Fuji Announces New X Body: X-E1, 2 Lenses

Fuji today has announced a nearly-identical “little” brother to its popular APS-C retro interchangeable lens compact, the X-Pro 1. Like big bro, it’s a very classic, rangefinder-inspired metal body around a mirrorless imaging system with a 16 megapixel 1.5x crop CMOS sensor. There’s also still an integral electronic viewfinder still built in. It’s about 30% smaller though, physically. And at launch it’ll come in $400 cheaper than it’s big bro’s current retail, and an astounding $700 less than the initial retail on the X-Pro 1. So, with so much seeming similar, just what had to give for that lower price? Well, let’s consult the table!

So, what this tells us is… I have no idea. With the exception of the rear LCD, the XE-1 is actually equal to or better on paper than the X-Pro 1, 30% smaller, and notably cheaper. It has nearly identical physical controls and body build. I’m going to call it a confusing win. If you’ve been lusting after the X-Pro 1, but couldn’t swallow its rather salty price tag, you should have no excuses to not jump all over this little bro. And we’ll make it easier by pointing you to the preorder page here:

With new kit lens - http://robertscamera.com/x-e1-18-55.html

Body only - http://robertscamera.com/x-e1-body-only-28763.html

Also announced today are two more lenses for the line-up, a 14mm f2.8 prime that’ll set you back $900 when it lands later this year, and a nice 18-55mm zoom that lands at f2.8-4, reminding me of Olympus’ mid-range E-series zooms and not the more expecting Canikon-style kit zooms. Good show, Fuji. This nice standard zoom will also be a bit cheaper than it’s primey brethren, and only set you back $700 to own. As you’d expect, with have preorders for both.

14mm 2.8 - http://robertscamera.com/photo/lenses/for-interchangeable-lens-compacts/xf14mm-f-2-8-r.html

18-55mm f2.8-4 - http://robertscamera.com/photo/lenses/for-interchangeable-lens-compacts/xf18-55mm-f-2-8-4-r-lm-ois.html