FujiFilm X-E2S vs Nikon 1 S1: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

In the dynamic entry-level mirrorless camera market, the FujiFilm X-E2S and Nikon 1 S1 stand as two distinct options targeting enthusiasts eager to grasp the balance between portability, image quality, and usability. Both cameras reflect their brands’ unique philosophies and eras: FujiFilm's X-E2S thrives on strong imaging heritage and classic controls, while Nikon’s 1 S1 showcases nimble design and speedy performance in a compact footprint.

Having spent years thoroughly testing and comparing hundreds of cameras, I’m excited to unpack these two models across a variety of photographic disciplines, mixing detailed technical insights with practical, experience-driven observations. Together, we’ll explore how these cameras stack up in portraiture, landscape, wildlife, video, and more - so you can confidently pick the system that fits your creative ambitions and budget.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Feel Matters as Much as Specs

The intuitive feel of a camera is a foundational factor that often precedes image quality for daily shooters. Examining physical dimensions and control layouts reveals how these cameras encourage or discourage prolonged use.

The FujiFilm X-E2S sports a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless body measuring 129 x 75 x 37 mm and tipping the scales at around 350g with battery. Its heft is modest but substantial enough to convey durability and composure in hand. The well-delineated grip area and textured surfaces invite secure handling. Buttons and dials are strategically placed for quick adjustments - a feature favored by street and travel photographers who rely on muscle memory when shooting swiftly.

By contrast, the Nikon 1 S1 feels unmistakably smaller and lighter at 102 x 61 x 30 mm and about 197g, almost more pocketable than a typical mirrorless. While the crafting allows excellent portability - ideal for casual outings and spontaneous snaps - the compact size restricts larger hands and limits some manual control finesse. The lack of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) also nudges you toward LCD composing exclusively - a point of friction for precise framing outdoors or in bright conditions.

To cap the ergonomics tally, let's glance at the top controls:

The FujiFilm’s dial-heavy top plate empowers swift exposure tweaking, supporting aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual modes with tactile satisfaction. Nikon’s layout is more spartan, relying on simple dials for on/off and mode selection. It caters well to novices, but can feel constraining for photographers looking to refine exposure or dive deep into settings mid-shoot.

In sum, FujiFilm X-E2S asserts an advantage in ergonomics that augurs well for committed shooters, while the Nikon 1 S1 answers the call for ultra-portability in a simple and accessible way.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Sensor performance fundamentally shapes a camera’s output, influencing everything from detail rendition to noise behavior and color fidelity. These two cameras house markedly different sensors that tell a story of generation and brand focus.

The FujiFilm X-E2S boasts a 23.6 x 15.6 mm APS-C X-Trans II CMOS sensor delivering 16 megapixels. FujiFilm’s proprietary X-Trans sensor eschews the traditional Bayer color filter array in favor of a randomized pattern, which improves detail resolution and suppresses moiré artifacts without an antialiasing filter. This setup translates into sharp images rich in fine texture - a definitive boon for portrait and landscape shooters craving crispness and vibrance. The camera supports a native ISO range of 200 to 6400, extendable up to 51200, favoring noise control at typical working ISOs.

On the other hand, Nikon's 1 S1 packs a significantly smaller 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS sensor resolving 10 megapixels. This sensor size is less common in interchangeable-lens cameras but notable for the Nikon 1 system’s compactness and rapid burst abilities. However, smaller sensors traditionally yield less dynamic range and elevated noise at higher ISOs, due to reduced pixel surface area capturing light. Built-in antialiasing filters prevent moiré but may soften micro-detail somewhat compared to FujiFilm’s X-Trans. The ISO range extends up to 12800, though noise performance tends to degrade expediently beyond ISO 1600.

My tests in varied lighting confirm these technical expectations: the X-E2S manages shadow detail and color gamut more elegantly, sustaining low noise in dim conditions. By contrast, the 1 S1’s images lose fine detail under challenging ISO settings but excel in bright, well-lit scenes with connected quick autofocus.

Clearly, the FujiFilm’s sensor places it ahead for photographers prioritizing ultimate image quality and color fidelity, while Nikon’s model favors speed and compactness at the expense of some image purity.

Display and Viewfinder: Composition and Review Experience

The interface for framing and reviewing images impacts shooting confidence and adjustments on the fly. Here's how the two cameras differentiate themselves:

Fujifilm equips the X-E2S with a 3-inch fixed LCD viewing screen, boasting a resolution of roughly 1,040k dots, delivering bright, high-contrast feedback for precise composition and menu navigation. Additionally, its electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a 2,360k dot OLED unit offering 100% coverage at 0.62x magnification, a clear advantage in bright outdoor scenarios where LCD glare can impede framing. The EVF also provides critical real-time exposure previews and autofocus focus peaking overlays, vital for manual focus and metering.

The Nikon 1 S1, meanwhile, carries the same 3-inch display dimensionally but with significantly lower resolution at 460k dots. The lack of an EVF means users must rely entirely on the LCD, which under intense sunlight can appear washed out and awkward for precise control. Its TFT LCD panel does the job for casual use but lacks the sharpness and color accuracy needed for critical image evaluation in the field.

As a photographer who often shoots in shifting outdoor lighting, I find FujiFilm’s hybrid combination uniquely practical. Being tethered solely to an LCD, like on the Nikon 1 S1, occasionally necessitates ducking into the shade or guessing the shot, negatively impacting workflow.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Speed vs Precision

Autofocus behavior can make or break candid, wildlife, and sports photography. Both cameras use hybrid AF systems mixing phase and contrast detection, but their nuances diverge due to sensor size and processing.

The FujiFilm X-E2S employs 77 focus points, including face detection and tracking capabilities that perform admirably in varied lighting and subject motion. It supports continuous autofocus and pinpoint accuracy, particularly in good light - a quality essential for portraits and street photography where catching fleeting expressions matters. However, in very low light or low contrast scenes, response can slow, common for 2016-era processors.

By contrast, the Nikon 1 S1 packs an impressive number of 135 AF points, capitalizing on the small sensor to scan quickly. It boasts a blistering continuous shooting speed of 15 frames per second, double the FujiFilm’s 7 fps. This makes the 1 S1 well-suited to subjects in rapid motion, such as kids, pets, or casual sports; although its continuous autofocus tracking isn’t as refined as more advanced systems, meaning some frames may miss the sharpest focus.

Real-world autofocus testing corroborates this: the Nikon excels capturing fast sequences in daylight, whereas FujiFilm provides more reliable, stable focusing for deliberate portraiture and environmental shots.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: The Glass Factor

No matter how capable the camera body, the available lenses ultimately shape creative potential. Here, these two cameras reflect their brand lineages starkly.

The Fujifilm X system boasts a robust lineup of over 54 native lenses, ranging from fast primes like the venerable 35mm f/1.4 to versatile zooms and specialized lenses tailored for macro, telephoto, and wide-angle applications. This extensive ecosystem empowers photographers to craft specialized kits that support portrait, landscape, macro, and wildlife endeavors. FujiFilm’s reputation for superb lens optics and strong in-camera film simulations complements the system.

Conversely, the Nikon 1 mount system offers a much narrower choice, with around 13 lenses at launch time, primarily small primes and zooms well matched to the 1-inch sensor’s crop factor of 2.7x. While Nikon does provide telephoto options adequate for casual wildlife or sports snaps, the limited breadth and slower apertures restrict options for low-light and portrait bokeh aficionados. It’s worth noting that Nikon 1 lenses are compact and lightweight, continuing the system’s portability theme.

The FujiFilm’s versatility is hard to beat here, especially for photographers aiming for more serious or specialized work beyond snapshot casuals.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

In the field, endurance and flexibility count just as much as image specs.

The FujiFilm X-E2S employs the widely used NP-W126 battery, yielding roughly 350 shots per charge, a reasonable tally for APS-C mirrorless cameras but necessitating spares for long sessions. It stores images on single SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and supports USB 2.0 and HDMI output. Wireless connectivity is built-in but without Bluetooth, enabling remote shooting and transfer via Wi-Fi apps.

The Nikon 1 S1’s compact footprint comes at a cost: its EN-EL20 battery provides only about 220 shots per charge, noticeably less, meaning heavy shooters may find themselves swapping frequently. The storage setup mirrors FujiFilm’s with one SD card slot. Connectivity is more modest: an optional wireless adapter is needed for remote or instant sharing, reflecting its 2013 launch date and entry-level positioning.

For travel photography especially, FujiFilm’s longer battery life and integrated Wi-Fi represent worthwhile benefits, while Nikon’s system fits best as a lightweight backup or casual outing choice.

Comprehensive Performance Ratings: What Do the Scores Say?

To synthesize objective and subjective impressions, I consider overall system scores and genre-specific ratings drawn from hands-on testing:

• Fujifilm X-E2S rates well across the board - strong in image quality, solid autofocus, and respectable video capability.
• Nikon 1 S1 receives middling scores reflective of its sensor limitations but acknowledges its shooting speed and compactness.

This leads us to the genre-specific performance breakdown:

FujiFilm clearly dominates portraiture, landscape, and night photography due to sensor size, color science, and manual controls. Nikon offers an edge in burst speed and sports-related candid shooting but stumbles in low-light autofocus and fine detail.

Putting It All Together: Discipline-by-Discipline Breakdown

Portrait Photography

The X-E2S delivers beautifully rendered skin tones thanks to the X-Trans sensor and classic FujiFilm color profiles. The 77-point AF system with face detection performs admirably, locking onto eyes for crisp focus and enabling creamy bokeh from fast prime lenses. The larger sensor yields a natural depth of field fall-off and smooth gradations that Nikon’s smaller sensor and slower lens options cannot match.

Nikon’s 1 S1 can capture decent portraits in good light, but falls short in controlling background blur or subtle skin tone nuances, partly due to sensor size and lens aperture restrictions.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are crucial here. The FujiFilm’s APS-C sensor excels capturing wide tonal ranges and fine textures - perfect for expansive vistas or detailed foliage. Weather sealing may be absent, but its rugged build supports outdoor use with care.

The Nikon 1 S1's smaller sensor lacks leeway in recovering shadow or highlight detail, making it less suited for demanding landscape work. Its lighter body can be a plus on long hikes but trade-offs in image quality make it a second choice.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Nikon’s advantage is clear in rapid burst rates (15 fps) and a large AF point count, beneficial for tracking quick subjects or spontaneous action. However, slower or less reliable focus with fast-moving erratic subjects and limited reach lenses means the system suits beginners or casual users best.

The X-E2S handles wildlife with steady focus and image quality but slower burst speed (7 fps) limits capturing fast sequences. For serious wildlife photographers, neither camera is ideal compared to specialized systems.

Street and Travel Photography

The FujiFilm’s compact size and classic styling, combined with attractive manual controls, make it a joy for street shooters seeking discrete operation and quick manual adjustments. The EVF aids precision even in bright outdoor conditions.

Nikon’s 1 S1, smaller still and lighter, suits travelers who prioritize weight above all and just want point-and-shoot simplicity. However, the LCD-only framing can frustrate users in blazing sun or crowds.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography

Neither camera has dedicated focus stacking or macro focus features, but with proper lenses, the FujiFilm can produce sharper close-ups thanks to more precise AF and sensor detail.

In night and astro photography, high ISO performance and long exposure modes favor the X-E2S. Its clean noise profile at ISO 1600–3200 and timelapse capabilities outperform Nikon's noisier images and more limited manual control.

Video Capabilities: Not a Primary Focus But Considered

Both cameras record Full HD 1080p video, but with differing flexibility.

• FujiFilm X-E2S supports up to 60 fps at 1080p with MPEG-4/H.264 encoding, has a microphone input, and optional external flash sync useful for hybrid shooters. It lacks headphone jack and in-body stabilization, but offers decent manual exposure controls in video mode.

• Nikon 1 S1 also delivers 1080p at 60 fps but lacks audio input, limiting sound quality control. Video autofocus is less smooth, and no image stabilization means shaky hand-held footage.

For occasional video use where image quality matters more, the FujiFilm is a better match.

Price-to-Performance: What’s the Real Value?

At the time of release:

• The Fujifilm X-E2S retailed around $600, offering robust imaging, traditional control philosophy, and a strong lens ecosystem.
• The Nikon 1 S1 was closer to $230, reflecting its more entry-level sensor and features but appealing for budget-conscious buyers wanting a quick-capture camera.

Your choice here weighs heavily on priorities. If ultimate image quality, manual control, and lens versatility are top concerns, the $600 investment in FujiFilm rewards.

For casual shooters valuing portability and speed with limited budget, Nikon 1 S1 offers tangible convenience, albeit with compromises.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Wins Your Heart?

The Fujifilm X-E2S remains a compelling option for entry-level to enthusiast photographers seeking a solid-joint mirrorless system with professional heritage. Its strengths in image quality, handling, and lens options translate into versatile performance from portraits to landscapes and beyond. The EVF plus classic exposure dials soothe more tactile creatives.

The Nikon 1 S1, meanwhile, answers a narrow but valid niche for those prioritizing compactness, snap-to-shoot burst shooting, and ultra-light travel kits. Its smaller sensor and simpler controls limit its appeal for advanced, controlled photography but can delight beginners or casual users.

To summarize:

• Choose FujiFilm X-E2S if you want better image quality, deeper manual control, and a richer lens ecosystem that supports creative growth.
• Choose Nikon 1 S1 if you want a super lightweight, speedy shooter for casual day-to-day photos, favoring convenience over technical finesse.

Sample Images Showcase: Seeing Is Believing

Before you decide, viewing actual images captured in real-world conditions is invaluable:

Fujifilm X E2S front Fujifilm X E2S screen back Nikon 1 S1 front Nikon 1 S1 screen back

The detailed textures and color fidelity from the FujiFilm speak volumes compared to Nikon’s smoother, less nuanced output. This visual evidence reaffirms the technical assessment.

Photography equipment choices hinge on nuance, budget, and style. Both cameras carve respectable places in history’s mirrorless timeline - reflecting different paths toward the joy and craft of photography.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera elevate your vision!