Why I Love the Fujifilm X100 Series
Colonnades - Fujifilm X100V
Sometime last year, I am not sure when since last year has now blended into about three hundred near identical COVID lockdown days, I came across a photography competition. I rarely enter competitions, but this one caught my eye as it is was being run by the lovely people at Fujifilm and there was a chance to win a special edition Fujifilm X100V. The competition was to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the X100 series, and the entry had to be taken on one of the five generations of the camera. I had mostly forgotten about it until last week when what should pop up on my instagram, but the announcement of the winner and shortlisted shots. Knock me down with a tripod, I had been shortlisted! I didn’t win, that went to the fantastic Kant Rathod with a wonderful silhouette shot. In these long days of the winter lockdown, any news is exciting, so you can imagine I was bouncing off of the walls with glee.
“I could also wax lyrical about the Fuji jpeg. I rarely do much to my photos in post, there simply isn’t any need. ”
The Royal Crescent, Bath - X100V
The shot I entered into the competition is at the top of this post, and was taken on my X100V and looking at the data from my shooting in 2020, all but a couple of shots were taken either on my X100V, or the X100F. There is no doubt that the X100 series is a good looking camera. It has changed very little in terms of design over the 10 years since launch. A tweak here, a tweak there, each iteration bringing more refinement. It is hard to imagine how Fujifilm could improve the next iteration, but I am sure they are thinking about it. The technology has also improved, of course. I won’t bore you with the details, you can look that up elsewhere. Frankly I haven’t been very far of late, but when I have been out on my daily walks, the X100V is with me. For some the fixed 23mm f2 lens (35mm full frame equivalent) is a downside. For me this is a positive. It removes one of the choices I have to make when I am using it, and it forces me to use what I have in a more creative way. You only have to look at the range of photographs shorlisted to realise that this little camera can do everything from landscape and astrophotgraphy to street, documentary and nature photography. Using it consistently has really improved my photographic eye. I could also wax lyrical about the Fuji jpegs. I rarely do much to my photos in post, there simply isn’t any need.
“More than looks and tech though, there is a vibe, a feel to the X100 cameras. Both my F and V versions make me want to go out and shoot, to look for scenes and light, to record what I see. I bring the camera to my eye and there is joy in the photographic process.”
George the toy tortoise - Fuji X100V
Rose - Fuji X100V
More than looks and tech though, there is a vibe, a feel to the X100 cameras. Both my F and V versions make me want to go out and shoot, to look for scenes and light, to record what I see. I bring the camera to my eye and there is joy in the photographic process. The manual controls are where I need them to be, so the presence of the camera is almost forgotten. I can concentrate on looking for shots, pre-visualisng, and then making the image. This little camera allows me to forget everything else and immerse myself in the delight of taking photographs. Bluntly, who doesn’t need that kind of escape just now? So happy birthday Fujifilm X100, and congratulations to the Fujifilm engineers. I eagerly await what you have up your sleeves for the next version.
