Fuji X100 Digital SOMETHING from Fujifilm

[PKR]

I know a computer geek who could spout off ad infinitum about any digital devices including sensors. He had not seen daylight perhaps for years, let alone taking a picture.

I also know a Leica collector who knows, or claim to know all Leica lenses ever released... His pictures on the wall are lousy...out of focus, unsteady, unsharp...so what is the point for having good lenses?

What is the point of having freedom if not living it?

In the days of analog HiFi Audio, I knew people who spent thousands of dollars on stereo systems. Many had huge collections of records and enjoyed music. A few had all the gear and a few "stereo test records".. I knew what what was going on, but didn't understand the "equipment thing". Bill Gates owns a da Vinci Codex. You would think he would build a place for public viewing.. it's in his home. I guess he "needs" it. Funny, the things some people need ..

 

[dazedgonebye]

Manual focus would be nice...but I don't see it as the overriding concern.

Seems to me the hybrid finder gives the user some of the best bits of SLRs and Rangefinders in one. (An obvious statement, I guess.)
All the goodness of rangefinders, with the ability to compose up close and parallax free when the situation calls for it. I've almost never managed a decent, tight portrait with a rangefinder (partially a skill issue to be sure).

 

[user237428934]

In addition to what I wrote before (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1425974&postcount=1078) there was another aspect the nice Fuji representative told me. The lens bayonet is designed to add converters in front of the lens.

The view through the optical viewfinder is absolutely nice. Not that flicker stuff when looking through an EVF. A clear view with all the other information nicely displayed. Just like some head up display in certain concept cars.

 

[Frankie]

...... Funny, the things some people need ..

The only point in life is the living of it.

 

[Warren T.]

I think it is nothing but stunning -- it's a revolution really. It's the beginning of the end of this whole absurd compose-by-staring-at-a-micro-TV-screen-an-arm's-length-away madness.

+4 🙂

On my recent trip to Alaska, my travel kit was a Lumix G1 and Lumix GF1. The GF1 was a last minute acquisition so I did not have time to hunt down the optional external EVF. I have age related farsightedness (I'm 52), and my eyesight, and direct sunlight makes it very difficult to compose using the GF1's rear LCD. I managed (grudgingly), but it is a real challenge to use it that way.

Also, I switched between the G1 and GF1 frequently while shooting with a two body combo, and I found myself occasionally putting the GF1 to my eye and then realizing that I was staring over the top of the GF1 into 'nothing" (at the non-existent VF). :bang: 😀😀

So, among the other great specs of the X100, the innovative hybrid VF is a big deal to me.

--Warren

 

[Frankie]

In addition to what I wrote before (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1425974&postcount=1078) there was another aspect the nice Fuji representative told me. The lens bayonet is designed to add converters in front of the lens.

The view through the optical viewfinder is absolutely nice. Not that flicker stuff when looking through an EVF. A clear view with all the other information nicely displayed. Just like some head up display in certain concept cars.

THANK YOU, tom.w.bn.

I had speculated about the thread adapter in Post 1066, based on a tiny picture of a poster in the Fuji booth.

I wrote:

"The thread adapter got me thinking: why not a front threaded wide or tele converter [Canon G7~11 style.]? If Fuji had optimized the 23mm lens to the sensor, then a front-threaded converter would not have disturbed that set-up...right?"

RIGHT ON!!! 😀😀😀😀😀😀

 

[Thardy]

Amen...and for Paul T, it even has an artificial horizon and grid. 😀

That grid can be mighty useful for us horizontally challenged folks.

 

[Frankie]

That grid can be mighty useful for us horizontally challenged folks.

Including me...sometimes.

The grid is aligned with the frame, the artificial horizon rotates...a simple blue line but similar to aircraft instrument.

 

[PKR]

size matters if you're in love .

Come on Morgan.. are you part of that old Building 20 crowd?

p.

 

[Frankie]

Dear tom.w.bn,

The Fuji poster labels that ring as "Adapter ring".

Am I correct to think that it has a male threaded end [46mm?] and a female bayonet end for add-on lens converters?

I would be happy if only a 2X-telephoto version would be available, but a wide-angle version would make many more people in RFF happy.

 

[__--]

...there was another aspect the nice Fuji representative told me. The lens bayonet is designed to add converters in front of the lens...

This is very interesting. For the Ricoh GRD3 there's an 0.75x wide-converter that provides a 21mm EFOV and maintains the f/1.9 maximum aperture of the camera lens, as well as its outstanding quality. If there were 0.6x and 0.8x wide-converters for the X100 that provided 21mm and 28mm fields of view at f/2.0, the flexibility of this camera would be greatly extended.

I'm not sure about a 1.4x tele-converter because it would require quite a large piece of glass for an f/2.0 lens that would be relatively heavy and probably subject to a lot of flare. Ricoh had a 1.4x tele-converter for it.s GRD2 camera that had an f/2.4 lens — it was subject to frequent flare — but has not made one for the f/1.9 lens of the GRD3, presumably for these reasons.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Scratching the Surface

 

[semilog]

This is very interesting. For the Ricoh GRD3 there's an 0.75x wide-converter that provides a 21mm EFOV and maintains the f/1.9 maximum aperture of the camera lens, as well as its outstanding quality.

If the X100 handles well, and I could use it for 35 and either 24 or 21mm EFOV, I'd essentially be done for the foreseeable future. That and my M6 in one small bag, supplemented a DSLR and a tele or zoom when needed.

Wow.

 

[bwcolor]

I've never used a tele-converter. When properly designed, what sort of image degradation takes place with such a converter?

 

[PKR]

I've never used a tele-converter. When properly designed, what sort of image degradation takes place with such a converter?

I've used Nikon converters on Nikon lenses.. they are good. But, not as good as a longer prime. I've never used one on a zoom..

 

[__--]

I've never used a tele-converter. When properly designed, what sort of image degradation takes place with such a converter?

Although "my mother always told me" to stay away from converter lenses, I can see no image degradaton with either the 21mm wide-converter (0.75x) for the GRD3 or the 40mm tele-converter (1.4x) for the GRD2. Actually, the quality of 21mm wide-converter reminds of the Elmarit-21 ASPH. The problem with the 40mm tele-converter is that frequently it produces a flare spot in one of the corners of the frame.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Scratching the Surface

 

[__--]

I've used Nikon converters on Nikon lenses.. they are good. But, not as good as a longer prime. I've never used one on a zoom..

I take it these go behind, not in front, of the lens and reduce the aperture by one stop. The converters for the Ricoh GRD2 and GRD3 that I referred to go in front of the lens, maintain the maximum aperture and have no discernable image degradation that I can see.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Scratching the Surface

 

[tapesonthefloor]

Here's a fairly thorough write-up from a Photokina attendee:

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-X100-First-Impressions-Review.htm

Most interesting to me is a mention of peaking on page four. I may be wrong, but this might be the first mention of peaking as a manual focus guide on the X100.

 

[Arjay]

Thank you for the link, tapesonthefloor!

'Peaking' (p. 4): That would be brilliant. This is exactly what I described as the MF focussing aid I knew from my late Coolpix 995, and that function was very viable. Could be a worthy replacement of a double-image rangefinder.

Shutter sounds (p. 5): Please don't madden us with shutter sound options! I know this from my cellphone, and on my phone, I always have to select a sound. I want a silent option for theatre and concert photography, please. If the camera can be silent like my Hexar AF, then please Fuji, don't spoil the fun.

 

[Frankie]

Here's a fairly thorough write-up from a Photokina attendee:

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-X100-First-Impressions-Review.htm

Most interesting to me is a mention of peaking on page four. I may be wrong, but this might be the first mention of peaking as a manual focus guide on the X100.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

My curiosity and lust for specifications are now satisfied. The X100 is indeed the camera to buy. My money is ready. 😀

 

[DNG]

Here's a fairly thorough write-up from a Photokina attendee:

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-X100-First-Impressions-Review.htm

Most interesting to me is a mention of peaking on page four. I may be wrong, but this might be the first mention of peaking as a manual focus guide on the X100.

Just read the 7 page review....
a very well thought out camera.

And seeing I haven't touched my K20d since getting a G1 along side my My M5. I have enough Pentax gear to sell it all and get one of these too.