My review of the RFF X100 ...the good and the not so good!

[jmilkins]

Thanks Keith for your review - I 've been looking forward to it. It's about trust I reckon. You want to know the thing is going to do what you want it to. Of course, if the RFF Brains Trust here can solve it through some of the above words of wisdom based on their experiences or a close reading/different interpretation of the manual/online Fuji philosophy then we'll all be richer. Well, I'll be poorer, 'cos I will buy one once my trust threshold is reached (I have been resisting wanton GAS for weeks)

 

[raid]

This is quite informative, Keith. I am happy with exposure system in the Olympus EP-2. I use many lenses with it, so flare is not a problem since I can change lenses around if I ever see flare.

Hang in there. Hopefully, you will find the source of the problem, and the solution to the problem.

 

[Keith]

This is quite informative, Keith. I am happy with exposure system in the Olympus EP-2. I use many lenses with it, so flare is not a problem since I can change lenses around if I ever see flare.

Hang in there. Hopefully, you will find the source of the problem, and the solution to the problem.

Thanks Raid ... they told me the other day when I was there that if I can actually prove there is a problem with the camera they'll replace it. It's their store policy apparently and applies for up to two weeks from the date of purchase.

Not that they have another one there of course! 😛

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Keith,
I don't know if this example might help the thought processes but intermittent faults are hard to trace. I recently had this experience when the engine management computer on my car shut the fuel supply off without warning after the car had run about an hour. It had performed faultlessly for 12 months and 28,000 km up to that point. Took a week of head scratching but turned out to be a faulty sensor on the crankshaft which when heated to a certain point, failed, and "told" the computer that the engine was not running as there was no rotation at the crankshaft. Computer said "right, we'd better stop the fuel in that case".
By the time we had it to the workshop the sensor had cooled, the contacts remade, and nothing appeared to be wrong at all. It ran perfectly - for another hour! We replaced the sensor and it's perfect again - just drove to Albury and back this week without so much as a cough.

I suspect you may have a firmware fault and all the tests you're doing will be to no avail. I'd ask DCW for an immediate replacement as it's not "fit for purpose", and contact your Qld Consumer Affairs Dept if they demur.

 

[willie_901]

AusDLK

It is common for people to complain about the lens performance at F 2 in macro mode.

There is no menu selection for aperture in any mode. I was trying to say that I never use an aperture wider than F 4 in macro mode. Somewhere in the X100 web site Fuji states the lens can not perform well in macro mode at apertures wider than F 4. Sadly this limitation is not in the manual.

All I was doing was sharing parameters that give me great results (when I don't make mistakes!).

 

[dfxinc]

I had the exact same issue- all my images had the flare, then noticed I had the meter on spot meter. Once I returned it to multi the flares stopped.

 

[LTN]

X100 Use comments

X100 Use comments

Just got mine. The lens is great, less distortion than I feared from some of the architectural shots I've seen here. The high ISO performance for me, with nothing to compare but digicam or film, is stunning. I've used manual with the AFL/AEL button. AF will struggle with some shiny objects. Having mastered the Hexar manual and menu options I've found this pretty easy. I've run through half the manual only and find the whole set up reasonably intuitive, but I have to acknowledge the head start from discussions here on RFF. I'm not shedding a tear for my Ms yet, but the manual exposure simplicity of this and the relatively easy access to manual focus compared to anything else electronic I've tried is going to make this a trustworthy camera for so many situations. Those framelines in the optical viewfinder have to be seen to be believed. So far I've found this to be better than advertised.

Agreed! Better than advertised, indeed. Love the manual controls, much more intuitive than the GF2. Have to admit that I love everything about this camera. As my M3 "backup", I'm looking forward to using it this summer. Next week will spend 5 days in San Francisco. The X100 will go along.

Tom

 

[Thardy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gid
Keith,

What was the exposure at F2? If it was close to 1/1000th (the max at F2) then at F5.6 it should be close to 1/8000th. Note also that the max shutter speed at F5.6 is 1/2000th. See page 27 of the manual - max at F2 and F2.8 is 1/1000th, max at F4 and F5.6 is 1/2000th. 1/4000th is only available at F8 and above.

Yeah yeah ... I know all that stuff, I actually read the manual right through when I got it! 😀

Gid ... those two shots were taken in very low light ... the first (f2) was 1/30 sec and the second (f5.6) was 1/4 sec according to the exif data.

A shutter speed of 1/1000 at f2 would be 1/125 for the same scene at f5.6 ... you're travelling in the wrong direction! 😀

Hi,
I think he's talking about the (variable) maximum shutter speeds at different apertures, not equivalent shutter/aperture combinations.

 

[__--]

Flare Issue

Flare Issue

Keith,

Thanks for the informative and candid review. As I understand it, in addition to the intermittent exposure problem that you describe, there is serious flare issue when shooting in certaint types of backlight, with more flare at f/4 than at f/2 and also more with the ND filter engaged than without it. Is that correct?

A good lens that is terribly excited by flare is the DR Summicron — a lens that I like a lot but simply never used with backlight. From what you state, I gather that the X100 lens is not as flare-prone as the DR Summicron, but it does seem to be serious enough of an issues to give pause for any one that likes backlight. Is my understanding here correct?

—Mitch/Chiang Mai
Paris au rythme de Basquiat (WIP)

 

[Keith]

Keith,

Thanks for the informative and candid review. As I understand it, in addition to the intermittent exposure problem that you describe, there is serious flare issue when shooting in certaint types of backlight, with more flare at f/4 than at f/2 and also more with the ND filter engaged than without it. Is that correct?

A good lens that is terribly excited by flare is the DR Summicron — a lens that I like a lot but simply never used with backlight. From what you state, I gather that the X100 lens is not as flare-prone as the DR Summicron, but it does seem to be serious enough of an issues to give pause for any one that likes backlight. Is my understanding here correct?

—Mitch/Chiang Mai
Paris au rythme de Basquiat (WIP)

Hi Mitch,

More so with rear concentrated light that is just out of frame ... I've noticed this with a couple of Zeiss lenses I own also but not to the same extent. I can live with it so it's no deal breaker for me.

It will be much easier to evaluate the lens more rationally when I get a camera that exposes correctly, consistently! 😀

I'm about to head off to return this particular 'lemon' from whence it came! 😛

 

[KM-25]

I'm about to head off to return this particular 'lemon' from whence it came! 😛

I hope you get the scrape past them OK, I had a heck of a time dealing with that store when I was working for AFP in Brissy, a bunch of attitude.

 

[Keith]

I hope you get the scrape past them OK, I had a heck of a time dealing with that store when I was working for AFP in Brissy, a bunch of attitude.

The scrape was the kind of thing that only a paranoid new owner notices ... plus I discovered that most of it turned out to be green paint from the decking it had the brush with! 😛

When I got there today they were looking in horror at the files I emailed through yesterday afternoon ... but showing no sign of humility for the brush off they gave me the other day when I told them the camera had an intermittent exposure problem! 🙄

Anyway ... they were suitably convinced this time and the camera has now been tagged DOA and is being returned to Fuji and a new one is in the pipeline for me. They have a shipment very close and although it's all technically pre-sold, some poor sod will be missing out courtesy of having to replace the paper weight they sold me. The files I sent them have been forwarded to Fuji as they were keen to see the exif data ... which certainly told a very strange story! According to the exif this image (at f5.6) was exposed correctly based on the parameters for the previous exposure at f2 which was actually fine. 🙂

Now that's what you call blown highlights! 😛

Oh ... and you're right, they are a strange bunch. I got this underlying feeling through the masked politeness that they still think I'm a pain in the arse!

 

[gavinlg]

Damn Keith after the wait that you endured for this camera that's gotta be a real kick in the teeth... I hope the next one you get is a winner! Keep us updated!

 

[__--]

Hi Mitch,

More so with rear concentrated light that is just out of frame ... I've noticed this with a couple of Zeiss lenses I own also but not to the same extent. I can live with it so it's no deal breaker for me.

It will be much easier to evaluate the lens more rationally when I get a camera that exposes correctly, consistently! 😀

I'm about to head off to return this particular 'lemon' from whence it came! 😛

Thanks, Keith. Hope you will report on the flare issue after you get your replacement camera.

—Mitch/Chiang Mai
Scratching the Surface

 

[Keith]

Thanks, Keith. Hope you will report on the flare issue after you get your replacement camera.

—Mitch/Chiang Mai
Scratching the Surface

Cheers Mitch ... one good thing about this whole episode has been it accelerated my learning process with the camera's functions. I spent so much time diving in and out of menus and altering settings trying to figure out what the hell was going on that I think could now probably do it in my sleep! 😀

I just had a call from DCW with the good news that I may have a replacement camera by the end of the week .. or early next week! 🙂

 

[jsrockit]

in the few shots I've taken with an X100, the lens seemed fine to me. no weird flare and stuff whatsoever.

I have to agree... I have had exposure problems though...but there are a few different metering types... these seem a lot more finicky than most other cameras when in high contrast situations. However, changing from one to the other usually corrects things.

 

[Keith]

Originally Posted by SimonSawSunlight View Post
in the few shots I've taken with an X100, the lens seemed fine to me. no weird flare and stuff whatsoever.

I have to agree... I have had exposure problems though...but there are a few different metering types... these seem a lot more finicky than most other cameras when in high contrast situations. However, changing from one to the other usually corrects things.

I reckon I can re-produce that flare any time I choose which also means I can avoid it of course luckily. As I was explaining to Mitch the conditions that create it in the X100's Fujinon also create it in my 50mm ZF Planar along with the 80mm Planar on my Hasselblad. One of my OM Zuikos seems prone to it as well but I can't remember which one! 😛

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

I did not have any flare until now and I really did try to produce some.
Until I do like the camera. But with some tweaking of the menu's it will be even much better.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[GaryLH]

Looks like Fuji has been listening... Lets see what they plan to fix....

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1105/11053105fujifilmx100update.asp

Gary

 

[Keith]

Update.

Update.

I'm impressed!

DCW contacted me this afternoon to let me know that they have my replacement camera waiting for me so I'll be picking it up tomorrow morning! 🙂

I'm really looking forward to continuing my relationship with this little camera and hopefully this example will behave itself. 😀