Fujifilm's X100 semi-pro camera ships in March
updated 07:20 am EST, Tue February 8, 2011
Fujifilm commits to FinePix X100 launch date
Fujifilm on Tuesday detailed the US launch of its unique FinePix X100. The advanced pseudo-rangefinder will reach the US in March and will cost $1,200 in its current configuration. It will have extras on launch that include a quick-access leather case, a pair of guide 20 and guide 42 TTL flashes, and a bundled adapter ring and lens hood to integrate with other lenses.
The X100's design revolves around an APS-C sized 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor that gives it DSLR-level photos in a compact body. Its fixed and fixed-focus 23mm f2 lens is also key and, combined with the sensor, gives it very fast performance as well as bright, relatively noise-free images and shallow depth of field in macros and portraits. The camera normally has a safe light sensitivity zone of ISO 200 to 6,400 but can expand this one stop in either direction, to 100 or 12,800, for special shooting conditions.
Its nostalgic design also hides a unique hybrid rangefinder that can show the real optical output of the lens but either overlay electronic information or switch entirely to electronic to expand the autofocusing points from 25 to 49. Typical higher end camera software comes into play with RAW shooting, 720p video, a motion (sweep) panorama capture and four different exposure bracketing modes.
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2000
FYI, corrections:
It's not fixed focus but it is fixed focal length. In otherwords, it has autofocus but no zoom.
The optical viewfinder does not show the output of the lens. It uses that window to show a little more than what the lens sees so you can see what's happening outside of the frame.
It's an interesting concept and the price isn't that bad considering its uniqueness. It's a shame it has electronic manual focus rather than mechanical though. If the autofocus is up to Panasonic M43 speed maybe I'll pick one up used.