The new Fuji X100S

bloomphotog

I loved the old X100 and just picked received my X100S after a LONG pre-order. I'm curious to see how many other Dgrinners are drinking the Fuji kool-aid?

Quick review summary: Low light monster, I'd say nearly as clean as my 5D3. Perfect OOC JPG's, which is how I will use this camera. Battery life using EVF is great. Autofocus isn't all that fast. 6fps mode is awesome. Fairly soft at f/2. I am a huge fan of the overall package. This is the perfect personal camera for me.

I took it out on a ski day at the resort, here's some samples. All OOC JPG's.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmartinezbiz/8602795224/&quot; title="S0633365 by jmartinezbiz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8602795224_70b4919e45_b.jpg&quot; width="1024" height="683" alt="S0633365"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmartinezbiz/8602796150/&quot; title="S0053020 by jmartinezbiz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8602796150_66341f941d_b.jpg&quot; width="1024" height="683" alt="S0053020"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmartinezbiz/8601696463/&quot; title="S0323190 by jmartinezbiz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8601696463_476e47d4b4_b.jpg&quot; width="1024" height="683" alt="S0323190"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmartinezbiz/8602795548/&quot; title="S0293148 by jmartinezbiz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8602795548_9f52c60f32_b.jpg&quot; width="1024" height="683" alt="S0293148"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmartinezbiz/8602793222/&quot; title="DSCF3393 by jmartinezbiz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8602793222_3ea0b14006_b.jpg&quot; width="1024" height="683" alt="DSCF3393"></a>

ziggy53

From the Zack Arias site, regarding the Fujifilm X100S:

http://zackarias.com/editorial-photography/the-fuji-x100s-teaser-review/

"They did it. It’s the greatest camera I’ve ever owned. No. Freaking. Joke. It’s perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing."

divamum

Wow - those are pretty damned incredible! I love my s95, but will keep this in mind next time I need a non-dslr.....

Grainbelt

I'm really loving my X10. The new X20 looks even better, though it loses the EXR sensor that I love so much in low light. Fuji really has the enthusiast segment nailed, IMO.

Agree on their JPG processing, I've almost never wished for a RAW file.

studio1972

I've recently bought a 100s and X-E1 (with the 35mm & 60mm lenses). Very impressed with both cameras and tried them at a wedding a couple of weeks back (mix of images from the Fuji cameras and my canons here: http://stuart-m.co.uk/weddings/crabwall-manor-wedding/ ). Big plusses compared to my 5D2 are:

- People don't notice you
- The kit, including lenses, is tiny
- AWB is perfect almost every time
- Auto exposure also much better
- Auto ISO is actually useful (especially on the X100s)
- Exposure comp dial right by your thumb
- Fuji colours (straight out of camera) look very similar to how my canon raws look after processing
- Manual focus is great with these cameras
- The dials work much better than the mode dial approach of DSLRs.

Disadvantages

- DSLR AF is still better (although the x100s is no slouch)
- No servo focus mode
- The Raws are incompatible with Aperture at the moment (although the JPEGs are perfect 99.9% of the time)
- No FF Bokeh, although when they bring out the 55mm 1.4 this year that will help a lot!

lensmole

I have the X100 limited edition , and I recently purchased the Olympus OM-D E5 for a family member.
The Olympus has super fast focus and interchangeable lenses plus superior IQ . BTW nice pics !

jmphotocraft

Damn you. I have a 5D3 and I had an X100s on preorder. But then I bought a used 300/2.8 for my upcoming little league job. The job will pay for the lens, but my wife can't quite see it that way. Therefore I canceled my X100s preorder to pre-empt that "discussion", and put my name down on a 35/2 IS. That lens hasn't arrived yet, but your post gives me pause. To make matters worse, we are taking our first Disney trip in less than 2 weeks. The X100s would really come in handy there. What to do...

(Edit, looks like it's still not in stock anywhere, so I guess the decision for the Disney trip is made. Still... would be a great family camera.)

NagoC50

bloomphotog wrote: »

I loved the old X100 and just picked received my X100S after a LONG pre-order. I'm curious to see how many other Dgrinners are drinking the Fuji kool-a.

As a fellow owner of the "original" X100, curious as to your thoughts on the S and whether it is a worthwhile upgrade? Hobby says yes, if you use it more than occasionally. I certainly do, it's pretty much on me most of the time for personal stuff - heck I even use it (at times) at weddings. I found the X100 very good in low light and, once the firmware was updated, I found it quite capable with greatly improved AF. Great colors.

Still a bit quirky with a clunky menu set up and so-so on the manual focus (which had been unusable prior to firmware updates). Just curious about this new chip and the improvements you see over the original X100.

Thanks in advance and nice shots, BTW!

Moogle Pepper

How is the battery life of this camera?

bloomphotog

The original X100 is not a camera that I kept. I loved the colors, and the "idea" behind the camera, but the execution was not up to par with my expectations(patience). However, this new X100s has been a hoot. It's not perfect, but it is the best travel/personal camera I have ever used. Battery life has been great. I bought some of the Wasabi batteries off Amazon and have yet to fully drain one. Easy 300-500 shots I would guess. It's no longer a consideration, put it that way.

The high ISO performance is really the X100s largest improvement. Take a look at the samples below.

Auto-focus is great is good light, low light performance in unimpressive. Also, there is NO continuous AF(servo).

Don't use f/2 for macros. Way too soft.

I feel like the AWB is cooler than the X100, which I don't like. I am liking a R4, -B1 shift.

RAW edits look like crap. Tried a few PSCS6 conversions and I had to labor to match the awesome out of camera JPG color. Forget it. If I care that much about the shot I will be reaching for my 5D3.

THE BEST NEWS: My local camera shop has two X100s in stock right now. I would be happy to help any Dgrinners get the hookup. PM me for details.

Some SOOC JPG's for you to ogle:

2500 ISO


5000 ISO


Self portrait


Mediocre street photo that shows off the dynamic range and unique color pretty well (Provia?)

Moogle Pepper

So the battery life is good. How about the responsiveness of the camera? And the menu functions? I used the Xpro 1 and found the responsiveness to be slow and a pain in the ass to use the menu.

studio1972

I find it very responsive, don't use the menus much though, although I wish there was an external switch for the ND filter.

studio1972

Just wondering what film simulation you are using, I use the standard one, which looks great for me, but yours look more saturated so maybe velvia?

bloomphotog

I have been using Provia and Velvia. I usually just chimp a little bit and push the Saturation to taste.

The menus run normally. Not sluggish like the old X100.

Moogle Pepper

bloomphotog wrote: »

I have been using Provia and Velvia. I usually just chimp a little bit and push the Saturation to taste.

The menus run normally. Not sluggish like the old X100.

then I am definitely going to put in a rental request for this. What I hated about the x pro 1 and the x100 was battery life and the menu sluggishness.

NagoC50

studio1972 wrote: »

I find it very responsive, don't use the menus much though, although I wish there was an external switch for the ND filter.

On the original X100 you can program the Fn button to switch the ND filter. That's what I usually have my Fn set to do when I am outside.

I don't seem to have the same issue with menu "sluggishness" as I do with the menu setup generally being a bit of a PITA and not very intuitive. Definitely the weak point of the camera for me.

When I first got the camera, the bad AF performance nearly caused me to return it. Thankfully, several firmware updates later, I find the AF to be pretty dang good for what it is. I've found the low light performance pretty good but the S has me thinking about checking one out for just for that.

bloomphotog

The X100S also rocks for food photos! Tried a new dish today at lunch and thought I would share a shot. Chicken and Waffles! Who'd of thought?

f/4, 640 ISO, Velvia


Here's a sample of a 120 degree panorama using the X100S' built-in pano tool. Works just like an iPhone. Easy as pie, and looks about as good too! The final out of camera resolution is 6400x2160. SOOC image, using Velvia film sim mode, with +1 Sat.

Flood

Beautiful work!
I bought a used X100 a couple of months ago and I'm still stunned by the fun it brings to me. Having a better autofocus and more usable manual focus ring like in the X100s would be great, but so far, I'll work around it.

Dangerchris

Mine is coming tomorrow. Pretty excited.

kixsand

Really nice shots!

I love my X100 but I'm tempted by what seems like a very nice update!

jmphotocraft

Dangerchris wrote: »

Mine is coming tomorrow. Pretty excited.

I don't understand, B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Hunt's, everyone is showing the camera on backorder. How are you people getting yours? Do they fulfill all the pre-orders before the show the darn thing in stock?

This also goes to show the sorry state of affairs here in the People's Republic of Maine when our largest shop won't bother to order one, but the shop in Anchorage Alaska is selling them like hotcakes. :bluduh

By the way, the OOC JPEGs on snow in the OP are amazing. I have to manually develop my 5D3 shots in Lightroom if I want results that good. Check this out.

bloomphotog

Here's some VERY low light examples from the X100S. The EVF was a really nice tool, especially compared to my 5D3(due to the red AF point issue). AF performance was pretty good, and as usual, these are SOOC. Velvia and one B&W with green filter at the end.

I cannot say this camera is a great tool for professional low-light use, but for simply documenting a fun night watching a band play...perfect! I would probably never use the X100S for a paid gig, but it's truly the perfect camera for a professional photog to take on personal excursions.

12800 ISO


6400 ISO


4000 ISO with fill flash


4000 ISO


1600 ISO with fill flash

jmphotocraft

Ridic.

Moogle Pepper

I didn't get the x100, so it looks like after my move across the states I will pick up a x100s!

jmphotocraft

Found some in stock at Newtonville Camera in Massachusetts. Got one on the way!!

David_S85

Kai's take on the X100S vs. the X100

studio1972

Here's some images from a wedding on Friday:







More here

Really liking this camera!

bloomphotog

Nice work, Sarah! Any RAW conversions here, or are these SOOC? Lightroom 4.4 now officially supports the X100s...going to have to take another look at the RAW conversion quality.

Here's some photos of my X100s. If you need a great wrist strap, I would highly recommend a custom Gordy's. Perfect fit for the X100s. http://www.gordyscamerastraps.com/

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmartinezbiz/8636615344/&quot; title="My Fuji X100s by jmartinezbiz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8404/8636615344_2db89f5a55_c.jpg&quot; width="800" height="534" alt="My Fuji X100s"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmartinezbiz/8636615700/&quot; title="My Fuji X100s by jmartinezbiz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8636615700_03425d368e_c.jpg&quot; width="800" height="534" alt="My Fuji X100s"></a>

jmphotocraft

bloomphotog wrote: »

these are SOOC.

Hey wait, if those are SOOC, why is there no EXIF data?

bloomphotog

jmphotocraft wrote: »

Hey wait, if those are SOOC, why is there no EXIF data?

Looks like Flickr stripped EXIF on embeds. Check out the Flickr set here if you want to see larger images with EXIF: http://flickr.com/gp/jmartinezbiz/7T3Z0f/

studio1972

Mine are colour jpegs (provia), converted to black and white with SFX2.