Fujifilm X100T Review

If you're unfamiliar with the X100 series then get prepared to geek out. If you already know all about it then get prepared to be blown away by the Fujifilm X100T - because it's the best X100 model yet.

The reason is simple: the X100T brings an updated viewfinder, complete with parallax correction in manual focus and what the company is calling an "electronicrangefinder" feature too. And it's utterly brilliant.

n terms of build, the X100T is the same fine example of craftsmanship as the previous X100S and original X100 models. There's not much we can say to better our previous thoughts on that - this silver-colour, magnesium alloy construction is solid in both visual and physical terms.

If, that is, you like retro styling and the old school of thought when shooting, because the X100T has manual control dials and a fixed 23mm (which is a 35mm equivalent) f/2.0 aperture lens. No zoom to be found here. That's a staple of the X100 series though and it restricts working practice in a kind of beautiful way. The quality is the same tried and tested optical performance as in its predecessors, as is the APS-C sized 16-megapixel X-Trans II CMOS sensor.

But anyway, enough of what we already know - and, if not, then check out our original X100 review - and on to the good stuff. Namely the hybrid viewfinder that merges the worlds of optical and electronic into one unit. The Fujifilm X100T has a wider-than-100-per-cent field of view optical viewfinder, so you can see  subjects entering the frame before they're even in it. The edge of the frame is determined by an electronic overlay which shows up as a white border within the finder view.

But in the case of the X100T it goes a step further, delivering an electronicrangefinder - or at least that's what Fujifilm is calling it, we might term it something different compared to the overlapping image of 35mm film-based rangefinders - that's really useful.

To explain: to the corner of the viewfinder - the exact space where you would otherwise only be seeing the corner of that 23mm lens anyway, so it's perfectly placed - is a semi-transparent neutral density filter used to project an electronic overlay of the focus point area. As it's a pull from the sensor, i.e. it's an electronic view, it can be used to judge colour, exposure and film simulation mode effects directly to the eye without impacting that optical finder experience.

If you've used the X100 or X100S before then you will know when manually focusing - particularly for close-up shots - that the framing has to adjust, in what is known as parallax adjustment. It's not a brand new issue, it's something that's existed for a long time and something you can't see in an optical viewfinder. It's not a typical issue in modern digital cameras is all, but if you want old school X100 way of thinking then you have to inherit some of those well-aged problems.

But no longer. The X100T adds another great benefit: manual focus parallax adjustment. By shifting the electronic frame edge in real time over the opticaldisplay you can see exactly what you're going to capture. The "electronicrangefinder" area in the corner is still visible for fine-tuning focus-point focus too - and that's a constant, even for close-up work. 

You won't see these issues/benefits if using the rear LCD screen, as that's electronic only. The screen is the same 3-inch size it's always been, but now boasts a most-welcomed 1.04m-dot resolution.

In addition there's a new Classic Chrome Film Simulation mode and 1/32,000th sec electronic shutter that are new to the series. An update to bring such features to both the X100 and X100S models hasn't been confirmed - but we wouldn't entirely rule out the possibility.

The Fujifilm X100T will be available in black or silver finishes, each priced at £1,000 and available from November of this year. If you thought the original X100 was good then the X100T irons out those small working issues and boosts the camera to a new level. We're definite fans.

source:pocketlint