Fujifilm X-M1 Compact System 16MP Digital Camera Kit with 16-50mm Lens and 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black)

If you're a novice photographer and you're reading this review, stop reading now. This review isn't going to talk about any of the features you'll want to use and this camera is going to be unrecognizable (see the photo). once kitted it out with those really cool and useful accessories. However, if you're curious about my experience with the X-M1 using adapted lenses and a screen viewfinder, read on!When I like a camera, I do my internet homework. I check specs, legit reviews, user comments,price trends long before I actually hold the camera in my hands. In this case, I was heavily influenced by a recent purchase of a Fuji X-A1 for my daughter and was really impressed with the 2 kit lenses that came in that bundle package (see my review in Fujifilm X-A1 Body - Blue Compact System Camera, Body Only. Since I had already owned a Fuji X30 for about 9 months, I was pretty sure I'd like the x-trans sensor image quality, but not have to work as hard to separate my focal plane from the rest of the image. But perhaps the best surprise came when I discovered certain features can be greatly improved upon with the judicious purchase of high quality accessories, like a VF-4 viewfinder NEW Photography & Cinema PNC VF-4 LCD Universal View Finder FOR DV Camera LED Light SLR B, the Fotodiox Pro Lens Mount Adapter, Nikon G Lens to Fujifilm X Camera Body (X-Mount), for Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-E1, and the ever useful OP/TECH USA Cam Strap - QD (Black) for holding onto the whole rig.I'm only partially kidding when I say that if you had hipster dreams of walking around with this compact little rangefinder with a black pancake 27mm lens, fagettaboutit. You're low rent cover is blown as soon as you bring it up to your bespectacled eye and you realize you can't look through the viewfinder. Instead, this camera has a great 3.0" diagonal hi-res tilting rear screen instead, three really well-placed control dials, a five button cluster to move your focus point and access some occasionally used functions, and (thankfully) no buttons on the left side of the rear of the camera. This is a blessing in disguise when using a large viewfinder like the VF-4, because it allows you to keep your left hand braced under the lens, where it should be. The folks from DigitalRev have criticized the placement of the two rear control dials, saying that they are too close together, but that's ridiculous, because you're gonna need to use them in manual without lifting your eye from the VF-4 viewfinder to nail focus and exposure, esp. while the magnified eyepiece of the VF-4 is braced against your face. When that big eyepiece is braced to your eye, I found that I could control the most important aspects of the camera, namely, focus, ISO, aperture and shutter speed using the live view screen for confirmation.Here's how I use the camera rig with my manual Nikkor lenses.1) Setup the function button mapped to change ISO, so you don't have to fiddle with changing it in the Q menu.2) Figure out your working f-stop, like you would shooting studio strobes, and set it on the lens. This will be your smallest aperture, but you may actually end up using a wider one in the next steps, using the declicked Fotodiox adapter ring.3) Set your shutter speed with the rightmost thumb dial. Pick one that you can safely handhold like 1/(effective 35mm focal length in APS-C).4) Click on the rear dial to activate the check focus magnifier and look for the wave of little white pixels washing over your focus area. Click again to return to normal view. This one feature alone is so incredibly useful and easiest with your eye to the viewfinder.5) Half-press the shutter to get the live view exposure settings and with your other hand dial in the aperture ring on the lens adapter clockwise until you get the exposure you want. If you find it is too dark or too light, use your function (ISO) button and thumb wheel to dial in a better ISO. Repeat from step 4. Again, this half-press feature is SO much better than the opposite default (on the X30 and others) where it is always dark while using strobe and you have to menu dive to change the global setting, with no easy way to setting it back!6) Shoot when readyThe image of my dog was captured this way in late October light using the adapted Nikkor 35/2 Nikkor O, wide open at f2. I actually used a bounced strobe to reduce the contrast and open up the shadows behind the dog. The ability to focus first before previewing exposure is key to being responsive and nailing focus.Since I can easily mount or remove the VF-4 housing from the quick release foot, I found that it adapts well to the X-M1 body without much effort, however, you will not be able to charge the battery without removing the foot plate, and the SD card too is blocked. The shutter noise is nicely damped, but I have to say severely limited by a 1/160s sync speed (almost worth a point off), but no better than any of the other interchangeable lens Fuji rangefinders. The ability to custom set individual color maps for each WB setting is unusual in an entry level camera. About my choice of lens adapter, I liked the design of the Fotodiox because it felt solid and the declicked aperture makes it perfect for video and stills use. The first image of the wood box shows the Fotodiox Pro adaptor, using a 55 Micro-nikkor at f2.8. However, I did try the Nikkor to FX Fotodiox Excell+ speed booster adapter with this X-M1 body but quickly sent it back as I could barely acheive focus with it (barrel distortion was considerable too, as in the second image of the box, but somewhat fixable in Lightroom).Anyway, I'd recommend that you pick the X-M1 up used, as it's a steal at just north of $200 for incredible 16MP X-Trans quality.

To begin with I am a canon DSLR owner on my third DSLR 60d with a couple of prime lenses(50mm, 85mm) and a nice L lenses. I bought this specifically for a European trip with the kids because I did not want to lug my DSLR around. Overall I have to say this camera produced the some of the best ever pictures we have ever taken. Here is my summary:Lens:Sharp throughout its range, I could not detect any defects in the images. The quality was on par with a L lens. Since this is a f3.5 the brokeh was not as nice as a 85mm, but it still produced very nice brokeh, the colors were nice and was almost as sharp as a 50mm prime throughout its range.Camera:Amazing pictures, and I loved the pop produced by the Velvia effect. Amazing jpegs, and I can use 90% of the images produced without editing. The noise level was on par or even better than a DSLR. I also loved the usability and most of the layout of the menus. I was able to figure out most of the features,however I would recommend reading the manual because there are some weird quirks.I used this with aperture primary mode with face detection. Focus was mostly quick and accurate. Not as quick as a DSLR, but then again since this is not using a viewfinder having a similar level of accuracy is probably not possible.I initially thought that I would regret not getting the model with the EVF, but not so. I found that having the tilting LCD allowed me to compose quick, and take pictures at unusual angles at very crowded locations in Paris and Italy. An other advantage is that when you ask somebody to take a picture there is no explanation needed :D.Cons:Its easy to accidentally change settings. Make sure you check the aperture, exposure etc before taking a picture. Its good practice to do so anyway.If you select silent mode or any bracketing mode it will turn off the flash, the flash will not fire even if it is popped up. Focus and flash cycling is slower than a DSLR. But then again I am comparing this with a DSLR which it is not, so keep that in mind.In AV mode during daylight I have to set meter + a few notches if not the images appear a bit darker. Note that when there is a lot of light the preview appears a lot darker than reality, so keep that in mind and don't overexpose too much because of that.The wifi app works(tried on android) but it is a bit basic and has its own quirks. For example when you browse, view and image and go back it does not remember the location, which is quite annoying when there are 100+ images.The only other con is the lenses are super expensive. Unlike Canon there are not $100 primes , etc, but judging by the quality of the kit lens, one is probably paying $$$ for some very good glass.Summary:Hands down this is the best ever camera I have ever owned. Produces vivid, and stunning images straight out of the camera. I am almost considering selling my canon gear, because images out of this little thing is so good. Seriously looking at the x-t1 as the next camera.

The most disappointed thing about this camera is EXR processor. It is not that it is bad. It is just, that if you have owned previously Fuji made camera such as Fuji X10 and expect XM1 to behave the same way-it won't. Let me explain you why. Both cameras have a DR (dynamic range) of 100% to 400%. But it seems that at least in XM1 this feature isn't that pronounced. If when you changed DR on X10 camera you could actually see dynamic range increased; on a XM1 it just doesn't work like this. I actually couldn't perceive any DR difference while I changed it from 100% to 400%. I simply couldn't see it happened on XM1. Now good thing. XM1 has much bigger sensor than X10 and its Iso performance even to 3200 is absolutely usable. I would even say, in some situation 6400 would work as well. It is also have much more sharper sensor. In all, I am very happy with this camera.Update:1/16/2016It just stopped working. I tried everything, changed batteries, turned it off, took off lens, left it alone for a day. It's just doesn't work. It wasn't humidified in any aggravated manner, or dropped. It just stopped working. I will recover some money with my prime fuji lens selling, but nobody wants this really garbage like body. I am a bit sad. I will return to Nikon (will buy new model), I actually have 8 years old Nikon D5000 in which its outside rubber plastic stared to peel off, I just glued it back, but it works. I do not recommend this camera to anybody or any other low end fuji body because, it just may brake on you, for no reason at all. So long Fuji....