Why are you so excited?

[daveisbest]

Because it's a camera for people who sensibly realize that a Canonet will do 80% of what a Leica M will do, and have been waiting for a digital equivalent.

Exactly. A reasonably compact, fully featured camera with a great lens, easy to use controls with dials/rings that aren't in stupid places and a good viewfinder with framelines.

The reason there is so much excitement surrounding this camera? Because it's the first digital camera to have all of these features at a reasonable price. And in terms of fixed lens digital cameras, it's the only one in it's class and the only one which comes close to replicating the fixed lens rangefinders of the past such as the Canonets.

 

[M4streetshooter]

I used to be really excited. I was in love I tell ya but it's like my ex's...
The longer I don't see it, the less I desire it. My GF1 is doing a heck of a job and with the LX5 as a constant carry around... the X100 is not that exciting to me anymore.

I dreamed like everyone but the price index here in the states...$1200.00, is way out of line. The problem really is that there's this crazy hype and now all this pre-ordering, whatever the heck that is...ya either order it or ya don't.
So, now due to the hype, the price index will be higher than wanted because the 1st responders jumped on it and showed that Fuji and the dealers can get away with a higher price...

So, again to answer the question, no I'm not that excited. I'm curious but not excited.
shooter

 

[videogamemaker]

I dreamed like everyone but the price index here in the states...$1200.00, is way out of line. The problem really is that there's this crazy hype and now all this pre-ordering, whatever the heck that is...ya either order it or ya don't.
So, now due to the hype, the price index will be higher than wanted because the 1st responders jumped on it and showed that Fuji and the dealers can get away with a higher price...

shooter

It might be out of your budget, but it's objectively not out of line when compared to similar products and it's feature set plus R&D costs.

Pre-ordering simply means you're in line to get the first ones in case there is too much demand. You put your name, and sometimes money, down, and you get yours before someone who saunters in the day of launch. It's neither a new concept, nor a complicated idea.

The price is not affected by people proclaiming interest online. That's now how this kind of thing works. If you're curious about it, you can take a marketing class, but the only thing that we as customers can do to affect it, is to keep buying it at MSRP which will prolong the time before street price drops. Forum posts are not going to "drive up costs".

 

[Frankie]

I was excited because the X100 "was my idea".

 

[jsrockit]

The longer I don't see it, the less I desire it. My GF1 is doing a heck of a job and with the LX5 as a constant carry around... the X100 is not that exciting to me anymore.

Even though I quoted you, this is directed at you. I just wonder why so many keep saying they aren't excited anymore? It seems just as exciting as it was when it was announced. Nothing they have unveiled about the camera has been something that makes it less desirable. Perhaps many didn't see it as a tool, but were more enamored by its looks?

 

[Spyro]

How long before you think this will happen? I agree, and the thought is exciting, just curious if it's going to be 5 years or 10.

Νo idea, I guess it depends on the manufacturer. There's a school of thought that says the aim is to make the product that makes you the most money, not necessarily the best product you can make. So even if you have the technology to make a camera that is 3 steps ahead of the competition, you shouldn't. You would milk your market way more efficiently if you do it gradually ie make something like the x100 now, then add full frame and call it an upgrade, then add a rangefinder and some megapixels, then make it pocket size and so on. This is the way of Canon.

Also what's the viewfinder on the XA like?

Sufficient. No parallax correction though.

 

[Arjay]

Gentlemen never get overly enthusiastic, so I'm keeping my cool. 😉 Everything I've read about the camera sounds interesting and promising. The little boy in me says 'gotta get that new toy, right now'; the adult in me says 'I first want to see pictures made with it and read first real-life reviews' before I'll definitely decide to buy.

But seriously, by being enthusiastic about the X100 and ruminating over it, we're doing Fuji's job of keeping the excitement up. If we do that even though Fuji doesn't make us do it, then that's viral marketing. Gooid job, Fuji.

Also what's the viewfinder on the XA like?

Minuscule, not very easily viewable for anyone with glasses, and doesn't have any parallax correction. It doesn't even come close to a Leica M or Hexar AF/RF viewfinder. I'm speaking of practical experience.

 

[GSNfan]

D90's sensor has a dynamic range of 12.5 EV. By pushing the default ISO to ISO 200, the sensor would lose almost 1 EV in dynamic range. Fuji's decision to push the default ISO from 100 to 200 was to hit max ISO of 12800 for spec sheets and bragging rights.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/All-tested-sensors/Nikon/D90

This is definitely one of the reasons why I would hold on for sometime or maybe until X200. Also the reason for my loss of excitement.

As a b&w shooter dynamic range is everything for me.

 

[jsrockit]

Has it been confirmed anywhere that it is the same exact sensor as the D90? Also, there is nothing wrong with the sensor if it is that sensor... it's in the Leica X1 as well and all anyone ever says about that camera is that it has best in class IQ.

 

[Arjay]

D90's sensor has a dynamic range of 12.5 EV. By pushing the default ISO to ISO 200, the sensor would lose almost 1 EV in dynamic range. Fuji's decision to push the default ISO from 100 to 200 was to hit max ISO of 12800 for spec sheets and bragging rights.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/All-tested-sensors/Nikon/D90

This is definitely one of the reasons why I would hold on for sometime or maybe until X200. Also the reason for my loss of excitement.

As a b&w shooter dynamic range is everything for me.

While I agree that BW shooting benefits from high dynamic range, I think to believe that the D90 has a 12.5EV range is wishful thinking. AFAIK the D300 I use has the same sensor, and I'd say it delivers a 9.5 EV range, which is already pretty good.

Another fact to set straight: The D90's and D300's generic base ISO is 200. Reducing the lowest ISO value to ISO 100 in these cameras actually lowers their dynamic range (Nikon even states this openly in their operating manuals). So, let's just hold back a little about speculations on dynamic range and S/N ratio. Nobody has yet seen any pictures that are representative of the actual X100 performance.

 

[GSNfan]

While I agree that BW shooting benefits from high dynamic range, I think to believe that the D90 has a 12.5EV range is wishful thinking. AFAIK the D300 I use has the same sensor, and I'd say it delivers a 9.5 EV range, which is already pretty good.

Another fact to set straight: The D90's and D300's base ISO is 200. So, let's just hold back a little about speculations on dynamic range and S/N ratio. Nobody has yet seen any pictures that are representative of the actual X100 performance.

D90's base ISO is 100 and thats part of the dynamic range chart, so it means it was tested at ISO 100... And in the DXO ranking D90 sensor scores higher than D300s.

But then there is Nikon D7000 with a dynamic range of 14EV!

I'm past those stages of buying gear on a whim, now its serious business and i need to spend my limited funds very carefully... Had i been a color photographer, I'd get a GF1, but I'm a 100% b&w shooter and with film going the way of the dodo, i need to make my digital decisions more carefully.

 

[former member]

Brian, I can go with that. But, I don't understand the wild buzz for it.

(Then again I don't understand something like the Snooky phenomena, either).

SNOOKY: IS THAT A NEW LEICA ACCESSORY! What does it do!

Anyway, it's easy getting excited over stuff that you do not own, and it looks cool. The X100 has yet to prove its worth, but it certainly has set itself apart from the herd. Just the fact that it has a relatively Fast F2 Fixed-Lens makes it exciting for the "rest of us" that look beyond how many megapixels a camera has, and the Zoom factor of the lens.

 

[videogamemaker]

Has it been confirmed anywhere that it is the same exact sensor as the D90? Also, there is nothing wrong with the sensor if it is that sensor... it's in the Leica X1 as well and all anyone ever says about that camera is that it has best in class IQ.

No it hasn't, and even if it is the same sensor, the rest of the innards can have very different results. See the sony A900 vs the Nikon D3s, or the Pentax k-5 vs the Nikon d7000.

And I have yet to see a manufacturer alter the base iso of a sensor. If Fuji is setting it at 200, it's because the sensor's is 200. Nikon has done this, as have others.

And the D90's base sensitivity is 200. As per the DPreview spec sheet:
• Default: ISO 200 - 3200 in 1/3 EV steps
• Boost: 100 - 6400 in 1/3 EV steps

It's even listed on DXOmark's chart's that it's iso 200

 

[wgerrard]

I'm interested but not excited. That means I'll pay attention to the initial reviews, and more attention to actual user reports down the road.

It's good that it looks like cameras most of us here are accustomed to using. it will be much better if the controls are actually competent.

It's also good that the camera will apparently have a good viewfinder. Whatever technology makes that possible, however, won't be confined to Fuji for long.

I don't expect it to attract many rank amateur DSLR buyers.

 

[GSNfan]

No it hasn't, and even if it is the same sensor, the rest of the innards can have very different results. See the sony A900 vs the Nikon D3s, or the Pentax k-5 vs the Nikon d7000.

And I have yet to see a manufacturer alter the base iso of a sensor. If Fuji is setting it at 200, it's because the sensor's is 200. Nikon has done this, as have others.

And the D90's base sensitivity is 200. As per the DPreview spec sheet:
• Default: ISO 200 - 3200 in 1/3 EV steps
• Boost: 100 - 6400 in 1/3 EV steps

It's even listed on DXOmark's chart's that it's iso 200

Now the question is if the boost to ISO 100 is as good as the D90 and hits the max DR of the sensor I would have no complains but for that we have to wait and see... All Fuji had to do was release some sample images, but i guess thats still not possible less than two months from release.

 

[jsrockit]

Fuji can release all kinds of sample images, but they will all be under the best circumstances showing the camera in the best possible light. Really, I'd rather see review photos, since they are closer to reality.

 

[videogamemaker]

Fuji can release all kinds of sample images, but they will all be under the best circumstances showing the camera in the best possible light. Really, I'd rather see review photos, since they are closer to reality.

The only usefulness is possibly seeing corner sharpness, and the quality of the bokeh. The only aspects I would want to see before buying aren't going to be done till possibly months after, and that's DXOmark's analysis.

I wonder how one would go about finding out which sensor it is? Like how did people find out the Nikon D3s/x were the Sony a900/850 sensor? or the pentax k-5 using same as nikon d7000? Wish we could find out for sure if it's the d90 sensor or not beforehand.

 

[GSNfan]

This camera could be the ultimate street shooter until the other camera makers catch up, but that 'could be' is the problem.

 

[Ranchu]

I honestly don't understand either, seems like another wave of the usual hype. How many times have we seen this? Yes, it's *only* X currency units, but you still have to give them the money. How hard would it be to clone the leica III in a puck of *solid* plastic? 10 mpx and 45mm and a rangefinder, tiny screen for the histogram and durable buttons? 400 bucks and a decent raw converter, end of story.

 

[berlincontemporary]

... trust me not everyone is that excited

Heheee... 😀 Same here.