The secret winner of Photokina is already on Amazon (Fuji X100)
It’s the first time we see a prototype(!) listed on Amazon (Click here)
UPDATE This is the Fuji X100 page: http://www.finepix-x100.com/x100
Just look at our 43rumors poll to see what our readers want. It’s the first time I see such an unequivocal result!!!
Loading ...Anyway, if you need a real camera you could go for the Panasonic GF1 with 20mm f/1.7 Lens which now is in Stock for $674.95 only at Amazon (Click here)
mat
3 years ago |It’s listed by Fuji itself, not an independent camera shop nor Amazon itself. FWIW
Chris
3 years ago |If and only if it’s an interchangeable lens camera with manual knobs for shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and ISO.
marcram
3 years ago |I very much like the metal and leather construction and would like to see those attributes in a m43 interchangeable lens camera. It doesn’t have to be retro through. How about a modern camera made from high quality materials? What a concept.
Good suggestion Chris. We all love it when a camera has two dials (mechanical or by wire), but why don’t each of shutter, aperture, exposure and iso get their own. You would think a camera would have a stack of four scroll wheels on the back instead of the common 1 (or maybe 2).
Eric
3 years ago |That’s the one issue for me as well. I want the look, the build quality, the external controls, and the view finder….but it has to have a lens mount instead of a fixed lens. If Olympus or Panasonic builds that I’ll pre-order the day it comes out.
Jerry Suppan
3 years ago |Unfortunately, that it is not. I read an article somewhere that you live with the lens that is attached. Lack of interchangeability of lenses (like Sony NEX-5 for example) was the turn off, after I got to that point in the article I read.
Thom Hogan
3 years ago |Depends upon what you mean by “such a camera.” A retro style, large sensor compact? Sure. But the X100 is not exactly well thought out in its design. Take a close look at it. How do you set ISO? Uh, the menu system. Really? With 14 buttons on a “retro” design? In point of fact, it isn’t all that retro. It’s a compact camera design masquerading behind some old dials with apparently not even a Fujifilm sensor. Go figure.
admin
3 years ago |The surprising factor here is that a mockup was the most discussed “camera” at Photokina
Probably the real camera will calm down the enthusiasm.
Dummy00001
3 years ago |That’s what surprised me most. So much talks about a loosy mock up….
I expected more (and am in market for a compact camera) but it was just a uninspiring, made up demo.
What’s the point of a camera demo when YOU CAN NOT TAKE PICTURES WITH IT???
GH2 was a proper demo: cameras, lenses, snap this, shoot that, and etc – full hands on.
X100 to me as a visitor was biggest disappointment.
nug
3 years ago |How do you set A/S/ISO/EV on top Nikons? Uh, not straightforward marked dials?
You gotta press something first and then dial the universal dials?? Uh…No aperture ring, no shutter dial, no EV compensation, no good Nikon….
Archer
3 years ago |Every 36 shots a menu pops up automatically.
Neonart
3 years ago |I would assume the Fn button would work great for that. Press Fn, roll the dial. They might even change one of the buttons to ISO before production.
It’s no different than most cameras of the last umpteen years. The Leica M9 has an ISO button, but that’s about the same. You press a button, and set it with a dial.
A discrete, “analog” camera with classic styling is currently NOT available in most markets unless you buy a Leica for $8000. The X1 which is just “a compact camera design masquerading behind some old dials” doesn’t even have a viewfinder for $2000.
mpgxsvcd
3 years ago |I honestly think the X100 is a stupid product. Who in their right mind would buy a fixed focal length camera when there are so many other interchangeable lens options? I fail to see anything that is exciting about this product.
the other Rob
3 years ago |Sometimes limitations are opportunities for creativity. I would love the challenge of seeing what can be done with 35mm only.
Its a niche product for people with money, pro photographers and artists.
but the proof is in the IQ, which is unknown right now. As cool as it seems, it could be a dud. It also seems quite big, more like an M8/M9.
steve
3 years ago |The same type of person that buys a GF1 w/20mm for portability and has no intention of buying another lens.
mat
3 years ago |Exactly. If the image quality is there, fixed lens or not, this combo is pretty much everything I’d need and in a package I like.
Kosta
3 years ago |snap. +1
plenty of people use fixed focal length cameras. and some are happy not to worry about buying additional lenses to carry around cos they can get a well built package in a single unit.
others, like me, like a bit more flexibility. It’s personal choice.
Mike
3 years ago |But at least the GF1 owner has a chance to purchase another lens even if, at first, he only thought he only wanted one. The owner of this vaporware is SOL.
Kosta
3 years ago |true, but you’d hope that you would assess what you want before you go out and buy something…:S
i just want that ovf/evf hybrid viewfinder.
Offstandard
3 years ago |My main attraction to this is the Optical Viewfinder that is like a Rangefinder (without actual rangefinder) because it is big, and you view more than the actual shot by having “bright lines” to frame the shot (if you shot a rangefinder you know you love this feature!)
That feature would not work on an interchangeable lens camera with much effectiveness because you can’t get a TELE lens out of an OVF that doesn’t ZOOM together with the lens (again, if you tried a 90mm lens on a 0.5x viewfinder rangefinder you know that framing is nearly impossible)
If you want Tele for sports/birding then SLR or m43 is the way to go. This camera is specifically aimed at a small niche market of “street” photographers with demand for an OVF and High IQ (because it’ll be a fixed fujinon lens).
That’s why I believe it is priced at $1000, any lower (lowering the quality to get more demand) and Fuji would most likely not be able to meet the demand. If you recall a couple of years back Fuji had the amazing Finepix F30/31, they couldn’t meet the demand, and people were selling USED F30/31s for quite a profit!
If you need to add “only if…” and put on your requirements, then this camera is not meant for you for sure. I myself, was waiting for something like this that would REALLY complement my SLR. Something that I can carry around everyday for random shots of people and street.
spanky
3 years ago |People either get it or they don’t with this camera. It appeals to me, and given the response it’s received it seems to appeal to a lot of others as well. On the other hand, some just don’t get it, and that’s OK too. To each his/her own. Some of us don’t mind the combination of retro and modern electronics, and we’re willing to live with a single lens as long as it delivers in IQ. All cameras have limitations, so those questions could be asked about all the cameras we use (e.g. “who in their right mind would buy a camera without a mirror or an OVF?”).
Fish
3 years ago |It doesn’t matter to me if Olympus or Panasonic build a camera like this…
because I am already buying the Fuji X100 when it is released : )
(of course I already have an E-510 and an E-P1 for the interchangable lenses)
nick
3 years ago |Totally agree. It’s a fixed lens so there’s no need to buy into a system, therefore no need for brand loyalty.
I’ll buy the best product for my needs, and at the moment this is the *only* product even close (and it hasn’t even come out yet!)
spanky
3 years ago |@admin – the title of the article says the camera is already on Amazon, but you don’t provide a link for it. I can’t find it on Amazon. What does the title really mean?
PhilW
3 years ago |Click on the image and it will take you to an Amazon page where you can sign up to be notified when the camera is available.
Offstandard
3 years ago |http://www.amazon.com/Fuji-X100-Digital-Fujinon-2-8-Inch/dp/B0043RS864/ref=amb_link_354102822_3?ie=UTF8&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=top-1&pf_rd_r=06AS5NYATRYX1D8RNG3B&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1275869402&pf_rd_i=x100
steve
3 years ago |We won’t see a camera like this from m43, just like we will not see it from Canikon. m43 and Canikon want us to buy lenses so they have no interest in developing a large sensor fixed lens solution. We will only see this type of camera from Fujifilm, Ricoh, Sigma, etc. If one these companies gets it done right and at a good price, then they will have an instant winner on their hands. So far Ricoh and Sigma have had limited success. Maybe the Fujifilm X100 will be the one.
Dummy00001
3 years ago |> We won’t see a camera like this from m43, just like we will not see it from Canikon.
> Maybe the Fujifilm X100 will be the one.
Market for cameras with fixed primes is very very very very very small.
Consumers want zooms.
Do not be fooled by all the whining you hear on forums for the “faster primes.” Those are few – mass market is elsewhere.
Offstandard
3 years ago |exactly, this camera is NOT for the mass market. Fuji is a small company, they can’t meet production for mass market. It is a camera with a large OVF. And that’s what I’ve been waiting for.
George
3 years ago |this is today’s consumer world. Full of gearheads that care camera look more then usability. i pity them
Tobias W.
3 years ago |Actually the X100 goes back where I came from: solid metal, high quality bodies with a fast prime as standard lens and all the dials and switches to set the exposure manually.
Fish
3 years ago |@George
I’m not sure who the title of “gearheards” applies to more. Those who are able to make good pictures with a fixed prime or those who need an arsenal of lenses?
Fortunately there is enough room in this hobby/profession for all types of photographers and no one really needs your pity.
Kosta
3 years ago |for me, the OVF and 35mm focal length equivalent lens are awesome things.
esecially the OVF. i don’t want to overhype it, but i would love to get my hands on the camera to see how the ovf works – that is a key bit of kit for me and potentially for m4/3 cameras of the next gen. it’d be EVIL/RF crossover! you choose!
Kosta
3 years ago |*and by OVF i mean HVF. the idea is golden.
dCap
3 years ago |the x100 is certainly the winner in my mind
(that said I’m looking into the Pentax K-5)
single lens is certainly a personal thing, I love it. The limitation can give you a real challenge at first, and then you just ‘see’ that lens … but then I would say that, I started a one-prime month challenge thing on a forum a few years ago, and I have a feeling its still being done every 3 months. Try it: bolt on your 50mm (oh, hang on, we’re FourThirds followers, no such thing!) and shoot with that and nothing else for a month – its cool
Neonart
3 years ago |I also love this concept. I use my Oly 25mm pancake on my L1 all the time for this purpose. I can totally see the X100 replacing this combo.
As far as 50mm equivalents you have from 48-60 equivalents on 4/3. There is the Sigma 24 1.8, the Olympus 25 2.8, the Leica 25 1.4, and the Sigma 30 1.4.
You know this is the same problem APS-C people have. The 50′s on those systems are really 75-80 equivalents.
dCap
3 years ago |Nikon have a 35/1.8 DX only lens … works out at near 50mm
(I think Sony also have a 30/35mm lens, but I can’t look at their cameras without laughing at the design – handling them is even worse)
Yep, those primes are available in 43 – sadly the only one that is small is the Oly 25/2.8 (I have it, but all my Oly stuff is about to hit eBay soon).
Sig 24/1.8 – huge, and made for FX/FF (asking our sensor to make use of a lens designed for a bigger sensor I think is asking too much). Sig 30/1.4 similar although made for DX/APS-C this is the only one that has tempted me recently, but the close focus isn’t very close. Leica 25/1.4 is the answer but its a bit big and very very expensive (I have a problem with Leica price point).
The two you missed:
- Oly 17/2.8 … a great idea but optically poor
- Pan 20/1.7 … GREAT!
So, for the mo, I might keep my E-P1 + 20/1.7 but back out of my E-30 kit
If this Fuji concept turned into a design and we have more details before Mar-11 … if indeed it bears any resemblance to the mock-up. At the mo just too many maybes.
PS – the ISO will be via a button like every other camera (except the Canon G10/etc. great knobs & dials camera that!)
Miroslav
3 years ago |The only reason it is on Amazon already is that it will be forgotten by the time it becomes available. In six months’ time, there will be many cameras that will take the focus off this Fuji. That’s why they need additional publicity, they’re making a kind of buildup …
Anyway, it’s not only too retro, its specifications are also retro – mid 2008 I’d say
. It’s also too big for what it offers.
The only thing from it I’d like to see in a m4/3 camera would be that hybrid OVF/EVF, but I don’t like anything else.
Frosti7
3 years ago |fixed lens
ANGRY Olympus Owner
3 years ago |+1
dCap
3 years ago |-1
Neonart
3 years ago |To design a camera like this in m4/3 with interchangeable lenses would require more complexity.
1) The viewfinder would have to adjust the brightlines depending on the lens, but would have to default to digital display on the viewfinder for very wide, very long, or zoom lenses. (You can have the brightlines literally move with zoom lenses and then switch to digital display at the extremes.) Or you can forego the optical viewfinder, and just have a digital display, but you lose the lines and area around them that change the way you frame shots.
2) Since none of the current m4/3 lenses have aperture on the lens, this would be back to rolling a dial, or adding some kind of ring on the lens mount to mimic this feature.
Either Panasonic or Olympus can make something very similar, but they’re more mainstream these days. They wanna sell bucketloads of cameras to soccer moms and then sell them $900 super-extra-long zooms to go with them. Can you blame them?
In any case, I think the X100 is going to be a niche product. A real successful niche product!
Mike
3 years ago |What does this have to do with m4/3rds? It’s neither a rumor nor a m4/3rds product.
dCap
3 years ago |but its the best competitor to the PEN or Pan GF since their launch … if it actually turns into production?
Miroslav
3 years ago |+1
Adrian
3 years ago |Why would anyone want Panasonic or Olympus to make a camera like the Fuji x100?
If people really wanted one, they could buy the Fuji, after all, its already or soon to be available!
I want a camera like the Panasonic G1. Oh, wait a minute, I already have one
)
…it could do with in camera stabilisation though – please Mr Panasonic.
TheVoiceoverman
3 years ago |As long as they don’t overprice it massively, they will sell as many as they can make. Anybody who can’t see that doesn’t know much about human nature.
Of course, now that they’ve seen the result of the above survey, they’ll overprice it. Massively.
Thom Blue
3 years ago |According to DPreview and Engadget, they’ve acknowledged it will be released in March 2011 for about $1000.00 USD.
Thom Blue
3 years ago |Depending on image quality, but it’ll kick the Leica X1′s ass…at least in design…!
SweeChing
3 years ago |It seems that no one had mentioned about how it would allow manual focus in OVF mode. There isn’t seem to include any form of focusing aid. Does that mean the OVF is only purely used for framing, and the photographer have to “hope” that the camera got the focus point right at f2?
spanky
3 years ago |We don’t know those details for sure yet. It looks like there’s a focus confirm box in OVF mode along with all the other info that’s being displayed, and then of course you get the full live view in EVF mode. OVF mode may rely on a simple 1-point AF for the most part like the old film cameras with the center focus – focus, hold to compose, click. Not too difficult. This is not a camera designed for 51-point AF functionality for super-fast captures, but something definitely more deliberate about composing and shooting.
eric k
3 years ago |One of the ultimate compact film cameras was the Contax T3.
Fixed 35mm lens.
I put thousands of rolls through two T3′s, never once felt like I was missing anything… never once wanted to change the lens. And at the time, the black version was $1000.
My Nikon F and my Nikon F3hp, never once changed the lens, my Pentax 67 never once changed the lens for my personal use.
The Fuji X100 might be just fine the way it is.
My feeling is that half the people that complain about not being able to change the lens would never change the lens anyhow.
the other Rob
3 years ago |Its not hard to get used to a 35mm focal length. Its pretty good in a lot of situations.
I agree, most people would get used to taking a step forward or step back instead of zooming or changing a lens.
Wide angle? take 2 shots and stitch
long shots? crop some pixels, you are not buying this camera to shoot birds and sports.
everything in between? move the camera.
zorg
3 years ago |This camera has been pre-defeated by commenters on various m43 forums. They assert:
(1) It will cost 1.5 times as much as it will cost.
(2) Fuji is a shady company that has been sued by most people.
(3) It has no red dot on it anywhere.
(4) It’s too big.
(5) It’s too small.
(6) Fixed lens sucks and if they put an interchangeable lens, well, guess.
(7) F2.0 is too fast / slow / medium.
And so on. I have to conclude it will be a raging success without really knowing anything about its IQ (and isn’t that the thing that matters most!?). There is just no way so many people could rant so hysterically without there being something to it.
Zaph
3 years ago |100%. If the image quality is there, the backorder queues will be long on this one.
Offstandard
3 years ago |I’ll wait for those that buy it for some reason, and realize they can’t stand a fixed lens (too lazy to move around, or whatever) and want to sell it, I’ll buy it cheaper.
the other Rob
3 years ago |That would be my plan too.
Thyl
3 years ago |Everybody not yet stunned should have a demonstration of the hybrid viewfinder, as I had on Photokina. This is new. I was blown away.
Incidently, I believe that it would be possible to make the optical part of the viewfinder to be zooming, thereby adapting to different lenses. This would hovewer make such a camera complex, bigger and expensive (e.g. A zooming viewfinder from Cosina without any electronics costs about USD 600).
Offstandard
3 years ago |Actually, zooming can be achieved easily. If you are old enough to remember COMPACT FILM camera days, they actually had zooming viewfinders with their zooming lens, the problem is as you said, price. As the current VF is exquisitely nice compared to Compact Film camera’s of yore.
hd72
3 years ago |The optical viewfinder can work great with a built-in lens. Even a built-in zoom. But it wouldn’t work in many m43 situations, given how many different types of lenses you can attach via adapters. Half the time I’m shooting, my m43 camera doesn’t even know what aperture I’m using, let alone what the focal length is. The electronic viewfinder would be great, of course, as it always shows you what hits the sensor. But it might not be worth the effort – and the cost – of introducing a hybrid viewfinder when the optical portion is hit or miss.
Edgaras Anisimenko
3 years ago |Now I wonder why didnt I took a photo for you to believe… Few days ago for the first time after I came to work in London I got some free time so I ended up in Londons center. It was getting dark and I was a little bit lost. Since I dont see a lot of medium format cameras in Lithuania here I always scan new leicas and other interesting cameras. So what did I see? First I thought that a guy from asia is using a film camera BUT after taking a shot he looked at the LCD. I didnt get a really good look but from what I saw it is THIS CAMERA because I could find any indication what kind of camera is it (prototype). Dont really know why I am writing this
Miklos Rabi
3 years ago |The DPReview may have one for reviewing?
bilgy_no1
3 years ago |When first shown, I was taken by the concept of this camera. But as more details became known, I don’t think this is necessarily a better alternative than a compact m4/3 camera. I would really like a built-in viewfinder in, but the X100 is quite a bit bigger than the m4/3′s. Perhaps further developments in EVF technology will also make the need for OVF redundant (higher refresh rates like in the GH2).
This is a nice move by Fuji, but not for me. Certainly, ordering from what we know no seems premature: IQ and (speed of) operation are still big unknowns at this moment.
I really think that people have been blown away by the design, which is clearly attractive, nice feature (hybrid vf), but that in practice many will still end up with a m4/3, NX or a NEX because of versatility and system accessories.
Offstandard
3 years ago |yeah, the Fuji X100 is not a competitor of the m43, etc people. It seriously is for people who want an OVF (IMHO). I tried to get used to the GH1, the EVF was big and nice, but it just didn’t feel quite “right”.
I think the X100 is a companion camera for bigger SLR users who sometimes just want to carry a simple (no multiple lenses) and small (compared to SLR) camera as a “walk around”.
spanky
3 years ago |I disagree. Plenty of people are looking at the X100 INSTEAD of a compact m4/3 as a companion to their larger body DSLR. Why would someone buy both? That makes it direct competition to cameras like the GF, E-PEN, and NEX.
Thom Blue
3 years ago |I agree… I know I am considering it INSTEAD of a GF…
Offstandard
3 years ago |the m43/NEX/etc I believe are more for people who want to have IQ but not get an SLR. I think there are two current types of people in the market who are buying m43.
One type are the ones that REPLACE their low-end SLRs (I’m not saying everybody, but from the majority of people I know), and the other type are the ones going from high-end compacts to m43 because they don’t want to get up to SLRs. (in the end these are the same one type, let’s call them the “in-between” people)
I think the “in-between” people will end up with an optical-viewfinder-less, exchangeable lens camera for photography, AKA the “bridge” camera. Video people are a whole lot different because they’ve been staring at EVFs for a long time now so they won’t miss the OVFs as much as SLR/Rangefinder users.
The X100 is way too expensive for the “in-between” people and not flexible enough to be a bridge camera. People from the old “film” (SLR) days and maybe “rangefinder” people will get into it.
Thus, my conclusion was that it is a companion camera for SLR (I guess I should say, “high-end” SLR users.) I have a Canon 1D, and I like the size and handling, but I’m not willing to carry that thing around everyday, even the 35mm 1.4 is huge. I thus tried getting into the m43′s but the EVF is just not for me, I was looking for a complementary camera, but I couldn’t get used to anything without an OVF, and was always reluctant to get into the LX5/G11/P7000 because of that. Now I can hope and wait until March…
mass market = low-end compact
bridge market = high-end compact, EVIL, low-end SLR
professional market = high-end SLR, high-end compact.
the other Rob
3 years ago |I agree, It would only buy a GF1 w/20mm. That’s probably all I would ever use, so a fixed 35mm lens is a perfect alternative for me.
I have no use for m43 zooms, and there are very few compact primes which interest me beyond the 20mm f1.7.
Miroslav
3 years ago |It would be best for Fuji to do a Sigma with this one
– make a camera with various mounts. Why not licence Sony E, Samsung NX and m4/3 mounts and make three versions of this camera? No need to change sensors – it would be 8mpx m4/3 camera in all aspect ratios, even 1:1. Concerning optical viewfinder, they should make one for 28mm (35mm equivalent) with marks for 35, 40 and 50mm. If you put a zoom on, switch to EVF – simple.
demian
3 years ago |The question had to be: Would you love to see such a camera (the Fuji X100) or an Olympus and/or Panasonic?
My answer would be: YES