Why It's Good To Get Up, Go Outside, Take Some Photos And . . .

[dcsang]

wander into the local camera shop, where, luckily, there was a Fuji sales rep hanging out showing all my local camera shop sales dudes a working X100 prototype.

Being a regular in that shop, I was the only customer in there (due to the time of day) and, as such, got to fondle/hold/test out - the camera.

In an attempt to be brief, here's what I noted:

• The X100 is a lot bigger than what I thought it would be - it's about 2/3 the length of my M7 (which I had with me) and about the same thickness. I didn't check the height
• The X100 is a lot lighter than I thought it would be - it seemed really light like it didn't contain a lot of metal in the structure - still it didn't feel "overly" light either
• The Hybrid EVF is pretty awesome - played with that and flipped the switch on the front of the camera to rotate through the images, it's VERY cool
• The "Viewfinder" in general is good - It seemed clear, decent and sizeable enough to keep those of you who long for viewfinders on these digtals happy 🙂
• The ergonomics seem to be pretty good imho - a lot better than the ergonomics on the panaosnic cameras but not as "easy" as the Ricoh GRD series - but still, very very good in my hands.
• The price is still a bit much - $1200 CDN is what i was told by the Fuji rep - don't know if that's street or retail but still.. a bit pricey (even if he said it's about a 1/4 of the M7's price 😀 )
• An interchangeable lens version may be in the future - I mumbled something to the rep about people whining about the lack of interchangeable lenses and he said "this is the first step but we'll look at that in the future" (I'm sure this is OLD news to most)

I was surprised by my luck and pleased I got to play with something all of you are salivating over... 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[---f]

where you able to snap photo's and pixel peep? If so, how does the lens characteristics compare to what you usually make pictures with?

 

[PatrickT]

You lucky SOB! 😛

What I'm curious about is focus speed, shutter release delay, shutter noise, etc. Any thoughts on those?

 

[dcsang]

@Fireboy - There was no card in the camera and it appears the battery was, well, "well used" *LOL* - it's pre production and the rep made sure he stated that over and over and over *LOL* - the EVF was working and so was the rear LCD - both looked good but the rep said these were not the 1.1 million pixels that the production model would eventually be. I did not get a chance to look at any images - don't know if the sales guys at the store (Downtown Camera) did either though - seeing as how it's a pre-production camera, I bet there's some sort of "rules" surrounding that for the store.

@PatrickT - good question !! I did get to see focus speed in action based on some of the sales guys using it as well.. it's fairly quick - not DSLR quick but probably as fast or faster than my Olympus EP-2 - remember this was in good light not in low light. Shutter noise was almost non-existent from what I heard. Probably a wee bit quieter than my M7 with less of a "click" (obviously) 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[monochromejrnl]

Fred,

Well, based on what I felt and played with - it's not an iPhone case 😀

That said, I found it awfully light and a lot bigger than I had anticipated - but that's me 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

Dave - how would you say the OVF compares to a M or Japanese fixed lens VF? more like the later or the former?

From photos online, it seems to me that OVF seems cluttered with all the projected information - what is your impression?

Are you able to 'turn off' the projected details selectively or completely?

Cheers,
Ken

 

[dcsang]

Ken - The OVF is definitely more like a japanese fixed lens than an M. The "frame line" reminds me a lot of any of the japanese fixed lens RFs - I think it's a lot like (in a way) a Konica Auto S2. I didn't note a lot of "junk" when I flipped away from the EVF - there still was some data showing up at the bottom but not as much as there was with the full on EVF in effect.

I am unsure about selectively turning off some of the information though as I never thought to ask or try it.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[kevin m]

Poor Dave! You've set yourself up to be pestered with questions for about a week! 😀

 

[dcsang]

Poor Dave! You've set yourself up to be pestered with questions for about a week! 😀

I am a giver Kev 🙂
I don't mind - I know the camera has got a lot of people interested in it and people want to know about it - I can only tell what I know from my personal experience.. 🙂

It's the least I can do for those on the forum who've offered up so much advice/info to me over the years 😀

Cheers,
Dave

 

[FrankS]

You've actually been touched by an x100. You're like a demi-god, man!

😉

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Did you bring to the rep's attention how much we want a black paint version along with interchangeable lenses? Perhaps a limited edition Titanium finish? 😀

 

[back alley]

does the finish look like it would scratch easily?


(sorry, just could not resist...)

 

[Andy Kibber]

I love it. While others are scouring the internet for information about the X100, you leave the comfort of your computer chair and actually get to touch one (gasp).

The moral of the story? Good things happen when you leave the house.

 

[dcsang]

@Joe - The finish is a "matte" type finish - it looks like there's potential for scratching if something sharp is against it - you know, like, say a set of keys.

@Darren - I never mentioned a black paint version but I did mention the interchangeable lenses - I would think the next or perhaps third iteration of the camera will have that

@Frank - No.. I'm just a man... maybe a man who's ahead of my time but yes.. just a man *LOL*

Cheers,
Dave

 

[jsrockit]

Thanks for the info. Did they say it was on schedule to be released in March?

 

[videogamemaker]

Thanks for the info. Did they say it was on schedule to be released in March?

Double both of these. Thanks and did they mention release date? 🙂

 

[kevin m]

The moral of the story? Good things happen when you leave the house.

But if I leave the house I might miss my package from B&H! 😀

 

[Keith]

You didn't happen to see Elvis leaving as you arrived did you?

 

[dcsang]

hehe..
@jsrockit and @videogamemaker - I didn't get a chance to ask that question (actually it slipped my mind because I'm not that interested in the camera AND I was shocked that I actually was able to see one "in the flesh") - I would assume that it must be on schedule though because the Fuji rep said he'd seen a "production model" in Japan and Germany and the 1.1 Million Pixel display (I think he said that number applied to the EVF as well) would blow everyone away - He did also throw around the "B" word (bokeh) with respect to the lens @ f2 - he said that the bokeh was beautiful.. we'll see won't we...

@Keith - no.. no I did not Keith.. at that point in time, I was told "Elvis has left the building..." 😉

Dave

 

[dcsang]

Forget float. Will it blend?

Probably.... but I didn't have a good blender on hand to try it out 🙂

Dave

 

[rover]

Well, well....

It is good that there are actual facsimiles of the little guy floating around.

Now to just get them in the hands of some photographers. That will be a great day.