Every now and again a camera pops up that just grabs everyone's
attention.
The Fuji X100 is one of those cameras. It is absolutely beautiful and
reminiscent
of the rangefinder style of cameras but with a different
approach to focusing.
It has
a fixed lens built into it and an APS-C digital sensor with a 1.5x crop
value.
The autofocus and manual focus 'fixed' lens has an aperture of f2 - f16
and is 23mm which produces a 'field of view' of 35mm.
The apertures are on the lens and you use an aperture ring on the barrel to change
them........hopefully the ring will have a nice 'firm' click sound as
each aperture is lined up and selected.
The overall design is very neat and the size and weight is in-between a
Panasonic GF1 micro four thirds (MFT) 'mirrorless' camera and a Leica M9
Rangefinder camera. If it has the build quality of the GF1, the Leica X1 or the Leica
M9, then it really will be fantastic to use.
I currently
use a Panasonic GF1 and a Lumix 20mm f1.7 Lens for my 'everyday' casual
and street photography. The GF1 combo is very capable of some
serious photography and correctly used in the 'right situations'
especially with 'RAW' file capture and post processing, it can rival my
larger DSLR gear. It is also excellent in low light conditions with it's
image quality holding up extremely well at ISO:800. It is compact,
lightweight, well built and a joy to use............it will take
something very special to outclass it and remember the GF1 can
interchange lenses.
This new X100 has a larger sensor
than the GF1
which should mean a larger dynamic range, slightly better depth of field
control and a narrower depth of field at the f2 aperture. Its main competition
is the Leica X1 (for fixed lens and size). Where the X100 (on paper)
threatens the X1, is in the design of the inbuilt 'hybrid' viewfinder
and the incredible manual controls layout that it displays.
If what is written is correct, the in-built viewfinder will also outclass my
GF1 external clip on viewfinder. I can hear them say, "its not a Leica,
its Japanese"..............well Fuji has a great brand name and this
camera could be the start of a new 'era' for Fuji. I hope the X100 works
out well for them?
This is one cracking design of a camera. The modern technology of an
electronic LCD and built-in electronic viewfinder with manual controls
for aperture (on the lens) and the shutter on the top control, right
alongside the manual exposure compensation wheel. To top it off, the
viewfinder can be switched to an optical viewfinder with a bright frame
and the camera readouts remain in the viewfinder.
There is not a lot of point attempting to outline this camera's
technical aspects as by clicking on the links on this page, they are
explained much better and more fully than I can deliver.
Will the
Fuji X100 Deliver?
Time will tell, but let me state this..............if the lens is
awesomely 'sharp' at f2 (wide open) and it delivers the bonus of an
excellent 'draw' with great bokeh in the final images..........combined with a clean high resolution with low noise
between ISO:200 - 1600,
then I for one will be seriously considering it as my next 'everyday +
street' camera. The built in ND filter is a killer punch for slowing
down the shutter speed against the f2 aperture when the scene is too
bright for the 1/4000 second shutter to fire. Also great for those water
shots where you desire 'foam effects' instead of the real thing!
On the
Street This camera could be the ideal camera that every street photographer
has been waiting for? Just the right size to remain discreet, a 'classic
35mm field of view' and the correctly positioned 'manual switch'
controls for 'hands on' photography. Old timers like me should love it
and even the push button young photographers of today, might enjoy the
diversion of a 'retro styled' yet modern camera.
Reviews
To date there are no reviews out as the camera will be released in March
2011, in fact it has just been released in Japan. Whenever reviews appear, I will post the links on this page as an
update!
Quesabesde
Their review is up with image samples (English Translation)
Please click on my
Gear Forums & Review
Sites
for a complete list of the sites I have used
that might be of assistance!
