X100 for indoors in auto.

Ko.Fe.

Ko.Fe.

Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
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My wife struggles with Canon DSLRs in Auto mode, but our old Fuji camera is good at it, but just too old (5MPs).
With price of x100 classic falling into our affordable price range, I wonder if this camera could serve us for indoors portraits of our kids taken casually.
Camera set to JPEG, central focus point, camera to figure ISO, aperture and shutter speed, if flash comes so be it.
Is x100 capable of it, or it is more for those who knows more about exposure?
All I want is to have crisp and clean JPEGs with 2800 pixels at longer side, which are good at the screen and on 8x10 prints maximum.
Again, indoors in auto is main concern.
Thank you, Ko.
 
I rented the X100 and made some nice 11x14 prints from the JPEGs. So, I purchased the X100s for my wife to use on vacations etc. She loves it on auto and when I can pry it from her hands, I can play with the various settings, trying to improve on what the little computer has done (which is not much most of the time). It's a great camera, and available at a great price.
 
Maybe it's just me, but my X100 never seemed to work properly when I handed it over to non-photographer friends and family. They just couldn't figure out focusing and recomposing with the central AF point, and letting the camera choose the AF point is a real crapshoot.

Perhaps something like an RX100 might be more suitable? It has much faster AF with face-detection, great image quality for your needs, and fits in a pocket too. You can usually find the Mark 1 for around $400.
 
lonemantis said:
Maybe it's just me, but my X100 never seemed to work properly when I handed it over to non-photographer friends and family. They just couldn't figure out focusing and recomposing with the central AF point, and letting the camera choose the AF point is a real crapshoot.

Perhaps something like an RX100 might be more suitable? It has much faster AF with face-detection, great image quality for your needs, and fits in a pocket too. You can usually find the Mark 1 for around $400.
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This has been my limited experience too. That said, my wife worked out focus half press with the Olympus Mju.

If it is left on f4 and has auto ISO up to 1600 and set at ISO 200 it can do anything. The chief problem is accidentally pressing buttons and not being able to retrieve the display on the back, or having it in EVF when you want OVF. There is the central lock button to disable button presses. I think I'd recommend something more foolproof. Your wife will curse you when she hasn't managed to get the shot because the camera was in the middle of something weird.
 
Thank you for prompt replies!

Let me give more details of what I want from x100.

Aperture left on A, shutter speed left on A, ISO on Auto, if it is supporting it, as it was mentioned 200 to 1600 (at least).
And it is for my wife to grab the camera and use it as she using old Fuji camera - central AF, in camera flash to add to exposure or fill in. Indoors.

Are you saying x100 can't do this because it is easy to misconfigure it by pressing something accidentally and here is no way to set it back easily to central AF, auto for exposure?
 
K, I think all of that will work fine. Hard to miss with A/A--the shutter dial and lens can be locked to these--and Auto ISO, where you also set a minimum shutter speed. Toggling from optical to EVF with your right index finger is rational; the Fuji handling problem many have is accidentally nudging the exposure compensation dial. I just check it before I shoot (most of the time).

I use flash very little, and never for auto-flash, so will zip my lips. Good luck
 
lonemantis said:
Perhaps something like an RX100 might be more suitable? It has much faster AF with face-detection, great image quality for your needs, and fits in a pocket too. You can usually find the Mark 1 for around $400.
Click to expand...

I would second this. I have both the x100 (original), and the RX100 Mk1, so I would hope that I can avoid any suggestion of "brand loyalty" in this instance. :rolleyes:

They are both excellent cameras, but unsurprisingly, they have different strengths. The x100 has 'better' IQ, though not by a huge margin. For the purpose that the OP describes, I would opt for the RX100, for the speed and accuracy of the AF - and face detection.

OTOH, if you were planning to use manual focus, then the x100 is now much more usable in MF mode, after the latest firmware update (MF with earlier firmware releases was, well... dreadful :eek:). Another aspect to consider, of course, is that the RX100 has no viewfinder - you would have to get the Mk3 for that, but that costs a lot more. :(

I would also add that the ergonomics of the RX100 don't suit everyone, so I would certainly recommend handling both cameras before deciding.
 
Just get a LX100 from Panasonic, fast reliable autofocus (which is crucial for portraing kids). The fuji is a camera more suitable for landcapes because the af is not too good...
the sony also fits the bill, good low light capabilities and a really reliable fast af.
 
I own both the X100s and the RX100-ii. My wife owns the RX100-i and uses it in auto-everything mode. Outdoors the LCD can be a pain in the ... to compose a picture (even with the white pixel on) but indoors the handling is OK and the IQ is reasonable. AF is good and in superior auto modus the camera itself makes multiple images and blends them into one picture, kind of auto HDR with good results. The RX100 is also more pocket-able. IQ-wise the X100(s) is far superior. I don't hesitate to shoot at iso 3200 or 6400 for the size of pictures you want. AF is less than stellar, but much, much improved over the original X100. Manual focus is a breeze with both split-screen and focus peaking. RX100 lens is very slow at the long end (F4.9)
So, my answer would be: If you want only want to compose, shoot wide, don't mind using an LCD and use auto-everything, buy a RX100. Otherwise an X100 (s or t) is the better option.
BTW I buy all stuff 2nd hand and have never been disappointed.

Success with your choice.

- Forgot to mention: I use a thumbs-up on my X100 and X-Pro1 for better handling and against the accidental turning of the ev-compensation wheel.
 
I snapshoot indoors with the X100 all the time. Never flash / f2.8-4.0 / Auto ISO. Center focus-recompose-bang.
I have recently shot some in "P" mode :eek:. Worked fine.
I find (with the X100) that going with higher iso / smaller aperture is generally better indoor snapping than lower iso / large aperture.
 
if you keep the EV at minus 2/3 stop, everything else on auto, highlights will not be blown. the x100 meter is very, uh, generous with exposure on 0 ...
 
Thanks for more replies, I'll check RX-100 pictures on Flickr once I get to the hope PC tonight.
It just... even our archaic and current Fuji has EVF and JPEG colors from it are good.
 
Have a look at the Fuji XF-1 as well - I have both an X100S and XF-1 and use the XF-1 for pocketability and simplicity. There's good levels of both auto and manual controls and I think it has the same CMOS sensor as the X10 so produces lovely files.

As it's an old model its also available at a ridiculously good price for its capabilities.
 
Have the original X100. When I travel and want to be super lazy (weight, size, tech features), I carry the X100 everywhere. The 35mm FOV works for me.

When I am not as lazy, I take either an M2 or M9. X100 is a great camera and should work for you just fine.
 
I owned a X100 and now own a X-Pro 1 and two X-T1s.

I can not recommend the X100 for the indoors usage you describe. One problem is auto-ISO in inflexible. More serious is the AF system on full auto is similar to Fujifilm's inexpensive compact digital cameras. But the decrease in DOF due the X100's increased sensor area combined with AF technology barely improved from cameras with wider inherent DOF did not bode well for fully-automated AF.

I can recommend it for non-automatic operation indoors. I can recommend the X100 for people who are willing to learn how to use the AF system manually (i.e. focus and recompose). I preordered the X100 in 2011 experienced a difficult leaning curve to make full use of the focusing system in different circumstance. A series of firmware upgrades made a difference. In the end I enjoyed using the camera. I certainly was pleased with its photographs.

For the purpose you described the more expensive X100S/T as well as the X-E2 and X-T1 bodies have appropriate AF (and auto-ISO) technologies.
 
the rx100 is VERY small and many people don't like it for that reason. my friend's wife loves the images from it but has long nails and the small rx100 does not work for her. she bought something bigger.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
. . . . .
With price of x100 classic falling into our affordable price range, I wonder if this camera could serve us for indoors portraits of our kids taken casually.
. . . . .
Again, indoors in auto is main concern.
Thank you, Ko.
Click to expand...

Actually if "portraits" mean really still "smile for the camera" shots, then AF speed is not a big consideration. Is it?

Aside: the fastest "shotgun" setup I have is the XA1 / 27mm with the flip-up screen in waist-level position. Manual focus peaking on "high". Everything else on auto-pilot.
But as always, what works for one person .... ;)
 
daveleo said:
Actually if "portraits" mean really still "smile for the camera" shots, then AF speed is not a big consideration. Is it?
...
Click to expand...

Not so much into jumping kids, but my wife likes close up kind of casual indoor portraits.
 
Get her a Ricoh GR over anything else :)

I started a thread about finding a camera for my mom. She's fairly savy with cameras but had struggled with DSLR, RX100, and the x100 I lent here in the past.
The RX100 had too many options to remember. Sometimes she would turn one on accidentally and not know what it was or how to get rid of it.
DSLR too complicated and large. X100 to hard to focus.

The ricoh GR allows full auto (focus exposure... etc) but, you can still save in RAW and overirde for exposure comp and iso.
She has had quite good luck with it. Now with an eye-fi card installed it exports jpegs directly to her iPad and from there she shares them online.
It's been quite a nice and simple transition.
 
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