Here’s an interesting take on the Fuji X100T from another rangefinder fan, Gregory Simpson of Ultrasomething.com. Like many, he is attracted by the promise of rangefinder sweetness in this most traditional-looking of fixed-lens shooters. But he has reservations, as do I after trying this camera for some months.
It is an acknowledged object of desire and has a loyal following. But I am not so sure I don’t prefer the versatility of the X-T1 or X-E2; and as a fixed-lens wide-angle street camera, I am not so sure I don’t prefer the compact Ricoh GR or, even, the Leica X2. Gregory sums it up well at the end of his excellent and comprehensive test:
It may seem silly that I’ve decided not to purchase an X100T because it fails to act like a rangefinder camera. Particularly since it’s obviously not a rangefinder camera, nor does it claim to be one. But the X100T takes so many of its design cues from rangefinders of yore, that one is almost forced to evaluate it in comparison to them. And thusly compared, the camera doesn’t offer the necessary behavioural attributes of a true rangefinder.
This doesn’t mean it’s a bad camera — quite the contrary! If someone pretends to be something they’re not, that doesn’t mean they’re not great at being what they are. If a lawyer dresses up as a surgeon for Halloween, you probably wouldn’t want him operating on you, but you still might want him to represent you in court. And that, in a nutshell, is my issue with the X100T: The camera is an Oscar-caliber thespian — but I find myself more in need of the character it portrays.
Gregory writes extremely well, as you can tell from this extract and you will enjoy reading the full article. As far as I am concerned, the jury is out on the X100T. I like it in many ways but, so far, we have not bonded.
