Fujifilm X-Pro2 review: A classy retro rangefinder

I’ve long been impressed with Fujifilm’s X-series compact system cameras, and so it was with much excitement and equally high expectations that I unboxed the X-Pro2 for testing. This is the new flagship model in the range, sitting above the mighty Fujifilm X-T1 and providing a long-awaited update to the X-Pro1, Fujifilm’s first compact system camera (CSC).

At first glance the X-Pro2 and X-Pro1 are very similar, with the same chunky rangefinder styling, rock solid magnesium alloy build and multitude of buttons and dials. All X-series cameras could be described as retro but this one goes furthest. Weighing 495g for the body only, it’s bulky and heavy for a CSC. This improves handling and gives lots of space for controls but makes the camera less appealing to casual photographers, even extremely wealthy ones.

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Fujilfilm X-Pro2: Design and layout

Look a little closer and you’ll notice a few changes compared with the X-Pro1. There are dual SDXC card slots, and Wi-Fi is built in for wireless transfers and remote control from iOS and Android devices. There’s a mini joystick that’s dedicated to moving the autofocus point, leaving the navigation pad free for other duties. This is a great improvement, not just for the increased number of controls, but also for ease and speed of operation, particularly when using the viewfinder. Other buttons have been rearranged so they’re reachable with the right hand, leaving the left hand to concentrate on the lens rings for aperture and focus. Unusually for a CSC system, nearly all X Mount lenses have aperture rings.

The shutter speed dial doubles as an ISO speed control. There’s a button lock that must be pressed to venture away from automatic shutter speed, while lifting the ring and twisting accesses the ISO speed control. It’s an efficient use of the space and easy to grab while using the viewfinder, but I’m not completely convinced by the design. The button to unlock the shutter speed doesn’t need to be pressed when moving from one manual speed to another, and I sometimes inadvertently changed the shutter speed when attempting to adjust ISO.

There are six customisable buttons, and I particularly like how holding one of them down jumps to a menu page to reassign it. Certain other functions are less accessible. For example, face detection doesn’t appear with the autofocus mode options and must be enabled via a submenu, but doing so overrides the metering mode and renders the metering button unresponsive.

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