Pro's and Con's of the X100s

[GWT]

I'm seriously thinking of getting the x100s but am wary making the jump from film and to possibly a more complicated device. (another consideration is the move from 50mm to fixed 35mm)

For you guy's who use the x100s what's your take on this beauty?

What's the performance like?

High iso quality?

I'd appreciate your thoughts..

 

[Rob-F]

I have the X100, not the s. I find it to be an easy camera to use, and a good choice for a smooth transition from film. High-ISO is excellent, and much better than film! I find no cons at all, except for being limited to one focal length.

 

[Tono10]

It has been recently reviewed quite thoroughly at The Luminous Landscape:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/briots-view/fuji_x100s_review.shtml

Cheers

 

[willie_901]

Pros
* image quality
* very nice color at ISO 3200 (highest native ISO) when exposure is maximized; lovely results are possible at ISO 800
* either OVF or EVF
* flash sync speed up to 1/4000 (if you trigger with wires), at least 1/1000 otherwise
* whisper quiet shutter
* manual focusing aids
* sturdy, well built
* great lens (see below)

Cons
* requires use of an in-lens ND filter for fast shutter speeds (and remembering to turn it off otherwise)
* success with the AF requires practice (see below)
* the lens is very nice, but it can exhibit ghosting around intense point-source lights in night scenes (this is highly angle dependent)
* the battery is small because the camera is small, so you need at least one spare and two would not be silly
* there is a learning curve; you have EVF or OVF, and three focusing modes; people who do not understand the operational differences (advantages and disadvantages of each combination) and whoso not have the patience to learn the camera can become very frustrated
* lens hoods and filters require an adapter, less expensive third party solutions are available
* manual focus is fly-by-wire; there is no mechanical feel (but there is a way to use the AF manually that I found to be very effective and fast)

People seem to enjoy the X100/S very much or hate it. I enjoyed my X100 a lot once I slowed down and learned how to use it in different situations. With practice it can be used very quickly.

I sold it after I bought the X-Pro 1 because I wanted the flexibility of the Fujinon XF lens line.

 

[nongfuspring]

High ISO is excellent, in fact I often prefer the colour and contrast of 3200, 6400 ISO files to lower ones before processing.

Focussing in normal light is great, low light focussing can be a bit tedious, but manual focus is surprisingly very good.

 

[umcelinho]

the x100s seem to not have the same ghosting the X100 had on strong light sources. at least from the 34985340857 pictures ive already seen with it in similar scenes that I had ghosting with the x100.

i loved the x100 and am very torn between getting an x100s.

 

[KenR]

My second X100s has just arrived. (The first was destroyed when I ran over it - don't ask). The point is that I liked the camera so much that I bought it again. Easy enough for my non-photographer wife to use, but with enough adjustments that I am happy as well. Great quality color - rarely did I take it off the "auto" setting for the color temperature. Flash is tiny and weak, so if you are going to shoot a wedding, you need the auxillary flash. And oh yes, the camera is not armored so a 3500 lb SUV will crush it.

 

[Ryan1938]

It's the best digital camera ever made in my opinion. And I say that as a film guy.

 

[thejameskendall]

It's the best digital camera ever made in my opinion. And I say that as a film guy.

I think I agree with that.

 

[mretina]

I agree. I have an x100. As a film guy it is hard not to like the image quality both colour and black & white, the out of focus rendition and overall feel.

sometimes menu complexity, fiddling with commands, levers and dials (exposure compensation most often) that "move by themselves" and short battery life are frustrating.

Also it could be faster AF, but it compares well with MF film cameras in terms of quickness of use in that respect.
Fuji manual focus is slow although convenient for reproduction and posed pictures.

I paid for it 450$ used. if it had a rangefinder it would be the best digital camera ever made and a dream camera.

It is portable and high ISO quality and compactness are very convenient as back-up when film is not usable or expensive to use.

 

[nickjb]

I've really gotten used to my best way of shooting with this camera. I bought the X100s about a week ago and love it.

How I Shoot With It

I shoot primarily on aperture priority mode with Auto ISO from ISO 400 to 3200. I have a few different custom settings. One is minimum 1/125th shutter speed (the fastest minimum you can set). The second custom setting is 1/60th for low light. I use ISO 400 minimum to give me a faster shutter speed by default and it also increases highlight headroom by a stop.

I shoot OVF only and turn off the main display and rarely if ever use the EVF.

Also, I love that you can play back your photos through the EVF. It feels like I'm looking through some sort of slide projector!

How I Process The Files

I shoot to raw but with a B&W preview with soft highlights and hard shadows. Then when I'm importing into Lightroom, I import directly with the VSCO Film 01 Ilford HP5 preset applied. I might adjust the exposure by a notch here and there and then the ones I like are published on my blog.

Sometimes I go back and see what colour versions look like but this is ultimately a B&W digital film camera for me. While the SOOC images are fine, I really dislike the clinical "perfect" feel of digital camera images for my personal pictures, which is why I use VSCO Film 01 on all my files out of this camera. I find VSCO's Ilford HP5 preset brings out the best tones of the colour raw files, especially with people.

Things That Could Be Improved

I don't like that when I half press the shutter both the AF and the AE meter/focus and lock. I would much rather the auto exposure continue to adjust after focus is locked. I was shooting to my left from the hip yesterday and focused on the wall at about f5.6 but the exposure locked on the dark wall, not the subject I was about to walk past and was about 2-3 stops overexposed and unusable 🙁

For what I shoot and the way I shoot I can't really fault much else!

If you're wondering what the results look like, my photo blog is here: http://nickjbedford.tumblr.com.

 

[Gary Sandhu]

I had the x100 and x100s - only real con is that it doesn't fit in a pocket. I have the ricoh GR and prefer its pocket size and 28mm lens- and prefer the 28mm optical viewfinder I use with it over the EVF and OVF of the x100.

 

[semordnilap]

I don't like that when I half press the shutter both the AF and the AE meter/focus and lock. I would much rather the auto exposure continue to adjust after focus is locked. I was shooting to my left from the hip yesterday and focused on the wall at about f5.6 but the exposure locked on the dark wall, not the subject I was about to walk past and was about 2-3 stops overexposed and unusable 🙁

If you shoot in manual mode, you can auto-focus with the back ae/af-l button and exposure will only lock with a half-shutter press. Useful... I wish you could set this behavior in autofocus mode as well!

Anyway, great camera, AF is so-so, and the manual focusing is only ok...

And it is small and SILENT. I mean, the shutter is ridiculously quiet. For me that more than makes up for any issues with shooting over 1/100th.

 

[noisycheese]

If you're wondering what the results look like, my photo blog is here: http://nickjbedford.tumblr.com.

Nice images! 🙂

 

[kkdanamatt]

Question to the OP:

Which film camera(s)/ lenses are you presently using?
Will you be satisfied with one fixed 35mm focal length?
Do you process/print your own films and prints?
How many rolls do you shoot in a typical week?
Do you shoot under adverse lighting conditions?
How comfortable are you with a computer?

These are some of the questions that should be considered before jumping into a $1300 digital point and shoot camera.
$1300 buys a lot of film and processing.

I'm not discouraging you from buying an X-100s, merely opening up the discussion a bit.

 

[GaryLH]

I had an early X100. The AF was absolutely rotten. Because I like the idea of the X100 I gave that camera a 2nd chance with the X100S. That's now the camera the original X100 already should have been.

Only one major complaint: mounting the lens hood is complicated because you have to screw off a ring, screw on the lens hood with the holder. Nothing you can do very fast. If the lens hood is on, you can't put on a lens cap.

I leave a uv filter on all the time w/ the hood. No lens cap.... On the other hand u could pick up a third part lens cap and leave the adapter in place. The bayonet mount hood adapter comes on and off pretty fast.

Gary

 

[benji77]

This may sound absurd to some, but I've been considering the X100s as a 2nd kit as a back up to my Nikon D3s when I am on assignment. I'm getting into shooting 'jobs' such as events, family portraits and sometimes home interiors, all without a digital back up.

The X100s is small, fast and has a great flash sync. But I am uncertain if this is a good idea in terms of IQ matching and overall user handling during. Fast pace events.

To be honest, the X100s will also make a great combo while I travel with my GF670 & M2!

Comments welcomed!

 

[Pablito]

best feature is that it can shoot SILENT - I mean totally silent - no sound when you make an exposure. Also easy to go from silent mode to regular mode.

I find AF satisfactory even in low light.

Nice to have real shutter speed and aperture dials, though I don't mind DSLR style controls.

lens is sharp but flare / ghosting is a problem in some circumstances, and I have the X100s not the X100

Worst feature is lens flare and battery level indicator which shows full until almost the very end. Also I wish the on and off switch did not move so easily.

The new "teleconverter" to make the lens into a 50mm equivalent should satisfy those who need a longer focal lenth, but it's big.

 

[dbarnes]

I'm a complete convert to the X100s. It is fast and sharp and accurate and silent. Its overall value proposition is so good that I'm willing to work with a fixed lens camera for the first time in decades.

You don't say what you're currently shooting. If it's a sophisticated autofocus Canon or Nikon film body, I wouldn't worry too much about adapting to the X100s. You're already dealing with cameras that have lots of options and controls. But it's a big jump to the X100s or any high end digital camera from, say, an F-1 or an F2 or M2 or M6. The question is how you deal with the jump. I sometimes wish the X100s had less sophistication. But the reality is that you can disregard a lot of the options and controls and shoot it like a much simpler camera.

The focal length issue is a religious one. Either you can convert to the 35mm angle of view or you can't. There's no arguing about it. If you have to have a 50mm angle of view, the X100s will disappoint.

 

[danielsterno]

I think I agree with that.

I would 3x's the above and for me, its the only digital i have ever had, use it with my M6/M5 50% of the time. Personally I prefer the x100 sensor images to the 100s and will use it until its DOA. Though I have been waiting for XPII for a multi-lens option and to use my M lens but fighting GAS for the XT1 being the rumor is 2015 for the XPII. Last as others have said, I keep it on auto white balance, do occasionally select higher dynamic range and various ISO and for me is the closest user interaction and IQ to film… I do have 3 batteries.