My first week with the X100

<p>How useful is the hybrid EVF in practice, compared to a normal OVF (which is rare enough nowadays)? Sounds like using it for focusing is marginal, but of course it could still be handy for quickly checking your framing without messing with the rear LCD. Killer feature or gimmick?</p>

<p>For me, if manual focusing with the X100 is a pain, I'm not interested, and would probably rather go with a second hand M8.</p>

<p>More and more is sounds like the Hexar AF. A pleasure if you don't ask for too much, a pain if you do.</p>

<p>Nice looking little camera ... retro looking stuff is always fun.</p>

<p>Kinda too bad one has to wade through all the useless argumentative posts to get any information ... like price and semantics bickering. It is what it is, and if you don't like it, don't buy one. "Should be $299." ... really? For a camera made this well? Early adopters with a bad case of the "<em>wants and gimmes" </em>are always going to pay a premium ... patient buyers will do better ... especially when the luster wears off and they move on to the next <em>"want and gimme". </em></p>

<p>It seems like a unique set of attributes that one can consider based on their needs. While, like the Leica X1, it isn't my cup of tea at any price, I can see the appeal. My assistant asked about a nice quality little range finder, and I wouldn't hesitate to point her to this as possibility for her budget ... once the price settles back to normal. She's young, and I don't think she has manually focused a lens in her life. Perfect : -)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>My main concerns with the X100 are the quite serious operational shortcomings reported by Luminous Landscape (manual focusing, ISO settings etc, there are several issues), as well as the power consumption by the optical finder. To me the main benefits of optical direct view finder are that it it bright, works well in sunlight, and does not use any power, and that is a big benefit in a power hungry and 100% battery dependent digital camera. But in the X100 it seems the optical finder consumes even more power than the electronic viewfinder. <br>

I am sure the image quality is great. So it is in X1 and GXR as well, each of which have their own operational issues, though the Ricoh seems to get the basics right pretty well. I think I will pass on this one, at least until/unless a new firmware fixes most of the button and menu related issues. </p>

<p>Here is a question for you Marc, as a professional photographer. Suppose that next year Fuji Film comes out with a version of this camera with interchangeable lenses. Also suppose that version has an M mount or Leica M lenses can be attached via an adapter. Would you be interested in this camera then? </p>

<p>Let me also ask: As a wedding photographer what do you think of the x-100 as a companion camera to your regular profession cameras (M9s as I recall)? I am thinking as a street photographer shooting discrete candids as I have with my Hexar.</p>

<p>Good to have you visit the Leica & RF Forum. Pity about the chicken fight. They are almost as rare as chicken teeth these days here. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>The most important thing that I should have said earlier.</p>

<p>For Bob Todrick. Thank you so very much, Bob, for taking the time to give us information about this very unique and seminal camera. I found it very valuable. It may well change my life as a photographer.</p>

<p>The above is not good enough. Bob Todrick gave this forum the best thread we've had in months. He offered valuable insights. And for no good reason he was dumped on. What a bloody shame. As a lifetime subscriber to photo.net and a loyal Leica and RF correspondent I can only say that I am deeply sorry about this.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Well thanks Alex.<br>

It's funny. As some will recall I was a very regular poster in days gone by, back in the first years of the Leica Forum here at photo.net. Didn't hang out much in the last few years after a home theft 'relieved' me of my beloved Leica's (IIIg, lenses plus Voigtlander R2's). Spent a couple of years shooting with the likes of Canon G9 and such trying to find a digital version of my Hexar/IIIg...pocketable but with great quality. None of the digi's I tried, including a brief foray into 4/3rds felt comfortable...I don't like 'pressing this button while spinning that wheel' to change the shutter speed.<br>

The X100 is the first digi that has what I need quality wise (I'm a Tri-X pushed kinda guy...not Kodachrome 25) and FELT like a mechanical viewfinder camera.<br>

So I thought I'd post my thoughts here. I had memories of photo.net as it used to be...one of the friendliest places on the web. In fact I remember the fun we used to poke at some of the other Leica sites...how pretentious they were and opinionated.<br>

Well darned if my post wasn't greeted with a slew of crap about how overpriced it was...how it couldn't be that good...my god...how it wasn't 'Leica'.<br>

I've checked back a few times and found there has been positive feedback...so I'll likely give it another go, and hope I just caught some people on an off day.</p>

<p>Bob, if it's any consolation, I've been there. Would love to have to back on a regular basis. I have always admired your photography. Hope the x-100 will be good to you. May the lowlife who stole your cameras rot in Hell for all eternity for starters. Thanks for writing back. </p>

<p>New (Norwegian) review : http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=no&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.akam.no%2Fartikler%2Ffujifilm_finepix_x100%2F93192%2F7&act=url</p>

<p>Errm, 7 pages of what? My subscription to PN runs out in May, yay!</p>

<p>I just think that some of the posters are giving more credit to Fuji than what is due.<br>

For example they brought this thing out thinking that it would just be a curio, a throwback from another time, they didnt even think that there would be demand for this.<br>

I read in a couple of articles that they were "shocked" at the response. Now if they act like a typical big company who has no idea what the market wants, then they will do the "right" thing and cancel this product promptly. Or make it "better" by making it more available for the main stream consumer, by making it into plastic and offering different colors to "modernize" it. <br>

If they actually are listening now to the market they will add a lens mount to the second gen camera. Think about it, how much easier design wise would it have been to make sans lens mount and get a working prototype out there.<br>

I guess the real question is, if they are so out of touch with the consumer what are those geeks in the back making that never sees the light of day?<br>

I would like to see a nice remake of their ST601</p><div></div>

<p>After one day, I can see this camera is fun to use. A fine companion to the MF rangefinder and Holga, and just right for making digital negatives for alt process. <br>

Suggestion, however, before running out and buying one, take a look at the DPReview piece, that lists an appendix of things that are illogical, mysterious, or stupid, about which much whining is to be heard. Some of it, is actually funny. (I guess I'm referring to the whining.) About the camera's shortcomings: so what? There's workarounds. <br>

Oh, but that viewfinder...delivered as promised, more than I'd hoped for...great in the blazing sun, as in the dark of night...and it even takes a screw-in cable release.</p>

<p>Bob! glad you enjoyed your camera. ALways good to shoot with something you like. That's all it matters.</p>