russelljtdyer
Writer
Although my Leica M9 or M3 camera and lenses are smaller and lighter than the Canon 5D Mark II DSLR camera and lenses I used to own, they are still a little much to carry with me on business trips or for daily use since I'm not a professional photographer. As a result, I miss many opportunities to take pictures.
Early last year, to solve this problem, I bought a Sony RX100 M3 compact camera. It's a fine camera and small. It has an excellent Zeiss lens and a good image sensor. It has worked well for me. I've taken many good photos with it.
Since that camera worked so well, I decided to try something of a little better quality. I bought a FujiFilm X100F camera. It's bulkier than the Sony RX100 M3, but not as heavy or as large as the Leica M9 with a comparable standard lens. It's small enough that I don't mind carrying it in my briefcase.
The X100F includes a fixed 23mm lens (equivalent to 35mm) with a maximum aperture of f/2. It has a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor. What I like best is that the exposure settings can all be controlled manually on the top of the camera.
Below are some photos I took recently on a business trip to Helsinki. I'm still learning how to use it (e.g., the photo of the woman walking isn't as focused as it could be). The camera is very configurable, but that has only confused me, especially when I show it to a friend and they inadvertently reconfigure it. There are customizable presets that I can use so that I can quickly put my settings back, but I haven't had enough time to set them. I just need more time with the camera.
Early last year, to solve this problem, I bought a Sony RX100 M3 compact camera. It's a fine camera and small. It has an excellent Zeiss lens and a good image sensor. It has worked well for me. I've taken many good photos with it.
Since that camera worked so well, I decided to try something of a little better quality. I bought a FujiFilm X100F camera. It's bulkier than the Sony RX100 M3, but not as heavy or as large as the Leica M9 with a comparable standard lens. It's small enough that I don't mind carrying it in my briefcase.
The X100F includes a fixed 23mm lens (equivalent to 35mm) with a maximum aperture of f/2. It has a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor. What I like best is that the exposure settings can all be controlled manually on the top of the camera.
Below are some photos I took recently on a business trip to Helsinki. I'm still learning how to use it (e.g., the photo of the woman walking isn't as focused as it could be). The camera is very configurable, but that has only confused me, especially when I show it to a friend and they inadvertently reconfigure it. There are customizable presets that I can use so that I can quickly put my settings back, but I haven't had enough time to set them. I just need more time with the camera.
sleepyhead
Well-known
Nice photos. Thanks for sharing. I used an X100 (the original 12 mp one) for about a year as my daily camera. I liked it, but ultimately felt limited by the fixed 35mm-equivalent lens.
JoeLopez
Well-known
Well done. I really like the X100T, which is always in my work bag. A great daily camera for me as well.
gavinlg
Veteran
Honestly the best daily/walkaround camera in existence at the moment.
Axel
singleshooter
Very cute pendants with zoom are the Fuji X10-X30 cameras.
Dogman
Veteran
An X100 can rapidly become a favorite camera.
If you ever find the 23mm fixed lens to be limiting, don't forget about Fuji's two conversion lenses for the X100 series. Although they increase the bulk of the camera, they have excellent optical quality. A travel kit consisting of an X100 series body and the two conversion lenses present a range of 35mm, 50mm and 28mm equivalent focal lengths in a very small package.
If you ever find the 23mm fixed lens to be limiting, don't forget about Fuji's two conversion lenses for the X100 series. Although they increase the bulk of the camera, they have excellent optical quality. A travel kit consisting of an X100 series body and the two conversion lenses present a range of 35mm, 50mm and 28mm equivalent focal lengths in a very small package.
willie_901
Veteran
The X100 S/T/F cameras are the Canonet QL-17 GIII of our time.
Since I own an X-Pro 2, I should sell my X100T. But I just can't bring myself to part with it. I almost always use the OVF.
The X100 T/F PDAF is a significant improvement. Even fly-by-wire manual lens focusing is practical with the T/F bodies.
In my case, the single issue with the X100T is the rear buttons are just a bit too small. However, I rarely use them.
To be complete, it takes some time and patience to figure out how to set up an X100 so it can be used as one used the Canonet. Also, the 23/2 Fujinon lens aperture needs to be no wider than f4 to render sharp images for very close subjects.
The XE-2 with the 27/2.8 pancake lens is a viable, affordable option if you don't value using an OVF.
Since I own an X-Pro 2, I should sell my X100T. But I just can't bring myself to part with it. I almost always use the OVF.
The X100 T/F PDAF is a significant improvement. Even fly-by-wire manual lens focusing is practical with the T/F bodies.
In my case, the single issue with the X100T is the rear buttons are just a bit too small. However, I rarely use them.
To be complete, it takes some time and patience to figure out how to set up an X100 so it can be used as one used the Canonet. Also, the 23/2 Fujinon lens aperture needs to be no wider than f4 to render sharp images for very close subjects.
The XE-2 with the 27/2.8 pancake lens is a viable, affordable option if you don't value using an OVF.
shimokita
白黒
I love my x100t... disabled all but three of the Fn buttons and reprogrammed the three as Fn1: face recognition (which is my default), Fn6: flash, and Fn7: ISO (the x100f has a dedicated dial for this). I use Lee Sev5n ND Grad filters and need to set the ISO (f-stop & shutter speed) manually in order to see / adjust the grad line. I have found that there can be some noticeable barrel distortion depending on subject and distance... My other cameras are feeling a little ignored at the moment ; )
Mark A. Fisher
Well-known
After I bought an X100 I got an X-Pro 2. Foolishly I sold the X100, but replaced it with an X100F. The X-Pro 2 and X100F are now my primary cameras, while my D700 and D800 seldom/never come out to play. If I had to choose only one camera for daily use, it would be the X100F. I don't mind the fixed focus lens, having started with a similar (film) setup about 40 years ago.
kshapero
South Florida Man
on the X100F how usable is the 50mm and 75mm digital modes? That would satisfy my 35mm only complaint.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
While my M9 was away at Leica back in 2012 for its third repair, I shot with the X100 and a couple Nikon RFs. The X100 was the positive digital reason for getting rid of the M9 as soon as it came back from Leica. It served fantastically on a few cross country trips, vacation, even a couple paid shoots. It's a great little daily shooter.
Phil Forrest
Phil Forrest
agricola
Well-known
>>on the X100F how usable is the 50mm and 75mm digital modes? That would satisfy my 35mm only complaint.
__________________
Akiva S.
<<
Akiva - I regularly crop the X100s RAF files to at least 50mm FOV - with 24mp available on the F it's likely you would do even better.
Usable? perfectly ok for export to the web at 72dpi and 1200 or 1800 pixels on the long side. And - in my case with the X100s - for prints to 20" on the long side, depending on whether you want to print at 300dpi, 240dpi or something less.
Dan
__________________
Akiva S.
<<
Akiva - I regularly crop the X100s RAF files to at least 50mm FOV - with 24mp available on the F it's likely you would do even better.
Usable? perfectly ok for export to the web at 72dpi and 1200 or 1800 pixels on the long side. And - in my case with the X100s - for prints to 20" on the long side, depending on whether you want to print at 300dpi, 240dpi or something less.
Dan
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
I'm still in a love/hate relationship with the X100T I bought to see what the hype was about.
Being an M2/Hasselblad shooter primarily I wanted the optical finder set up but have found, to my horror, the digital works better. I prefer back button focussing on my other Nikon digitals/H1 but again found eventually the shutter focus setting worked better on the Fuji. More complaints are the small buttons, as noted, the time it takes to set it up to work like a "proper" camera the palaver for actually reviewing a picture on the rear screen yet it's still here, at the moment. It does carry easily, responds quickly and produces nice results, in its favour. One focal length that happens to be my "go to" on the Leica is not an issue its over complexity is, I'm going to pitch it against a Sonnar Rollei 35 before ditching which I fear is its destiny.
A recent frame.
Being an M2/Hasselblad shooter primarily I wanted the optical finder set up but have found, to my horror, the digital works better. I prefer back button focussing on my other Nikon digitals/H1 but again found eventually the shutter focus setting worked better on the Fuji. More complaints are the small buttons, as noted, the time it takes to set it up to work like a "proper" camera the palaver for actually reviewing a picture on the rear screen yet it's still here, at the moment. It does carry easily, responds quickly and produces nice results, in its favour. One focal length that happens to be my "go to" on the Leica is not an issue its over complexity is, I'm going to pitch it against a Sonnar Rollei 35 before ditching which I fear is its destiny.
A recent frame.
willie_901
Veteran
Me too; except I sold all my Nikon stuff.
Mark A. Fisher
Well-known
Just this week I had a conversation with friends about selling the Nikon gear, but can't quite do it. Having shot Nikon for 25 years or so, and still having a full complement of film Nikons - F3HP, F2, F100, etc, - they still should be used, but that X100F just feels great in my hands!
TRIago
Established
My M9 is never going to be sold, I love that camera. Since I shoot mainly 50mm with Leicas, my X100S come in handy. Specially if I’m doing flash photography, nothing - absolutely nothing- beats a leaf shutter camera, the ability to sync at 1/4000 is just something every photographer out there should be able to learn/experience/have. Amazing.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
ktmrider
Well-known
So much easier to carry any version of the X100 (had the original back in 2011 and just purchased the F) then any Leica digital. I have an MP240 and it and the X100F are going around the world with me later this year. I wonder which I will use more as the Fuji is lighter and a lot cheaper to carry into dicey neighborhoods.
Once the Fuji functions are set up, you really don't have to do much in the menus. I laugh at all the reviews about the ISO being hard to set since it is in the shutter dial (obviously photographers who did not live through the 1970's or 1980's)!
Once the Fuji functions are set up, you really don't have to do much in the menus. I laugh at all the reviews about the ISO being hard to set since it is in the shutter dial (obviously photographers who did not live through the 1970's or 1980's)!
JoeLopez
Well-known
My X100T is in my work bag every day and with my most weekends. It is so easy to stuff it into a coat pocket 
Photog9000
Well-known
I enjoy my X100S so much I got both the TCL & WCL for it. Then I got worried about crossthreading the lenses that I just bought a second X100S! Now I have the TCL on one body and the WCL on the other and carry both. Even picked up a new Luigi halfcase for the new body to match the first camera!