The Fujifilm X-M1 ($799.95 list) is the current entry-level body in the company's mirrorless camera system. As a point of entry, it's priced a bit high, but it does deliver excellent image quality, built-in Wi-Fi, and an impressively sharp kit lens. The only real issue with the camera is its focus speed; there's a bit of lag, even when working in bright light. And it takes a little long to get started when you switch it on. Similar cameras at this price point, like our Editors' Choice, the Samsung NX300, utilize a hybrid AF system with phase and contrast detection for near-instant results. If you're enamored with its 16-megapixel X-Trans image sensor and you can live with a third of a second passing between pressing the shutter and firing off a shot, the X-M1 is worth consideration.
Design and Features
Like other recent Fujifilm cameras, the X-M1 is wrapped in a retro chic exterior. Its top and bottom plates are silver in color, but they're plastic, not magnesium like they are on the more expensive Fujifilm X-E1. The X-M1 is fairly compact at 2.6 by 4.6 by 1.5 inches and weighs about 11.6 ounces without a lens. Compare this with the X-E1, which is 2.9 by 5.1 by 1.5 inches and weighs in at 12.3 ounces. In addition to the standard all-black and black-and-silver finishes, Fujifilm also offers the camera in a silver-and-brown version.
Controls are laid out in a way that is sure to please demanding photographers. On the top plate you'll find the power switch, which surrounds the shutter release, the programmable function button (by default it controls ISO when shooting or Wi-Fi sharing when playing back photos), a mode dial, and a control dial. The dial adjusts EV compensation in most modes; in manual mode it controls shutter speed.
Around back you'll find a second control dial, playback and display controls, and some shooting controls. The AF button allows you to select the active autofocus point, and there are also buttons to start video recording, adjust white balance, enable macro shooting with select lenses, and control the drive mode. There's also the Q button; it brings up an on-screen menu of shooting settings. From that screen you can adjust the focus mode, ISO, dynamic range settings, noise reduction, image quality, film emulation modes, highlight and shadow levels, color output, and sharpening. It also lets you set the self-timer, enable or disable image stabilization, adjust flash output, and control the LCD brightness.
The rear display is hinged so that you can view it from above or below. It's a good size at 3 inches, and very sharp thanks to a 920k-dot resolution. It's on par with the best displays on cameras in this class, including the similar display on the Sony Alpha NEX-6. That camera, and the Fuji X-E1, both have excellent built-in OLED EVFs, but there's no viewfinder built into the X-M1. Nor is there a way to add one, like there is with the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5, so you're limited to using the LCD for focus and framing.
The X-M1 is the first Fuji interchangeable lens camera with Wi-Fi. The very basic implementation allows you to transfer JPG images to your iOS or Android device. You'll just need to free Fujifilm Photo Receiver app or the Fujifilm Camera App from your device's app store. Photo Receiver is a simple program that just receives photos from the camera, while the Camera App also allows you to browse the photos on your memory card from your phone and geotag transferred photos using your phone's GPS radio. Transfers are quick and painless, but you'll need to shoot in JPG mode or convert Raw files to JPG manually in-camera in order to copy them to your phone; there's no automatic Raw to JPG conversion available to speed transfers. It doesn't offer the more advanced Wi-Fi features that you get with Samsung cameras like the NX300, which allows you to post directly to social networks and control the camera using your phone as a remote with a live view feed.
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