silent1
Well-known
I was going to get one, upgrading from my X100, but after having read about the new Ricoh GR, I'm not so sure anymore...
FA Limited
missing in action
has anyone noticed or tried if the camera is able to "defy diffraction" and take sharp pictures with small apertures? it was something they pimped up on their website.
douglasf13
Well-known
I believe that it's just a special sharpening routine built-in to the jpegs, but I haven't tested it out.
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Mine arrived yesterday. Tried it out today.... its a piece of c**p! Don't bother getting one, Joe. Spend the money on bags instead.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
One thing I'm looking forward to trying with the rental is OOC JPEGs - I think the X100S is likely to be a camera that can be shot in JPEG most or all of the time.
Lss
Well-known
I finally had the opportunity to handle the X100s and test the manual focus implementation. Good news (for me) is that the manual focus seems fairly usable. I did find some handling and usability issues, some of which I might be able to solve by changing camera settings. I will study the manual and see. Anyway, this may very well be the first Fuji X that I want to buy.
ZlatkoBatistich
Established
I think it could be shot in jpeg most of the time. You just have to find a look that you like. There are 10 film simulations, and each has further adjustments, like highlights, shadows and sharpening. You may want to turn down the noise reduction; at high ISO's it looks overdone. Also take care not to oversharpen. I'm surprised by how many people oversharpen their files and then complain that the images look artificial.
Of the various film looks, my favorite at the moment is Pro Neg Hi. My least favorite is Pro Neg Standard which, despite its name, can look very, very dull.
I am shooting the camera in Raw, but finding that the jpegs are usually exposed very well. The camera seems to have good dynamic range, thus minimizing a worry I would have if shooting jpeg only.
ZlatkoBatistich
Established
Yes, manual focus is very usable. I normally use autofocus, but I'm delighted by how easy and quick manual focus is. Comes in very handy when shooting through or around objects that might confuse the autofocus. It can be customized in several ways. I have it set to show peaking and to magnify the image the moment that I turn the focus ring.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
My rental arrived today, and I'm already impressed as hell.
I expected to use MF but I am finding AF-S is working better for me. I discovered that if you set the AF back button to AF lock only and momentary actuation you can press the back button first, focus using a shutter half press and recompose - it's easier than trying to hold the shutter halfway and thumb the AF button to lock focus.
I expected to use MF but I am finding AF-S is working better for me. I discovered that if you set the AF back button to AF lock only and momentary actuation you can press the back button first, focus using a shutter half press and recompose - it's easier than trying to hold the shutter halfway and thumb the AF button to lock focus.
Melancholy
To grain, or not to grain
I got mine yesterday, still trying to like it...
Beautiful files, the OVF is very nice, but I´m not comfortable with the focus, as I´m used to focus and then compose in the viewfinder, not possible with the X100s (as far as I know). All the buttons and menues.., I don´t know. It´s probably a question about getting used to pushing the right buttons and get a workflow with it. I liked my D700 at once when I bought it years ago, used it up and got a new one, still in love.
I bought the X100s because of it´s viewfinder, IQ and size, wanted a small digital that I can bring with me all the time since the D700 is a bit big and heavy. Still, it feels a bit like cheating comparing to my film cameras like the Leica, Nikon and GR1v. I like it simple; adjust aperture, shuttertime and iso, manually focus is a dream and a clear, simple viewfinder without loads of informations that distract me. I know I want a M or M9, but I can´t afford it at the moment. I will try to use it for a week and see if I get more feelings for it.
Am I the only one, or is there anyone else who had the same feelings/experience?
Beautiful files, the OVF is very nice, but I´m not comfortable with the focus, as I´m used to focus and then compose in the viewfinder, not possible with the X100s (as far as I know). All the buttons and menues.., I don´t know. It´s probably a question about getting used to pushing the right buttons and get a workflow with it. I liked my D700 at once when I bought it years ago, used it up and got a new one, still in love.
I bought the X100s because of it´s viewfinder, IQ and size, wanted a small digital that I can bring with me all the time since the D700 is a bit big and heavy. Still, it feels a bit like cheating comparing to my film cameras like the Leica, Nikon and GR1v. I like it simple; adjust aperture, shuttertime and iso, manually focus is a dream and a clear, simple viewfinder without loads of informations that distract me. I know I want a M or M9, but I can´t afford it at the moment. I will try to use it for a week and see if I get more feelings for it.
Am I the only one, or is there anyone else who had the same feelings/experience?
GaryLH
Veteran
With evf or ovf mode u can lock focus and exposure two different ways and then recompose.
- in afs mode, just half press the shutter, recompose and shoot
- in mf mode, first make sure the ael/afl button is not set for ael only
-- I can't remember, but I think the default setting will work correctly
-- point the af bracket to what u want to focus on, and pres/release the ael/afl button once, this should cause the camera to do an af on the object in question, until u release the ael/afl button
-- u can now recompose and take the picture
Of course there is all the evf mf approaches as well.
Gary
FrankHarries
Well-known
I bought mine last week - what a great little camera! As I am taking pictures mostly on the streets, this is the one!
The only thing was, that I could have saved 100 GBP - when i got my flight back on Tuesday from London Heathrow, it was selling in the duty free area for 899! So if you want to buy one and are travelling via Heathrow - this is a steal on a new x100s
The only thing was, that I could have saved 100 GBP - when i got my flight back on Tuesday from London Heathrow, it was selling in the duty free area for 899! So if you want to buy one and are travelling via Heathrow - this is a steal on a new x100s
willie_901
Veteran
Just to underscore what Gary wrote, I use focus and recompose 90% of the time with my Fuji hybrid finders.
Using the AF manually is useful except under conditions where focus and recompose is challenging for any camera... when wide apertures are needed. One issue you don't encounter with analog rangefinders is you have learn how to avoid letting the AF lock on a higher contrast object behind your intended focus point. The using the EVF with a smaller focus region helps here as does the quick zoom function in both EVF and OVF modes.
I prefer OVF mode but will happily switch to EVF when conditions favor using the EVF to focus and recompose.
Using the AF manually is useful except under conditions where focus and recompose is challenging for any camera... when wide apertures are needed. One issue you don't encounter with analog rangefinders is you have learn how to avoid letting the AF lock on a higher contrast object behind your intended focus point. The using the EVF with a smaller focus region helps here as does the quick zoom function in both EVF and OVF modes.
I prefer OVF mode but will happily switch to EVF when conditions favor using the EVF to focus and recompose.
Melancholy
To grain, or not to grain
Thank you for your comments and tips Gary and Willie, I´ve tried to halv press the shutter after focusing withour any luck befor, but it seems like I haven´t pressed it hard enought, works very well now. I brought the X100s with me today and made around 30 shots, I get a little bit more use to the handeling by each shot.
Can´t blame the camera since it´s great, gives beautiful files and being loved by many, I guess I´m just used to my old film cameras and don´t like all the technical parts.
So, I´ll give it a week og two, then decide it I would sell it or trade it for a Mamyia 6 or 7.
punkjumpup
Newbie
Interesting! I'm passing Heathrow Terminal 3 on my way to LA later this month. Did you find it at the Dixons Travel?
Of course, I could buy the X100S in the States, but we all know how hard they are to come by...
Dana B.
Well-known
I wholeheartedly agree. I've been mostly a B&W film user. I bought the X100s after looking to buy a new digital camera for about three years. I also own another Fuji, the GF670 bellows RF. The latest Fuji, however, is somewhat of a disappointment.
I don't think it's the camera, per se. It's a digital camera still designed for digital crowd. In short, there are so many confusing buttons and menus on this camera, it's not a joy to use. If I have to go back to the ~!@#!@!! manual one more time, I'm going to see a doctor about Xanax. The autofocus has blown some shots, which may simply have been operator error. The smaller sensor still makes it challenging to get shallow DOF shots in brighter light. It swallows batteries. Otherwise, most images have been great.
The X100s may appeal to the digital crowd. But for me, it's not like using my Olympus OMs, Fuji MF, Rolleicord or other mechanical camera gems. I've lost interest in mastering its menus. I find my new camera stays mostly in the bag. And that's the biggest disappointment of all.
punkjumpup
Newbie
Digital is a whole different world. I'm relatively young and I learnt the basics of photography on a Nikon F3 almost simultaneously as I used a Sony Mavica MVC-FD5, one of the first digital cameras. For me, analog and digital are totally different approaches towards photography. So while the X100S is much more similar to a 35 mm film camera in appearance and in some aspects function, it is still a professional digital camera. And as such, it is a tool that you will have to learn to use, and then shoot with as much as possible in order to improve your technique. It's not as no-frills as most film cameras are. You are going to have a steeper learning curve, that is true for all professional digital cameras, but you'll get the hang of it! Just don't give up.
Dana B.
Well-known
Thanks for the encouragement. I'll keep at it, for I don't want to let what appears to be a sensible digital purchase languish. But I must disagree on your assertion that the X100s is "professional." A Leica M9, which I don't own, may be considered professional by some. Only it offers few button or menu choices but for ISO. You have to pay more to get less.
punkjumpup
Newbie
I think it's about expectations. If you're asking me, I'd say that both a Leica and an X100(s) are "professional" cameras, but Leica have a stronger heritage, and they know it. Some would claim that they have stagnated. Personally, I think that Leica makes an amazing camera system, but that their products have become artifacts, unattainable for regular enthusiasts. I'd love a Leica M, but I don't need the spirituality and the heritage that they charge for. I only want a camera made for documentary/street photography, so I would rather get a Fuji. The X100s is not less professional than a Leica. It's just that they've got different approaches to photography. Leica are the embodiment of "less is more", and they've tried to make their digital rangefinder cameras as true to their analog models as possible. Fuji, on the other hand, are based in "traditional" digital photography.
While I don't own either (but I'm going to get an X100s), I don't expect the X100s is to be a Leica M + Summicron 35/2.0 for 1/8 the price. But I think that I'm going to love it when I've gotten used to it. I recon the same for you. If possible, you should to meet some X100(s) shooters that could help you learn the camera. Or perhaps try to meet some at the Fuji forum: www.fujix-forum.com.