Fuji x100 - is it the M10?

[Wouter]

Seems like the digital and enhanced incarnation of the Hexar AF to me. I´ve been waiting for this for a long time. A very intelligent move from Fuji imho. Will it be a menace to the M9 ? No. Will it be a tool for reportage photographers ? Yes.

 

[alexnotalex]

Maybe they''ll bring out a X101 with a 50mm equivalent... that'd be great!

 

[reiki_]

Well , how I see it is that once upon a time Leica could have gone on a different route starting with the CL , but didn't , and now we are in a different point in history so if Leica doesn't go the affordable way someone else will. And did.

 

[branki]

Kudos to Fuji!

They keep on hiting the right notes, pulling out interesting things every time.
I guess their marketing department includes a couple of actual photographers...

Could this be the camera that "killed" the M8?

 

[mwooten]

It looks very interesting.

 

[Bill Pierce]

Not an M, but a much better X1
This camera will find it's way over here, unless some other brands (are you listening Cosina/Voigtlander) come with a digital rangefinder with M-mount.

With the way Cosina has helped out other manufacturers, I wouldn't fall down if they were contributing to this camera with Fuji providing the sensor technology.

 

[ampguy]

uh ohh

uh ohh

so framelines will go wonky quite often

With the way Cosina has helped out other manufacturers, I wouldn't fall down if they were contributing to this camera with Fuji providing the sensor technology.

 

[NickTrop]

I see the X100 as the digital incarnation of the Canonet, Electro, or other equivalent fixed-lens RF from the '60s-70s. That alone is a somewhat significant step forward.

I agree - but only I'd say "back to the future". I think the speculated price is too high for what is essentially a digital Yashica Electro. I have my own equivalent - the Nikon D5000 with a 35 f1.8 fixed lens always attached. It even has the same Sony sensor of the Fuji, and I'm more than happy with the 35/1.8 Nikon... in fact, I prefer the 50mm focal length to the 35mm of the Fuji. $1000 is the highest I'd personally go for the Fuji. I don't see why this camera should cost any more than a DSLR. Sensor - same; electronics - essentially the same. The dials can't cost that much, the main difference is the form factor.

If this is released at the $1200-$1500 price, I'll call my Nikon "the poor man's Fuji X100" and pass, unfortunately. Though this is no where near as hot looking as the Fuji, it probably has the same functionality - if not more, same IQ (guessing, same sensor, excellent lens) and is "compact enough".

 

[sepiareverb]

It's a better X1 indeed.

 

[tritiated]

It's a repeat of the 70's, where fixed lens RFs like the Yashica 35cc etc. were supposedly known as the 'poor mans Leica'. This will be the 'slightly less affluent affluent mans M8/9' I rekon!

It's useful to bear in mind that it still has a crop sensor, so if there was an interchangeable version, the same crop factor considerations would occur with film camera lenses as with micro 4/3 etc.

Will an M10 ever be built? What can be done by Leica to add value to the M9 design? It's already full frame with RF controls and M mount, what else have people been asking for?

 

[palec]

Finally this is the digital camera I'm starting to save for.

 

[jsrockit]

I don't see why this camera should cost any more than a DSLR. Sensor - same; electronics - essentially the same. The dials can't cost that much, the main difference is the form factor.

Smaller production run?

 

[vincentbenoit]

Will an M10 ever be built? What can be done by Leica to add value to the M9 design? It's already full frame with RF controls and M mount, what else have people been asking for?

Different viewfinder magnification options, analog ISO setting dial, slimmer body, environmental seals... The M9 is a rushed job, many things could and should be improved.

 

[johannielscom]

I'd get this if it is anything as promising as it looks. And that coming from someone who sold the M8 to go back to film!

So, why?

• Functions selectable (notice the Fn in the 'frame counter window'
• Manual aperture possible
• Manual shutter possible , up to 4000th
• Exposure correction
• EVF at the right place !!! Switchable to OVF !!!
• APS-C 23mm f2.0 lens = 34.5mm in 35mm terms
• ISO 200 to 6400
• FUJI sensor (remember the S3 Pro and the S5 Pro's dynamic range!?)

For gawds sake, let that be a metal body!?!?!? And I hope that knurling on the lens means manual focus is possible!?!?!?!


EDIT: apparently top and bottom plates are magnesium alloy !!!

 

[NickTrop]

Smaller production run?

Yeah - probably. Gotta set limits, though. This isn't a necessity for me, as nice a camera as it seems to be. The stuff I got will take pics as well as this, though decidedly less hot looking.

 

[Bill Pierce]

Will an M10 ever be built? What can be done by Leica to add value to the M9 design?

Please, the M9 has one of the worst high ISO performances, perhaps THE worst, of any recent "35mm," full-frame digital. For the available light shooters this is a terrible disadvantage.

 

[Dogman]

I don't know what it is but it's got me hot and wet just reading about it.

Given that Fuji has a history of integral lens cameras (and they do make damn fine glass), if this goes over successfully, I would expect to see bodies with (hopefully) 35mm equivalents of 20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 50mm and 85/90mm in the future. I gotta love it 'cause I always shot with two M6 bodies--a 35 Summicron on one and a 50 Summicron on the other.

But I don't think Fuji can make this a success by pricing it too high. The competition right now will be from the micro 4/3 makers like Olympus and Panasonic with interchangeable lenses, EVF and introductory prices in the $1000-1200 range. And those prices always drop considerably after a year or so. If Fuji introduces it at a price in line with the competition, I'll bet they can sell a butt load of them.

Either way, I'm still hot and wet for it.

 

[DNG]

I see the X100 as the digital incarnation of the Canonet, Electro, or other equivalent fixed-lens RF from the '60s-70s. That alone is a somewhat significant step forward.

Just what I thought too, when I read the news release.
Maybe we'll see a few more pop up. Or is it too marginal of a camera?
Ricoh DP-2, Leica X1 and now Fuji X100 have a large sensor compact (APS-C) Fixed lens design (not just prime).... BUT, The Fuji is the SEXIEST by far!

And maybe the next model will have a collapsible 24-105 fov f/2.8 constant lens with the same VF arrangement.... That would be my M9 err M8

 

[Paul T.]

Yeah - probably. Gotta set limits, though. This isn't a necessity for me, as nice a camera as it seems to be. The stuff I got will take pics as well as this, though decidedly less hot looking.

Yes, but your'e talking maybe a $500 difference between your SLR setup and this.

IN real terms, if you're a serious camera user, let along a professional, that's nothing. THat $500 might represent a day's fee, or one good sale. AS long as the camera is genuinely distinctive - its ergonomics and its visual signature - a $1700 price tag won't kill it.

 

[paulfitz76]

First digital camera that looks like it's heading in the right direction regarding handling. Pity you can change the lens, especially given Sony's new offering. I like the body and layout. Consider this a modern day Hexar AF. Since those still go for around US$400 - $500, if the price is 2x, then maybe ok.

IQ will be the tell all. It's got to be better than an Canon or Nikon low-end DLSR with fixed 24mm f/2.8 and those lenses from Canon and Nkon are hard to beat.

This also confirms that we do live in "interesting times"