I've been lusting after the X1d since it was announced. It's the closest thing to the legendary Mamiya 7 in the digital world yet to be produced. I'm glad that those who have received one seem to like it. I haven't had a chance to see an X1d in the flesh yet, but got to handle a GFX a few days ago. I will almost certainly be getting one or the other in the coming year, so an actual side by side comparison will be needed. For my uses, I'm more interested in the basic functionality and useability, not to mention portability of the system. In that sense, I don't care about pages of intricate menu options or being able to put it on an Actus, etc. I care mostly about handling, reliability and user experience. IQ will be equal, or in essence basically equal I think... Anyway...
In the meantime, my thoughts on the Fuji are as follows (from the perspective of someone that wants to rationalise the Hasselblad! :ROTFL
1: I like the 'joystick' for selecting focus points quickly, and the ability to make the focus point very small. Very quick and intuitive to use. Both of these things worry me a little bit about the X1d. Seems like a big oversight for me.
Agreed. A joystick would be a more efficient way of selecting focus points. However, depending upon the nature of your work, you may find that the front and rear dials are workable. I do so far after shooting for two weeks with the X1D.
[/COLOR]
2: Excellent EVF. It ain't no OVF, but I forgot about it pretty quickly. I could easily live with it, as the refresh and resolution was good. This is another area I'm concerned about with the X1d, as for me the less aware of this technology I am – the less it imposes itself on the user experience – the better.
I think you need to compare the EVFs side by side to see if there is a meaningful difference. I personally find the EVF for the X1D perfectly adequater. Yes, I wish it were better, as good as an OVF, but it is as good as a Sony A7RII, and I have been able to work well with that EVF.
3: It's not going to win any awards for beauty. Although the ergonomics seem adequate, I felt it was a bit off balance and the my hands, which are medium size. The grip wasn't all that comfortable, to be honest, although I could probably live with it. The body is auite thick.
This is plain to see.
4: What people have described with the X1d's 'three clicks' for shutter, the first one being the shutter closing down, is present in the GFX. I can see what people mean about that being disconcerting. The GFX doesn't seem to have the third click though.
We don't yet know about shutter lag v. EVF lag with the GFX shooting raw files. AFAIK, Fuji has locked out the raw shooting mode for everyone who has demo'd the GFX, so no one knows yet.
5: EVF blackout was acceptable, and no worse than say a H camera.
6: The zoom lens was WAY too big, although considering the format I'm not surprised. The 63mm was less than half the size.
7: I like the aperture ring, but for some reason found I used the control wheels instead.
8: I like the X1d's initial lens line up better, although it an ideal world I'd get a 30mm / 60mm two lens set up and just be done with it.
Hasselblad should be issuing a lens roadmap for 2017 shortly, with 5 new lenses for 2017. Then, we can more effectively compare the lens lineups.
All and all I was impressed. I didn't get the feeling that there was anything under developed, etc. Seemed like a great camera, actually. I only hope that when I get to try the X1d I get the same impression, although the focusing point selection and EVF quality worry me the most.
