Adorama clearing out Fuji X-E1?

<p>I noticed earlier this evening that Adorama's price on the Fuji X-E1 has dropped to $599 for the body or $799 with the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens. Looks like they're clearing them out to make room for the X-E2. I'd been thinking of getting into the Fuji X system, so I put in an order. The X-E2 looks nice, too, but I don't see it as a big enough upgrade to warrant spending 75% more ($1399 vs $799).</p>

<p>I've been shooting (when I shoot digitally) with an Olympus E-P2 (with the optional EVF) for the last couple of years. It's been good, but ISO 1600 is noisier than I would like. The sample X-E1 raw images I've seen look much better at ISO 3200, and 6400 isn't too shabby either; and I expect that the retro control layout will work well for me.</p>

<p>I was also looking at the Sony A7, but that's more than double what I'm paying for the X-E1, and while it's probably a terrific camera in technical terms, I find it rather ugly as a physical object, and the aesthetics of my tools matters to me even though I know it won't show in the images. </p>

<p>They're in short-ish supply around Toronto, where X-E1 kits were going for C$799. X-E2 kits are C$1299. Now's the time to buy. They won't last long. It's the X-T1 deal with the body+"free" battery grip for C$1299 that's got me drooling.</p>

<p>i got the same deal on black friday. totally worth it IMO. the lens is $600 alone and the XE1 has stunning IQ and excellent low-light performance.</p>

<p>As far as IQ goes, there's a minimal step up from the X E-1 to the X E-2 and the X T-1 adds larger EVF, tilt screen and a bunch of other things but the sensor is the same as the X E-2. To get into the Fuji system, it's hard to beat the X E-1 at the low price. I've shown prints at 13x20 from the X E-1 next to prints from the Nikon D800E and unless one is truly pixel peeping as only wacko photographers do (myself included), one does not see differences. The action is in the superb Fuji lenses. My big Fuji print was done with the 14mm f/2.8, a lovely optic.</p>

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<p>I've been shooting (when I shoot digitally) with an Olympus E-P2 (with the optional EVF) for the last couple of years. It's been good, but ISO 1600 is noisier than I would like.</p>

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<p>That problem was solved by the newer 16MP sensor that is available in all the new Olympus cameras. The image stabilization also helps keep ISOs lower to minimize noise. So if you have a significant investment in Olympus lenses and accessories, you should look at a newer model before you decide to move on.</p>

<p>Fom the samples I've seen online, the newer Olympus cameras are definitely less noisy at ISO 1600-3200 than my E-P2, but they don't seem to be competitive in this regard with the Fujis or the latest Sonys. I only own one Micro Four Thirds lens (I mostly shot my E-P2 with adapted legacy lenses), so I don't have a huge investment in the system.</p>

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<p>Fom the samples I've seen online, the newer Olympus cameras are definitely less noisy at ISO 1600-3200 than my E-P2, but they don't seem to be competitive in this regard with the Fujis or the latest Sonys.</p>

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<p>You can compare the cameras at ISO 6400 on dpreview and see how competitive they are. In my opinion, the IQ differences between formats are a moot point now. At the point where I can shoot in darkness and get virtually noise free images, the limiting factor is my skill, not high ISO performance or noise.<br>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurentiucristofor/11991245664"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/11991245664_50363b1a00.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a><br>

That being said, Fuji makes a nice system.</p>

<p>I got my X-E1 on Monday. I like it so far. I posted a bit more about it, with a sample photo, in <a href="/digital-camera-forum/00cMzn">another, slightly more recent thread</a>.</p>