Fuji X100 Digital SOMETHING from Fujifilm

[ebino]

1. Yes. The aperture can be camera-controlled (see the A setting on the aperture dial).

2. No. We don't yet know about shutter lag.

3. I don't think so. An dedicated dial for ISO would be nice, though. I have some hope that the control thumbwheel on the camera's back will be assignable to control ISO.

thanks.

In that case then I would have to say it feels a little gimmicky to have electronically controlled shutter and aperture with mechanical dials.

Especially if auto focus is through the lens then the lens will be at its widest by default and then close to the chosen aperture when the shutter is pressed so the whole point of a mechanical aperture seems rather superfluous.

an iso dial makes ore sense because with digital its the ISO which is the deciding factor, second comes aperture and finally shutter. not to mention the exposure compensation fills a lot more important role than shutter dial. So the shutter dial for an electronic shutter seems rather pointless as well.

i just hope fuji is not thinking of the potential market for this camera as people who like the retro style and look just for the sake of retro look rather than its actual utility.

But then again we'll have to wait and see.

 

[dazedgonebye]

What about a PRO mode in which the ISO could be changed only every 36 images ? 😛

12 images.... 😀

 

[Paul T.]

thanks.


an iso dial makes ore sense because with digital its the ISO which is the deciding factor, second comes aperture and finally shutter. not to mention the exposure compensation fills a lot more important role than shutter dial. So the shutter dial for an electronic shutter seems rather pointless as well.

It's a tricky one. Program mode in the GF1 is pretty rubbish too... although few cameras are up to that on the Hexar AF. If the rear control wheel can default to ISO, that will be fine for me.

AS pointed out, there are huge numbers of questions about usability, in addition to IQ and focus speed. But effectively having separate controls for aperture and ISO would be a good place from which to start.

 

[narsuitus]

Fuji has updated their X100 web page...

http://www.finepix-x100.com/x100

In one place on the web page, it states, “The chassis has been finished with high-quality leather accents…”.

In another place it states, “Leather-like finish enhances look and feel.”

My question is, is it or isn’t it leather?

 

[jsrockit]

-Speaking of shutter, any info how the shutter mechanism will work in X100? because if there is even slight shutter lag, it will put off a lot of people.

I'm of the opinion that Fuji knows this is THE make or break component of this camera...

It would be a shame if they f it up...

 

[jsrockit]

In one place on the web page, it states, “The chassis has been finished with high-quality leather accents…”.

In another place it states, “Leather-like finish enhances look and feel.”

My question is, is it or isn’t it leather?

Will one or the other make you not want the camera? It's probably pleather.

 

[Frankie]

Some questions that I could not find any answer on the reviews or maybe i did not read carefully enough, but I will ask anyway:


-Is it possible to control the aperture ring with in-camera software or its completely mechanical?

-Speaking of shutter, any info how the shutter mechanism will work in X100? because if there is even slight shutter lag, it will put off a lot of people.


and just a thought, don't you think an ISO dial would have made more sense on this camera rather than a shutter dial?

In my olde Minolta Hi-matic 7s, [c.a. 1970] there was A's in both aperture and shutter dials. Engaging both in Auto gives you Program Mode; [I imagine in the X100] engaging one only gives you internal camera-controlled AE in either Aperture- or Shutter-priority mode...with minimal shutter lag.

I believe/hope the X100 would take a chapter from this book.

For the ISO setting, menu makes more sense for me because then high- medium- low- or user defined-, native (200-6400) or extended (100-12800) ranges could be selected...in addition to Auto and specific ISO speeds.

The ISO setting would then become the environment for the three AE modes.

 

[jsrockit]

thanks.

In that case then I would have to say it feels a little gimmicky to have electronically controlled shutter and aperture with mechanical dials.

So, you'd rather go menu diving or have one dial that does many things?

Especially if auto focus is through the lens then the lens will be at its widest by default and then close to the chosen aperture when the shutter is pressed so the whole point of a mechanical aperture seems rather superfluous.

What would be your alternative?

an iso dial makes ore sense because with digital its the ISO which is the deciding factor, second comes aperture and finally shutter. not to mention the exposure compensation fills a lot more important role than shutter dial. So the shutter dial for an electronic shutter seems rather pointless as well.

Wow, really... that's not how I feel. Perhaps I'm old school, but I still make my shutter speed and aperture choices before changing my ISO. ISO is something that does not generally change many times during the day time...while shutter speeds and apertures sure do...

i just hope fuji is not thinking of the potential market for this camera as people who like the retro style and look just for the sake of retro look rather than its actual utility.

But then again we'll have to wait and see.

I don't believe they are... if you read their documentation they are mostly speaking about making a camera for maximum usability... not for wearing to the next hip event.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have the Hi-Matic 9, much like the 7s except with an F1.7 lens and follow-focus automatic flash. I also have a 7s, picked up much later.

The "AA" mode gave Program mode, but it was that or manual operation. It does not have P, S, and A- Just P and M. The camera fired with one left in the A position, but it shot at a default. The throw of the shutter release is long, and provided the force for activating the trap-needle automation.

Electronic cameras such as the Yashica Electro-X, Nikkormat EL, Nikon FE, and many others use a Shutter Speed dial to set electronic shutter speeds. How is that different from the new Fuji as far as being "Gimmicky"?

 

[Frankie]

Will one or the other make you not want the camera? It's probably pleather.

It is easy enough to re-skin the camera if you want. If the camera is indeed popular, I am sure precut kits would soon be available from the usual sources.

No modern Japanese camera is covered with real leather...impractical for rain and sweaty hands. All can be de-skinned easily...unlike the old Leica stuff. The [carefully] peel-off skin is the perfect template for cutting new skins.

 

[cam]

In that case then I would have to say it feels a little gimmicky to have electronically controlled shutter and aperture with mechanical dials.

Especially if auto focus is through the lens then the lens will be at its widest by default and then close to the chosen aperture when the shutter is pressed so the whole point of a mechanical aperture seems rather superfluous.

an iso dial makes ore sense because with digital its the ISO which is the deciding factor, second comes aperture and finally shutter. not to mention the exposure compensation fills a lot more important role than shutter dial. So the shutter dial for an electronic shutter seems rather pointless as well.

it's absolutely perfect for how i shoot digital: set the aperture and shutter speed, let Auto-ISO do the rest. controlling shutter speed is far more important to me than ISO... we all have different needs.

 

[Frankie]

I have the Hi-Matic 9, much like the 7s except with an F1.7 lens and follow-focus automatic flash. I also have a 7s, picked up much later.

The "AA" mode gave Program mode, but it was that or manual operation. It does not have P, S, and A- Just P and M. The camera fired with one left in the A position, but it shot at a default. The throw of the shutter release is long, and provided the force for activating the trap-needle automation.

Electronic cameras such as the Yashica Electro-X, Nikkormat EL, Nikon FE, and many others use a Shutter Speed dial to set electronic shutter speeds. How is that different from the new Fuji as far as being "Gimmicky"?

It has been 4 decades since I used the Hi-matic 7s.

I do recall the shutter "throw" being long, but then I bypassed that by learning to half-depress the shutter if I anticipated action...waste a frame often until I got the hang of it.

AA stuck in my mind and I had often wonder why others don't take a look.

 

[Arjay]

an iso dial makes ore sense because with digital its the ISO which is the deciding factor, second comes aperture and finally shutter. not to mention the exposure compensation fills a lot more important role than shutter dial. So the shutter dial for an electronic shutter seems rather pointless as well.

I may be gerontologically biased, but I like to stay in control when I take pictures.

That is, I like to determine whether aperture or shutter speed ought to be variable - both actually would only be desirable if the camera were to implement the Hexar AF's P mode.

Having ISO speed set by an auto mode is equivalent to giving up control over image quality - which I'm only ready to do in some very special exceptions (night-time street shooting that's going to be post-processed to bw). IMHO, auto ISO is one of the sins that became fashionable with impostorish do-it-all p&s cameras, and should not be introduced without qualms into a camera that is designed to deliver highest IQ.

Having an ISO dial would be nice, but will definitely have a lower priority as compared to having direct controls for shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation. Changing ISO isn't something one would do for every other shot.

 

[Frankie]

I may be gerontologically biased, but I like to stay in control when I take pictures.

That is, I like to determine whether aperture or shutter speed ought to be variable - both actually would only be desirable if the camera were to implement the Hexar AF's P mode.

Having ISO speed variable is equivalent to giving up control over image quality - which I'm only ready to do in some very special exceptions (night-time street shooting that's going to be post-processed to bw).

IMHO, auto ISO is one of the sins that became fashionable with impostorish do-it-all p&s cameras, and should not be introduced without qualms into a camera that is designed to deliver highest IQ.

I totally agree...but I got lazy sometimes.

In other threads long ago, I wrote often about my dM-retrofit venture [now self-discontinued because of the X100...decision made in 10 sec.]. My minimalist design was based on knowing what to do in photography but soundly criticized by many. Funny thing, I now have people urging me directly to continue because the X100 can be the sidekick do-everything-else camera.

 

[PKR]

Just a quick comment I remembered from a friend who's designed camera sensors. He said: "Digital sensors need auto focus". He says that the point of focus is much more critical on a sensor's surface than with film. Now I didn't ask if this comment was meant for the consumer or if he thought it applied to users who knew how to focus a camera. He just said, to look sharp, focus had to be spot-on. He says that do to film's composition, film will look sharp when slightly out of focus. Now this guy is a scientist, (nuclear-chemist) and he likely measured all this stuff. He's pretty careful about what he says.

 

[Paul T.]

IN an ideal world you should be able to program ISO like the Hexar does aperture and shutter in P mode. IE, if I can program so that when the aperture's fully open, and shutter needs to go slower than 1/15, then ISO can rise to 400, or whatever I've set.

 

[cam]

I may be gerontologically biased, but I like to stay in control when I take pictures.

That is, I like to determine whether aperture or shutter speed ought to be variable - both actually would only be desirable if the camera were to implement the Hexar AF's P mode.

Having ISO speed set by an auto mode is equivalent to giving up control over image quality - which I'm only ready to do in some very special exceptions (night-time street shooting that's going to be post-processed to bw). IMHO, auto ISO is one of the sins that became fashionable with impostorish do-it-all p&s cameras, and should not be introduced without qualms into a camera that is designed to deliver highest IQ.

nothing wrong with that -- good on you!

i have found that Auto-ISO has improved my the quality of my pictures immensely -- i am finding a lot of images are shot at much lower ISO's than what i would have chosen. (i only seem to be able to meter accurately in low light situations.) i shoot mostly out on street, with variable lighting conditions, and want to be in control of both my aperture and shutter speed. Auto-ISO, where i specify when it is bumped up, has been a godsend to me.

for night, i am almost always in manual because my main camera does not meter well in those situations as i don't have the luxury of time to spot meter before hand.

different strokes for different folks.

just like i prefer to shoot digital as if it was film -- case closed, no review. i mght glance at them when i come home, but i always give a little time before i really look at them or think of processing them. i shoot on the R-D1 or M8 and only one of my lenses is coded, thus i mark each folder with what lens was (or lenses) used.

i am strange.

 

[semilog]

an iso dial makes ore sense because with digital its the ISO which is the deciding factor, second comes aperture and finally shutter.

I do not follow your logic at all. All three parameters are important and interdependent.

 

[semilog]

Will one or the other make you not want the camera? It's probably pleather.

I sure hope it's not leather. That is emphatically not where I want the cost of manufacture to be spent.

 

[visiondr]

I do not follow your logic at all. All three parameters are important and interdependent.

Thanks, I'd likely be less diplomatic. One would have thought that such an obvious truism would be, well, obvious. There are only two variables in determining exposure: the amount of light hitting the light recording surface (affected by shutter speed and lens aperture), and the sensitivity of that surface to light. It's not rocket science, people.