It's not a Canon!
No, it's not. It's something that has caught the photo gear world by surprise. I don't think too many people were expecting Fuji of all companies to compete head to head with the German made Leica X1.
On the surface the camera looks like a winner. The retro design is getting big thumbs up from everything I have read. Some are even calling it “more beautiful than a Leica M9” (easy now).
Specifications
| Model Name | FinePix X100 |
| Number of effective pixels | 12.3 million pixels |
| CCD Sensor | APS-C CMOS Sensor |
| Storage Media | SD / SDHC / SDXC memory card |
| Lens | High-performance FUJINON lens with Super EBC Coating |
| Focal Length | 23mm, equivalent to 35mm |
| Aperture Range | F2 to F16 |
| Exposure Mode | Programmed auto mode, Aperture priority mode, Shutter priority mode and Manual mode |
| Exposure Compensation | -2.0EV-+2.0EV |
| Shutter Speed | Bulb, 30 sec. to 1/4000 sec. |
| Focus | High-speed contrast AF |
| Optical Viewfinder | 0.5X magnification with approx. 90% frame coverage |
| Electronic Viewfinder | Ultrafine 1,440,000-dot LCD |
| LCD Monitor | 2.8-inch, Colour LCD monitor, approx 460,000 dots |
| Movie Recording | 1280×720 HD with stereo sound |
| Dimensions | 126.5(W) x 74.4(H) x 53.9(D) mm including lens |
Hybrid Viewfinder
This looks like a very cool development if I understand it correctly.
The Hybrid Viewfinder on the FinePix X100 combines the window-type “bright frame” optical viewfinder found in high-end film cameras such as 35mm or medium-format cameras, and the electronic viewfinder system incorporated in fixed single lens or mirrorless digital cameras. By using integrating a prism for the 1,440,000 dot LCD panel image on the viewing screen in the reverse-Galilean optical finder, the Hybrid Viewfinder can show both the shooting frame and a variety of shooting data.
What does it costs?
Initial reports list the camera at around $1500 USD. Is that too much? To sell a lot of them, yes it is. The world may love it today, but I have a lot of doubts the world will love it enough to shell out $1500+ in droves.
Versus The Leica X1 & Sigma DP2?
The other 2 APS-C sensor fixed lens compacts (hopefully I'm not forgetting anyone) have found a niche market of sorts. The X1 has received some rave reviews from the Leica community. The DP2 has found fans as well, and their camera is priced in the “affordable” range for someone serious about a compact.
Full Press Release: http://www.fujifilm.com/news/n100920.html
I'll be sure to check this camera out at Photokina, I'm sure there's going to be a very large crowd around it.
Availability is pegged to be the spring of 2011
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