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Fujifilm FinePix X100 In-Depth Review

Of all the cameras announced at Photokina 2010 - including SLR cameras like the Nikon enthusiast D7000, Canon EOS 60D, Pentax K-5 and Sigma SD1 - an entirely unexpectedly stole the show.
Fujifilm FinePix announced the X100, a compact camera with an APS-sized sensor D-SLR and traditional analog control mark that innovative technology is hidden within a retro-style body with looks to die. It is the first camera in the company with a large APS-C sensor for professionals and amateurs from the S5 Pro DSLR 2006.

Fujifilm can be a company that is currently best known for his prolific production of compact cameras, but actually has a long tradition of making something left, only cameras aimed at serious amateurs and professionals. The company regularly sought a niche in the days of film, from its rangefinders Fujica 6x9 format, via compact zoom 'with the TX-1, the 35 mm format panoramic rangefinder GA645Zi half (better known in western markets XPan as Hasselblad), all of which have very high prices in the market today. In the digital age has focused mainly on its innovative SuperCCD sensor technology, which employs a dynamic range in its class leader in cameras like the S5 Pro and EXR series compact zoom. Along the way he has made some real cult classics, including the F30 and F31fd compact that gained a reputation as excellent performers in low light.

The X100, however, is something entirely different. It is a very well designed rangefinder camera style that expresses a size SLR APS-C sensor in its compact body, and has a fixed aperture, fast maximum F2 semi-wide angle lens with an equivalent classical field of view 35 mm. Uses traditional brand of analog control shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation, coupled with an electronic (focus-by-wire "), manual focus ring. But the bigger story is its innovative and unique hybrid viewfinder, which combines a conventional direct-view viewfinder with a high resolution electronic viewfinder that offers the best of both worlds, plus a couple of very unique tricks.

The large sensor, fixed lens idea is a new compact, of course, and both Sigma DP series and the Leica X1 has visited this territory. However, these products have not been entirely convincing, full of slow operation, low-resolution LCDs, and in the case of sigma, a somewhat peculiar interface. For this reason, we have struggled to establish a convincing rationale, especially in the face of competition from the new generation of interchangeable lenses without a mirror compacts typified by the Olympus Pen series and Sony Nexsan. So the big question is whether Fujifilm has managed to refine the concept and produce a camera that is so convincing to shoot to your specifications (and see) suggest.
There is no doubt what the Fujifilm design team were thinking when they created the X100. Its two-tone body and back to analog controls old rangefinder covenants, and do not look anything out of place in the company of these classic 1970. Both Olympus and Leica cameras recently launched small retro style in the shape of the E-P1 / 2 and X1, but the X100 takes the concept to an entirely different level. Its flash is still placed in the same position which was occupied by the rangefinder windows.
Main features

12 megapixel CMOS APS-C size sensor
23mm F2 lens (field of view equivalent to a lens of 35 mm full frame)
2.8 "LCD, 4:3 aspect ratio, 460,000 points
Hybrid Optical / Electronic Viewfinder
OVF 0. 5x expansion, projected Frameline indicate approximately 90% field of view
Electronic viewfinder with an increase of approximately 0.5 x, 1440000 points
Traditional style brand control shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation
ISO 100 (L), 200-6400, 12 800 (H)
Embarrassment of shoes and integrated flash
Built-in neutral density filter (3 stops)
1280x720 HD movie recording with stereo sound

Compared with ...

The composite image below gives an idea of ​​the size of the X100 in relation to some of its competitors, both fixed and interchangeable lenses. It is a little higher than the Leica X1 with most racing, but this is mainly due to the built-in viewer X100 hybrid (X1 users must comply with the rear LCD or complement optical viewfinder). It is also noticeably larger than the interchangeable lens cameras such as Panasonic GF1, particularly the APS-C Sony NEX-5 (from which the polar opposites in terms of philosophy of control), but again, none of these has an eye of any viewer. Of course, the X100 is clearly smaller and more portable than any digital SLR camera equipped with a similar objective quickly.

Specifications comparison

The following table shows some of the key specifications of the X100 and its competitors. Most notable is the combination of an extremely fast lens and a large APS-C sensor, which together are a good omen for their ability to dim light.

Lens camera * LCD Size and weight
(With the lens, battery and card) sensor
(Effective pixels)
Fujifilm FinePix X100 35 mm equivalent
F2 2.7 "
460k pixels, 126 x 74 x 54 mm, 445g
5.0 x 3.0 x 2.2, 15.8 oz 12.3 MP CMOS
(Approx. 23.6 x 15.8 mm)
X1 Leica 35mm equivalent
F2.8 2.7 "
230k pixels, 124 x 60 x 50 mm, 330 g
4.9 x 2.4 x 2.0, 10.9 oz
12.2 MP CMOS
(23.6 x 15.8 mm)
Panasonic
DMC-GF1 40mm equivalent
F1.7 * 3.0 "
460k pixels, 119 x 71 x 61 mm, 448G
4.6 x 2. 8 x 2.4, 15.8 oz
LiveMOS 12.1 MP (17.3 x 13 mm)
Sony NEX-5 24mm equivalent
F2.8 * 3.0 "tilt
920K pixels 111 x 59 x 54 mm, 361g
4.4 x 2.3 x 2.1, 12.7 oz 14.2 MP CMOS HD
(23.4 x 15.6mm)
Sigma DP2 40mm equivalent
F2.8 2.5 "
230k pixels, 115 x 64 x 56mm, 280g
4.5 x 2.5 x 2.2, 4.6 MP 9.9 oz x 3 X3F
(20.7 x 13.8 mm)

* The Panasonic DMC-GF1 and Sony NEX-5 both accept interchangeable lenses

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