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Fujifilm X100S - The S Stands for Super

By Alvin Soon - 2 May 2013
Launch SRP: S$1799

Conclusion

 

Conclusion

The Fujifilm X100S is a romantic camera which offers you much through constrains. Like the X100, it certainly isn't for everyone. We wouldn't recommend it if you can't live without zoom, or if you don't at least know what the exposure triangle is. That's not who the X100S is built for.

Instead, if you, like this reviewer, love the 35mm field of view (if not exactly a 35mm angle of view, this is a cropped sensor after all) and relish shooting within the limits of a f/2 prime while going manual, you just might love the X100S. It's a stunning good-looker and feels well-made. The physical aperture, shutter speed and exposure controls make it easy to shoot manually, and there's nothing else like the hybrid viewfinder, which gives you the option to shoot either through a bright optical viewfinder or a competent electronic viewfinder.

While AF speeds have been increased, AF accuracy is still Fujifilm's Achilles' heel and needs work. However, the X100S makes manual focusing much easier thanks to two new features: Focus Peak Highlight and Digital Split Image. The faster processor means the X100S doesn't lock up the way the X100 used to, and the Raw button has thankfully been retired, replaced with the infinitely more useful Q button for the Quick Menu.

At this moment though, we have to heartily recommend this camera with a caveat. The X100S' X-Trans II sensor is truly remarkable for its ability to capture fine detail, rich color and reach into the high ISOs without introducing much image noise. But if there's one central still unanswered about the X100S' dependability, it's the current crop of raw converters' ability to parse its raw files correctly without introducing the odd edge halos and color smearing we noticed.

It seems like Fujifilm is on it, apparently the company is working directly with Adobe to improve ACR's (Adobe Camera Raw) ability to work with the X-Trans files. Fujifilm deserves to be applauded for this; although it's been a long way coming, this is the first time we've heard a Japanese camera manufacturer working with Adobe to improve raw handling. Most of the time Adobe, and any third-party raw converter, has had to independently reverse-engineer whatever new raw files the Japanese throw their way, delaying the raw workflow for any photographers using Adobe's software.

Even accounting for the odd artifact, we feel the X100S is worth it, because the images are stunningly vivid, full of life and depth. Even though the difference in image quality between the X100 and X100S might look slight when compared up close, it makes a difference - you can feel the richness inherent in images shot with the X100S. It's not a logical conclusion but hey, we did say the X100S is a romantic camera. It's also romantic because we kept picking it up and shooting with it - the camera made us want to shoot more, and that's all you really need to say about any camera.

Fujifilm is a company that seems to be firing on all cylinders. After it came out of left field two years ago and captured photographers' hearts with the X100, it's been coming out with products which align with what photographers want. True, it's a niche segment of the market, which loves viewfinders and prime lenses, but damn if Fujifilm doesn't seem to have a finger on the pulse of this segment better than the bigger companies like Canon and Nikon. Well-known photographers like Zack Arias and David Hobby have been singing the X100S' praises, even talking about ditching their DSLR cameras for the lighter X100S and X-Trans system. They're not the only photographers this reviewer has heard of doing that.

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9.0
  • Performance 9
  • Design 9.5
  • Features 9.5
  • User-Friendliness 9
  • Value 9
The Good
Useful Q for Quick Menu button
Faster AF and processing than X100
Hybrid viewfinder is a treat to use
New manual focusing tools
Increased acuity with X-Trans II sensor
Best-of-class ISO performance
The Bad
Power switch triggers easily
AF accuracy still needs work
Odd image artifacts sometimes appear
Raw workflow still not optimal
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