Fuji Do you think I could live with an X100 ??

nianys

Veteran
OK guys, coming from a D700/D90 combo (I've had MANY other DSLRs in the past, both APS-C and FF), I've shot a GX-1 with fast primes (mostly the PL25) for about 7 months, then 3 NEX bodies (5N, 6 and 7) with legacy glass for the past 6 months (I did have the following native E lenses : 18-55, 16-50, 30/2.8DN, SEL50/.8, and hated them all except the 50 which was great but too slow at AF).
I've just sold my 7, am left cameraless, and want to buy into the Fuji family. I have a X10 supposed to be on its way, but there was a few issues with the shipment so it *should* still arrive, but I'll be positive about that when I actually hold it...
I think I want an X-E1 with 35/1.4 (well, I know I want the lens for sure). I'm pretty sure it's the perfect camera for me (aside from not having focus peaking). I've watched as many videos involving the camera as I could find, and the AF does seem unimpressive, but not much slower than the NEXes I've had either... I'm really torn at this point. I should be able to get a mint body for the exact price I sold my 7 for, and the investment for the 35 used will be equal to a brand new SEL35 (if I could have found one in stock, that is).

Now, I have this sneaky little thought creeping in my mind... Do you think I could live with an X100 ?? My focal length is definitely 50mm FF equivalent, that's what I need and love, could I settle with a 35mm , would that be tight enough for portraits ?? Would I be able to get decent subject isolation with that ???

Help, my head is spinning...
 
Given that your focal length is "definitely" 50mm EFL, then it's a no-no for the X100. You can get some subject isolation with the X100, but you need to be close and the background needs to be farther away.

Here's an old pic with the X100. I may have stopped the lens down to f2.8 on this one.

View attachment 64576
 
Sounds like you'd be better with the XE1 (or X-Pro if you like the idea of an OVF). Even if you decide you like the 35mm focal length, you'll be able to get it for the XE1 later this year (at f1.4) but you'll also have your comfort zone lens in the existing 53mm EFL lens. The X100 (I'd wait and get the X100s at this point) won't have the subject isolation of the XE1 and its not a great portrait length. Unless you KNOW you like the X100 focal length, I wouldn't commit to a fixed lens camera with ONLY that length.

And you know that none of these (except the X100s) will focus nearly as fast as your GX1 did?

-Ray
 
Thanks to both of you. Yes Ray, I'm totally aware of the AF issues, which is why I don't have the X-E1 NOW yet.
Ok, you clarified it for me, which is great. The only thing I dislike more than doing street photogaphy is looking at it, lol, so in all reason the 35mm fixed EFL really doesn't make much sense to me.
You're great, now the other touchy question, how terrible is the X-E1 AF with latest firmware ?? I saw a Steve Huff video comparing it to the RX-1 in low light, and it seemed rather slow but not painfully so
 
Well I KNOW that slow AF is a killer for you so no. The X100s is alleged to be quite quick but I haven't seen any real reviews or heard user feedback (I don't even know if it's in folks hands yet). I know you say that 50mm is what you're looking for of course the 50's you've been using on the NEX are really a bit longer given the APS-C sensor in the NEX so they're really more short telephotos than normals in 35mm terms. I'd be inclined to say that the X100s would probably be too wide for you FL wise but I doubt you'd have any issue with the sharpness or overall image quality.

Knowing what you like I should think that the XE-1 would be attractive but it won't really be much of an improvement over the NEX7 AF wise (if at all). In addition, no focus peaking for that Pen-F 38 you love so much. If I were you I'd wait to see if the fast AF comes to the updates of the XE-1 (or new model). I wouldn't make the move before that.
 
Armanius, I know YOU have my dream combo right now !! Too bad I'm in Europe, I would have taken off your hands !!
 
Also, research the Sticky Aperture Blade (SAB) issue on the X100. That's an expensive "oops" if you buy one second hand, and Fuji declines to repair it.
 
You know GX1's are cheap as chips right now. Why not that to hold you over until Fuji introduces faster AF in their interchangeable lens X series cameras? The PL25/1.4 always commands a premium so you'll be able to sell it and likely break even or get close to it. The GX1's are going for around $300 new if you look around. I guarantee the slow AF will drive you crazy (see NEX 5n, NEX and NEX 7). :D
 
You need to move to Texas. No state income tax! Warm climate 90% of the year. Too hot and humid in the Summer time though.

XE1 may be your dream combo, but if AF speed and accuracy is important to you, you may want to try it out first before buying. It's improved over the original XPro1 firmware, specially combining the body with the 18-55 zoom lens at 18mm. But it's still slower and less reliable than the NEX7. And definitely no match for the GX1 and OMD's of the world. That's the main reasons I never warmed up to the XE1, even though I had high hopes after being an early adopter of the XPro1.
 
Think of picking up a GX1 as strategic purchasing. It satisfies the need for a new camera and has minimal financial risk. Of course you could also just bite the bullet and go with the X10 for a little while. See how you like the Fuji UI and handling and wait until the "perfect" camera surfaces. It could be the photographic equivalent of a colon cleanse.
 
With the X20 just around the corner, I'd pass on the X10 and wait on the X20 instead. Potentially a much better AF, and definitely a much better OVF.

I think the X10 is already purchased isn't it? If not, then I agree the X20 would be a good option.
 
Think of picking up a GX1 as strategic purchasing. It satisfies the need for a new camera and has minimal financial risk. Of course you could also just bite the bullet and go with the X10 for a little while. See how you like the Fuji UI and handling and wait until the "perfect" camera surfaces. It could be the photographic equivalent of a colon cleanse.

You know what ? The guy who bought my PL25 put it up for sale last night, and I was VERY tempted to get it back (I know, I'm a sentimental slob). Somebody beat me to it while I was dreaming with Fuji X stars in my eyes. If I get another GX-1 I'm gonna have it shipped to you and you can forward it, because believe it or not, they are NOWHERE to be found used in France, and the very few units I saw for sale were ridiculously priced ?!?
 
You know what ? The guy who bought my PL25 put it up for sale last night, and I was VERY tempted to get it back (I know, I'm a sentimental slob). Somebody beat me to it while I was dreaming with Fuji X stars in my eyes. If I get another GX-1 I'm gonna have it shipped to you and you can forward it, because believe it or not, they are NOWHERE to be found used in France, and the very few units I saw for sale were ridiculously priced ?!?

I'd be happy to forward it to you. Unique Photo has them new for $300 (also on Amazon as I recall).
 
The only thing I dislike more than doing street photogaphy is looking at it, lol, so in all reason the 35mm fixed EFL really doesn't make much sense to me.
You're great, now the other touchy question, how terrible is the X-E1 AF with latest firmware ?? I saw a Steve Huff video comparing it to the RX-1 in low light, and it seemed rather slow but not painfully so
In another thread, you asked if I was living inside your head, and I was thinking I might have been (I'd been imagining I was hearing a lot of French spoken recently), but if you dislike street photography that much it must have been someone else in there, because that's my favorite photography to both do and look at. :cool: In terms of AF, the XE1 or X-Pro with the 35mm is similar to the gf1 with the 20mm - with the 18mm lens it's a bit faster. I've never used the 60 or 18-55 so I can't comment on those. They aren't terribly slow in low light IF they can find something to lock onto. But sometimes they have trouble if there's no vertically oriented contrasty area to lock onto and then they can really hunt like crazy.

-Ray
 
In another thread, you asked if I was living inside your head, and I was thinking I might have been (I'd been imagining I was hearing a lot of French spoken recently), but if you dislike street photography that much it must have been someone else in there, because that's my favorite photography to both do and look at. :cool: In terms of AF, the XE1 or X-Pro with the 35mm is similar to the gf1 with the 20mm - with the 18mm lens it's a bit faster. I've never used the 60 or 18-55 so I can't comment on those. They aren't terribly slow in low light IF they can find something to lock onto. But sometimes they have trouble if there's no vertically oriented contrasty area to lock onto and then they can really hunt like crazy.

-Ray

The 18-55 at 18mm is definitely the fastest to AF on the XE1 right now. Zoom in to 55mm, and we are talking about 60/2.4 performance. Maybe a tad better. But at least the 18-55 is very quiet. No mechanical grinding sound.
 
OK, GF1 with 20/1.7,that's something I can clearly picture, as I've had both :)
Hmm, Ray, I don't mean to offend about Street, I guess it's just like all things that one is not particularly fond of, and that gets wildly popular, to the point of being in your face anywhere you look. One goes from mild indifference to borderline annoyance, lol.
I'm SO glad I started this thread, we're having a great live brain storming here, and I'm very grateful for everybody who's contributed their ideas. Indeed, you guys have me questioning my X-E1 impulse. That's a pretty big chunk of money right there, that I'd rather put aside till I get a clearer picture (no pun intended) of what I truly want.
Kevin, the GX-1 idea sure sounds enticing, let me mule over it.
Hopefully I will have news of my (well, mine if it ever gets here) X10 tomorrow, by then it should have shipped, no matter what.
 
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