X-M · 2013 · discontinued
Fujifilm X-M1 review
Launch price $699 · 16.3 MP X-Trans I sensor · 1080p 30p video
Compact body using the 16MP X-Trans I sensor; no viewfinder.
Verdict
Compact body using the original 16.3 MP X-Trans I sensor with 1080p/30 video and a tilting screen. No viewfinder, no IBIS, 49 AF points, 5.6 fps burst. Lightest X-mount body of its era.
Collectors and budget users who want the lightest possible X-mount body with original X-Trans color.
In detail
I have been meaning to write about the X-M1 for a while. Photographers tend to pick it up for Fuji's original first-generation X-Trans sensor from 2012 and the price it launched at. Released in 2013 at $699, the body is no longer in production. It sits in the X-M line, Fuji's entry-level line, similar in concept to the X-A.
Color rendering is the classic Fuji recipe. At 16.3 MP, native ISO is 200 to 6400, modest by modern standards, the files give you enough room to crop. Burst at 5.6 fps is conservative, this is a camera aimed at slower, more deliberate work. 1080p is the cap on video.
In the hand it feels like a Fuji, with the usual tight dials and a deep enough grip. There is no IBIS, so for low light you lean on stabilized XF glass. At 330 g it is light enough to live in a small sling bag. There is a single SD UHS-I slot. Bottom line: the used market is where this camera makes the most sense now.
Pros and cons
What we like
- 16MP X-Trans I sensor in 330 g
- Compact body with tilting LCD
- Original X-Trans color science
- Affordable on the used market
The headline win is the 16MP X-Trans I sensor in 330 g, the lightest X-mount body of its time. Film simulation count is 5, the older but still solid lineup. The original X-Trans color is the real draw, you can pull lovely JPEGs straight out of camera without much fuss.
Trade-offs
- No viewfinder, no IBIS
- Discontinued, 1080p/30 video only
The honest trade-off is no viewfinder, no IBIS. No in-body stabilization means relying on stabilized XF glass for low light. Burst rate is conservative, fine for portraits, street, and landscape, but rules out serious sports work. The tilting LCD is great for waist-level stills but does not flip forward for vlogging. Single card slot means backup discipline is on you.
Who is this for
Collectors and budget users who want the lightest possible X-mount body with original X-Trans color. Light enough to make a great second body or a daily-carry option. A particularly strong pick on a budget, especially for first-time Fuji buyers.
Full specifications
| Release year | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Launch price | $699 |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Megapixels | 16.3 MP |
| Sensor generation | X-Trans I |
| Processor | EXR Processor II |
| ISO range | 200–6400 |
| AF points | 49 |
| Subject detection | none |
| Burst (fps) | 5.6 |
| Max video | 1080p 30p |
| Codec | H.264 |
| Log profile | No |
| Stabilization | None |
| Viewfinder | None |
| LCD | 3" tilt |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Weight | 330 g |
| Card slots | 1 |
| Card types | SD UHS-I |
| Battery | NP-W126 |
| Battery life (CIPA) | 350 shots |
| Film sims | 5 |
Highlighted rows are class-leading within the current Fujifilm APS-C lineup.
Film simulations (5)
- PROVIA
- Velvia
- ASTIA
- PRO Neg. Std
- Monochrome
Compared with
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See it in the wild
Owner impressions and real-world photos from the Fuji community.
