Fujifilm FinePix X100 Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview of the Fujifilm FinePix X100 highlights the premium, rangefinder-styled camera for its innovative hybrid viewfinder, exceptional build quality, and superior image quality from its 12.3MP APS-C sensor. Key pros include a near-silent leaf shutter, intuitive analog controls, and a sharp, fixed 23mm F2 lens, though it suffers from a restrictive 1EV autoexposure bracketing limit. Despite excellent imaging capabilities, the review notes significant cons, such as a sluggish, frustrating user interface, complex menus, and a write-buffer issue that locks the camera during shooting. Overall, it is described as a high-quality, engaging camera that requires patience due to these operational eccentricities.

Ken Rockwell’s review praises the Fujifilm X100 as a revolutionary, portable tool for street and family photography, highlighting its excellent auto white balance, flawless exposure metering, and a superior built-in fill-flash system. The camera is commended for its lightweight magnesium construction, which offers a "real camera" feel with dedicated manual dials. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a sluggish wake-up time, an easily bumped, loose exposure compensation dial, and complex, frustrating menu navigation. While suitable for general photography, its autofocus speed is considered far too slow for action or sports, making it unsuitable for that purpose.

The Fujifilm Finepix X100 is a highly capable, premium fixed-lens camera designed with a distinct retro, rangefinder-style aesthetic. Built with a durable magnesium alloy top plate and tactile, engraved metal exposure dials, it offers an innovative hybrid viewfinder that allows users to instantly switch between a traditional optical view and an electronic LCD overlay. The camera captures images using a 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor paired with a high-quality, fixed Fujinon 23mm f/2 pancake lens. Performance tests demonstrate exceptional sharpness and color reproduction across its ISO range, maintaining strong image quality up to ISO 3200 with manageable noise at ISO 6400. However, the reviewer highlights several notable drawbacks that may deter casual shooters. On the negative side, the camera lacks any zoom capabilities, and its manual focus ring is servo-driven, making focus adjustments from close-up to infinity a slow process. Video features are particularly weak, offering a disappointing maximum resolution of just 1280x720 pixels at 24fps without a dedicated video recording button. Furthermore, the bottom-placed SD card slot complicates access when mounted on a tripod, and the speed grip is criticized...

The ePHOTOzine review of the Fujifilm FinePix X100 highlights its premium, retro-styled build, exceptional low-noise 12.3-megapixel APS-C sensor, and innovative hybrid viewfinder. The fixed 23mm f/2 lens provides outstanding sharpness, while advanced dynamic range modes (DR200/DR400) excel in harsh lighting conditions. Conversely, the camera is limited by sluggish autofocus speeds and a fixed focal length, which may hinder versatility for some users. Additionally, the review notes a steep learning curve due to complex, menu-heavy settings.

The Fujifilm Finepix X100 is a highly anticipated, retro-styled travel and street camera featuring a 12.3 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, a fixed 23mm f/2 Fujinon lens, and an innovative, unique hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder. Designed for experienced photographers, the camera boasts exceptional, robust build quality with solid alloy chassis and magnesium plates, delivering an immersive, classic feel that includes dedicated manual shutter and aperture controls. Its standout features include a fast, highly accurate contrast-detection autofocus system and remarkable low-light high ISO performance, with images remaining relatively noise-free up to ISO 3200 and highly usable at ISO 6400. Furthermore, its built-in flash serves as an excellent, subtle fill-flash, and the hybrid viewfinder allows seamless switching between a parallax-corrected optical view and a 100% coverage electronic screen. Despite its exceptional image quality and body design, the camera suffers from several glaring user interface and ergonomic flaws. The rear control wheel is widely criticized for being too small, flimsy, and prone to accidental button presses due to an overly tiny center Menu/OK button. The menu system is poorly organized, splitting related items like standard...

The Fujifilm FinePix X100 is a retro-styled digital camera featuring a 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a fixed 23mm f/2 Fujinon lens, designed primarily as a stealthy street and travel shooter. A standout feature is its innovative hybrid viewfinder, which allows photographers to seamlessly flick between an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and an optical viewfinder (OVF) with customizable LCD overlays. Built with die-cast magnesium alloy plates and analog dials, the camera offers excellent image quality with true-to-life colors, low noise up to ISO 3,200, and a leaf shutter that enables nearly silent operation and an exceptional 1/2000s flash sync speed. However, the camera suffers from notable usability quirks, including slow and sometimes inaccurate contrast-detection autofocus, particularly in macro mode where the lens also tends to render soft images up close. Its overall operating speed is sluggish, marked by a 2.5 to 3.5-second startup delay, slow file write speeds to the SD card, and a nearly impossible-to-use manual focus ring. Furthermore, while the primary analog dials are highly praised, the secondary controls and menu organization are frustratingly fiddly—originally burying essential settings like...

The Fujifilm FinePix X100 is highly praised for its premium, retro, magnesium-alloy build and innovative hybrid viewfinder, which balances a digital readout overlay inside a real-world optical view. It delivers exceptional image quality using a conservative 12-megapixel APS-C sensor that offers outstanding high-ISO noise reduction and superb in-camera RAW processing. Dedicated metal dials allow intuitive exposure control without traditional "scene" modes, making it an excellent tactile tool for advanced enthusiasts. However, the reviewer highlights severe technical and mechanical limitations, most notably an infamous "stuck aperture" hardware flaw prevalent in early production models. Operational usability suffers from painful manual focus lag, slow contrast-detection autofocus, an unintuitive menu structure, and a flimsy plastic rear command dial. Furthermore, using simple tools like the built-in ND filter requires deep menu diving, while essential physical accessories like the proprietary USB cable, lens hood, and filter adapter rings are not included and must be purchased separately at a steep cost.

The Fujifilm FinePix X100 is characterized as a well-constructed, premium device featuring a 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor that delivers excellent image quality and a traditional, intuitive manual shooting experience. The camera is noted for its solid, lightweight build and effective retro design, making it a capable tool for photographers in the field. Conversely, the review highlights significant operational drawbacks, most notably a sluggish autofocus system that can miss focus entirely. Additional cons include a clunky user interface with a complex ISO management system and a fixed focal length lens that limits versatility.

The Fujifilm FinePix X100, reviewed by What Digital Camera, is a premium compact featuring a 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a fixed 23mm f/2 lens, blending vintage design with modern, high-quality imaging performance. Key highlights include a unique Hybrid Viewfinder, exceptional low-light capabilities, and tactile controls, though the camera is limited by slow contrast-detect autofocus and limited 720p video recording capabilities.

The Photography Life review of the original Fuji X100 highlights a camera defined by outstanding image quality, specifically praising the 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor for producing low noise at high ISOs and excellent colors directly from the camera. Its compact, premium build was noted as a significant advantage, making it a highly portable, jacket-pocket alternative to heavy DSLRs. Conversely, the review strongly criticizes the camera's high $1,200 price tag, short battery life, and severely slow operational speeds that lock up the device during RAW processing. Due to these performance bottlenecks, the camera was deemed unusable for serious work, leading to a recommendation against purchasing it unless significant firmware fixes were released. Photography Life

The original Fujifilm X100 remains a uniquely compelling, premium compact camera celebrated for its timeless, retro rangefinder aesthetics, satisfying tactile dials, and a distinct 12-megapixel Bayer-pattern CMOS sensor that produces beautiful, natural colours. Its standout feature is the hybrid viewfinder, which seamlessly blends an optical view with digital overlays or switches entirely to an electronic display. Built with a "pleasantly weighty" and solid feel, the camera offers a highly enjoyable user experience, a useful built-in 3-stop ND filter, and autofocus that remains reliable enough for general street photography and everyday casual shooting. Furthermore, its files convert beautifully into black and white, with high-ISO noise presenting as a pleasing, film-like grain. However, the camera suffers from notable usability and longevity flaws, most notably a common mechanical issue where the physical blinds for the electronic viewfinder get permanently stuck. The autofocus struggles significantly with close-up subjects, the focus-by-wire manual focus ring provides an unpleasant user experience, and there is no dedicated physical dial for ISO adjustments. Additionally, the buttons on the back feel cheap and mushy, the battery charger features a poorly...

The original Fujifilm X100 remains relevant for its sharp 23mm f/2 lens, quiet leaf shutter, built-in 3-stop ND filter, and tactile physical controls. Its hybrid viewfinder, which overlays digital information on an optical view, is highlighted as a significant advantage. Medium ·Jesse Kim However, the 2011 model suffers from a "VHS-grade" electronic viewfinder, slow and complex user interface, and poor rear LCD visibility in sunlight. Additionally, attaching a lens hood physically obstructs the bottom-right corner of the optical viewfinder. Medium ·

The What Digital Camera review praises the Fujifilm FinePix X100 for its premium, retro design, intuitive controls, and exceptional image quality produced by its APS-C sensor and innovative Hybrid Viewfinder. Despite its high-end output, the camera faces criticism for its slow autofocus system and high price point, which may deter users seeking a versatile, fast-performing device.