I was quite sceptical when I opened the box of the Fujifilm X100s. In front of me sat a R12k camera that would be geeky nirvana for any self-proclaimed hipster. This retro-styled compact camera could pass for a 1970‘s classic that would fit well with your oversized headphones and SMEG fridge at home. But when you look past the actual design, there is quite a surprise waiting. That surprise comes in the form a fixed 23mm F2 lens and SLR-sized APS-C sensor, which offers outstanding image quality! I would describe myself as an “œenthusiastic“ photographer, dabbling in portrait and landscape photography with a DSLR as companion, but after playing around with this camera, I just might have new found respect for the “œcompact“ section of the market.
Design
You will immediately notice that the camera isn‘t a lightweight and can only be considered compact compared to a DSLR. The extra weight does lend a sense of quality and workmanship though. It sits comfortably in your hand and will also provide stability for your photographs. Fujifilm has equipped the X100s with a DSLR like photo option dial and a quick-menu button (the “œQ“ button replacing the “RAW” button from its predecessor). The layout of the all the buttons combined with the smooth manual/auto focus lens allows for a street-shooter like feel when using the camera.
Despite the retro look of the front and top of the camera, the back has a typical digital camera layout. There is a manual aperture dial on the lens as well as shutter-speed and exposure compensation dials on top. The Fn button allows for ISO sensitivity options (but this button can be customized). On the left side is a switch for selecting among manual, single-shot auto-focus and continuous AF. Light metering is achieved through the AE button. The AF button lets you choose the AF point and the command dial in the upper right allows you to select through the zoom view, split viewfinder and peaking view in manual focus. The button layout is quite confusing when you start out, but once you have dissected the user manual the button locations would soon become familiar!
Holding down the menu button allows you to lock all the rear facing buttons for shooting, but make sure you know how to unlock it again as the “œSorry, I‘m locked“ screen doesn’t indicate this! Quite frustrating. Back to the old user manual again! The battery holder design may also cause some difficulty. The battery can go into the camera in a few different ways, but obviously won‘t work if not inserted correctly. If your camera won‘t start, that would be your first inspection point.
Image Quality
The Fujifilm-designed 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor packs a huge punch for this small camera. The X100S turned out very pleasing images. The exposure and white balances are generally spot on, colours are deep and rich (and of course you the film simulation modes are there if you want to achieve a specific look). The X-Trans sensor‘s low noise is very effective when it comes to balancing scenes with high contrast in dynamic range mode (even though the AF struggles a bit). The camera performed quite well in low light conditions up to about ISO 6400. It can expand to ISO 25600, but I would only go that far if you really need to. Images are way to grainy past ISO 6400 and RAW capability isn‘t available for the high ISO settings (or even ISO 100 to my disappointment). For this camera I would refrain from using RAW image quality. The JPEG shots are great and when you want to fiddle with RAW capabilities in Photoshop or Lightroom, you are better of going DSLR. I have mixed feeling regarding the lens. I am no photographic genius but even though the lens had F2 capability; it doesn‘t translate to great images (quite fuzzy). Only around F2.8 or higher you start seeing greater detail in pin sharp perfection. The AF in good light conditions is lightning fast and super silent and all in all most images turned great. The video capability was surprising. Due to its 1080p capability the videos are quite sharp even when filming in low light scenes. This is due to dropping the shutter speed (you can’t control the shutter speed during video on the X100S, just the aperture).
Performance
The X100S’s new sensor and processor add up to improved performance specs compared its predecessor (X100). Here’s Fujifilm’s comparison between the two:
- Improved AF speed: 0.07 sec in good light (10EV), compared to 0.22 sec for X100
- Quicker start-up (0.9 sec vs. 2 sec)
- Faster continuous shooting (6 fps vs. 5 fps)
- Substantially larger buffer, 31 frames vs. 10 frames (JPEG Large/Fine)
- Improved shot-to-shot time in single shot drive mode (0.5 sec vs. 0.9 sec)
- Can immediately switch to playback mode after shooting (no need to wait for file to write to card)
- Buttons that were unresponsive immediately after shooting are now fixed
The above specs make for some interesting reading, especially the last 2 points. With a UHS-I card installed, time between shots is quite fast, and to all intents and purposes it is limited only by the speed of AF motor. Even after shooting a continuous burst of RAW images, you can still adjust whatever setting you want while the buffer is being cleared. This is true in single and continuous capture modes. The X100s‘ buffer is quite impressive. It allows unlimited shooting in JPEG mode at 3fps, which means you can keep your finger down until the card reaches capacity. In RAW mode, you get 3fps for up to about eight shots, before the frame rate slows down. For a camera of this type, where sports and action photography is really unlikely to be a serious priority for most users, these figures represent good performance. The AF motor in the X100s performs admirably in most conditions. I was able to auto-focus in less than 0.5 seconds in outdoor light and in less than 1 second in low-ish indoor lighting conditions. The camera does struggle with high contrast scenes, which is the case with most compacts, I just somehow expected better performance from this upmarket device.
Specifications
Here are some specs of the X100s (compared to one of its rivals)
| Fujifilm X100S | Nikon Coolpix A | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS II | 16.2MP CCD |
| 23.6 x 15.8mm | 23.6 x 15.8mm | |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 (exp)/200 – ISO 6400/ 25600 (exp) | ISO 100 – ISO 12500 |
| Lens (35mm-equivalent focal-length multiplier) |
35mm f2 1.5x |
24mmf2.81x |
| Closest focus (inches) | 3.9 | 11.8 |
| Continuous shooting | 6fps 31 JPEG/ n/a raw (burst only available with focus and exposure fixed at first frame) |
5fps 8 frames (raw + JPEG) |
| Viewfinder | Hybrid Reverse Galilean 90 percent coverage EVF 0.48-inch/ 2,360,000 dots 100 percent coverage |
Optional EVF Tilting LCD n/a ($449.00 est.) |
| Autofocus | n/a Contrast AF |
11-area Contrast AF |
| Metering | 256 zones | n/a |
| Shutter | 20 – 1/4,000 sec; bulb to 60 min | 30 – 1/2,000 sec |
| Flash | Yes | Yes |
| Hot shoe | Yes | Yes |
| LCD | 2.8-inch fixed 460,000 dots |
2.7-inch 230,000 dots |
| Image stabilization | None | None |
| Video (best quality) | 1080/60p/ 30p H.264 QuickTime MOV Stereo |
None |
| Manual iris and shutter in video | Iris only | n/a |
| Optical zoom while recording | n/a | n/a |
| External mic support | No | n/a |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 330 shots | 450 shots |
| Dimensions (WHD, inches) | 5.0 x 2.9 x 2.1 | 4.9 x 2.7 x 2.0 |
| Weight (ounces) | 15.5 | 12.2 (est.) |
Conclusion
Looking back at my time spent with this little camera, I must say that If I had around R12 000 to spend on a camera (and wasn‘t looking for my next piece of glass or equipment) I would definitely consider this little guy. Although I struggled to get used to the buttons in the beginning it is actually quite well designed (if in doubt always use the “œQ“ button!). The simplicity in creating stunning pics is the real selling point of this camera. I am a staunch DSLR fan (because I like fiddling with EVERYTHING) and I must admit it would probably take me about 5mins of “œsetting up“ to produce some of the shots that the X100s produces with the click of a button. The little camera would be an absolute treat on sightseeing vacations or any situations where quick pics are essential. As Dylan Swart from ORMS Direct put it:
“The X100s is fun and easy to shoot with, stick with it and embrace its limitations and you will be rewarded for your efforts and time spent with it.”
| Build quality |
9 |
| Ergonomics & handling |
9 |
| Features |
8 |
| Image quality |
9 |
| Performance |
8 |
| Value |
7 |
| Overall |
8 |
| PROS | Provided you can live with the fixed focal length, the X100S is a “take me everywhere” camera. |
| CONS | Quite pricey. Sometimes feels limited due the fixed lens. |
Photo Samples (Photos I took using X100s):
Photo Samples (Photos other Photographers took using X100s):
