Dear Fuji,
You know I love you. I was hooked on you since the S5Pro, way back in 2007. I was waiting for a replacement S7Pro-D700 killer that never materialized. Things looked promising when you came out with the x100, but I didn’t pull the trigger. Coming from the DSLR world, I felt like I “needed” lenses. Some of the reviews said there were quirks that needed to be ironed out, and it sounded like you did a lot of that ironing out with some solid firmware updates. Kudos for that.
When your xPro1 came out I decided I could go for it. Here we have interchangeable lenses, a lightweight system, and top-notch image quality. I never used the original firmware that people complained about, so my experience with the AF wasn’t bad. Again, doing major modifications to the firmware to make a better product shows you guys listen and care. I love you for it.
There has been a lot said about the xPro1, and I’ve found the perfect camera for what I shoot. It’s great for travel/landscapes, great for location portraits and the incredible ISO performance makes it great for weddings. I made my favorite picture ever on my xPro and the 35mm f/1.4 lens:
Kölner Dom by Matt Adams X-Pro1 35mm f/1.4
So, when I heard that your newly-introduced x100s had the same sensor and IQ as the xPro1, I jumped at the chance. I pre-ordered that day. I got it the day before I left for a 3 day photo trip to Nashville with my dad.
I love that the camera still FEELS like a camera and not a toy. I love the leaf shutter. It’s dead-silent AND can sync a flash at any speed. Seriously. You’re my heroes for this. This is something every lens should have in 2013.
There are, however, a few things I would have liked different. The menus between the x100s and X-Pro1 are too similar, yet different enough to drive you batty. I love the rolling dial on the back of the X-Pro1, but hate the dial on the x100s. It feels like a cheap zoom dial on a cheap point & shoot camera. I love the four direction thumb buttons on the X-Pro1, but hate the click wheel of the x100s that doesn’t click or give any feedback. I really wish these two amazing cameras were designed to be used together better. They seem like a natural match to me.
That said, the image quality from both is amazing. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I look forward to using these two together for a while.
Thanks for being awesome.
-Matt
Fuji FanBoy for Life
PS: Here are a few images from Nashville. 3 are with the x100s, 2 are with the X-Pro1. You could probably tell which was which by the field of view, but I can’t tell a difference in image quality. That says a lot about the x100s. Click on any image to see the exif data. All post-production done in Capture One Pro.
Nashville Riverwalk Skyline by Matt Adams
Parthenon Columns by Matt Adams
Nashville Capitol Stairs by Matt Adams
PPS: Anyone want to buy my old Nikon gear?
