ebrandon
Member
This post summarizes my unexpected reactions to actually having the X100 in my hand and my first day of shooting with it.
I pre-ordered the X100 from Amazon early Feb 8th, with overnight shipping, and it arrived today May 2nd.
After reading the forums obsessively for over three months and seeing all the raves & rants I was expecting to have one of two reactions to this camera:
1) It's a nice object to hold & own -- like a Mont Blanc Pen or a nice watch. How good it is as a camera is almost immaterial because it's so nice to fondle.
2) It's a pretty thing, but with such an awful user interface & such severe defects (sluggish response, slow startup times, titled viewfinders, AF problems) that it would be so frustrating to use that I would end up returning it.
My actual reaction turned out to be completely different:
After it arrived today I spent a couple of hours familiarizing myself with the camera & customizing it, and then went out to shoot in San Francisco's Chinatown & North Beach areas.
Expectation one was immediately shattered -- In my opinion it's not an AMAZING object to hold -- a nice camera no doubt but not in a different league than an Olympus EP-2. The electronic data overlaid on the OVF viewfinder is pretty great, though.
Expectation two was also immediately dispelled -- I found the camera to start up snappily, to operate very responsively, to AF quickly and accurately, to have an extremely straight viewfinder, and to be a joy to use.
What I actually experienced was an incredibly fun and effective photographic tool that gives you tremendous flexibility. The OVF is the default mode to use just because it's so beautiful to look through; but here are some other scenarios that came up today:
- Taking a picture through a chain link fence and need to see through the lens to make sure none of the fence is blocking the image? Use the EVF
- Taking a picture through a window and want to make sure you hand is blocking reflections not just for the VF but for the lens itself? Use the EVF
- Taking a picture high above your head to minimize glare or distortions? Use the back screen
- Taking a picture of people from a low angle but don't want to attract their attention by crouching? Use the back screen and shoot from waist height
I found myself taking pictures at a rate 4 to 5 times my normal rate with a DSLR because I didn't have to critically focus for very shallow depth of field; because I didn't change any lenses; and because the camera doesn't encourage chimping.
Some other surprises:
1) People were incredibly nice to me compared to when I'm out with a DSLR. It was all smiles and friendly chats about what I was photographing. I attribute this not only to the camera looking retro and having a small lens, but also to not carrying around a camera bag.
2) The incredibly silent shutter helped a lot to put people at ease, and to give me courage to get closer to people and to take more pictures than I usually would.
3) When I got home and looked at the pictures the AF was spot-on 95% of the time, colors were extremely accurate, the images were very very detailed, there was tons of dynamic range, and the soft mirrorless shutter got me sharp pictures at 1/60sec over and over. I was very pleased.
The only negative for me was that the exposure system seemed a little flaky -- often over or underexposing by a stop or so. But the pictures still worked out in post. My theory is that the camera tries very hard not to crush ANY blacks or blow out ANY whites -- so if you have even a small black object in your image it may overexpose the whole image; and conversly a single small highlight anywhere in the image may lead to the whole picture being underexposed.
Bottom line -- I love this camera. I usually shoot top notch lenses on the Canon 5D2 and Nikon D3 and also use micro four thirds with lots of great legacy glass. The Fuji X100 delivers the goods when you get home and look at the images; and it's perhaps the most fun camera I've ever used for city shooting.
Here are some samples from today -- all shot RAW and processed in LR 3.4
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-CZKW38w/0/XL/x100-0259-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-k8CzXhv/0/XL/x100-0276-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-sJPVzm7/0/XL/x100-0267-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-L7vPBhM/0/XL/x100-0251-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-Z5xxZbL/0/XL/x100-0192-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-9RR3LVn/0/XL/x100-0200-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-V2DDZMf/0/XL/x100-0185-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-R2mkTV9/0/XL/x100-0242-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-hpJ3xGb/0/XL/x100-0141-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-x7HRXd8/0/X2/x100-0228-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-fV42dWr/0/X2/x100-0156-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-zj4G2km/0/XL/x100-0306-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-VFMZpfg/0/X2/x100-0283-X2.jpg
I pre-ordered the X100 from Amazon early Feb 8th, with overnight shipping, and it arrived today May 2nd.
After reading the forums obsessively for over three months and seeing all the raves & rants I was expecting to have one of two reactions to this camera:
1) It's a nice object to hold & own -- like a Mont Blanc Pen or a nice watch. How good it is as a camera is almost immaterial because it's so nice to fondle.
2) It's a pretty thing, but with such an awful user interface & such severe defects (sluggish response, slow startup times, titled viewfinders, AF problems) that it would be so frustrating to use that I would end up returning it.
My actual reaction turned out to be completely different:
After it arrived today I spent a couple of hours familiarizing myself with the camera & customizing it, and then went out to shoot in San Francisco's Chinatown & North Beach areas.
Expectation one was immediately shattered -- In my opinion it's not an AMAZING object to hold -- a nice camera no doubt but not in a different league than an Olympus EP-2. The electronic data overlaid on the OVF viewfinder is pretty great, though.
Expectation two was also immediately dispelled -- I found the camera to start up snappily, to operate very responsively, to AF quickly and accurately, to have an extremely straight viewfinder, and to be a joy to use.
What I actually experienced was an incredibly fun and effective photographic tool that gives you tremendous flexibility. The OVF is the default mode to use just because it's so beautiful to look through; but here are some other scenarios that came up today:
- Taking a picture through a chain link fence and need to see through the lens to make sure none of the fence is blocking the image? Use the EVF
- Taking a picture through a window and want to make sure you hand is blocking reflections not just for the VF but for the lens itself? Use the EVF
- Taking a picture high above your head to minimize glare or distortions? Use the back screen
- Taking a picture of people from a low angle but don't want to attract their attention by crouching? Use the back screen and shoot from waist height
I found myself taking pictures at a rate 4 to 5 times my normal rate with a DSLR because I didn't have to critically focus for very shallow depth of field; because I didn't change any lenses; and because the camera doesn't encourage chimping.
Some other surprises:
1) People were incredibly nice to me compared to when I'm out with a DSLR. It was all smiles and friendly chats about what I was photographing. I attribute this not only to the camera looking retro and having a small lens, but also to not carrying around a camera bag.
2) The incredibly silent shutter helped a lot to put people at ease, and to give me courage to get closer to people and to take more pictures than I usually would.
3) When I got home and looked at the pictures the AF was spot-on 95% of the time, colors were extremely accurate, the images were very very detailed, there was tons of dynamic range, and the soft mirrorless shutter got me sharp pictures at 1/60sec over and over. I was very pleased.
The only negative for me was that the exposure system seemed a little flaky -- often over or underexposing by a stop or so. But the pictures still worked out in post. My theory is that the camera tries very hard not to crush ANY blacks or blow out ANY whites -- so if you have even a small black object in your image it may overexpose the whole image; and conversly a single small highlight anywhere in the image may lead to the whole picture being underexposed.
Bottom line -- I love this camera. I usually shoot top notch lenses on the Canon 5D2 and Nikon D3 and also use micro four thirds with lots of great legacy glass. The Fuji X100 delivers the goods when you get home and look at the images; and it's perhaps the most fun camera I've ever used for city shooting.
Here are some samples from today -- all shot RAW and processed in LR 3.4
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-CZKW38w/0/XL/x100-0259-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-k8CzXhv/0/XL/x100-0276-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-sJPVzm7/0/XL/x100-0267-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-L7vPBhM/0/XL/x100-0251-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-Z5xxZbL/0/XL/x100-0192-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-9RR3LVn/0/XL/x100-0200-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-V2DDZMf/0/XL/x100-0185-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-R2mkTV9/0/XL/x100-0242-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-hpJ3xGb/0/XL/x100-0141-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-x7HRXd8/0/X2/x100-0228-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-fV42dWr/0/X2/x100-0156-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-zj4G2km/0/XL/x100-0306-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-VFMZpfg/0/X2/x100-0283-X2.jpg
Last edited:
Thanks for your thoughts. Mine arrives today. Very excited.
willie_901
Veteran
jsrocket
Have fun. It is a bit complicated to figure out how to set things up to one's liking. I got mine yesterday. I am using the least amount of automation possible. I've use both AE and full manual exposure. It takes a few frames to realize the exposure meter only shows compensation setting in AE mode. In M mode the graphic shows actual exposure. This makes perfect sense, but it took me a while to get it. I assigned the AF/AE button to focus lock only and decouple focus from the shutter button. The MF operation is not as bad as I've read about. I start out in EVF and start focus with the AF/AE button. With F 2 or 2.8 I continue to use EVF. For F 4 or above I switch to OVF and rely on DOF to focus and recompose.
The OVF finder is large and bright. The EVF finder is quite nice unless you are using zoomed MF where there is noticeable lag. But the finders really make the camera a joy.
I agree completely with what ebrandon wrote:
"Expectation two was also immediately dispelled -- I found the camera to start up snappily, to operate very responsively, to AF quickly and accurately, to have an extremely straight viewfinder, and to be a joy to use."
Have fun. It is a bit complicated to figure out how to set things up to one's liking. I got mine yesterday. I am using the least amount of automation possible. I've use both AE and full manual exposure. It takes a few frames to realize the exposure meter only shows compensation setting in AE mode. In M mode the graphic shows actual exposure. This makes perfect sense, but it took me a while to get it. I assigned the AF/AE button to focus lock only and decouple focus from the shutter button. The MF operation is not as bad as I've read about. I start out in EVF and start focus with the AF/AE button. With F 2 or 2.8 I continue to use EVF. For F 4 or above I switch to OVF and rely on DOF to focus and recompose.
The OVF finder is large and bright. The EVF finder is quite nice unless you are using zoomed MF where there is noticeable lag. But the finders really make the camera a joy.
I agree completely with what ebrandon wrote:
"Expectation two was also immediately dispelled -- I found the camera to start up snappily, to operate very responsively, to AF quickly and accurately, to have an extremely straight viewfinder, and to be a joy to use."
You guys are getting me excited. 
I have a feeling I will really like this camera.
I have a feeling I will really like this camera.
Gid
Well-known
You guys are getting me excited.
Me too. My desire had waned somewhat (probably all the hype and the wait), but I had left an"email me when in stock" note on a couple of UK dealer's sites just in case and got a message this afternoon to say one was in stock. So it should be with me on Thursday. BTW today is my birthday, so an appropriate birthday present
Happy Birthday!
Glenn2
Well-known
It's a superb tool to carry everywhere for spur of the moment shots, am enjoying mine very much.
I usually carry small cameras (Leica or X100) out of sight under a jacket, just above the hip. Just don't try going through airport security checks this way, it freaks the guards out. The small bulge looks a lot like you're packing heat CCW style.
One thing to watch out for is inadvertent bumping of buttons and the exposure compensation dial while carrying. It's too easy to move these as the camera bounces around. I suspect a half case would help in keeping settings from unwanted changes.
Glenn
I usually carry small cameras (Leica or X100) out of sight under a jacket, just above the hip. Just don't try going through airport security checks this way, it freaks the guards out. The small bulge looks a lot like you're packing heat CCW style.
One thing to watch out for is inadvertent bumping of buttons and the exposure compensation dial while carrying. It's too easy to move these as the camera bounces around. I suspect a half case would help in keeping settings from unwanted changes.
Glenn
NickTrop
Veteran
This is what I don't get:
"I found myself taking pictures at a rate 4 to 5 times my normal rate with a DSLR because I didn't have to critically focus for very shallow depth of field; because I didn't change any lenses; and because the camera doesn't encourage chimping."
This is a very common knock against DSLRs along with kvetching about all the menus. My response is as follows:
1. Most menu features are for initial set-up. Set it up the way you like and forget it. Everything else that you would usually want to change - aperture priority/shutter priority (mainly) is on a button or a dial at your fingertips.
Now to your issues...
2. You don't have to focus at a shallow DOF. The camera doesn't force this on you.
3. You don't have to change lenses. (I rarely do. I have two lenses with my DSLR. A very good 35mm f1.8 prime that stays on the camera 99% of the time. The other is a 55-200 zoom I got used/cheap for 60 bucks just "to have"...)
4. How does a camera "encourage" chimping? Don't like chimping? Don't chimp.
I see no advantage of this camera over any entry-level DSLR other than its OVF (dare I say) gimmick and its retro styling. It has less features that an entry-level DSLR and cost considerably more. Its only practical real advantage is it is somewhat smaller but a compact DSLR with a prime is "small enough" - at least to me.
"I found myself taking pictures at a rate 4 to 5 times my normal rate with a DSLR because I didn't have to critically focus for very shallow depth of field; because I didn't change any lenses; and because the camera doesn't encourage chimping."
This is a very common knock against DSLRs along with kvetching about all the menus. My response is as follows:
1. Most menu features are for initial set-up. Set it up the way you like and forget it. Everything else that you would usually want to change - aperture priority/shutter priority (mainly) is on a button or a dial at your fingertips.
Now to your issues...
2. You don't have to focus at a shallow DOF. The camera doesn't force this on you.
3. You don't have to change lenses. (I rarely do. I have two lenses with my DSLR. A very good 35mm f1.8 prime that stays on the camera 99% of the time. The other is a 55-200 zoom I got used/cheap for 60 bucks just "to have"...)
4. How does a camera "encourage" chimping? Don't like chimping? Don't chimp.
I see no advantage of this camera over any entry-level DSLR other than its OVF (dare I say) gimmick and its retro styling. It has less features that an entry-level DSLR and cost considerably more. Its only practical real advantage is it is somewhat smaller but a compact DSLR with a prime is "small enough" - at least to me.
Gid
Well-known
Thanks. So far it has been very good.
GSNfan
Well-known
Its good to hear but also remeber that you'll only know if its the camera for you after a month or so.
First day I went out with a DSLR, having upgraded from a digi P&S, I felt elated, I thought i could do anything I wanted and I took a thousand photos, the same excitement was there for months and now after many years a DSLR feels very awkward to me.
Our perception of things is more important than the things themselves.
First day I went out with a DSLR, having upgraded from a digi P&S, I felt elated, I thought i could do anything I wanted and I took a thousand photos, the same excitement was there for months and now after many years a DSLR feels very awkward to me.
Our perception of things is more important than the things themselves.
purewire
Member
Excellent review. Sounds like this camera was made for the streets.
ebrandon
Member
I like shallow DOF. That's one of the main reasons I spend thousands on full frame DSLRs, thousands more on f1.2 and f1.4 lenses, and usually carry lots of big, heavy, time-consuming primes instead of zooms.
I was only saying that compared to my usual style of shooting with my usual gear which can be slow because getting focus perfect is critical; the X100 with its much deeper DOF made for much quicker shooting. And that was a fun change of pace.
I could use my full frame DSLRs quick and easy with kit zooms but that would be a bit like picking up the groceries in a sports car, or listening to AM talk radio on a great stereo.
That's great for you. I like to use the right lens for the right job. Macro lens for macros; quick focusing lens for sports; portrait lens for portraits; fast lenses indoors; etc.
That means changing lenses a lot.
To me the X100 is mainly for city shooting. It is the "right lens" for the job. I have other gear for other photographic pursuits.
Use a Nikon D3 for an afternoon and you'll see how a camera encourages chimping. One dial for incredibly fast movement between images, another to zoom in and out of the image. Compare the same zoomed-in part of one image to another effortlessly. It's addictive. You might as well say "I don't see how scotch encourages drinking" -- yeah you don't have to drink it but let me see what happens if I put a glass in your hand.
The X100 is bad at chimping -- the screen is relatively small, it always resets itself to the last image on the card, and it moves from one picture to another fast enough, but not instantly. So you don't chimp as much!
Features aren't everything... it's small size and lack of features is what is appealing tome.
NickTrop
Veteran
For the "I like to pay more for less" crowd. I really can't follow the logic of this. Ok, you like its 1985 Minolta Himatic AF2 form factor. Fine. But what one earth do you have against features? Don't like'em? Don't use them. Better to have than have not. - And it's worth additional cost for less features - and therefore fewer capabilities? This makes zero sense to me. TILT TILT TILT
It makes no sense to you because it's not your philosophy. I tend to like things stripped down to the essentials in most parts of my life. I'm not a "swiss army" type.
It's worth the additional cost, for me, because it is not a DSLR... I just don't like using them especially the tunnel-vision low-end ones. I've tried to like them... I just can't (I even owned a D700). Additionally, I like a simple shutter speed knob and aperture ring. So, yes, I pay for less when a company makes the right choices in features (that don't clutter), ergonomics, and design.
And yes, I do like the Minolta Himatic AF2. Very cool camera.
j6ppc
Member
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm dying to get my hands on this camera but will wait until I can get one at a non stupid e-bay price .
.cee
Member
Nice work!
Looks like a fun time out in SF- I've always enjoyed my time there immensely.
Looks like a fun time out in SF- I've always enjoyed my time there immensely.
ebrandon
Member
Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement.
Yesterday's shooting and working with the resulting images gave me a better sense of the camera's capabilities; and a better idea of how I intend to use it.
With that in mind, I made one change -- upped the minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO to 1/125sec -- and set out for a bit of shooting in my own town of San Rafael, California.
Again, I found myself working very fast with this camera -- all the pictures below come from about 75 minutes of walking around. And again I found myself having a blast even in my own town's main street which I'm usually really tired of shooting.
You want color? Here's color. Saturation not bumped up at all.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-mPWcj4m/0/X2/x100 day 2-0334-X2.jpg
You want detail? Here's a 100% crop from the image above.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-bdJ4kLD/0/XL/x100 day 2-0334-2-XL.jpg
I put a homebrew hood on the camera which enabled me to press it up against glass shop windows with minimal reflections. (The hood is 52->49mm step down ring + 49->52mm step up ring + 52mm inner-facing hood from Voigtlander 40mm f2).
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-WGgcKdz/0/X2/x100 day 2-0417-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-L3j877C/0/X2/x100 day 2-0420-X2.jpg
Again, a 100% crop from the image above.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-KmK5tDd/0/XL/x100 day 2-0420-2-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-3cxsxcH/0/X2/x100 day 2-0338-X2.jpg
Again, the camera's unintimidating appearance and quiet shutter gave me confidence to approach people I ordinarily would not. This girl told me she only knows one chord on the guitar, so I asked her to play it for me. I offered to email her the picture but she said she had no email address or real address either. Then -- amazingly -- she said "nice camera -- really cool camera". Even homeless hippy chicks dig the X100!
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-HP7p7Qr/0/X2/x100 day 2-0343-X2.jpg
This woman was living in her car and reading a book. Again, I asked if I could take her picture with this litte camera. I took several and she stayed very natural because she couldn't hear the shutter going off repeatedly.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-QRtFcq9/0/XL/x100 day 2-0367-XL.jpg
Just walking around town I saw things I've seen before, but was inspired to photograph them differently.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-56LB6ZB/0/X2/x100 day 2-0346-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-fzDcfr5/0/XL/x100 day 2-0345-XL.jpg
I know people on the forums love pictures of brick walls This one has a lot of character.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-j9zVjLH/0/XL/x100 day 2-0377-XL.jpg
This plaque is self-explanatory. It's usually not decorated but because of the killing of Osama Bin Laden a couple of days ago, it was decorated as shown and also with flags and bouquets (not shown).
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-wf7pBV2/0/X2/x100 day 2-0380-X2.jpg
This place has a very complicated menu.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-tkKKwBc/0/XL/x100 day 2-0408-XL.jpg
A lot going on in this f14 image. It's f14 because at faster than 1/15 of a second you don't get the whole flickering sign lit up.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-fxXvH9t/0/XL/x100 day 2-0413-XL.jpg
My town has one of the great old-fashioned electronics parts stores that have mostly disappeared. I never wanted to go in there and take pictures with a big noisy DSLR but with this camera I did and they were very nice about it. Here's part of their display of switches.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-XDrcD35/0/XL/x100 day 2-0349-XL.jpg
and a 100% crop of this 1600 ISO image.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-DWknhqV/0/XL/x100 day 2-0349-2-XL.jpg
Finally, a self-portrait. It's cool having macro capability available whenever you need it.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-ZrKQQ4z/0/XL/x100 day 2-0407-XL.jpg
Yesterday's shooting and working with the resulting images gave me a better sense of the camera's capabilities; and a better idea of how I intend to use it.
With that in mind, I made one change -- upped the minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO to 1/125sec -- and set out for a bit of shooting in my own town of San Rafael, California.
Again, I found myself working very fast with this camera -- all the pictures below come from about 75 minutes of walking around. And again I found myself having a blast even in my own town's main street which I'm usually really tired of shooting.
You want color? Here's color. Saturation not bumped up at all.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-mPWcj4m/0/X2/x100 day 2-0334-X2.jpg
You want detail? Here's a 100% crop from the image above.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-bdJ4kLD/0/XL/x100 day 2-0334-2-XL.jpg
I put a homebrew hood on the camera which enabled me to press it up against glass shop windows with minimal reflections. (The hood is 52->49mm step down ring + 49->52mm step up ring + 52mm inner-facing hood from Voigtlander 40mm f2).
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-WGgcKdz/0/X2/x100 day 2-0417-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-L3j877C/0/X2/x100 day 2-0420-X2.jpg
Again, a 100% crop from the image above.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-KmK5tDd/0/XL/x100 day 2-0420-2-XL.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-3cxsxcH/0/X2/x100 day 2-0338-X2.jpg
Again, the camera's unintimidating appearance and quiet shutter gave me confidence to approach people I ordinarily would not. This girl told me she only knows one chord on the guitar, so I asked her to play it for me. I offered to email her the picture but she said she had no email address or real address either. Then -- amazingly -- she said "nice camera -- really cool camera". Even homeless hippy chicks dig the X100!
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-HP7p7Qr/0/X2/x100 day 2-0343-X2.jpg
This woman was living in her car and reading a book. Again, I asked if I could take her picture with this litte camera. I took several and she stayed very natural because she couldn't hear the shutter going off repeatedly.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-QRtFcq9/0/XL/x100 day 2-0367-XL.jpg
Just walking around town I saw things I've seen before, but was inspired to photograph them differently.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-56LB6ZB/0/X2/x100 day 2-0346-X2.jpg
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-fzDcfr5/0/XL/x100 day 2-0345-XL.jpg
I know people on the forums love pictures of brick walls
This one has a lot of character.http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-j9zVjLH/0/XL/x100 day 2-0377-XL.jpg
This plaque is self-explanatory. It's usually not decorated but because of the killing of Osama Bin Laden a couple of days ago, it was decorated as shown and also with flags and bouquets (not shown).
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-wf7pBV2/0/X2/x100 day 2-0380-X2.jpg
This place has a very complicated menu.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-tkKKwBc/0/XL/x100 day 2-0408-XL.jpg
A lot going on in this f14 image. It's f14 because at faster than 1/15 of a second you don't get the whole flickering sign lit up.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-fxXvH9t/0/XL/x100 day 2-0413-XL.jpg
My town has one of the great old-fashioned electronics parts stores that have mostly disappeared. I never wanted to go in there and take pictures with a big noisy DSLR but with this camera I did and they were very nice about it. Here's part of their display of switches.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-XDrcD35/0/XL/x100 day 2-0349-XL.jpg
and a 100% crop of this 1600 ISO image.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-DWknhqV/0/XL/x100 day 2-0349-2-XL.jpg
Finally, a self-portrait. It's cool having macro capability available whenever you need it.
http://thebrandons.smugmug.com/Other/Samples-for-forums/i-ZrKQQ4z/0/XL/x100 day 2-0407-XL.jpg
ishpop
tall person
Nice shots. My gripe with the X100 so far, based on the photos I have seen, is that the images look, to me, on websites and such, similar to those from a Canon G11 or Leica LX4. Maybe its the abundance of deep DoF shots, or the generally flat tonality of the camera's settings.
Not knocking the camera at all, or your experiences, but I just dont see a look I am necessarily excited about...
Not knocking the camera at all, or your experiences, but I just dont see a look I am necessarily excited about...
That can be said about many cameras...