Originally posted by Clarkey I'm (genuinely) curious about why you found this to be the case? Speed of operation?
It was general speed, yes. X-100 was totally on vacation.
Then the shutter lag. Forever to take manual focus. A battery that suddenly decides to die without any warning. The flimsy wheel on the back to control vital functions. Convoluted menus.
Then after a while I thought something was really, really bad in my approach because the exposure went bezerk from shot to shot, only to discover mine X100 suffered from the sticky aperture issue. It was fixed quickly — kudos to repair team.
I cannot summarise how many bad experiences came one after another. I really did not expect
all of that. I tried to be patient, gave it several months despite everything going on, (took some nice pictures too — the lens is really good) but could not be persuaded. Even the first Q was a far more evolved and polished up camera than the first X100. So based on my Pentax experience, I have decided to give Fuji another 5-10 years to catch up with general usability and the philosophy of taking pictures.
When the X100s came out, I tried it. It was better. But still it didn't feel quite right. The battery is weak, response time could be better. The camera still cannot be used if not raised up to eye level — I mean, what it the point in retro outfit on top, if the lens does not come with a retro distance scale? So the "retro" camera must be used as the most primitive P&S digital camera — by controlling it at the eye level.
The X-T1 approach takes that awkwardness to a next level. It leaves me in indignation, because again I see lots of new complications — not refinements — and to me, for no real reason. Three big knobs on top now, plus a shutter release and a fake pentaprism? Totally crowded top. You can't touch it without a fear of disturbing something accidentally. Even the X100 has only two knobs, Leica M only one (let's talk about simplification).
But with T1, we are now back to the Nikon SP interface of the 1950s? At least in 1950s they had an excuse: some knobs were dedicated to film winding and counting frames.
Well, good luck with that Fujifilm. I understand the desire to be different in order to make a new value, but what is the point of being different only to be different? I still think their X100s is the best camera they have made, but it is only a basis for some further refinement and usability that may start to appeal serious consideration. One of them would be to move away eV comp knob and put a small LCD instead, that shows
from the top all what is relevant: aperture, shutter speed, focus distance, ISO.
I have also tried Leica X2 and while I like the Leica's interface better (simpler) and Leica feels like a better quality tool, the camera is generally slow and on vacation. Plus the ancient LCD leaves much to be desired in terms of focusing.
X-Vario from Leica was a good step forward in terms of Leica's evolution, many things were better done than on the X2, so with great anxiety I'm looking forward to see what a new X3 will bring. But I have no unreasonable hopes with Leica.
Or if Ricoh comes out with something hi-end in their department? But unlike their cameras, their development team seem to be on vacation