Fujifilm X100: APS-C Sensor Compact Camera: Should Leica Watch Out?

Before the Photokina has even started, Fujifilm has surprised everybody with the new FinePix X100, its first compact camera to feature a large sensor.  That's not the only thing that's new about this camera, which won't be available before the start of next year and which could prove a formidable rival to both the Leica X1 and the Sigma DP range.

There aren't many small cameras with big sensors.  If we exclude the various systems with interchangeable lenses (µ4/3, NX and NEX) which are increasingly popular, that only leaves two niche manufacturers: Sigma, with the DP1x and DP2s, and Leica with the incredible-but expensive-X1.

Fujifilm has just entered the fray with the FinePix X100, which looks resolutely like an M-series Leica.  It has the two-tone colour scheme to match, but also the same controls, with aperture around the lens, a speed dial on top and the different priority modes available by setting each of these to 'A'.

New Technology

Although the 12 Megapixel APS-C sensor is no doubt borrowed from a more well-known camera, the micro-lenses in front of it are arranged in a new way: close to the edge of the sensor, they are slightly out of line with the sensor so that light rays that arrive at an angle can be better captured.

The 23 mm (35 mm equivalent) lens is pretty at a fixed focus of f/2.  Because it's fixed, you don't need to wait for it to open out when the camera is switched on, meaning you can start shooting straight away.  It diaphragm has nine blades, which should produce some nice bokeh effects, and includes a neutral 3 EV filter allowing you to retain a large aperture even in bright lighting.


The viewfinder, which contributes a lot to the rangefinder-styling is another new development.  It uses a semi-reflective prism, much like a real rangefinder, but builds up the image from two separate sources: the optical viewfinder, of course, as well as a 1 440 000 pixel LCD screen, the same one as found on the Olympus E-P2, which we praised for its detail, contrast and ease-of-use.  The screen can show not only the photo and various information about the settings, which will also appear in the optical viewfinder, but it can also act as a 100% electronic viewfinder if necessary.

Overall, the X100 seems to bring together all of the elements of a succesful sketchbook camera: instant start-up, a sensor with a proven track record, a viewfinder with built-in information and a fast, light, wide-angle lens.

We hope that the autofocus will follow the subject, or that a hyperfocal distance will be available, so that photos can be taken straight away.  That would make this little camera a discrete alternative to an SLR for situations where you don't want to be weighed down by a bulky camera.  Maybe the X100 is the long-awaited 'digital M-series ...'

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