track lens focal length.

 

Still Formats

JPG and/or raw.

JPEG (EXIF Ver.2.3).

Raw 14bit RAF.

sRGB and Adobe RGB.

 

Video

Frame Sizes and Rates

1,920 x 1,080 at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p or 24p for up to 14 min.

1,280 x 720 at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p or 24p for up to 28 min.

 

File Formats

MOD files containing:

MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 video and

Stereo linear PCM audio at 48 ksps.

 

Audio

Recorded only along with video.

Stereo microphones built in.

Mic-in jack with plug-in power overrides built-in mic.

No headphone jack.

 

Autofocus

7 x 7 array of phase detection pixels on-sensor.

Contrast detection AF areas cover most of the frame.

Single, Continuous and Manual modes.

 

Finder

Both

16 mm eyepoint.

-4 to +2 diopters.

Built-in eye sensor to swap between:

 

Optical

Reverse Galilean with electronic bright frame display.

92% coverage.

0.36x or 0.6x magnification, switched depending on lens.


Electronic Finder

0.48," 2,360,000 dot LCD.

100% coverage.

0.59x magnification with 35mm lens.

85 FPS in good light.

150 ms blackout time.

4:3 aspect ratio.

29.1° diagonal, 24.4° horizontal apparent angle.

Auto brightness control, but works poorly.

 

Shutter

Frame Rates

To 8 FPS.

 

Frame Buffer

27 frames (raw) to 83 frames JPG at 8 FPS.

Unlimited at 3 FPS.

 

Mechanical Shutter

Metal focal-plane.

Rated 150,000 shots.

1/8,000 to 30 seconds in all modes except Program, whose maximum time is 4 seconds.

Manual Time mode goes to 30 seconds.

Bulb mode goes to an hour.

 

Silent Electronic Shutter

1/32,768 to 1 second in all modes, including manual Time mode.

Fixed at 1 second in Bulb.

 

Interval Timer

An interval timer for shooting time-lapse sequences is available offering intervals of one second to 24 hours for up to 999 frames.

 

Remote Releases

Standard threaded cable release.

FUJIFILM Camera Remote app via WiFi.

FUJIFILM Remote Release RR-90 via the USB connector.

 

Flash

1/250 sync speed.

 

Built-in Flash

NONE.

 

External Flash

Dedicated hot shoe.

Standard PC (Prontor-Compur) flash sync.

 

Light Meter

TTL 256-zone metering.

Multi.

Center Weighted

Average.

Spot.

 

Live View

Of course; this is the primary mode for mirrorless cameras like this.

 

LCD Monitor

3" (76 mm) diagonal.

1,600,000 dots.

1.5:1 aspect ratio.

Does not swivel.

No anti-reflection coating.

 

WiFi

IEEE 802.11b / g / n

WEP / WPA / WPA2 mixed mode encryption

 

Storage

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

Two SD card slots.

Takes SD to 2GB, SDHC to 32GB, SDXC to 256GB.

Also takes UHS-I, and slot 1 (only) takes UHS-II.

 

Connectors

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

Micro USB 2.0.

HDMI micro D.

ø2.5mm stereo microphone & shutter release.

Dedicated hot shoe.

Standard PC (Prontor-Compur) flash sync.

 

Power & Battery

Battery

Fuji NP W126 Battery

Fuji NP W126 Battery.

NP-W126 rechargeable Li-ion battery, same as used in the X-T10, X-T1, X-Pro1, X-E2 and X-E1.

Size: 36.4 mm × 47.1 mm × 15.7 mm/1.4 in. × 1.9 in. × 0.6 in.

Weight: 47 g/1.7 oz.

Rated 250 shots with the EVF or 350 frames with the optical finder.

— or —

Rated 110 minutes running for movies, without face detection.

Won't charge in-camera, needs external charger:

 

Charging

Fuji BC-W126 Charger

Fuji BC-W126 Charger.

BC-W126 charger, same as included with X-T10, X-T1, X-Pro1, X-E2 and X-E1.

Charge time: 2.5 hours.

Environment: 5° C to +40° C (41° F to 104° F).

Size: 65 mm × 91.5 mm × 28 mm/2.6 in. × 3.6 in. × 1.1 in., excluding projections.

Weight: 77 g/2.7 oz.

Corded, uses common "∞" shaped connector.

100~240V, 50~60 Hz.

Made in China by JET.

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

 

Size

5.5″ x 3.3″ 1.8″ WHD, minimum depth 1.4."

140.5 x 82.8 x 45.9 millimeters WHD, minimum depth 34.8mm.

 

Weight

17.095 oz. (484.6 g) with battery and card, actual measured.

Rated 17.5 oz. (495g) with battery and card.

Rated 15.7 oz. (445g) stripped naked.

 

Quality

Made in Japan.

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

 

Body

Semi-gloss polished black paint.

Four pieces of magnesium alloy.

Sealed in a total of 61 points on each section, claiming to be dust-proof, splash-proof.

 

Environment

Operating

-10 to +40º C (14 to 104º F).

10 to 80 % RH.

Oddly rated "no condensation" and only to 80% RH, while the marketing material claims it's sealed and splash-proof.

 

Included

Li-ion battery NP-W126.

Battery Charger BC-W126 and power cord.

Shoulder strap.

Body cap.

Strap clip.

Protective cover.

Clip attaching tool.

Owner's manual.

Warranty.

 

Announced

15 January 2016.

 

Price, USA

May-June 2016: $1,699.

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Box, Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

 

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Box back, Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

 

Optional Accessories

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Metal Hand Grip MHG-XPRO2

From Fuji: Improves the grip on the camera and reduces the chances of camera shake, especially when using heavy, large aperture lenses. This grip can be left in place when using a tripod and enables users to change the battery and SD card without having to remove the grip from the body. The Arca Swiss plate can be used as a quick release with compatible tripods.


Leather Case Bottom BLC-XPRO2

From Fuji: This genuine-leather bottom case elegantly shows off the X-Pro2's classic design while protecting the camera body. The battery can be replaced while the case is attached to the camera. The case comes with a cloth to wrap the entire camera body when storing it in a bag.

 

Performance

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Specifications   Accessories   Performance

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Overall   Autofocus   Exposure   Ergonomics

Finders   High ISOs   Auto ISO   Flash

Image Quality   "Film" Modes   Mechanics

Noise & Vibration   Sharpness   Rear LCD

Playback   Data   Power & Battery

 

Overall

Performance          top

Like the timeless LEICA, the X-Pro2 feels wonderful in-hand, but as soon as you bring it to your eye and try to start shooting, may quickly become frustrated with the EVF being constantly too bright or too dim, and good luck getting it all set the way you want it; the menu system has become even worse than before because there's even more in it.

It's sad to see Fuji starting to go down the same road as LEICA, which is to worry more about how a camera looks and feels than how well it takes pictures. LEICAs are for people who want nice cameras, not for people who want great pictures. This Fuji is starting to get more silly and less about photography with its careless menu system.

 

Autofocus

Performance          top

If you use the rear nubbin to assign AF points manually, AF works well in decent light, but peters out in dim light, like inside dark restaurants.

The Auto AF-Area select mode is horrible. The X100T easily finds and locks-on to targets and faces correctly, while this X-Pro2 in the same mode cluelessly often tries to look to the side of the main subject if it's dark and focus on the background to the sides!

The good news is that unlike DSLRs, the AF areas cover essentially the entire frame.

The selector nubbin also works great, which is good because you always have to use it; you can't let the camera find AF points for itself as most other cameras do very well today.

Just like all my other Fuji cameras, the AF-L (Autofocus Lock) button doesn't do anything; it is ignored.

 

Exposure

Performance          top

Exposure is great; no problems here.

 

Ergonomics

Performance          top

The fit and feel of the controls, as well as all the dedicated knobs and dials, is the best in the business today — even better than LEICA M!

The magic stops as soon as you try to set the camera. I don't suggest this for casual shooters; there's so much menu junk spread all over that you have to be a daily shooter to stay on top of what's set where.

The problem with Fuji slathering more features on top of those we actually need are now that basic settings, like ISO 25,600 versus ISO 51,200 or the monitor brightness, are now several layers deep in the menu system.

Also frustrating is how many different menu systems we now have. We have the MENU system, as well as the Q quick control screen and I forget what else. Some things have their own custom-set (unlabeled) buttons. When you're trying to set and shoot, expect to have to go poking around all these to find what you need. Unless you use this as your primary camera every day, I expect few people will ever master it.

Almost all the buttons are on the right, so it's easy to shoot with only one hand.

 

Finder

Performance          top

The Fuji finders are unique in being able to swap between optical and electronic modes immediately. Right after you make a shot with the optical finder, you can have immediate electronic playback if you like.

 

Optical Finder

The optical finder works, and its electronic graticules are visible in any light, even daylight.

With interchangeable lenses, the optical finder's magnification rarely matches the size of the electronic image playback, which is disconcerting when you have the camera set to its otherwise excellent instant electronic playback mode.

The optical finder has many clever modes that allow an electronic inset of a focus zone in a corner while the rest of the finder remains optical, but honestly I don't bother with any of these silly modes.

 

Electronic Finder

The EVF is the weakest part of this camera, which is sad because the finder is the most important part of any camera.

It's sharp, clear and undistorted, but its Auto Brightness Control is poor, responding only to the light coming in through the lens. Unlike better brands like Sony whose EVFs also adjust based on the light coming into them from behind and always set themselves perfectly from daylight to outdoors at night, this Fuji's finder is usually too dim indoors, and almost always the wrong brightness unless you get lucky.

You can set the brightness manually, which works great until you move again.

Outdoors it works great; it's bright enough for broad daylight. The problem is indoors, where it's often too dim when set on Auto, and if you set it to Manual, it's either too dim outside or too bright inside as you move.

The exposure compensation scale is so defectively small as to be almost illegible. It's certainly not big enough to alert you that you've got it set.

 

High ISOs

Performance          top

Like all digital cameras today, High ISOs look great.

As I'll show, you lose fine detail and texture at the highest ISOs, but they are all clean and give a clear image. If you need to shoot at ISO 12,800, by all means do it; it's better to have slightly lower resolution than a blurry image at a lower ISO.

ISO 51,200 loses all fine texture, but hey, if you need it, use it. There is never any distracting noise at any ISO setting; instead of noise or blotchyness you simply lose more image details and clarity.

 

High ISO Image Sample Files

Complete Images

Click any for the camera-original © files to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly:

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

 

Crops from above

These are 600 x 400 pixel crops. They will vary in size to fit your browser window; if they are about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at 40 x 60" (1 x 1.5 meters) at this same high magnification.

Click any for the same camera-original © files as above to explore on your computer:

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

Fujifilm X-Pro2 High ISO Sample Images

As you see, noise isn't the problem; like all modern digital cameras the losses at high ISOs are that the image becomes less clear as the noise reduction throws away more and more of the image along with the noise that you don't see.

 

Auto ISO

Performance          top

It's nice that Auto ISO has three easy-to-recall settings.

Auto ISO is flexible.

The only problem is that its slowest shutter speed can't be programmed to track with a lens' focal length. You still need to set that manually.

 

Flash

Performance          top

There is no built-in flash, which is critical to daylight people and other photos.

This is why I prefer my X100T or the X-T10, both of which have built-in flashes, to this camera.

The X100 series works much better with flash than any of Fuji's interchangeble-lens cameras because the X100 series have leaf shutters that synchronize up to 1/2,000 of a second. The 1/250 sync speed of the focal plane (interchangeable lens) camera requires you carry a much bigger flash with you for decent results.

 

Image Quality

Performance          top

Color Rendition

Ryan and Charlie Collins

Ryan and Charlie, 01 June 2016. Fujifilm X-Pro2, Auto White Balance (shot under overcast light), Fujinon 35mm f/2 WR, f/2 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 250, Perfectly Clear. bigger or Camera-original © file to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely display full resolution images at full resolution.

As I expect from Fuji, skin tones awesome. If you're a people shooter, Fujis are the best at giving great skin tones over a broader range of conditions than any other brand.

New is that we can set the saturation over a broader range, giving me even brighter colors in my JPG images, which I like.

Fuji's weak point is that its sensors are optimized for people, not places and things, so the color of places and things photos suffers.

 

Auto White Balance

Auto White Balance is good with natural light, but only fair under artificial light. You may need to revert to manual white balance settings more often than with the Sony RX10 Mk III or Nikon D500, for instance.

 

Dynamic Range

Fuji's have always been fantastic at handling highlights, and the X-Pro2 does the same.

I always use the Auto DR feature, which lets the X-Pro2 do even more to optimize itself to any light. Oddly the Auto DR feature only goes to 100% or 200%, if the light is really difficult I have to select 400% manually.

 

"Film" Simulation Modes

Performance          top

There are the usual modes to pretend to look like film. They're better than previous years; here's a few samples.

The Velvia mode is indeed bolder than the usual mode, and seems to keep contrast under control, so it's probably a good mode to use for places and things.

Click any for the camera-original JPG file.

Fuji X-Pro2 Film Simulation Mode example files Fuji X-Pro2 Film Simulation Mode example files
Fuji X-Pro2 Film Simulation Mode example files Fuji X-Pro2 Film Simulation Mode example files

 

Mechanical Quality

Performance          top

 

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm X-Pro2. bigger.

Mechanical quality is far better than anything else from the Orient, and in fact it's just as good as LEICA. It's more precise, while LEICA might be a hair tougher.

If having a camera that feels impeccably well made is critical to you above everything else, this is your camera.

Most of the camera is very precisely made of metal with some engraved markings. The dials are engraved metal, while the pushbuttons are plastic with painted markings.

The battery door is plastic and the finder control lever is metal, both just like LEICA M!

 

Noise and Vibration

Performance          top

In Electronic Shutter mode, it's silent.

The cool part is that the metal focal plane is also marvelous. It's not silent, but is it quiet and refined; far more quiet and refined than my LEICA M9, for instance.

 

Sharpness

Performance          top

The only limitations are your skill as a photographer and the lenses you use.

As shown at High ISOs like all cameras, it's sharpest at the lowest ISOs.

The clever sensor actually is sharper than other digital camera with the same rated resolution, and shots made at lower resolution settings get even sharper pixel-to-pixel, as they should.

eucalyptus

Eucalyptus, 01 June 2016. Fujifilm X-Pro2, 24MP Normal JPG, Fujinon 35mm f/2 WR, f/5.6 at 1/420 at Auto ISO 200. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display the full resolution data properly).

 

2013 Mercedes S550 standard 18" wheel and tire

2013 Mercedes S550 wheel, June 2016. 10 MP Normal square JPG, Fujinon 35mm f/2 WR, f/5.6 at 1/180 at Auto ISO 400. bigger or full resolution to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display the full resolution data properly).

 

Katie and Gumdrop the Fursian play on a MacBook Air

Katie, Gumdrop (her Fursian) and Katie's MacBook Air. Fujifilm X-Pro2, 6 MP Normal JPG, Fujinon 35mm f/2 WR, f/2 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 400, Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely display full resolution images at full resolution.

 

Rear LCD Monitor

Performance          top

The rear LCD is swell. It's bright enough to see even in broad daylight, and it's accurate and sharp.

It doesn't swivel, which is too bad for a mirrorless camera for shooting at odd angles, and isn't anti-reflection coated.

 

Playback   

Performance          top

Playback is fine, but images are fuzzy for a moment as swapped to the next image.

As you swap images, shooting data takes a moment to appear.

 

Data

Performance          top

Card Formatting

Cards are not properly formatted; they are left as "Untitled" instead of being properly named as "FUJIPRO2."

 

JPGs

JPG files tend to have uniform size, even as subject complexity varies.

They are tagged as 72 DPI.

 

Folder Creation

I see no clever daily or other folder creation modes.

 

Power & Battery

Performance          top

There's a percentage gauge on the rear LCD, but all you get in the EVF is a bar graph.

 

Compared

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Versus Fuji

I prefer the fixed-lens Fujis, the X100, X100S and X100T, because they're smaller and have much better flash control systems with their leaf shutters, as well as built-in flashes. They also have combined optical and electronic finders.

The X100T also has a much better AF system, which magically always finds faces and just focuses on them. The X-Pro2 rarely finds faces unless you manually assign an AF area to them, after which it will try to track them.

For interchangeable lens Fujis, I prefer the X-T10 because it has a built in flash, and it's much lighter — and it costs less than half as much. If I wanted a tough camera, I'd get the X-T1 instead, since it's smaller and lighter. I have little use for the optical finder on an interchangeable lens camera.

See also All Fuji Cameras Compared.

 

Versus Sony

Sony's cameras have much, much better electronic finders.

Sonys lack the dedicated shooting dials of Fuji, but with the X-Pro2's even more foolish menu system and no real settings memories, I prefer Sony's ergonomics. I can set and shoot a Sony much faster than I now can set this Fuji.

I'd consider this Fuji if people are your thing since Fuji's people colors win over any other brand, but I prefer the Sony's color rendition for places and things.

 

Versus Nikon & Canon

I would not buy any Fuji for photos of places and things; Nikon and Canon each have far superior color rendition.

 

Color Rendition Compared

 
Fuji
Sony
Nikon & Canon
LEICA
People
Superior
Good
Very Good
Fair
Places & Things
Poor
Good
Superior
Poor

 

Usage

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Specifications   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Usage   Recommendations   More

 

User's Manual

See the Fuji XPro-2 User's Manual.

 

Power

Charges only in charger, not via USB

 

Settings

This is a daunting camera for someone who doesn't use it every day; Fuji has gotten as silly as other makers hiding things all over the place.

Basics like setting the clock or formatting your card are now hidden at MENU > Wrench > USER SETTING > Date/Time (etc.)

Screen brightness is at MENU > Wrench > Screen Setup.

 

ISO Settings

ISOs are selected only on the ISO dial, however to select ISO 25,600 or 51,200, you have to pick just one to assign to the H position on the ISO dial.

To select this, set MENU > wrench > button/dial setup > ISO dial setting (H) > 25,600 or 51,200.

Yes, it is a design defect that Fuji forgot to have separate settings for each of these on the ISO dial. Honestly, I'd prefer they take off the third-stop settings and provide only and all of the full-stop ISOs: 100 (L), 200, 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200, 6,400, 12,800, 25,600 (H) and 51,200 (H) to speed up setting.

Third-stop ISOs are not relevant for digital; they went away with film where the design of a certain film could have any ISO.

 

Exposure Compensation Dial

The "C" setting switches exposure compensation to the front command dial, and expands its range to ±5 stops.

There are no deeper detents for any setting, so sadly you have to stop and look since you can't set this dial by feel as you can on a Contax G2.

 

Focus

Forget auto area AF, it's horrible.

Use one AF zone, and select it with the thumb nubbin.

Activate Face Detect, and once you put the AF area on a face, the XPro2 will track it around.

 

Shutter

There's no silent (electronic) shutter available in Continuous AF mode. I have no idea why; that's just the way it is.

In Electronic (Silent) shutter it only goes to 1 second maximum or ISO 12,800 maximum — but it won't tell you that as you try to set different settings outside that range! Good luck taking 42 clicks to change the shutter mode just so you can get the shutter or ISO you need; it Fuji was smarter they'd program the XPro2 to change the shutter mode automatically as you set the speed or ISO.

B is Bulb; the shutter stays open as long as you press, up to an hour.

To select third stops or manual times longer than 1 second, use the T position. T is not the classic Time mode where the shutter stays open until you press it again; on the XPRO-2 the T setting means manual setting of values that you can't find on the other settings of the dial.

T mode goes out to 30 seconds.

 

Colors and Image Settings

The X-Pro2's color rendition is mild.

I set Color (saturation) to +4, and leave everything else at 0.

Of course I set Dynamic Range, ISO and everything else to Auto. I only take something off Auto when it's not doing what I need it to do.

 

Cards

I use any old card for stills, but Fuji suggests a class 10 or higher for shooting video.

 

Recommendations

Top   Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Specifications   Accessories   Performance

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I prefer my X100T because it's smaller and has a great flash built-in, as well as a better AF system — for less money.

For interchangeable lens Fujis, I prefer the X-T10 because it has a built in flash, and it's much lighter — and it costs less than half as much. If I wanted a tough camera, I'd get the X-T1 instead, since it's smaller and lighter. I have little use for an optical finder on an interchangeable lens digital camera; EVFs are real-time today so there's no more need.

I'm not impressed with the XPro2. If it's all I had, I'd love it to death, but considering how many camera systems I try, own and use on a daily basis, the X-Pro2 is like a LEICA: impressive if it's all you touch, but if you actually shoot every day, this Fuji is not quite ready to compete head-to-head in 2016 with the likes of Nikon, Canon and Sony.

Like a LEICA, the X-Pro2 feels great, with lovely precise knobs and controls and a nifty hybrid optical/electronic finder, but as of June 2016, its clumsy operating system, bad AF and sloppy EVF brightness control make it one of my last choices for actual shooting. Maybe Fuji will fix some of this, or maybe not, in future firmware, but that's of no help today.

As always, Fujis are optimized for people pictures, for which their color rendition is unmatched, but avoid them for photos of places and things since their color rendition trails behind other brands. At least with more saturation options than ever before from a Fuji digital camera, the X-Pro2 is better than ever for photos of places and things.

 

Where to Get Yours

I got mine at B&H; I'd also get it at Adorama or at Amazon.

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used camera. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

More Information

Top   Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Specifications   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Usage   Recommendations   More

 

Fuji's XPro-2 User's Manual.

Fuji's X-Pro2 page.

Fuji's X-Pro2 press release.

 

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01 June 2016