Looking for some general comments about the X100 as a travel camera - Fujifilm X100 Discussions on Fuji X Series Camera Forum - Fujifilm X-Pro1 X-E1 X100S X100 X20 X10 XF1 X-S1

f8andBeThere

I am absolutely brand new here so please be kind. :) I see that there are a ton of discussions which I am starting to wade through. I currently use a Nikon D3 and D300, and am very comfortable with that system. However, I am going on an overseas trip to an exotic land in November, and I would like to bring a more discreet camera. Here are a few of my questions:

Is there a big learning curve between using a professional DSLR and the X100?

What are all the discussions about concerning the various focusing methods? I have read that one sometimes have to manually focus.

How much of an issue have people had with the fixed prime lens? I realize that there will be many opinions on this. I usually prefer to use a medium telephoto for street photography so that I don't have to get in their face.

For someone trying to make up their mind on this, what are the main pros and cons of the camera when compared to my D3 or D300?

Asudef

It's almost exactly like a dSLR in terms of the photographic controls it offers. The form factor is the only difference aside from the obvious interface/ergonomics. Everything is more convenient and simpler to understand so functionally, its about the same as your Nikons.

The lens though is pretty wide. To get a person to fill a half frame, you're already within speaking distance. If you're used to telephoto, it might be a big adjustment.

I came from using a dSLR with a legacy MF lens so I didn't have much trouble adjusting to it aside from the wider FOV.

Its just a more discreet, simpler and possibly faster camera. It is a bit of a transformative shooting experience just based on that though since it forces you to do things a certain way.

Not many big cons I can think of.

FinePixCamera

f8andBeThere said:
I am absolutely brand new here so please be kind. :) I see that there are a ton of discussions which I am starting to wade through. I currently use a Nikon D3 and D300, and am very comfortable with that system. However, I am going on an overseas trip to an exotic land in November, and I would like to bring a more discreet camera. Here are a few of my questions:

Is there a big learning curve between using a professional DSLR and the X100?

What are all the discussions about concerning the various focusing methods? I have read that one sometimes have to manually focus.

How much of an issue have people had with the fixed prime lens? I realize that there will be many opinions on this. I usually prefer to use a medium telephoto for street photography so that I don't have to get in their face.

For someone trying to make up their mind on this, what are the main pros and cons of the camera when compared to my D3 or D300?

Some answers:

Fairly large learning curve. Shooting rangefinder style is pretty different from an SLR. It's fun to learn so I would not worry about it. Fuji's menus are always critisized as being incomprehensible. Your mileage may vary.

Manual focus with the X100 is beyond useless. No one HAS to manual focus. Only those who like punishment use that. A few days with the X100 and you will learn what it can and cannot focus on.

The fixed prime lens is good for 80% of the situations you will encounter. No other focal length will have such a high percentage. It is what it is. You can now go wider with the add on adapter which is excellent. So your X100 becomes a 28-35mm camera. $350 for the adapter.

When I need to travel light, I bring my X100 with me for travel. I usually travel for business so I cant bring all my gear. The X100 is a perfect substitute. Only certain exotic locations might not be served well.

I would never have ONLY the X100 as a DSLR is still far far more versatile.

f8andBeThere

Thanks for the good feedback. When we make our trip to India in November I plan on bringing two cameras. I will only bring one DSLR and then another more compact camera such as the X100.

FinePixCamera

f8andBeThere said:
Thanks for the good feedback. When we make our trip to India in November I plan on bringing two cameras. I will only bring one DSLR and then another more compact camera such as the X100.

With that plan, you will be totally covered.

asillett

My biggest concern would be the terrible battery life of the X100, although I seem to be the only one having such problems.

robthebruce

Don't forget that the x100 does panoramas quite well of either 120 degrees or 180 degrees. The only limitation is that it isn't a short telephoto of 80-100mm which is good to bring the b'ground in and remove the foreground. I love it when I'm travelling b/c its compact, good quality pics and versitile.

Stephenoraw

I bought an X100 to supplement my X10 on a recent holiday. I found that the flexibility of the X10's zoom was the reason I used it more than the X100. That lack of zoom flexibility & the above-mentioned battery life issues are about the only drawback. I should have read up on the quirks of the X100 first though, I missed one or two shots as I learned the camera's behaviour.

I also found this link quite useful, particularly with regard the focusing issue you mention. http://www.fujixseries.com/discussion/442/neat-tricks-to-make-your-x100-experience-better...#Item_25

Enjoy

thosewhotell

I would not hesitate in using only the x100 as a travel camera, but only after spending some time getting used to it first.

mattmaber

I took my X100 to Morocco last month and it was GREAT!

f8andBeThere

thosewhotell said:
I would not hesitate in using only the x100 as a travel camera, but only after spending some time getting used to it first.

I think that is a really good point. I found out that I could rent one from Lens Rentals for $65 for 6 days which I am inclined to do. I'm trying to find out from them if they include a user manual. I don't want to spend half of that time just figuring out the basics.

kingsc59

Hi.This s my 1st post. I'm a new owner and now avid user of an X100. I am also use a Nikon D700 with a 24-120 f4 vr. When I bought the X100 I was so taken with it I thought that it alone would be enough for an overseas trip to Europe( 4 weeks). But my D700 and 24-120 gives me the flexibility for sports, action and tele work( not to mention showerproof). But I also used to carry a fast prime ie: 50mm f1.4 BUT now I'll ditch the fast prime and carry the X100. Best of both worlds ! Fast lens , superb sensor great street shooting and less imposing. The kit fits in a crumpler 5 million dollar bag. As an aside I can't believe the negative reviews in the past re the menus, focus, firmware etc on the X100. It's a gem to use. Those same negative reviewers probably never ever used manual focus film cameras of a generation or 2 ago, this is similar in the considered and slower way of framing and "setting" the shot but the feedback is quicker and cheaper than waiting for the prints !. The X100 is such a rewarding and satisfying Camera to use. By all means take it on travel on its own. But envisage the shots you'd like in your photo book and judge if the X100 focal length will give you that.

kingsc59

Sorry 2nd post. If my wife and I need to travel real light( just carry on) then I'll just take the X100 because she has a Nikon D5100 with 16-85vr and a light 55-200 tele. Consider also is it really travel or holiday and how are you going to record your experience :)

FinePixCamera

f8andBeThere said:

thosewhotell said:
I would not hesitate in using only the x100 as a travel camera, but only after spending some time getting used to it first.

I think that is a really good point. I found out that I could rent one from Lens Rentals for $65 for 6 days which I am inclined to do. I'm trying to find out from them if they include a user manual. I don't want to spend half of that time just figuring out the basics.

You can download the manual from Fujifilm right now.

f8andBeThere

I've just placed an order with LensRentals to rent the X100 for 7 days. It comes with a manual but no memory card. Luckily I do have an old SD card and I'll see if that works out OK. I see that Leica came out with an LX1 which has been replaced by an LX2. Their camera is about $500 more and I imagine part of the higher price is simply due to their name being on the camera.

madmaxmedia

I just got an x100 and haven't found the controls and interface hard to get used to, but yeah you always want to familiarize yourself before taking it on a trip. I wouldn't even call it 'rangefinder-style' shooting, with the EVF it's not different from say Micro 4/3, just with a fixed lens.

As far as the focal length, set your zoom lens to 35mm-equivalent for a weekend and just shoot with that. You should find out quickly whether that focal length works for you. I think it's a great focal length that strikes balance between 28mm wide and 50mm normal.

Sergio

practice with it before taking it. thats it I took it to colombia for a month and found it to be all I needed.

f8andBeThere

I received my rental Fuji X100 yesterday, and am going through the manual which, I notice, is a lot thinner than for all of the DSLRs that I have owned over the years. A couple of initial observations:

This thing is tiny!
This camera delivers high quality images
Easy to mistakenly toggle the command wheel from Single Image to Video
Flash output is pretty low. May be best for fill flash or buy a dedicated flash
It is so light to carry around that one could do so all day long and never get tired. It is so tiny.
Video quality seems quite good
Haven't decided yet if the single focal length will work for me.
The menus will take some getting used to
I wish there was an ISO button on the back of the camera.

I'd like to upload a couple of initial images but haven't figured out how to do so.

steve1401

Couple of reactions to your observations:

1. Yes the flash isn't greatly powered AND it can't be used at close range (especially with the lens hood on) as there is a shadow from the lens, but I think it makes a great fill flash for daytime shooting into the sun.
2. The fn button on top is set as default for the ISO, but you can programme the RAW button on the back to do it. This is with the latest firmware, not sure what FW the rental camera has.

I like the focal length, and for general shooting it gives a natural feel (I'm told equivalent to that of the human eye, ish), and intend taking it with me to Paris when I visit in August.

Steve

f8andBeThere

Steve, thanks for the info about the fn button. I haven't gotten to that part of the manual yet. One of the advantages of a single focal length camera is that I wouldn't give in to the temptation of buying a whole new set of lenses. My goal is to keep it simple especially in urban areas where I have the most concern about my safety. If I travel to country areas, where a telephoto would be more useful, I could always take my Nikon with a 300mm lens.

WilzWorkz7

Shot only with X100 except for the sunset and the cave where my D200 came into play. Otherwise it is all X100. Even the street shots are X100 and hardly any Nikon D200.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilzworkz/sets/72157630065200003/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilzworkz/sets/72157629930144576/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilzworkz/sets/72157629338989214/

My Blogs on my trips that has used X100 extensively:

http://wilzworkz.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/travel-thru-the-lens-series-bangkok-dangerous/

http://wilzworkz.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/travel-thru-the-lens-4wd-to-lata-berembun-kuala-lumpur/

http://wilzworkz.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/travel-thru-the-lens-hong-kong-feb-2012/

As for focusing methods, there are those who treat manual focusing as a torture, then I wonder where is the fun when one cannot take their time to compose their shots. Do all shots need that split moment trigger? Not at all.

Can the X100 be set in such a way that there will be sharpness when the camera is not actively focusing? Yes there is and is pretty effective if one takes the time to learn instead of lambasting the focusing mechanism.

Let me put it in an analogy. If you are trained to drive an auto car and your license only allows you to drive an automatic car, what would happened if you do not have such a car at your disposal at the airport? So the best insurance is to learn how to drive a manual car. It may be torturous at first when one is learning having the left thigh cramping for pumping the clutch but soon, you will get used to the manual way of driving and may even like it more than driving automatic cars.

So in the same way, one would not learn how to 'drive' a camera unless one adapts oneself to the 'car' even if it has dodgy automatic at first. Did you find yourself adjusting your driving habits to every new car you bought? I definitely think you do. I also find myself adjusting the way i lifted the car's clutch for different cars. And again, you will drive the car comfortably after sometime with the car.

Thing is, the car is already there and no amount of complaining will improve the car unless you are god and can command changes just by your voice. If there are people there who can drive the car effortlessly with no huge complains, then what would be the logical conclusion about the complainer?

To me, the best motivation to improve your photography is to force yourself to improve in difficult situations while doing those one in a lifetime travel photography. yes it will be a torture but once you get the hang of the camera, the reward is tremendous.

Have fun in India. The colours there are awesome....

f8andBeThere

Thanks for all the info. I agree with you about using all the tools that are available to you. That's one of the reasons that I still sometimes use an old Nikon FM2 manual everything camera.

Here is a link to some images I took last night just a few hours after the camera arrived. I was pretty much auto everything at this point.

f8andBeThere

Well, the link didn't show up for some reason. Let me try this:

Your text to link...

f8andBeThere

I tried a hot shoe flash in a room with no windows. I wasn't very impressed. I was in aperture priority. Next time I'll try manual mode. Could have really benefited from having a zoom lens.

Hello Photographer!

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