Fuji x100 - is it the M10?

No, it's not a rangefinder. It has autofocus and some sort of manual focus assist that we don't know yet.
Yep - and that could be a technical feature that hasn't yet been fully explored in other cameras: I recall my old Nikon Coolpix 995 (one hell of a camera at its time) had an MF assist function that was quite viable - it superimposed over-accentuated contour lines in those picture areas that were in full focus, similar to a digital image with overdone unsharp masking. Actually quite effective.
 
Bill, I probably wasn't entirely clear previously, I was thinking about significant design additions to the M9 to give the M10, not so much optimisation and ironing out creases. Leica will have to optimise the M9 model (mk2, mk3 etc.) in line with technology, but 'full frame' was the big ask and significant design feature from M8 to M9.

Following this hypothetical model numbering logic, I don't think there are any more 'big asks' to give the M10, short of bending the laws of physics and putting an S2 sensor inside an M body size! Oh, they could get VAG chief designer to put together a Titanium version with 'focussed design' (matching Summilux), 'shoulder holster' and leather finger loop. *swoon* It just matches up nicely with my R8..

Innovation is a different story, that's why the X100 has popped up with its combination of controls and hybrid viewfinder. Perhaps it is the M10 in terms of innovation, simply designing what alot of people have been fervently requesting - as was the case for the M9. Fuji have been listening to us lot, watching and contributing to the adventures of Leica - and what they have are pitching may be a real hit.
 
I hate to say this, but this may be the camera that'll cool my infatuation for the R-D1. Boy does it pull at the heartstrings.
 
Is it known if it has manual focus through a double image rangefinder?

Cheers,

Juan

Would be great, wouldn't it? And why wouldn't it be possible?

The viewfinder and taking lens are separate, so it should be doable.. As far as I can gather, the finder is able to project an LCD image over the viewfinder to display frame lines and shutter/aperture/distance data, and it is also able to display what the taking lens sees. If those two functions were combined, you'd have the double image, and it would work for focusing if the taking lens image superimposed over the viewfinder image is displaced proportionally to the lens focus distance..

There's no need for complex and expensive moving optics in the viewfinder, the projected LCD image just needs to move..

It's just a question of Fuji having thought of it as well..
 
It's the rangefinder view that matters to me. I could live with auto
focus in a small rangefinder type camera if I have to, but seeing the scene
clearly is a must. I shoot a Leica m6 .58 and a 35mm lens 90% of
the time. When I shoot digital I have a Canon G10 with a 35mm
brightline finder in the hot shoe. If the finder is as good as I hope on
this camera, I'll be standing in line for one!
 
I have not been so excited about a new camera for a long time...since the Nikon FM in 1977.

I have been trying hard to gleam details out of the Internet chatter and now various "hands-on" reports at Photokina.

The most important is of course the VF...no good in VF, no good in views found.

The OVF has a 0.5X magnification, which is independent of and wider than the sensor; and provides an extra 33% of the 35mm frame covered...ZI style. Framing accuracy is said to be 90%, with accurate parallax correction...far or close.

In EVF mode, the coverage can only be exactly as the sensor or 100%. I have seen an O/E switching image sequence that confirms the important DoF latitude bar within the distance scale shifted up slightly and wholly preserved. I have not been able to determine from second-hand comments whether the effective view is somewhat magnified or not. If it did take up the entire OVF space, then a ~0.65X will result.

[I can imagine a Fuji or third-part eyepiece magnifier...or even a home-made one if I am so inclined.]

The mini focusing quadrangle [a smaller frame, not a patch] in the view centre is present in both O/E modes...no doubt to help picking the auto-focus aim point. A combined AEL/AFL is provided in the back/right. With my maturing eyesight, that is not a bad thing.

I cannot confirm, still, whether the lens focusing ring is functional or decorative. A somewhat loose comment about the aperture/focusing ring is heard. Images showing the aperture ring rotated are available, but the focusing ring not...at least the lens front ring markings has not been shown rotated; or maybe the lens sports internal focusing.

Addendum: an engadget video shows [sort'a] the rotation of the focusing ring, then the aperture ring.

Fuji's online literature labeled the thumb wheel [back/right] as a "Convenient command lever". Some show photos did indeed confirm that there is a lever-like protrusion. Elsewhere, Fuji people was reported to have said the fixed lens implementation is better for maintaining quality for "ZOOM" [implementation]...might there be a zoom version in the works???

If so, the thumb lever would now make sense...most pocket digicams use similar lever for the T~W zoom function. It would be child's play for Fuji to add that labeling between now and product release.

Speaking of zoom, a moderate wide~tele is my preference...3X 28~85mm.

What about a wide~wider zoom? If so, the X100 will be an M-10 killer...still-born.
 
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Problem with $1700 is it's too close to a used Canon 5D with a great 35mm f/2 might even fit in a used Zeiss or Contax lens for that money. But that neat inscription of the top is so "50's-70's"

However, many of us don't think of a DSLR as an alternative...
 
Then the R-D1 is a lot better as a photographic tool... (To me...)

This looks like the u4/3 hype, but paying more, and with a fix lens...

Cheers,

Juan

Huh? So, having a traditional rangefinder is more important than anything? If you don't have that it isn't serious?
 
=12000 NOK in the land of oil, fish and hydro-electric power. If we are lucky (approx $1900 at the moment)
 
Lol.. bought any new cameras lately ?

$1,000 = £1,000 = €1,200 in camera manufacturer land.. :(
Sadly more or less true. At amateur Photographer they are saying 1000 Euros, which I guess will end up at £899.

Still, it makes those used R-D1 for $1400 look expensive, especially by the time you've shelled out for a 35mm equivalent lens. I was thinking of picking another up but the Fuji looks a bargain in comparison.
 
No .... I don't think the M10 will innovate as much. Well, outside the new Ostrich leather option for $1700 (high quality Ostrich is rare you see) that they may provide.
 
Then the R-D1 is a lot better as a photographic tool... (To me...)

This looks like the u4/3 hype, but paying more, and with a fix lens...

Cheers,

Juan

Take a look at the illustration looking through the viewfinder. It looks like there is a full distance scale in there, so you should be able to scale focus without much trouble.
 
  • FUJI sensor (remember the S3 Pro and the S5 Pro's dynamic range!?)
I doubt it's a Fuji sensor. They've said themselves it was custom made and nowhere in their literature about the camera do they say they built the sensor. Plus, if Fuji had updated their Super CCD to a 12.3MP design we'd have heard about it. Further, the sensor in the Fuji is a CMOS.

It's very likely a Sony sensor, as they are the only ones that I know of manufacturing 12.3MP CMOS sensors at the moment. This isn't a bad thing, as this sensor has been shown to be excellent.
 
Take a look at the illustration looking through the viewfinder. It looks like there is a full distance scale in there, so you should be able to scale focus without much trouble.

I provide an image and some commentary about the viewfinder here. This could be even more useful than a distance scale on the lens.
 
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