Compact cameras with large sensors are all the rage right now and the Fuji X100S and X100 before it proved popular because of their retro-style controls, impressive hybrid viewfinder and high image quality. The large AA-filterless sensor ensures that images have lots of detail and both cameras have found favour with street and wedding photographers who want a light, high quality camera to use for informal off-the-cuff shots.
The latest incarnation in the series is the Fuji X100T which is very similar to the X100S, having the same APS-C format 16Mp X-Trans CMOS II sensor and Fujinon 23mm (equivalent to 35mm) f/2 lens.
One of the unique features of the Fuji X100 series is its hybrid viewfinder that can be switched between an optical and an electronic device. The X100T updates this with the ability to see an electronic display in one corner of the optical viewfinder. This is designed to make manual focusing much easier.
I got to use a pre-production sample X100T at Photokina in Cologne, Germany, and naturally the first thing I checked out was the viewfinder. As before, flicking the (slightly redesigned) switch on the front of the camera swaps between the optical and electronic finders. The 2.3 million-dot EVF provides an excellent view with lots of detail and the effect of camera settings visible.
When the optical viewfinder is used and the camera is in manual focus mode a rectangle appears in the bottom right of the screen showing an enlarged view of the target area. When the focus assist option is set to Digital Split Image this shows a twin view of the subject which merge into one as the lens is focused. I found this rather unclear and murky in the low contrast gloomy conditions of the demonstration area, but the other option, Focus Peaking, was much more satisfactory.
In Focus Peaking mode the areas of highest contrast, which as are also usually the areas of best focus are highlighted in a colour of your choosing. I opted for red as I find this is easy to see in most situations. As the lens focus ring is rotated and the subject starts to come into focus red areas start to appear around parts of the image in the ‘electronic section’ of the optical viewfinder. It makes focusing manually quick and easy.
Another change to the optical viewfinder is that the bright lines which show the framing of the image in the optical viewfinder actually shift as the focus distance changes. This is to correct parallax error and it’s especially very useful for accurate composition with close subjects.
The information in the X100T’s viewfinder is also cleaner looking and it rotates to be easier to read when the camera is turned to shooting in portrait mode.
Fuji has also given the X100T an electronic shutter that allows shutter speeds of up to 1/32000sec as well as silent operation. Once the electronic shutter has been selected for use instead of the mechanical one (which allows a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 sec) and the camera is set to silent mode, the X100T does seem silent. I want to check this in a quieter environment than a convention centre event in full swing, but it seems feasible that the camera could be used in theatres and the like without attracting glares of disapproval.
The X100S has an exposure compensation range of +/-2EV, but this has been increased to +/-3EV on the X100T, giving more scope for adjustment when using the semi-automatic exposure modes in tricky lighting conditions. As before, exposure compensation is set via a dedicated dial and the X100T’s dial reflects the new wider range.
Sticking with the subject of exposure, the aperture ring on the X100T can be adjusted in 1/3 stops rather than just whole stops, but only whole stops are marked.
There are a few changes on the back of the camera too. For a start the screen has been increased in size from a 2.8-inch 4:3 ratio 460,000-dot device on the X100S to a 3-inch 3:2 ratio 1,040,000-dot screen on the X100T. This extra room is useful and images look a bit sharper and more detailed. There’s also a new control ring around the navigation controls, which is useful for scrolling through features.
Like the recently announced Graphite Silver edition of the Fuji X-T1, the X100T has Fuji’s new Classic Chrome Film Simulation mode. Despite the name, according to Fuji this new Film Simulation mode doesn’t actually replicate the look of film. It was introduced at the request of documentary and street photographers who want to be able to produce images with less vibrant colours and contrast than some of the other options. This was especially requested for use when shooting more serious subject matter.
I haven’t been able shoot any images with the X100T yet, but the sample images that I’ve seen taken in Classic Chrome mode look very nice. The colours are muted yet natural, and they have a slight warmth and depth.
Early verdict
Fuji hasn’t set out to create a camera that existing X100S users will want to rush out and buy, but it’s taken the opportunity to make a few improvements that will make the camera attractive to new users. The changes to the viewfinder are a significant improvement for those that like to use an optical viewfinder and the increase in the degree of exposure compensation available is helpful.
The new Classic Chrome Film Simulation mode also looks promising. It will be interesting to see if Fuji applies its usual generous attitude to customer care and makes it available to existing X100S and maybe even X-E2 or X-Pro 1 users.
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