Embracing the Future, Guided by the Past: The X-Pro Series

When the Fujifilm X-Pro1 was announced back in 2012, I was absolutely thrilled. It reminded me of the 1999 Konica Hexar RF, a Japanese interpretation of a modern Leica M camera, which included a built-in motorised film advance and an electronic shutter mechanism. Similarly, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 was the first digital autofocus rangefinder (I know it’s not a true rangefinder) camera system that could give photographers a similar experience to shooting with an old-school film rangefinder but with all the modern conveniences of a digital camera. The Fujifilm X-Pro1 and the X Series were precisely what I was searching for back in 2012, standing out distinctly amidst the sea of DSLRs produced by other Japanese manufacturers.