David Hobby on the X100s

Crimes against technology? (from Strobist: In-Depth: The New Fujifilm X100s)

X100s-lede.jpg
 
I'm sure I'll agree with these guys on nearly all of the specific positives of the X100s. But this level of Leica-perbole is getting old quickly. And Zack Arias' new review in which he disses every camera maker except Fuji and Leica is worthy of DPR (the forum fan boys - DPR's reviewers would never stoop to that garbage). I know they're great photographers, working pros, etc, but I said it before and I'll say it again - it's just shilling for Fuji.

And I'm quite sure the X100s is an awesome camera - the X100 was and the "S" appears to be better in several ways and worse in none (except for the relative few who never warmed up to the X-Trans sensor). But, my goodness, it's not the only one or even the very bestest ever unless you draw your criteria very closely to play to its particular strengths. And all of those very very uncool companies that Zack disses in the bar are making some pretty amazing cameras too.

-Ray
 
Ray, I agree with you. The Leica-perbole (best invented word I've read all month) is freaking out of control.....and it doesn't even have a rangefinder (!!). But if you keep talking like that, you're getting blocked from the X-spot. And your X100s will never show up either (we can make the UPS driver disappear:eek:)

If the X100s had a 28mm equivalent FOV, you wouldn't even be playing with that Nikon toy or the Sony RXwhatever :tongue:
 
If the X100s had a 28mm equivalent FOV, you wouldn't even be playing with that Nikon toy or the Sony RXwhatever :tongue:
I can't guarantee it, but I think you're wrong. I mean, I DO have an XPro with an 18mm lens, which is basically a slightly larger version of an X100s with a 28 equivalent. The AF would be faster but I almost never use AF for anything that would require fast AF at that focal length. And I love that camera, but I don't need two of 'em! Maybe if I hadn't bought the 14mm lens, I'd have replaced the X-Pro with a 28mm X100s, but I like the 14mm a lot. And I don't see a place for both.

I'm psyched about the RX1 for its insane lens and sensor in a really well executed package. It's a camera I didn't even really expect to like and I love the damn thing at this point. He'll, if THAT camera had been 28mm, I'm not sure what else I'd keep except for the odd longer and ultra wide focal lengths? I'm potentially interested in the Nikon toy because of what appears to be damn good IQ in a remarkably small and discrete package. That's IF the handling measures up. I'm specifically not into the RX1 as a street camera, while the Nikon "A" may well be THE street camera. Walking around with the RX1 on a sling strap and the Nikon in a pocket with a wrist strap doesn't sound like a bad way to live a lot of the time. And the X-Pro will still be waiting for those days where I just want that OVF shooting experience and/or want to shoot with the 14mm. Which always has been and likely will be a minority of my shooting, but an important minority! The biggest change in all of this is to my m43 gear, which has gone from being my primary all-around system to being mostly just my long lens and zoom system. Which will get a very small minority of my shooting, but will also be pretty critical for certain situations.

I know you're joking, but I'm gonna buy my UPS guy a gun just to be safe. :D And it's not like I haven't thought plenty about the X100s since it was announced. I'm sure I'm gonna like it but I can't imagine what I'd do with it to actually want to own one. I'll take my chances getting blocked from X-Spot! :cool:

-Ray
 
And this certainly doesn't help them come across as unbiased opinion makers -

View attachment 5534

But having posted this, there's not a single misspoken fact in their review of the camera. Apart from their opinion, which is undoubtedly overstated a bit, the reviews were both quite helpful. It most likely is an extraordinary camera, but nowadays so many of them are.
 
The unfortunate thing is that while they both may be great photographers, and the X100s is likely a great camera, by blatantly pushing the exact same message it makes it hard to take them seriously as reviewers.
 
Well, I'm not sure either one of these professional photographers needs defending. Much less from anyone who posts on DPR the anti-photography as art techno geek morass if there ever was one. However, I do think it's worth noting that in Arias review he mentions the following:

"While Fuji has hired me to shoot with their camera, I have not signed a contract with them nor have I signed an NDA. I have no idea. When I left Istanbul my job with them was done. They’re not paying for this review. But, yes. I got paid to shoot with the x100s. So, take that however you want. I know for some of you that paints me as a sideshow salesman. That’s fine. I get that. I’m leery of paid spokespeople as well."

I'm not going to comment on his attempts at humor because like most things in life humor is a very subjective quality. Just ask 5 people who their favorite comedian is. Do you think Dr. Stranglove is a funnier movie than The Hangover? I suppose that really depends on a person's sense of humor.

As for the Leica metaphor, I think people are taking that part too seriously. It's just a joke. If you don't like it no big deal. Compared to some things I've seen written on various forums (and DPR should get a special award) it's pretty mild. Look this guy can use whatever camera he wants to. He also shoots Canon and Phase One. I think his love of the X100S is sincere. He doesn't need their money. I believe Ranger Rover hired him last year. I think it's also worth noting that he has no advertising on his website like some other blog sites and he doesn't charge to read his "expertise." If he wanted one, I bet Leica would be more than happy to give him a camera unlike some other blogging experts. Just sayin'. All that said, I think this person got the Leica metaphor as he and David Hobby intended (this is from an Xspot thread):

"Disclosure: I use Leica gear exclusively and have no experience with the Fuji X series cameras.

I do not think Zack or David are asserting that the X100s is literally a Leica/Leica clone (ones a rangefinder, the other is not; one is full frame, the other is not), but rather that the X100s embodies the Leica spirit better than the new Leica M. The X100s has the classic 35mm focal length that was favored heavily by the old masters that helped establish the Leica M series. The X100s is a simple, straight forward camera coupled with an excellent lens that yields gorgeous photographs."

Very well said. Thank you CaptZoom whoever you are!
 
"While Fuji has hired me to shoot with their camera, I have not signed a contract with them nor have I signed an NDA. I have no idea. When I left Istanbul my job with them was done. They’re not paying for this review. But, yes. I got paid to shoot with the x100s. So, take that however you want. I know for some of you that paints me as a sideshow salesman. That’s fine. I get that. I’m leery of paid spokespeople as well."
So, its all fair enough. He's saying that if he wasn't himself, he'd be leery of himself, but since he is himself he's obviously willing to cut himself some slack. Well, I'm not himself and don't have any basis for cutting him that slack. And so, consistent with his advice, I'm leery as hell. Sounds like we're all on the same page! :D

One thing that I found pretty interesting is that he says he'd never tried street photography until he got the X100 two years ago! Now, his street photography is damned good, as is everything else he shoots. He has a great eye and great instincts, which isn't surprising. But if you're experience with street photography started with the X100 and continued to date with the X-Pro and now the X100s, even if you're instinctively a great street photographer, how can you make the judgement that the X100s is the greatest street camera? I'm not a tenth of the photographer he is, but I've been street shooting for almost THREE years (WOW, what a veteran, Don Springer laughs from the sidelines!) and I've tried the X100 extensively. And I've tried the Nex 5 and every manner of m43 body and lens combinations, and the Ricoh GRD and GXR and various compacts (LX5-7, X10, S90, RX100). And for whatever level of natural talent I have or don't have, I've really refined my technique and process and worked through different shooting styles and found how different cameras work either to my strengths or weaknesses. I bought all of the discussion of the X100 as the great street camera in 2011 because of the Leica like viewfinder, and silent operation, etc, and I gave it a good long workout and guess what - found it wasn't even a particularly GOOD street camera for how I shoot. After this much time I know what works for me and what doesn't and I know there's no damn such THING as "the best street camera", although there may be a "best street camera" for each shooter once they know their style. I'd be interested to know if Zack has gone through that process with other cameras and his own shooting and found what's really best for him, or if he's just so damn good that he can make anything work and since he can make the X100 / 100s work, he's never challenged the conclusion that its "the best". I don't know, but I get the impression its pretty much all he's used for that type of photography and it obviously works for him. But would something else work as well or better? I don't know, which obviously doesn't matter. But does he? Because when you're calling something the best camera you've ever owned, its probably worth knowing what else you've owned!

OK, sorry, just thinking out loud and reacting. I think this has been dissected enough. But I evidently reacted pretty strongly to those testimonials, regardless of how many of their conclusions I'll probably share and regardless of what they were or are or may yet get paid by Fuji for them.

-Ray
 
So, its all fair enough. He's saying that if he wasn't himself, he'd be leery of himself, but since he is himself he's obviously willing to cut himself some slack. Well, I'm not himself and don't have any basis for cutting him that slack. And so, consistent with his advice, I'm leery as hell. Sounds like we're all on the same page! :D

-Ray

I suppose it's all in the reading. I don't read it as being about slack at all. He is simply open and direct. He can afford to be in my world because unlike many (most?) commentators he has a solid basis for his views. I like his work. More importantly his work is seen as effective by those who hire him.

I also very much like his style. The cheap camera test is very revealing. He clearly knows all the technical stuff, but doesn't hide behind it. So many commentators and reviewers are really just about the gadget. Features, not benefits. By all means list the tech specs, but don't please praise or comment on them unless you really know how and why they are relevant to a user. Listing a spec, comparing it to another camera, and saying it might or should be relevant in a certain scenario is beyond weak. Go out and show it.

I find being leery a more obvious choice when the so-called reviewer isn't a photographer.
 
I would say he can work with just about any camera you give him:

[video=youtube;zh6zr3wKRV0]

And I would think he could buy or have a company give him any camera he wants. This is a pretty funny/good video.
 
I would say he can work with just about any camera you give him:

[video=youtube;zh6zr3wKRV0]

And I would think he could buy or have a company give him any camera he wants. This is a pretty funny/good video.

Nice guy. Funny too. And those photographs...

I would love to see some of the so called reviewers, and the forum experts, do this.
 
It looks great. For now I'm happy with my X100, but I'll get the X100s in a year or so when the price comes down a bit.

Was it Nelson Mandela who said that a good camera will always be good - that it will not clot, curdle or become useless, because a new model has come out?

No it wasn't. It was me. Lol.
 
I'm new to Zack, and read this review as two things.A highly entertaining story with some real knowledge about the new improvements, and, some good old fashioned positive reenforcement about the camera purchase I made way back in January.I didn't need him to tell me the new 100s is the greatest camera ever made.I know this is BS.I've never owned a Leica camera, so he didn't hurt my feelings.I also stand with Ray in saying that it's far from being the best street shooter.For me, that title goes to my O-MD/14 combo.He has made me a fan and I look forward to reading more of his stuff.His review is kind of like watching reality TV.You know it's not really real, but it's fun anyway.
 
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