Daniel Ko has written a user review of the new 12-megapixel fixed lens Fujifilm X100 hybrid viewfinder camera for the Photo Rumors website. By his finding, it is the shiz.
Ko writes, "My first impression is that the image quality beats or equals the APS-C sensored compacts that it is competing with, including Leica X1, Sigma compacts and most of the consumer DSLRs to boot. I think you really could shoot a commercial assignment with one as a backup camera. The images are crisp and clear with punch, yet in full-auto it shoots each scene as it appears to the eye."
He explains a bit about what gives the Fuji X100 that special look:
The camera uses RAW files in multiple ways automatically processing them in-camera into JPEGS. Consequently the output will require very little post processing, a blessing if you don’t want to spend hours reworking images on the PC... The RAW-based feature that I like most is the Dynamic Range enhancement. You can choose DR100%, DR200%, DR400% or let the camera decide. This takes the extra bits of data produced by the sensor and automatically post processes the JPEG to give it better dynamic range, with less highlight clipping and more shadow detail.
I'm still not convinced. One reason I'm not convinced is the high price... $1,200, not counting the wild auction inflation now due to the Japanese earthquake. Another is the focusing features, which don't accurately replicate the authentic rangefinder experience. Ko is balanced in his criticism here, pointing out flaws in the viewfinder frame and the focusing experience. He writes:
The biggest drawback is the poor manual focus. There is no rangefinder patch, SLR-style split screen, but there is an optional digital magnified focus window. What you do is autofocus using the AFL button, and then press the centre of Control Button and manually adjust focus by scale focussing and watching the magnification patch. In this respect it is a bit of a letdown. In addition, the electronic manual focus ring is not directly coupled, so when you turn the ring fast and back again, the original points on the ring corresponds to a different focus distance.
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