Fuji X100

[bayusuputra]

More sample pics of the X100 here. The colour looks nice!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramdiboy/5465670936/in/photostream/

wow, these photos look great..

i believe x100 is targeted at a niche market, so it will have its own fans.. i think it is a little useless to compare it to other systems, because in the end, it was made to bring back the joy of street shooting, and as a digital camera/backup for those film shooters out there..

my take from RFF is that they are excited because at last there will be a camera that would handle in a similar way to their RF's.. So yeah, why compare apple with blackberry? they are both different fruits.. (apple and orange is so cliched.. pardon the choice of word..:lovegrin

 

[ghoonk]

soft? They don't look soft to me at all.

that's just me then. Either way, I like the form factor, the discreetness, the access to manual controls is just what I've been looking for. After going through all these considerations, I now remember why I felt that this was what I've been looking for - it's half the price of an X1, which, by all reports is an excellent camera for street.

 

[tomcat]

Bro, so you ready to buy yet? $1600 a little steep even if you consider the expected street price of $1499

When the Panasonic LC1 (another rangefinder-looking digital camera) came out in 2004, it was selling at a local street price of $1,600. At only 5M resolution, it was a princely price at that time and yet it was well received by those who wanted a digital rangefinder-like camera with an extremely fast and sharp Leica zoom lens ... and of course who can afford it. Those who are richer still would go for its Leica twin... the Digilux 2.

Those who are completely oblivious to this cult camera can take a look here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/DXO-Tests/DxO-LC1-Digilux2.shtml

The X100 is even all retro-looking than the LC1 and infinitely higher spec'ed... so I am sure that it would fly off the shelf in record time even at the street price of $1,499. It is very much a niche camera and would appeal strongly to that niche of photographers who yearn after a digital RF-like street camera.

 

[Oly5050]

Have to agree with you somewhat but what drives me up the wall with the gf/ep/epl/NEX and compacts is the absence of an optical viewfinder. The electronic ones are too jerky and manual focusing on them doesn't feel good at all

U should chk out the evf2 on the pens. Its amazing.

 

[clubgrit]

my take from RFF is that they are excited because at last there will be a camera that would handle in a similar way to their RF's.. So yeah, why compare apple with blackberry? they are both different fruits.. (apple and orange is so cliched.. pardon the choice of word..:lovegrin

As an RF user too, a strong driving factor is that it looks like a typical RF, at a price way below a Leica M8.2 (body only) or even an Epson. It is supposed to have a very quiet shutter, an RF trademark in the old days, useful for discreet street shooting. Lovely design indeed, even the shutter button has the screw in hole, so I can use my soft shutter buttons on this.

But it doesn't have my favored 50mm focal length on RF, so my desire for this is tempered. Maybe Fuji will make another version, just like what they did with their GA645 cameras, but that is wishful thinking.

However, just saw that the weight is 445 grams, not too bad, about the weight of an Olympus Pen + 20mm lens, and my better half wants to replace her old point and shoot. So I have an excuse to buy it now, she wouldn't want an interchangeable lens camera. I can also use it for those rare occasions I need a 35mm, so that justifies the price a bit.

With all the number of users who will buy this, and many will buy on impulse just like the Pen, I guess there will be a number of used ones quickly too. So still can wait, just to see if there are any issues that arise out of it.

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-X100-First-Impressions-Review.htm

 

[archlover]

after seeing the samples from HK photos,
i think the only wall between me & x100 is my wallet...

 

[Anthony Lee]

U should chk out the evf2 on the pens. Its amazing.

Not comparable as we are talking about the X100 with built-in EVF/OVF. External EVF is ugly IMHO.

 

[ghoonk]

Exactly. I've tried evf on pen and gf. No offense, but I'm not impressed. Laggy. I want something more like my d700 ovf

 

[tomcat]

The EVF of the Olympus VF2 and the X100 both have a similar resolution of 1.44M dots. I find that the resolution of the VF2 to be excellent as the image is so smooth that it is practically impossible to discern any dots unlike the low resolution EVF of the Panasonic GF series and Samsung's NX100. I therefore have high hopes for the EVF of the X100 and since the X100 has both EVF and OVF, it's the best of the both worlds.

One thing that an OVF will never be able to do, unlike the VF2, is that it will not be able to automatically zoom to 7x magnification to assist the user in finetuning the focussing to the exact spot required.

 

[kartiq]

Video: Fuji X100 Hands On Field Test With Tyler Stalman

 

[tomcat]

Video: Fuji X100 Hands On Field Test With Tyler Stalman

Good video !

Wow ! EVF & LCD with no lag.... 1/1000s max flash synch in bright daylight at large apertures for min. DOF !

Can't wait to my hands on one.

 

[newghost]

When the Panasonic LC1 (another rangefinder-looking digital camera) came out in 2004, it was selling at a local street price of $1,600. At only 5M resolution, it was a princely price at that time and yet it was well received by those who wanted a digital rangefinder-like camera with an extremely fast and sharp Leica zoom lens ... and of course who can afford it. Those who are richer still would go for its Leica twin... the Digilux 2.

hahha... i just sold my digilux2 in anticipation of the arrival of......(drum roll)... :bsmilie:

 

[airconvent]

@airconvent....i think what Red means is that a photography tool should enable a user to adopt good photography habits that in turn, helps with their photography. The fact that these EVIL cameras do not have an optical viewfinder would only increase the likelihood of camera shake/vibration. This is worse for those who are long-sighted (that's why some of my senior members have to resort to tripods more to capture better shots). That's why he concluded these are not 'real' cameras.

The thing is that a system, such as the NEX and PEN, don't help with good basic photography habit despite the fact that it has being recognised by the public to be 'good' cameras. This leads me to wonder why people would still recognise DSLRs as the best photographic tool around if viewfinders are not necessary. And with that said, Fujifilm, Canon and Nikon would be fools to add that viewfinder to their professional cameras if it ain't that useful. So in short: Good cameras will have at least a resemblence of a good optical viewfinder even if it is just a basic hole in the box like the canon g12.

As such, any camera without a optical view finder, is a camera that gets people to make avoidable mistakes; hence an "evil" camera. The purpose of a good camera, is to help a user get good results without the need of any technical wizardry. If introducing a VF defeats the purpose of an EVIL camera, then why the EVIL camera exists is a mystery indeed since it can't provide the true basics of what a camera supposed to be. That's why Red Dawn discounted the EVIL cameras by labelling them as 'Fake' Camera...I would say they are 'bad' cameras instead.

Hi Phil
I think the EVIL systems were originally not meant to replace DSLR. As the NEX chief designer already pointed out, they set out to design an enhanced PnS camera with APS-C sized sensor to improve on image quality yet retaining simplicity and compactness. In this respect it performs extremely well. I think any camera manufacturer at this point would be careful not to cannibalise their low end DSLR range since it is targeted at the PnS upgrader-but-not-ready-for-SLR group .

But judging from the progress of the Panny Gxx series, its a matter of time before this differentiation becomes less clear as Sony evolves the system further. Already the Fuji X100 has paved the way for a possible future feature. For me, I will rather not as I want the camera as compact as possible. A viewfinder would be good to have but not essential as far as I am concerned. I don't mind if they provide an option for a viewfinder to be attached though if that is what some users want.

But I think we already digressed too much. Back to the X100...:sweat:

Cheers

 

[Dearboy87]

do u think they will come back with full black version? =D

 

[bayusuputra]

do u think they will come back with full black version? =D

yes, i believe.. i saw some photos from photokina that displayed the black version..

As an RF user too, a strong driving factor is that it looks like a typical RF, at a price way below a Leica M8.2 (body only) or even an Epson. It is supposed to have a very quiet shutter, an RF trademark in the old days, useful for discreet street shooting. Lovely design indeed, even the shutter button has the screw in hole, so I can use my soft shutter buttons on this.

But it doesn't have my favored 50mm focal length on RF, so my desire for this is tempered. Maybe Fuji will make another version, just like what they did with their GA645 cameras, but that is wishful thinking.

However, just saw that the weight is 445 grams, not too bad, about the weight of an Olympus Pen + 20mm lens, and my better half wants to replace her old point and shoot. So I have an excuse to buy it now, she wouldn't want an interchangeable lens camera. I can also use it for those rare occasions I need a 35mm, so that justifies the price a bit.

With all the number of users who will buy this, and many will buy on impulse just like the Pen, I guess there will be a number of used ones quickly too. So still can wait, just to see if there are any issues that arise out of it.

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-X100-First-Impressions-Review.htm

:think: i wish my girlfriend have the same thinking as your better half.. so i will have a really good reason too.. haha!

yes, the fixed lens rather goes towards the wider side.. and for quite a number of street shooters, i know it is a bit of a downside because they are so used to seeing the world in 50mm frameline.. i also hope that maybe fuji would come up with another version with a normal lens..

but i have to agree, it is better to wait for a while before taking the plunge, see the full reviews, not from just one source, but from many..

 

[blackreplica]

The only thing i wished this camera had was a slightly narrower field of view. Say 40-50mm. Would reduce the perspective distortion a bit which helps with close up head and shoulder shots (which is very common when taking snapshots with friends on outings). But i can still live with the 35mm FOV.

Also plan on waiting for the reviews first. but if nothing freaky results, i will be buying this guy. Probably with a flash too

 

[ed9119]

i was hoping for a 24 or 28mm fixed lens

 

[engrmariano]

imho, 35mm FOV is compromised between wide (~24mm ) & normal (~50mm) FOV... not too far from 24mm, not too far from 50mm...

if fuji made it 24mm FOV, 35mm & 50mm FOV lovers will be disappointed... :sweat:
if fuji made it 50mm FOV, 24mm & 35mm FOV lovers will be disappointed... :sweat:

 

[henry soh]

Designer of the camera has placed the viewfnder at one corner instead of at the centre. This is an awkward position when holding the camera and looking at the viewfinder as we are used to its central position.

 

[sweat100]

Designer of the camera has placed the viewfnder at one corner instead of at the centre. This is an awkward position when holding the camera and looking at the viewfinder as we are used to its central position.

This is not true. I suppose you are used to having the VF of an SLR, thus you are assuming VF needs to be at the center. The VF at the corner has always been the design for a rangefinder. If you are a right eye shooter, you can shoot with both eyes open. This allows you to be aware of your environment when you click the shutter for street photography. Infact this is an advantage which I find an SLR lacks which I have to squint with one eye.