Lengthy Reason for Buying X100

[Bike Tourist]

For most of my life I've been a semi-pro. I have been a dillettante, using my photo income to pay for many forays into all kinds of photography and equipment. Lots of fun!

But, in retirement, I found a way to produce supplimentary income with a couple of microstock sites. I didn't do the bread-and-butter isolations on white and the released model business shots. I photographed what I pleased and still had a healthy percentage of reviewer acceptances and subsequent sales.

Well, I thought I was doing it my way. But when I went out shooting I found I was still being influenced by what I thought would sell and not opening up to be creative. I disappointed myself. Not that equipment was to blame (D7000) but still I thought that a rangefinder styled camera would put me more in the mood. For a long time nothing affordable existed. Lately, a lot of new cameras have been appearing but still I held off.

Then, yesterday I saw an ad by Christian Rudman, Precision Camera, for a very attractive price on a new X100. I jumped! The X100 will be my let-it-all-hang-out camera. I hope.

Many little problems remain. I usually need a corrective diopter eyepiece (+1 doesn't do it for me) and I don't know if they are availbale. If not, I'll cobble one together. I didn't buy the lens shade. Surely there are cheaper alternatives?

Meanwhile, I'll read up on all your comments here and anticipate!

[paulfish4570]

way to go, Dick! i use my glasses with the built in diopter. don't know if that is possible for you, but the eyepiece has a really nice, cushy glasses protector ...

[Gid]

Congratulations.

There is a built in diopter. You can get a filter ring and hood from ebay (I think JJC??)

Read the manual several times. There is plenty of coverage here and at the X100 forum for settings.

Auto ISO is very good. If you shoot RAW and use LR, leave the dynamic range set at 100 (LR screws up the exposure).

Great camera and great fun once you get used to it.

[Bike Tourist]

Thanks Gid. The built in diopter won't be enough.

[Bike Tourist]

Thank you, Paul. Your X100 pictures influenced my choice!

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Bike Tourist

But, in retirement, I found a way to produce supplimentary income with a couple of microstock sites.

What are some of the sites you are using? I'm curious to see the photography on these types of sites since I don't look at much commercial work. Thanks in advance.

[willie_901]

I hope you enjoy your X100 as much as I enjoy mine.

Read the manual. The EVF/OVF means there are six auto focus modes... two for each AF setting.

I use the AF manually. I focus and recompose much like I used a rangefinder patch. Manual focus is only meant to be used for fine adjustments when the camera is in macro mode.

I think the lens works best at F4, but I never hesitate to use it wide open when needed.

Get an expensive, fast SDHC card. Format the card in the camera after every upload.

Don't use any power saving settings. Buy a third-party battery for a back up.

The leaf shutter means you need to use the built-in ND filter occasionally in bright light.

[Bike Tourist]

Thanks for the tips, Willie. I'm not sure I understand the need to format the SD card after every upload. I usually tell my software to erase the images after uploading. Is there a reason this might not work?

[Bike Tourist]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

What are some of the sites you are using? I'm curious to see the photography on these types of sites since I don't look at much commercial work. Thanks in advance.

You can follow the link under my signature. That's the most productive one.

[jsrockit]

Thanks BT, I should've noticed that.

[boomguy57]

Agree with all of this...it's a great camera!

Originally Posted by willie_901

I hope you enjoy your X100 as much as I enjoy mine.

Read the manual. The EVF/OVF means there are six auto focus modes... two for each AF setting.

I use the AF manually. I focus and recompose much like I used a rangefinder patch. Manual focus is only meant to be used for fine adjustments when the camera is in macro mode.

I think the lens works best at F4, but I never hesitate to use it wide open when needed.

Get an expensive, fast SDHC card. Format the card in the camera after every upload.

Don't use any power saving settings. Buy a third-party battery for a back up.

The leaf shutter means you need to use the built-in ND filter occasionally in bright light.

[boomguy57]

You should definitely format in-camera each time you move your photos to your computer. It speeds up the camera operation considerably...I have learned from experience. It also helps to have the fastest card available.

[andersju]

Originally Posted by boomguy57

You should definitely format in-camera each time you move your photos to your computer. It speeds up the camera operation considerably...I have learned from experience. It also helps to have the fastest card available.

Depends on the computer you're using. It seems like this happens to Mac users because OS X likes to write hidden files everywhere (although it should be possible to disable that for specific things somehow). I don't think I had this problem in Windows XP / 7, and I certainly don't in Linux I formatted the card once, many months ago, and it starts up nearly instantly (I also have the quick start option on).

Using the physical lock switch on the card should also prevent the problem. And definitely get a fast card like the Sandisk Extreme Pro.