x100 now or x100S on Feb 18th?

According to Amazon UK, the x100s will be available on Feb 18th. That sounds early, given what else I've read on these forums and elsewhere, but it's an indication and should be along soon. So the question is what to go for.

I've seen an x100 here in Shanghai, supposedly new (looked it) but obviously grey market, for the equivalent of 480 GBP. Amazon UK lists the 100s as costing a shade under 1100 GBP. So, massive difference.

Price is definitely a concern for me and I would be stretching like crazy to afford the 100s. I guess I'm looking for some x100 owners to tell me that I wouldn't be disappointed in an x100!

I'm very much an amateur, and a lapsed one at that. I'm drawn to the x100 due to the manual controls (which would slow me down and make me think again, after years of snap shots on fully automatic cameras) and the much vaunted image quality. I WOULD like great MF performance but I could probably cope without it.

Any advice please? To stretch myself financially or not?

If you'd be happy with the X100s, it's very unlikely you'd be disappointed with the X100.  Buy the X100, that way you won't be so worried about the financial aspect, and you'll dodge any potential early adopter issues with the X100s.  If you find you love the X100 but wish it was just a bit better, you can always upgrade down the road.

Are you an English teacher in Shanghai by chance?

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Couldn't have said it better. There's also the option of buying an X100 in a month or so when prices fall even lower.

Keep in mind as well that the X100 has one major advantage over the X100s...standard RAW files that process brilliantly in LR/PS/C1/Aperture. Might not be important for everyone, but certainly for some.

If financially challenged, get the X100.

The primary reason in the selection between the X100 and X100S will mainly come down to differential in price between the units. Despite the claimed superior standard RAW files with the X100, the X100S packs all the nice improvements and features without all the associated quirks that come with the former. Some regard these new features as a significant improvement, some do not.

If one were to consider the X100 when the updated new model is already available in the market, he would be considering old obsolete gear. The X100 may be a great camera that represents great value for money at discounted prices after the X100S is launched, but there will be folks who will not be willing to accept old technology. When something gets replaced by an updated model, the demand of the discontinued item will most likely dwindle throughout the months or years, most often forgotten. The X100S builds on the strengths of the X100 and addresses the weaknesses and quirks of it. In other words, there is no way the Fuji is going backwards with the introduction of the X100S. Of course, price will always be an issue, and this is where the consumer will have to decide whether to pony up for the costlier model or settle for the cheaper outdated model. The additional premium on a new updated model is comprehensible, and in the case of the X100s I guess that goes to the new X-Trans sensor and EXR processor among other new features.

Newer is usually better than older, and I don't see the X100s being an exception to that general comment.

At the present time, the RAW file from the Xtrans sensors haven't been worked out, so that might be an important consideration.

If I was buying for the 1st time, I wouldn't blink and go for the X100s, because of the:

• faster start-up time,
• better menu system (& Q button),
• faster focusing,
• usable manual focus tools.

If I went X100, I'd always be wondering if I am missing something from the X100s (which is basically the purpose of your post) and knowing that the X100s going to be faster and better in almost all respects.

But, I've been using the X100 since it 1st came out, and am accustomed and have accepted its quirkiness and lived thru the firmware upgrades.  Its a lot better now than before.  So having gone thru the process of just plain very slow (in low light), I'm now much happier with how it performs now.

I'm also very happy with the RAW files from the X100 and I can pp them quite readily.  (Not so happy with the RAW from X-Pro1, so I'm sure I wouldn't be overly excited over the X100s RAW files as well, however, if you are a jpeg-man then its not a consideration)

At this time, I don't think my photography is going to be that much better with the X100s over the X100.  Sure its nicer to have the X100s, but for myself, while undoubtedly, I'd enjoy the X100s improved usability, the difference for me is not that great.

I'll chase the Next Next version, if there is something that makes it more special to me.

For yourself, if you can afford it without starving yourself, go for the X100s, otherwise you might always be wondering how much happier you'd be with the X100s.

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Best,
Rob
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R3A M7 M9 X-Pro1 E-M5 X100 DP2

My feeling based on the many great photos that have been posted in this forum taken with the X100, if you can deal with the shortcomings of the camera that have been described in threads of this forum, I expect it to be available at very good price once the X100S is available.  If, however, the shortcomings will brother you, then spend the extra money and you will get a substantially upgraded X100S camera if the claims by Fuji are true.  Either way you cannot lose, buy a very good X100 at a discounted price or an even better X100S at a higher price.

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Howard
http://www.photo.net/photos/howardfuhrman

Wonderful (if, understandably, slightly conflicting) advice from everyone - thanks for taking the time. I wasn't aware of the possible difference in RAW files between the two, so that's interesting. So the RAW output from the x100 is now very good and supported by all the major image editors, correct? But presumably, as the x100S is new, we won't know until it's out, plus it might be a while before good RAW support is available?

So that's a consideration. This thing about obsolescence - I think that, at 480 GBP, the x100 has probably done most of its depreciation, so actually might hold much of its value for at least a year or two - meaning that I could potentially upgrade later should I want to, at minimal loss.

Maybe most importantly though, most people seem pretty pleased with their x100 now that the firmware updates have improved things - so I think I'll save a few quid and get the old model.

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

Personally, I think it would be wise to wait. Unless you plan to use the camera lots in the next two months I think you'll be buying a depreciating product. The x100 is £549 (including 20% VAT) new from wex here in the uk and that price will fall further once the x100s is released. Also, as others have said, the sensor on the x100 is showing its age now a little.

All of that tells me the x100 would need to be south of £400 sterling for this to be a good deal.

Update, I've just seen that Clifton cameras in the uk has dropped the x100 to £529. So I think your depreciation continues apace. I should put my hand up and say I'm an x100 owner who is selling his for the x100s.

Look, why not wait until late feb, early march? If you really want an x100 they'll be cheaper by then.

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Head over to flickr and look through the X100 groups, if you like what you see and money is an issue go with the X100.

There are some great photos in those flickr X100 groups which for all the X100's shortcomings and quirks didn't stop that photographer.

The cheapest new I've seen in the UK is £529 which is £600 cheaper than the list price for the X100s, I doubt that the price will drop on the X100 much more if at all

AF performance with the latest firmware on the X100 isn't slow but the AF is claimed to be faster on the X100s although we will have to see how accurate this fast focusing is, its a new system that has every chance of falling flat on its face.

The X100 raw files are almost unbelievably good if you want to do any major changes to the tonality of the image. I have no personal experience of existing X-trans cameras but I have played a lot with downloaded raw files from them and much prefer the X100 files.

That would be/was my decision too. I recently replaced an older "grey market" X100 with a new "official" one with full warranty after the announcement of the X100s with resulting price drop of the X100.

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John Bean [GMT]
"Note: If pictures and physical have access, please in kind prevail, thank you for understand." - quotation from an ebay listing.

Thanks, good suggestion re. the Flickr group, I will take a look now.

I agree about the price - i really can't see it dropping very much further (although I probably will wait a month or two - particularly as I have upcoming trips to both Singapore and Hong Kong planned!). I think 500 GBP or thereabouts, or better still 400, is worth every penny. I doubt stocks are so high that they'd need to sell them off for cheaper, so it may be a question of trying to snap up one of the few remaining new ones (I don't want second hand).

As for the autofocus - well, the reason I want one of these so badly is because of the old school manual controls. I want to slow down in my picture taking, not speed up. I don't take sports shots or anything where a really fast AF is needed (although I really like the sound of the improved MF, so that's frustrating) so I'm thinking that a cheap, new x100 is right for me.

Thanks all - this is a most helpful and responsive community.

OK good to hear! I shall try and pick up an "official" one too when I go to Singapore in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the advice.

Yes, any improvement to the X100 MF would be most welcome. That said I've never had an issue with the AF of the X100; it works as well as any other CDAF system and while not as fast as some I've never lost a shot because of it.

If someone donated a new X100s I'd certainly accept it but I wouldn't spend more than double the cost of a X100 to buy one, nor would I want to lose the X100 in exchange for one.

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John Bean [GMT]
"Note: If pictures and physical have access, please in kind prevail, thank you for understand." - quotation from an ebay listing.

I sold my X100 a few months ago as I'd heard about the new X100s and figured I'd sell now before the rush, I've bought and sold the X100 3 times since its release, it's not a perfect camera and for shooting street I've always gotten better results if I take manual meter readings.

at this moment I'm using an NEX-6 with a CV 21mm lens for shooting street and it works well but I do miss having the X100 for it's compact size and I'm really thinking about dropping my pre-order for the X100s and getting another X100 now and buying a Zeiss/Sony 24mm with the money I'll save

Wow, now that's what I'd call indecision

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John Bean [GMT]
"Note: If pictures and physical have access, please in kind prevail, thank you for understand." - quotation from an ebay listing.

Given the shortages of the Zeiss 24mm I'm not sure you would make any savings... 

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I think the price will stabilise once the X100s is released - I can see it steadily falling until then (it has done already in the UK). I can see the price dropping to £400 odd just after the X100s release.

If you value your money (which your post above suggests) I would strongly suggest that you wait until the actual release of the X100s - you may well be able to pick up a new camera at a bargain price.

As to the X100 itself, while I think it's worthwhile looking at the X100 Flickr group I would advise you to take a look at the images full screen and compare them to X-Pro1 or X-E1 images too. Everything everyone has said here about the qualities of the X100 is true (the lens in particular is just great) BUT the sensor is more than last gen now (I first had that sensor in an A700 in 2008) and I really do notice the difference (particularly in resolution and detail) when I compare X100 shots to those taken with the X-Pro1 (the X-Pro1 shots are hands down better).

I enjoy using the X100 (it's a genuinely "fun" camera) but all too often the results don't quite hold up to what you can push out of the X-Pro1 (if you look at this Flickr set full screen, which is probably about half and half X100 and X-Pro1, hopefully you can see what I mean: Flickr Set).

You might not of seen this either, but the early results from the X100S look good: http://www.flixelpix.com/featured/hands-on-the-x100s/

If I were you, notwithstanding what you've said above, I would look into getting a second hand X100 after the release of the X100S. That way, depreciation is less likely to be an issue and if you really want the boost in IQ the x-trans sensor will give you, you can trade for little overall loss.

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