Just wanted to add my findings to the review section, might be helpful for other X100T owners, at least not harmful...
I thought some of you Amateurs like me out there, might be interested to know of the views and thoughts of a new happy user of the Fujifilm X100T.
So since I own this camera now too and had some fun time using it in Germany and Croatia, here are my: Settings/Suggestions/Considerations/Wishlist
My Settings Guide:
Power Management: High speed On
(no compromises on speed, if I don’t need to, so I rather change the battery when needed)
Face Detection: On
(very helpful, you might want to switch to spot metering here and there depending on motive)
Auto ISO:
1: 200 - 1600 1/100 (Bright Day)
2: 200 - 3200 1/100 (Daytime, Shadows, my preferred ISO setting)
3: 200 - 6400 1/80 (Indoor & Evening)
Sharpness +1 for Velvia, Chrome and B/W
(you might want to reduce NR, but I am fine with the other image settings)
White Balance: Auto
(I think the camera is doing a great job here)
My button customization:
- Fn1 button to ISO (since there is no ISO dial...)
- Fn2 Arrow up: Macro (default, cam focuses noticeably quicker in short distances in Macro mode and it switches to EVF automatically if I am in OVF,
currently testing ND filter instead though)
- Fn3 Arrow left: Film Simulations selection (love it :), recommend you shoot RAW+F and use the internal RAW converter, quick and great)
- Fn4 Arrow right: Flash Settings (the X100T is actually quite good for fill flash, so quick access is helpful)
- Fn5 Arrow down: Change focus point (default setting)
- Fn6 Face Detection on/off
- Fn7 AE Metering (AE works only if Face D. is off, yet when you are in Display Mode this button still acts as quick Wifi button, so actually 2 Fn buttons in one, sweet)
Focus Area: Mid size
(I think AF is fast enough with roughly half its size/area, rarely I increase it, depending on contrast)
Framing guideline: Grid 9 (on all screens)
Exposure Diagram: On (on all screens)
Electronic Level: On (on all screens)
Film bracketing: Vivid, Chrome, B/W (Does not work with RAW though)
Image Quality: RAW+F
(I can nicely convert the RAW file in cam, but the EVF or inset tab will show me the zoomed reseult of the preselected film)
Dynamic Range: Auto
(does a good job with high contrast motives, jumping to 200%)
Red eye removal: On
Focus check: On
EVF Display Auto Rotation: On
Operation Volume: Sound Off
Shutter Volume: Sound Off
(It is really true, though I still had my doubts, but now I am a believer, this cam due to its size, appearance and lack of noise is not attracting to much of attention, or if it does it is significantly(!) more favourable than with my 5D3, so for street or even portraits of family members who do not like being photographed, the resistance is much lower. Its the mix of retro design, size and lack of noise which makes the difference it seems)
OVF with inset tab on
(I do not know why some reviews consider this inset tab a marginal addition, I really like it, its actually very handy when focussing)
Maybe I am repeating myself, but I absolutely love the cornered OVF/EVF combination, its gorgeous, its combining the best things of the 2 worlds, plus I have room for my nose haha So far not even the great X-T1 EVF can fully replace an OVF to my taste.
For me this lovely cornered OVF with zoomed EVF inset tab alone, would for example give a possible future X-Pro2 a big advantage over X-T1.
My Suggestions for Accessories:
Iridient Developer RAW Converter
(ID is sharper, recovers more detail, though I am still testing it, vs Ninja, Lightroom, Aperture, Capture1, I guess I might end up using Lightroom with Iridient, you do not need to trust my word though, check e.g. FujivsFuji website for example)
Neewer aluminium soft release
(very inexpensive, but good quality, in the end we are talking about a cent article, I chose red concave)
Lensmate thumps up
(ridiculously expensive, but all the other thumps up I have seen were to short for the X100T, for my taste)
Fujifilm Leather Case
(only using the lower half)
2 more batteries
(you will need them...oh but do not forget about the USB charging possibility)
No hood
(Lens has no issue with flare and a hood blocks the OVF unnecessarily)
After having so much fun already, I am seriously considering to order the two lens converters.
WCL-X100
TCL-100
At least the WCL, I can get a few mm of tele by digitally zooming in without a TCL, but getting another 7mm of wide angle with the WCL in f/2 (35mm down to 28mm) in a small, light package and screwing it tightly on without risk to the sensor... sounds tempting
The only thing which disturbs me a bit is that both converters are blocking the OVF a bit, the TCL even more so.
I do not use 50mm that often, but 50mm f/2 sounds nice to have, considering a Fuji TCL is far less expensive than a complete new lens...
My X100T enhancements/wishlist, if Fuji wants me to buy a X100”F” or even a X-Pro2 next year:
- EV bracketing 3 photos with +/- 2 or 3 EV (1EV is just not enough)
- In Camera HDR, 3pics combined up to +/- 2EV
- Assign focus ring with other functions
(maybe Fuji could add this via firmware, I would probably add ISO there and move the flash to fn)
- Optical stabilized lens or sensor on a 100F
(though I knew this before of course, yes, I am missing it, going down to 1/10 of a second handheld opens up a nice area of photography, really love it on my 5D3 with the 35mm lens)
- On/Off switch more secure
(avoid mistakenly switching it on, happens to me regularly when pocketing the camera)
- Better LCD readability under sunlight
(the LCD is much better than older X series, yes, but still a lot of room for improvement comparing it to e.g. Canon
- Copyright Name to EXIF Setting in Cam
(this is not a deal breaker, but come on Fuji, this is a request since the X-Pro1 was released, should be fixable via a firmware update to all X Cameras)
- Weather Sealing
(hey its a fixed lens anyway and in competition with the big players out there, so why not weather seal it right away)
- OVF slightly brighter
(not a big thing but should be possible)
- LCD Display Auto Rotation
(Why only the EVF and not the rear LCD too?)
- articulating LCD
(personally I do not need it that much for this type of cam, but I do respect other type of photography where this makes perfectly sense, already the X100T allows you to remote control it via a smartphone, helps in some cases)
Or get all these enhancements plus a new X-Trans sensor on the X-Pro2 and you might have caught me for a system switch... oh dear... I fear this coming...
Thats it for now!
If you love excellent & lovely image quality, a hybrid viewfinder combining the best of 2 worlds, yet still pocketable, do not mind self limiting yourself to enhance your skills but like high customizable full manual&auto photography, this camera is the best you can get today.
Plus its kind of "poor men's" Leica for a fraction of the cost, yet without sacrificing anything and it looks gorgeous.
Keep up the good work & keep the updates coming Fujifilm.
My 2 cents
PS the first Fujifilm I own (not rented) and will definitely keep
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Focus on Landscape/Nature, Architecture, Technology, Wildlife, Street
