Sure the XF1's nice to look at, but the real star of Fujifilm's 2012 Photokina lineup has to be the X-E1. The X-Pro1's little sibling offers up most of the functionality of its bigger, pricier brother -- save for its inclusion just an electronic viewfinder -- into a body that's roughly a third smaller. That said, this is hardly a compact mirrorless -- the X-E1's still got a bit of girth and weight to it, compared to some of the smaller entries in the field. Still, it feels nice in the hand and isn't likely to weigh down your shooting -- particularly for those accustom to using a larger DSLR. It's also worth pointing out, right off the bat, that the retro-styled interchangeable lens camera is significantly cheaper, running you $700 less than the X-Pro-1.

Flip the camera over and you get a 2.8-inch 460k-dot LCD. Just above the display is a devoted button that will pop up the retractable flash directly above. The X-E1 will be hitting stores in November, carrying a $1,000 price tag. Buy a kit with a lens and you'll still come in $300 under the X-Pro1's $1,700 price tag, making for a full-featured and great looking little mirrorless for a lot less money.

Gallery: Fujifilm X-E1 hands-on

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Point-and-shoot or fashion accessory? This is the conundrum posed by the XF1, a new retro-styled point-and-shoot from Fujifilm. It's a nice looking camera with a solid and fairly light build, certainly, and while the faux leather (in black, red or tan) might not be for everyone, the company was quick to point out that it'll go nicely with your new designer handbag, for whatever that's worth. The textured design is complimented nicely by a metal border on the top and bottom. There's a bit of a learning curve here, when it comes to just turning the thing on -- give it a twist and a pull, not unlike a childproof pill cap to put it in standby and another pull to get things started.

There's a big, bright three-inch LCD on the rear of the device. Click the E-Fn button on the bottom right, and you can actually reassign the button mapping on the back to your liking on the display. Of course, such style and functionality comes at a price -- this guy will run you $500 when it goes on sale next month.

Gallery: Fujifilm's XF1 makes a fashion statement at Photokina, we go hands-on

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Fujifilm has been making some really handsome, retro-styled shooters lately, and the latest is the XF1. It's a compact camera that's 4.2 inches wide, 2.4 inches across and a scant 1.2 inches deep, and comes covered in either black, red or tan faux leather. There's a 2/3 inch 12-megapixel sensor inside with a retractable, manual zoom, 25-100mm f/1.8 - f/4.9 lens that's optically stabilized. You turn the thing on by twisting and pulling out the lens (like its elder brother, the X10), and you can shoot 1080p 30fps video using the 3-inch 460,000 dot LCD on the back. The XF1's ISO range is 100 - 12,800 and it's got a pop-up flash for shooting in poorly lit locales. Additionally, the camera has a jog dial with a full manual setting, six buttons dedicated to primary functions and a separate, programmable key to tailor the UX to your liking. The XF1 goes on sale for $500 next month, though should you be unable to wait that long, head on over to Cologne, Germany and you can see one in person at Photokina later this week.

Gallery: Fujifilm XF1 press shots

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