Fujifilm X100

image by Carlos Santisteban (Image rights)

The X100's styling evokes a classic film camera image by Tony Roman (Image rights)

A surprise announcement from Fujifilm at the Photokina 2010 show became one of the most hotly-anticipated cameras of 2011. The FinePix X100's styling evokes traditional film rangefinder cameras, but at its heart it carries a 12-megapixel APS-C digital sensor. Omitting the zoom lens which most manufacturers thought obligatory, the Fuji has a fixed semi-wide lens of fast f/2.0 aperture and high quality.

Most unusual is the viewfinder system, which has both straight-through optical viewing and a switchable EVF. This can either overlay shooting information on the optical image, or switch to 100% electronic live view. The shutter speed and exposure override wheels are knurled metal; and an aperture setting ring around the lens barrel make handling similar to that of a traditional camera. Even the shutter release button is threaded for a standard mechanical cable release.

A limited edition black premium edition of the camera was announced at CES 2012 with a production of 100,000 units. Included in the package is a lens hood, filter, leather case, and presentation box with a numbered certificate.

Links

• Fujifilm X100 user manual at Manualslib
• Finepix X100: The Professional Choice microsite at Fujifilm (archived)
• The Fuji X100 Digital Camera Real World Review at Steve Huff Photo
• Fujifilm FinePix X100 review at Kenrockwell
• Fujifilm FinePix X100 In-Depth Review at Digital Photography Review