Dante Stella's X100 review

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Hilarious.

http://dantestella.com/technical/x100.html

I would shortcut the performance issue by looking at Dx0Mark, concluding that the camera is fine for most purposes, and move on. Your application may be different and more demanding, covering things we humans can't even believe. Perhaps taking pictures of attack ships on fire off the Shoulder of Orion. Or capturing sea beams glittering at the Tannhauser Gate. You should probably wait for the perfect camera and herniate, while your photographic prospects are lost in time, like tears in a rain.
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I wish everybody wrote that well.
 
mabelsound said:
Hilarious.

http://dantestella.com/technical/x100.html



I wish everybody wrote that well.
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Actually I'm glad everyone doesn't write like that.

". . . attack ships off the shoulder of Orion."

This is hyperbole. As a matter of fact, I get so few assignments for that shot, it isn't even funny. My D700 would come close to handling the dynamic range. Though I think a Brownie Hawkeye loaded with Verichrome Pan would be better, if color isn't important.
 
" why no "cat" mode?! " indeed Mr Stella ;-)

I like the way he writes and i think the camera sounds cool

Might wait until Keith's arrives and he posts his impressions of the little beast, he writes well too.

I have actually become more interested in this camera after finding out that i like shooting with a 35mm lens on my OM. If the viewfinder is ok or even better than the OM I will be able to put up with its faults.
 
Rob-F said:
Actually I'm glad everyone doesn't write like that.

". . . attack ships off the shoulder of Orion."

This is hyperbole. As a matter of fact, I get so few assignments for that shot, it isn't even funny. My D700 would come close to handling the dynamic range. Though I think a Brownie Hawkeye loaded with Verichrome Pan would be better, if color isn't important.
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What I mean, of course, is that DS writes with stylistic flair on technical subjects, while most people in the business do everything they can to sound as cool and neutral as possible. I'd like to see a greater range of personality in things like camera and lens reviews. I also think a more idiosyncratic view of an idiosyncratic product can be useful.
 
Well written and sensible. I'm glad he is on the side that 1) owns the camera and 2) knows what the hell he's talking about.

So many people don't own the camera and then regurgitate the same nonsense read from some review in which the writer has no clue how to use the camera.
 
Any review that works in a Blade Runner reference has to get bonus points. More seriously, I've always enjoyed reading Dante's site; he knows what he's doing and he's entertaining as well. His review of the Fuji GA645 is what ultimately convinced me to buy that camera. Too bad I didn't know he was going to review the X100 or I would have waited to read his take and held off buying my Ricoh GRD III.
 
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Going out on a limb here: my guess is that there is a pretty good overlap between RFFer's in North America and folks who have seen Blade Runner. I'm just sayin'
 
Thanks for the heads-up... much appreciated. His review is a nice summation of what some of us have been saying here: if you spend some time actually using the camera, you'll like it a lot. Yes, its designed differently but it doesn't take long for that to become your new 'norm'.
 
He obviously uses a voight kampff (sorry, couldn't resist).
A great review, as usual.
I wish he had more frequent updates.
Thanks for the link.
 
"You should probably wait for the perfect camera and herniate, while your photographic prospects are lost in time, like tears in a rain."

This could be said about nearly any new digital camera - either wait for updated model or buy and use.
 
He likes "old cameras" - has a whole notorious blog about them...
So he's predisposed to like the X100.
This is reflected in his review.
Biased.
His is a user review - but you could find same on Amazon.
Only 6 posted reviews and of the six, two have given it bad reviews (2 stars), one returned it.
Thus, this camera is getting mixed reviews - like a movie.
If it was Rotten Tomatoes, it would be "Fresh" but barely with a 60%.
Incidentally - Amazon now lists it at $1500.
That's flat-out overpriced for APS-C technology.
 
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bensyverson said:
Haha, if $1500 is overpriced, what about $9,700?
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Actually, that's not all that bad a price for a digital medium format camera aimed at the professional market where it's a necessary capital investment that one uses to make money (and can write off your taxes) - not a toy for hobbyists.
 
NickTrop said:
Actually, that's not all that bad a price for a digital medium format camera aimed at the professional market where it's a necessary capital investment that one uses to make money (and can write off your taxes) - not a toy for hobbyists.
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I agree that it's not a bad price for a digital MF camera, but the $9700 Sigma SD-1 is an APS-C camera... hence my post
 
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not a toy for hobbyists.[/quote]

I have no dog in this fight, but nothing I've seen indicates this is a toy for hobbyists. And what's wrong with hobbyists? Amateurs push the bar in this field and many others. Professionals tend to buy something and use it until it's a shiny nub.
 
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