I think it’s begun… History repeats…
Perhaps it’s just because the X-T2 has arrived, perhaps it’s because the X-Pro2 has been out a while and the honeymoon period is over…
…But for whatever reason…
The backlash seems to have begun!!
On the various internet outlets, people are already saying that the X-Pro2 is old hat, slow and cumbersome when compared to the X-T2.
People are saying that ‘somehow’ the images from the X-T2 are sharper, better (which is quite odd as the 2 cameras share the same sensor!)
That the specs of the X-T2 far surpass the X-Pro2, particularly the EVF.
I can believe that AF performance of the X-T2 is better – after all, the X-T2 features more AF tracking modes and a newer AF algorithm.
“Apparently” the X-Pro2 is suddenly nothing more than a ‘point and shoot’
It’s like what they said about the X-Pro1 all over again, no? Under spec’d, under performing, and over hyped by fanboys.
I can understand why the X-T2 is/will be the more popular body… The internet is filled with “rangefinder” (sic) love… The rhetoric runs something like this
“Rangefinder style cameras are so much better, a corner mounted view finder doesn’t squish my nose up against the LCD and the unobtrusive shape helps me capture my subjects”
I mean that’s all true and valid, no arguments about that from me.
The “problem” seems to be that for every single person typing ‘rangefinder love’ posts into internet forums there seems to be 9 extra people with their wallets open in a camera store buying a ‘SLR’ shaped camera.
I asked a Fuji sales manager (directly) what was the better seller, the X-E2 or the X-T10? These 2 cameras are so close on spec (with the latest FW updates) that the only reason to select one over the other would be a preference in body shape. And guess what? Ten times more X-T10 than X-E2 models were sold in his sales territory.
The rangefinder lovers might be loud and proud, but the SLR styled buyers speak with cash 🙂
So does it really matter? If we have a niche love, and get a niche product, then are we not happy enough?
Do we really demand X-T2 levels of performance from our X-Pro2 in order to get our ‘snap shots’ ? 🙂
Well I’m actually not sure it’s even that clear cut…
Firstly Fujifilm will release a Firmware update to bring the base X-T2 AF algorithm to the X-Pro2. You can read that here
Secondly, where it matters most – I’m not actually that convinced that the X-Pro2 suffers from any spec deficiency compared to the X-T2 at all.
Let’s take the EVF for starters.
The physical spec of the EVF on both cameras is actually the same.
The X-T2 appears bigger, because it has a larger magnifying lens in front of it. I can see why people want this, and like this and it’s a good thing.
But in my opinion, it’s a small advantage and not worth giving up the OVF and ERF for. It’s not like the X-Pro2 EVF is illegible, and in fact, the X-T2 EVF has a view mode that stops it filling the whole screen. So not every X-T2 user wants that much magnification!
The higher refresh rate of the EVF in the X-T2 is of course a very welcome addition, and a better spec than the X-Pro2.
The X-T2 also features other specs that surpass the X-Pro2; shorter shot-to-shot times, better continuous shooting rates and shorter shutter lag.
But there’s a massive caveat to that (and I mean massive 🙂 ) you need to buy and add on the additional battery grip to the X-T2 in order to access these features.
And suddenly the ‘rangefinder rhetoric’ REALLY does ring true about a smaller, lighter more discrete camera doesn’t it?
The X-Pro2 is not suddenly an outdated camera just because the X-T2 has some features more suited for that genre of body shape.
It’s not suddenly a brick that can’t take very good pictures!
The X-Pro2 remains as is, and retains the charm of the original… In terms of ‘rangefinder’ styled mirrorless bodies, it’s the most advanced and highest spec’d device currently on the market.
The X-T2 MIGHT PERHAPS be classed as the same within it’s genre too… But methinks its rein at the top of its tree will be a little more short lived…
…After all, the next high tech, high spec SLR styled camera is never far away…
For us X-Pro series shooters, the charm and applicability of the form factor will always provide what we need.
Besides… if Fuji update the EVF refresh rate (IF) along with the AF speed in next month’s FW update, then sans battery grip, the X-T2 and X-Pro2 will ALMOST be on a even keel.
But even if not – in fact even if the X-Pro2 stays at it’s current spec, I’m not unhappy.
For what I like to shoot, the X-Pro2 serves me well, letting me get close and personal and without being obtrusive.
I’ll trade some nano-seconds of AF speed for that any day.
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The X-Pro Series Content: Referenced and All In One Place
The X-Pro Series Content: A Contents Page with Page Numbers and a Brief Description
Adam Bonn Fotografia 
I think a bigger problem may be that the kind of person, who would prefer the pro2 over the t2, probably is happily shooting with the pro1 seeing little reason to upgrade.
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Maybe… The XP1 certainly seems to have a huge following. I say maybe because the type of person that would prefer a X-Pro type camera, will soon (if not already in some markets) only have the choice of the X-Pro2, as the 1 is discontinued and new Vs second-hand is a proposition that guides different people in different ways. (The point of the story is that however good the XT2 is, it doesn’t make the XP2 any better or worse.)
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I’ve owned a lot of film and digital cameras. I purchased the first X100 because it was the first intelligent design of a digital camera IMHO. If I know what ISO is, and the relationship between f-stop and shutter speed I can make images without having to delve into a world of options which means very little to me. If I need, I learn. I would rather be making images than talking about my camera.
I purchased the XPRO-2 because I determined it was the best camera for my street work. I love that thing but for about 10 minutes I wondered if I should have gotten the XT2, I have an XT1 and it still does what it has always done…pretty much like the XPRO-1 does. I was using my 12MP X100 yesterday because it was and will always be a useful, well crafted tool that helps me to make the images that I care about.
You raised some interesting points in your article and I enjoyed reading it. In fact I think your website is wonderful and I am very glad that I found it. It is obviously a labor of love.
Sorry for the run on… I have some definite opinions about making images.
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Thanks very much Gerard!
Well it’s certainly a labour (I stopped counting after 60,000 words!) usually of love!
I think that when we have a have a camera we gel with and enjoy using, then we take better pictures, no proof of that, just an intrinsic feeling I have.
I think the X100/X-Pro cameras are pretty special, there’s nothing quite like them. The XT range are great too, but they’re examples of many options in a sea of EVF only mirrorless cameras.
I’m glad you found my site too! If you don’t fancy blindly trawling through all 60 pages, arranged in an order than amounts too whatever I fancied writing about that week, then there’s a rudimentary list of the pages divided by subject, which can be found by clicking this link!
https://adambonn.com/the-x-pro-series/
Another kooky navigational tip: I started blogging the pages as blog posts, which are about 22 weeks behind the pages, so if you follow the pages, you get a new one every Sunday (but you’ll have to do this manually) or if you follow the blog, you get an old page every Wednesday!
I look forward to the comments I’m going to get when the page I wrote for Christmas goes out as a blog post sometime in May 🙂
Regards
Adam
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