Scenes Seen: A Stop By The Camera Shop & A Brief Fujifilm Rangefinder-ish Family Meetup.
Subtitle: There is more to choosing a camera than top specs. #FUJIFILMX100VI
Here I will cut and paste from earlier posts, updated to include any camera.
What is it not?
Let me be clear before I proceed. No camera is some magical device that will transform my photography. Nope. At the end of the day? It is just a camera. What transpires once it is in my hands is largely up to me. That is largely why I stopped looking at sample images from other folks. I pretty much take the same photos no matter what camera I use. Where the camera comes into play is determining, based on the tech, compactness for a daily carry, and features involved, how many images I successfully capture.
That sorted, moving on.
A recent opening post about the X100VI has received some impressive stats.
I have already racked up 6 posts about this camera, and this one you are looking at now is the 7th. And we have not hit the one week milestone yet. So…
I must really like this camera.
I stopped by the camera shop yesterday to share how good things are going so far and yammer about cameras in general, and they had some new arrivals.
Of greatest interest to me was one high fallutin’ medium format sensor having rangefinder-ish looking contraption that I came precariously close to purchasing.
What stopped me? I am glad I imagined that you asked. As outlined in this post…
…whilst caught up in a gotta get it fever one Hamish Gil dropped a bit of reason on me. It went as follows.
Then I reached out to my local camera shop to be put on the GFX100RF waiting list and emailed a friend in camera nerdery. Hamish Gill of 35mmc blog and Omnar lens fame. And all I can say is thank goodness for honest opinions. What did I expect?
Hey! That is great!
What did Hamish say?
“I dunno man, I’m not convinced for myself… I think if I was going to go MF digital, I’d want to be able to mount random lenses to it.”
The record scratch I heard in my head at this moment seemed so loud that I thought others could have heard it in my vicinity. I then recovered and prattled on about a fixed lens saving me from falling prey to another mount to feed, blah, blah or some such nonsense. But the more I thought about it, I realized that Hamish was right.
Which led me to pivot in a different direction in the form of a used first gen GFX100S and GF 50mm f/3.5.
A much better fit for me.
But this was the first time I was seeing one on the flesh.
Would this change anything like it did when I first saw the X100VI?
Nope.
The GFX100S was the correct choice for me. Especially since it allowed me access to another lens I have come to adore.
Ok… Where was I? Right. Had a bit of a family reunion.
A beautiful device. But I would have been disappointed with the lack of a longer focal length and faster aperture after the new gear buzz wore off.
What I expected:
I would prefer the GFX100S over the GFX100RF.
What I did not expect.
Comparing them side by side, I prefer the X100VI over the GFX11RF. Except for the first bullet, I will leave things like size and burst rate out of the discussion since that is driven by the sensor.
- 40MP is preferred for a daily carry camera, and plenty enough for “real” work.
- I like having a built in flash.
- IBIS.
- Much closer focusing.
This is as close as I can get with the RF.
Close focus with the VI.
Was thinking of renting the GFX100RF from them to do a side by side with the X100VI, but sensor and lens wise, I already know what it can do courtesy of the GFX100S and 50mm f/3.5 I already have.
So I left things as is, resting in the knowledge that I made the best decision for me.
Dodged a bullet there.
Here are a few more pics taken with the GFX100RF.
Here are some pics of the GFX100RF taken with the X100VI.
A good looking device. And even with the recent price increase, courtesy of he who shall not be mentioned here in this toxicity averse space, it still stands as a solid choice compared to its full frame point and shoot rivals.
But #1.
Even though the used price for the camera and lens has gone up considerably, I would still go for the first-gen GFX100S and GF 50mm f/3.5.
Sure, you miss out on the latest and greatest buzz and good looks but, at a lower price point, you gain:
- Access to other lenses.
- IBIS.
- Faster aperture.
- A focal length more to my liking.
Your mileage may vary.
But #2.
On the aesthetics front, Fujifilm once again offers another easy on the eyes alternative I prefer.
And once again in addition to the lower price there are the advantages I listed above like IBIS, built in flas, and closer focusing.
Enough of that.
Before I sign off of this post here are other images I took with the X100VI during my camera store visit and after.
Thoughts.
Clarification: I am not saying that one should not purchase a GFX100RF, any of the other cameras mentioned, or any other cameras, period. Nor am I saying that one should purchase an X100VI. All are fine image capturing devices capable of great things. For me personally…
Short version? It is doing all of the things I usually ask of my other cameras separately, as one camera.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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