The Fujifilm X-T1 is undoubtably one of the most complete mirrorless cameras to hit the market to date. It has a compact and attractive design reminiscent of film SLRs of old, an impressive number of external dials and buttons on the body allowing for immediate adjustments to shutter speed, aperture, ISO and other functions, and a solid magnesium build that is lighter than your average professional DSLR. Much like the X100s, it has stolen the hearts of Fuji fans all over the globe, which is why you’ll find that many useful accessories for the camera, both official and third-party, are beginning to pop up all over the Internet.
Below we have drawn up a list of what we feel are ten useful Fuji X-T1 accessories you’ll want to have in your bag at all times. There are of course many more we could add to the list, and we welcome you to pitch in with your personal suggestions in the comments section below!
Ethics statement: The following are accessories we have used and enjoyed on our Fujifilm X-T1. We were not asked to write anything about these accessories, nor were we provided any other compensation of any kind. Within the article, there are affiliate links. If you decided to buy something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. To know more about our ethics, you can visit our full disclosure page. Thank you!
1. Fujifilm X-T1 Vertical Battery Grip
If carrying around lots of extra batteries isn’t your thing, you could always opt for the X-T1 Vertical Battery Grip, an official Fujifilm product which was released alongside the X-T1. The upsides? It will give your X-T1 enough juice for a full day of shooting and will improve your vertical shooting experience, giving you more stabilisation. The downside? It will increase the size and weight of a camera that prides itself on being relatively compact. (Of course, for those with large hands, the extra bulk may end up being a blessing in disguise.) I personally feel that the battery grip is a very useful accessory to have for fast-paced professional assignments, but less so for casual outings and street shooting where you’ll have more time to dedicate to changing your battery.
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2. Fujifilm X-T1 Hand Grip
If you are more concerned about your hold on the camera than the battery life, however, you should be looking in the direction of another official Fujifilm product, the X-T1 Hand Grip. Unlike the battery grip, the hand grip gives you a more solid grasp on the camera in landscape mode. The only drawback is that, like the vertical battery grip, it increases the weight and bulk of the camera, somewhat defeating the purpose of having a smaller body. That said, it has been well-constructed, giving you access to the battery door and a dovetail protrusion for tripod mounting.
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3. Expert Shield Screen Protector
If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you’ll know that we are fans of the Expert Shield, a pre-cut plastic screen protector that will keep your camera screen safe from scratches and bumps. We used it on both the E-M5 and X100s and are planning to buy a new one for the E-M1 and X-T1. Though the product comes with a no-bubble lifetime guarantee, the instructions suggest that you attach the Expert Shield in a humid environment where there is less dust floating around in the air. It goes without saying that you should thoroughly wipe down your screen before attaching the product. You can see our full review of the Expert Shield here!
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4. Gariz Leather Half Case
The X-T1 looks pretty darn suave even in its own skin but add a Gariz leather half case to the mix and you have a camera that oozes class. Not only does the half case look good with its fine leather finish, but it also improves your grip on the camera and provides protection to the base and the various parts of the body. It also allows full access to the battery and memory card compartment. The only catch with the X-T1 Gariz half case is that the base of the case blocks the tilting LCD screen, making it hard to orientate. There is a cheap and easy fix according to the FujiXForum, however, which is to add two strips of heavyweight paper to the base of the grip, raising the camera high enough so that the LCD can move.
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5. Lensmate X-T1 Thumb Rest with Lolumina soft release
If you do a lot of shooting at slow shutter speeds, one-handed shooting or panning, the Lensmate thumb rest for the X-T1 is an excellent tool to have. It gives you a more stable grip on your X-T1 and does not interfere with or block access to any of the external dials. Made of machined aluminium alloy, it is a thumb rest that is built to last. To use it, simply slip it into the camera’s hot shoe and you’re good to go.
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You may also want to consider buying the Lolumina soft release to go with the thumb rest, as they make the perfect combination. The soft release fits any shutter button that does not have a threaded mount, like the X-T1. It enables a softer shutter release and allows for slower shutter speeds without shake.
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6. Fujifilm RR-90 Remote Release
The Fujifilm RR-90 wired shutter release is a must-have if you do lots of tripod, time lapse, long exposure photography. Compatible with all Fuji X cameras, it supports half-pressing for focus and full pressing for exposures just like the X-T1’s shutter release. The release button can also be locked into position, making long exposures in bulb mode a possibility. Finally, you can program it to take multiple shots, which is extremely useful for long exposures at night.
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7. LEE Filters Seven5 Starter Kit (plus Little/Big Stopper)
We’ve been enjoying the LEE Filters Seven5 kit for mirrorless cameras for a good six months now. It is the perfect compact option for those who have a taste for long exposure photography. In the beginner’s kit, you only receive the 0.6 hard-edge graduated neutral density filter and a matching filter holder but you can build upon the kit with excellent ND filters like the Big Stopper (10 stops) and Little Stopper (6 stops). You will also need the appropriate adapter (available in sizes 37-72mm) for your lens of choice, which will most likely be one of the 14mm f/2.8 at 58mm or the 10-24mm at 72mm. Keep in mind that due to the extreme wide angle, you will notice some vignetting on the 10-24mm if used below 12mm. You can see our review of the LEE filters here!
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8. HandlePod
If you use the LEE Filters with the Fuji X-T1, you will also need a stabiliser for your long exposures. For those who don’t particularly enjoy carrying around traditional tripods on their travels, the HandlePod works as a great alternative. The HandlePod is a simple, light and affordable camera mount that you can brace by hand against almost any solid object, from tree trucks and branches to poles to railings. With the supplied elastic cord, you can also attach it to many objects as long as they aren’t too thick. With the X-T1, I advise that you use smaller primes, as most Fujinon zooms will make the X-T1 too “front-heavy” for the HandlePod. You can see our full review of the Handlepod here!
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9. Fujifilm EC-XT Extended Eye Cup
The EC-XT eyecup is quite a recent release for the X-T1. It isn’t an essential accessory but it can definitely make your shooting experience more comfortable. Not only does it effectively shield light, making it easier to see the image in the viewfinder, but the soft material from which its made also cushions the eye and makes shooting with glasses easier.
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10. Fujifilm EF-42 Shoe Mount Flash
The Fujifilm EF-42 is a TTL shoe mount flash for Fuji X series cameras. As many have pointed out, it is basically a Sunpak PZ42X with a Fuji TTL hotshot connection. The head both tilts and swivels, making it a great option for bounce-flash lighting and portraiture, and it is the most powerful of all Fuji branded flashes. At the moment, it is the best flash option for the X-T1 but you will find that it has a few drawbacks. For example, it isn’t much good for off-camera flash photography as Fuji doesn’t support remote TTL flash control. You either need to use a third party radio controller or a hot shoe flash cord in order to use the flash off-camera. However, it does offer exposure compensation of ±1.5 EV, manual flash level adjustments from 1/1 to 1/64, an easy-to-read LCD panel, and a flash head that automatically adjusts to match the flash angle to the lens focal length.
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…plus one bonus accessory you’ll most definitely need!
11. Battery/Charger Kit For Fujifilm
It is no secret that battery life is a drawback on most mirrorless cameras regardless of the brand. A DSLR battery will usually last for days without having to be recharged, whereas a camera like the X-T1 will require a new battery after only a half-day of intensive shooting. This is why a handful of extra batteries and a charger are essential for the professional on the job or the enthusiast planning to take the camera on long excursions. Happily, there are quite a few excellent third-party vendors that sell batteries and chargers for half the price of the original Fujifilm battery and charger set like the one you see below.
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Is there a particular accessory you find extremely useful for the Fujifilm X-T1? If so, we’re waiting to hear about it in the comments section!
Enjoy, Verity! Yeah, the Gariz case is much more practical as it gives you access to all ports and slots. I’m surprised that Fujifilm didn’t pay more attention to the design of its own case.
Just ordered myself a Fujifilm RR-90 Remote Release. Wish I’d seen this before I bought the Fujifilm case for the X-T1, the fact that you cannot access the memory card slot is just a pain! Still, seeing as I have a track record for dropping cameras, I need all the help I can get.
Great article, guys!
Yeah, that’s why I suggested the Gariz case. They are well-designed, well-loved by people who use them, and provide access to all camera functions and compartments. The LCD issue is a shame but not the end of the world.
The Fuji case for the X-T1 goes to all the trouble of having a flap to change the battery, but then doesn’t allow access to the card compartment or the USB out socket. So you can change the battery leaving the case on, but if you ever want to get the files off the camera onto your computer you have to remove the case. Makes you wonder if the case and camera designers actually talked to each other!!
Yes, you will observe vignetting on the extreme wide angle side (under around 12mm). With all other lenses, including the 14mm, it works fine. In the end, you’ll have to decide how important those last 2mm are to your long exposure photography. 🙂 As for other filter systems, I cannot advise you as we only use LEE.
I was looking into the “LEE Filters Seven5 Starter Kit” system and saw reports of vignetting issues on the 10-24mm lens. This is making me question if I should get the system and a different lens or stick with the 10-24 and getting a different filter system. Any ideas?
Yes, I’ve seen folks recommend your straps on Twitter. Do you send out samples for testing?
I would recommend one of our colourful handmade straps. Have a look if you’re interested 🙂