Fuji XE1 in 2022 - Should You Buy A 10 Year Old Fuji Camera? - A Non-Scientific Review
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Oh boy. I've received a lot of flak from some Fuji forums when I say the XE1 is not for me. Especially when I say I prefer the sensor on the XE4. I'm not saying I don't like the camera. I'm suggesting that maybe it's not the right tool for me in my particular use cases.
I bought the camera used off of eBay for $120 and it's certainly worth far beyond that in practically any photographer's hands.
Gear used:
Fuji XE1
Fuji XF 27mm MKII
7Artisans 12mm f2.8
OSMO Pocket
PGYTech VND
Photos straight out of the camera are labelled. Photos edited in Lightroom Classic are labelled as well. The video was edited in Davinci Resolve 17.
Music sourced and licensed with Soundstripe.
For more of my work, check out my website: aaronsambey.com
For my portrait work, check out: / aaronsambeyfilm
For my non-portrait work, check out: / cottonhawk_
For my commercial work, check out: wearethewoods.ca
Stay juicy.
Nice work and beautiful photos. My girlfriend most likely thinks I'm crazy for owning X-E2, X-T20 and X-T3 but I find they all give me something a little different. Fuji in general has helped me become a much more visually creative person. I play more with shadows now, make much more contrasty images at times. So the variation in these fuji bodies helps me see things even more differently. Love the channel, keep the coming.
I can imagine from a non photographer that packing in a ton of gear can be confusing. I'm glad you're playing around a ton. Keeps us fresh! Thanks again for the kind words.
Wow, first person to NOT rave about the X-E1. I was blown away by the jpegs on my Xpro1 when i first got it. Coming from the original X100. both are special though
It just doesn't hit the mark for me. Photos seem plastic and bland. I will say, it is still a lot of fun to use in a more casual way -- but it doesn't wow me like the XE4.
@@aaronsambeyfilm thats cool. Everyone likes different things. Im sure the xe4 takes great pics. All digital cameras are amazing today
I've got some sooc settings that work great in certain scenarios. Jpegs don't have the tweakability of even the Xtrans2 but can give really lovely results. The XE1 is my first Fujifilm - and coming from older Nikon DSLRs the jpegs were night-and-day more useable. But I'm familiar with most of the Fuji filmstocks available on the camera and they seem to have gone a bit easy to make them useable to non-tweakers - to the extent that the Velvia mode with +2 contrast and saturation still isn't a vibrant or contrasty as Velvia 50 (the gold-standard Velvia).
But it's been a doll of a camera that's redefined my relationship to digital photography and really has put my film photography on the back-burner.
I'll buy a used XE4 one day when the used prices have dropped off a bit. Apart from the much greater ability to tweak images, I think it's one of the most elegant cameras - not just digital cameras - ever produced. But the XE1 will be a great camera as long as it continues working.
I definitely am being more nitpicky in my analysis given my use case for a camera like this. I'm a professional shooter that fell in Fuji on a whim as something to do casually which is why I wanted something more in the realm of "take the photo and it's a great photo" rather than having to go into post as I do with all of my professional work.
Overall, I think the lack of contrast and punch is what's missing for me. So much that I'll probably use the RAWs with this camera more than the jpegs because of how strong they are. Even if it adds extra time to the days I'm off work haha.
And absolutely grab an XE4 when the prices done down. Of the many (far too many) cameras I've owned in my career, it's by far the most fun with the best results.
When you talked about the JPEGS being flat, I noticed your monochrome settings were H-1 and S-2. No wonder. Try again at S+2, H+2. R-0 B-0. Withhold judgement until you use it more and try different settings. I have the E-1, E-2s and E-3. I have no problem getting nice JPEGS out of all three. Also, you might try some film simulation recipes from Fuji-X weekly.
Best of luck.
I think that may be part of the issue. In my head when you +1 or -1 a value it should either raise or lower the shadows or highlight. It seems like, on this camera, maybe +1 means darker shadows. Counterintuitive.
@@aaronsambeyfilm its exactly that. I suffered the same mind game. 😄
@@stevesvids That will at least give me some more punch to my shots!
@@aaronsambeyfilm I was wondering if that is what happened. That hints that you haven't adjusted highlight and shadow settings with your X-E4. I do think when you get it sorted out with more experimentation you'll be able to get some nice SOOC JPEGS from the X-E1. Another thing I've found that really affects the look is WB. I usually set a custom WB with a WhiBal card. Film sims are sensitive to WB and look best when it is correct, unless I'm intentionally going for a special look.
However, I've found that I can come really close to matching the same look across my X-Es and that magical film like look that's turned the E1 into a cult camera might be a little overstated. Still, it is a fun camera to use and I'm glad I bought mine.
@@dougmacmillan1712 I adjust everything on all my cameras. I was just startled to find that +1 means darker not lighter.
I can see the charm of the XE1 but it's like a lot of things technologically speaking. If you grew up playing arcade games in the 1980s and later grew into new systems, consoles, computer games etc -- you'll see the charm by going back to basics and playing am arcade game again. However, if you began with the most current console (i.e. a PS5) and then decided to pick up a PS1 for kicks, it wouldn't be too farfetched to expect a little confusion or disappointment.
As per WB, I usually set it according to whatever the film stock would be. As in, if it's a daylight film, I'll set my WB to 5600. Or tungsten. It whichever.
Most of my favourite film looks I shoot with are now recipes I've created myself on my XE4. So, now it's time to experiment and find something that works for me with the XE1. Or, worst case, I have a dedicated black and white camera for fun.
I own all versions of the X-trans sensor (I to IV) and agree with you that sooc jpeg isnt the X-trans I and II strength. On my X-T4 I really can dial in the jpeg vibe.
BUT...the strength of the X-trans I and II sensor is in the RAW files. It doesnt crush the blacks like the newer sensors and the way the highlights roll-of is very creamy instead of harsh. Also the way the out of focus area renders is different. The X-trans I sensor is best used with older Fuji glass. Out of all my Fuji camera's (7 in total) I use the X-trans I sensor versions the most.
LOL, you're shooting monochrome jpgs with shadows at -2 and highlights at -1... and you're complaining that the jpgs out of the camera are not "punchy" enough. Srsly...?! XD
I got one to go along with my X-T3. I really like it!
love the review, love the photos, and 100% agree with your conclusion , thankyou
I bought one last week and it’s brilliant!
I'm glad you're enjoying it! It's a great camera for a lot of people. I love the RAW photos but the JPEGs aren't doing what I want even after fiddling around a bunch. So, I'm gifting mine for Xmas!
Agree there’s a different (better) character to XE-1 RAW files than the sooc jpegs. Like you, I use RAW most of the time with this camera. I have found a couple of recipes that work pretty well when the sun is out sooc, but the XT-4 does a much better job with sooc sims and recipes. Good review. It does make you slow down.
It's definitely what I'm finding. The photos aren't bad, really. They just don't do enough for me straight out of the camera.
If your jpegs are flat, your setting are wrong.
I also own an xt-30 and the jpegs from the XE1 have something special.
My XT-30 setting don't work on the XE1. Your XE4 setting don't work either.
Absolutely YES ❤️
Make film recipes with this camera from the internet and you will be amazed
I have the X-E1 I do like Asta-Soft.
is this video was take with xe1?
Hey, no. The video is with an OSMO Pocket. Only the photos are XE1.
This photographer is soulfully art👌🤍 love your photos