X100v alternative for walkabout.

I may have asked this before and I'm sure others have but can you help me decide?

I want a more pocketable APSc sensor camera, with a viewfinder and tilt screen. I really love my X-pro 2. I also have an old x100s but found the focussing too slow. I am not also a fan of fixed 35mm equiv. so....
I really am looking at fixed 28mm lenses or zooms perhaps.

Toying with the idea of a XE-4 because then I could put my weeny 18mm fuji lens on it. 
Primarily it's wanted for a walk about camera - street and some landscape and flowers. Something that fits in a coat pocket. I do like the tilt screens too.

What should I check out? Do any other than the x100v have a built in ND.

Cheers and Happy New Year.

John Kemp wrote:

I may have asked this before and I'm sure others have but can you help me decide?

I want a more pocketable APSc sensor camera, with a viewfinder and tilt screen. I really love my X-pro 2. I also have an old x100s but found the focussing too slow. I am not also a fan of fixed 35mm equiv. so....
I really am looking at fixed 28mm lenses or zooms perhaps.

Toying with the idea of a XE-4 because then I could put my weeny 18mm fuji lens on it.
Primarily it's wanted for a walk about camera - street and some landscape and flowers. Something that fits in a coat pocket. I do like the tilt screens too.

What should I check out? Do any other than the x100v have a built in ND.

Cheers and Happy New Year.

Happy New Year!

I have been using this kind of cameras for several years having tested almost all sensors but FF (1", m43 and APSC). You need to provide us with some more info:

• do you also want an EVF? If not, even the older XA7 with the lens of your liking could work (27/2.8 or 18/2)
• if yes, XE4 and XT200 could be a solution
• do you value small size and weight? if yes then there are some other also non Fuji options:

1) older Fuji X70 (16MP and tilt/selfie screen with flash and 28mm/2.8 lens)

2) Sony RX100VI (20MP 1" sensor, 24-200 lens, tiny and super light, very good at good light, fantastic AF)

3) Canon G1X III (24MP APSC, a bit slow and short lens, great AF and ergonomics, wr, selfie screen)

I was looking into this same thing. I love the idea of the X-E4 although, I know it will feel really small in my hands.

The X-T30 II is very capable and actually pretty small, with similar viewfinder and rear screen. This site compares the two X-E4 and X-T30, scroll down to the reasons to buy each one.

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Fujifilm-X-E4-vs-Fujifilm-X-T30-II

John Kemp wrote:

I may have asked this before and I'm sure others have but can you help me decide?

I want a more pocketable APSc sensor camera, with a viewfinder and tilt screen.

Toying with the idea of a XE-4 because then I could put my weeny 18mm fuji lens on it.
Primarily it's wanted for a walk about camera - street and some landscape and flowers. Something that fits in a coat pocket. I do like the tilt screens too.

An X-E4 with the 18 is going to be no smaller than the X100V. (If I recall, the body is marginally smaller, but the 18 will give significantly more depth to the overall package than the fixed lens on the X100.)

There is nothing significantly smaller that meets your criteria. The main options are the 28mm models (Ricoh GR, Fujifilm X70/XF10, and Nikon Coolpix A) but they have no built-in viewfinder and only the X70 has a tilting screen. You could add an optical finder (with no information display) to all except the XF10. The only other option I can think of is the Ricoh GXR with the 28 or 50mm equivalent A12 lens units plus the VF-2 EVF, but you’re getting close to X100/X-E size again—a little smaller, but a more awkward shape with the EVF attached.

Pick up a used X70. Fantastic camera and beautiful images.

Ricoh GRiii

Great little camera, IQ every bit as good as the X100v. You can also use recipes etc and it truly fits in your pocket.

Has external VF options as well if that is a must.

Highly recommend that little camera!!!

Only the GR ricoh and Sony rx100's really fit into a pocket, maybe the x70. For focusing and a tiny pocket camera the RX100 is amazing. For fixed 28mm or 35mm the GR is good, there is a 40mm one as well. I've tried loads and ended up just using my phone but out of all the smaller point and shoots the RX100 really does fit in a pocket and is amazing. Even the MK1 is good, only £200 or less for one to give it a try before you pay out for a newer one with functions you may not need?

Ricoh GR3x (40mm model)... and I am also a VF lover (but not tilt screen lover). It is just that good that you can look past what it does not have.

I like the idea of the Ricoh GRX

I'm put off by the price given the that it's an aged sensor and has no weather proofing.

I have

X100v

XF10

Sony RX100V

RX100 meet your demands regarding built in ND filter and viewfinder. It is technically very advanced, packed with features and with very good AF. But somehow, as much as I try, I can not really love this camera. Not sure is it handling, file quality, lack of DOF control. I just can not really connect to my RX100V camera.

I much prefer XF10 with all its drawbacks and limitations. It delivers really good photo quality, it is simple point and shoot camera, it is light, small and has great battery life. It also has fast start time, which is a big + in my book. I got it (for second time) really cheap just before model went EOL and I use it for bicycle touring, MTB outings, family travel etc. Even when I take some other bigger camera (Nikon FF), I usually throw it in a bag, since it is small and light. In the end I use it the most. Since I learned to utilize snap focus mode, even slow AF is not so much of an issue anymore.

Why I have XF10 and X100v? Well X100v is expensive piece of kit, so sometimes I prefer to leave it behind, if my activity could easily brake it. It is also bigger and heavier.  But it is definitely best in terms of photo quality among mentioned 3 cameras. Especially for portrait type of photos (family members, vacation...), other 2 can not really compete in my opinion..

If you are already a Fuji ILC user then only the X-E3/4 makes sense.  Or bigger pockets for a bigger camera.

Can I suggest the X-A7?

It is a small fujifilm ICL camera. I mostly use it with the xf27. I think I use it pretty much like I would use an x100v. You could put the xf18 on it and you have the focal length of your liking.

I bought it as an extra camera for webcam usage and at my desk. But soon started to take it with me when I didn't really want to think about photography. It is very limited in it's usage. Two dails, the front I use for aperture and the back I use for exposure compensation. The one function button is configured for changing iso.

I find that the auto focus works very well. Almost on par with my X-S10. Many times better than my XF10. I almost always get the shot I want. I switch between AF-S with single point and AF-C with face/eye detect. Works well.

The screen is big and easy to use. I like the flip out screen. This protects it when it is in my jacket and often I like to take a portrait of one of the kids, so flipping this open, low to the ground and I have the perfect composition. Of course, other use cases would prefer an EVF, but it works for me.

I like the jpegs the camera gives me. It is also always connected to my phone. Downloading the pictures asynchron. Easy to share pictures in the moment with friends. Friends that are also into cameras are often amazed they are getting pictures into the moment.

Are there negatives. Yes, and most could be remedied with firmware. I think they dumb down the interface to much. The touch interface is hidden behind a button, so changes often need a lot of clicks. For instance it is not possible to assign the function button to the Q-menu. A bummer. It is not possible to make the focus limit to range. Little things like that.

John Kemp wrote:

I should've mentioned I tried the X-A7 some months ago and just couldn't get on with not having a viewfinder. I wear glasses for reading and in bright conditions this means seeing a screen is even harder. Having a tilty or flippy screen is really nice for those low down shots. I love doing macro and flowers. But as I am of a certain age (:-D) I find I almost always want to create most images with a camera to my eye.

If a viewfinder is a must-have and the GR doesn’t float your boat (and it would be with a “dead” optical finder anyway) then I guess the only option is the X-E4. But it won’t be smaller, it’ll just allow you to use a shorter focal length. (You can already effectively go a bit longer with the sports finder or digital teleconverter, of course.)

I would love an X70 equivalent with a small viewfinder, too…

Cream17 wrote:

I like the idea of the Ricoh GRX

I'm put off by the price given the that it's an aged sensor and has no weather proofing.

Of course… but the GR3x with the 40mm has a relatively new sensor.  Still no WR though.

The XE4 is perfect for travel and everyday carry. Some want a better viewfinder, but I think it’s sufficient, and I wear progressives. You’ll probably want a grip, half case or something to improve the purchase on it. I’ve only noted a few forum users who go without. Small primes and the kit zooms all work nicely, but with the Fujifilm metal hand grip I can go all the way up to the Tamron 18-300 and still feel comfortable. It’s coat-pocketable with small primes. I always carry extra batteries. IQ is the same as all other cameras with that generation of sensor and processor.

Good luck!