Finally Decided
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 7:05 pm
Well I finally got around to ordering my new camera and I decided upon the Fuji X-S1
As you may recall I was about to get one a few months ago before things got a bit turned on their head. I have had a lot of things to do that put it all on the back burner then there was the arrival of Little Annie that took up a lot of my time. Now she is a bit older and needing a less attention and coupled with the fact that I have rekindled my interest by joining the local Camera Club and even making myself a full member last week I decided to take the plunge and get the camera.
One thing that held me back was the introduction of the new Fuji HS50 that came in at a similar price and offered to be something special. As you know I have forsaken any idea of DSLR cameras with interchangeable lenses in favour of ‘Bridge cameras with fixed, but long zoom lenses. I have discussed this before and given all my reasons for going in this direction in particular weight to carry around and the expense of buying into one system for lenses.
So why the X-S1 over the HS50? Well to be honest the HS50 has some great features including a huge zoom of 42 times optical & 84 times digital as opposed to the X-S1 having a 26 times optical and a 52 with digital zoom, but I decided that the higher zoom was not really a factor as I already have a camera with a 30 times optical and 60 times digital zoom and don’t really use it that much.
With that reduction in zoom range (which I can happily live without) comes the ability to increase the cameras sensor size from ½” on the HS50 to a 2/3-inch on the X-S1 which is a big difference in sensor size, in fact it has the same 2/3-inch 12 mega pixel EXR CMOS sensor as the much-lauded X10 camera has. The overall mega pixels are a bit less than the 16 mega pixels of the HS50, but again I am not over impressed by big mega pixel cameras unless you want to pixel peep or print them at AO size.
The HS50 has a really nice swing out and rotate rear LCD and I really like the way it will rotate and close against the back of the camera to avoid damage when not being used. The X-S1 does not do that, but it does have a very versatile hinge out and tilt up or down rear LCD the same as my other Fuji camera so I am happy enough with that.
Like the HS50 the X-S1 has many features built into the camera but overall the HS50 probably has a few more than the X-S1, some are nice to have and some are more gimmicky and probably get little use after a few outings. The HS50 has a very impressive 3.0-inch, approx. 920,000 dots, TFT colour LCD monitor, whereas the X-S1 has a lower resolution 460,000 dots, so only around half. Having said that it is still twice the DPI of my current camera so it has to be a vast improvement. Both myself and Grandad have commented in the past about disliking having to use a rear LCD on smaller cameras in order to frame your picture due to the lack of a viewfinder on most of them, I still feel the same and will use the camera viewfinder in preference to the rear LCD.
This is where the X-S1 will score markedly over the HS50 as it has a much larger EVF window 0.47-inch electronic viewfinder, as opposed to the much smaller 0.26 inch on the HS50, so physically it is almost 4 times the area. It also has the far greater DPI of 1.4 million as opposed to 920,000 on the HS50 and for anyone not familiar with this 1.4 million dots is very nearly as good as having a mirror on a DSLR and indeed many DSLR’s are now boasting that they are mirror-less and use these high resolution EVF’s instead.
Finally although the HS50 is a well built piece of kit and I would be very happy with the build quality, but it is like many modern cameras constructed of an Acrylic type material. This material is excellent for the job, but the X-S1 has an alloy body underneath the outer skin so is a much more durable build. It also has a proper alloy tripod thread on the underside unlike all of the Fuji HS range which have an acrylic threaded insert which although mine have never failed, I do know plenty of people who have stripped the threads, but they were probably a bit ham fisted, having said that I prefer my camera to be attached to a metal thread when on a tripod so that’s another plus.
The actual lens is also of a much better all alloy construction on the X-S1 as are all the cams and rings so the build quality is of a higher standard than the HS50 and as it was the flagship camera when it came out it is all ‘Built in Japan’ as opposed to Taiwan, Korea or China. It has a nine bladed shutter so that is another plus on the X-S1.
I could pick up the newer HS50 for around £70 less than the older X-S1 as the price has dropped recently, but I have basically sacrificed a few extras and a longer zoom for a better build quality, a larger sensor, a physically larger EVF and a much sharper 1.4 million dot EVF, all of which I think are more important to me when comparing both cameras together. In all honesty it was a difficult choice and I could happily own the HS50, but I think that the X-S1 will fit my needs a bit better so here’s hoping I have made the right decision.
As you may recall I was about to get one a few months ago before things got a bit turned on their head. I have had a lot of things to do that put it all on the back burner then there was the arrival of Little Annie that took up a lot of my time. Now she is a bit older and needing a less attention and coupled with the fact that I have rekindled my interest by joining the local Camera Club and even making myself a full member last week I decided to take the plunge and get the camera.
One thing that held me back was the introduction of the new Fuji HS50 that came in at a similar price and offered to be something special. As you know I have forsaken any idea of DSLR cameras with interchangeable lenses in favour of ‘Bridge cameras with fixed, but long zoom lenses. I have discussed this before and given all my reasons for going in this direction in particular weight to carry around and the expense of buying into one system for lenses.
So why the X-S1 over the HS50? Well to be honest the HS50 has some great features including a huge zoom of 42 times optical & 84 times digital as opposed to the X-S1 having a 26 times optical and a 52 with digital zoom, but I decided that the higher zoom was not really a factor as I already have a camera with a 30 times optical and 60 times digital zoom and don’t really use it that much.
With that reduction in zoom range (which I can happily live without) comes the ability to increase the cameras sensor size from ½” on the HS50 to a 2/3-inch on the X-S1 which is a big difference in sensor size, in fact it has the same 2/3-inch 12 mega pixel EXR CMOS sensor as the much-lauded X10 camera has. The overall mega pixels are a bit less than the 16 mega pixels of the HS50, but again I am not over impressed by big mega pixel cameras unless you want to pixel peep or print them at AO size.
The HS50 has a really nice swing out and rotate rear LCD and I really like the way it will rotate and close against the back of the camera to avoid damage when not being used. The X-S1 does not do that, but it does have a very versatile hinge out and tilt up or down rear LCD the same as my other Fuji camera so I am happy enough with that.
Like the HS50 the X-S1 has many features built into the camera but overall the HS50 probably has a few more than the X-S1, some are nice to have and some are more gimmicky and probably get little use after a few outings. The HS50 has a very impressive 3.0-inch, approx. 920,000 dots, TFT colour LCD monitor, whereas the X-S1 has a lower resolution 460,000 dots, so only around half. Having said that it is still twice the DPI of my current camera so it has to be a vast improvement. Both myself and Grandad have commented in the past about disliking having to use a rear LCD on smaller cameras in order to frame your picture due to the lack of a viewfinder on most of them, I still feel the same and will use the camera viewfinder in preference to the rear LCD.
This is where the X-S1 will score markedly over the HS50 as it has a much larger EVF window 0.47-inch electronic viewfinder, as opposed to the much smaller 0.26 inch on the HS50, so physically it is almost 4 times the area. It also has the far greater DPI of 1.4 million as opposed to 920,000 on the HS50 and for anyone not familiar with this 1.4 million dots is very nearly as good as having a mirror on a DSLR and indeed many DSLR’s are now boasting that they are mirror-less and use these high resolution EVF’s instead.
Finally although the HS50 is a well built piece of kit and I would be very happy with the build quality, but it is like many modern cameras constructed of an Acrylic type material. This material is excellent for the job, but the X-S1 has an alloy body underneath the outer skin so is a much more durable build. It also has a proper alloy tripod thread on the underside unlike all of the Fuji HS range which have an acrylic threaded insert which although mine have never failed, I do know plenty of people who have stripped the threads, but they were probably a bit ham fisted, having said that I prefer my camera to be attached to a metal thread when on a tripod so that’s another plus.
The actual lens is also of a much better all alloy construction on the X-S1 as are all the cams and rings so the build quality is of a higher standard than the HS50 and as it was the flagship camera when it came out it is all ‘Built in Japan’ as opposed to Taiwan, Korea or China. It has a nine bladed shutter so that is another plus on the X-S1.
I could pick up the newer HS50 for around £70 less than the older X-S1 as the price has dropped recently, but I have basically sacrificed a few extras and a longer zoom for a better build quality, a larger sensor, a physically larger EVF and a much sharper 1.4 million dot EVF, all of which I think are more important to me when comparing both cameras together. In all honesty it was a difficult choice and I could happily own the HS50, but I think that the X-S1 will fit my needs a bit better so here’s hoping I have made the right decision.
They really do pack so much into their (Fuji's) cameras. I think you might consider a monopod (if you have not already got one) for your walks....I would certainly have a problem holding still a camera with that sort of zoom. I have an old and rather heavy Manfrotto that I partially extend and use as a trekking pole. 
I do have a mono pod and a couple of tripods including a very good solid one that is built like a battleship, but is too heavy to lug about even though it is alloy, although pefect if you are stationary.
They're pretty spiffy and even BUBBLE LEVELS! WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Picasa is my bubble level 