Review Date: December 1, 2014
Category: Serious to Advanced Amateur
Fujifilm X100T
Photoxels Editor’s Choice – Compact Premium
HANDLING & FEEL
Third Gen Maturity. In this third “regeneration” of its wildly popular retro-styled compact premium camera, Fujifilm has wisely retained the best of the X100 and X100S (excellent image quality, intuitive direct controls and all-around good looks), and infused the Fujifilm X100T with a certain maturity that just makes it even more attractive and delightful to use.
The Fujifilm X100T keeps the analog controls that set it apart from its competitors: the Shutter Speed Dial and the Aperture Ring that make selecting and changing exposure direct, simple, fast and intuitive. It’s solidly built with a magnesium-alloy body shell and there is a feeling of high quality to the metal controls, including the redesigned Selector and addition of a “true” Command Dial. I found all the buttons adequately sized and clickable.
Much welcomed improvements include 1/3-stop step clicks for the Aperture Ring and an extended adjustment of ±3 stops for the Exposure Compensation Dial. The 3.0-in. LCD now sports 1.04-million-dot resolution, though it is (unfortunately) still not tiltable. The LCD gains up very well in low light.
Fujiflm has managed to add another useful functionality to the already wonderful built-in hybrid optical and high-resolution electronic viewfinder: an electronic view of the subject can be displayed in the lower right corner of the optical viewfinder to allow confirmation of manual focus. The Manual Focus Ring is fly-by-wire, requires only a quick short turn and displays a magnified B&W image.
Program Shift is still available: use the Command Dial to program shift. You can set AUTO ISO but not DR Range AUTO, and FLASH must be suppressed to use Program Shift.
The X100T is not small enough to be pocketable. It has a nice heft to it, though it does not feel heavy. The lack of a large sized handgrip is in keeping with its retro looks, and though the hint of a handgrip works quite well, we still recommend using the supplied shoulder strap or one of the optional hand grips (Hand Grip MHG-X100, Grip Belt GB-001) to prevent accidents.
Fujifilm X100T
On the front of the camera, there’s the beautiful hybrid viewfinder, flash, the stereo microphones on either side of the flash, the AF-assist Illuminator/Self-Timer lamp below the flash, and the Viewfinder selector (shaped like an old-styled mechanical self-timer). Around the lens, you’ll find the Aperture Ring (now with 1/3 click stops) and, in front of it, the Manual Focus Ring. You can mount a filter on the lens, but you’ll first have to unscrew the front ring, attach an optional adapter ring (AR-X100) and then screw in your filter (49mm). The lens cover is removable and lined with felt for a snug fit. There is no tether string to the camera.
Fujifilm X100T Top View
On top of the camera, viewing from the back, there’s the Shutter Release button with the Power ON/OFF Switch around it. To its left is the Shutter Speed Dial which goes from B, T, 1 sec. to 1/4000 sec., plus A. To access shutter speeds lower than 1 sec., set the Shutter Speed Dial to T, then use the Command Dial to select shutter speeds between 2 sec. to 30 sec.
To the right of the Shutter Release button is the Fn1 button which you can customize to one of the following: Advanced Filter, Multiple Exposure, Macro, Preview DOF, ISO, Self-timer, Image Size, Image Quality, Dynamic Range, Film Simulation, WB, ND Filter, Photometry, AF Mode, Focus Area, Corrected AF Frame, Flash Mode, Flash Compensation, Select Custom Setting, Movie, Face Detection, Preview Picture Effect, High Performance, RAW, Wireless Communication, Conversion Lens, and Shutter Type.
To the right and behind the Shutter Release button is the Exposure Compensation Dial, that is stiff enough that you will not turn it inadvertently. It now ranges from +/- 3 EV.
To the left of the Shutter Speed Dial is the hotshoe that will accept an external speedlight. The rest of the top section is beautifully left clean, except for the engraving of the camera’s name and model.
Startup is about 1 sec. from Power ON to LCD ready for capture, i.e. time-to-first-shot with High Performance ON [SET-UP 2 – Power Management – High Performance – ON] and double that time, at about 2 sec. with High Performance OFF. Shot to shot times are about 0.5 sec. (@ 21 shots in 10 sec. in M mode, 1/125sec., manual focus), or as fast as you can press the shutter button.
In good lighting, there is no practical shutter lag and AF is fast and precise. In low lighting, AF can take up to 1 sec. to lock.
Fujifilm X100T Back View
On the back we have the 3.0-in. LCD with a 1.04M-dot resolution. On the top of the LCD are the Drive Button and new Command Dial. On the right side of the LCD are the AEL/AFL button, Q (quick menu) button, redesigned Selector / function (Fn2 – Fn5)buttons, DISP/BACK button. There are 4 buttons on the left side of the LCD: View Mode, Playback, Delete / Fn6, and Wi-Fi / Fn7. The hybrid viewfinder has a Diopter adjustment control and Eye sensor.
The tripod mount at the bottom of the camera is not centered with the lens and you won’t be able to change batteries/SD card with the camera mounted on a tripod.
Included in the box is a rechargeable Li-ion battery NP-95 that can take about 330 shots on a fresh charge (when the OVF POWER SAVE MODE is ON). A battery charger BC-65N recharges a depleted battery in approx. 240 min. Don’t forget that the battery charger is in fact too big for the battery and so comes with a small plastic adapter insert that you need to fit over the open end to hold your battery securely in place (in fact, it now comes already put in place, but in case it slips out, you now know what to do).
The Fujifilm X100T uses the SD / SDHC / SDXC(UHS-I) memory card.
The Fujifilm X100T is beautiful, intuitive, and an object of desire. It’s even better now with the handling and viewfinder improvements. I like the silver model but, if you want inconspicuous, go with the all-black model.
Next: Fujifilm X100T User’s Experience
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