Fuji X-E1 with 35mm f1.4 at s 1/8sec, f2.0, ISO 800
A few random twilight and night shots captured with the Fuji X-E1, the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 and 18mm f2. When my favorite all-round camera, the Nikon D800E remains shelved due to weight and size (crazy good refurbished Nikon deals, including D600, D800, click here), I reach for the Fuji X-E1, a serious lightweight alternative. I admit, shooting without an AA filter can be very addictive 
a few more after the break
The Fuji X Trans sensor produces incredible color at high ISO and I dare to say, class leading dynamic range.
Body weight Fuji X-E1: 10.58 oz / 300 grams
Body weight Nikon D800E: 2.20 lb / 1000 grams
Lens weight Nikkor 28mm 1.8G: 11.64 oz (330 g)
Lens weight Fujifilm 18mm 2.0: 4.09 oz (116 g)
Fuji X-E1 with 18mm f2.0 at s 1/125sec, f2.0, ISO 320
Fuji X-E1 with 35mm f1.4 at s 1/30sec, f1.4, ISO 640
Fuji X-E1 with 18mm f2.0 at s 1/10sec, f4.0, ISO 800
Fuji X-E1 with 18mm f2.0 at s 1/60sec, f2.0, ISO 6400
Fuji X-E1 with 18mm f2.0 at s 1/10sec, f2.0, ISO 1000
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Thanks Jorge. You are in luck since you have Nikon lenses already, get yourself a $25 adapter from ebay with aperture control – I am using it with my Tokina 11-16mm in Nikon mount and the X-E1. If you like your D800 you will like the X-E1. Image quality is visibly better then on my original Canon 5D. Color and dynamic range are fantastic, and I have no problems printing up to 16x20inch. It does however produce a swirly-esque noise/grain pattern, mostly visible in raw, no problems with ooc jpegs, which are fantastic, and the swirlys will cause problems if the agency significantly uprezzes the files, a thing to keep in mind. Another weakness would be foliage detail in landscape shots, other wise I consider it my mini D800E, great for pretty much everything, the best APSC sized sensor on the market
Hi Daniel, it will definitely be a lot faster then the 35mm/f1.4, most likely reason for the slow af performance, the latest firmware for the body and lens wasn’t installed when you tested it. It should be at least as fast as the 18-55mm, which I compared to the 18mm f2 and found to be pretty much equal sometimes the 18mm was a little faster then the 18-55 and vice versa. I briefly compared the 14mm af speed to the 18mm and it was noticeably faster. Currently I am using the Tokina 11-16mm (blog post here) with the X-P1 and haven’t noticed any smearing or other problems with it at any focal length and aperture. I haven’t made up my mind yet about the 14mm either, dig the depth of field scale and relatively light weight and small size (although it is heavier then the 35mm 1.4) but a lot lighter then the 11-16mm Tokina.
Really depends, I suggest test the super wide 3rd party lenses before you fork over the $$$
Hi,
Great article, and images. I’m sitting on the fence whether to purchase the Xe1 and a couple of lenses. I already own A D800, D700, and a D300 with the trinity of Nikon lenses. This stuff is getting way to heavy to haul around all the time. Recently (two years now) I’ve been shooting with my Panasonic LX5 and it’s amazing as well — even so my stock agencies I deal with have accepted the panny images. I was wondering how large you’ve printed with the XE, and if they are that good…
Thanks Jeff. I shoot raw and then convert to dng, pretty standard processing “by feel” sometimes I add a little contrast and saturation. I have noticed the tendency to wash out colors, esp in bright daylight and even on shady subjects and I set the +- comp to -1/3 for standard exposure.
Hello!
You mentioned that the 14 will have the fastest AF to date… do you know if it will be similar to the 18-55? I prefer primes but I have the 18-55 and it is significantly faster than the 35mm. I tried the 14mm briefly a couple of weeks ago on a XPro1 and it seemed to be more or less the same speed as the 35mm but I only snapped a couple of shots in a well lit room.
Also, I personally have a XE-1 (and an OM-D among others) and would love to transition some of my lens to the X mount. One of my favorite lenses on my FF is a Zeiss 21. (Another is the Oly 75 in m4/3). I would like to get the M-Mount version, either the Zeiss 21 or maybe the Leica but so many complain about smearing with wide lenses on the Fuji. Of course, this Fuji 14 would be great but it’s expensive duplicating lenses across multiple mounts. For lenses I don’t mind manually focusing, I would prefer to stick to M-Mount… but again, the camera I shoot the most (X-E1) apparently doesn’t play well with wide non-X-Fuji lenses…
Great color and sharpeners. I have the e-1 and after I I port the colors still appear washed out. Are your images right out of the camera. What do you do for post processing?
Thanks much, Craig. Yes, street shooting is possible, esp with the 18mm 2.0, AF is quite fast, not near as fast as on your Nikon V1 and not as fast as the Olympus OM D E-M5 or even the Nex 6 with the new collapsible kit lens. However, imho, this is the best APSC sized sensor, great color and dynamic range, impressive low ISO. Due to the smaller size, no matter how good, M43 can’t keep up (not that it matters much in practical terms). It is the best alternative for FF, small light, great high ISO, dynamic range, awesome colors, even impressive shallow depth of field with the right lenses..the only other lens I would seriously consider for street with the X-E1 is the 14mm, will have the fastest AF of any Fujifilm lens as of to date.
Mike, your night work with the Fuji X-E1 is impressive. Do you consider it a viable street photography camera? The sensor looks incredible. How’s it compare. To a m43 sensor? Keep the great posts coming! You need to bring your X-E1 down to Bike Week in March, you would get so many amazing pictures!