emraphoto
Veteran
well, not one to review cameras really. hell, don't much care what folks are using BUT i thought i would offer up some thoughts and pictures.
WARNING - the images are of a graphic nature.
DISCLAIMER - i don't want the thread to get derailed by the subject matter. if anyone wishes to discuss the commission (subject matter) please send me a p.m. or email and i will be happy to talk.
DAY 1 (so far there is only day 1. more to follow)
i will approach this from an interface, reliability, user friendliness position. as far as technical details there are plenty of reviews about and truth be told i have pretty low standards. if it makes it past the picture desk i am happy.
the high iso capabilities from the camera are quite extraordinary. combined with the simple'ish interface and it's resemblance to the hexar af (which i love) i was inclined to buy. some folks find the single focal length an achilles heel and i understand their position. i, on the other hand, could shoot the rest of my life on a 35mm equivalent so the fixed lens is a non issue. i shoot a lot in aperture priority and dial in compensation as needed. the camera seems well suited for this approach. the shutter release is easily found with the camera to eye and smooth to release. i would prefer the afl/ael button be up around the jog dial for faster and more intuitive access but can live with it where it is. i have the fn button set up for iso and with that away i go. i am not a big fan of auto iso as 'sharp' is often not the look i am going for. i want control over shutter speed via my aperture selection.
the menu systems have been covered elsewhere at length so i will keep it short. they (menu systems) do seem a bit 1994 in layout and visual presentation. i don't find them to much an issue though as i generally stay away from them throughout the day. i set the camera up to shoot in about 2 minutes and have yet to change much. manual is still in the wrapper/box. if i could make 1 request to fuji it would be a graduated nd filter option.
the drive is a welcome addition and i do use it. specifically when i am very close and their is a tension in the air due to proximity. a bit difficult to explain or accredit to a particular camera however the X100 goes with the flow. rattling off frames with barely a whisper. with that said i so use a bit of shutter volume. silent makes me anxious. "is this thing working" sort of affair.
manual focus. now there are many folks committed to manual focus at times and i am one of them. there are also varying approaches to manual focus so i will stick to my own. i zone focus. a LOT. ael/afl button set for af lock, until you press again to release, works very, very well. as a matter of fact i damn near love it. it is consistent, predictable and allows me to leave the lcd off for the whole day. something i am rather keen on.
as i have yet to read the manual, or any manual for that matter, i have no idea what the jog/thumb dial is for. i suppose i should figure that one out.
the viewfinder is bright and clear. i shut off every possible drop of info i could and it provides the info i need and is uncluttered.
i am yet to dig into the RAW issue. i do prefer to shoot RAW and will fill in the blanks later.
file transfer is easy on the mac. having spent many a day lugging bags around i have jettisoned everything i could. card readers sit at home. USB to the macbook and away i go. the jpegs look fabulous to me yet due to my somewhat sloppy approach in shooting i need RAW to sort out WB issues later. another recommend to FUJI would be to create a door system for USB access etc. akin to what is on a 1d series camera. snug fitting and sealed. the hinged doors always seems flimsy to me.
i did notice one strange occurrence in transferring files. i lost a frame somewhere long the line and this has never happened to me before. i don't know if this is software (my end) related yet.
one battery held up for a full day of shooting. i am ok with that. after using a canon g10 and not having to charge for days on end i am a bit spoilt. i do generally buy multiple batteries when buying cameras so all is good on that end.
another quibble with FUJI would be the charger. i mean seriously FUJI?!?! who came up with that one? canon s90 style please. charger and flip out prongs. tight battery fit. it you are going to market the thing as the 'professional's choice' then understand what the pro needs. hint - needless plastic bits and cables isn't on the list.
the compensation dial does turn a little easy. this was brought up elsewhere. i have suffered too many occurrences where i started shooting only to realize too late that something wasn't quite right in the camera settings. i now have a habit of looking things over quickly before i shoot. minor quibble? depends on who you ask i suppose.
i haven't used the evf much. i find the optical version to be my cup of tea right now. will have to fill in this blank later as well.
so, day 1. pretty pleased with the camera. no major flaws detected and it appears to be a powerful little camera. great files, silent and intuitive once set to ones liking. i will post more as i move along.
pictures now!
WARNING - the images are of a graphic nature.
DISCLAIMER - i don't want the thread to get derailed by the subject matter. if anyone wishes to discuss the commission (subject matter) please send me a p.m. or email and i will be happy to talk.
DAY 1 (so far there is only day 1. more to follow)
i will approach this from an interface, reliability, user friendliness position. as far as technical details there are plenty of reviews about and truth be told i have pretty low standards. if it makes it past the picture desk i am happy.
the high iso capabilities from the camera are quite extraordinary. combined with the simple'ish interface and it's resemblance to the hexar af (which i love) i was inclined to buy. some folks find the single focal length an achilles heel and i understand their position. i, on the other hand, could shoot the rest of my life on a 35mm equivalent so the fixed lens is a non issue. i shoot a lot in aperture priority and dial in compensation as needed. the camera seems well suited for this approach. the shutter release is easily found with the camera to eye and smooth to release. i would prefer the afl/ael button be up around the jog dial for faster and more intuitive access but can live with it where it is. i have the fn button set up for iso and with that away i go. i am not a big fan of auto iso as 'sharp' is often not the look i am going for. i want control over shutter speed via my aperture selection.
the menu systems have been covered elsewhere at length so i will keep it short. they (menu systems) do seem a bit 1994 in layout and visual presentation. i don't find them to much an issue though as i generally stay away from them throughout the day. i set the camera up to shoot in about 2 minutes and have yet to change much. manual is still in the wrapper/box. if i could make 1 request to fuji it would be a graduated nd filter option.
the drive is a welcome addition and i do use it. specifically when i am very close and their is a tension in the air due to proximity. a bit difficult to explain or accredit to a particular camera however the X100 goes with the flow. rattling off frames with barely a whisper. with that said i so use a bit of shutter volume. silent makes me anxious. "is this thing working" sort of affair.
manual focus. now there are many folks committed to manual focus at times and i am one of them. there are also varying approaches to manual focus so i will stick to my own. i zone focus. a LOT. ael/afl button set for af lock, until you press again to release, works very, very well. as a matter of fact i damn near love it. it is consistent, predictable and allows me to leave the lcd off for the whole day. something i am rather keen on.
as i have yet to read the manual, or any manual for that matter, i have no idea what the jog/thumb dial is for. i suppose i should figure that one out.
the viewfinder is bright and clear. i shut off every possible drop of info i could and it provides the info i need and is uncluttered.
i am yet to dig into the RAW issue. i do prefer to shoot RAW and will fill in the blanks later.
file transfer is easy on the mac. having spent many a day lugging bags around i have jettisoned everything i could. card readers sit at home. USB to the macbook and away i go. the jpegs look fabulous to me yet due to my somewhat sloppy approach in shooting i need RAW to sort out WB issues later. another recommend to FUJI would be to create a door system for USB access etc. akin to what is on a 1d series camera. snug fitting and sealed. the hinged doors always seems flimsy to me.
i did notice one strange occurrence in transferring files. i lost a frame somewhere long the line and this has never happened to me before. i don't know if this is software (my end) related yet.
one battery held up for a full day of shooting. i am ok with that. after using a canon g10 and not having to charge for days on end i am a bit spoilt. i do generally buy multiple batteries when buying cameras so all is good on that end.
another quibble with FUJI would be the charger. i mean seriously FUJI?!?! who came up with that one? canon s90 style please. charger and flip out prongs. tight battery fit. it you are going to market the thing as the 'professional's choice' then understand what the pro needs. hint - needless plastic bits and cables isn't on the list.
the compensation dial does turn a little easy. this was brought up elsewhere. i have suffered too many occurrences where i started shooting only to realize too late that something wasn't quite right in the camera settings. i now have a habit of looking things over quickly before i shoot. minor quibble? depends on who you ask i suppose.
i haven't used the evf much. i find the optical version to be my cup of tea right now. will have to fill in this blank later as well.
so, day 1. pretty pleased with the camera. no major flaws detected and it appears to be a powerful little camera. great files, silent and intuitive once set to ones liking. i will post more as i move along.
pictures now!
