Remember how Fujifilm disrupted the market with the X100? They could be

[alfredo]

doing it again with the the Fujifilm X-Pro 1

Monday will be the official launch. It appears it will have a 16mp sensor.

[Mira]

1. I always appreciate you keeping us informed about new cameras

I don't understand much about it, but I always appreciate it.
You are a treasure, Alfredo.

edited to add: I had an X100 but did not like it much. So I gave it to a family member.

[alfredo]

4. It had some quirks, and being a fixed lens, it wasn't for everyone. The hybrid viewfinder

was the big advance.

[n2doc]

2. So, why is this 'disruptive'?

I like its looks, but more pixels really mean little nowadays. What's the sensor size? What's the price? How good are the lenses that are available for it? Many of these mirrorless 'SLR' types are nice and compact but cost just as much as an entry SLR.
I'm still waiting for someone to make a significant jump in sensor tech for these guys.

[alfredo]

5. It is an APS-C sensor. I think it should be able to handle 16mp.

The body will be all metal, same goes for the body of the lenses.

Three lenses will be offered from the get go.

18mm (27mm equiv) f/2

35 (53) f/1.4 This is the lens that will be part of the kit.

60 (90) f/2.4

I think they are going after the Leica market. There will be a M mount adaptor for your Leica glass.

Fujifilm has an organic sensor. No word if it will be in this new offering.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/12/21/Fujfilmorganicsensor

Being old, arthritic and weak, I appreciate the compact size and lower weight. Not sure this will be very light.

I think the disruptive part is design and materials.

[Major Nikon]

9. The limiting factor for me is shutter lag

I haven't been keeping up with these relatively large sensor small format mirrorless cameras, but some of the ones I've seen suffer from too much shutter lag. If it can't do as well as my DSLR in this regard, it's a no-go for me.

[alfredo]

10. Take a look at the mirrorless section at Steve Huff

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/all-reviews/mirrorless-central/

I probably have the slowest M4/3, the Olympus EPL-1, but it is fine for my uses.

Mirrorless cameras have made great strides since the early releases like my EPL-1. The EP-3 is getting good performance reviews including AF speed. There's some handsome cameras being released soon. You will have to try out some of the new mirrorless cameras at your local camera shop to see if they are fast enough now.

[Major Nikon]

11. The size of these cameras is nice, but chosing mirrorless over SLR is more complicated these days

Back when I had a Nikon FM, I used to lust over the Leicas, but just couldn't afford them. There weren't many technical issues involved because the FM was already manual everything so the Leica was just a smaller and lighter alternative capable of taking just as good, if not better pictures under most circumstances.

Today there are so many other issues involved like autofocus speed, sensor quality, low light performance, shutter lag, start up time, lighting systems, etc. I have a Nikon D7000 and a D5000. For me there's a noticeable difference in performance that makes the D5000 a drag to use sometimes because I miss shots with the D5000 that I know I could have gotten with the D7000. However, there are times when I take my Canon Elph because I don't want to lug around a big DSLR.

I don't expect one of these cameras to ever replace my DSLR, but I would like a decent replacement for the Elph. I just don't want to pay as much as a DLSR to get it.

[alfredo]

12. I am waiting for the update to the Canon G series. I have a feeling it is going to be

an interesting addition to the mirrorless field. They appear to be releasing a fixed zoom lens, large sensor camera. Canon didn't feel interchangeable lenses were that important.

For me, I wanted a light camera because of my injury. I wanted something I could use for a wide range of applications. I didn't need the speed needed for sports, nor the long reach lenses needed for wildlife. My interests are street, portrait, and macro. I don't need the speed, the low light capabilities, and resolution of a DSLR. My notoriously slow Olympus EPL-1 is fast enough for street photography.

I did get to play around with a D700 a few days ago. That was a very quick camera.

The Mirrorless is for those times you don't want to carry a lot with you, to be somewhat stealthy, and still want good quality images.

If you want a fast mirrorless, try the Nikon V1.

[alfredo]

13. This looks promising

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_g1_x#SampleImages?WT.mc_id=C126149

[immoderate]

3. I like the layout. I like aperture-priority.

The questions raised by the photo:

Viewfinder, not SLR?

LCD? Articulated?

Fixed focal length lenses?

My first concern with any camera is shutter lag time.

Thanks for the info.

--imm

[alfredo]

6. Yes, an Hybrid viewfinder as you see on the X100.

Not sure if it has an articulated LCD. I like my external EVF because it swivels.

Yes, fixed focal length so far. For me, that is a non issue.

Shutter lag, won't know until it is in the hands of users. The X100 was fast enough for street photographers.

Here's a review of the X100. I'm sure they have learned a lot from the real world feedback from the X100

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/FujifilmX100/

[immoderate]

7. Thanks. That explains it.

I don't see the necessity of a mirror-view in a digital camera with a good monitor view. In any case, I don't see why SLRs beat other cameras in shutter performance.

--imm

[alfredo]

8. The Olympus EP-3 is supposed to be very fast. The viewer comes in handy in real bright conditions,

and that third point of contact helps stabilize the camera.

That reminds me to turn IS back on. I was doing macro and long exposure yesterday.