X100 - a week in London

[marcr1230]

My short notes on the X100 as a travel camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frozen_photons/sets/72157627055555674/

In short, I find the quality very high, colors wonderful, size just right. If you can live with only a 35mm equivalent, this a great little package.

Pros:

• Beautiful fixed 35mm equiv. lens
• Awesome Dual Optical/Electronic Viewfinder
• Small
• Quiet
• High quality sensor/lens - great low light capabilities
• Good/solid ergonomics
• Great colors right off the camera - excellent modes (B&W, Panorama, film modes)
• Panorama mode is loads of fun, if not always a smooth result
• The Auto ISO, F2.0 and ND filter are a great Trifecta
• love the auto-switching from back LCD to Viewfinder and back.

Cons:

• Focusing isn't always as fast as my Nikon D300
• Easy to knock the exposure compensation dial off zero - takes one outing with messed up pictures to learn to check frequently.
• Macro Mode - awkward to need to switch to a different mode to close focus. A lot of portraits can straddle the boundary.

Ambivalent:

• Manual Focus - didn't use it at all
• EVF - I like the OVF a lot, EVF less, tends to be laggy/choppy

Suggested improvements - very little:

• Get rid of one lug and give me a wrist strap, I don't wear cameras around my neck. (I probably will just remove the neck strap and get a wrist loop.
• Faster focus - although I might try AF-C next

 

[denbraven]

That's a good little "field review", thanks for that. I'm probably going to take my X100 to my London trip next month as well, and leave the Nikon DSLR at home.

 

[Richard G]

MF will allow quick close focus without having to enter macro mode.

 

[denbraven]

I find that it's faster to switch to macro mode (takes two or three clicks) and then autofocus, rather than spinning the MF-ring a bunch of times to autofocus close and then try to nail focus so it's sharp.

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

I find that it's faster to switch to macro mode (takes two or three clicks) and then autofocus, rather than spinning the MF-ring a bunch of times to autofocus close and then try to nail focus so it's sharp.

If you push the AE/AFl button in MF it will AF once.
But entering macro mode only takes two clicks.

Cheers,
Michiel

 

[denbraven]

Yeah, that's true Michiel.

 

[kuvvy]

I'm off to London in a couple of hours for a few days. It's been over 20 years since I last went. Going to take in the Vivien Maiier exhibition, catch the Nick Turpin stuff at St Pancras and whatever else I can find, as well as keeping the wife happy with some sightseeing and a show.
Travelling light (photo wise) and taking my X100 for a decent workout along with my GRDIII in my original Bare Bones bag.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I'm off to London in a couple of hours for a few days. It's been over 20 years since I last went. Going to take in the Vivien Maiier exhibition, catch the Nick Turpin stuff at St Pancras and whatever else I can find, as well as keeping the wife happy with some sightseeing and a show.
Travelling light (photo wise) and taking my X100 for a decent workout along with my GRDIII in my original Bare Bones bag.

there's a cool little gallery (MINNIE WEISZ STUDIO - "Adventures in the Valley by Polly Braden & David Campany") on the other side of st pancras than the german gymnasium that is also part of the festival, you should check it out. the dougie wallace exhibition should be interesting as well, if a little wild.

 

[dacaccia]

MF mode using AE-L is the fastest AF way; no short distance, clear view of depth of field ... that means: useful for all those who are used to rangefinder cameras. 😉

Cheers,
dacaccia