Sold my X100 - Here's Why
In my Fujifilm X100 review, I claimed that it was the world's best camera for most things. It is, but over the course of switching full-time to the Fujifilm mirrorless system, the X100 occupied a space in my camera bag and wallet that would be much better filled by another camera, a Fujifilm camera no less - the Fuji X-E2.
The X100 demands a special place in the heart of many photographers, especially those who shoot Fujifilm full-time. For those who don't, the X100 is probably their weekend camera - the camera that travels with them to exquisite places and gets pulled out when they want to have fun rather than shoot seriously. For those who do, however, it's very likely that the Fuji X100 (or its successors) was their first step into the Fujifilm world.
Regardless of what you shoot and how you shoot, most photographers will always hold the concept of a retro-looking rangefinder-style fixed lens camera close to their hearts. This was one of the reasons why I loved the Fuji X100 - it was unique and different to any other camera. Rather than feeling like a tool, it felt like a quirky camera which I wanted to use and love. Perhaps using the Fuji X100 is similar to driving a vintage car, something like a Nikon D4s or Canon 1DX would be more like driving a modern SUV, powerful, punchy, good in every way, but lacking in character.
Regardless of what you shoot and how you shoot, most photographers will always hold the concept of a retro-looking rangefinder-style fixed lens camera close to their hearts. This was one of the reasons why I loved the Fuji X100 - it was unique and different to any other camera. Rather than feeling like a tool, it felt like a quirky camera which I wanted to use and love. Perhaps using the Fuji X100 is similar to driving a vintage car, something like a Nikon D4s or Canon 1DX would be more like driving a modern SUV, powerful, punchy, good in every way, but lacking in character.
Naturally, I wanted to see what else Fuji had to offer. That led me to having a look at the Fuji X-T1, their latest and greatest. After buying one and having a play with it, along with the Zeiss 32mm f/1.8 Touit lens, I was hooked. I loved the X-T1 because it featured everything I loved from the X100, it was small, light, it produced amazing quality JPGs and it was a joy to shoot with. But unlike the X100, it autofocused much faster, felt much better in the hand and performed much better in low light.
Perhaps it is unfair to judge the X100 against the X-T1 given the X100's age, however, over time, I found myself using the X100 less. The day I managed to get my hands on the 27mm f/2.8 lens on discount for only $250 AUD, the X100's days were numbered. Paired with my X-T1, the combination was sharper and easier to handle than my X100, yet weighing in at less than 100g more. My Fuji kit for the X-T1 was finally complete and I had most of the lenses I wanted - just a few more to buy.
Perhaps it is unfair to judge the X100 against the X-T1 given the X100's age, however, over time, I found myself using the X100 less. The day I managed to get my hands on the 27mm f/2.8 lens on discount for only $250 AUD, the X100's days were numbered. Paired with my X-T1, the combination was sharper and easier to handle than my X100, yet weighing in at less than 100g more. My Fuji kit for the X-T1 was finally complete and I had most of the lenses I wanted - just a few more to buy.
Where the X100 Fell Short
I sold my X100 because I no longer used it - that's the simple part. Why did I stop using it? Because there were many features present in the X-T1 and its smaller brother the X-E2 that the X100 (because of its age did not have). Certain features which are notable to me include:
Perhaps I'm being picky, but many of these features are simply due to the X100's age. There are issues, however, which I feel Fuji could have resolved - including the fact that the X100 uses different batteries to the rest of Fuji's higher-end X series cameras, meaning that if you also own an X-T1, X-E1/2 or X-Pro1, you have to have separate batteries and chargers for the X100 - this is inconvenient, especially having to buy and carry two different sets of batteries.
The other big issue for me was using my other X series lenses. Whilst I do like the 23mm f/2 lens on the Fuji X100, when shooting more seriously, I do enjoy shooting with two bodies so I can get two different fields of view. The lens I wish I could have put on the X100 most was the 10-24mm f/4 OIS. Then I could put my 18-135mm OIS on my X-T1 and cover all the way from 10mm to 135mm (15mm to 200mm eq.) on two bodies - that would be amazing.
- Face detection - this is important to me because I'm lazy
- Phase detect Autofocus - this improves AF speeds dramatically
- 16MP X-Trans Sensor - the X-Trans sensor design is superior to the older Bayer sensor on the X100
- Classic Chrome Film Simulation - I love Classic Chrome - I actually use this mode a lot on the X-T1
- Inability to use the rest of my X series lenses
- Clunkier handling than the X-T1 and X-E2
- It uses different batteries to the X-T1 and X-E2 - this is a big problem!
Perhaps I'm being picky, but many of these features are simply due to the X100's age. There are issues, however, which I feel Fuji could have resolved - including the fact that the X100 uses different batteries to the rest of Fuji's higher-end X series cameras, meaning that if you also own an X-T1, X-E1/2 or X-Pro1, you have to have separate batteries and chargers for the X100 - this is inconvenient, especially having to buy and carry two different sets of batteries.
The other big issue for me was using my other X series lenses. Whilst I do like the 23mm f/2 lens on the Fuji X100, when shooting more seriously, I do enjoy shooting with two bodies so I can get two different fields of view. The lens I wish I could have put on the X100 most was the 10-24mm f/4 OIS. Then I could put my 18-135mm OIS on my X-T1 and cover all the way from 10mm to 135mm (15mm to 200mm eq.) on two bodies - that would be amazing.
The Solution - Fuji X-E2
I was lucky - Fuji's affordable X-E2 does everything I need it to do and solves all of the issues I had with the X100. The only thing I would lose is the optical viewfinder. In fact, with the tiny pancake 27mm f/2.8 lens, it is even smaller and lighter than the X100 is. That's a pretty amazing feat in its own right.
I love the X-E2 because I can simply keep the 27mm f/2.8 on it on a daily basis and have it do everything my X100 did, but even better. Then when I wanted the 10-24mm f/4 OIS on it, all I had to do was swap it out, easy, with no hassle. But perhaps the biggest takeaway point I have in all of this relates to how expensive the X100 series generally is.
I sold my X100 for $550 AUD, I bought my X-E2 (brand new, mind you) for $610 AUD, so for $60 I didn't just get myself a brand new camera, I got myself a far better camera too, in the X-E2. Sure the X100 comes with a lens and the X-E2 doesn't, but that doesn't matter to me, I already own a suite of X series lenses, so the lenses are free to me anyway.
Perhaps those looking at acquiring an X100 look into this alternative option instead, looking at the X-E2 and a 27mm f/2.8. Remember that the X-E2 has most, if not all, of the features that the X100T has, bar the optical viewfinder. If you have a bit of spare cash, you should also look at the Fuji 23mm f/1.4, which is not only optically superior to the lens on the X100, but also a stop faster (it is a little larger though).
In Australia, the best prices I could find (using Shopbot) was around $1,300 AUD for the X100T, $610 for the X-E2 (TopBuy), $250 for the 27mm f/2.8 (Ted's) and around $900 for the 23mm f/1.4. You could get the X-E2 and 23mm f/1.4 for just a little more than the X100T.
I love the X-E2 because I can simply keep the 27mm f/2.8 on it on a daily basis and have it do everything my X100 did, but even better. Then when I wanted the 10-24mm f/4 OIS on it, all I had to do was swap it out, easy, with no hassle. But perhaps the biggest takeaway point I have in all of this relates to how expensive the X100 series generally is.
I sold my X100 for $550 AUD, I bought my X-E2 (brand new, mind you) for $610 AUD, so for $60 I didn't just get myself a brand new camera, I got myself a far better camera too, in the X-E2. Sure the X100 comes with a lens and the X-E2 doesn't, but that doesn't matter to me, I already own a suite of X series lenses, so the lenses are free to me anyway.
Perhaps those looking at acquiring an X100 look into this alternative option instead, looking at the X-E2 and a 27mm f/2.8. Remember that the X-E2 has most, if not all, of the features that the X100T has, bar the optical viewfinder. If you have a bit of spare cash, you should also look at the Fuji 23mm f/1.4, which is not only optically superior to the lens on the X100, but also a stop faster (it is a little larger though).
In Australia, the best prices I could find (using Shopbot) was around $1,300 AUD for the X100T, $610 for the X-E2 (TopBuy), $250 for the 27mm f/2.8 (Ted's) and around $900 for the 23mm f/1.4. You could get the X-E2 and 23mm f/1.4 for just a little more than the X100T.