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SteveW
18-05-2011, 16:55
Had no plans to buy this...in fact didn't even know it existed (sometimes obsessional, sometimes not!)
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/fujifilm_x100_review-275x196.jpg

But...I had a few hours to spare in Woking..and wondered into Harpers there.
Now, I knew I wanted a smaller camera for this summer, and the taxman had been bloody thoughtful enough to give me an unexpected rebate a while back..and unlike me I hadn't blown it yet.
So, I was mulling over various options, particularly the Lumix G2s.
However, the guy in the shop wasn't even trying to sell me the X100, he just couldn't help his enthusiasm over this camera. Think I took him back a bit when I said I'd take it!
As soon as I held it and looked through the view finder, I knew I just had to have it. A little switch flicks from optical to electronic, and you can adjust everything without taking your eye away.
I've tried this with DSLR's, but never succeeded...I always end up farting about with reading glasses, and basically hoping for the best.

I have a load to learn with all the settings, and how to operate it...but these are the first quick snaps I took, without even playing around..
Hell of a toy.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0020.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0029.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0025.jpg

Thing Fish
18-05-2011, 18:39
I have been monitoring this camera for over 6 months now. It really is a one off. A beautiful bit of kit. It really has had the industry buzzing with excitement since the Frankfurt show earlier this year when we finally got to see the pre release model.

Fuji currently have the hottest camera on the planet with the full size censored X100.

Unfortunately/sadly its out of my price range...:(

Steve I admit here and now to being insanely jealous...:drool:

(Nice floorboards as well by the way)

The Vinyl Adventure
18-05-2011, 19:36
Steve!!!! I hate you a little bit right now ... I have one on order ... I can't afford it at all, I have to have one despite it's reported foibles ... My eyes are green green green ... Damn you ;)

Tim
18-05-2011, 19:41
Boy, you gotta love that camera......... I want one too :)

SteveW
18-05-2011, 19:47
Ha !! Sorry Hamish. Truth is I can't really afford it either.
However, last summer my wife lost our little contax digital and I've been grieving ever since.
I know I could have gone gf2, but this kit is bloody georgeous. In a really really good way it reminds me of my dads old zorki, which was a Russian leica rip off really... except that the x100 is stuffed to the gunnels with digital technology. It just doesn't feel like it. I know that doesn't make sense, but I knew a soon as I started playing with it, if I didn't take the plunge I'd spend years regretting it.
Sure, there is no zoom and the lens is fixed, but this is going to be so much more fun than my nikon slr... Not to mention easier to carry!

Just need to learn how to use it now ... will post if I get some decent shots.
Cheers

Thing Fish
18-05-2011, 21:59
Sometimes I feel like i'm talking to myself.

Techno Commander
18-05-2011, 23:39
Strangely, I was readinga revoew of this camera earlier. Their opinion was a case of you need this". :)

Personally, I love the looks and it is supposed to take "bloody good pics".

The Vinyl Adventure
19-05-2011, 00:09
There's a chap called Larry over on my forum and a online photography group Dave Cawley runs who rates it really highly for all the reasons I want one ... His first impressions http://www.realphotographersforum.com/content/225-X100-First-Impressions
Makes me sick with envy ... And I'm not usually this nits over kit ... ... I have an Epson rd1 that is sort of similar in terms of it's retro style and features, but it's so out of date and doesn't work properly I want something to replace it ... It's become hysteria for me ... I'm not proud of my self at all!

colinB
19-05-2011, 11:23
Saw a review for that camera last week. Looks like a Leica which is enough for me for it to be desirable.

SteveW
19-05-2011, 14:49
S'funny...looks like Fuji have out Leica'd Leica with this one.
Sure, its an expensive camers..but imagine how much it would have been with a red dot on it?
Anyway..love the panoramic mode. Never had one before, and as we are off to Chicago and Michigan next month, I can see me prating around with this one.
This one is 120 degrees...you can also do 180 degress..but my garden isn't big enough !!
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0050.jpg

At least the cat kept still today..

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0031.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0041.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0053.jpg

I can't write as well as all the reviews I have read this mnorning, but basically I agree with 'em all !
Great manual controls, which are easy for me to get used to and experiment with.. I tried doing this with a Nikon SLR, but to be honest by the time you've been in and out of menus and on my old D70s, you can't really see on the screen whats going on, so you have to wait till you've uploaded it by which time I've forgotten what I was doing.
Looking though the viewfinder on the X100 is so intuitive to bring up iso, adjust, snap, look, adjust again etc etc.
Simples.

The Vinyl Adventure
19-05-2011, 15:38
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/register.php

you make make me jealous on my own turf then ;)

Mark Grant
19-05-2011, 16:26
That's a nice looking Camera and great photos :)

Is there a shortage of these as Amazon are showing 3 weeks delivery ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004LWZ88W/ref=asc_df_B004LWZ88W2914384?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B004LWZ88W

-

SteveW
19-05-2011, 16:54
Harpers in Woking had 2 plus the demo.
well..1 now unless that's been snapped up.

colinB
19-05-2011, 17:03
If you have problems online im sure you could find one in my manor.
Holborn has two large Jessops, Jacobs cameras, the classic camera company and a Leica specialist. All in the same small area. Tourists and the British museum i guess.

Jason P
24-08-2011, 20:14
If anyone's thinking of getting one of these, there's a nearly new SH one in the UK on x100forum.com.

If you want to buy from a dealer, haggle hard. I got £130 off a camera/case/battery combo recently, which was a bugger as I'd only gone in to have a play. Couldn't say no at that price so now I've got one!!

And yes, they're every bit as good as the hype, and every bit as annoying! But I love it - it's put the fun back into photography for me.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6046578596_f5b2d424ab.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046578596/)
Road (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046578596/) by Jason_MP (http://www.flickr.com/people/66424296@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6046575870_52fa3e526e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046575870/)
Cafe 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046575870/) by Jason_MP (http://www.flickr.com/people/66424296@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6046564510_bfd5d18de7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046564510/)
Hinge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046564510/) by Jason_MP (http://www.flickr.com/people/66424296@N06/), on Flickr

The Vinyl Adventure
25-08-2011, 13:03
Got mine too now
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/0a15e950.jpg

colinB
25-08-2011, 19:02
As an ex amateur snapper ( last camera 1985 Praktica slr ) who wants to try out digital and loves the retro looks of the Fuji, does anyone have an opinion on a Olympus PEN-1 or a Sony NEX-3 second hand?

The Vinyl Adventure
25-08-2011, 19:15
The Sonys are nice ... Very "consumer" oriented with simplified, almost dumbed down controls - eg "background de-focus control" which is basically dumbed down aperture priority.
More lenses available for the pen series and more "retro" appeal...
Rumour has it there is a Fuji x50/x10 on the horizon which is said to have a zoom lens of some sort but with a smaller sensor...

Panasonic gf1 is a nice camera too!

prestonchipfryer
25-08-2011, 19:25
I have a NEX-5. Very good results can be obtained. Plenty of ''idiot'' proof features and a range of lenses. As Hamish has described ''background defocus'' as aperture priority, then it is more like a depth-of-field control in some respects. But for point and shoot it is excellent. There is a nex NEX-3 on the market with a 16 million pixel sensor as against the previous 14.2 million. Whether that pixel count makes better prints is a moot point. Whatever you choose I am sure you will surprised at the ''quality'' that can be obtained with a modern digital camera. Happy snapping.

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/grandmistral.jpg

John

colinB
25-08-2011, 19:33
OOh nice. Thanks people.

The Vinyl Adventure
25-08-2011, 20:19
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6046575870_52fa3e526e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046575870/)
Cafe 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66424296@N06/6046575870/) by Jason_MP (http://www.flickr.com/people/66424296@N06/), on Flickr


That's a great photo
There's so many great photogs on here ...
You should come share these with us on rpf!!

The Vinyl Adventure
25-08-2011, 20:20
... John, tell em how ace rpf is! ;)

kcc123
25-08-2011, 23:01
When I was on holiday in Hong Kong about three months ago, the Finepix X100 cameras were just arrived there with a price tag of over HK$10000 (£900). One of my friends bought one, but I thought it was quite expensive.

The Finepix X100 is without doubt an excellent camera, however, I am saving up for the coming Sony A77 or the NEX 7.

prestonchipfryer
26-08-2011, 07:14
... John, tell em how ace rpf is! ;)

Anyone interested in photography should take a look at the Real Photographers Forum which is full of information and pleasant chat.
:)
John

http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum.php

The Vinyl Adventure
26-08-2011, 08:03
When I was on holiday in Hong Kong about three months ago, the Finepix X100 cameras were just arrived there with a price tag of over HK$10000 (£900). One of my friends bought one, but I thought it was quite expensive.

The Finepix X100 is without doubt an excellent camera, however, I am saving up for the coming Sony A77 or the NEX 7.

It is a lot of money, especially considering it's 'flaws' and I think it has sold a lot due to it's the normal reasons - image quality, features and handling. But it also has luxury appeal... Something a little special and unique that attracts people to it...
For me it is how it works, they have actually managed to capture 1950's zone/scale focus/rangefinderesq cameras in a modern design ... I love 1950's cameras - a small cross section of my collection - http://www.realphotographersforum.com/blogs/1-Hamish-Gill I have many more!
I've been down the road of digital Rangefinders trying to find something suitable - I have an Epson r-d1 (which is cheaper than and predates the leica m8) which was great as I could use all my voigtlander lenses on it ... But it just wasn't quite there in low light and has since failed anyway... I can't afford an m8 anyway, never mind an m9... I've tried a panasonic gf1 but found 99% of what it did aimed at the consumer confusing, I've also played with the Olympus pen range an song nex range and found similar issues, not to mention the lack of optical vf ... The the Fuji shows up with it's manual shutter and aperture controls and real viewfinder... It had literally answered my prayers! This is no exaggeration, I had said to so many people over the last few years "why cant someone take their cues from the 1950's cameras that I like" ... I can't tell you how annoyed I was when the oly ep1 didn't have a view finder ...
This Fuji ticks so many of the boxes for a compact camera for me, it's almost like Fuji were spying on me personally ... But I suspect there are many photogs who had the same thought processes as me!
Some people said it would be a niche product... We have 4 members on rpf with them, Steve (op of this thread) an ameture - his only camera I think. Kim, and enthusiast, his second camera to his 5dmkii, me a working photographer, and Larry, a retired pro who has similar reasons for ownership to me ... That pretty much covers every possible Market ... Fuji have done something really special here! A lot of money it might be... But I'd disagree with the word expensive! :)

Jason P
26-08-2011, 12:36
As an ex amateur snapper ( last camera 1985 Praktica slr ) who wants to try out digital and loves the retro looks of the Fuji, does anyone have an opinion on a Olympus PEN-1 or a Sony NEX-3 second hand?

I've played with the NEX series and the Oly. The EP1 is OK, but hapered by sloow operation IMHO, and the lack of a viewfinder (though you can add one) and the NEX I just didn't warm to - though Sony rarely make a bad product. If I were in your shoes I'd look at a Panny GF2 too - some good deals on them at the moment, and it's a bit less radical than the NEX in terms of handling. Or wait till Fuji announce the X50...

Thanks for the complement Hamish - it was an opportune snap whilst sipping a java and seems to be where the X100 excels. It's an OOC B&W and the tonal range is brilliant! I love shooting for B&W and it's great to set the cam for it, gives me the same mindset I had when I'd load my Pentax MX with X-Pan... you need to see in Black & White, and it's a different way of looking at the world.

I've lurked on RPF but will deffo join - it's a great community and has grown really well from first beginnings, so congrats on that!

Jason

The Vinyl Adventure
26-08-2011, 13:15
Ive only just put 2 and 2 together ... ... :doh: ;)

kcc123
26-08-2011, 18:04
It is a lot of money, especially considering it's 'flaws' and I think it has sold a lot due to it's the normal reasons - image quality, features and handling. But it also has luxury appeal... Something a little special and unique that attracts people to it...
For me it is how it works, they have actually managed to capture 1950's zone/scale focus/rangefinderesq cameras in a modern design ... I love 1950's cameras - a small cross section of my collection - http://www.realphotographersforum.com/blogs/1-Hamish-Gill I have many more!
I've been down the road of digital Rangefinders trying to find something suitable - I have an Epson r-d1 (which is cheaper than and predates the leica m8) which was great as I could use all my voigtlander lenses on it ... But it just wasn't quite there in low light and has since failed anyway... I can't afford an m8 anyway, never mind an m9... I've tried a panasonic gf1 but found 99% of what it did aimed at the consumer confusing, I've also played with the Olympus pen range an song nex range and found similar issues, not to mention the lack of optical vf ... The the Fuji shows up with it's manual shutter and aperture controls and real viewfinder... It had literally answered my prayers! This is no exaggeration, I had said to so many people over the last few years "why cant someone take their cues from the 1950's cameras that I like" ... I can't tell you how annoyed I was when the oly ep1 didn't have a view finder ...
This Fuji ticks so many of the boxes for a compact camera for me, it's almost like Fuji were spying on me personally ... But I suspect there are many photogs who had the same thought processes as me!
Some people said it would be a niche product... We have 4 members on rpf with them, Steve (op of this thread) an ameture - his only camera I think. Kim, and enthusiast, his second camera to his 5dmkii, me a working photographer, and Larry, a retired pro who has similar reasons for ownership to me ... That pretty much covers every possible Market ... Fuji have done something really special here! A lot of money it might be... But I'd disagree with the word expensive! :)

Heheh! I thought it was expensive because my friend and I were both buying cameras at the same time in the same shop. He finally purchased the Fuji X100 but I bought the Fuji HS20 and the Sony A55 with two kit lenses, two cameras for the price of one X100. :lol:
Still I am not sure and slightly regretted that I might have made a wrong decision. All the three cameras have different functions and usage for different requirements so may be a comparison of apples and oranges would be foolish and pointless. :)

The Vinyl Adventure
26-08-2011, 18:42
Indeed and you have bought 2 good cameras one of which - the a55 probably come close to image quality of the x100 with a good lens and let's face it is significantly more adaptable to purpose!
The HS20 offers a hell of a lot of camera for the money too!!
Shouldn't spend to much time with worrying you made the wrong choice ... Cameras are made for photo taking, not worrying about eh?! :)

Tim
26-08-2011, 18:50
Cameras are made for photo taking, not worrying about eh?! :)
As are music systems made for listening to music, but here we are :lol:

I love that X100 too.... one day maybe :)

The Vinyl Adventure
26-08-2011, 19:49
Indeed, although I am happy to say I feel the same about my hifi for the most part :)

Tim
26-08-2011, 20:09
Indeed, although I am happy to say I feel the same about my hifi for the most part :)
Actually me too, I love mine right now and that's all done to the knowledge and advice given here :)

SteveW
27-08-2011, 07:19
Got mine too now
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/0a15e950.jpg

Oh well done !!
Agree with your comments about it as well... It's a 'pride of ownership' thing going on. Every time I pick up my X100 I smile to myself. Smug git.
Have you updated the software ?
I'm reluctant to do it in case it goes wrong. Also, really not sure if the update is worth it ( sometimes the case with So called Apple Mac 'upgrades')

StanleyB
27-08-2011, 08:42
Small snapshot cameras with most or all of the functions of a semi-pro DSLR are hard to find. This Fuji looks quite good, but pricey...
I saw someone using one on Brighton pier last weekend, but had no idea that it was so advanced and expensive. I thought it was a cheap film camera from years gone by, until I saw this thread.

I picked up a Casio EX-Z850 compact some years ago to complement my DSLR, purely because of its A, S, and P priority selection options. I still use it to this day and dread to think how much it would cost me to find something of similar spec. The advantage of these types of cameras is that you can get quite professional results, without having to worry about lugging a bulky DSLR about. It is also less likely to attract thieves.

SteveW
27-08-2011, 10:34
Had a long awaited trip with the family to Chicago and Northern Michigan this July..so I snapped away with the X100.
Its a great camera for learning on as you go along. I figured out more on this holiday than I had for years mucking about with my Nikon D70
Not only that, but I really wouldn't have carried around a bigger camera...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0492.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0474.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0400.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0312.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0181.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0140.jpg

SteveW
27-08-2011, 10:51
Just another observation.. the other thing that has changed is that I now look out for things to photograph.
Just after I posted above I was having breakfast outside, and noticed the fairies hadn't yet gone to bed, and wondered if I could catch the image ..
:)
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSCF0683.jpg

The Vinyl Adventure
27-08-2011, 10:58
Great stiff matey!
Have you got it set to velvia simulation? They are lovely and colourful!
I always say to people - if you want to learn how to use a camera start with a 1950's compact ... I guess Fuji have captured enough of that to make it work with this camera!

My favourite feature so far is the digital rangefinder/dof scale in the vf when on manual focus! It translates brilliantly from zone focusing old compact cameras ... I said on the forum, I can see me using this in manual focus at f8 and smaller in exactly the same way I use my voightlanders for quick snaps etc

Get some pix of rpf matey, I know people would be interested to see them!

SteveW
27-08-2011, 13:07
Great stiff matey!


Its OK matron...he's one of us.

yeah, I like the velvia setting.

I'll cut and paste these over onto rpf..once I've reset passwords that I've forgotten. :doh:

Then I'll put this into Babel Fish :confused:

My favourite feature so far is the digital rangefinder/dof scale in the vf when on manual focus!

The Vinyl Adventure
27-08-2011, 13:33
Hehe, I blame the iPhone auto correct!

Switch the camera to manual focus
Look through the vf
There is a green stripe
Somewhere on the green strip will be a grey bar with a red line in the middle
Under the green bar there is a scale in meters
The red line indicates the distance the lens is focused to (ie digital rangefinder)
The grey bar indicates what is in focus in front of and behind the that distance (the dof or depth of field or in simple terms thee depth of focus)
Now set the camera to aperture priority - ie the shutter dial to 'A' and the aperture off 'A' to one of the numbers
Now rotate the focus barrel so the red line is by 2.0 (ie 2meters)
Set the aperture to '16' and you will see that the grey bar is large covering an area from below 1.5m to nearly 5.0m
This means everything within that area will be in focus
Now rotate the aperture 1 click at a time down to '2'
You will see that the area that is in focus shrinks to just a little bit either side of 2.0m

Make sence?
It means you can set the camera to a large DOF by choosing one of the higher numbers on the aperture on the lens and just shoot without having to worry about focusing the camera
Set the red line to between 3.0m and 5.0m and the aperture to 16, you will see that everything from 2.0m to infinity will be in focus

The only issue with this is that at 16 or f/16 the camera is letting in much less light than at f/2 so it's not a useable method indoors unless you use the flash or set the iso quite high to accommodate

Ya with me?

Loads more here
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/content/215-Back-to-Basics-Exposure-Part-1-Understanding-Aperture

How this relates to an older camera here
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/content/281-How-to-Zone-Scale-Focus

The Vinyl Adventure
27-08-2011, 13:35
Let me know if you new me to reset your password ... I'm not sure how it works in the front end but I can do it in the back end in second!

The Vinyl Adventure
27-08-2011, 15:07
bit clearer here ;)
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/content/363-Zone-Scale-Focusing-with-a-Fuji-X100

SteveW
27-08-2011, 15:29
Cheers Hamish.
Will have a play around later when the rest of the family are gathered round watching the joys of xfactor!!!!
Right now have to dash to the camping shop to make sure we are kitted out for the End Of The Road festival we are going to in Dorset next weekend. Somehow managed to persuade Fiona to go.. as long as they have showers was the stipulation. Told her they had, so am in deep shit if they don't !!
I've come over all 1973.
Which was nearly the last time I went to one.