Contents
Wi-Fi
The X-E2 is the third X-Series camera to feature WiFi (behind the X-M1 and X-A1). The implementation hasn’t changed since those cameras, which means that the WiFi is a little more limited than many other makers, but still works pretty well.
The X-E2 can utilize its built-in WiFi transmitter to transfer images to a mobile device, allow a device to browse the camera card’s contents (and then transfer), geotag images with GPS data from a smartphone and transfer images to your computer over a home WiFi network.
I have come to really enjoy having the ability to transfer images from my camera to my smartphone, and it’s the main feature I use on WiFi enabled cameras. The X-E2’s interface is a little quirky in this regard, but it works well. You simply enable WiFi from image review (by pressing menu then selecting Wireless Communication), select the camera’s WiFi network on your mobile device, then open the Fujifilm app and press Receive and Connect. It works fine, but it’s a fair few steps. It is also baffling when you use multiple mobile devices, such as a phone and a tablet, as the camera will only remember one device at a time and will refuse to connect to the second until you press ‘OK’ on the camera to change mobile device. Despite its quirks, you quickly learn the steps and can transfer your images with ease.
The X-E2 can also take GPS information from your smartphone and transfer it to the camera for use in geotagging your images. This certainly works, but the problem is that it doesn’t continually read your location for each image, but rather gets the GPS data once and adds that to all images until you update it. This is fine if you’re shooting in one location for a while, but isn’t very useful if you are roaming around a city or hiking somewhere.
Unfortunately, Fuji still doesn’t offer any way to remotely control the camera through a mobile device. Olympus, Panasonic and Sony all offer this capability with their WiFi enabled cameras, so it’s a bit of a disappointment to see it left off the X-E2. Hopefully, given Fuji’s excellent reputation for adding features via firmware updates, this capability will be added to the camera in the future.
Focus Peaking and Digital Split Image
While most people will be using autofocus for the majority of their shooting, there are certainly times when manual focus is preferable. Additionally, one of the great things about mirrorless cameras is their ability to use manual focus lenses from almost any camera system. As such, the manual focus experience of a mirrorless camera is important, and Fuji has been improving that experience steadily over the past year.
This summer, focus peaking was added to the entire Fuji X-System lineup, and it makes another appearance in the X-E2. When focus peaking was added via firmware to the X-E1, it was useful, but not perfectly implemented. The white outline was somewhat difficult to see on the low-res rear screen and it was also very subtle in the viewfinder. Focus peaking has been improved on the X-E2, and the (still only white) outline is much more clearly visible in both the viewfinder and on the rear screen. In most situations, peaking is extremely easy to use and is very precise. I use it for the majority of my manual focusing. You can also magnify the viewfinder in conjunction with peaking to very precisely place your focus point. With the more visible outline on the X-E2, the experience with focus peaking is much improved over previous versions, and it even manages to highlight the in focus areas on relatively low-contrast areas when using very fast lenses, which is better than the performance I’ve experienced on something like the Sony NEX-7.
With the addition of phase detection pixels, Fuji also has added their very unique Digital Split Image capability, which first made its debut on the X100s. When digital split image is activated, the central part of the viewfinder turns to monochrome, and is divided into four bands. When the image in the bands is lined up, that part of the image is in focus, just like using a split-prism focus screen in an SLR. You can also magnify this view as well for very precise focusing.
I found the digital split image to work well. I prefer using focus peaking for most manual focus work, as it is easier to see in most circumstances and faster. However, there have been some situations where precise placement with focus peaking was difficult to discern, and the digital split image worked beautifully to nail the focus point. It works best on flat subjects, of course, so shooting a continuous curve or the like is more difficult with this focus aid enabled. It’s a great tool in Fuji’s bag of tricks.
Fuji makes it very easy to switch between these focus aids and the standard view. Simply press and hold the rear wheel for a second or so, and it will switch between Standard, Digital Split Image and Focus Peaking, so you don’t even need to take the camera from your eye to cycle the manual focus options.
In-Camera RAW Conversion
Like the other Fuji X-Series cameras, the X-E2 features some of the best in-camera RAW conversion around. Accessing in-camera RAW conversion is as easy as pressing the Q button while reviewing an image, and it brings you to a list of processing options for the RAW file. You can adjust exposure by pushing or pulling the image, you can change the Film Simulation (more on that below), adjust white balance, highlight and shadow curves, sharpness, noise reduction and so on.
After each adjustment you can choose to preview the final image by pressing Q again, and then OK to save the image, or Back to make further adjustments.
Fuji’s JPEG engine is the best in the business, and the excellent Film Simulations allow for quick changing of JPEG parameters that somewhat mimic certain film looks. There’s standard (Provia), a high saturation Velvia mode, a soft portrait read Astia simulation as well as multiple filters on black and white conversion and my personal favorite, Pro Negative High (Standard is also available). These allow for quick changes of the look of the final image and all are excellently tuned. The high JPEG quality and the ease of custom RAW conversion makes it great for sharing in conjunction with WiFi.
Great review, and superb images like always Jordan. In fact some of them look that good that I keep telling myself: “No, you won’t need that camera!”… 😉
I am NEX-5N user. In terms of focus speed does XE-2 is better than NEX-5N?
I haven’t used the NEX-5N, so it’s hard to say. I’d imagine the contrast detect on the 5N is probably a little bit faster than the X-E2’s CDAF (based on my experience with the NEX-7), but it’s not a huge difference (with a fast focusing lens). With PDAF, it’s probably a little faster than the Sony.
As a whole it doesn’t focus quite as fast as the fastest mirrorless bodies I’ve used because you don’t get the top speed all the time, but the PDAF focusing is extremely fast. But the big thing is that AF speed doesn’t get in the way even when defaulting to CDAF…it’s perfectly fine for most any use, IMO.
Thanks Jordan. Your review is pretty encouraging me to get XE-2. For OOC jpg color, does it comparable to Fuji S5pro? or compare to OMD, which one gives better OOC jpg color?
Compare to Nikon 70-200/2.8 or 4 with XF 55-200mm does it comparable sharpness at same aperture?
NEX-5N AF struggle and default to infinity when there is only street light at night. Have you tried that scenario with XE-2? I just want to know how it will perform.
Thanks for the great review 🙂
Thanks for the review Jordan. Does the split prism work for all manual lenses, including lenses used in conjunction with the Speed Booster?
Yes, the split prism works for any lens attached to the camera, whether it communicates with it or not. The images of the screen showing the split image were of the X-E2 and my FL 55mm f/1.2 + Speed Booster.
another fine review….as a fuji x1oo xf1 x10 x20 and xe1 owner with 14mm 35mm and 18-55 native lenses as well as a speedbooster wth 35-70 2.8[f2]nikkor ….im very excited to be getting this camera in black
thanks for a good read
paul
could you share the LR import settings you developed?
Thanks so much for this review and your Speedbooster review earlier.
I know you cannot tell me what to buy/do!
However,
I have an X-E1 and a Speedbooster for Nikon G Lenses. (I own the 24 35 and 85 f1.4’s plus the 50 D f1.2).
My Fuji lenses are 14 27 18-55 and 55-200.
It looks like the X-E2 will be a very useful upgrade, if only for the manual focusing issues which seem better sorted on the 2.
I also notice you did not much discuss the LMO feature on the 2. Do you have a comment you can share?
Brian
I haven’t shot enough at small apertures using JPEG to really notice a difference, to be honest. Most of the Fuji lenses are pretty well corrected to begin with, so minor software corrections aren’t really something that you’ll see immediately anyway. I shoot RAW 99% of the time, so for me, the LMO capability is a nice thing to have, but I wouldn’t miss it either.
Thanks for responding. I Shoot RAW most of the time as well including on my D800e, X-E1, GX1 (IR converted), and my RX100.
So I guess it’s a feature I’ll knock off my list of why the X-E2.
Just got into the X system in June this year and am loving it. The only real issue is manual focus where I guess I’ll just have to practice more.
I’m sort of on the page on enjoying the X-E1 for a while and wait and see what a potential X-Pro2 brings. I bet if/when it comes, it will knock our socks off. This, despite the improved manual focus over the 2.
Still tempted by the X-E2 but so much to still exploit with the 1.
Regards,
Brian
Thank you for your great review! I’m feeling even more confident with the arrival of my ordered X-E2, coming today!
Could you please share that color profile please?
Pär from Sweden
Hi Jordan
I sent you an email. Hope it has arrived you.
Thanks
Ciao
Lorenzo
Jordan,
I have the XPro-1…which I love…but the reviews of the XE 2 are so compelling that perhaps I should add the XE 2 rather than waiting for the X Pro 2. Not that the images will be better, but that some of the operational quirks of the X Pro1 sound as if they have been smoothed. And I’m sure the X Pro2 will be at a higher price point. Do you have an opinion?
Thanks Jon
Nice review, Can you please share the color profile ??
Very nice review-it’s exactly what I was looking for on this model, except I think respectfully there maybe a typo under “pros/cons”
“Fewer bells and whistles compared to the competition”
This should perhaps be under “Pros” ( rather than “Cons”)?
:o)
Thank you for this review — it’s very well-written. I especially appreciated your comments regarding the differences between focus peaking on this camera vis-a-vis previous X-series cameras and the NEX series. (You’ve probably convinced me to get one of these to replace my X100, which has developed a cold solder joint behind the sensor.) Also, your sample images are very, very well done.
Best review I’ve read so far, with very useful information for actually using the camera (and not only specs listing and repeating the same things). Thanks for covering the Lightroom/ACR Raw conversion issue, which is my main reason not to have bought the Fuji X-E2 already. I’m a Nikon shooter (Raw only), and I can’t imagine trying to change my workflow which is very centered on Lightroom and Raw. I’m waiting to have better support there. I hope Fuji could assist Adobe with this to benefit themselves in the long run.
Besides that the other thing that bothers me is the limited +/-1 bracketing. I am a portrait shooter mainly, but I have fun sometimes with handheld HDR, ie travel landscapes. I hope this could be fixed on a firmware update.
Thanks a lot for this practical orientated review. I am very tempted by the Fuji-E-system and wonder if switching from an Olympus OMD EM-5 would be a good idea. The fixed focal length lenses, especially the 14mm f2.8, fit my needs better. I am just afraid that I will miss this very good IBIS of the OMD. So which system (Fuji vs. Olympus) do you prefer?
Hi, great review and very helpful! On the topic of the viewfinder, I just got the X-E2 and noticed that the viewfinder image sometimes lags or becomes jittery for a second or two when moving from a dark scene to a bright scene or vice versa. It seems the camera adjusts exposure and this impacts the refresh rate for a moment or two then it becomes smooth again. Have you experienced the same thing? Any fix for it?
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Great review, I love my X-E2. I have been using with a Metabones, Nikon G to X and my Voigtlanders and Nikon AFS lenses. Focus Peeking works great, a little difficult on the 20mm, but great from 40mm and up. The AFS 50mm f1.8 works great, but the killer is the AFS 85mm f1.8. Another note, I have tried my Tokina 11-16 f2.8 and the X-E2 handles this lens works well as a 17-24 FX equivilant for Landscapes.
Hi Jordan,
I have a NEX-7 and this week I have bought a 2nd hand X-E1 and one thing I don’t like about X-E1 is the shot-to-shot waiting time, Is too long (with AF/AE bloked) and sometimes makes me feel a little frustrated, specially shooting portraits, when I tried to catch the expression I want.
I’d like to know how much the X-E2 have improoved this point.
On the NEX-7 there is no apparently shot-to-shot lag, and It shots as fast as my finger can press the button again, same as a midrange/pro DSLR (with AF/AE bloked). Obviously until the buffer is full.
I’ve read your review but this point it’s not clear at all. Shooting in RAW, with AF bloked (or MF) and with a fast SD card (90Mb/s): Does the X-E2 behaves as the NEX-7 does? (Either on single shot or burst mode.)
Thanks a lot for your reviews, are very usefull.
Greetings from Spain.
Juan
Thanks for the review. It helped convince me to buy an XE-2 last year. And I’m really liking it.
Years ago I was an active street photographer in the San Francisco area. I was using a Leica M2 and M3. My first digital camera was a Canon G3 and more recently a G11. Since I was using them almost entirely for family/travel photos and posting to the Internet they worked quite well. And the G11 was certainly easy to carry around. But I was getting fed up with the delay between pressing the shutter button and the time the photo was taken. Last year I decided to look for something else.
I never liked SLRs because of their size and weight along with the noise of the mirror moving up and down. That’s why I kept my point-and-shoot Canons for so long. When mirrorless cameras showed up I began to think about upgrading. The old-school design of the Fuji X series caught my I and I started to investigate them. After looking at reviews — yours was the most thorough — I decided to buy an XE-2 with the kit lens. It’s the first interchangeable lens camera I’ve owned since I sold my Leicas. The 18-55mm lens is excellent but after using it for a while I wanted something smaller for street photography. I was able to pick up the 27mm F2.8 “pancake” lens when it was on sale and liked its size and weight. With that lens the XE-2 is an easy to carry rig for street photography. It’s the first “serious” post-Leica camera I’ve used and I’m loving it.
Thanks again for the review.
Cheers and regards from the San Francisco Bay Area,
Howard Harawitz
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