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Decided NOT to purchase X100..some reasons

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Jay A said:
Yes, I agree 100%. I didn't get into the aperture dance but yes I did notice that this is a part of the problem.

Also, I agree that some people do tend to feel that if it works, there shouldn't be a problem for someone else. Well the thing is, we all work differently and expect different results, so what works for one may or may not work for the next.
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I supposed that is one way to look at it. I guess I am not used to selling myself short so badly. If something doesnt work right for me, I double down on my efforts and try harder to overcome problems rather than just give up.

It took one or two weeks to get the hang of my X100. After that, I shoot with it, without a second thought. It is a very easy camera to work with on the street. Incredibly easy.

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http://fujifilmimages.aminus3.com/
 
Jay A said:
Can you explain this? I am embarassed to say I am not aware of this either.

Thanks
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Basically, after enabling the corrected af frame in the menus, you get 2 frames shown in the OVF at all times, diagonally spaced in the center from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. When you half press to focus, and focus confirmation is obtain, the green box can appear anywhere in between the 2 boxes. When it is on the top left frame, it means it's focus at infinity - kinda of give away when your subject is about 1-3 meters away from you. Previously, what I did was look at the distance scale indicator to do this. However, I found looking at the corrected af frames much faster and more intuitive.
 
Peter Nelson said:
I have an R-D1 now for about 3 years or a little more. It's a camera I do not think I will ever outgrow. I especially like the frame advance lever being just like most 35mm film cameras lever. This makes me feel that I'm using an all mechanical body that just happens to have a digital sensor. Of course it's a rangefinder camera and I also apreciate that as I have a Leica M5. The two are very similar. Good luck with your R-D1.

Someday. perhaps I may get a Leica digital rangefinder, I just don't know. The Leica M8/M9 are very nice but I prefere the shutter advance lever of the R-D1 over Leic's implimintation.
-Peter
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Hi Peter,

thank you for sharing your experience with the RD1. I was actually considering the RD1 before getting my x100, but decided against it as I figured the sensor technology was old (6.1 mp), it can't focus below 1m, vignettes like crazy with ultra wides - generally not a good idea as my first and single camera. I tried a friend's RD1 and enjoyed it quite abit, and was hoping to get a similar experience with the x100. I didn't get the same experience, but I totally enjoyed shooting the x100 in a different way.

I made my decision to get a RD1 recently as I ventured into rangefinderforums, and realised that my previous concerns were kinda moot - even at 6.1 mps, the sensor of the RD1 was pretty outstanding - low to no noise at iso 1600, and most importantly, the raw files of the camera seemed stellar, even more film-like than the x100. In additional, I wanted to try the rangerfinder experience again - I had really hoped the x100 manual focus was useable, but unfortunately it wasn't.

I'd say stick with your RD1 unless you're going fullframe on the m9. I can't imagine selling mine now that I got one. The M9 is amazing, but I'd hardly be able to afford it at the moment.

I ain't knocking on the x100 though, like some said, its a darn good camera for 1200 bucks. I bought the rd1 used at a similar price, without lenses. I'd be keeping the x100 as a nightime/macro/everything else camera, and use the rd1 for daylight shooting as well as when I require the 50 to 75mm focal length. Really looking forward to trying the rd1.
 
I don't think you're understanding what I am saying at all...

It's not a matter of obtaining a skill. I was a sports photographer many years ago, and wouldn't even THINK of using an auto focus system to shoot sports with! I think I am quite capable of fast focusing on moving subjects. However the camera is inadequate to use manually so one must rely on the electronics in order for the lens to focus. It's also a fact that there are factors making this electronic focus lag...to the point where you yourself have said that you cannot rely on it to photograph your kids. Also, this camera's lens, its performance, while adequate or even better than average, barely meets my standards. I am sorry if your standards are lower than mine, but that apparently is just the way it is...either that or you cannot see that it is less than stellar, especially wide open.

Understand something else too...the fact that you can make that statement about not finding it reliable for shooting your kids, but you CAN rely on it for street shooting, while I on the other hand have stated that for me it doesn't work for street shooting should make it obvious to you that your kind of street shooting is different than mine. Perhaps my brand of street shooting involves quickly moving subject matter, much like kids playing and moving around? Or does that not fit your definition of street shooting?
 
Jay A said:
Well after struggling with the decision for a week, and after having the opportunity to work with the X100 for that week, I have come to conclude that I will not be purchasing this camera.
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A week may be too short a time to get used to the X100.
Jay A said:
I also struggled with whether or not to post this here as I am sure I will be
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Jay A said:
CONS -

1 - I just don't think normal daylight shooting quality is very good. Mind you I also shoot with a Canon 5D MKII, Leica M8 and Olympus EP3, so I am comparing this camera's results to them. It hold up ok, but I do think that each of those cameras produce better looking daylight images than the Fuji.
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That's a very broad statement that would benefit from more details and from some examples. Were you shooting raw or JPEG? What post processing did you do? Did you compare the images at 100% on screen, or at specific print or screen sizes? Etc.
Jay A said:
2 - Auto focus is somewhat hit or miss at times. Not sure why, but I work slowly and deliberatly and I just cannot rely on this camera 100% of the time to get the focus correct, and I usually let it focus while I am using the EVF not OVF. I tried the manual focus plus press AF button trick but found that to be no better.
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With practice, the X100's AF is actually pretty reliable.
Jay A said:
3 - Focus is just too slow for the intended use of this camera, or what I perceive that use to be...street shooting. If it worked well as a manual focus camera I could accept that, and would actually prefer to focus manually, but it just doesn't. Quite frankly it is pretty much useless as a manual focus camera.
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It depends on how you shoot. It is true that you can't easily grab quick shots of fast moving scenes with the X100. But if you can focus and wait for the best moment, the X100 does OK.

I don't understand the benefit of manual focus, other than having a physical manual focus ring for prefocusing. Would MF be faster than the X100's AF? For pre- or zone-focusing, just aiming the camera at the desired distance and locking focus does the trick.
Jay A said:
It just came down to what I was gaining by spending the money and I concluded that the answer to that was 'very little' really, especially since I do own an M8 and figure that that camera pretty much suits me for the things I was hoping the Fuji would be good for.
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If you are shooting in good light, and you prefer the M8's handling, that sound like a good decision.

I suspect that in good light the M8 will not produce prints that are better or worse than those from the X100. I've seen side by side examples from the X100 and the M9 , and those from the M9 do not look dramatically better, if at all. If you printed photos from each and hung them on the wall, would a viewer judge the M8 or M9 photos to be clearly better than one from an X100?
--
Jeff

My cat, who likes to sprawl on my keyboard, gets the credit for anything I write that makes sense.
 
I'm not saying your shots aren't nice, but your taking pictures of actual streets, not doing real street photography.

your images are about the landscapes, colors, etc, and again, while nice, are hardly about a given subject, whats happening with them etc.

is hardly what I'd call street photography, and as such, I don't think you can really comment about what the OP wants/needs because you've illustrated you work in a different style.

Your shots look like you could set the 2 second timer, raise the camera over your head and take a wide shot of a busy street

Theres no defining moment captured, no intimacy with the subjects etc

Its simply not street photography, rather its pictures of streets
rattymouse said:
SAERIN said:
Not much of your street photos in your gallery.
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saerin
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http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=39527209

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=39218414

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http://fujifilmimages.aminus3.com/
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http://www.millsartphotography.com
 
it was not for you and why should it you are in your league of its own. If you that loaded and a photographic enthusiast you buy it ether because you can and its a nice collector edition to you or not because you already have something better.

But for the once who want a very nice affordable camera ether to explore or to earn some money with it the X100 is the one to go. Even if you buy a cheap DSLR in addition its still a whopping $5000 grand away from the M8 or 9.
 
I find a good rule of what makes real street photography is that I've got to feel uncomfortable doing it lol

Need to get in close to a subject and really capture them candidly, which can be scary for many people.

There can be some people who get angry, threaten you etc, its getting into someones comfort zone, sometimes knowing when not to shoot as an image isn't worth an altercation.

Its just like combat photography, theres risk invovled with it. If your not in danger, your too far away, and your images will never really show what war is about. Have to live it to know how to shoot it.

Thats the difference between using a 600mm from a blacked out van and calling it street. it isn't. Its about being there, documenting a moment you witnessed with both the camera and your own eyes.
Jay A said:
Are these what you consider street photography? :)

If so, that's actually kinda funny.

Please check this out ...

http://www.street-photographers.com/
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http://www.millsartphotography.com
 
millsart said:
I'm not saying your shots aren't nice, but your taking pictures of actual streets, not doing real street photography.

your images are about the landscapes, colors, etc, and again, while nice, are hardly about a given subject, whats happening with them etc.

is hardly what I'd call street photography, and as such, I don't think you can really comment about what the OP wants/needs because you've illustrated you work in a different style.

Your shots look like you could set the 2 second timer, raise the camera over your head and take a wide shot of a busy street

Theres no defining moment captured, no intimacy with the subjects etc

Its simply not street photography, rather its pictures of streets
rattymouse said:
SAERIN said:
Not much of your street photos in your gallery.
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saerin
Click to expand...
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=39527209

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=39218414

--

http://fujifilmimages.aminus3.com/
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http://www.millsartphotography.com
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100% agree with you, they are nice shots of streets but not what I would call street shooting IMHO.
 
I've been a working journalist, photo editor, wedding and sports photographer for the past 8 years and have owned a ton of cameras, x100 being one of them, and while a very cool camera, don't see how you can say its a good tool to earn money with.

I've taken the one I had on a few assignments and took some images with it but its a fun walking around camera, not a work tool for the most part.

portrait sesssion with a fixed 35mm ? thats pretty limiting

press conference ? can't get nearly close enough

sports assignments ? nope

weddings ? cool camera for doing some candids, receptions etc and a nice addition but would I want to shoot a wedding with just a single 35mm equiv lens ? not hardly

I work mostly with a 16-35 or 24-70 zoom, a 70-200 f2.8 zoom and a 400 2.8 or a 200-400 f4 zoom. I need versatility day in and day out.

My favorite all around focal length is 35mm, was my favorite on m Leicas, was my favorite on the X100, and its great for casual walking around, travel etc, but thats where I don't have to get a range of shots. I can shoot what I like, when I want. Doesn't pay the bills though, and just can't see how someone could really expect to land many clients/assignments outfitted with just a X100

Extra camera in the bag, yes, as I said, it can be a nice addition, but sole tool ? don't see it
skimble said:
it was not for you and why should it you are in your league of its own. If you that loaded and a photographic enthusiast you buy it ether because you can and its a nice collector edition to you or not because you already have something better.

But for the once who want a very nice affordable camera ether to explore or to earn some money with it the X100 is the one to go. Even if you buy a cheap DSLR in addition its still a whopping $5000 grand away from the M8 or 9.
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http://www.millsartphotography.com
 
millsart said:
I find a good rule of what makes real street photography is that I've got to feel uncomfortable doing it lol

Need to get in close to a subject and really capture them candidly, which can be scary for many people.
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That's one view of street photography, and I do that as well as I've posted in another reply. On the other hand, I like to capture societies that are foreign to my own. Especially Hong Kong, my favorite city. So my images have more a broader view, trying to pull in the essence of what I find so fascinating about that city. I find this much, much harder than doing candids. I can tolerate being yelled at, or as I was in Korea, virtually assaulted. I find doing societal "cityscapes" to be so hard that most of the time, I'm not happy with my results.
millsart said:
There can be some people who get angry, threaten you etc, its getting into someones comfort zone, sometimes knowing when not to shoot as an image isn't worth an altercation.
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Been there. As I just said, some freak nearly assaulted me right in front of a crowd of several hundred people, and my own family. My S5 Pro was one step away from turning into my mace.
millsart said:
Its just like combat photography, theres risk invovled with it. If your not in danger, your too far away, and your images will never really show what war is about. Have to live it to know how to shoot it.

Thats the difference between using a 600mm from a blacked out van and calling it street. it isn't. Its about being there, documenting a moment you witnessed with both the camera and your own eyes.
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I dont shoot with a 600mm lens. I use a 23mm one.

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http://fujifilmimages.aminus3.com/
 
ton123 said:
Lovely shot rattymouse !

I like the 1st and the black and white photo.
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Thank you! That black and white shot was pulled off in the blink of an eye, dispelling the idea that the X100 is too slow for street use. I was walking in a narrow alley in Shanghai when I walked past this game. I saw the scene with the boy and his grand father. I did not stop walking as I was right in their face. I raised the X100 to my eye and fired off a shot as fast as I could. No more than a few seconds past from deciding to shoot and shot made. It was over in a blink. And because the X100 is completely silent, I didnt disturb their game.

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http://fujifilmimages.aminus3.com/
 
rattymouse said:
ton123 said:
Lovely shot rattymouse !

I like the 1st and the black and white photo.
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Thank you! That black and white shot was pulled off in the blink of an eye, dispelling the idea that the X100 is too slow for street use. I was walking in a narrow alley in Shanghai when I walked past this game. I saw the scene with the boy and his grand father. I did not stop walking as I was right in their face. I raised the X100 to my eye and fired off a shot as fast as I could. No more than a few seconds past from deciding to shoot and shot made. It was over in a blink. And because the X100 is completely silent, I didnt disturb their game.
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Member said:
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http://fujifilmimages.aminus3.com/
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Yes very nice shot. I like the grandson expression. You captured the moment.

Cant wait till i get my x100 back and i miss taking street shot in Asian country.
 
I would not mainly see it as a money earning machine but for sure in the right hands you could make some good selling shots. Never less it is a piece of string and I said with the complementation of a reasonable DSLR. I think not everybody starts out with the hammer pack of photo equipment and still can deliver the goods. For sure is also that you get what you pay but it does not increase the chance to press the trigger in the right moment when you don't have the eye for it (if you have both you earn your money with it ;-) ).
Cheers,
Siggi (novelist with a job)
 
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