____
F.
Two.
Battle.
____
In one corner, weighing at 469 g: The X100F
One.Fixed.Lens.Body.
Two.Lens.Converters.
Three.Equivalent.Focal.Lengths [?]
...
In the opposite corner, weighing at 495 g: The X-Pro2
One.Mirrorless.Body.
Three.Lenses.
23mm.35mm.50mm.
All.F2.
__________
Fight!
__________
There is always a soft spot for the X100 in my heart.
Since I first purchased my X-Series camera, starting with the X100 it has always been my EDC camera. I immediately purchased the TCL tele and the WCL wide angle converters. It instantly became an all around multi purpose camera system with an equivalent full-frame focal length of 28mm with the WCL, 35mm with the native fixed lens, and a 50mm with the TCL. I loved this system and I carry it everywhere with me. But one thing plagued the X100 series from the first gen original to the X100S, even to the X100T. And what was once a love affair with the X-Series could turn to a love-hate relationship (as the likes of Zack Arias could attest to). And though the X100T has provided some improvements in autofocus, it is still not on par with its bigger brother, the X-Pro2. However, with the introduction of the latest incarnation in the X100 series, the popular X100F, things were about to change.
I immediately pre-ordered the X100F along with the WCL-X100 Mark II and the TCL-X100 Mark II. And not surprisingly, the converter lens came first before the camera. But here's what's cool when I finally got to use them on the camera: Not only does this latest tele/wide angle converters allow for the X100F camera to instantly recognize them when they are mounted with the use of magnets (clever, Fuji...just clever!), the X100F itself also offers digital tele-conversion.
(Side note: This use of magnet to recognize the conversion lenses is so brilliant as it lets the photographer - that's you and me - to focus on shooting the image instead of fiddling with menus...just screw it on and shoot!)
So what is so awesomely new about the X100F and the Mark II tele/wide converters? Well it now allows this nifty EDC camera to have a range of 28mm, 35mm, 41mm, 50mm, 58mm, 70mm, and 100mm! (All 35 mm equivalent). All of that at about 800g (469 g for the X100F, 180 for the TCL-II, and 150 for the WCL-II). That, my Dear Friends, is fracking genius!
So that's the story on one corner.
What about the opposite corner?
Well, on the other corner is the big brother of the X-Series line, the X-Pro2. Many of you are familiar with the "holy trinity" of the "Fujicron F2" lenses that were introduced recently: Fujinon XF23mm F2 R WR, Fujinon XF35mm F2 R WR, and was finally complete with the introduction of the Fujinon XF50mm F2 R WR. Now don't get me wrong, one of my all time favorite Fujinon lenses is the XF35mm 1.4 R - that thing has got some legendary mojo of its own. But quiet frankly, the focusing speed on the XF 35mm 1.4 R is really showing its age when used with the X-T2 or the X-Pro2. So the introduction of the XF35mm F2 really brings autofocusing speed to match with the more recent endowment of technology magic in the more recent bodies.
I still love the X-Pro2 as much as I love the X100F. The X-Pro2 is a beast in its own right and it is one of the best mirrorless systems out in the market today that sports a pseudo-rangefinder look. Plus, it is still the only interchangeable mirrorless body that is blessed with an OVF/EVF combo - a unique Fujifilm trademark. It's great to use and super responsive - especially with the addition of the latest version 3.0 firmware. But frankly, I just can't have my X-Pro2 as my every day carry. The total weight of the X-Pro2 body and the 3 "Fujicrons" is close to 1 kg (1000 g).
Which of the 2 systems do I choose?
Well, that's like asking me to choose between 2 children. I love them both equally! :) I guess it depends on the occasion and on the purpose of my photography for that day - if I'm simply going about the town and wanted a more lightweight system, I would grab my X100F and the conversion lenses so that I can carry it all day without busting my back. I seriously can't think of any photography that I would be doing when just simply walking about which cannot be achieved through the expansive 28mm-100mm equivalency coverage using this system. But if I'm doing something purposeful like a photographic assignment, then I would most likely reach out to the X-Pro2 with the "Fujicron" Trinity. There is just something that is special and purposeful when shooting with prime lenses. Oh...there is one other important thing: the X-Pro2 and the "Fujicron" Trinity combo is weather-proof, which does give that extra peace of mind when shooting in an environment where inclement weather might be a problem - places such as the rain-ridden city of Seattle in Washington or exploring waterfalls of Costa Rica.
Then again - I sometimes cheat. Just like real life children, they both would beg for my attention! So instead of having them bicker and argue, I would grab the X100F to capture images requiring the wider 35mm equivalent view and the X-Pro2 with the XF35mm F2 and the XF50mm F2 if I need to go tighter with my shots.
The good news: either way I choose, I would still get that excellent Fujifilm look coming from the same 24 megapixel X-Trans sensor.
Now it's your turn: Which one would you choose?
___________
Fuji.Trinity. | Fujifilm X100F + TCL-X100 II + WCL-X100 II
 |
| Taken with: Fujifilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR |
Fuji.Trinity. | Fujifilm X-Pro2 + 23 mm F2 + 35mm F2 + 50mm F2
 |
| Taken with: Fujifilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR |
