Fujifilm X100S

This isn’t for everyone, but that is partly the appeal of this high-end compact

I was hiking through a spice plantation in Goa when I first laid my hands on a Fujifilm X100, a fellow hiker was carrying it. I asked why he spent all that money when he could have bought a good SLR with great lens for the same amount, he turned around and said, “Because I don’t want to look like a photographer like you on a holiday.”

A few weeks back, I got to check out the X100S, the new avatar of the X100. The X100S comes with a 16.3 megapixel sensor, taking the resolution up by 25 per cent from its predecessor. Its new engine, Fuji claims, cuts down noise by 30 per cent.

Its lens is a fixed 23mm f/2 lens. With the dial behind the lens, you can change the aperture from f/2 to f/16, do manual focus, change exposure compensation settings, and also select the shutter speed. The camera has a sharp sensor, but the auto focus (AF) seems to miss the point in a tricky situation, and it takes some practice with the settings to get the best of the AF. The X00SFuji comes with a hybrid viewfinder.

What really impresses me is its 6 frames per second burst shooting rate at full resolution of 16.3 megapixels.

Though you might feel the absence of zoom option sometimes, its F/2 lens is sharp and good for shooting portraits, landscapes and close-ups. You can also shoot a full HD video with this camera. In case you like using filters on the camera itself, Fuji offers eight different artistic effects, from ‘Pop Colour’, ‘Toy Camera’ to ‘Miniature’ and ‘Partial Colours’.

I love the compact design of this camera, though it is not as portable as a point-and-shoot, but it takes up very little space. I would have loved a good bag in the camera kit, but that is something you can buy separately.

The X100S is not a camera for everyone. If you are more into picture quality and not so finicky about zoom options, or just in love with everything retro, the X100S scores. But if you are going to put it through tricky lighting situations, remember, the AF can give you a tough time.

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