Hands on: Fujifilm X-E2 out in Singapore

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Fujifilm has been pushing all the right buttons lately for its mirrorless range of cameras. Building upon the success of the X-E1, the Japanese imaging company has upped the ante once again by improving on its latest offering – the X-E2.

It comes with the new X-Tran CMOS II sensor first seen in the updated Fujifilm X100s. This sensor has built-in phase detection to help get the camera lock into focus faster. The actual result is pretty stunning. Those who have updated their firmware on the previous X-E1 should know.

My first-hand experience at the Singapore launch this week is positive as well. The X-E2 can lock onto a subject in a darkened part of a room without much hesitance, whereas the previous X-E1 usually takes a bit longer using its Through the Lens (TTL) contrast detection auto focus. This makes the X-E2 much more user friendly than its predecessor.

The second notable addition is the Lens Modulation Optimiser or LMO. It matches the image to the lens being used, then corrects the images automatically through the in-camera post-capture process.

By doing so, the inherent problems of a lens, such as slight blurring at the lens’ peripheral edges, will be minimised or even eliminated to produce an improved image.

Going by the quick hands-on I’ve had, I can say that the images show a bit more sharpness at the edges of the picture and the colours are even more “contrasty” as a result.

Like its competitors, the X-E2 has several wireless connectivity options, as is the fashion these days. It is Wi-Fi-enabled to transfer photos to a smartphones so you can share them easily.

However, the camera cannot shoot tethered to the smartphone like the Samsung NX300 camera or the Sony Alpha 7 cameras. It’s not a deal breaker, but the feature would make using the X-E2 a bit more pleasant and definitely more useful for studio work.

Other improvements come in the form of four custom buttons for quick settings and an expanded Exposure Compensation dial from -3 to +3 that allows more flexible exposure changes in Program Mode.

The Fujifilm kit that comes with the excellent 18-55mm f2.8-4 Fujinon lens will be sold at S$2,099 in Singapore.