Jman13 Offline Upload & Sell: On
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Well, my new X-E2 is here. It looks largely like my X-E1, but with a different number:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2013/xe2.jpg
The rear screen is MUCH bigger. It doesn't sound much bigger (it's 3" vs 2.8"), but in practice it's quite large. Beautifully clear too. EVF refresh is notably improved. No perceptible lag in general shooting in low light. (Although an interesting side note: if you're in dim light, the EVF will show lag similar to the X-E1 for the first second or so after you turn the camera on. Seems like the processor is probably doing some background cleanup tasks that it has to manage. After a second, the EVF switches to a much higher refresh and the lag is gone. It's really smooth at this point, on par with the refresh from my m4/3 cams. While smaller than the EVF in the something like the E-M1, it is incredibly clear with a nice crisp view and deep blacks. The refresh improvement moves it up with the best EVFs I've used, aside from the new Oly one (and that simply due to size). Focus peaking is much more visible on the X-E2 vs the X-E1 as well. The digital split image works fine, but isn't going to be as fast I think as focus peaking.
AF is both a minor improvement and a major improvement. The PDAF pixels in the camera are standard type only, not cross type, so they are sensitive to vertical contrast only. In an area where there is horizontal contrast only or such, AF is improved over the X-E1, but it's not ultra-fast like many of the other mirrorless cameras are. It is definitely well into the 'acceptable' range, though.
When there is vertical contrast (or horizontal contrast when shooting in portrait orientation), the autofocus is near instantaneous (using the firmware just released enabling PDAF). It's honestly surprising how incredibly fast it works when the PDAF pixels can pick up that vertical line.
The EC dial is stiffer than before. I never had a problem with accidentally bumping it on the X-E1 or my X-M1, but the increased resistance doesn't bother either. Image quality looks to be unchanged from the X-E1 at first glance, but I've barely shot with it, so I can't say that definitively. The better AF, better EVF refresh and faster operation without delay, plus WiFi (which I've been using a ton on my X-M1) make this a pretty worthy upgrade, at least at first blush.
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