Steve Huff has posted several positive reviews he wrote and a negative review by David Babsky about the Fujifilm FinePix X100 camera on his blog. As Huff is also in the delicate position of selling the Fuji X100 (via blog commissions), he has been sure to a disclaimer to Babsky's review stating that he (Huff) really likes the camera. Though the reviews differ in their opinion on whether to buy the camera or not, the conclusions raised by the two photographers are not dissimilar. Thus, readers can read the reviews and come to their own opinion.
I have one complaint about each of the reviews: 1) Huff spends too much time comparing the Fuji X100 to the Leica X1, 2) Babsky spends too much time complaining about the X100's 23mm APS-C fixed focal length.
Comparing a $1,200 point-and-shoot (X100) to a $2,000 point-and-shoot (X1) seems like a rigged operation to me; the question is why should I be spending that kind of money for that kind of camera? For 6400ISO? Both cameras are overpriced. Neither focuses particularly well. Both have strong image file output and reasonably good lenses. A more interesting comparison can be made between the Fuji X100 and the Ricoh GXR 28 module, which reviewers have unanimously tossed aside as too expensive. The Ricoh GXR with 28mm lens costs less than $1,000, comparatively cheap next to the X100. And even Huff, an avid X100 cheerleader, is torn on which camera is better: "I do like the looks and concept of the X100 over the GXR but I have to give credit where credit is due. The GXR rocks and does great in low light as well, and the focus is faster and more accurate with the GXR."
Similarly, assessing the Fuji X100 based on its 23mm lens dimensions, the camera's most obvious feature, seems useless to me- you don't even need to hold the camera to review that detail. Babsky goes through all the situations when you might want a camera for focal lengths other than 35mm equivalent. Get over it, I say. If the public wishes to buy interchangeable lens cameras, they have ample choices, including the four-companies-and-growing now producing mirrorless EVILs. The appeal of the Fuji X100 is in its simplicity- and as an infinite number of articles have pointed out, the lens size, optical viewfinder, leaf shutter, etc. would not have been possible in a camera of this size unless it was set at a fixed focal length. 23mm (35mm equivalent) is a compromise focal length between the popular 24mm-28mm and 50mm dimensions. If consumers don't like it, they have many other choices- quite a few of which cost well under $1,200.
Otherwise, I find both reviews to contain some useful information and if you would like to know more, I suggest checking out the full-length entries (link is above). Below are a few brief highlights touching on aspects of the camera that are of interest to me.
On Fuji X100 as rangefinder/classic camera
Steve Huff: True, the X100 has the look, feel and style of a rangefinder camera but this is in looks only. In operation and use it feels like a traditional digicam. In many ways, it feels like the classic Digilux 2 sometimes... It wipes the floor with the Digilux 2 though in regards to ISO performance, image quality, and with its great OVF/EVF viewfinder.
David Babsky: The ‘mechanical’ aspect (top-plate lever plus knobs and aperture ring) provides “classic” controls only for simple shooting; for everything else (choice of colour ‘film stock’ or B&W shooting, choice of RAW and/or jpg files, selecting neutral density filters, ISO selection, dynamic range and colour filters, white balance, bracketing, panorama shooting, movie shooting, self-timer, picture playback, etc) you have to push buttons and navigate through menus just like other digital cameras.
On the Fuji X100's autofocus speed
Steve Huff: [comparing the Fuji X100 to the Leica X1]: X100 wins. Low light AF speed? About equal which is not so good.
David Babsky: Sluggish autofocus, so sluggish shooting. The older, interchangeable-lens, noisier focal-plane-shutter Panasonic GF1 focuses and shoots faster than this autofocus in-lens leaf-shutter X100 ..and that’s with the GF1 having to first CLOSE its cover-the-sensor shutter before opening it and then closing it again to take a shot. And the even older APS-sensor Epson R-D1 shoots INSTANTLY, of course – as do the digital Leica M8 and M9 – because it has no autofocus to wait for: squeeze the shutter and it fires with no delay whatever!
On the Fuji X100's 23mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.0 lens:
Steve Huff: At F2 the camera is sharp but classically smooth. By 2.8 it is SHARP and detailed as you could want it to be. There IS barrel distortion with the lens though and if you take a close up portrait you can see it with the effect of someones face or nose being larger than it is. The lens is not perfect, nor is it a masterpiece but it is probably the equivalent of something like a Leica 35 Summarit in the way it renders along with its distortion amount.
David Babsky: That 35mm (equivalent) lens, then, is for a wide-ish view ..not really for intimate moments; not to get close to someone ..nor wide enough to embrace a family group indoors. It’s a ‘compromise’ lens; not perfect for wide shots, not perfect for close shots ..a ‘this’ll-have-to-do’ lens. The camera is, in fact, a throwback to the (smaller) Minox 35 or Rollei 35 (though the Rollei had a 40mm lens – picture courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) but the X100 is a far larger package. There was some serious engineering in those little cameras, and today they cost far less than £999, and really do slip into a pocket (each has a retracting lens). And they’re both ready instantly – you don’t have to wait for a two-second warm-up.
In yet another review on SteveHuffPhoto.com, Greg Shanta says he has been converted to a Fuji X100 fan due to its strong image quality, yet he still has two complaints about the camera:
- The reliable manual focusing capability should have been provided out of the box with this type of camera at this type of price point and I hope Fuji will fix that with future firmware updates.
- The X100 lens flares like hell! An inexcusable flaw when it comes to modern lens design. I don’t know how much the lens hood will help the situation because I don’t want to shell out another couple hundred bucks for an add-on accessory, which should have been included for free, taken the said problem that Fuji must be well aware of.
Read more Fuji X100 reviews.
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