Fujifilm X-A1 review

THE BIG BUT – CLICK IMAGE SAMPLES TO ENLARGE

The crucial difference between the two cameras is the sensor. It has the same 16-megapixel resolution and the same physical size – exactly the same size as consumer SLRs’ sensors. However, while the X-M1 uses Fujifilm’s latest X-Trans technology, the X-A1 uses a more conventional sensor design.

As a result, the X-A1 couldn’t replicate the stunning sharp details and low noise that we saw from the X-M1. In fact, details looked slightly imprecise not just compared to the X-M1 but also up against the Sony NEX-5R and Panasonic GX7. The difference was pretty subtle, and in many photos we were hard pressed to notice it at all. However, dense textures proved to be a trickier challenge. We wouldn’t describe detail levels as poor, but they weren’t quite up to the standard we’d hope for from a 16-megapixel CSC.

Details in this photo look pin sharp, and the delicate textures on the leaves have been captured beautifully

It hasn’t got on so well with this dense texture, though

Comparing 1:1 pixel crops from four 16-megapixel CSCs’ JPEG output at their slowest ISO speeds, there’s not much to choose between them in their handling of the eye and mouth details. However, the hair texture isn’t as crisp in the X-A1’s output. The X-M1 comes top here, with the Panasonic GX7 not far behind

Processing RAW output in Lightroom gives only a slight boost to the fidelity of fine details. Note the blocky appearance of the leaves in the foreground that are catching the light. Lightroom normally manages to produce sharper, cleaner details from RAW files than this

Low-light tests gave less cause for concern, with little evidence of noise at ISO 3200. However, JPEGs exhibited tell-tale signs of heavy noise reduction, with even less definition to subtle details such as skin, hair and fabric. It’s still a great result, and broadly in line with the superb noise levels we’ve seen from Sony NEX cameras. However, it can’t live up to the high standards set by the X-M1.

There’s no hint of noise is this ISO 1000 shot, but there’s not much fine detail to the hair and fabric

Still looking pretty clean at ISO 3200, although noise reduction has given the skin tones and t-shirt a slightly smeary quality

This ISO 6400 shot is a borderline pass for us – there’s very little fine detail

Processing RAW in Lightroom gives a small boost to low-light image quality