Fuji Final thoughts on the X100S

tonyturley

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Location
Scott Depot, WV, USA
Name
Tony
I'm returning the rented X100S today. I enjoyed my time with it. The camera drew the curiosity of my family when I was doing some casual Mother's Day portraits. I barely noticed it around my neck on a 7 mile hike Saturday.

IQ was excellent. The lens/sensor combo has a very nice rendering to it. If Fuji ever releases a 23mm f/2 X-mount, it will be high on my list.

I enjoyed my 5 days with the X100S, but I don't plan on buying one. My X-E1 arrives today, and I'm eager to get started with it. It will be a nice complement to my Oly E-M5.
 
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As in Leica RF lenses? No, my pockets are a bit shallow to spring for those. :D

TT

No, I was actually thinking of Voigtlander, Canon, and/or FSU lenses, such as Jupiter or Industar. The first two are usually reasonably-priced on the second-hand market, while the FSU lenses tend to be even less expensive, and can be a real bargain - provided that you buy wisely (and have a certain amount of luck). I'd certainly echo Lightmancer's comments above - and although I don't currently have a Voigtlander lens to "weld" to my x-E1, I could be just about to put that right... ;)
 
I predict that you're going to like the x-E1, with your Konica lenses.;)
Are you planning to try any RF lenses?
A bit of a follow-up: the Konica 57mm/1.4 does indeed work nicely on the X-E1, but the lens I've been using the most is the 14mm f/2.8. It took just a few sessions with the X-E1 to convince me to sell all of my m4/3 gear. I like the Fuji IQ and handling a lot. The OM-D E-M5 had been my favorite camera of the past few years, but there's a new tool in my camera bag now.
 
A bit of a follow-up: the Konica 57mm/1.4 does indeed work nicely on the X-E1, but the lens I've been using the most is the 14mm f/2.8. It took just a few sessions with the X-E1 to convince me to sell all of my m4/3 gear. I like the Fuji IQ and handling a lot. The OM-D E-M5 had been my favorite camera of the past few years, but there's a new tool in my camera bag now.

I'm happy to take all the credit for accurate prediction...! :)

I recently took the x-E1 on a short holiday, and it has provided some great images. Well, more accurately, it would have provided some great images if the photographer had been more capable... ;)
 
I'm happy to take all the credit for accurate prediction...! :)
LOL! The XE-1 has yielded some of the best IQ I've seen from any camera system I have owned - Sony (APS & FF), Pentax, and Olympus have all been good, but I'm really enjoying the Fuji experience . . . so much so that I have a black X100 arriving today. I think Fuji must sprinkle magic pixie dust on their cameras. :)

TT
 
Well, I've gone and done it. Full purge of all of my digital gear. Traded the A7II and FE 35mm/2.8 and ordered an X-T2 and 18-55. The MFT gear is gone as well, traded for a black X100S and some extra $$$. I considered getting an X100T, but only the X100S was available in black, and it's the camera that originally introduced me to Fuji several years ago. As I was looking through my photo archives recently, the X100S images just stood out to me, and I remembered that I very much enjoyed using the camera I had rented when they were new to the market. So I'm back full bore in the Fuji camp. I plan to use the leftover funds from trading in the MFT gear to get an XF 55-200. Game on.
 
Congrats, Tony! I'm dipping back into Fuji land. Got the X-E3, 18-55 and 55-200 OIS zooms.

My biggest issue with my X series cameras from first and second generation was system speed and AF performance.

Since getting the X-E3, I believe that Fuji has conquered that hurdle for me.

One of my favorite Fuji lenses was the 35/1.4. IQ on that thing was to die for. I recently tried it out on the X-E3 and realized that it was probably more an AF speed issue with that lens than the cameras.

Having since used the 18-55/50-200 combo... It is quite a different ballgame.

I picked up a used, nicely priced ZhongYi Lens Turbo II for adapting my legacy Nikon glass. Such a great investment on my part.

I notice how well the focus peaking works on the Fuji. In some ways I want to say that the feature is easier to use on the Fuji than the PEN-F.

I'm still in my decision phase of whether or not I'll switch completely to Fuji or keep some m43.

I know in primes and zooms up to 200mm, size is right the same. M43 still has a size advantage at anything over 200mm.

Even so, with the success of the Nikon Z, and my rekindled love affair with Fuji, I may do the switch.

The biggest boon in the Fuji direction though is the fact that my wife used it yesterday at the Arnold Sports Festival and absolutely loved it. That is huge for her as she normally just writes stories for our blog and leaves me to all the imaging duties.

She never really cared for the m43 stuff... But for some reason the Fuji speaks to her.

Anyway... Enough about me... Glad to hear you are loving the Fuji stuff.
 
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I've been in and out of both Fuji and mu4/3 a couple of times over the past few years, Andrew. There are things about each that I like. But I've been looking for a better telephoto than the consumer 75-300 II. The PL 100-400 is massive, and the lowest I've seen for it is $1,100. The PL 50-200, though not as large, is even more expensive, at least $1,400 for a used one. Those are just not prices I'm willing to pay for hobbyist work.

Enter the XF 55-200. Along with the X-T2, it weighs 1087g, compared to 1490g and 1160g for the two PL combinations. Granted, I'm giving up some reach to the two PL lenses, but the X-T2/55-200 combination is a duo I can easily carry in a small bag while I'm hiking or biking, and the 55-200 is highly regarded, at a much more budget friendly $500 or so. With the gear I've traded in, I'm almost coming out even after picking up an X-T2, XF 18-55, XF 55-200, and X100S. Here's a comparison of the three systems:

194728
 
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