XT100 brought me back to Fuji..

So, before I start, let me qualify this opinion by stating I've shot with loads of different digital cameras, from all brands, from FF down to compacts and including Sigma Foveon, I also still shoot film, so I'm confident that my experience can be considered valid.

I previously owned a Fuji X-T1, which had some great points and some not so great, lets just say I learned I'm "Trans-phobic", that sensor was not for me, no need to get into a debate about that, I just prefer bayer or foveon, so I moved on.

In the last couple of years I've been shooting a lot of film and having a blast, but sometimes I just want to shoot digital, because it's convenient to do so, or I might do both at the same time. I have a Sony A7S but it's not doing it for me, it's not a fun camera to use, so I started looking for something small and capable, and had pretty much ruled out Fuji because of my "Trans-phobia". Anyway, I stumbled across the XT-100 by chance, when looking at cameras on the net, and low and behold it has a bayer sensor, so I checked it out and liked what I saw, I bought one, so here's what I think of it.

Let me say right off the bat, this is a much better camera than many of the reviews give it credit for. In terms of look and feel it reminds me very much of the OMD EM5 I used to have, which was a camera I did enjoy. The build quality is also very good, typical Fuji, no real surprise to me on that score, and it's a pretty little camera, stylish to look at. I'm also pleased to note that Fuji have improved the doors and flaps since the XT-1, the memory card door on that camera was a PITA. Anyway, all good so far.

In operation, it all seems good to me, menus are nice and organised, enough buttons and dials to operate it easily and efficiently, and it has some nice touches. I like the left hand dial for colour modes or whatever you choose to use it for, it seems like Fuji thought it through. I also like the fact the exposure compensation dial isn't marked, it means that if it's moved when switched off it doesn't change the setting. I also like the fact that the camera remembers the zoom position on the XC 15-45mm and powers back to that position when switched back on. In terms of focusing it's absolutely fine, plenty quick enough for me, yes it can mis-focus in very low light, like most cameras do, I expect that and know how to work around it, you can see when it happens anyway, no big deal. The evf is pretty decent, not huge but absolutely fine.

So the biggie for me is image quality, and this is where the camera shines, it's excellent, really impressive for the level this is aimed at, even better than I'd hoped. Colour and detail are very impressive. I still have and use the original Fuji X100, and love the images from that camera, the output from the XT-100 is very similar, so I'm a very happy bunny on that score. I've also got to mention the XC 15-45mm, which is the best kit lens I've ever used, and far better than many people give it credit for. Mine is sharp all the way through, and prime sharp at the wide end, I love this little plastic fantastic thing, and it's a great companion for this camera, an excellent job on this one Fuji. Even flare control is better than the Lenstip review indicates, not bad at all, maybe I just got lucky. I used to have the XF 18-55mm, which was vastly over-rated in my experience, maybe I got a bad one, this lens is far better.

So the downsides, so write times aren't very fast, but I use foveon cameras, so yea, tell me all about exasperating wait times on that one Fuji users, it's not an issue to me, it's manageable. The touchscreen when swiping is not great, but then I don't particularly like touch screens, so I just don't use it, and fortunately Fuji have designed the camera so it doesn't have to be used, so not an issue to me personally. That's about it really, nothing else to really complain about.

In summary, I love this camera, it's exactly what I hoped it would be, it's small, light, well built and fun to use, capable of excellent image quality. I've got to mention some of the reviews I've read, which seem to be rather patronising on the "it's for noobs" front. Don't be fooled by that, it's a great camera for anyone, including serious shooters, it can produce the goods where it matters. I'll take this camera over plenty of others which cost far more. If you want to see a really bad review, the Phoblographer really obliged on that front, terrible photos and a garbage assessment, it's almost as if the reviewer was clueless.

Anyway, a Fuji camera with a bayer sensor and viewfinder was the only way I'd be shooting Fuji again, I'm really pleased they obliged, there's a lot to love about the system. I sincerely hope they produce more bayer cameras. Make no mistake, this little beast with this lens is a wolf in sheep's clothing that is fantastic value for money now. I'd recommend it to anyone who can accept the minimal compromises for a camera of this class, great job Fuji.