Wowed | X-Pro1 sensor delivers. Seriously.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 9:46 AM 
“I hate looking at my 35mm based images at 100% when editing. I can nail the shot but at 100% they just fall short in the details.”
Zack Arias wrote that in his Why I Moved to Phase One post. Personally it’s something I always felt as well but eventually came to accept as a given, as one of the realities of the digital 35mm medium.
Nikon’s marketing push for the D800 — and especially the D800e — boasts of new levels of quality and detail, claims of storming the medium format gates at less than a third of the price point. As I recently wrote I expected to be floored, to be totally and unequivocally wowed by those D800 series files. I wasn’t.
This isn’t to say the D800 won’t be an amazing camera. Like any other tool it will bend to its master’s will and produce outstanding results in the right hands/eyes. It’s obviously a top notch piece of gear.
But I’m now 98% certain it’s not for me. I simply can’t rationalize the tradeoff in overhead, both in CPU cycles and file storage, from the files I’ve seen. I don’t see it. Period.
And the following happened yesterday: I downloaded new full-size samples from the X-Pro1 off Fujifilm’s official site… And I opened them in Aperture 3.
This time, I was floored. Wowed? Yup.
Phase wowed? Get real.
But as opposed to Nikon, I believe Fuji have achieved the right balance with this new X-Trans sensor and their approach to resolving the low-pass filter conundrum. And I’m convinced this is also the best megapixel count for an APS-C sensor. 36MP is pushing it — sorry.
Bottom line: I want to work with this system. Not just play. Work. There’s no way around it.
UPDATE Darren Eagles rightfully pointed out the following on the Real Photographers Forum FB page:
“The D800 is a Full Frame sensor, not APS-C!! This is apples and oranges. Get your facts straight before spouting online!”
Ahem… Well, not sure I “spout” per say… But this was certainly a huge mind freeze on my part. Of course the D800 is a full frame sensor not APS-C. What I was mentally comparing it too was the D4’s similar 16MP count which feels like a better fit in my entirely subjective humble opinion. But then I didn’t write that at all, so my bad. /UPDATE
Here’s one of the new pictures and an approximate 100% crop:
That’s a lot of frizzy hair holding its own. It’s from the 35mm 1.8, shot at f5.6. Here’s the same lens at f2, same deal:
The 60mm 2.4 yields equally impressive results. For some reason I’m not quite as taken with the 18mm but perhaps it’s just due to the available samples.
You’ll find these and more on the X-Pro1 special site.
Beyond the detail, I’m again finding something in the images that I can’t quite explain. But it’s exactly what I find in the X100 files as well.
Something.
Maybe I’m coming home…
Completely unrelated: I’m struggling with incorporating banners on this site. I always feel a little cheap when I try to place ads, even if they’re on topic. But I am a B&H affiliate and referrals would certainly be welcome. So I’m going to place the simplest banner I can find at the bottom of each post. Hopefully this won’t feel too intrusive.
Reader Comments (13)
thanks for the info, looks very impressive indeed. My son has the X-Pro1 on pre-order with the 35mm lens. Can't wait to put it to test with X100.
Lucky dog ;)
X-Pro1 is looking better everyday...and I'm getting impatient! I downloaded the full Rez files from the web too and played with them in Photoshop...mmmmmmm!
In defence of the 35mm DSLR; Zack uses zoom's mostly and I think his primes are the cheaper 1.8 versions. If I'm shooting the D300s with 1.4 primes (Nikor), I'm really surprised when I zoom in to a sharp eyeball. I think I'll do a blog post some time with a100% crop.
I'm with you on the D800 Patrick! I'm almost certain I won't be going down that road. I was ready to bid on a mint condition D700 last night, but thankfully it went higher than I would go for a second hand body. I had convinced myself that I should buy the D700 and sell my D300, which would only cost me a few hundred to change. That's what I'll probably do, but I've spent enough on the X-Pro1 and I still want to see what happens with the D400 ( full frame please). So it looks like my options will be either D700 & D300s or 2x D700's or D700 & X-Pro1.
(Feel free to delete this shameless plug Patrick)
I have a new site for my documentary projects at www.derekclarkphotography.com . The plan is to shoot most of it with the two Fuji X's..
P.s.
The adds on your blog are not a problem at all. I think it's great that B&H approached you in the first place!
Derek.
Excellent link Patrick and I can totally relate to what your expanding on here. I know you have professional needs coupled with the personal needs and the whole megapixel race is surely tuning on the up & up but I think you've made a choice as a professional to work within the system's limitations and off course virtues which in the end will give you what you want — a great tool with versatility.
Indeed, those X100 files have a certain charm to them and the XPro1 just takes that to a whole new level with a highly tuned sensor. Why can't the rest of the crew just do this? Its beyond how as technology continues to increase we're in a race still in 2012 for MP and not better pixels. Enough said I suppose.
Thanks for sharing this news bit.
For the 18mm, have you looked at this shot :
http://fujifilm-x.com/x-pro1/common/images/gallery/sample-images/18mm/ff_x_pro1_18_009.JPG
At f/5,6, IMHO it's quit sharp and the IQ is here. Nothing to complain about for me.
But still, I'll wait the first real review to have a definitive opinion about it :)
Derek,
No problem at all with your plug: I would've plugged you myself anyway ;)
You know, I've always found the old 50mm 1.8 to be pretty impressive in that regard - especially for the price. And the 70-200 2.8 is no slouch in IQ either.
But I still get the strong impression that we're seeing something special with this sensor. I'm increasingly jealous of your pre-order too...!
Those D700s are going to become quite popular I think. I'm really not so sure Nikon will be releasing another FF body...
Jorge,
I thought we'd gotten out of that race too. Which made it all the more surprising to see Nikon's recent design decisions.
My friend Morten who's a Canon guy - something I don't hold against him (!) - used the term "organic" after looking at the XPro samples. There's something exciting there. And usually, excitement triggers the imagination and fuels creativity.
I'm all for that :)
Eddy,
I'm not at my computer right now but I'll check that one out later... Thanks!
Patrick,
And there is THE rub :)
Medium Format is so much more than pixels. The sensor size, as was the case with film of course has a huge factor with file quality. Of course Mr.Joe Public or many hobbyists may not get this (as most may have not shot MF film let alone a digital MF camera).
But, is it all sensor?
I really like Mr.Arias, but from your quote I fell he may be rationailzing his purchase a little, normal human nature for such a big purchase/move. He is not a fine art photographer that I know of and pixel peeping at 100% is purely a photographer trait, not one of clients.
But I digress.
I adore my X100 but lately have been asking myself Why? Why has it illicited such vigor, enjoyment and excitement for me? And I think it's not just the images it produces.
I have, gasp, started to look at Leica eek! Now I cannot afford to buy a M9 without selling a lot of stuff (my guitar collection tbh, which I never have time to play these days, but still the selling is not easy in this economy). So, what about a M8 or8.2? Many will say oh its only 10.3 megapixels, and? Its sensor is bigger than an APSC. And what about the low ISO? What about it? I dont shoot in caves. Apart from build, size, beauty and what it CAN produce, it's another thing that stifles the Nikon/Canon et all with their huge sensors, GLASS!!!!
Medium format lenses are better quality (for most part) to even Pro Nikon/Canon glass and this is a HUGE part of Mr.Arias's argument. Youcannot hope to produce without the optics, its really that simple.
I still am very interested in the X Pro 1 but am also interested in Leica too. I have a D3 and D700 atm so have sports/low light bases covered etc. and am not thinking of selling them (at least theD3 anyway) but to "upgrade" to something which in many respects is not better system (for pure image results) is surely not productive for business or personal satisfaction.
Cramming more pixels into a camera with a small sensor imho is not the answer, certainly not without the glass to go with it. And this is why I am dismayed by Nikon atm.
If I am to spend my hard earned money, I want a system to give me something new in my arsenal, something I want to use and enjoy and something to bring that bit extra. That may be the new Fuji or it may be a used Leica, what it will not be is a new Nikon with a cramped sensor using the same glass as always :)
You're probably right about Nikon not bringing out another FF camera Patrick, but to me it's kinda crazy to have become the king of high ISO and sold millions of cameras because of it, but then to stick two digits up at a huge chunk of their customers and say "Here's 36 megapixels, take it or leave it!".
I saw some early sample images of the 18mm f2 and there was a problem with purple fringing on a couple of shots of trees (shot into the light). This was a pre-production lens, so I'm hoping that it was fixed. Looks like there's minimal barrel distortion on it though. I would have liked a 23mm (35mm equiv), but I'm looking forward to working with something just a bit wider than the X100. I have high hopes for the 35mm, that's the lens I want to use to death!
Talking about plus points. The dealer that I've bought the X-Pro1 from in the UK have up'd their prices to match other dealers. Between the body and two lenses, I've saved £202 ($316 US). I reckon they guessed the prices before Fuji fixed the official ones. Makes up for being humped by them when I pre-ordered the D300s. I also bought a couple of third party batteries and a charger on eBay so that as soon as the X-Pro1 arrives, I can hit the road and test/review it without having to wait.
I think you're on your way to an X-pro1 Patrick (unless there's really bad reviews when they hit the streets). I know what you mean about using it for work and not just personal stuff. I'm heavily invested in Nikon's Speedlight system (3 SB800's, an SB700, an SB900 and an SU800), so I would possibly need to go down the pocket Wizard route for location shoots. But for shooting bands and stuff, I think this could be the new black:-) I have romantic notions of a couple of these things hanging round my neck like the old war photographers from the 60's...whatever keeps you going eh!
Derek.
This is a great discussion guys.
@Nick: It may have been unfair of me to quote Zack Arias out of context like this. When you read the original post it's quite clear he's not into pixel peeping at all and is simply using it to make a point about the sensor. This is also the first time I've ever showed 100% crops on my blog and I did it for the same reasons, namely because of Nikon's claims. I really don't give a rat's &*%s about that stuff either. For all my techieness (!), at the end of the day I'm still all about the print and I've yet to encounter output problems at that level. I've seen some of my 12MP pictures on billboards and didn't have any problems with that either.
I agree with you about glass as well. It's the combination of great elements that make Leica systems so enticing. Which is another reason for my interest in the X-Pro1: a possible gateway into Leica glass territory, but in an affordable and - possibly - more up to date body. Of course then we're back to focusing… The great unknown.
@Derek: Yup, I think I am on my way. I'm also highly invested in CLS but I also use Elinchrom and their Skyport system. In the studio I usually go with the strobes as masters and speedlights in SU-4 so that's not a huge problem. I would miss the CLS on location but like you said, PWs are always an option. Or more Skyports but I'd need to look more closely into that one.
And yes, I have that same romantic notion ;)
Impressive high ISO shots you tweeted about earlier btw...
Hi Patrick,
I have to laugh because I had exactly the same experience. I´ve printed one of the x-pro1 samples on my Epson 3800 in A2 and was totally sold by the quality. The same day I printed a Nikon d800 file and although the resolution is much higher I preferred the Fuji file. Sometimes you can´t explain everything sophisticated but there is a gut feeling telling you.
As a companion to my Pentax 645d I am looking forward to getting this camera in my hand. I already sold my Panasonic GH2 which will be replaced with the Fuji. The only sorrow my 645d could stay more often at home if everything works as I think it will.
Regards Ernst
I guess a case in point about sensor/film size and quality (ala the Nikon D800) was today when I was out shooting 5x4 on a Toyo :).
And I 100% agree about some cameras just having something :)
The X100 has it, the Leica has it and the Nikon D2x had it.
Lets hope the X Pro 1 has it too (there is a nice video by "The Camera Store" on youtube with it out and about at night in Canada).