The Fuji X100T - My Evaluation
December 1, 2016Welcome to today's post.
I would like to share my thoughts and feelings about the Fuji X-100T.
This is my first time attempt to review a camera and I feel terribly inadequate to do so simply because I know very little about the electrical side of things.
There are photographers out there on the Internet who do a much better job pixel peeping, and understand the technical analysis of how these cameras work. I will do my best to communicate the joy and feelings I have when using this amazing camera.
Okay let's begin.
I purchased my X-100T in 2015.
The knowledge I had at that time regarding the workings of a camera came exclusively from using the Nikon D7100. I must be honest and say this knowledge was very supportive in terms of accessing the menu on the X-100T and also understanding the placement of the buttons on this specific camera.
I was not prepared however, for the experience I would have in actually using this camera, let alone, the outstanding image quality. The size and weight of this camera belies its power and effectiveness at capturing compelling images. I have a very large hand, so the camera is in fact fractionally a little small for my hand. Nevertheless, I have learned how to handle this camera and I feel comfortable handling it as effortlessly as I do a deck of cards. So the size and weight are not an issue for me.
Take a look at the images below, they will give you a sense of the size of the camera the elegance and simplicity of the buttons & dials arrangement.
There is a real beauty and elegance in the simplicity of this camera.
From the first photograph you can see the front view of the camera along with its permanently attached 23mm Lens. This lens on a full frame equivalent camera provides an angle of view the same as the classic 35mm. I have fallen in love with this angle of view. The Aperture of this Lens comes in at F2 wide open and stops down all the way to F16.
This Lens is really amazing - take a look at the images below.
These images give a little flavour of what this Lens is capable of.
One of the ways I evaluate a camera is specifically from the ease-of-use and if I can find the various knobs and buttons without removing my eye away from the viewfinder. The X-100T allows me to do all of this. My camera settings are very straightforward:
Aperture Priority is my main function.
Auto ISO - on a sunny day 200-1600
on a cloudy day 800-3200
Minimum Shutter Speed - 1/125 sec for most subjects.
Exposure Compensation: I make full use of this setting depending on the quality of the light.
The menu system for this camera is very easy to navigate by simply pressing the menu button and then pressing the navigator keys up or down, left or right. The buttons on the left of the camera provide easy access to how you want to view your image either through the camera viewfinder or the LCD on screen on the back of the camera.
The viewfinder actually has a sensor which automatically kicks when the eye and the viewfinder are in range of each other. All of the buttons on the camera are customisable to suit the way any photographer likes to work. My navigating buttons have been assigned as my multipurpose Focus Point Selector.
The Wifi/FN Button - this can be configured for a variety of function - mine is set to Macro Function which works really well indeed.
There is an AEF/AFL button for locking the focus and exposure - it can also be programmed to function as a back button focus. The Q button is a one stop shop for accessing favourite functions within the camera menu system. This save time when out and about shooting.
The Four Buttons on top of the camera feature:
The Shutter Speed Dial
Of/On Switch
Fn/Function Button which I have set to my ISO Controls
The Exposure Compensation.
The Images above give a nice indication of how these straight out of camera JPGs look - minimal editing in Lightroom. Incidentally, I set my camera to shoot JPEG is only.
On my X-T1 I shoot Raw plus JPEG fine.
The image above is a three image stitch Panorama - I shot this image without using the inbuilt Panorama feature. Which goes to show the X 100T is a fully capable camera.
I never leave home without my camera; this speaks volumes for the portable nature and ease of use. My response time in using it when a photographic moment presents itself is now very quick, I trust the settings I use. For normal street photography, F5.6 to F8 is my normal settings. I trust the shutter speed to freeze any action.
One of my favourite times to shoot is during the Blue Hour.
This camera work perfectly when mounted on a tripod - this shot above was taken hand held.
The camera setting for this shot are:
ISO 1600
F2.0
1/900sec
So, there is a lot more to learn about this camera and I am making new discoveries because my subjects demand more from me. As I learn more, I will have more to share, for now, thanks for reading.