So… Those Used X100V Prices… What?

So… Those Used X100V Prices… What?

This is my own fault. I have not been paying attention to all of the X100 hub-bub. You may be aware of this already. I received an alert from MPB in the Book of Face to look at X100V listings… So I did as the MPB algorithm told me to do. And I was confused.

At the time I viewed the listings they were going for more than $2,000.

The reason I was confused was because I was sure that was hundreds more than the price of a brand new X100VI. And when I checked I was right. Many hundreds more in fact…

What?

Now I have heard that the X100VI is basically unobtanium as it seems to be perennially out of stock since its March 2024 release date but this is ridiculous. So I checked older X100 and other Fujifilm compact cameras and this seems to be a tide that has lifted all ships because they are all going for far more than I would expect. An even older X100F is almost as much as the new X100VI.

The top priced X100V example was in spitting distance of a well used Leica M Type 240.

What?

Now do not get me wrong. I too have fallen prey to the Fujifilm faux vintage charm. Heck, I made a Flickr album called FujiLa that documents my many Fujifilm digital and film excursions.

Great cameras.

But what drew me in is also what eventually cured me. The cameras. (Fujifilm adherents look away.)

Psst. When the dust settled… <leans in>… they were cameras.

I know. I know. I can hear the gasps, pitchforks being sharpened and torches being lit.

But this is just my opinion.

Whatever floats your boat.

Whatever is clever Trevor.

You do you.

Easy there.

My favorites? Easy. The two that came closest to what I was after with the brand. The X-Pro1…

…, X100S…

…, and the X-E2 gets an honorable mention.

They all did the Fuji thing.

Fun and functional.

But I chose another system as my “functional” kit. And a split main system was a no for me.

Came down to performance. AF performance of another system won the day.

And I chose different systems as my “fun” systems.

The best I can put it is that Fujifilm was almost too normal and I preferred true odd ducks when fun was the priority.

<ahem, cough> …personal preference.

Similarly, I have also been recently fully cured of my GFX obsession. Due to an overachieving recent acquisition, a door opened where I had the opportunity to set a trade pivot to GFX in motion. And I had no interest. I do not know about anyone else, but I am shocked.

Once again similar to the “reasoning” (None of this makes any sense.) above there is not enough there to cause me to move. Little if anything is gained by moving to GFX for me personally…

• A larger sensor.

… and there is quite a bit that will be lost.

• AF performance.
  • Especially with contrast only 50 series bodies but there is a gap in performance when comparing the phase/contrast 100 series also.
• Lower MP count for 50 series bodies.
  • 50MP vs 61MP
• (I cannot believe I am saying this.) What could be too many MP.
  • As much as I enjoy the benefits 61MP brings thete is a noticeable kick in the teeth compared to working with and storing 24MP files. I would not look forward to the impact 100MP files would bring.
  • Yes. I know I can scale the files down… but then what is the benefit above improved AF.
• Cost.
  • 50 series bodies are actually reasonable, but that does not address lens prices and the cost of the 100 series likely prohibiting me from ever upgrading.
• Lens selection.
  • I have three lenses I adore currently.
    • Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master.
    • SIGMA 105mm f/1.4.
    • Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8.
  • Arguably the top two can be roughly replicated with the 80mm and 110mm GFX lenses. Still, technically those lenses actually have slower equivalent apertures compared to the full frame lenses above.
  • There are no options available to replicate my most used lens, the Tamron 35-150mm.

And lastly there is this.

• Known over the unknown.
  • I have this kit and I know it works for my every need.
  • So what in the heck would I gain from changing systems other than being able to say I have a medium format camera.

I have said that last bit before. But previously I was saying it desperately trying to convince myself. This time finally I actually mean it. How do I know? I sat at the door of making this change and felt no need to go through it.

Kudos to those that do.

A young photographer recently announced to me that he is taking that step of moving to GFX.

I congratulated him and I sincerely meant it. I am happy for him.

These are great times to be a digital camera customer. If made to I could make do with any system on the market.

Oof… I got into the weeds there. Where was I?

X100V pricing.

Again. Whatever floats your boat.

But if Fujfilm ever addresses whatever supply chain issues they are having I suspect there will be some disappointed X100V customers once the X100VI is actually available and the prices return to something resembling sanity.

I will not waste anyone’s time listing X100 alternatives.

Similar to my Leica M camera problem… I understand.

If you want a Leica M camera, you want a Leica M camera.

And if you want an X100, you want an X100.

So I have no advice to give. For those afflicted the choices seem straightforward.

1. If you can wait for the market to adjust back to something resembling normal, which will likely take Fujifilm meeting X100VI demand, then wait it out.
2. If you got it like that to buy an X100V flaunt it baby. Enjoy.

Well.. that is about it. I have rambled enough.

If you came here for solutions. My bad. This is all just my personal sounding board so this nonsense has a place to live other than running around rampant in my head.

Happy capturing.

-ELW