Fujifilm X100 12.3 MP APS-C CMOS EXR Digital Camera with 23mm Fujinon Lens and 2.8-Inch LCD

Theres something about his old school view-finder digicam that is habit forming. Its smaller than DSLRs, and even many, if not most, mirrorless cameras. If youre focused on taking pictures and not so much the equipment, this camera soon becomes part of you. The old school dials and buttons are great relief from fiddling with layer upon layer of menus. Fuji has continuously updated this cameras firmware, even though it has been out of production for many years. I understand the firmware was pretty much a non-starter when first launched, but is now able to take advantage of the cameras features in basically unanticipated ways. One of the only foibles left is the slow speed in recording images to the SD card. If youre used to how fast DSLRs can record images, this will take getting used to. The other glaring weakness is videos. But if you are a careful, deliberate still image shooter, none of this really matters, does it? People love and admire this camera. I am asked about it frequently. For those unaware of Fujifilms expertise in designing and manufacturing broadcast and other professional lenses, the 32mm (equivalent) F2.0 lens can produce unexpectedly great images for the right owner, even at high sensibilities. I pretty much always set the auto ISO to 3200 maximum, and frankly dont worry about noise at reasonable print sizes. I understand high sensitive images can be a vulnerability for other rangefinder cameras, even elite ones. I understand some of the early production models have had problems with some of the hardware, so please do your research before shopping for one of these. I bought a used one from a supposedly trouble-free batch at Amazon, at a small fraction of the original $1,000+ cost, and didnt expect to be so draw to using it basically exclusively. One more thing -- the fill flash is remarkable in getting the exposure right, in lots of different situations. I know some owners who basically leave the flash on. Fuji really got the fill flash right, but it is weak thought, so if you need something with a little more reach or need bounced flash, a hot shoe flash is probably required. If you have one of these, it can become addictive. Zoom? No zoom Im afraid. You may have to use your feet.

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Lots have been said about the autofocus on this camera. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it out. It locked immediately with no issues at all. It was way faster than I thought itd be. The firmware is 1.30. I think Fuji really improved the autofocus with firmware updates. For a point of comparison my other camera is an Olympus EP3. The EP3 with the Panasonic 20mm lens is comparable in autofocus speed. The Panny 20mm is known as a slower focusing lens in the micro four thirds system. I walk around all day with the 20 on my EP3 and never miss a shot. The x100 feels just the same. I tried the autofocus in very very dim light. I went outside at 11pm and tried locking the autofocus on different things at different distances. To my surprise it locked just fine. No hunting at all. It was so dark that all I could see in the viewfinder was black. The only autofocus issue still left is macro. It does hunt in macro mode. The fix is to put the camera in manual focus mode and lock the focus using the AEL button on the back of the camera. For some reason this is way faster than putting the camera in macro mode. It works very well. I do find that even with this method the x100 will hunt a bit in close up from time to time. Not too bad though. High ISO is stellar. ISO 3200 is way better than ISO 1250 on my EP3. Havent tried 6400 yet but Id have no problem using 3200 without giving it a second thought. Lastly the hybrid viewfinder is awesome. EVF is great in low light and macro. Optical viewfinder with info overlay is worth the price of admission alone. I have no regrets getting this over the newer x100s. It seems to do everything I need very well.

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In short this is a "restore everything you loved about film" camera, and then some. In many ways it matches the human visual systems characteristic in high contrast and low light scenes. Those who love working a 35 or 50mm prime lens will have a blast with this. Those without will learn to work more creatively. After having this for a couple of weeks, I am very impressed with the photos this camera takes. It has a nice F2.0 lens (fixed, 35mm equivalent) and is obviously very retro in style. I like they way the viewfinder senses you putting your eye up to the camera and puts the EVF up (and can also go all-optical in the rangefinder viewer) What I like: * has a 400% dynamic range setting which does a very good job of preventing blowouts in the highlights and shadows. This has to be seen to be believed, but it reminds me very much of the dynamic range of color film, which I have greatly missed. * Good pics even at ISO 12,000! The x100 at 6400 has less noise than my Nikon at 800. You can shoot handheld in moonlight. * I almost never use flash, but this little camera does it right, faces look warm and never blow out. * The manual controls and auto-ISO. Get things set the way you like and start shooting. * really low latency (instant?) on rear-screen and electronic viewfinder. Also a rangefinder style all-optical path. * much lighter than my SLR, but same or better picture quality at 35mm What I use it for: * Indoor/Outdoor candid photos in low light * High contrast shots, dynamic range abilities must be seen to be believed. This camera reliably captures at least 12 stops. * a dedicated exposure compensation dial * walkabout. lens is tack sharp. Use your feet to zoom * "sweeping panorama" shots are good enough in a pinch to replace a 17mm wide angle shot * Intentional shooting, where you know what you want in the image and how to compose the shot, this camera will capture a sharp image with great dynamic range, like color or B&W film have been doing for a hundred years. What I dont like: * macro mode should be automatic, the threshold between requiring macro (which does 10cm) and normal close focus is about arms-length. When youre close its annoying to have to switch as you see it focus-hunt. * menu system is a little unwieldy, but 3 sets of custom settings help. This is a fantastic "second camera" for the semi-pro. I find myself grabbing it on the way out the door, much more often than I was willing to lug around my SLR. Its much quieter and its very athletic in controlling both low-light and high dynamic range situations.

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Im a hobbyist who was attracted to the X100s retro design, hybrid viewfinder and solid build but my decision to purchase the camera was based on its superior image quality, true-to-life colors and shooting performance. The cameras color performance cannot be overstated - its remarkable even under difficult mixed indoor lighting. Its outdoor color performance is equally excellent even with strong UV light, reflective light, backlighting, and color casts. In regard to lighting, the X100s built-in flash may be it most understated feature. It compliments almost all lighting conditions and delivers natural color and balanced tones. The flash acts more as a fill than as a primary light source. It blends equally well with mixed light, direct sunlight and low light. Also, the flash has excellent reach of up to 50 feet, and it enables nighttime photography of any subject within range that can be seen with the naked eye. Shooting performance is also very good - there is no shutter lag. While not as fast as a dSLR, Ive been able to shoot action - swimming and pole vaulting - again with accurate color rendition. Swim events can be difficult to photograph because of harsh lighting, shadows, color casts, and movement. The cameras "normal" JPEG mode provides excellent images and shooting JPEG rather than RAW greatly increases performance. While Im not against shooting RAW, I greatly prefer the speed, size, and convenience of JPEG files. Overall, the camera is a pleasure to hold and use. The primary controls are responsive and their placement is ideal although the secondary controls, i.e. Command Control, Command Dial and Menu/OK button could be better. The Menu/OK button needs to be larger and the Control Dial should be replaced with four buttons. The current dial is sloppy. Also, the Command Control which has a nice tactile feel serves little purpose as its currently configured but could easily be made much more useful with a firmware update. For instance, allowing it to be configured as an optional Menu/OK button would resolve the problem with the size of the current button. Also, a simple firmware update would make the manual focus ring more responsive and practical. Lastly, there are several useful and reasonably priced accessories for this camera. Ken Rockwell has an excellent suggestion for an inexpensive lens cover alternative using two reverse mounted 49mm filters (see his website). AC MAXX has a quality universal 2.8" LCD protector and there are excellent low-cost two piece leather cases which are useful both in the field and for safe storage. Also, Digipower makes a fast travel charger which allows you to leave the supplied charger, with its easy to loose plastic spacer, at home along with the nicely made but easy to loose lens cover. All of these items can be found on Amazon. I highly recommend the X100 to photography enthusiasts and believe that its manufacturers list price is reasonable. However, I would not recommend the camera to "point and shoot" photographers who are dependent on pre-sets and dont have the patience or desire to learn photography fundamentals.

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I loved this Camera. Its the best camera Ive ever owned and Ive owned a lot of camera. This camera and its siblings have made photography fun exciting and profitable for me. It is handsome, intuitive, takes great photos and attracts beautiful people. After two plus years I just sold this one to purchase a used Limited edition version of the same. Im as happy as a pig in a mud hole. Read the reviews and watch the serial numbers. Someone just purchase my pristine X100 with original box, accessories and extras for $475. A steal. Highly Recommended if you can get one. Its a Keeper. Me, well I just lusted after the Black LE. By the way, they are still comparing the latest Fujis, Sonys, Panasonics, and Leicas against this cameras image quality.

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One of my earliest cameras was a Yashica Electro 35 GSN so the form factor, build and aesthetics of this X100 bring back fond memories. My main camera is currently a Canon EOS 7D with a number of L lenses. I travel frequently but am loathe to drag along the DSLR because of its bulk, the potential hassles at airport security and its value. I have tried a number of compact digital cameras (the last was a Canon G11) for this purpose but always felt let down by the image quality and limited by the lack of selective focus. The X100 with its frequently exquisite image quality, epic low light and high ISO performance, beautiful fast lens and excellent bokeh is a winning combination for me. Consider also its superb fill in flash performance, its high flash synch speed and built in ND filter and you have quite an exotic specification and capability in a small package. Finally, the X100 offers the much discussed optical/electronic viewfinder combination which really adds to the business of picture taking. Its important to note that all of the firmware and handling complaints noted in other reviews here are valid. However, with the latest firmware release -1.21, almost all of the deficiencies have been addressed in a very robust fashion (arguably transforming). On my X100 with V 1.21 firmware, focusing in strong and low light is fast and sure, new functions are assignable to the RAW and Fn buttons and overall camera operation is much quicker. This leaves only the price as a barrier to entry - if you treasure the ability to make fine images, the appeal of well made hardware and the possibility of taking it with you everywhere without a bulky bag or a Sherpa, then the decision becomes clearer. I have no reservations about this camera now and look forward to taking it everywhere. Its going up a volcano with me in three days where I will trust it with pictures not easily remade. With all that said, I would second the opinion of others, that this camera is probably most satisfying for deliberate photographers. If your primary requirement is fuss free snapshots of children, family gatherings or pets, you may be happier and have money left over with a lower cost digital compact with reduced specification.

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I just purchased this camera last week, and it arrived a couple of days ago. Ive hardly used it yet, but I love it. Its one of those objects that is so perfectly sized and designed that its fun just to pick it up and take a look through the viewfinder. And as a bonus, it does indeed take excellent photos. Like most products like this from the Pacific Rim countries, the owners manual is considerably less than logically laid out and useful. Some reviewers have termed the cameras menu terminology quirky, and it is a little, but no big deal. If you purchase the X100, or if you already have, I strongly, strongly recommend you visit Ken Rockwells web site at [...] and click your way to his X100 users guide. He leads you completely through the setup and shooting menus, at each stop explaining the options and the one that he prefers. I differed with him on only one of his choices, and by the time I had gone through this process, the camera was ready to go, and I came away with a pretty good understanding of its controls and functions. Since writing this review, Ive had a chance to use the camera, and am just as pleased with it as I had expected. In that regard, its interesting to me that, while this camera markets naturally to what I would consider a fairly narrow spectrum...professional to advanced ametuers who choose the X100 as a "fun" camera to carry in given situations as an alternative to a pro-line DSLR...it sure is tough to get hold of one. Before ordering the camera from Amazon, I had previously tried to buy one on a trip to New York when my wife had damged her Coolpix in a non-serious stumble. My first thought was to pick up an X100 and give her my own point-and-shoot. Guess what? As near as I could ever find, the only Fujifilm for sale in Manhattan was in a camera store in the Murray Hill neighborhood, where the shop keeper absolutely refused to sell it other than in a kit, with a card, an extra battery, auxilliary lenses and a selection of other schlock stuff I didnt want or need. Hopefully, he still has it! The attractive things about the cmera, to me at least, are that it takes excellent photos, but you can make it as easy or as complex to use as you see fit. I find that I actually like the fixed focal length lens. When I want to take a picture, I just lift the camera, compose, and shoot it. Its easy enough in Photoshop to crop it to nicely frame the center of interest. No sweat. Id say that if you are looking at the X100 as your only camera, you might want to consider something with more features, such as the new Nikon 1, which I just bought for my aforementioned wife, who loves it. But if you fall in that category of somebody looking for a nifty and retro looking, but high performing, camera to carry around with you when visiting, say, an exciting city, this is it. Go for it!

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The Fuji X100 with version 1.3 firmware is fantastic. The superb built in 35mm pancake f2 lens with integrated ND filter makes the camera nicely portable and incredibly flexible when coupled with its high ISO capable sensor. I plan on eventually buying an XE-1 as well to use with some M-mount lenses but it will not replace this wonderful camera. There are a number of ways to use the camera to fit your style. While I usually prefer the EVF, I occasionally find its OVF with histogram display to be a nice option. I love that the display automatically toggles between the viewfinder and the rear display. The new firmware brings 2 function assignable buttons (Fn and Raw) to the game which I use to control the ND filter and Fujis sweet film/filter simulations. The jpegs are of great quality and remarkably small size. Highly Recommended!

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Im well over 10,000 shots in this camera, and have yet to encounter the shutter problem some run into. I would advise checking with Fuji to assure your buying from an authorized dealer. If theyre not authorized, they could be selling you a foreign model. I know Amazon and B&H Photo are authorized. ALSO, DONT buy this camera used. The shutter problem is not covered under warranty unless you are the original purchaser. If you buy this used or opened, and run into the problem, its to my understanding the cost of repair is $800-900. My point, buy new and ONLY from an authorized dealer. Otherwise, this camera has an amazing lens and sensor. Im sure your here looking because youve done your research. Which means you would know it has a lot of quirks too. Embrace those quirks for what they are, and you will be one happy camera owner when you sit down to pixel peep at your RAW images. Im patiently awaiting the X Pro-1 and selling my Nikon on Craigslist!

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I really, really love this camera even after owning it for over 6 months, it rides with me everywhere. Without going into much detail I like everything about it except its inability to focus well in low light even with the af assit light and the color temperature of the crappy onboard flash (which doesnt bother me in the slightest honestly.) If they had somehow managed to cram a phase detection autofocus into this thing it would be my favorite camera of all time and id keep it till it died and then buy another. As it stands, focusing in dim light is slow and a losing battle even using the electronic viewfinder, af assist light, centerpoint focus, and nailing the dot on a high conterast area like an eye or the hairline. Oddly, it focuses easily on glasses and glassware in almost total darkness. So maybe the contrast focus just isnt sesitive enough? Either way i deal with it happily and shoot almost always at iso 2000 or 3200. I have several of the popular photos in the gallery for this camera really recommend it to anyone that wants a serious manual-like experience in a very capable and portable camera.

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