Fujifilm was quite clear when it introduced the original X100 that it aimed for the enthusiast market.  I am certain that Fuji did an extensive study on whether this type of camera had a market...and though niche as it was, there was definitely some buzz around the success of the retro looks following the introduction of the Olympus PEN EP-1 digital camera.  Fuji rode on that wave and took it up a notch with a classically styled camera that had direct access for shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation controls via analog dials. They took a gamble, and won.  And Fuji was clear, it didn't want to play with the micro four-thirds crowd, it wanted to mingle with the bigger DSLR boys and hence released an APS-C sensor sized camera.

Whether they were successful or not is arguable, but photography industry heavyweights like Zack Arias and David Hobby are praising how good the X100S actually is, and coining terms like "Fuji is the new Leica" that got the Leica-purist on the webnetblogosforumsphere-whatchamacallit up in an uproar. X100 has definitely grown up into the X100S, and frankly it does deserve some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as Aretha would say, for what it was able to accomplish in such a short time.  ;-)  First and foremost, Fujifilm listened to the photographers that regarded their X100 highly - albeit with the "love-hate" relationship due to its quirks, and delivered the much needed improvements based on the feedback of Fuji's own loyal customers. What Fuji did was commendable, and definitely something that other camera makers could also learn to do.

Then Fuji followed up with the X-Pro1 mirrorless interchangeable camera, which got me to fall in love with the X-System almost at first sight...and quite literally helped me ease out of the Nikon system.  There is no doubt in my mind that the X-Pro1S or the X-Pro2 will be released sometime within the next year. Given the rapid evolution and subsequent introduction of the latest technologies, the vast improvement in auto-focus would definitely come from the X100S to the rest of the X-families. It is not a question of "if", but one of "when."  I, for one, would love to see the full potential of my legacy Nikon lenses come back to life and really put my Kipon adapter to work when the X-ProX comes out with either the split-screen or the focus-peaking manual focus feature.

Fujifilm UK listed 69 improvements on the X-100S over the 2-year old older sibling, the X100, on their facebook page and then took it down to add more, but not before Photorumors got a static list of it. ;-)

Respect is definitely due:  It's time for the big brother in the family to learn some things from the reinvented 'lil bro in the X100S. Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later. B-)


Big.Bro.'Lil.Bro.

Big.Bro.With.A.Beast.Of.A.Lens.

The Fujinon 35 mm (52 mm-FF-equivalent) 1.4 is definitely a favorite among photographers who use the X-system gears...including yours truly. B-)


Bringing.Legacy.Lenses.Back.To.Life.

My Nikkor 50mm 1.4 D was gathering dust in my closet, only to be brought back to life when the X-Pro1 was released.  I immediately purchased the Kipon adaptor for it, and in actuality, the Nikkor 50mm produced the first few images and was the first lens that I have ever shot with my X-Pro1.  I love how the resulting image that renders out of this combination reminds me so much of film - no doubt contributed by the creamy bokeh when the lens is used wide open coupled with the random RGB characteristics of the X-Trans sensor. *love*


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