DavidX
Established
Like many, when this camera was announced I thought someone had tapped directly into my brain to create my dream camera (not to replace the D700 I use for work, mind you, but for taking satisfying and high quality images with a small camera) I do editorial work and expected something whose images I could give to a client as well as doing fun stuff.
So I placed a preorder, and while waiting and reading I went from initial excitement (remember when the first images/peeks came out and they were great?) to worry (so many bugs and gripes!)
Then by chance I got one as a walk-in at a local shop. I’ve had it for two days and I’ve read the manual.
a) This thing is superb.
b) There’s lots of stuff wrong with it.
In a nutshell – this is camera can give you great images. In its area of expertise (how would we say this, its sweet spot?) yes, it can give you images you can sell to a client who’s used to good dslr files.
It is very clever and well thought out. Its build quality and ease of use are great.
Elephant in the room is the OVF is superb, and it what FOR ME makes the whole thing work. The way the OVF/EVF is integrated + really useful close focussing distance mean I can use it to work the way I want to; and that is what it’s all about. I can use it for the kind of editorial work I used to do with a 35mm film camera and 35mm lens. I used to use that for 70% of my shots. IMHO with a 35mm lens you can do workplace portraits, food, interiors, exteriors and candid people shots. Couple that with astounding high ISO that we never had with film and life just got so much easier.
But hey – it only costs $1500 (I’m including the case and adapter/hood here because it really needs them) That’s the ballpark cost of one pro lens, guys – cut some slack!
Remember - we paid more then this for the first 5MP point and shoots. I’ve got a Nikon Coolpix5000 on my desk that cost me $2K. My Dlux 3 cost me over $1K when it first came out. In short – the price is just fine. It’s good value. (to me – and isn’t that what matters?)
So – it’s CLEVER, but it’s not REFINED. There are lots of really nice ideas in the way it works, but there are rough bits too.
Some things can be fixed with firmware, some can’t. Main points:
Yes – the command dial thing on the back is a bit annoying and it’s easy to get the wrong thing pushed.
Manual focus is useless. (Harsh? Maybe, but I’ll repeat – useless. Try using it in very low light – you’ll think you’ve gone mad) So what? – put it on MF and use the AE/L button to focus – that works great, and it’s how I set up my dslr anyway – thanks Fuji!.
I wish you could jog ISO in whole stop with the Fn button and jog dial (I’m hoping there’s a trick - does anyone know?)
To sum up – it’s a winner. There are lots of things wrong with it but the basic premise and the OVF is so right that it’s a must-have. Yes, it’s also annoying, but if you can’t get good shots with it don’t blame the camera.
So I placed a preorder, and while waiting and reading I went from initial excitement (remember when the first images/peeks came out and they were great?) to worry (so many bugs and gripes!)
Then by chance I got one as a walk-in at a local shop. I’ve had it for two days and I’ve read the manual.
a) This thing is superb.
b) There’s lots of stuff wrong with it.
In a nutshell – this is camera can give you great images. In its area of expertise (how would we say this, its sweet spot?) yes, it can give you images you can sell to a client who’s used to good dslr files.
It is very clever and well thought out. Its build quality and ease of use are great.
Elephant in the room is the OVF is superb, and it what FOR ME makes the whole thing work. The way the OVF/EVF is integrated + really useful close focussing distance mean I can use it to work the way I want to; and that is what it’s all about. I can use it for the kind of editorial work I used to do with a 35mm film camera and 35mm lens. I used to use that for 70% of my shots. IMHO with a 35mm lens you can do workplace portraits, food, interiors, exteriors and candid people shots. Couple that with astounding high ISO that we never had with film and life just got so much easier.
But hey – it only costs $1500 (I’m including the case and adapter/hood here because it really needs them) That’s the ballpark cost of one pro lens, guys – cut some slack!
Remember - we paid more then this for the first 5MP point and shoots. I’ve got a Nikon Coolpix5000 on my desk that cost me $2K. My Dlux 3 cost me over $1K when it first came out. In short – the price is just fine. It’s good value. (to me – and isn’t that what matters?)
So – it’s CLEVER, but it’s not REFINED. There are lots of really nice ideas in the way it works, but there are rough bits too.
Some things can be fixed with firmware, some can’t. Main points:
Yes – the command dial thing on the back is a bit annoying and it’s easy to get the wrong thing pushed.
Manual focus is useless. (Harsh? Maybe, but I’ll repeat – useless. Try using it in very low light – you’ll think you’ve gone mad) So what? – put it on MF and use the AE/L button to focus – that works great, and it’s how I set up my dslr anyway – thanks Fuji!.
I wish you could jog ISO in whole stop with the Fn button and jog dial (I’m hoping there’s a trick - does anyone know?)
To sum up – it’s a winner. There are lots of things wrong with it but the basic premise and the OVF is so right that it’s a must-have. Yes, it’s also annoying, but if you can’t get good shots with it don’t blame the camera.
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