Fujifilm X-M1 is the perfect compact camera for prosumers

FUJIFILM X-M1
Price: Rs 47,999 (Body + XC16-50mmF3.5-5.6 OIS lens)
Rating: 4.5/5

The X-M1 is the latest and third in the line of range finder-style mirrorless cameras to come from FujiFilm. It reminds you of its predecessors, especially the X-E1, since this too does not have a viewfinder unlike the X-Pro1. Compared to the X-E1, however, the 3-inch LCD screen is tiltable and there is a new EXR Processor II instead of the EXR Pro.

As with any FujiFilm rangefinder this one too has its liberal dose of buttons and dials, a few of which we thought were a bit unnecessary. For instance, a dial to the right of the shutter button just adjusts the exposure, except for in the manual mode where it doubles as a shutter speed button. The Fn button close to this opens the settings in most modes, but needs to be clicked twice to reach any specific setting. Thankfully, you can adjust these settings - well, most of them - using the Q button.

There are not many pre-set modes, so like the X-E1 we would not really suggest this camera to those who don't have a good grip on their basics. This is not to say that the X-M1 is hard to use, but you will use it much better if you don't need the presets to shoot fireworks for instance.


The picture quality is without doubt the best feature of this camera. Low light, bright outdoors, dull indoor portraits, this camera can do it all. The ISO can go up to 25600, but we suggest you stick to ISO6400 which can manage most of your low-light requirements. The Q buttons also lets your change parameters like highlight and shadow tones even before you click and this could result in some poignant shots. We used the camera with the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens and the results were impressive as we said.

We did, however, encounter some problem with the auto-focus, especially in wide angles as the camera just refused to lock on to subjects in the far ground. This was fine in the auto-modes, with the trouble reappearing every time we switched back to manual. You can get over this by selecting the AF point you want to lock on, but the fact is that this camera is not very conducive to manual focus.


The other issue we had was with the Wi-Fi which is switched on by the Fn button. We downloaded the Fujifilm app on the iPhone, but though the camera was recognising the phone and the phone the camera, they failed to connect. Anyway, this one does not have a remote viewfinder mode like other cameras connecting wirelessly to phones to these days. You can use it to see the photos in the camera as well as to copy them to the phone or share them online. The camera has a decent pop-up flash, but you won't need to use it much. There is no separate mode for video and you initiate recording by pressing the button next to the LCD. Though Full HD, this camera can only do a max of 30fps which is a bit of a dampener.

But the X-M1 can serve as a good camera that rises up to most of your requirements. It is also an affordable version of the X-Pro1 and advanced users can make full use of that.


The new 27mm pancake lens
Along with the X-M1 Fujifilm has introduced a new 27mm f/2.8 lens which is the smallest so far for the X-series cameras. The 27mm lens is the closest you can get to the human eye as far as angles are concerned, but it is a bit unwieldy to be used on a daily basis. For instance, you can't click the picture of a flower with this one, without getting the entire pot also in the frame. Even portraits lose their details at this range. However, this is ideal for street photography and landscapes. We also found it a good option for group shots, like at a wedding or a party. However, this could be a very expensive option for such limited range.

Bag it or junk:
Good buy for advanced users.