Over the past couple of years Fujifilm's premium quality ‘X' range has elevated the brand no end in the eyes of enthusiast photographers. The first model in the series – the X100 – combined retro rangefinder looks with a cutting edge ‘hybrid' viewfinder to great effect, and this was soon followed by...

Stunning image quality; Premium finish and design; Excellent electronic viewfinder; No-nonsense handling

AF performance could still be better; Rear screen not up to standard of rivals

It came as no surprise that on the back of the success Fujifilm had with its fashionable rangefinder-style FinePix X100, the company should announce what is effectively an interchangeable-lens version in the form of the X-Pro1. What is perhaps surprising is just how good the newer model is.

Having provided a detailed 'First Look' at Fujifilm's X-E1 interchangeable-lens camera in September, rather than re-hash the information supplied there, we'll concentrate on aspects of the camera we were unable to assess in our initial overview: handling and performance.

The Fuji X-Pro1 was a hit. But at $1700 for the body alone, it was (and still is) bonkers expensive. The new X-E1 is Fuji's reaction to that. With a pared down body and new kit lens, Fuji could maintain its enthusiast appeal - and attract a broader market.

The Fujifilm X-E1 ($1,399 list with 18-55mm lens) is the second interchangeable lens camera in Fuji's X series. It omits the hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder that is included with the top-end X-Pro1, and instead includes an extremely sharp OLED EVF.

Excellent high ISO images; 4.6fps shooting; Sharp kit lens; OLED EVF; Top-notch control layout; Built-in flash; Cool retro design

Fixed rear LCD; Noticeable shutter lag; Video support is limited to 24p

The Fuji X-E1 follows the X-Pro1 with the same 16 MP CMOS sensor that delivers class-leading image quality thanks to its unique X-Trans sensor which does not use an anti-alias filter. The X-E1 is an excellent successor to the X-Pro1.

Class-leading image quality; Extremely low image noise up to ISO 6400; Excellent sharpness; Great color accuracy; Above average metering system; Good white-balance; Superb EVF; Plenty of direct controls; Instant video response; Excellent build quality

Very slow autofocus in low-light; Sluggish autofocus in good light; Slow shot-to-shot speed; Not Exposure-Priority; Fractional shutter-speeds get reset; Only one Fn button Only one of ISO; Self-Timer; DOF-Preview or WB is accessible at a time; No AE-L in MF mode; Soft aperture detents With all...

There's a lot to be said for form as well as function and there's no question the Fujifilm X-series cameras elicit a certain response from those of us who enjoy both photography and well-built gadgets.

Unique camera design makes you want to take pictures; Excellent JPEGs; little need to shoot raw most of the time; Reliable metering and AWB systems; good color (with choice of 'film modes'; Dials for exposure controls allow for easy check of settings by glancing at the top deck; particularly with...

Built-in level isn't always as accurate as we'd like; Relatively slow AF makes photographing children more difficult; Framerates in continuous shooting mode aren't completely consistent; Camera disables RAW shooting without warning in some bracketing modes; Relatively low-resolution rear LCD...

With the same "spectacular" image quality and "dazzling" rangefinder style as the Fujifilm X-Pro1 (Est. $1,000) , but in a smaller, less pricey package, the Fujifilm X-E1 impresses experts and owners. However, with sluggish autofocus and flawed video quality, it's not for everyone.

Splendid image quality; Compact body with great retro style; Packed with professional-grade features

Slower autofocus than rivals; Unimpressive video; Partially plastic body isn't weather-sealed

The Fujifilm X-E1 is a solid mirrorless camera with an innovative image sensor, but it doesn't quite have the chops to unseat the Olympus OM-D E-M5 as our Editors' Choice.

Despite all the advances in digital technology, photographers are a nostalgic lot. For evidence, look no further than the cultish popularity of some recent, retro-style digital sharpshooters such as the , which looks like a miniature version of an old SLR camera, and the , which resembles a Leica...