Review Date: August 2, 2011
Category: Serious to Advanced Amateur
Fujifilm FinePix X100
Photoxels Gold Award – Compact Mirrorless
IMAGE QUALITY
The Fujifilm FinePix X100 is targeted to serious and advanced amateur photographers and features 12.3MP resolution (on an APS-C 23.6mm x 15.8mm CMOS image sensor), a fixed focal- length wide-angle (35mm Equiv.135) lens with an aperture range of F2-F16 (1/3EV step controlled with a 9-blade aperture diaphragm).
We find the overall image quality of the Fujifilm X100 to be excellent at ISO 200 with low noise and good image detail. Image quality is very good up to ISO 1600. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 3200 and is usable up to ISO 3200. At higher ISOs, images suffer from noise and loss of detail.
| Fixed Focal Length |
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| Wide-angle 23mm (35mm, 35mm equivalent) |
The Fujifilm X100 has a fixed lens (i.e. it does not accept interchangeable lenses) with a fixed focal length (i.e. it’s not a zoom lens). In the above picture, we show the coverage for 35mm (equiv.). Note that there is no image stabilization.
Macro
Macro can be as close as 10 cm (3.9 in.). However, the minimum focus distance is approx. 80cm / 2.6ft. which is too far for comfort, requiring you to switch to macro mode for anything portrait distance. If the camera were to automatically switch to macro when necessary, that would solve this problem.
AF is fast, works very well in good light and even in low-light, with the help of the AF-assist illuminator, but cannot match the AF speed of the latest compact mirrorless DSLRs.
| Auto White Balance Indoors | |
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| AWB | Custom WB |
As the above two pictures show, the Auto White Balance (AWB) is not accurate indoors under artificial lighting [I have two energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs on the ceiling]. The Fujifilm X100 allows WB to be easily set manually and this brings out the real colors. AWB works very well in natural light.
| ISO Comparisons | |
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| ISO 200 | |
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| ISO 400 | ISO 800 |
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| ISO 1600 | ISO 3200 |
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| ISO 6400 | ISO 12800 |
You can set the ISO on the Fujifilm X100 from 200 to 6400, plus the ability to “boost” to ISO 12800 equivalent. The 100% crops above (area delimited by the white square) demonstrate that noise at ISO 200 is under control. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 1600 but is still usable. At higher ISOs, the presence of noise is visible at full image size and with visible loss of detail.
I have to resort to manual exposure to take these low light shots for 2 reasons: the slowest shutter speed is 1/4 sec. in P mode and I did not find the exposure to be completely accurate in low light situations using the other semi-automatic shooting modes. [Of course, I understand this may not be a problem for most advanced users who are going to be using RAW and will be adjusting exposure post processing anyway.]
CA (Purple Fringing)
CA is not a problem in very high contrast shots. In the above photo, the top left area delimited by the red square, and reproduced at 100% crop at bottom right, shows minimal purple fringing.
Long Exposure - 23mm, Aperture-Priority, 30 sec., F16, ISO 400, Macro, Self-timer (10 sec.), Tripod used
Our Long Shutter Speed test is a torture test for digital cameras. Here we test whether (and how well) a camera can lock focus, provide accurate WB and obtain a correct exposure in extreme low light situations. The Fujifilm X100 passes this test with difficulty, with the light meter not able to accurately meter the scene and requiring tedious manual trial and error.
The Fujifilm X100 allows the use of a long shutter speed of 30 sec. in M mode. This allows us to take some nice Night Shots. The Fujifilm X100 has some difficulty locking focus even with the help of the AF-assist Illuminator. I also need to use trial and error to obtain correct exposure in Manual mode, eventually setting on 30 sec. at F16 as the best exposure. I wished both the Contrast AF and the light meter would be a bit more sensitive and accurate in low light [as they are in many of the newer compact mirrorless DSLRs].
Overall, however, excellent image quality at ISO 200 and very good up to ISO 1600.
View the Fujifilm X100 Photo Gallery [In the Photo Gallery, click on the picture of the camera to return here.]
Next: Fujifilm X100 Handling & Feel