Fujifilm unveils the Weather-Sealed X-T1

After a series of teasers and leaks, Fuji has finally announced the latest addition to their highly-regarded X-Series lineup – the Fujifilm X-T1.

The X-T1 is unlike any of the X-Series cameras we’ve seen in the past. Fuji went for a more robust, magnesium alloy frame with their latest brainchild instead of a compact mirrorless body that has recently become their bread and butter.

Luckily, the Japanese firm decided to keep the analog dials that made their high-end mirrorless offerings such a huge hit among photographers. In addition to the Shutter Speed and Exposure Compensation dials at the top, Fuji added an ISO knob placed on the left shoulder of the X-T1.

The company has also added an extra pair of switches around the ISO and Shutter Speed dials which controls Drive and Metering Modes respectively. This kind of button layout is somewhat similar to ones found on Nikon’s mid-range and high-end dSLR cameras.

In addition to these subtle improvements, Fuji also made a few significant changes on the X-T1’s repertoire which includes a revamped 2.36M-dot EVF with a chart-topping 0.77x magnification. To put in perspective, X-T1 viewfinder is even bigger than the one found on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and even bigger than the Canon EOS 1D-X’s.

Underneath its weather-sealed body, the X-T1 has the same configuration as the Fuji X-E2 which recently made its debut on the local market. This includes 16MP X-Trans II CMOS sensor, EXR II image processor and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Fujifilm X-T1 specs:
16MP X-Trans II CMOS sensor
Sensor Type: APS-C (23.6 x 15.6 mm)
EXR II image processor
Hybrid AF system (Contrast/Phase)
Lens-type Optical Image Stabilization
ISO 200 – 6400
Expandable to ISO 100 and ISO 25600
30 sec. – 1/4000 sec. shutter speed
8fps continuous drive
No Built-In Flash, external flash (EF-X8) included
Optional External Flash via Hot shoe
1/180 Flash-Sync speed
2.36M-dot Electronic Viewfinder
0.77x Magnification, 100% coverage
3” Articulating 1.04M-dot LCD
1080p video recording @60fps
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
SD / SDHC / SDXC
RAW + JPEG file format
NP-W126 Lithium-Ion battery
Dimension: 129 x 90 x 47mm
Weight: 440g

The new Fujifilm X-T1 is expected to hit the shelves by next month and will be retailed for USD1,300 for the Body-Only deal and addition USD400 for the Body + Kit Lens (XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4) package.