X100 - Not a stellar review from a real photog!
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Arjay
Time Traveller
Hm - that's the only negative review I've see so far. It may be worth looking a little closer at this man's modus operandi:
My summary, diehard conventional RF users will have to change their approach to AF, or the X100 is too much of a new beast for them. As to MF, I have high hopes that future firmware updates might bring an improvement.
Anyway, this review hasn't changed my decision to buy an X100.
- His first criticism is that the camera is too expensive to risk it in cases the photographer gets attacked by one of his subjects. Sorry - that's not the camera's fault.
- Second, he criticises it doesn't have a Leica-type RF. Sorry mate, you should have known that beforehand.
- Third, the man apparently doesn't know that it is possible to have AF even when the OVF is active. What can I say ...
My summary, diehard conventional RF users will have to change their approach to AF, or the X100 is too much of a new beast for them. As to MF, I have high hopes that future firmware updates might bring an improvement.
Anyway, this review hasn't changed my decision to buy an X100.
bwcolor
Veteran
This review has been commented upon before. I thought that it was a good review, except that he comes to the conclusion that the camera is not for professional use because he can not quickly and accurately focus. This is from a guy who lists his professional cameras as including the M8 and M9. Yah, those focus real fast.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
The criticism I've read (I haven't handled one of the cameras myself) is that it's difficult to tell where the AF is going to focus using the OVF. Perhaps because of parallax issues?
I love autofocus on my DSLR's. They almost always can focus faster than I can manually. But I want to know where they are going to focus.
I love autofocus on my DSLR's. They almost always can focus faster than I can manually. But I want to know where they are going to focus.
bwcolor
Veteran
So, you must zone focus. That is nothing new to someone that shoots street photos with an M9.
I thought that the X100 would display the correct framing and autofocus point with a half-press. Not for the fast shot, for sure. I think that another criticism, not from this photographer, was the size of the autofocus spot in the OV.
On the other hand, how do you set the autofocus sensor location with the X1? You get a verification light, but verification of what? I think that the X100 is an alternative to the X1 and this is a better comparison than to a high end, or any DSLR. With regards to this review, why would this guy, the "real photog", want to use this as a replacement for a DSLR? Why would he use it to replace an M9? Why not use it for what it does best? If that isn't what he needs, then this isn't a camera for him. I think that it is clear that this isn't meant as the only camera in a professional photographer's bag.
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jsrockit
Moderator
I won't comment on this until I have my own. Sometimes the negatives are warranted, sometimes they are blown out of proportion.
GSNfan
Well-known
There are no shortage of X100 reviews but not a single one that one could actually buy... Fuji did very well to sell the idea of this camera but failed to actually sell the product itself.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
I don't demand that a camera like the X100 do the work of my DSLR, only that it will do what I expect it's going to do each time I press the shutter. The image quality looks fine. Before I buy one, though, I want to know that, if I do my part, it won't be inconsistent and get in my way.
It seems, from the variance among reviews, like this is a camera that is going to require I use one myself to answer that question.
It seems, from the variance among reviews, like this is a camera that is going to require I use one myself to answer that question.
bwcolor
Veteran
Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that you expected DSLR ergonomics, just the "real photog".
retnull
Well-known
Well hmmm, it's not unreasonable to cut them a tiny bit of slack for dealing with a 9.0 earthquake...
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Regarding the over exposure ... every digicam I've ever used so far over exposes. M7 D700 certainly does a lot of the time ... it seems to be an industry standard!
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
My R-D1 underexposes, as did my D2x (in matrix metering mode), but my D300 (newer technology than both) overexposes (in both matrix and centre weighted metering). Not much of an issue really, I EV compensate for it by 1/3 or 1/7 of a stop. Its no worse than getting to know a new light meter.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Exactly!
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Pickett Wilson
Veteran
Every Canon DSLR I've owned, from the Rebel Xti to 5D and 5DII to the 1D MkIv, underexposes in most situations. I guess it's the company's paranoia over not blowing the highlights.
gavinlg
Veteran
jpmac55
Established
Well Sean Reid says.....
Well Sean Reid says.....
Sean Reid just put out a X100 review on his site http://www.reidreviews.com
Good findings .......some not so good findings.
Well Sean Reid says.....
Sean Reid just put out a X100 review on his site http://www.reidreviews.com
Good findings .......some not so good findings.
smillie
Coffee drinker
Up front: I know the author (John Goldsmith, who was a Vancouver local until a recent move to Melbourne), and I have an X100, which I'm really liking so far.
John's article is probably the best one I've read with respect to straight up street shooting with the X100. I think anyone contemplating using the X100 for street work should give it a thorough read and the benefit of the doubt.
I also think more generally that it's exactly the kind of review that's the most useful; none of us need another pros/cons/features/sample-image magazine-style review, we could probably write one ourself without even handling the camera at this point.
The catch is that any such reviews need a critical reader. You need to separate the author's observations (generally true) from their conclusions (subjective to them), and apply what you gather to your own situation.
For example: There's not really a single fact I'd disagree with in John's article. But I still like my camera, and I'd buy it again given the chance. How is this possible, given John's fairly negative conclusion?
Basically, whereas his frame of reference is fairly close work using a Canon DSLR, I work a step or two further back on the street, and use a ZM and occasionally a Contax G2. It's the latter camera that's the most interesting comparison here, because it has the same style of focus in practice: ride the AF button and hope that it works out all right.
So, for John, it's not a winner. I can totally understand this; there's not a single negative he cites that I haven't bumped up against myself. They just don't rub against me in quite the same way they did for John. For me, the X100 fills a role where what I get from it (digital convenience, a chance to catch up on a backlog of undeveloped, unprinted negatives) make up for these negative aspects.
John's article is probably the best one I've read with respect to straight up street shooting with the X100. I think anyone contemplating using the X100 for street work should give it a thorough read and the benefit of the doubt.
I also think more generally that it's exactly the kind of review that's the most useful; none of us need another pros/cons/features/sample-image magazine-style review, we could probably write one ourself without even handling the camera at this point.
The catch is that any such reviews need a critical reader. You need to separate the author's observations (generally true) from their conclusions (subjective to them), and apply what you gather to your own situation.
For example: There's not really a single fact I'd disagree with in John's article. But I still like my camera, and I'd buy it again given the chance. How is this possible, given John's fairly negative conclusion?
Basically, whereas his frame of reference is fairly close work using a Canon DSLR, I work a step or two further back on the street, and use a ZM and occasionally a Contax G2. It's the latter camera that's the most interesting comparison here, because it has the same style of focus in practice: ride the AF button and hope that it works out all right.
So, for John, it's not a winner. I can totally understand this; there's not a single negative he cites that I haven't bumped up against myself. They just don't rub against me in quite the same way they did for John. For me, the X100 fills a role where what I get from it (digital convenience, a chance to catch up on a backlog of undeveloped, unprinted negatives) make up for these negative aspects.
peripatetic
Well-known
I agree 100%. He wrote nothing that I would call inaccurate. But subjectively where the X100 irritates him hugely I find it thoroughly charming.
I think possibly the main difference is that he's actually a "professional" street photographer. And if my livelihood depended on it I don't think I'd be nearly as impressed with the X100 as I am.
I think possibly the main difference is that he's actually a "professional" street photographer. And if my livelihood depended on it I don't think I'd be nearly as impressed with the X100 as I am.
mattj
Newbie
Hi, I’m new to the forum.
I was one of the luck ones who received my x100 early (9th March) so I have had over a month now to form an opinion.
Having read John’s review I agree with most of his comments and think this review most accurately reflects my own experience with the camera. There is a lot I love about using this camera, but it can also be a hugely frustrating experience.
Focus is the issue that seems to be common to all reviewers criticisms to date and this for me is the one Fuji need to sort with the firmware update. Yes it is not as fast as a DSLR but then I never expected that it would be. What I want and I am guessing most other forum members will want, is to know that the camera has nailed the focus accurately, currently the camera doesn't do this and if I were still a pro I would hesitate to choose this camera for a paid shoot. The focusing scale seems to generate complete random results each time I focus, meaning that even when taking a zone focus approach in manual mode I simply don’t have confidence in where the camera has focused and as a consequence find myself constantly having to review shots - a slow and frustrating experience. I also have had similar problems with the other points mentioned such as over exposure, but this I can live with.
However what I do love about this camera is its size, weight (lack of). its looks and quality tactile feel, its relatively quick to use (focus issues aside), its almost silent operation, the great quality OVF and finally the quality of the files it generates.
It’s a quality package, not Leica quality but none the less something that generally is very nice to use (with the exception of the menu wheel on the back). This may sound like a shallow observation but for me at least it is important, I like my cameras to be something I l want to pick up.
I am not a pixel peeper, not for street work anyway, all I know is that I am very happy with with the quality of the images and it will more than suffice for what I want to use it for. If I want higher quality then I will shoot FF DSLR or depending on the subject, then on the Sinar.
What I like best is the way people react to this camera. Even my son, who I have photographed daily for years and is very used to having a camera pointed at him, reacts completely differently to this camera. On the street people generally seem far more relaxed around this camera and for me this is why I loved using a Leica and the reason that I enjoy this camera so much.
I really hope Fuji can sort the focusing issues and other software fixable issues in future firmware updates. Regardless I will be keeping the camera.
Matt
I was one of the luck ones who received my x100 early (9th March) so I have had over a month now to form an opinion.
Having read John’s review I agree with most of his comments and think this review most accurately reflects my own experience with the camera. There is a lot I love about using this camera, but it can also be a hugely frustrating experience.
Focus is the issue that seems to be common to all reviewers criticisms to date and this for me is the one Fuji need to sort with the firmware update. Yes it is not as fast as a DSLR but then I never expected that it would be. What I want and I am guessing most other forum members will want, is to know that the camera has nailed the focus accurately, currently the camera doesn't do this and if I were still a pro I would hesitate to choose this camera for a paid shoot. The focusing scale seems to generate complete random results each time I focus, meaning that even when taking a zone focus approach in manual mode I simply don’t have confidence in where the camera has focused and as a consequence find myself constantly having to review shots - a slow and frustrating experience. I also have had similar problems with the other points mentioned such as over exposure, but this I can live with.
However what I do love about this camera is its size, weight (lack of). its looks and quality tactile feel, its relatively quick to use (focus issues aside), its almost silent operation, the great quality OVF and finally the quality of the files it generates.
It’s a quality package, not Leica quality but none the less something that generally is very nice to use (with the exception of the menu wheel on the back). This may sound like a shallow observation but for me at least it is important, I like my cameras to be something I l want to pick up.
I am not a pixel peeper, not for street work anyway, all I know is that I am very happy with with the quality of the images and it will more than suffice for what I want to use it for. If I want higher quality then I will shoot FF DSLR or depending on the subject, then on the Sinar.
What I like best is the way people react to this camera. Even my son, who I have photographed daily for years and is very used to having a camera pointed at him, reacts completely differently to this camera. On the street people generally seem far more relaxed around this camera and for me this is why I loved using a Leica and the reason that I enjoy this camera so much.
I really hope Fuji can sort the focusing issues and other software fixable issues in future firmware updates. Regardless I will be keeping the camera.
Matt
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igi
Well-known
Do you have actual data to prove this???
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