"The FinePix X100 is the starting point of the high-end cameras to follow in future"

[tapesonthefloor]

"The FinePix X100 is the starting point of the high-end cameras to follow in future"

Interview with Hiroshi Kawahara, Operations Manager at Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Products Division and one of the designers of the FinePix X100.

http://www.quesabesde.com/noticias/fujifilm-finepix-x100-entrevista-hiroshi-kawahara,1_en_7074

 

[Fenwick]

Im sure Ill be looking to pick one of these up when released
One sweet camera

 

[Keith]

As much as I'm sick of hearing about this camera I have to admit it's significance is right up there with the first full frame pro-sumer DSLR and the Leica digital M.

They'll sell a zillion of them for sure!

 

[Pablito]

They'll sell a zillion of them for sure!

I doubt it. Still a niche market item - no zoom lens.

I only hope they sell enough of them.

But this interview seems pretty pointless:
"I can not tell you anything specific at this stage"

 

[Spyro]

no zoom lens

Agreed, lethal sin commercially. And I'm so happy they committed it 🙂

 

[noimmunity]

I think it could be a substantial commercial success, at least in Asia, based on two indicators:
1) the popularity of the GRD cameras among people who are not typical niche consumers; and
2) the rise of retro-looking styled cameras as a fashion statement among consumer youth.

 

[mervynyan]

expect it to be on the cover of CQ, Vogue, etc...

 

[shyoon]

Interesting to note that there's no Automatic Mode on the camera, whatsoever. Only Aperture Priority it seems. Good news for enthusiasts, less so for mainstream customers.

 

[tapesonthefloor]

Well, there's an Auto shutter speed and an Auto aperture setting, with probably an auto ISO and auto WB, too, so let's blame that on a bit of rough translating, shall we?

 

[tapesonthefloor]

...oh, well, he covers the red As in his comment:

[...] this is why there is no automatic mode setting except for the exposure.

Well, exposure here covers pretty well everything we at rff refer to as automatic, so what else could he mean? Perhaps he's referring to the sort of scene modes found on other consumer-level digital cameras.

 

[DougFord]

"One might guess that the autofocus of the X100 will be by contrast. Did you not consider the possibility of using a hybrid AF like in the FinePix F300 EXR? Is this option contemplated for the future?

The FinePix X100 adopts contrast AF and realizes similar focus speed to hybrid AF of F300EXR. We are considering developing both hybrid AF and phase detection AF technology for future."

velly interestink 😎

 

[hteasley]

Agreed, lethal sin commercially. And I'm so happy they committed it 🙂

The only lethal sin in selling a camera to the public is not attaching it to a cell phone. They'll sell as many of these as they can make.

 

[LKeithR]

The only lethal sin in selling a camera to the public is not attaching it to a cell phone. They'll sell as many of these as they can make.

I think so. I really feel that the camera buying public is looking for something different and this could just be it. Of course it will actually have to "deliver" on its promises but given Fuji's track record I'm not too worried about this.

What makes this camera especially interesting to me is what may follow it. If this camera is, as has been suggested, a test of the market, then the next iteration could well be an interchangeable lens version or development. Depending on what mount they choose to adopt it could make for a very intriguing little camera...

 

[Pablito]

...oh, well, he covers the red As in his comment:



Well, exposure here covers pretty well everything we at rff refer to as automatic, so what else could he mean? Perhaps he's referring to the sort of scene modes found on other consumer-level digital cameras.

Scene modes would truly be contradictory to the thinking guiding the design it would seem.

Of course the other "A" it has is autofocus. So: autoexposure, auto WB, autoFocus, AutoISO (I'm guessing...)

 

[jsrockit]

The only thing I can see holding me back from buying this is slow AF or poorly implemented MF. The article said:

"One might guess that the autofocus of the X100 will be by contrast. Did you not consider the possibility of using a hybrid AF like in the FinePix F300 EXR? Is this option contemplated for the future?

The FinePix X100 adopts contrast AF and realizes similar focus speed to hybrid AF of F300EXR. We are considering developing both hybrid AF and phase detection AF technology for future."

Anyone know how fast the F300EXR's AF is?

Love this pic: