Has the original X100 still got its mojo?

freyabo wrote:

Elyharbour wrote:

Well, I've just bought it! So I look forward to the "experience" - hissyfits and tantrums included

Please let us know how you get on. I'm thinking of getting an X100 myself sometime soon.

Cheers,

Anne

UPDATED MY COMMENTS FROM YESTERDAY...

Well Anne, it's still early days, but FWIW my initial comments and feelings are:-

AF is fine for me (latest firmware) - no real issues (but this is very subjective and vs. my needs I know)

Picture quality: Very clean and natural-looking JPEGs - no obvious artifacts or sharpening halos at default settings even when viewed 100%, though I think the default sharpening could do with being a little higher. RAWs look good in LR and Photo Ninja, with maybe a little better definition possible than OOC JPEGs, but not much in it. Slightly more noise than 16MP X-trans files, but overall I don't think I'm losing out too much with the older sensor and "only" 12MP. I don't feel that Provia has as much punch as on the more recent cameras, and more inclined to use Astia for general usage or bump up contrast maybe? Haven't really explored low-light / high ISO yet, but from the few test shots I've done (JPEGs) they look very good.

Handling: It's really growing on me! 23mm (35mm equiv.) works well for the sort of travel photography that I do. I did miss a longer FL for some seascapes and distant shores with nothing much in the foreground, but pulled out the Canon G9X zoom compact for those shots (1" sensor 20MP gives a decent enough output). The menus on the X100 feel quite antiquated, but I've had enough Fuji cameras to find my way around intuitively, along with all the controls on the body itself. For a walk-around shoot (beach / harbour) for one day I set the camera on F8, Auto ISO and Auto SS and just shot...didn't touch anything. All good! I've used the OVF more or less exclusively.

In conclusion: This purchase was a trial - it would either be up for sale within a week, or would encourage me to really learn how to get the best out of this kind of camera. Well definitely the latter and it may be a keeper - we'll see. Is it for you / others - well I can't say, but it's worth a try if you haven't shot with an X100-series before.

PS - No tantrums from it yet!

In comparison today I put the 27mm pancake lens on my X-T1 - now in terms of IQ and sharpness edge-to-edge that is outstanding, and much the same size as the X-100 as a unit, but I do miss the 23mm FoV!