I guess one common thing some have with growing experience in our photography journeys is that we start to re-evaluate our wants, and at times reminiscence our past loves, even thinking:
“what if we get together again? Will it be different this time round?”
And fate be it, one fine day I chanced upon a pre-owned X-Pro1 for sale at SGD400 and with a bit of nostalgia in mind, I jumped at it, even in the process managing to bargain it down to around SGD250 (US188).
When I first received it, it was still working perfectly! a testament to how durable this Fujifilm body is, but time had taken its toil and the grip had worn off together with the LCD coating , even the OVF was a mess of dirt particles. Even the once pristine white letters were in a shade of aged yellow.
Ever seen an X-Pro1 so old that the lettering got yellowed?
Looking at it, i simply took a a deep breathe, telling myself, ‘let’s get shooting’.
When the X-Pro 1 originally appeared in 2012, it was criticised for really slow autofocus with the XF35mm F1.4 and super awkward manual focus but Fujifilm’s ‘Kaizen‘ approach ensured this camera never really got obsolete, and madly enough Fujifilm was still providing firmware updates and fixes for this 2012 camera up to ver 3.80, 5 years plus from its release, plus realising the newly designed lenses also promised faster and more reliable autofocus performance, I decided to pair it with the XF23mm F2 lens.
And what a joy it has been getting back to the X-Pro1 even after handling the GFX50S or the X-T2. Words don’t describe this but I guess the handling still speaks to me after all this while.
X-Pro1, XF23mm F2.
I realised that I had missed the X-Trans I colours. I’ve been through X-Trans II and X-Trans III but I stands out for how it balances a natural and yet beautifully rendered feel as compared to so many variations out there.
X-Pro1, XF23mm F2.
Even with no ACROS, the X-Pro1 rendered monochrome beautifully.
X-Pro1, XF23mm F2.
For those who argue the camera can’t catch up with capturing fleeting moments, the answer will be: you have not spent enough time learning to work with this camera.
X-Pro1, XF23mm F2
At the very end, I decided I wasn’t going to let go of this again and brought it into Fujifilm Service Centre at Singapore where the nice folks there gladly took it in and with a fast turnaround time, soon texted me to pick up the X-Pro1.
That’s the old LCD screen cover which had its worn out coating next to the camera.
A replacement of the worn out leather grip and yeap, back to X-Pro1 that to me is as good as it can get.
Even the OVF is now spanking new with the great job done and yes, i’ve an X-Pro1 with a count that’s in the 5 digits but well, that’s how I will continue to see it – a tool I love.
Conclusion
I started the Fujifilm system with the X-Pro1, back then paying ‘princey’ sum of US1700 (SGD2400) for the body and approx US600 back then for a XF35mm F1.4 lens, and I loved it back then, being one of the few cameras with a beautifully crafted rangefinder design and oh god, the X-Trans 1 colours even at 16 megapixel was beautiful.
Compared to the X-T2 or X-Pro2, it lacks a ton of functions, a tilting screen, has just + or – 2 stops exposure compensation, as against 5 stops on the X-T2 and the EVF display doesn’t rotate when shooting vertically. It even lacks diopter adjustment for the viewfinder, or even wifi transfer. But I realised that I didn’t really mind in the end.
This is a camera made in the likes of Leica cameras, no frivolous functions and simply designed and made to photograph moments.
It just works, and if you do manage to have your hands on one again, my suggestion is :
Don’t miss it.
*disclaimer: The X-Pro1 and the XF23 F2 in this article was fully paid for by and belongs to the writer. The writer did not get any form of reimbursement from Fujifilm for this article and yes, this writer paid fully for the repair bill too.
Update:
A kind reader by the name of Mr Sam Chapman has generously shared his experience of modifying his X-Pro1 set and here in his own words (so that I don’t risk misrepresenting his good intentions)
It’s a very neat idea and I always have this profound respect for people who work out solutions to a problem vs those who simply can just complain and here’s sharing his neat work and I thank him.
“One of my main niggles with the X-Pro1 WAS that the Drive, AE and AF buttons could be far too easily depressed by the palm of my left hand. However, I have solved this problem by applying a piece of ‘Sugru’ about 4-5mm thick, so that these buttons are now ‘recessed’. in the following manner:
I have decided to use black Sugru, but fair warning, it’s is fiddly stuff and you haven’t much time to play around with it!
I first produced a ‘template’ that runs down the ‘rubberised’ section on the left-hand side and from that, cut out ‘slots’ to match the gaps between the buttons and extend to the edge of the protruding LCD screen edge. Don’t for heaven’s sake use blu-tack instead, as it won’t stay in place, doesn’t harden like Sugru and will as likely as not, foul up and get down the edge of the buttons PDQ!
Once the Sugru is cut out and located into position, I think it takes about 24 hrs to ‘Cure’, but what I made has been on there about 3 years, without any problems surfacing. The ‘Indents’ are deep enough to prevent the palm of your hand contacting the buttons, whilst your finger can still actuate the buttons when needed.”
the completed work.
KeithWee | Photography 
Thank you so much for this wonderful revisit of a great camera!
If I may ask, have you tried the lens fujinon 18-55 f2.8-4 lens with the xpro1? If so, what was the experience like?
🙂
Ruben
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Hi! Thank you. The XF18-55 still remains one of the best kit lenses across most brands (most go only from F3.5-F5.6) and crazily it comes with OIS. It’s pretty much a very good versatile setup.
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Damn you Keith , i just bought the Fuji XPro 1 second hand after my first one was stolen some years back and for some reasons best memories and photos were taken with this camera – so i got one yesterday and just for the fun of it, search for some articles on X Pro 1 in 2018 and found this website…hahaha
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Hi Stephen, it’s a pity the first one got stolen 😦 a friend recently had his X70 stolen too. The X-Pro1 is kinda old , but ya , somehow as u have said , it does have this weird quality to it that keeps me going back to it again and again
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for some reasons it was really fun to use – and i had the olympus EM1 mk1 then at the same time (and now EM1 mk2) with me, but there was something in that camera which transend even the XPro2 – which was why i just have to get this back – i enjoyed using it in its own strange way but the photos that comes out of it, has a certain magic which i cannot replicate with the other cameras – so it’s going to be a keeper for me – nice website and thanks
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I’m just about to get an X-Pro1 myself with a couple of primes and came across your article. I don’t really care for the fancy features on the newer camera’s and even plan to use it with a bunch of vintage manual focus lenses. I think this camera comes closest to the Leica M experience without having to sell a kidney.
I sometimes doubt if the 16mp is going to be enough, but when I see your photos I think I’ll get by with 16mp. Great shots! And there’s a certain threedimensionality to the xpro1 pictures that is reminiscent of film.
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Hi Michael, I agree too. Even for me, I’m quite guilty for not using a bulk of the new functions because we don’t really need so much end of the day too when creating an image. I’ve a print that A0 size printed from a 16mp image hanging in my living room and yes, 16mp is already plenty 🙂
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One of my main niggles with the X-Pro1 WAS that the Drive, AE and AF buttons could be far too easily depressed by the palm of my left hand. However, I have solved this problem by applying a piece of ‘Sugru’ about 4-5mm thick, so that these buttons are now ‘recessed’. in the following manner:
I have decided to use black Sugru, but fair warning, it’s is fiddly stuff and you haven’t much time to play around with it!
I first produced a ‘template’ that runs down the ‘rubberised’ section on the left-hand side and from that, cut out ‘slots’ to match the gaps between the buttons and extend to the edge of the protruding LCD screen edge. Don’t for heaven’s sake use blu-tack instead, as it won’t stay in place, doesn’t harden like Sugru and will as likely as not, foul up and get down the edge of the buttons PDQ!
Once the Sugru is cut out and located into position, I think it takes about 24 hrs to ‘Cure’, but what I made has been on there about 3 years, without any problems surfacing. The ‘Indents’ are deep enough to prevent the palm of your hand contacting the buttons, whilst your finger can still actuate the buttons when needed. I’d send you a photo, but I can’t see a way of attaching this to what I’ve posted. Contact me by email, and I’ll pass onto you a photo.
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Wow , that’s really in depth work there 😅 impressive.
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Hi Mr Sam!
Thank you for the kind sharing. I’ve updated the post 😉
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Could you be so kind as to let me know -since you have had it replaced – was the LCD cover just simple cheap plastic or a tempered glass or similar type gorilla glass? I’d really like to know what it was made from as I’m not a fan of having to use protection if it’s not just cheap plastic. Many thanks in advance.
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Hi, it wasn’t tempered glass or gorilla glass for sure. I don think gorilla glass was even around when the X-Pro 1 was released. It’s a piece of plastic for sure 🙂
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what are your thought about the EVF lag compare to XT10
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I’m not really sure about this as they didn’t seem different enough for me to notice
but if anything goes the XPro1 has a hybrid OVF/EVF aka , if response time is important, nothing can ever be faster than the OVF 😬
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Thank you for your post. I enjoyed reading it and I love your images! I purchased an X-Pro1 right when the X-Pro2 came out because the price dropped so much. I own several X-T series cameras and really enjoy using them but I love, Love, LOVE, my X-Pro1. I will never part with it and hope it will continue to work for years to come.
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Thank you for dropping by 🙂 The X-Pro1 will always be a classic for sure and I know of users still holding onto it.
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Hi! I Just recently bought a second hand X-Pro1, and it was still amazing despite of its age. Thanks for your blog it’s so informative. BTW, do you have any idea where to buy a replacement rubber grip? Thanks!
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Hi Raf, thank you for dropping by. For the grip the best alternative is to go to Fujifilm Svc Ctr for a replacement. Surprising some Svc Ctrs do still stock X-Pro1 parts.
There are also many after-market grips people make, for example one here – https://www.diyphotography.net/spoil-camera-pimped-wooden-grip-fuji/ or you can simply get the standard bolt on grip from JJC or Fujifilm.
Enjoy the camera!
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