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ExplodingTaco
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2005
- Messages
- 2,365
This camera is on the short list of every photographer I know. As such I thought I would post a quick review of almost one year with the x100s as my primary and only camera and why I will be moving on:
I am at most, moderately talented and based on other's work I knew that this camera can capture any image I am willing to take the time to shoot. I bought it as an experiment to see what I could do with a mirror less, fixed lens camera in one year of shooting with nothing else. I sold my DSLRs (D700 and D7000) and most lenses, the rest I gave away to a budding teenage artist who can put them to much better use than I. I had one camera, one lens, one focal length. If I were to get good images I would be doing so one way.
THE LOVE;
Equipment does not a good photographer make, and the x100s is no exception. A camera is just a tool and as a photo taking tool the x100s is very capable. I love the images that this camera can capture. If I try hard enough I can make this camera sing an incredible tune. Given the proper amount of time there is no image that the x100s cannot take that my fancy DSLR and expensive glass could capture. The image quality is fantastic. Every good camera has a distinct feel. The D700 images feel different than those of a 5DIII or a D800 or a X100s. People who state that one is the same as the others or that they all look the same either do not have an artistically subtle eye, or are selling something. All put in the hands of an accomplished photographer can produce what the mind behind it wants, but all will feel different when processed. With this in mind I love the feel of the images from this camera, I love the colors, I love the grain, I love the contract. Much like a great car the images from this camera are greater than the sum of its parts, and I am thrilled that this camera can give me exactly what I see in my head before I press the shutter.
I also love the looks that I do not get with this camera. I have yet to have someone give me a second look while taking pictures with it. I never draw attention with it. No one ever ducks out of the way, no parents ever grabs their child to make sure they are not in the line of fire. I can shoot photos and never think twice that I am making anyone uncomfortable. Many people could care less if their DSLR and 300mm 2.0 draws attention at a kids park but I am not such a person; if I were I am sure I could get better images but alas I am shy. I am 6'4" 240lbs and stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd. Put a bulky camera with a long lens and people just avoid me. I am sure if I where a more outgoing person with a different personality I could pull it off, but my uncomfortableness with making other uncomfortable can at time be debilitating to getting the image I want. The X100s solves this for me.
THE HATE
IF I take my time, IF I have time to set up, IF I am not trying to capture the moment, IF I have not bumped the shutter speed nob, IF I have not bumped the exposure knob, IF I have not left the switch on and the camera has to think for 5 seconds before if will remember that it is on, IF my subject is not moving, IF I do not need to quickly change the auto focus point, IF I have not already lost my sanity from another missed image, IF all of these things do not happen I will get the image I saw in my head before I click the shutter release.
My keep rate with a DSLR was 80-90%. Sure I would never publish or print that many but that is how many were in focus on what I wanted in focus, did not have a strange expression on a persons face or have a random thing entering the frame. My keep rate on this camera even after a year is 20% max. Part of this is my style of photography and my chosen subjects. I shoot people, I shoot my young kids, I shoot objects out of my window as I drive down the road, I shoot what I see when I see it. I do not set up most shots. My best shots are usually set up, they are ones I have been thinking about for days or weeks, but I enjoy most just capturing life as it happens. This is not a camera for that.
My walls at home are lined with pictures of my kids with an exceptional expression on their faces, some are once in a lifetime moments that I would able to capture with my DSLR and I have missed many of these since getting rid of my faster machine. This is unacceptable to my preferences and must be fixed for me to continue enjoying my hobby.
THE MOVING ON
This camera is great for those who want to slow down, who want to smell the roses, who fancy a life of Leica without the cash. In those times I enjoy this camera as well. This camera is perfect for many photographers, but I am not one of those. In the coming days I will be selling this and moving on. I will miss the discreetness which I love, I will miss the feel of the raw files which I love, but this love cannot overcome the snails pace at which this camera operates.
I have yet to find a replacement. I cannot imagine going back to a professional DSLR as I have grown to love the discreetness of this camera too much, maybe I get a DF, maybe I get two cameras, one for the park that does not stand out and one for when I get serious. I would love an A7S but until mirrorless can handle my kids a DSLR will have to remain in the stable.
Here are some shot from the last year with my X100s:
I am at most, moderately talented and based on other's work I knew that this camera can capture any image I am willing to take the time to shoot. I bought it as an experiment to see what I could do with a mirror less, fixed lens camera in one year of shooting with nothing else. I sold my DSLRs (D700 and D7000) and most lenses, the rest I gave away to a budding teenage artist who can put them to much better use than I. I had one camera, one lens, one focal length. If I were to get good images I would be doing so one way.
THE LOVE;
Equipment does not a good photographer make, and the x100s is no exception. A camera is just a tool and as a photo taking tool the x100s is very capable. I love the images that this camera can capture. If I try hard enough I can make this camera sing an incredible tune. Given the proper amount of time there is no image that the x100s cannot take that my fancy DSLR and expensive glass could capture. The image quality is fantastic. Every good camera has a distinct feel. The D700 images feel different than those of a 5DIII or a D800 or a X100s. People who state that one is the same as the others or that they all look the same either do not have an artistically subtle eye, or are selling something. All put in the hands of an accomplished photographer can produce what the mind behind it wants, but all will feel different when processed. With this in mind I love the feel of the images from this camera, I love the colors, I love the grain, I love the contract. Much like a great car the images from this camera are greater than the sum of its parts, and I am thrilled that this camera can give me exactly what I see in my head before I press the shutter.
I also love the looks that I do not get with this camera. I have yet to have someone give me a second look while taking pictures with it. I never draw attention with it. No one ever ducks out of the way, no parents ever grabs their child to make sure they are not in the line of fire. I can shoot photos and never think twice that I am making anyone uncomfortable. Many people could care less if their DSLR and 300mm 2.0 draws attention at a kids park but I am not such a person; if I were I am sure I could get better images but alas I am shy. I am 6'4" 240lbs and stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd. Put a bulky camera with a long lens and people just avoid me. I am sure if I where a more outgoing person with a different personality I could pull it off, but my uncomfortableness with making other uncomfortable can at time be debilitating to getting the image I want. The X100s solves this for me.
THE HATE
IF I take my time, IF I have time to set up, IF I am not trying to capture the moment, IF I have not bumped the shutter speed nob, IF I have not bumped the exposure knob, IF I have not left the switch on and the camera has to think for 5 seconds before if will remember that it is on, IF my subject is not moving, IF I do not need to quickly change the auto focus point, IF I have not already lost my sanity from another missed image, IF all of these things do not happen I will get the image I saw in my head before I click the shutter release.
My keep rate with a DSLR was 80-90%. Sure I would never publish or print that many but that is how many were in focus on what I wanted in focus, did not have a strange expression on a persons face or have a random thing entering the frame. My keep rate on this camera even after a year is 20% max. Part of this is my style of photography and my chosen subjects. I shoot people, I shoot my young kids, I shoot objects out of my window as I drive down the road, I shoot what I see when I see it. I do not set up most shots. My best shots are usually set up, they are ones I have been thinking about for days or weeks, but I enjoy most just capturing life as it happens. This is not a camera for that.
My walls at home are lined with pictures of my kids with an exceptional expression on their faces, some are once in a lifetime moments that I would able to capture with my DSLR and I have missed many of these since getting rid of my faster machine. This is unacceptable to my preferences and must be fixed for me to continue enjoying my hobby.
THE MOVING ON
This camera is great for those who want to slow down, who want to smell the roses, who fancy a life of Leica without the cash. In those times I enjoy this camera as well. This camera is perfect for many photographers, but I am not one of those. In the coming days I will be selling this and moving on. I will miss the discreetness which I love, I will miss the feel of the raw files which I love, but this love cannot overcome the snails pace at which this camera operates.
I have yet to find a replacement. I cannot imagine going back to a professional DSLR as I have grown to love the discreetness of this camera too much, maybe I get a DF, maybe I get two cameras, one for the park that does not stand out and one for when I get serious. I would love an A7S but until mirrorless can handle my kids a DSLR will have to remain in the stable.
Here are some shot from the last year with my X100s:
