Fujifilm X-S1 High End Bridge Camera Hands-on Review & Sample Photos
H and B Digital has the
Fujifilm X-S1 bridge camera with the 2/3" 12 MP X series EXR CMOS sensor in stock. Call for
SPECIAL PRICING at (212) 354-1341, prices TOO LOW to publish on the web!!!
Hands-on Review
 |
| The FujiFilm X-S1 is very well-designed, with large metal dials, a deep grip, smooth manual zoom, and convenient and practical controls. |
The
Fujifilm X-S1 super-zoom bridge camera was released in
the spring of 2012, but should still be at the top of the list for anyone
considering an all-in-one camera.
Built
much more like a DSLR than most bridge cameras, the high end, high performance X-S1
has a durable and pleasing feel and balance to it, and allows for smooth manual
zooming and focusing controls that most other bridge cameras do not. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the X-S1 is far superior to any other bridge cameras we have tested.
The X Series Sensor
 |
| Great skin tones and a broad dynamic range. 1/200 sec. at f/5.6, ISO 640. |
The “X” in the product name indicates that the
X-S1 sits
alongside the
X100,
X10 and
X-Pro1 in Fujifilm’s premium range of cameras.
Indeed, the large 2/3-inch 12 Megapixel (12
MP) EXR CMOS sensor in the X-S1 is exactly the same as that found in the very
highly regarded Fujifilm X10.
The sensor
is more than twice as large as sensors in other bridge cameras such as the
Canon SX50 HS.
The larger sensor should
result in substantially greater detail than other bridge cameras
The All Glass 26x Zoom Lens
 |
| A wide angle photo of Radio City Music Hall captures a broad dynamic range, including the dark group of people waiting in line and the blue sky beyond. 24mm, 1/300 sec. at f/5.6, ISO 400. |
At the heart of the
Fujifilm X-S1 is an attached, bright,
all glass, 26x zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 24-624mm. The lens has a fast
maximum aperture of f/2.8 that goes to f/5.6 fully zoomed out.
By comparison, the Canon SX50 has a maximum
aperture of f/3.5, and goes out to f/6.5 fully extended, or nearly a full stop
slower.
The X-S1 remains reasonably fast
out to 170mm at f/4.5, and allows for a minimum focusing distance of just 1 cm
in “super” macro mode.
 |
| Zoomed in to 624mm, the "Y" in "City" is crisp, the colors are spot on, definition and contrast are great. Fuji has done a wonderful job with this lens. 624mm, 1/250 sec. at f/5.6, ISO 640. |
The Fujinon lens consists of 17 glass elements in 12 groups
in order to offer top-notch clarity and resolution through the entire
image. The lens also features mechanical
image stabilization, quite necessary at the longer zoom ranges.
Other Features
The X-S1 includes a 3-inch tilting LCD monitor and a
fantastic large, bright, informative electronic viewfinder with 1.44 million
pixels that bests all other bridge cameras we’ve tested. The X-S1 also sports an ISO range of
100-12,800 and continuous shooting of up to 7 frames per second (fps) at full
resolution and 10 fps as 6 megapixels.
Shutter lag at such speeds is virtually non-existent.
 |
| Very good color representation and contrast, even zoomed out. |
The camera offers full “PASM” controls for full manual
control of the camera as well as a number of automatic “scene” functions. The X-S1’s mode dial even allows for three
customizable functions. Simultaneous RAW
and JPEG shooting is available at the touch of button, and other RAW settings
are available. The X-S1 also shoots in full HD video.
Feel of the Camera
The camera has a great feel to it, with a “grippy” textured
surface, a deep hand grip and a very practical layout: all of the buttons are quite large and easy
to access, the wheels are easy to turn, and the shutter is perfectly
placed. The selection wheel (made of
metal, not plastic!) is conveniently positioned atop the camera, near where the
thumb rests, and is easy to use once you get the hang of it—Canon users or
others accustomed to a wheel near the shutter will have to adjust. In short, while the X-S1 is somewhat bulkier
than its bridge camera competitors, it handles much better than cameras that
pack too many small buttons into a tiny frame.
Image Quality
The X-S1 takes beautiful, crisp photos, similar in quality
to other X series FujiFilm cameras. Photos
are very, very sharp given the focal range of the lens. Colors are accurately represented, and contrast
is excellent.
Here are some more samples:
 |
| Al Roker preparing for the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Zoom at approx. 300mm, 1/220 sec. at f/5.6, ISO 800. |
 |
| Police barriers outside of Rockefeller Center before the Tree Lighting Ceremony. 1/60 sec. at f/5.6, ISO 160. |
 |
| The star atop the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Note the dynamic range that the lens picks up even at its longest zoom range: details on the star and the building behind it as well as blue skies. 624mm, 1/250 sec. at f.5.6, ISO 200. |
