View Full Version : X100 users - what other cameras?
peripatetic
05-06-2011, 04:08
My suspicion is that the X100 is particularly attractive to two groups of DSLR users:
Those who own a Canon 5D(2) and Nikon D700.
Why? Because they share the characteristic of tremendous image quality in a relatively small package. Some compromises are made in terms of features compared to their 1D or D3 counterparts.
I think I'm a bit of a high ISO junkie after owning a D700 for a while now ... I like the look of the files from the Nikon at 3200 ISO and higher so the X100 is a logical companion IMO.
If the Fuji turns out to be as good as I think it may be I'll probably be shooting a little less film in 135mm but possibly more in MF.
My two digital cameras are a Pentax K-5. and my Fuji X100. I sold a D700 to get the 5D2 and then a year later sold the 5D2 to get the k-5. I've not noticed much if any loss of quality going from full frame to the K-5.
And I just got my X100 yesterday!
willie_901
05-06-2011, 05:22
D700s for commercial work, X100 for almost everything else. I am using a Nikon FG SLR to finish up a project I started a few years ago using film. When the film is gone, I'll sell the FG.
Nikon Bob
05-06-2011, 06:05
I did not vote because I am not seriously considering buying the X100 at the moment. It is the type of camera I would seriously consider as a companion to my D700 kit when wanting to go lighter though. I do think you are right that it would appeal to those two groups of DSLR users in particular.
Bob
shadowfox
05-06-2011, 07:13
I'll buy a rangefinder-like digital camera if it says Olympus and Zuiko on it. :)
I now have the X100 and the M6 with Voigt 35mm Color Skopar. And nothing else, all other cameras were sold this morning.
Apart from the TLR, OM-1n, Rollei35, GX100 and Ixus. Oh, and the pinhole and Petri and Box Brownie.
peripatetic
05-06-2011, 08:12
I forgot to say I use a 5D2.
(And a ZI)
jsrockit
05-06-2011, 08:53
I was using a M8.2, a X1, and a M3. Since I got the X100 now, I'm selling all of that and getting a Leica M9 as my other camera.
My two digital cameras are a Pentax K-5. and my Fuji X100. I sold a D700 to get the 5D2 and then a year later sold the 5D2 to get the k-5. I've not noticed much if any loss of quality going from full frame to the K-5.
And I just got my X100 yesterday!
Hey Mark, I would be very interested in hearing about your thoughts and reactions to the X100 versus the K-5. And before anyone jumps on me, I understand that one is a fixed lens camera while the other is a changeable lens dslr. But they are both modern digital cameras (and I already have a K100S along with the 21/40/70 trio of DA prime lenses) and are in the same general price range (particularly since I already have the lenses for a K-5). I love my film M cameras (both old and newer) so I keep thinking an M8 (or M9 if I win the lottery) would be nice but hesitate to spend that much. So, the X100 and the K-5 are both of interest to me. They are so different but in many respects would serve the same purpose, to me. That's why I'm very interested in hearing more from you Mark.
Thanks,
Randy
Jamie Pillers
05-06-2011, 11:43
Even better?.. D7000: small (for a DSLR) and GREAT dynamic range. And it meters with all my old manual focus nikkors. I added a KatzEye screen to make manual focusing in low light a breeze.
My suspicion is that the X100 is particularly attractive to two groups of DSLR users:
Those who own a Canon 5D(2) and Nikon D700.
Well after the pretty good review that Michael Reichmann gave the X100 he seems to have gone straight back to using his Panasonic GH2. Perhaps that is what is attractive about the X100, its very easy to like (and buy, given the normal GAS going on for 'the next best thing'), but its easy enough to leave behind without any conscience when you want to stop playing and make a better photograph??:D
Steve
jsrockit
05-06-2011, 13:03
Perhaps that is what is attractive about the X100, its very easy to like (and buy, given the normal GAS going on for 'the next best thing'), but its easy enough to leave behind without any conscience when you want to stop playing and make a better photograph??:D
Steve
It depends on what you expect... if you see the X100 as just another camera, then you won't appreciate it. However, if it is the design you've been waiting for, it is great.
Well after the pretty good review that Michael Reichmann gave the X100 he seems to have gone straight back to using his Panasonic GH2. Perhaps that is what is attractive about the X100, its very easy to like (and buy, given the normal GAS going on for 'the next best thing'), but its easy enough to leave behind without any conscience when you want to stop playing and make a better photograph??:D
Steve
I think the X100 suits the people who are prepared to learn a new tool. It's no good for the quick and dirty toy brigade. This makes it an awkward camera, as it feeds GAS like nothing else currently, but when you get it you don't get instant sugar high happy feelings - you need to work. But, if that's too much trouble, it's looks great sitting on the shelf.
willie_901
05-06-2011, 14:19
I may be wrong, but it seems to me Reichmann's X100 was on loan from Fuji. He returned it with formal comments to Fuji on improvements.
I'll buy a rangefinder-like digital camera if it says Olympus and Zuiko on it. :)
I wouldn't be holding my breath if I was you Will.
:D
Yeah - Guilty of using a D700 mostly.
The size point is well made - a great thing about the D700 for professional use is that you can put the MB-10 and a 70-200 2.8 on it to make it look big when you want to impress clients for studio portaits, but you can take it off and use a smaller lens to photograph sports without looking like a pro or a stalker and attracting unwanted attention.
Yeah - Guilty of using a D700 mostly.
The size point is well made - a great thing about the D700 for professional use is that you can put the MB-10 and a 70-200 2.8 on it to make it look big when you want to impress clients for studio portaits, but you can take it off and use a smaller lens to photograph sports without looking like a pro or a stalker and attracting unwanted attention.
In an unavoidably throw away digital world the D700 is a great camera IMO and should endure for a couple of years yet. Not so sure about the Fuji though because it's pioneering a type of camera that will naturally create a market for other manufacturers to jump into.
At the moment they're a great duo.
^^ Yeah - agree about the D700. I bought it as soon as it came out and it's still good. I'm hoping for another 5 yrs - is that too optimistic? I had a great run from the D70 and better from the D700. It's a balance thing I guess about early adopting... X100 is much less polished. I'm playing with it now saying "firmware 2.0 where are you?" I think there's heaps that can be done with firmware if they want to...
^^ Yeah - agree about the D700. I bought it as soon as it came out and it's still good. I'm hoping for another 5 yrs - is that too optimistic? I had a great run from the D70 and better from the D700. It's a balance thing I guess about early adopting... X100 is much less polished. I'm playing with it now saying "firmware 2.0 where are you?" I think there's heaps that can be done with firmware if they want to...
They can and I hope they will considering the demand.
JonasYip
05-06-2011, 20:22
Those who own a Canon 5D(2) and Nikon D700.
That's the only one I *didn't* check. I sadly have all the other choices covered....
j
coelacanth
05-08-2011, 14:55
I'm now selling my 5D kit now which is my only digital camera besides iPhone 4 and X100. When I have paid shoots, I'll just rent equipments. Besides that and iPhone camera, my digital camera use is very limited X100 can cover all. My companion camera to X100 are film rangefinders and MFs. I took my MP + 50mm and X100 for a weekend walkabout, and I could almost feel I was choosing the camera for a shot based on the focal length I want.
Just got my x100 and still exploring. Specifically got it for street photography. Got tired of heavy DSLRs hanging from my shoulder.
Really focusing on two formats these days. Take my 4x5 Shen Hao or Hasselblad into the woods or the x100 to the streets. Seems like a nice balance ;-)
I was using a M8.2, a X1, and a M3. Since I got the X100 now, I'm selling all of that and getting a Leica M9 as my other camera.
Same for me. Hopefully that will do it for awhile.
D300s here. Looking forward to a carry everywhere camera, and it doesn't have to fit in my pocket :)
Jeff
Perfect Imposter
05-11-2011, 04:29
My suspicion is that the X100 is particularly attractive to two groups of DSLR users:
Those who own a Canon 5D(2) and Nikon D700.
Why? Because they share the characteristic of tremendous image quality in a relatively small package. Some compromises are made in terms of features compared to their 1D or D3 counterparts.
The people I know who own full frame DSLRs have no interest in using a camera that is anything other than a full frame DSLR. I realize that the few people I know doesn't make a large enough data set to draw any meaningful conclusions. However it is interesting that they all turn their noses up at anything other than a full frame DSLR.
I happily sold off my DSLR kit a week before my X100 arrived. I'm down to an M8 and the X100.
jsrockit
05-11-2011, 04:44
I don't think full frame matters as much when you have a lens that is matched to the sensor.
The people I know who own full frame DSLRs have no interest in using a camera that is anything other than a full frame DSLR. I realize that the few people I know doesn't make a large enough data set to draw any meaningful conclusions. However it is interesting that they all turn their noses up at anything other than a full frame DSLR.
I happily sold off my DSLR kit a week before my X100 arrived. I'm down to an M8 and the X100.
Haha I love how people hate each other because of the gear they use. All I shoot is a full frame DSLR and a digital point and shoot. I have only shot one roll of film in my life and never plan to shoot film again, yet I enjoy reading the RFF forum, especially the P&S subforum.
I think jsrockit summed it up nicely ... if the lens is matched to the sensor full frame becomes unimportant. It's pretty unlikely that a camera like the Fuji or any of the other similar offerings out there would ever go full frame but for a DSLR that has the capability of using heritage lenses it's definitely desirable.
scottwallick
05-20-2011, 10:24
All digital cameras, except for my Zeiss Ikon which I love but don't use (anymore).
I have an M9, and that's what it is. I also have a GF1 with the 20/1.7. Which is a fantastic camera. I like the X100 better (so far), so I might just let my wife take exclusive control of the GF1. I was occasionally taking the GF1 out at night from time to time. She'll be happy it's hers now.
The X100 is %#@!ng great. The OVF/EVF is really a pleasure. Especially considering the only EVF I owned was the GF1's accessory EVF. Barf.
I "main" kit is a D7000 with a beat-up old D90 as backup. I use this for the paid work I do and mostly everything else and frankly, the IQ and latitude in the D7000's RAWs killed off most of the lust for a FX camera. The D7k is fine, even excellent at ISO3200 for most applications and can do ISO6400 with some careful processing and initially good exposure. The secret is good, perhaps even better color retention than the D700/D3 at higher ISOs and noise primary of the luminance variety which is easy to deal with in post processing. Slap on some high quality glass and have the grip lying around for extended vertical/portrait sessions and it's a combo hard to beat in terms of IQ, price and versatility. I do shoot a little film with ancient rangefinders and SLRs too.
Now the X100. With all the hubbalooh over the various bugs and firmware quirks, I feel many fail to realize the camera actually works!!! and have a very very good lens and sensor. To be honest it's very close to the D7000 in many ways and I struggle to find lenses of similar quality at that focal length, would have to be the Nikon 14-24 2.8, the 24 1.4 or the Zeiss 21 2.8 perhaps (none of the older Nikon Ai or AF-D 24mm primes are all that great), all of which cost as much or more than the X100. If I was shooting FX of course, there'd be many excellent 35mm lenses to choose from but that means a body weighing over 1kg + minimum 400-500 grams for a really good 35mm prime like the Zeiss 35 2.0.
One indicator of what IQ-potential a camera have can be the size of the RAW files. A D7000 with it's 16mp sensor set to 14-bit uncompressed RAWs produce files of 18 to 20mb. The D90 with the good 'ol Sony 12mp sensor produce 12-bit RAWs in the 9 to 12mb range sizewise (some compression at play). The 12mp X100's RAWs are arund 18-19mb. I don't know if they are 12 or 14-bit though, guessing at 12-bit uncompressed combined with a fine-tuned AA-filter and lens-combo capturing a lot of detail.
Gentlemen, the IQ of the X100 is very much state-of-the-art and it's likely to improve slightly with new firmwares and tuned RAW-converters (ACR etc). For me personally it means I can pick up a light, easy to carry camera that got a viewfinder (I for one never got on terms with LCDs in sunny conditions) and give me excellent files to drool over and abuse in PS.
Then again, the X100 isn't everyone's cup 'o tea considering the fixed focal length, price and clearly less than ideal for stuff like sports ;) Still, it works and makes images and it's not really hard or difficult to use, you just need to spend some time fiddling and getting used to it, like with any camera I've ever used.
Mac
I would have liked to have seen the MFT/mirrorless systems added to the poll. I think a big percentage of users of those systems are in the X100 target audience.
/
Richard G
06-12-2011, 06:09
Scary experience: for the first time since getting the X100 two weeks ago I just picked up the M5 with the C Sonnar on it to take a photograph and found that the aperture ring is numbered in reverse. Better shoot some film tomorrow.
jsrockit
07-18-2011, 04:06
Scary experience: for the first time since getting the X100 two weeks ago I just picked up the M5 with the C Sonnar on it to take a photograph and found that the aperture ring is numbered in reverse. Better shoot some film tomorrow.
For me it is the opposite. I'm so used to my M that I cannot get used to the X100's ring. :bang:
Jamie Pillers
07-18-2011, 14:31
For me it is the opposite. I'm so used to my M that I cannot get used to the X100's ring. :bang:
'Luckily' I only have SLR Nikkors left and their rings move in the same direction as the X100. :-)
The people I know who own full frame DSLRs have no interest in using a camera that is anything other than a full frame DSLR. I realize that the few people I know doesn't make a large enough data set to draw any meaningful conclusions. However it is interesting that they all turn their noses up at anything other than a full frame DSLR.
I happily sold off my DSLR kit a week before my X100 arrived. I'm down to an M8 and the X100.
You could also replace all instances of "full frame DSLRs" with "Leica rangefinders". ;)
/sarcasm
Nick De Marco
07-27-2011, 08:08
Leica M9 is now my main digital camera
I have a 5D2 but rarely use it
Oh and the other cameras listed below
olelovold
08-04-2011, 11:51
I got a D700 for paid work and some candid, X100 for everyday use due to size and the discrete nature of the camera. As a full frame-fanatic, I can still appreciate the X100 for three important reasons: The focal length, 35mm eqv. which is unusual on crop. Combined with the huge aperture. And finally, the way it handles high ISO values. The D700 still has its place however. A full frame sensor does give a more pleasing look to the photos to my eyes, because of highlight-shadow relationships, thinner depth-of-field, colour rendition. Having gone through numerous crop and full frame cameras, this is something I'm sure of.
agphotography
08-04-2011, 20:50
My paid work is all done on a 5DmkII and a 1DmkIII along with a set of L lenses and Zeiss ZE lenses. I won't be giving those up anytime soon, but they are heavy and cumbersome.
When it's just shooting for fun or for my own special projects I work with a EOS 1N (I have the BP-E1 which took a while to find and it makes it the most comfortable 35mm SLR I've ever used, even more than my beloved T90, I also have the PB-E1 booster drive, but I hardly use it, Unless I'm using my larger L lenses on the camera)
I also of course shoot with my Bessa R2 which lives in the bag with my X100, those two pair together very nicely :)
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