Fujifilm X-Pro1 Digital Camera Review

Automatic Features

This is certainly not a camera for beginners, but the automation is there if you want it. Simply position the shutter and aperture dials onto the red "A" for automatic, and that variable will be automated. ISO can also be automated, though only up to 3200, and so can the rest of the usual suspects, such as white balance.

Buttons & Dials

Manual control dials are some of the X-Pro1's defining features, and they are all a joy to use. The various aperture rings on all three XF lenses are the most fun, but we also get a large dial for shutter speed, a smaller one for exposure compensation, and an even smaller command dial on the rear panel, which is almost unnecessary given the detailed control afforded by the others. All of them feel great, even though we accidentally spun the EV dial once or twice. The shutter dial, on the other hand, has a smart locking button that allows free rotation of the dial except across the "A" setting in either direction, making it easy to switch back to automatic shutter by touch, without even looking at the dial.

The top plate is also home to the shutter release, which is precise and satisfying, and a customizable Function button, which can be set to active multiple exposure mode, preview depth of field, adjust ISO settings, change self-timer options, swap to video mode, and more.

Menu

Fuji's menu interface isn't perfect, but it's far from the worst we've seen. The main menu is a simple tabbed list, divided between recording options and system preferences. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for, some aimless scrolling will be necessary, but such is the nature of a camera with so much detail available.

The quick menu uses a grid system, and is navigated via a combination of the directional pad and the rear command dial. It's a great shortcut for users familiar with Fuji's icons, but without any written descriptions here, beginners may need a few hours of experience to operate this menu effectively.

The retro style also introduces a few quirks. Video mode, for example, is hidden within the drive mode options. But by and large any moderately experienced photographer should be able to find their way around.

Instruction Manual

Extensive printed instruction manuals in English and Spanish ship with the X-Pro1. They include tables of contents, clear diagrams, and all the information we needed for review. Electronic versions can be found on an included CD-ROM, and they are indexed for easy keyword searching.