Fuji FinePix X100 Digital Camera

I've been used this camera for couple of months. First of all, I really like its classy look. I pimped it up by adding a soft release and a genuine leather strap, and now it looks even sexier. The photos produced by this camera are simply stunning, I particular like the skin tone. The operation is simple and intuitive, everything can be easily adjusted, e.g. aperture and exposure. I use this camera mainly for street photography, for which I think the camera is born. 35mm is a perfect focal length and the camera is not intrusive at all, usually people wouldn't mind you pointing it at them.

However, there're also some issues with the camera. The autofocus is ok but not great, even after firmware 1.21, it still misses under low-light conditions. The manual focus is doable if you use zone focus, but if you want to focus while shooting, just forget it.

In addition, there's the sticky aperture blade (SAB) problem. It did happen to me about a month ago, Wex Photographic did a fantastic job in terms of after-sale service. The lens component has been replaced. Hopefully it'll never happen again.

I really wasn't sure about buying this camera at first. I own a Nikon D 700 , which I love. Fast full frame , built like a tank etc. But here was the problem. I like to go out and shoot life. Which means people. You know what it's like,point a dslr at someone and you may as well be pointing a gun. Even at weddings some people freeze up a bit.Give you that camera face. The x 100 seemed the perfect anwser.But I had read mixed reviews and £[$] is a lot of money if you get it wrong.However I have taken the plunge and let me tell you,what a great camera. Is it fast enough? Yes absolutly. Nobody took any notice of me taking photo's of them. It's fab ul ous darling. I have stepped out of my comfort zone and it feels good,exciting. Quality images,fast focusing! ( not as fast as a dslr but you know not far behind) and it makes you think about composing your shots. The other great thing about this is the wonderful high sych speed flash 1/2000, wow and it nail the shot every time. Great for fill flash.So if you have doubts get rid of them and do it.

The X100 is amazing. I got it the day after the new firmware 1.20 was released. That solved a lot of the little problems which people were having with the camera.

The image quality is absolutely brilliant. Every time I view the images I am surprised. The Fuji X100 handles indoor lighting, mixed lighting etc easily and produces better results than my full frame camera!

This is the only camera that I shoow in jpeg mode. Usually I would shoot raw, but the in-camera processing is so good that there isn't much advantage. Set your sharpening, noise reduction etc in camera and forget about it. The X100 never gets the white balance wrong, and if you use P, A or S modes, it hardly ever gets the exposure wrong either.

The high ISO performance is also excellent. Surprisingly good. And the camera noise reduction is great - it can remove ugly grain but still leaves a lot of detail.

You can also use auto-ISO. You set a maximum that you will allow, and a shutter speed that you want to maintain. If the X100 can't get you that shutter speed at your selected aperture, it bumps the ISO.

The in-built flash is amazing too. I never use in-built flash or popup flash, ever. But the X100 actually does it in such a good way that I don't mind. It can add the tiniest bit of fill, that is almost undetectable, yet makes the image much better. That's because the X100 can sync at an amazing 1/2000s. I've also tried off-camera flash by putting a transceiver on the hotshoe - it works! Syncing at 1/2000 opens up a LOT of possibilities for daytime shooting.

The controls are great. At first they are clunky compared to a dSLR, but once you are used to them, you can adjust anything you want very quickly. With the new firmware you can also re-program another button on the back of the camera to toggle settings too.

The bad:
Autofocus isn't a dSLR. That's the biggest catch. If you're used to a decent dSLR, the focus will annoy you at first. It is slow, but it's actually very accurate. I don't think it has ever really missed target.

Battery life is rubbish. Get a few spares. There is also almost no warning before you battery will die. It takes a while to go from 3 bars to 2, but then it jumps from 2 bars, one bar, empty very very quickly.

No filter ring or lens hood included. That's disappointing.

Overall amazing, and with the new lower price, the X100 is an even better deal!

I don't have much to add to the above reviews as they are all pretty accurate.
Or at least they were in listing the faults. Fuji have just released firmware 1.20 which significantly speeds up AF to near DSLR levels (I've used D2x and D700), if you turn on fast startup and use a class 10 SD cards then operation is pretty quick. Not instant fast, but fast enough to not miss any shots. There are now two customisable function buttons, so can have ISO on one, and the essential ND filter on the other. Fuji also improved the way the ND filter is turned on and off so it is much quicker to operate. Big kudos to Fuji for continuous improvements in performance and functionality.
The camera still needs some getting to know, but for me the annoyances are gone and I can concentrate on making great photographs. With the improvements to RAW processing in Lightroom 4, the photographs from the X100 are nothing short of stunning.
If you are still un-decided on this camera, then now is the time ....

This really is a great little camera. The hybrid viewfinder is a true joy to use. It captures the colour of a scene wonderfully. The only downside I have found is that you really need to use a a fast sd card or it takes ages to turn on!

I love this camera. The lens is simply wonderful, but the list of little niggles is way too long for a camera costing this much.The off/on switch has no lock and it is far too easy to turn the camera back on as you put the camera back in your bag or pocket. The thumbwheel control is way too small for anyone with even average sized thumbs, as is the AFL/AEL lock button. The lack of a lock on the top dial is also annoying but the worst offender is the compensation dial which overhangs the back plate for ease of use but is so easily moved that it becomes necessary to check constantly that you haven't accidentally nudged it.A major gripe is the filter holder and hood combination. This should be included in the box - no excuses. At [$] it is daylight robbery. And when fitted the lens cap no longer fits. Quite ridiculous piece of design which I think nobody from Fuji could defend.But the good news is that if you check every button carefully every time you pull it from your pocket the camera performs beautifully. AF is not as fast as a DSLR but fast enough. Metering is good, the film simulation option is very good indeed and came as a pleasant surprise because I only bought it to take RAW files. Auto WB is very good and jpegs are to very high standard indeed straight out of the camera.This is almost a great camera, and whilst I would recommend it to a friend, I would give a long list of caveats with it. Did I mention that the manual/single/continuous focus selector slide is very easily moved as well?

Ever wanted a camera that you could just pick up and use? Not having to faff with changing lenses? Gives you excellent JPGs that make you think about your composition in the moment, and not what you might have to do post processing? This is (arguably) that camera. Cheaper than a Leica X1 though more than a Canon G12 the X100 just oozes class. The hybrid OVF is fantastic giving dynamic framelines in order to carefully compose your shot whilst giving live information such as a histogram, gridlines and a digital horizon and this display is fully customisable. The macro is great, dials and buttons are placed expertly so you're not having to fidget around too much. Two features of this camera are particularly stand out. First the built in flash is fantastic, it provides near perfect fill in flash, well within the confines of front firing flash of course but try it out and you'll see what I mean. The second is the silent mode, it turns off the flash and the shutter noises and produces an inaudible click when you press the shutter. Fantastic for candids!

Negatives are the sluggish MF (it's electronic so there's lag) and the AF doesn't always lock when lighting isn't at its optimal. The operations used to be a little slow but a firmware update has remedied some of this.

Ideal as a second shooter, however you will find that this camera will steal time away from your 5D or D700. In fact, if you only need one camera, this may be it!

Pair it with a Polaroid Pogo through USB and you can make instant prints on the go!

Highly recommended, even to the snootiest 'tog!

I've been using Nikon cameras for 40 years and I never thought I would use another but the X100 came as a revelation. Light and easy to use and much less intimidating to those being photographed. The results have been stunning.

Yes, I can agree that some of the features could be easier to use but they are minor and you get use to it. However, I am surprised by the lens hood arrangement, when the rest of the kit is very neat.

What you do have to get use to is moving yourself to fill the frame properly. For me it is a not an unpleasant trip down memory lane to when all lenses were fix length.

Ultimately, the X100 is great fun!

This camera really shines when you need to be discreet, or when you're around people who dislike having a photo taken. It isn't intimidating like a DSLR and I find I can merge into the background when I need to, yet it allows me to capture amazing images, especially jpegs, straight from the camera.

Outstanding camera if you like shooting with 35mm equivalent lenses (you'll hate it if you don't). Really first class image quality.

The firmware upgade to version 1.10 is essential but that side of things still needs more polishing. That said, once set up the way you like it there is little need to mess around with settings. The firmware problems that have been widely reported are pretty overdone once the upgrade is performed.