Four Camera Comparison – Two Fujifilm… Two Actually Film: Durham Downtown Side By Side.
Subtitle: A Borrowed Camera Courtesy Of A Kind Friend Kicks Off A Comparison.
Cesar comes through again.
We recently attended a local car show.
He walked me around a recent acquisition of his…
…and kindly offered it up to try out so I could write a review of it.
Wow. Thank you.
So, for those who may not have seen the blizzard of posts and videos, what is it? My summary based on what I knew going in:
A digital camera made in the spirit of film half frame cameras. Accomplished by:
- Vertical portrait orientation.
- JPEG only film simulations.
- Film roll mode that simulates a film camera experience.
- A physical winder that is used in two ways.
- Film roll mode: Advances to the next frame.
- In normal use, it triggers diptych side-by-side mode. Take a photo, wind on, take another photo, and an in camera diptych is created.
- A general look and feel that mimics the appearance of film cameras.
What to compare it to? I chose three cameras. The only real hard requirement was that they be recent cameras on the market.And as good fortune would have it, that includes two film cameras.
The natural choice: Pentax 17.
An actual film half-frame camera.
Similarities.
- “Half frame.”
- OVF.
- Orientation.
- Both have a vertical portrait capture orientation.
Differences.
- Feel.
- While not cheap feeling the Pentax 17 cannot measure up to the build and feel of the X Half.
- Price.
- The Pentax 17 is considerably less expensive than the X Half.
- Focus.
- 17 has manual zone focus instead of AF.
- Half frame in name only.
- The 17 is an actual half frame film camera.
- The X Half is a digital sensor, smaller than a half frame of film that has been turned on end to a portrait orientation.
- Not meant as a slight. It is what it is.
Another Fujifilm: Fujifilm X100VI.
Similarities.
- Fujifilm cameras.
- And they share that same Fujifilm vintage-y design and control language.
- Film simulations.
- Digital cameras with film recipes baked in.
- OVF.
- The X100VI has many digital overlays that the X Half does not, but both offer an unobstructed means of framing a scene by viewing it directly.
Differences.
- Orientation.
- Traditional landscape sensor in the X100VI.
- Sensor.
- Considerably larger and more MP sensor in the X100VI.
- Features.
- While the X Half has a limited feature set by design, the X100VI is a full featured camera.
- Price.
- The X Half costs about… half the price of the X100VI.
The other one: Rollei 35AF.
Mainly thrown in since it is another actual film camera available new.
Similarities.
- OVF.
- Price.
- Both are in the neighborhood of $800.
Differences.
- Orientation.
- 35AF has a traditional landscape capturing orientation.
- Medium.
- 35AF is not half frame, but actual film.
Other than OVF, they all have a few other similarities.
- Sharp, fixed lens.
- Easy focusing.
- While the Pentax 17 does not have AF, between the easy to use zone focusing and hyperfocal focusing in Auto mode, accurate focusing is a breeze with all.
- Accurate exposure.
- Full Program or Auto mode is available on three, and aperture priority on the Rollei 35AF works great.
- Fairly compact.
- All easily fit in a cargo pants pocket.
- Fun.
- I had a good time using all of them.
- Built in flashes.
- All cameras here have a built in flash. Nice. The X Half even throws in a standalone dedicated switch. The other flashes are activated by a mode dial or quick menu.
On to the comparison.
Ground rules.
Exposures.
- Limited to the 36 exposures set on the Fujifilm X Half film roll mode… At least that was my intention. The battery died with the Rollei 35AF at exposure 28. User error. Did not have a spare on me. I have finished an obscene number of rolls with the Rollei 35AF. It is a favorite of mine. So it was time.
Settings.
- Exposure: As auto as possible. Auto on the Pentax 17. P mode on the Fujifilm cameras. Set to f/11 outside in aperture priority mode with the Rollei 35AF.
Orientation.
- Rotated cameras as need be to match framing.
Framing.
- I utterly ignored focal length differences and took all photos from the same position.
Medium. (All back and white “film”.)
- Fujifilm cameras: Acros film simulation with Red filter.
- Rollei 35AF: Arista EDU 200.
- Pentax 17: Arita EDI 400,
Order of presentation.
- Fujifilm X Half.
- Pentax 17.
- Fujifilm X100VI.
- Rollei 35AF.
- Repeat.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is when the battery in the Rollei 35AF gave up the ghost. On the 28th roll of film… And I am pretty sure I left the camera on the last time I put it away last time… and other times. So, 28 is a solid number in my book. I did continue on with the remaining three for a bit before I bailed on the comparison thing. Here are the ones sans 35AF. X Half, Pentax 17, and then X100VI.
Fujifilm X Half “Film Roll” done. Went ahead and “developed” the film with the app.
Then I went on to take a few more pictures.
And that is a wrap. I will be posting more pics in posts about these cameras separately, but this closes the comparison pics.
Thoughts.
I will not be picking a winner. I like all of them. All for different reasons, mostly. I am happy with the results from all. So before I close, I will share a quick take on each.
Fujifilm X Half.
If it cost less, I would own one. What surprised me most is what I liked the most. This may be the first camera where the app sold me. I genuinely enjoyed the app. Gimmicks and all. Take the film development. See. I left the quotes off that time.
Sensor punches above its weight so it creates great images. Occasionally, you notice the dynamic range where the sky will blow out, but overall, I have no complaints.
The only complaint I have is something Cesar warned me about. And he was 100% right. This camera takes far too long to wake up from slumber mode. Not turned off. Coming back alive when you have the camera on already. You will miss moments. I would go in and turn off the sleep mode and carry a mess of batteries.
One other thing is not a complaint. Just a wish list item.
The winder had no tactile feedback at all. I would appreciate the addition of a gear set to give the whir-click feel of actually advancing film. Silly? Yes. Do I still want it? Yes.
So. Solid camera. I wish it cost less.
The other three… I offer the prior reviews. Nothing has changed. I like them all.
But I do have one closing thought.
This X100Vi is working out to be the very center of a massive what I like about cameras Venn diagram. It replaced a proper interchangeable lens full camera for non real session use. It displaced any interest in more expensive full frame point and shoot contenders. It even pulled ahead of a Fujifilm medium format point and shoot. Now it takes swings at a film centric digital camera as well as two actual film cameras. You see, because it has its own film camera like tricks above the film simulations.
No, it does not have a dedicated film mode with its camera limitations and a developer app. But use the OVF, set the rear display to info mode, do not review images as you go along, and it does make for a great, if not fully film like, experience. So it takes on all comers and wins in my book. That is why I took this pic.
Because it reminded me of this one.
For me it is the daily carry camera that remains after every comparison I put it in.
Not a winner.
Each has their advantages and I genuinely like evry one of them.
But, if given a choice, the X100VI would be the one I would pick up.
But we are not done here. There will be more X Half content, as it will be hanging out for a bit.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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