Should I buy x100 or go on saving for M8?

[klapka]

Ahh.. Seems like I just never can stop buying new photo gear..

Well, had little sleep tonight since thinking over the dilemma:
Fuji X-100 now or go on saving ang get an M8 next summer may be.

Mainly I shoot film (M6ttl) but need some digital backup every now and then.

The main Con of X-100 for me: 23 mm lens - this is the FL I have never used before. The shortest FL of all my Leica lens is 28 and I don't give it much work since I like to see bokeh in my snaps..

And Cons of M8 for me - the IR filters demand have none of them and the price of course.

So.. just really can't decide.. Any opinnions would be appreciated.

 

[hxpham]

The main Con of X-100 for me: 23 mm lens - this is the FL I have never used before. The shortest FL of all my Leica lens is 28 and I don't give it much work since I like to see bokeh in my snaps..

Because the X-100 has an APS-C sized sensor, it has a field of view roughly equivalent to a 35mm lens on a regular (full frame) 35mm camera.

 

[thegman]

Personally, I'd get the X100, it's sexy, under warranty, cheaper, smaller, lighter. The only downside is you don't get to put your M lenses on it.

But your M lenses become different on an M8 anyway due to the crop factor, so you may not even like them on the M8.

I don't shoot digital at all, but the X100 is a very nice looking camera, manual controls, and also you a slip it into Auto if you just want to take holiday snaps, ideal really.

 

[sleepyhead]

I don't own either of these cameras, but for me the question would be if I could live with a fixed-lens (single focal length), or not.

 

[klapka]

Because the X-100 has an APS-C sized sensor, it has a field of view roughly equivalent to a 35mm lens on a regular (full frame) 35mm camera.

Of course I understand that the field of view due to crop comes similar to 35 mm but what doesn't come similar is DOF it stays as big as the 23 mm lens has. What about portraits?

Or X-100 has some magic Fujinon being 23 mm FL and having shallow DOF at the same time?

 

[thegman]

The X100 has an f/2 lens, which I would imagine allows reasonably shallow DOF, even on a 23mm lens, but you could check out exactly what it is at:

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Although I do think a 35mm equiv. is far from ideal for portraits, if portraits are a big part of your photography, then maybe the M8 is a better choice.

 

[Keith]

It comes down to being able to live with a fixed focal length IMO.

I've had an M8 and it was a nice camera but I like my X100 better ... particularly being able to shoot at higher ISO's where the M8 is limited, and the 35mm field of view is a pretty handy one to be stuck with if that's the situation!

 

[hxpham]

With the 1.5x crop factor and a 23mm f/2 lens, I think the shortest DoF would be about the same as 35mm lens at f/3.

 

[Richard G]

RACS by Richard GM2, on Flickr

Especially with the Macro setting you can get some fantastic shallow depth of field with X100. See this post of Keith's:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1645955&postcount=14

 

[Pickett Wilson]

The M8 is old, fussy technology. And then there are those filters to deal with. Grab the X100!

 

[Keith]

I forgot about the filters ... they're a pain!

 

[Lss]

The M8 is old, fussy technology. And then there are those filters to deal with.

Fussy? These are hardly things to worry about, it's a very capable camera. In a perfect world you would not need the filters, but they are a minor annoyance.

I recommend the same thing many have already said here. Think about the focal lengths you want and whether the lens of X100 works for you. Then try it. If the camera seems good and you feel you need a digital, buy it. The M8 is the better option in case you are not comfortable with a single lens and are not in a rush to get a new camera.

 

[wintoid]

Personally, what stops me getting an X100 is I don't like autofocus.

 

[huntjump]

Ive played with teh x100. Its nice, but if you want full manual you will not be satisfied with the x100.

Consider the r-d1 (s) ? Much cheaper than M8 (usually $1000 or so ) and depending on what you want to do it might just be the best of both worlds. Im SERIOUSLY considering it myself, since i love my M bodies I will use that and a r-d1. hmmm maybe i should not recommend people to buy this camera, prices might get too close to the m8 😉

 

[Vobluda]

As former owner of M8 and as current X100 user my advice is not to buy any of the as they are both prototypes.

 

[Michael Markey]

Somehow I`ve always seen a digital option as somewhat different from the considerations made when choosing to use an M body.
I`ve therefore not debated long about M8 or M9 but just happy to use my M lenses on M film bodies.
The technology has been moving to fast for me to warrant that sort of outlay and in any event I want to take advantage of digital`s possibilities of an even more compact body with fast AV.
With the new Fuji and Ricoh offerings it looks like we`re getting there

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Having to wait a year to buy an M8, that does not help you out now.
The M8- I bought a very late run M8, slightly used with 400 actuations. Did not have any problems. It was $2,500 18 months ago- with case and second battery. Prices of IR cut filters are down, as the M9 does not require them. They have their own issues, such as causing reflections when used at night.


On the X100- based on what I have read here on RFF and other sites, it has some "bugs" to be worked out. Waiting six months or so for an X100 means getting a more mature product with the issues worked out.


You could get a Sony NEX or other Mirrorless camera to use your M-Mount lenses. These bodies run much less than the X100 or M8, and can be used with an inexpensive adapter. I use Leica mount lenses on an Olympus EP2 without trouble.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M-LM-Lens...047?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3361517f47

 

[jsrockit]

Do you want:

High ISO?
AF?
Macro?
etc.

or

Mechanical rangefinder
Capatibility with your current set-up
interchangable lenses?

The way i see it is that you can buy the X100 now, use it until you save the rest for the M8, and then sell the X100 with at most a 25% loss. Think of it as a rental.

As much as non-users make a big deal over the X100's bugs, it is still a completely usable camera as is.

 

[Spyro]

There's a list of things that the M8 cant do and the x100 can, and vice versa. We can write them down if you want to help you decide which ones are most important to your photography, but they're probably too obvious? I dont think there are any hidden secrets with these cameras, it's just a matter of comparing specs. Personally I prefer the x100 because I like the silent shutter, the high ISO and also I do some close up shots every now and then

 

[klapka]

Well. So nice to get such a reasonable feedback and so many pieces of advise in just a couple of hours!

I am a kind of person who always evaluates too much info before making any decision at least I am firm having made my choice.M

So, I rejected x-100. Will not buy it.

Explanation: I decided that it will not completely close digital theme for me as M8 (and of course M9) would.
This is a great cam and could have become a nice second camera for my future digital M but I just can't afford it.
It's all about money. I already have to much of redundant gear.
Also I would like to use the lenses I already have on digital. That makes sense since some of this leses are great and I love working with them. I also payed money for them so why not give them every possible use? This would be effective.
(Well, I already have:
28 mm Kobalux f3.2
35 mm Zeiss Biogon ZM f2
40 mm Summicron C
50 mm Summicron (rigid)
50 mm Nokton f1.1
50 mm Jupiter 3 f1.5
75 mm Heliar f2.5)
So it just seems like I am to stay with M-system..

Not Nex-3,5 because of focusing and LCD/EVF framing which I hate.

Not RD-1s because of 6 megapixels which I find too little on my Nikon D70.

Once again, thanks for all responses.