FujiFilm XQ1 Pro Reviews

The Fujifilm XQ1 takes the X-Trans image sensor from the excellent X20 and puts it in a body that's sized like the XF1. The result is impressively compact and is capable of capturing great photos.

The Fujifilm XQ1 is on the cusp of great things, but it’s not the same calibre as the bigger brother X20 model. And that leaves us almost a little disappointed because, and despite all its potential, we don’t feel that the XQ1 is the Canon S120 killer that it touted itself as. Why? Because the autofocus is hit and miss and that, ultimately, costs the camera. It’s not a write-off by any means - but in a number of bright-lit conditions autofocus failed to lock on. And in that real world that kind of stuff really matters. When it’s on point it is super-fast though. Still, with that said, the decent optics, 2/3-inch sensor’s top image quality and a sturdy, small scale build with that physical lens ring combine to make for a decent pocketable camera. The XQ1 buries the earlier XF1 model in our view, and it shows Fujifilm stepping up to a more mainstream platform while maintaining its focus on many of the high-end features. But the repeat frustrations with autofocus show the company has let accuracy slip in favour of apparent speed benefits - so fingers crossed for a firmware update to improve that, and then we’ll have a truly decent all-round compact camera. For now, though, it’s just on the right side of good rather than being the exemplary great we had initially anticipated.

The Fujifilm XQ1 is an easy to use camera which packs lots of useful features such as a fast f/1.8 lens and a 2/3 inch CMOS sensor. It also has built-in Wi-Fi for easy transfer of images to a smartphone, tablet or PC. The focus occasionally struggled but image quality is excellent. The 220 shot battery life might be limiting for some, so a spare battery will be worth purchasing. We also struggled to get near to the 12 fps in continuous shooting. Available for around £350, the XQ1 is excellent value for money and cheaper than many of its competitors, such as the Sony Cybershot RX100 II.

If Fujifilm had released the XQ1 in 2012, instead of the flawed XF1, they would definitely have had a big hit on their hands. As it stands at the end of 2013, though, the incredibly popular Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100, with its bigger sensor, pretty much has things sewn up, especially considering that it now only costs a little more than the XQ1's launch price. So while the new Fujifilm XQ1 is an excellent premium compact in its own right, you should definitely compare the two side-by-side to determine which best suits you (and look carefully at our sample images for both models).