I think with time they will become like the Contax G1 and G2 where only the nerdest of nerds still remember what the differences are and people usually just buy whichever one they can find in good condition
Spyro P. wrote:
I think with time they will become like the Contax G1 and G2 where only the nerdest of nerds still remember what the differences are and people usually just buy whichever one they can find in good condition
Unless of course we get an X200.
I'd agree with this if not for some of the really basic bugs in the x100 that are never going to go away, like the really slow startup time or inability to manually focus combined with the unreliable AF. Even if there wasn't a jump in ISO performance with the s, I feel like these functional issues are always going to distinguish the cameras (much like the 5D2 and 1 will always primarily be distinguished from the 3 by the fact that only the center AF point was reliable in the former two, nevermind the ISO differences).
The fastest way to start or wake up the X100 is to quickly turn it off and then back on, with Quick Start mode enabled. It`s really not too slow. Also, the AF is reliable, if you're able to use the EVF to tell if it's in focus or not. I'm generally able to do this, even in relatively low light. If it's not in apparent focus, then 'pump' the AF, just like using an EOS 1D-series camera in AI Servo mode on a static subject, sort of.
Anyway, it sounds like your mind is made up. Let us know how you like the X100S.
tobicus wrote:
I'd agree with this if not for some of the really basic bugs in the x100 that are never going to go away, like the really slow startup time or inability to manually focus combined with the unreliable AF. Even if there wasn't a jump in ISO performance with the s, I feel like these functional issues are always going to distinguish the cameras (much like the 5D2 and 1 will always primarily be distinguished from the 3 by the fact that only the center AF point was reliable in the former two, nevermind the ISO differences).
I took my new used X100 out and about for the first time yesterday. Was shooting mostly slowly rocking, moored boat details/abstracts. Used the EVF and AF in both S and C modes. Everything worked just fine. Seemed plenty quick enough for stationary or slowly moving subjects (I use DSLRs extensively so I'm familiar with really quick AF). No complaints so far. Altho I haven't yet tried it, for the best manual focusing experience on the X100, I've read that using the AEL/AFL button to prefocus before using the manual AF ring is the way to go.
I use an X100 and find it absolutely fine. I don't usually manual focus and find the a/f more than satisfactory. The frequent firmware updates have improved the cameras usability dramatically. I find the menus easy to navigate. All in all its fabulous and at the current price, brilliant value for money. I may replace it at some point in the future - who knows ! Possibly an X100S or X200 when / if it arrives.
tobicus wrote:
I have another question for you all: how many shots between charges are you getting on your x100 or x100s?
heavily depended on the use of LCD, EVF and AF
I switch all those things on and off all the time so I cant really tell with any degree of accuracy, but FWIW I haven't notice any material diff in battery consumption between my x100 and x100s....
(which reminds me, I need to sell my x100 at some point, I'm getting lazy...)
Well, after being sure I was going for the x100, I became sold by the ISO and manual focus abilities of the s, so that's my number one choice again. I've got $883 saved up, so a few weeks to go yet. I'm a bit worried about not getting one in time for vacation, though, seeing as Amazon still shows a 1-2 month delay in shipping.
Finally sold my x100 to a friend, but up until the last minute sth was telling me I should sell the x100s instead, the $$$ diff between the two just wasnt making sense... In the end I kept the s simply because my x100 had many thousand actuations, a substantial scratch on the LCD, the shutter made funny noises but it had been serviced by fuji twice already for other things and I wasnt in the mood for a 3rd one. Full disclosure to my friend, I let him have it for $250.
Spyro P. wrote:
heavily depended on the use of LCD, EVF and AF
I switch all those things on and off all the time so I cant really tell with any degree of accuracy, but FWIW I haven't notice any material diff in battery consumption between my x100 and x100s....
My experience is, using fast mode (Quick Start mode) is battery drain... For initial few days, I even thought of re-selling the camera... I wasnt able to capture, may be 50-75, pics... Another biggest drain is flash...
Flash plus Quick Start Mode, the camera almost become worthless...
But, I still have camera... and loving more every day usage.....
IF OVF isn't an end-all requirement. And you don't mind an effective 27mm instead of 35mm-- consider an X-E1 w/18mm lens.
You can get these used for less than you can get an X100s at the moment. And then you get the benefit of being able to upgrade lenses and bodies independently, or adding additional FLs, like either the 35mm equiv pancake (2.8) or to-come 35mm equiv 1.4.
Interesting comments here. I suppose I can agree with many, but many I do not. For example battery life...I don't do anything particularly special to save battery life and Im getting a few hundred shots with a fresh charge. While the startup is slow compared to most modern DLSR bodies, its not terrible. It's part of the charm of this solution to me. I do find that a wake up from sleep is notably slower that a cold start so I try to remember to turn it off when I'm not going to shoot for a few minutes.
A lot of what I read insofar as shortcomings and bugs I tend to take a different attitude towards. These little quirks/bugs/etc. add to the charm of this as a simple shooter. This, imho, is not designed to be a modern high performing (in every way) DLSR. It is a modern adaptation of the tried and true rangefinder. Great image quality, with the probably the best auto fill flash I've ever seen in a small package is working well for me. Maybe it is that I started shooting more than a couple of years ago and this very much matches the film cameras I grew up on. With film, we generally have to slow down, think about what we are shooting and hope we had the focus right. There was never 100% success. I was much harder, but at the same time much more simple if that makes sense. More often than not I find myself using the x100 as a black and white shooter. Is the focus as fat as my 1D bodies? heck no...but i also never expected ot to be. Sometimes with the raw image also captured sometimes not. I'm still learning the quirks and how to best adapt to them.
For me, the choice is the X100. While there are certainly improvements to the "s" I remain concerned about the processing. The upside of that however is that the jpeg engine on bth is fantastic. I'd save the $500+ for now and see what you think about the camera first.
I bought an X100 as a second camera to the X-E1. There was a 550 € price difference between the X100 and the X100s, the latter not being available as well. I thought about getting a pancake for the X-E1, but for about 170 € more I now have a backup body. I do like the charm of the X100, don't mind auto focus speed. My previous camera was an EOS 5D2 with manual focus Zeiss lenses (sold the 5D2, the lenses will be up for sale next). So far no regrets.
I love my X100 it's my absolute favorite camera at present and I would be interested in a 's' but for the X trans. I've seen the output and for me it's a complete deal breaker. If you only shoot jpegs then I guess it would be fine.
Michael H wrote:
Interesting comments here. I suppose I can agree with many, but many I do not. For example battery life...I don't do anything particularly special to save battery life and Im getting a few hundred shots with a fresh charge. While the startup is slow compared to most modern DLSR bodies, its not terrible. It's part of the charm of this solution to me. I do find that a wake up from sleep is notably slower that a cold start so I try to remember to turn it off when I'm not going to shoot for a few minutes.
Not sure whether you are agreeing or disagreeing on this particular point (comments are also all over the places too). But as I mentioned too, there is a huge difference in Cold Start and "Quick Start mode" with ref to the battery life.. almost increasing 5 times if you keep the quick time feature off....
This along with in built flash, you have to take care regarding battery life enhancement...
asbalyan wrote:
Not sure whether you are agreeing or disagreeing on this particular point (comments are also all over the places too). But as I mentioned too, there is a huge difference in Cold Start and "Quick Start mode" with ref to the battery life.. almost increasing 5 times if you keep the quick time feature off....
This along with in built flash, you have to take care regarding battery life enhancement...
I guess I'm not doing either --- I've never used the quick start mode.
I am also considering if I could live happily with the X100. One dealer in Finland has a crazy deal (?) for the black limited edition of the X100 for 699,90€, the X100s being 1299,90 respectively.
After a couple months of use, I'm still enjoying the X100. AF of still to slowly moving subjects is fine - not lightning quick but quite accurate (haven't tried it on anything faster than walking people tho). I haven't bothered with MF. Image quality is pretty nice altho coming from a 5D2 and D800e I would like more resolution (but even that is OK for the X100's intended output - web and small prints). I really enjoy the ergonomics and style/design of the camera. It's interesting how the retro silver and black, rangefinder-esque design engages your subjects and/or strangers. Lots of folks ask about it and it's not as threatening for candid/street stuff as a big black DSLR. Battery life has been OK. I switch between EVF, OVF and LCD and don't use Quick Start and it seems that I can shoot for a day without worry.
The only real frustration so far is the relatively slow write speed (but I'm still shooting RAW + large/fine jpgs just to compare the two - I'm sure once I start shooting just RAW I'll be happier with its speed).
I'm enjoying the X100 so much (it has made me a believer in EVFs and the mirrorless design) that I really hope Fuji and the major RAW converter folks, especially Adobe since I'm not all that interested in having to buy and learn another converter for a "secondary" camera, get their acts together so that XTrans files can be converted without any issues. That or I hope they toss the Xtrans design for something more traditional. If either of those things happen, I'm almost certain I'll buy an X200 or whatever the next gen X100 type camera Fuji introduces.
Cheers!
PS: I pimped my X100 with a Thumbs Up EP-2S thumb rest and soft release button - both very highly recommended for better ergonomics, especially the thumb rest - and both available from the maker, Match Technical Services. There are other brands of thumb rests available so look around. I can say that Match Tech's customer service was terrific and the thumbs rest is packaged in a very cool box (FWIW).
In addition to my previous post:
The X100 is my additional/back up camera, my X-E1 is my main camera. I LOVE both.
But since OP is selling all his other equipment, I would suggest the 100S:
- I actually LIKE the X-trans sensor output (see if you can find files from both sensors)
- better high ISO (but I also like the X100 output)
- 16 MPixel instead of 12
- the X100 locks up during write, very annoying (even with the fastest SanDisk).
- the X100 has slower shutter speeds at F2 and F4 (only in full stops selectable on the lens, 1/3 stops with the command dial - don't know about the 100S), you might need to engage the ND filter quite often if wide open is important to you, especially when you value DR400 (=ISO at least 800 - the X-E1 has better noise characteristics above that). I love DR400 for jpeg's.
I'm not sure if the 100S has the high sync speed with flash (central shutter), if this is important to you you should check.
--- I've never used the quick start mode.