Fujifilm X-Pro1: The story so far

The update also reduces the camera's minimum focusing distance, has some further interface tweaks for manual focusing, and makes writing to a memory card twice as fast. Fujifilm similarly went back to fix the X100's autofocus performance after release; hopefully the recently-announced X-E1 will work better out of the box.

Fujifilm's X-Pro1 is a great camera, but with only three lenses currently available (and none of them zooms) some might find it a tough sell next to competing mirrorless systems such as Micro Four Thirds. That's set to change soon enough, though, as the company has just unveiled its XF lens roadmap for the next couple of years. First, 2012 will see the release of a 18-55mm f/2.8-4 standard zoom along with a 14mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime. The former will likely be a useful choice for many, coming in at the same focal length as most standard kit lenses but offering a wider aperture.

Next year will see five more lenses released, bringing the system up to ten in all. There'll be three new primes: a 23mm f/1.4, a 56mm f/1.4, and a 27mm f/2.8 pancake for those wanting to bring down the X-Pro1's not inconsiderable size a bit. Finally, Fujifilm will release two more zooms in 2013 in the shape of the 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 and the 10-24mm f/4, both with image stabilization. It looks like X-Pro1 shooters will have a lot more options soon enough — our only concern is the as-yet unannounced but almost inevitably high pricing.

Fujifilm told us at CES to expect a price of around $1,700 for its X-Pro1 mirrorless camera, and it wasn't bluffing. It's just announced that the camera will officially sell for $1,699.95 when it becomes available in stores this month. That's the body-only price, mind you, and you're going to need a lens or three — the 18mm f/2 or 35mm f/1.4 lens will set you back $599.95, and the 60mm f/2 macro is set at $649.95. Fujifilm didn't narrow down a release date beyond "the end of February," but you can already pre-order on Amazon. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the free Parker pen will make its way outside Japan.

We knew Fujifilm's X-Pro1 retro-chic mirrorless camera was coming in February, and now we can narrow it down to a single day — the camera will launch on February 18th, in Japan at least. Pricing is open, but retailers Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera both list the body for a decidedly premium 150,000 yen (about $1,929). It doesn't look like you'll be able to buy the camera in kit form with a lens, either, so on top of that you'll be spending 54,800 yen (about $705) for the 18mm f/2 or 35mm f/1.4 lens, or 59,800 yen (about $770) for the 60mm f/2 macro. It's all sounding pretty expensive — however, if you pre-order at Bic Camera from today, at least you get an X-Pro 1-branded Parker pen to sweeten the deal.

Fujifilm's press conference just wrapped up and we had a moment to snap a few pictures of the just-announced X-Pro1 before it was whisked away. The camera feels extremely well built and is very sturdy, but also quite heavy. Lens construction matches that of the camera — there's a weighty feeling, but everything's solid and reassuring to hold. Both the screen and viewfinder are beautiful, as well, and there's tons of manual controls (just like the X100 and X10). The $1700 price tag is going to be a deal-breaker for a lot of people, but if you have the cash it feels like this camera will be worth it — as long as the image quality matches the build quality.

Three new XF Fujinon lenses are available at launch, compatible with the X-Pro1's new X Mount — the new mount is incredibly thin, allowing for both better images and lower shutter lag. The XF188mmF2 R is a f/2.0 f/2.0 pancake; the XF60mmF2.4 R Macro is a 90mm f/2.4 macro lens, and the XF35mmF1.4 R is a 53mm f/1.4 lens. They're all focused on the quality of the glass, and their apertures stand out in a big way.

The X-Pro1 will be available in February. Fujfilm didn't firmly announce pricing, but said it expected the X-Pro1's body to cost around $1,700, and the lenses to be about $650 each.

The X-Pro1 mirrorless camera isn't official but you can already pre-order a trio of lenses for Fujifilm's first mirrorless camera — the same three lenses leaked by the French magazine Réponses Photo. Both the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 and 18mm f/2.0 lenses are listed for $499.95 on Amazon, with the 60mm f/2.4 macro offered for $599.95.

Fujifilm announced a wide-ranging lineup of cameras for CES 2012 earlier today, but if Mirrorlessrumors is to be believed it was holding back a surprise. The site has the first shot and details of the X-Pro1 mirrorless camera, taken from French magazine Réponses Photo, with an allegedly leaked press release at Wells Fargo. Like the X100 and X10, the camera features a retro, rangefinder-influenced design, with an assortment of physical controls adorning the body. The camera uses a similar hybrid optical viewfinder to the X100 that will apparently shift field of view depending on the prime lens attached. About those lenses — they're made of metal, use Fuji's new proprietary X-mount, and three are currently slated for release: an 18mm f/2.0, 35mm f/1.4 and a 60mm f/2.4 macro. The camera has a large 16-megapixel APS-C sensor, so the lenses will be subject to a 1.5x crop factor. While it looks like they'll be a little bulkier than the X100's fixed 23mm f/2.0 lens, the X-Pro1 will obviously offer a lot more versatility. We'll be sure to let you know if and when we get confirmation of these details.

Fujifilm confirmed it would release its first interchangeable-lens mirrorless camera sometime in 2012. The camera pictured certainly shares the styling of FujiFilm's FinePix X100 but appears to introduce a proprietary lens mount. The dedicated exposure and shutter-speed dials would suggest a camera for enthusiasts and above.

The site Photo Rumors says that the LX will likely feature an APS-C sensor (like the X100) with at least three lens options at launch: a pancake 18mm f/2, a 35mm f/1.4, and a third with a zoom. A 60mm lens is also possible... as is pretty much anything else you can hope for (like an APS-H or full-frame sensor) until Fujifilm makes the camera official sometime next year.