Should I get a Fuji X-Pro1?

I´ve been looking at rangefinders for a while. I quite like the concept, simplicity and specially size.
I travel a lot and bringing my beloved 5D3 and Holy Trinity with me can be cumbersome sometimes. Went to Torres del Paine and man... carrying that 70-200 almost killed me!

When entering the FF club, I considered moving to Leica, but the M240 wasn´t out yet and their offerings at the time (M9 and MM) didn´t cut the cheese for me. I actually don´t like the M technologically wise, but I do love their lenses and overall size.

Now I have a chance to grab the X-Pro 1, but there are a few things keeping me from it. I finally managed it to this:

Pros (for me):
- Good size
- Amazing IQ
- Good lenses at good price

Cons:
- Crop sensor (and I LOVE full frame)
- Sluggish AF
- Even worse MF
- A bit on the expensive side (body)

So, what do you guys think? Is this the perfect traveling companion for me?
Please vote and let me know your experience with it.

get one but keep both systems, at least until you know for sure that you are happy with the X system.
i've thought about ditching all my Canon gears and go X-Pro1 + 14mm + 35mm but ultimately I decided to stick with my Canon as a better portrait/landscape/wil​dlife camera even though I haven't used them in months.
Now it is either my X100S or M6 that I carry with me in family gathering or walk.

Currently, I'm shooting with a X100S and Pentax 67 for landscape and I'm pleased most of the time.
Not a big fan of EVF (when using CPL filter) but it's something I'm getting accustomed to.

one thing for sure though, a X100S or X-Pro1 is 10x easier to carry around with when travelling than a DSLR and lens

im going to the phillipines this summer and my plan is to bring my X100S for everything, P67 for landscape

X100s or simply wait. If you want the Leica M and have the funds then go for it. I think that camera is more for bragging rights. If you want a compact FF camera then go for the Sony RX1(I think it's called).

If you like Leica lenses then just get a Fuji or Sony Nex or Olympus and simply buy a Leica adaptor to stick your favorite lenses on.

I would't like to pay premium for the M, Bond. I think it is way overpriced for what it does. Only thing I like about them is the lens, but this is actually the only exchangeable lens FF system I know of. The RX1 is great, but it is fixed at 35mm. and that would be a deal breaker for me.

taemo wrote in post #15957321
Not a big fan of EVF (when using CPL filter) but it's something I'm getting accustomed to.

Could you elaborate on that? What happens when using a CPL while looking at the EVF?

Alex_Venom wrote in post #15957282
I´ve been looking at rangefinders for a while. I quite like the concept, simplicity and specially size.
I travel a lot and bringing my beloved 5D3 and Holy Trinity with me can be cumbersome sometimes. Went to Torres del Paine and man... carrying that 70-200 almost killed me!

When entering the FF club, I considered moving to Leica, but the M240 wasn´t out yet and their offerings at the time (M9 and MM) didn´t cut the cheese for me. I actually don´t like the M technologically wise, but I do love their lenses and overall size.

Now I have a chance to grab the X-Pro 1, but there are a few things keeping me from it. I finally managed it to this:

Pros (for me):
- Good size
- Amazing IQ
- Good lenses at good price

Cons:
- Crop sensor (and I LOVE full frame)
- Sluggish AF
- Even worse MF
- A bit on the expensive side (body)

So, what do you guys think? Is this the perfect traveling companion for me?
Please vote and let me know your experience with it.

Yes! Get one.

The X-Pro1 doesn't really operate like a Leica, but that's not necessarily a bad thing (and I say this with an M6 in my bag right now). The X-Pro1 is a bit larger than an M6, but about the same size as an M9. As you say, the IQ is incredible, and obviously much better than the M9 at high ISOs (for what that's worth to you). The lenses are not just good, they're outstanding. The XF 35 f/1.4 is a screaming bargain; it's a world-class lens.

The crop sensor is not really a big deal, to be honest. Just adjust your thinking a bit (a 35 is a normal instead of a semi-wide, a 50 is a short tele instead of a normal, etc), and you'll be fine. You lose a bit of DoF control, but I've never taken a shot with my X-Pro1 and thought "This would be a Pulitzer Prize winner, *if only* DoF were one stop shallower!".

AF isn't that bad, to be honest; I can AF my X-Pro1 quicker than I can MF my Leica, FWIW. That said, AF is nothing close to what a DSLR will give you. But learn to use it properly (hint: it's not the same as AF on a DSLR), and you'll be fine.

MF on the native lenses isn't great. What they really need is a DoF scale (and the newer 14mm prime has this).

Price is subjective. You're getting top-of-class IQ AND an OVF (which is spectacular, BTW) for far less than even a used M9.

All that having been said, if you really want an M9 and the real Leica/rangefinder experience, the X-Pro1 won't give you that. But it will give you a similar gestalt, and it will provide you with lots and lots of fun.

If you plan on using telephoto zooms, and since you didn't list the OVF as one of your 'likes', I'd suggest looking at the X-E1 which is basically the X-Pro without the OVF. Bit lighter, smaller, cheaper, same AF (:confused.

Also, for what it's worth, there's a firmware upgrade coming out in July that's supposed to improve the AF performance. It's all speculative of course, but the first firmware update was pretty damn good in that department so maybe hold off for another couple of months and see how things go? Of course whatever happens, you still won't get what a good DSLR would get you. (edit: I myself am satisfied with the AF. It's slow, yes, but incredibly accurate and I don't shoot much action)

Last weekend I picked up my 5D2 for the first time since January, and here are the things that immediately came to mind:
- holy crap that thing is heavy
- holy crap that thing feels like serious business
- holy crap that AF is unbelievable (and that's a 5D2 I'm talking about).
Make of that what you want .

Thank you for the real world input, guys! This is exactly what I wanted!
Well, I have the 5D3 for when AF is critical, and I take it with me so I guess I can live with it when I need (I already do).
Thanks for the upcoming firmware announce! I will wait for it. If it gets any better than already is (man, I´d LOVE focus peaking in that thing!) I am getting one! Found some pretty cheap ones on eBay around the 1000 bucks barier, so I can definitely live with that.

Anyone heard of a new version coming out or something? Just so I don´t buy one and on the next week a new one is out

Nightdiver13 wrote in post #15957429
Could you elaborate on that? What happens when using a CPL while looking at the EVF?

It's not what happens when looking through the EVF - but why you have to.

With a camera that uses a separate optical viewfinder, like the X100 and Xpro1 you cannot see what effect the CPL is having on your image, because you aren't looking through the lens and filter (like you do with an SLR)
So you have to use the EVF - which will show you what the sensor sees, when adjusting the CPL

Echo63 wrote in post #15959988
It's not what happens when looking through the EVF - but why you have to.

With a camera that uses a separate optical viewfinder, like the X100 and Xpro1 you cannot see what effect the CPL is having on your image, because you aren't looking through the lens and filter (like you do with an SLR)
So you have to use the EVF - which will show you what the sensor sees, when adjusting the CPL

I understand how the viewfinding system works, but taemo said that they aren't a fan of using it in combo with a CPL and I'd like to know why.

edit: I think I misunderstood your explanation. You're saying that you figure the ONLY time taemo is using the EVF is when using a CPL?

Alex_Venom wrote in post #15959810
Thank you for the real world input, guys! This is exactly what I wanted!
Well, I have the 5D3 for when AF is critical, and I take it with me so I guess I can live with it when I need (I already do).
Thanks for the upcoming firmware announce! I will wait for it. If it gets any better than already is (man, I´d LOVE focus peaking in that thing!) I am getting one! Found some pretty cheap ones on eBay around the 1000 bucks barier, so I can definitely live with that.

Anyone heard of a new version coming out or something? Just so I don´t buy one and on the next week a new one is out

there are rumors that the successor of the X-Pro1 might be announced later this summer.
Don't think focus peaking/split focus will work on the old X cameras but that would be great.
The X cameras despite being slightly bigger than Leica cameras are much lighter, the 35mm lens is amazing, the 14mm too. Just waiting to see Fuji's announcement regarding the X-Pro2 before jumping the gun, as honestly at this point I don't really miss the DSLR world.
The AF is something that I hope that they can improve on, but overall the shooting experience is like with a RF in sense that you are not looking through the lens, but is it a Leica replacement? no

Echo63 wrote in post #15959988
It's not what happens when looking through the EVF - but why you have to.

With a camera that uses a separate optical viewfinder, like the X100 and Xpro1 you cannot see what effect the CPL is having on your image, because you aren't looking through the lens and filter (like you do with an SLR)
So you have to use the EVF - which will show you what the sensor sees, when adjusting the CPL

thanks for explaining it, I'm just not a big fan of EVF (reason why XE-1 wasn't even an option for me and NEX7 lasted only 2 weeks for me).
but I understand that with a CPL or when shooting macro, I have to switch to EVF and I don't have qualms with it, especially after seeing the image I'm able to capture with the X cameras

Nightdiver13 wrote in post #15960035
I understand how the viewfinding system works, but taemo said that they aren't a fan of using it in combo with a CPL and I'd like to know why.

edit: I think I misunderstood your explanation. You're saying that you figure the ONLY time taemo is using the EVF is when using a CPL?

correct, the only time I would use the EVF is when using a CPL to see the polarizing change and macro.
other than that, I use OVF all the time.

I ordered the x-pro1 and the 35mm f/1.4 earlier this week to complement the 5d. From my research, the IQ looks excellent, and from that standpoint I don't think I am giving up much from the 5d. Due to that fact and not having to lug around a bulky DSLR for casual shooting is the reason I went with the Fuji.

David S wrote in post #15960819
I ordered the x-pro1 and the 35mm f/1.4 earlier this week to complement the 5d. From my research, the IQ looks excellent, and from that standpoint I don't think I am giving up much from the 5d. Due to that fact and not having to lug around a bulky DSLR for casual shooting is the reason I went with the Fuji.

I can tell you from experience that you're giving up nothing in terms of IQ from a 5D2...except shadow noise at low ISO. And there's no 35 1.4 that you can put on a 5D2 that comes close to the Fuji.