Limited Edition X100 - Worth Buying?

[Chris Dodkin]

Notice that the kits for the black LE X100 are beginning to surface.

Comes with lens hood, filter adapter, filter and a leather case - as well as sexy black finish

Costs more than the basic camera, but does have all the extras in the kit.

Worth buying or not?

 

[Hamish Gill]

whats the difference in price?
does it equal the cost of the extras by them selves?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

you end up paying an extra $150 for the black paint I'd estimate

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Oh, it looks sexy. Gorgeous. I'm in love. But as the song says, 'Romance without finance is a nuisance'!

Rob

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Couldn't justify the price, plus they seem as scarce as rocking horse **** at the moment.

So I bought an 'original' X100 instead - God, I need my head examining... another camera!

Will report back when the battery is charged and I've failed to read the manual properly.

I blame Hamish, Larry, Jim, Steve, and anyone else who's waxed on about them and posted lovely pictures

 

[Larry Bolch]

I blame Hamish, Larry, Jim, Steve, and anyone else who's waxed on about them and posted lovely pictures

Guilty as charged. It shoots fine in its original livery, and I have no need for the paint and the rest of the stuff. I have not even attached the neck-strap, so certainly have no need for the never-ready case.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Never Ready Case

Well, it works...

A quick f2 test of my laptop keyboard with f-all lighting

My brain is hurting as I battle with the UI without having read the manual fully - LBF - 'learn by failing' I call it!

 

[Brian Moore]

Where are all the crumbs,...or is that just my keyboard?

 

[Pete Askew]

No, I reckon Chris has the crumb filter switched on by mistake. He'll figure it out eventually. After a few more biscuits!!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Oh, I want one now!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Crumb filter, is that on menu 23, sub-section 17.5?

 

[Pete Askew]

Larry will know!!

Looking forward to some shots when you've figured out how to turn it off.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Nice one Chris!
I think you will enjoy it!

Granny to suck eggs springs to mind...
But read Larry's response! Very useful tip that's not obvious without reading the manual!


http://www.realphotographersforum.com/digital-cameras/2169-zone-scale-focusing-fuji-x100.html

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Hamish - I've loaded the X100 manual onto the iPad, so I can now filck through it easily, bookmark pages, search for terms etc - makes it easier to find my way around

The rangefinder style MF is a great idea - will give it a play today

What are these 'METERS' to which you refer?

I keep hitting the MENU/OK button for SHOOTING MENU, but getting the DRIVE menu - need to modify my fat-thumb stabs!

Ordered one of the well rated swag lens hoods from Amazon, couldn't stomach the crazy price of the official one.

Also had to update my Photoshop to read the RAW files - damn you Adobe!!!

 

[Thomas brookes]

Crumbs! What an odd word. Any way. I originally wanted an x100 but Hamish blagged me into buying a d7000 not that I don't love it. But I still really want one after playing with hamish's ( camera ). But now I'm in limbo because I could use that money on some decent lenses or lens.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Tom - I've been lusting after the X100 since the launch at CES last year - but kept telling myself I didn't 'need' one

Which of course I don't...

Doesn't mean that I didn't want one though

Can't help you on which to do, camera or lenses - there's no right answer, just what ever works for you at the time.

Just ordered a nice thumb rest from Lensmate - also protects the exposure comp dial (which I've already knocked accidentally and not noticed!)

Will report back when I get it.

 

[Thomas brookes]

I'm lost!!!! I do want one so baaad

 

[Larry Bolch]

I've loaded the X100 manual onto the iPad, so I can now filck through it easily, bookmark pages, search for terms etc - makes it easier to find my way around

It is only about one quarter the size of the D700, and tightly written.

The rangefinder style MF is a great idea - will give it a play today

Manual focus works most efficiently if you push the AF-L button to get close, and use the focus ring to fine tune. This is specially great in Macro mode, since it allows one to focus with high precision.

I keep hitting the MENU/OK button for SHOOTING MENU, but getting the DRIVE menu - need to modify my fat-thumb stabs!

A tip. The menu button is tiny, but the whole assembly around it can be depressed instead.

 

[Larry Bolch]

Just ordered a nice thumb rest from Lensmate - also protects the exposure comp dial (which I've already knocked accidentally and not noticed!)

One of the best bits of design is the EC knob. It is loose enough that one can easily dial in perfect exposure for every shot using the live histogram. I have never had such consistently perfect exposures with any camera in my life! However, it takes enough pressure that I find it most comfortable to use both thumb and forefinger to turn it. The chunk of metal would block my thumb and require a lot more pressure from forefinger alone. (I just tried it.)

It is such a brilliant bit of design, and this would make it somewhat difficult to use, though I suppose one could learn. One can configure the camera to have a live histogram displayed on the EVF, OVF and LCD. A second to evaluate whatever problems may be in the scene, then a second to dial in perfect exposure. Having to work around the chunk of metal would certainly take more time and be frustrating. Picking the camera up, one can instantly see where the analogue controls are set with a glance at the top. The position of the EC knob can also be displayed in any of the three viewing methods. For me, it really does not matter where I left it last, since I will almost certainly be using it to fine tune the shot.

For a very small camera, I find it very comfortable to hold. The area above the control wheel is more than adequate for my thumb. A decade back when I was shooting with a Nikon 5000 bridge camera, I bought the battery grip only because I could not grasp the camera without changing the settings. It was totally encrusted with controls. Zero problems with this one. With camera in hand, I just tried putting my hand up, placing my thumb at the command control. For me at any rate, it was far less comfortable and far less natural, specially for tripping the shutter with finger tip held near vertically instead of resting naturally on the shutter release.

If it works better for you, then great.

 

[Jim Kuo]

Manual focus works most efficiently if you push the AF-L button to get close, and use the focus ring to fine tune. This is specially great in Macro mode, since it allows one to focus with high precision.

Thanks Larry, I didn't know you could do it, this is a great tip!