In my last post I told you that riflessifotografici plans to publish the X100s and X20 reviews. The reviews have still to come, but now they provided us a foretaste of what will come. The X100s first impressions (read here – translated version) and  X20 first impressions are online (read here – translated version)!

Massimiliano is right now testing the X100s (compared to the X100), while Donato has his hands on the X20. These are just their first impressions. For an in depth view we have still to wait a bit. It wouldn’t be riflessifotografici-style to write down something just in order to be one of the first to post a review. FR-readers know it. So take your time, Max and Donato.

X100s: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA / Digitalrev
X20: AmazonUS (black – silver) / BHphoto (black – silver) / Adorama (black – silver) / AmazonUK (black – silver) / AmazonDE / AmazonITA / Digitalrev

X100s: Massimiliano is working with the X100 and X100s. The body is almost identical, so he confused sometimes one camera with the other. But he immediately recognized the error, once he shot with it. If he should put it all in one word, this could be “reactivity”. The X100s is very fast: start up time, focus speed, writing time to the memory card [personal note: as Rico suggested in his X20 vs X10 comparison, you should use also a fast SD-card, as the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-1 95 MB/s ]. The X-Trans sensor (and no low pass filter) improved also the details (you’ll see a 100% crop X100 vs X100s). He calls the X100s the “probably best camera of the X-series“. There is more to read (and see) here (translated version).

X20: Donato took his first shots at night. A good opportunity to shoot some high ISO images and to test the new hybrid-AF system (contrast+phase detection) in low-light conditions. The results are better than those of any other X-series camera: “For people like me, who prefer advanced compact cameras or CSC to big and heavy SLR cameras, this would be enough to justify the introduction of this model.” It seems that now the Autofocus is no more a “weak spot” compared to the DSLR’s AF. There are some more interesting considerations and findings to read in Donato’s first impressions and… if you wan’t to see the 100% crops of the image below just click here (translated version).

Have a great start in this new week!

click on the image or here for Rico’s X100s Flickr set

1) Rico Pfistinger just posted his X100s and X100 comparison shots at Flickr here. I’m sure you can’t wait for this Friday’s X-Pert Corner ;-). You can read also his general discoveries on Flickr.

2) In the meantime you can have a look at Fredrik’s website. As Brian Kraft, he also updates his site continuosly. Faster than the X100, in good light conditions it “never fail to find focus or miss focus” but, very rarely, fails to lock focus in low light. “MF response is fast, even in low light. […] You can set the camera to automatically zoom into the MF assist modes (standard, focus peaking, split image) when you touch the MF ring. Half-pressing the shutter will zoom out. Nice feature!” Also the EVF is improved to the previous version, “less lag, if any“. There is really much much more to read at Fredrik’s site. His conclusions:

“If the X100S doesn’t receive the gold award over at DPReview, it has to be for some technical reason which I probably wouldn’t care about. Of course, this is a highly personal opinion, from having used the X100 for two years while being very happy with it, despite its shortcomings.This is the upgrade I have been waiting for. Hat off to Fuji.”

3) Good news also from riflessifotografici. They announced on their website that they will soon publish the X20 and X100s first impressions.

It seems that we could have an exciting “review-week”. So, stay tuned on Fujirumors, I’ll tell you when the riflessifotografi review goes online (already next week?) and….  don’t miss the X-pert corner this Friday with the X100 vs X100s!

X100s: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA / Digitalrev
X20: AmazonUS (black – silver) / BHphoto (black – silver) / Adorama (black – silver) / AmazonUK (black – silver) / AmazonDE / AmazonITA / Digitalrev

X-E1 + XF 14mm

XF14mm [shopcountry 8628] / X-E1: [shopcountry 8614]

The photozone test report can be read here. Some PROS: “The Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R is a highly attractive ultra-wide lens with few shortcomings. The most important factor for an ultra-wide lens is certainly image sharpness and the Fujinon delivers here. It is bitingly sharp in the image center and good to very good in the outer image region. […] very low CA [… ] Distortions are basically absent – even in RAW data – which is surprising for such a wide lens and even more so for a mirrorless one.” CONS: “The primary weakness of the Fujinon is the very high amount of vignetting. Most RAW converters as well as the camera (JPEGs) can (mostly) compensate this automatically though. […] lack of weather sealing”

image courtesy: photozone (XF 14mm distortion)

Ken Rockwell’s comprehensive X-E1 review can be read here: “The X-E1 is an excellent camera for people photos and for people who want a lightweight camera that performs as well or better than DSLRs. Its color rendition for people is superb, but not very good for nature and landscape snaps.” He also posted his XF14mm review here. “The Fuji XF 14mm f/2.8 ASPH is an extraordinary lens. When a lens is just about optically and mechanically perfect, there isn’t much to say, other than to get one.“

photographyblog XF14mm review (click here): “The Fujifilm XF 14mm F2.8 R’s auto-focus system is its minor weak-point, with a slight delay before locking focus and a rather loud mechanism. On the plus side it offers a generously wide focusing ring, a very welcome aperture ring which makes it quick, easy and precise to set this key element of exposure, and an innovative focus collar for quickly switching between auto an manual focus, the latter coming complete with a focusing distance scale with depth-of-field markings that makes it easier to zone-focus.“

XF14mm at ephotozine here. The PROS: Extremely sharp in the centre. Excellent sharpness towards the edges when stopped down. Lightweight. Useful hyperfocal scale. Excellent build. Virtually no distortion. Low CA levels CONS: Falloff of illumination towards the corners can be quite pronounced.

thephoblographer XF14mm review: some CONS: a bit slower than the 35mm f1.4 X – wish that the focusing and aperture rings were smoother – wish that it could focus closer, even with the macro setting activated and PROS: Excellent sharpness when stopped down. When using a studio light, the specular highlights really make this lens sparkle…

Lasse wrote me this email: “Hi, I thought you might like to link to the first Scandinavian review of the X-E1 with the [shoplink 8625]XF 18-55mm[/shoplink]. Earning six out of six stars, where image quality weigh’s a good 50 percent, when the total is added up. It’s published in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, and here’s a link to one of them. (english version)”

Nikon Coolpix A vs X100s specs comparison

Based on the specs comparison, thenewcamera recommends you to buy the X100s. Both cameras feature an APS-C sensor and don’t have a low-pass filter. The X100s beats the Nikon Cooplix A almost in every aspect, except the image stabilization and size/weight… oh, and it’s also cheaper. Click here to read more.

Check in stock info and price at
Nikon Coolpix A: [shopcountry 8820] Fuji X100s: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA /

FinePix HS50EXR

From the conclusions of pocket-lint (read the review here): “We like the FinePix HS50EXR a lot: it’s an accomplished superzoom that’s put Fujifilm right back up there and in the mix and shown just what this brand can do. It can hold its head up side by side with the levels of its nearest competitors, it just ought to be a touch more cost effective by comparison.”

Check in Stock info and price at [shopcountry 8722]

1) The Polish site fotopolis posted some samples at different ISO’s. For the X20 samples click here (translated version) and for the X100s samples click here (translated version). On fotopolis you can also read the first impressions of the X100s here (translated version). They say that the X100s is a “very successful evolution of the already very good camera.” Thanks for the link Jakub.

You can also read and see samples at the Polish site optyczne. The X100s impressions here (translated version) and the X20 impressions here (translated version). They seem to be very happy with the X100s (compared to the X100 better speed, focus accuracy, start up time, EVF…). The first impressions of the X20 are “positive”.

2) FR-reader Adam made an interview with Fujifilm at the focus on imaging show (UK). At the beginning of the video the Fuji-guy demonstrates Digital Split Image focusing, and Focus Peaking on the new X100s, and then he answers a few questions about the possibility of silver XF lenses, release dates, and future firmware updates for the X-Pro1 for auto ISO and Focus Peaking… to what concerns the firmware updates the Fuji employee just said “I’m not so sure, I haven’t heard anything about it yet“.

He also takes a closer look at the upcoming lenses. Many thanks Adam.

X100s: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonDE / AmazonUK
X20: AmazonUS (black – silver) / BHphoto (black – silver) / Adorama (black – silver) / AmazonUK (black – silver) / ebayITA /  / AmazonDE / AmazonITA

–