Product Listing

The Fujifilm FinePix X100 - A Modern-Day Classic

By Alvin Soon - 4 Apr 2011
Launch SRP: S$1699

Image Performance I

Image Performance I

Ever since the X100 was announced, the big question occupying prospective owners' minds must have been if the camera would turn out to be simply a gorgeous ornament, or would it also be a decent photographer's tool?

Now, after putting it through the paces, we can honestly tell you: Images from the X100 rock. And they rock hard!

Working Within Limits

The X100 is a camera built within limits, but what sweet limits! The 23mm fixed focal length becomes a 35mm lens in 35mm equivalent due to the crop factor, and the aperture closes from a wide f/2 to f/16. The wide apertures let in more light, letting you shoot at faster speeds in less light, which means lesser chances of blurry shots due to handshake. The 35mm lens is a flexible length, not as tight as the classic 50mm, but wide enough for landscapes as well as portraiture.

The X100 isn't designed to be an everything, everyday camera to be used by everyone. Instead, it's specifically designed for the enthusiast who welcomes the challenge of working within limits, and appreciates the possibilities of a compact camera with an f/2 lens.

Great for Portraits

Another effect of having a wider aperture is that backgrounds become blurrier - an effect photographers like to call bokeh. It helps call more attention to your main subject, and is why portraits are usually shot with a wide aperture. It's also what makes the X100 a great portrait camera.

Here's a visual example of what we mean, sampling through the entire aperture range of the X100, with focus locked on the white owl.

f/2

f/2.8

f/4

f/5.6

f/8

f/11

f/16

Fujifilm Color

Like some of its other digital cameras, Fujifilm includes three film simulation modes in the X100, based on Fujifilm film. Provia for standard color (unless stated otherwise, all test images in this review were shot in Provia), Velvia for vivid colors and Astia for softer color and contrast; together with monochrome, monochrome+Ye (yellow) filter, monochrome+R (red) filter, monochrome+G (green) filter and sepia modes.

Velvia certainly brings more saturated colors and contrast, while Astia looks less saturated and lighter in tone.

Color chart shot in Provia.

Color chart shot in Velvia.

Color chart shot in Astia.

Shot in Provia. Click for full-resolution image.

Shot in Velvia. Click for full-resolution image.

Shot in Astia. Click for full-resolution image.

 

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9.0
  • Performance 10
  • Design 9.5
  • Features 9
  • User-Friendliness 8
  • Value 8
The Good
Exceptional design
Large, clear optical viewfinder
Quick f/2 lens provides speed and background blur
Very low noise in high ISO images
The Bad
High price
Slow AF system
Slow manual focus ring
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