The Taiwanese magazine MAG (Click here) made that picture showing an apparently “Fata Morgana” effect. It looks like the girls are holding a Silver X PRO 1 version but some of our readers confirmed that this was just an effect created by the intense light. There cameras are indeed black :(

Don’t know if there will be ever a silver version ( I would like it!). Back from the fantasy world here are two real news sent me by the original reviewers:

1) “Image samples from Fujifilm X-Pro1 (not pre-production!) showing ISO-performance and center/corner sharpness of the 18 mm and 35 mm lenses:
http://www.akam.no/artikler/sjekk-bildekvaliteten-pa-fujifilm-x-pro1/107175
Norwegian words:
Senterskarphet = center sharpness
Hjørneskarphet = corner sharpness“

2) “I am a professional wedding/portrait/travel photographer in Canada who has been recently engaged by Fujifilm Canada to shoot some promotional images with a pre-preproduction X-Pro 1 for their upcoming product launch in Canada. They have also asked me to provide feedback about the camera system to them.
They have asked me not to share any images I shoot (yet) as they want to present them to the press/public at the product launch, however, they gave me permission to discuss my thoughts about the camera.
I have written a “working review” as I have been using the camera for a week in my studio on live client work. Fujifilm really wanted to know how the camera performs on the job, so I approached my review from that “working photographer” perspective.
If you would like to see the review (and maybe show it to your readers), you can find it at:
http://holyfstop.blogspot.com/2012/03/fujifilm-x-pro-1-first-look.html“

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The Fuji X PRO 1 camera can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), Epxansys US (Click here) and Expansys Canada (Click here).
in Europe at Jessops UK (Click here), eBay Italy (Click here) and Expansys UK (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here) and eBay Japan (Click here).

In Japan you can get full details about the exact camera market shares. And those clearly show that almost 50% of all sold system cameras are mirrorless (the rest is DSLR). Finally we got our hands on the mirrorless sales percentage in Germany (via DC.watch). The sales share in 2011 has been 12,7%. That’s a lot less but still…the market is growing. DSLR sales have been constant the last four years but I guess in 2012 mirrorless sales will grow much faster and DSLR sales will slightly fall. That’s just my personal guess, we will see in one year if that will become true.

Mewanwhile the CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association in Japan) announced that from now on they will use the term “non-reflex” for the so-called mirror-less cameras (via DC.watch). This clearly goes against my policy :) I will always prefer the term “mirrrorless” over “compact system cameras (CSC)” or “non-reflex” or “evil” cameras.

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Check out the current rankings:
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon US (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon Deutschland (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon UK (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon France (Click here)

Those of you living in Japan can visit the CP+ Fuji booth in Yokohama. The picture on top shows the new Fuji X PRO 1 with M-mount adapter and attached! A full set of Fuji booth images can be seen at DC.watch (Click here).

And there is are many new Full Size X PRo 1 image samples at http://www.pbase.com/hpicckcy/fujifilm_xpro1 (via Fujirumors.com). They have been posted by Hugo Poon which says: “I’m not a reviewer and this is no review. Have to be frank, I never have the time (nor interest) to do detailed tests and comparison. My only interest in an equipment is how well it can help me capture the moment and document the familiar places that are fast changing and even disappearing… Though I had had only a couple of days to shoot with this new gear, I couldn’t be more convinced that this is Fuji’s one most powerful photo taking machine to date.
PS. Click “original” for best viewing quality. “

Not many websites posted X PRO 1 image smaples. Here is the short list: Fuji (Click here to see), Christian Fletcher (Click here),vladdodan (Click here), F64 (Click here), Focus Numerique (Click here) and Fotodigitalonline (Click here).

The question to you is:

The Fuji X PRO 1 camera can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), Epxansys US (Click here) and Expansys Canada (Click here).
in Europe at Jessops UK (Click here), eBay Italy (Click here) and Expansys UK (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here) and eBay Japan (Click here).

The Fuji X 18mm f/2.0 can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here).

The Fuji X 35mm f/1.4 can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here).

The Fuji X 60mm f/2.4 macro can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).

Sigma has announced the DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill. Those cameras are mirrorless but not interchangeable system cameras and I thought it would be interesting to talk about one of the very few companies that is actually “trying” to develop a complete different sensor technology. Both cameras use the Foveon 15×3 Megapixel APS-C sensor. The DP1M has a fixed 19mm f/2.8 lens and the DP2M incorporates the 30mm f/2.8 lens. I found many “foveon-like” patents from Fuji, Panasonic and only but Sigma is currently the only camera manufacturer offering the technology on mass production cameras.

I really like the Foveon concept but the price of Sigma cameras are still too high. They didn’t unveil the DP1M and DP2M price yet but I expect it to be over $1000? Image samples and availability aren’t available too. So it’s quite a poor announcement with no other things to read that the press release :)

News roundup:
Photographyblog
Techradar
Electronista
Focus Numerique (french)

Finally the over-leaked Olympus E-M5 camera has been announced (Click here to read all you need to know on 43rumors). Its time for a short comparison with the other top quality mirorrless camera, the Fuji X PRO 1:
Sensor – Image quality
The Olympus E-M5 uses the same GX1 16 Megapixel sensor with some sort of tweaks like faster readout system and improved TruePic VI engine. It also uses a weak AA filter. Anyway, the X PRO 1 can deliver a slightly higher resolution because of the no Anti Aliasing filter.
Fuji wins!
Video quality:
Easy,Fuji didn’t care a lot about the video :)
Olympus wins!
Viewfinder:
The Olympus E-M5 has a 1.44 million dot pure electronic viewfinder. Due the fast sensor readout (240fps) this will reduce lagging and rolling shutter. The Fuji has that amazing hybrid viewfinder.
Fuji wins!
Autofocus:
Easy game for Olympus. They claim to have the fastest AF system of all current interchangeable camera systems. And Fuji is known for not having a super fast AF.
Olympus wins!
Body quality:
Olympus and Fuji both deliver an excellent body quality. But Olympus camera is weather sealed.
Olympus wins!
Price:
Yep the Olympus is $600 cheaper but the Fuji has a terrific image quality. So it’s difficult to find a winner here!

That is just a very basic first impression and there are many other factors to consider before to judge the new products. But let me know…