Why Did I sell the Infamous Fujifilm X100V ?
At the end of the day, I can only say, i could see this coming. I have never really loved this Fujifilm X100V.
Oddly enough its predecessor, the ’F’ never felt the same. The ‘F’ was my introduction to the brand. Like most of us, I was getting tired of the big large DSLR. Too big, too heavy, too many lenses, too many options. The ‘F’ offered a salvation of the mind. Take one (light) camera and deal with the limitations. Make these limitations a source of creativity and excitement.
Can’t take that shot, the lens is too short, the lens is not wide enough, I have not enough reach… The ‘F’ forces you to use your brain (and your legs) to find another alternative, another angle. In total fairness it doesn’t always work! Sometime you just can’t overcome the obstacle, and that’s ok… Accept to give in and move on! What you’ll get next might be just as good !
But I’m going on a tangent here. I already shared my views on the ‘F’. What brings me here is why the ‘V’ never had the same impact on me. Yes it is better on almost everything, better lens, better sensor, better specs, better IQ, better build quality, but ultimately it is just another iteration of the X100… The surprise had waned down…and the shortcoming of the X100 just grew a little bigger every-time i was shooting with it…
So there you are in 4 points the reasons why the ‘V’ had to go….
It’s bloated
There is just too much for my liking in this camera. It takes long to set up, lot of shortcuts, video options that are too complicated. I still remember that ‘Sport Mode’ functionality which was set up by default on the camera as I turned it on for the first time. It took me forever -well 20 min really, but still- I was in the middle of the streets out to enjoy my new camera and here i was browsing the web to understand why my shinny new ‘V’ would not operate exactly as what i was used to with my ‘F’. But there is not only this. The Q Menu, the hard key configurable buttons, the slide shortcut on the touch interface of the screen, the ‘MyMenu’ menu, the Drive mode button (my favourite worst), the screen on/off button etc… it was just too much for me… In any camera, I’d be fine with it, but on the X100 i felt my own precious time spent doing the type of photography that I enjoy the most was spoiled.
It’s finicky (well the screen)
That Screen is just plainly painful. Yes it looks great and it is super flush to the body. Kudos to the Engineers! But in reality, to me, opening that screen was always source of frustration. The reason? It doesn’t necessarily switch it on/off when you want it. It requires to flick through the different options of the Screen button (viewfinder Always on, Viewfinder Auto, Screen On, Screen Auto etc…). Again as mentioned above to me this is a hindrance. it takes away from the overall shooting experience as well as slowing you down for the wrong reason. I missed many shots when i brought down the camera to my waist, while opening the screen with one hands and trying to hit the right screen option with my second hand and then look for the Back focus wheel before finally triggering the shutter! Way too long, way too finicky. Too many many shots missed.
It’s hot !
When the ‘V’ was released, reviews found that when shooting 4K, the camera would get hot. At the time, i couldn’t care less, I do not shoot Video, let alone recording 4K. For that I had my Phone, and that was and still is plenty enough! But little did i know (and did I read!) that the camera gets hot from shooting still alone. You will get away with the OVF but believe me with the EVF after 15/20 minutes, not only the battery drains fast but the body of the camera seriously warms up especially where your thumb rests. For many this would not be a big deal but to me it felt too…“electonic’ish’ It felt my X100 was reminding me that more a computer than an actual camera…
It’s soulless (well the shutter)
Most people raves about the leaf shutter of the X100. I admit it has its advantages. You can trigger Flash at faster shutter speed but 1) I don’t use flash in the street and/or while using my X100’s - 2) The speedlight of my DSLR has HSS option which is to me a great alternative to the 1/250 flash speed sync, which kills the advantage of having a the Leaf shutter 3) I (may) use flash for my paid work and for that I bring my DSLR…
In return what do i get from a leaf shutter? A super silent shutter. Its so silent that it feels like an electronic shutter… like on my Phone. But when I want to have fun I want to feel I have a camera and not just a Phone… With the X100 i miss the satisfying sounds of a mechanical (non leaf) shutter. It reassures me I capture the image, it vibrates and live under my finger. It is a tactic pleasure and while i admit it is extremely personal it is something that I never really enjoy with my X100’s…
So there you go, you have the 4 reasons that convinced me to sell my ‘V’, almost 2 years after I pre-booked it and purchased it from my favourite Irish Camera shop. But at the end, it’s not that bad. In fact It’s a great camera. Probably one that would go down the history as an Iconic version of the X100 series. Its got everything, refine sensor, improved lens, foldable screen, great Jpg…and Raw (though why use Raw on a Fuji camera given the quality of these film simulations?), cleaner body line with sharp edges, great EVF/OVF options improved again, Handy digital zoom and lens adaptors, built-in flash, super lightweight body…and more and more .Its got all… and yet I sold it ?!?!
Sometime I wonder about myself…
Ps. You’ll picture I took over the months that show the versatility of this little…gem !
