Love your channel man. I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with any RUclips video from anyone more. I bought an x100f new in 2017, way before the hype. That might have something to do with it. Just because it has tech it doesn’t mean you have to use it. I find I prefer the shooting experience of my x100f over my q2 and all my film cameras. It’s my favorite camera of all time for all the exact reasons you mentioned not liking. Amazing how different peoples views of the same product can be. Love it. ✌️
Ditto, too much tech, takes away from the creative process. I jumped to Leica from the X100V and Xpro3, not for the build quality, hype etc so much as the simplicity. I genuinely believe my photography improved heaps when I wasn't thinking about film sims and such.
Which iPhone app did you use here? 5:13 And is it one click preset application or did you have to tweak a bunch of stuff to get closer to the x100v sim?
Great perspective Dave, one which I agree with completely also. And your photo comparisons from 05:04 - 05:18 seals the point this video is trying to make. 🫡
It's so funny that I had all these thoughts too and then came to the point of selling my x100f. After half a year I missed it so much that I bought a second-hand x100v (even before this Fuji-x100-hype). I like my little Fuji and it accompanies me on many city trips, alongside my iPhone😉. I really appreciate your videos, thank you!
Everyone has their preference of camera, and ultimately it comes down to the experience you get shooting with a particular system. I bought an M10-P late last year after pining for one forever. I thought it would blow me away, and that it would pair nicely with my other beloved Leica M film cameras. However, I just didn't like it and I don't exactly understand why. It was such a bummer to feel that way. Using a digital M is a completely different 'feeling' than using a film M. I don't want to give up on the M10-P just yet so I'm going to start using it more this summer and my hope is that I fall in love with it - I really really hope so.
My X100F is collecting dust for similar reasons. I'm just hesitant on selling. I tend to gran my M11 or film camera over the X100F when actually going out to shoot. Otherwise, my iPhone does just as well for the times I might have the Fuji with me.
The iPhone prints are shit compared to any X100. The M11 is 10 times more expensive so off course it will be better. I would never use a phone for photographs
@@davidherring the experience is like day and night. A camera should have a viewfinder, at least the past 100years. A lens you can manually focus with with clicked aperture also gives it a total different experience. One is a camera the other is a phone. 99% of people photographing with iPhone use the standard mode which is all controlled by AI making it very different from x100. The iPhone has 1000000 distractions the x100 have none. I never even bring a phone with me when I'm out photographing, more freedom and relaxation. I print alot and have to this day never seen a good iPhone print but seen and made hundereds of good prints with the 23mmf2. It's basically saying playing a drumkit is the same experience as playing drums on your smartphone, which is possible and sounds good recorded. But the experience suck.
@@stayuntilforever So, your use case is different. I think the more common use case That Dave is addressing is posting to social media. A more hard core photographer will most likely be using a camera versus a phone, anyway. I personally like the experience of my Nikon DSLRs more than the X100F. I bought the X100F as a compact EDC camera and it did quite well for 5+ years before getting my Leica M11. There is nothing wrong with the X100F. I just prefer the more tactile feel of shooting with my Leica over the Fuji now. The beauty of photography and its options is that there are many scenarios that may not fit your needs and other scenarios that will. Some love the Fuji, but hate the Ricoh. Others love the Ricoh but hate the Fuji. Still others hate both the Fuji and Ricoh and love what they use. This debate can start going off into so many directions -- Full Frame vs. Crop vs. Micro 4/3 vs. cell phone sensors vs. digicam sensors, etc. Then you can go sensor algorithms and color chemistry used in the processes. I'm glad to hear you found a camera and work flow that works for you. I also love to hear that you print. Too many photographers don't print their own work.
Short. Sweet. Understandable. I think you put into words what I felt. I went with the Q3 because I was BLOWN AWAY vs the Fuji X100V (at the time) where I felt “yea looks good.”
I tried the X100V some 4 years ago and I could not get the hang of it. It felt cheap compared to my Leica. It was of course much cheaper, but holding it gave me a feeling of carrying a thin metal container with mostly air inside. The lens did not produce any `look´ at all (vs `Leica magic´) and it went - as you said it : you press the button, the computer does the rest. Clean and boring. I still keep an old X Pro 1 for it´s peculiar X-trans I sensor and for it´s usability with many different lenses, some of which are more than 90 years old, but this again is straight experimental fun.
I know for me if I find a really cool photo opportunity, I won't be satisfied with what my phone can do most of the time. Agree with the rest of your advice though, if you don't know how the camera fits into your work or experience, absolutely get a used one. Even as far back as the X100s honestly if you're not trying to take photos of kids or pets and need fast AF but realistically I would go with the F or newer. Some people may really need something more compact or with interchangeable lenses and I think there are good or better alternatives for lots of people where you might have diminishing returns if you are just relying on the film sims to be everything. But it is a legitimately good camera with a lot of features for the right person. If you already have a better compact camera setup, it probably won't change anything, but my second camera kit is heavy and when I want to spend time focused on other people around me, the x100 is a great choice.
For me I think part of my attachment to it is sentimental, as my son is a NICU baby and it was the camera I always took to see him. It also made getting high level photos quickly without having to think much about it accessible. I could’ve done it with my iPhone, yes, but I guess it felt different doing it with a camera. 🤷🏾♂️
Of course, everyone should use whatever suits them best for an everyday camera. That said, for photography to be a meditative experience, I find the phone lacking. For many of us, it is a symbol of endless texts and work emails and other intrusions, even though it is, as you say, a wonderful compact camera with many capabilities. I shoot 90% of my stuff with a Leica M11, but I have also owned the X-Pro series and currently have an X100VI. In an endless sea of giant, cumbersome, near-desktop-computers with lenses attached, I still find them really refreshing and fun to use.
I don't disagree. The ultimate point of this video is that the best camera is the one you have with you, and the phone is already with you. For people looking for a point and shoot for everyday life, I would recommend the phone.
It's pretty amazing how convenient it is. I shared in other comments, but for a quick point and shoot it's hard to beat what you always have with you in your pocket.
@@stayuntilforever prints are fun and definitely a huge factor of why shoot bigger sensor. but not everyone view the result/art with prints. in fact, at this age of technology people mostly view on phones, and probably laptops. hence why, phone cameras tend to be still enough!
@@amaniahnuar not everyone goes to concerts or the cinema either but that doesn't mean it's right. Photography was made for prints. Not to view as a 1mp image on instagram. But if you only post on instagram then the smartphone is more than enough. It's the people who buy, big expensive cameras that only post on Facebook and instagram I cannot understand.
Problem with the x100 series is that the lens itself hasnt changed much since the release of the x100. I owned the x100 and upgraded to the 100v... Image quality was nice, but the camera didn't agree with me... The fixed lens hunted a lot, AF was jittery. I now own the Leica Q and Ricoh GRiiix and love the xperience.
Hey Dave, thanks for sharing your thoughts 👍 I completely got your point, even if I think that saying the experience of shooting with X100 and iPhone is "the same" is a bit "extreme", but if it was your feeling, that's how it is. Sharing my own thoughts : I myself owned the X100V before to jump into the wonderful Leica M rabbit hole 2 years ago 😆and I also bought the X100VI recently with the idea of complementing my M11, as a dad small autofocus cam for "everyday moments". However, even if I loved the V in the past, I sold the X100VI after 1 month, because I really did not find any pleasure to shoot with it anymore, in comparison to my M. To be honest, also because of the image quality. I never thought I would complain about APS-C vs Full Frame etc... (don't get me wrong, the image quality of the Fuji is really great and completely enough for what it is) but man.... I am so in love with these Leica files... 😍 Anyway, I ended up having the same kind of feeling as you describe with the following question : what's the point of owning a dedicated camera for everyday stills if this camera doesn't really gives me more joy to create picture than what my iPhone does, which indeed, can still produce very good result too if we use it properly ? So that's why I sold the X100VI (which is still 1800€ in Europe, almost 2K with a few accessories), and I am fully committed to the combo : M11 (wonderful shooting experience and amazing image quality) + iPhone (quick videos, snapshots, or pro-raw when I stil want something nice in good lightning conditions with Lightroom presets, and that I don't have my M11 with me). Last but not least : I think for all people and photographers who just don't have the opportunity to own great analog cameras or lenses, Leica Q or M digital cameras etc... or just don't want to spend the money for it which is of course completely understandable, the X100 line is still a fantastic option for enjoying a much better experience than shooting with a phone. I think we are a bit "biased" by the camera(s) we have the chance to use as for exemple an M11, an M6, a Medium Format Hasselblad...). For exemple, for a beginner, the X100 is a great way to start understanding the exposure triangle, to play with the physical dials, to put an eye into a viewfinder, and even an optical viewfinder ... and to still have a much better image quality than a Phone by using Fuji raw files. Of course, you (and I) have no interest in shooting a X100 with RAW because you have digital cameras that can produce better RAW files like your Sony or Leica. But here is a question : if you never had these full frames or medium formats cameras, and the only camera you had was the X100, would you consider to shoot in RAW + JPEG ? 🙂 Because that's probably the situation of many Fuji shooters who will definitely enjoy more the experience of a X100 than the one they have with their phone. Sorry, long story, but I really felt concerned as I went through the same path recently in some ways. Thank you if you read the entire message and keep going with your videos and great work 👍
Thanks for sharing all of that. It's very hard to compare the X100 to the M. They're just so, SO different. The M gives me joy. The X100, compared to the M, feels like a toy. The iPhone lacks joy to use, but for me...so does the X100. So if they both lack joy, I'd rather just carry the phone. Thanks for everything in this comment!
Usually I avoid the "Why I switched..." or "Why I sold..." type of RUclips videos because they always turn out to be self-indulgent, click-bait-y, and in extreme cases, a bit of a circle jerk for the polarized tribalists who hate the brand being ditched. But... I love this channel and felt that you, if anyone, could make it work. And you did! So thanks! You provided interesting food for thought from another perfectly legitimate perspective (one that I hadn't thought of before) and you did it without dissing the departing camera. I would never take that route but I respect your thought process. For me, I hate the camera on the iPhone. I hate shooting pictures with it. I hate looking at pictures on it. And I hate using apps to edit pictures on it. If I ever forget my EDC, and *have* to take a picture on it, I seriously cringe. It's awkward to hold, the button on the glass is imprecise and temperamental, and I have no pleasant memory of enjoying a photographic moment afterwards. It takes a basic well-computed picture, so that's good. But, that's just me and I get it that it's a very personal outlook. I would *never* try to convince anyone to think like I do and I don't think you had that intent either. But you *did* inform and entertain. Also, the pictures you took were bangin'!
The phone is purely efficient. It isn't joyful to use. It doesn't create anything with any real depth or texture. But again...this is how I felt with the X100 as well.
Nice video...I own a series an X100, X100S, and X100F...I know...crazy. At this point I mostly use my X100F as my go everywhere camera...or merely as my backup when going on a photo expedition. This series of cameras has its limitation...but also serves as a valuable tool in my camera arsenal. Again...nice video...and I'm looking forward to your next one.
Hey Dave, I wonder if your experience with the X100V changed when you started shooting the Leica M series. I went from an X100V to the Leica Q2, and I have to be honest, the experience is fairly similar... I know you also sold your Q2, which makes me assume that what you really enjoy is that full manual experience, something the M10/M11 has given you at last?!?! Just a thought...
I definitely prefer the M experience. I don't love a point-and-shoot unless it offers something drastically unique (like the Q2M). To me, most point and shoots with a fixed lens give me a similar experience as an iPhone...one of practicality but not of joy. What separates Leica is the summilux lens on the Q series.
I'd been an X100 fan/user since the X100S. I loved that camera, I loved the images, I loved using it. I later upgraded it for the X100T(When the F was already out) and again loved everything about that camera. I was very immersed in the Fuji ecosystem at that point, I'd had an X-E3, X-T1, X-T2, and an X-M1. I never loved the 3rd gen 24 Megapixel sensor. I thought I'd try the X100V when it came out and didn't love the 4th gen 26 Megapixel sensor either. Of all my Fuji cameras I had over the years (more than listed) the only one I have still is the X-T1. And I keep it out of nostalgia because I traveled the world with it. After getting the majority of my inspiration to do so from you and your channel, all those cameras funded my Q2 purchase, and later on my TYP240. The overall experience with these cameras is such difficult thing to express to others. It truly is a different feeling. While I can't say I'd compare the Fuji cameras to a phone, they certainly don't compare to what my photographic process is now. Thanks Dave
Agreed, it's such a different feeling. Leica is a unique experience in a class of its own. My comparison was more about everyday point and shoot, to which I'd still recommend the phone for nearly everyone who would ask.
I agreed with your opinion about the fujifilm even the nikon Z9, Z8, Sony new cameras, canon cameras. they are all same machines with some little differences but still going to the A.I. features computer machines for photography. I love my Leica M11 always in my bag and travel with me, before that leica Q2 monochrome. both I shoot manual focus or zone focusing, I really enjoyed it. 😁
I've been shooting an x100S as my daily driver...Love it so much; some of my favorite images of a lifetime have come out of this camera. So, ISO, Shutter speed, Aperture is all I ask for. My lumixs are for video. Granted I'm a "film guy" from the1970s... I figured since Fujifilm was "gearing up" production of the X100VI I'd be able to find on readily... My mistake not to pre order. And where's the the xpro-4 to replace my xpro-1 body???? WTH Fujifilm??? I want 40mpx in the xpro! What I really deeply desire is an m11 and a couple of Summiluxes.
I sold my X100V during covid because I wasn't traveling so it was just sitting there, I got over $2000 for it though. I reordered the X100VI (just receive it)and also ordered an m110P for travel but now I'm torn and think I may sell the X100VI also. I thought it would make a nice travel compliment to the m11P but now I'm not sure if I want to deal with both systems. I'll have to take the Fuji and Leica out shooting to see if I want to keep it the Fuji. It sure does feel good in the hand and perhaps the extra mp's and IBIS will win me over, if not, eBay or Market Place it will go.
Great video and thoughts. I typically use my iPhone 24/28mm as a second lens/body to my M11 w/50 Summilux. 50 is my main and preferred focal length used the vast majority of the time, with wider establishing shots (less than 10%) being done with the iPhone 15 pro in raw. Although, color matching and quality won’t be as good as having another modern Leica body with a 28, it does the job for posting on IG, especially when you consider the price and portability of another setup. Do you ever use your iPhone to supplement your Leica/Sony shots for casual, non paid shooting?
This is basically my experience. M11 + 35 Summilux most of the time for serious photography, and iPhone for quick point and shoot from a camera in my pocket. Just hard to beat that convenience. Sometimes I shoot them in tandem, but mostly it's iPhone when I don't have my M11 with me...like today. I'll be in SF for a few things and if something is cool, I'll pull my phone out and take photos. I didn't bring my Leica M11 today, and that's perfectly fine.
Couldn't agree with you more! I bought and sold my X100V before the hype really hit as I felt exactly the same way. I'm typically a Sony shooter but rolled the dice on the Fuji and was left wanting. I dug the look of the camera and tactile aspect however, I thought the X100V's autofocus was hot garbage. Plus, I actually really missed editing the photos I made (using your VGP most times... aces!)
You're speaking to exactly why the point-and-shoot camera market is dead. For general everyday snap shots, it's nearly hard to beat something like an iPhone-- image quality is good enough, to excellent for most people and the convenience factor is hard to beat.
Sold mine with zero regrets, Ricoh GR3 is my EDC, a truly compact camera with great colors and way better focus. The focus on my copy of the X100V was pure trash. Still have mad Fuji love. GFX50R is what I bought with the proceeds from the X100 sale.
Side note, but it's wild to me that modern cameras still don't output HDR photos (like smartphones do). The x100v is great at capturing "film" like SDR photos, but I wish it would also output HDR files that I could display on my iPhone/Macbook without extra steps converting a RAW file in Lightroom.
@@davidherring Most photographers are HDR photographers (i.e. smartphone users)! It was a big disappointment coming to the x100v from my iPhone how limited it was.
I never use jpeg or profiles so my use case is different. I’m catching great images with great color science and don’t mind minimal processing Raw. But I use a minimal diffusion filter because it’s just so sharp.
Damn to say the x100v is an iPhone is kind of brutal 😂. I had the x100v but never really connected with the camera as I hoped. I ultimately sold it off and stuck with my two camera system setup Leica & Sony. Ultimately, wanted the option of lenses and full frame.
I did a similar decision years ago with the X100T (or was it the „S“?). Never regretted it. Recently, my Q2 started collecting dust - could this be the first symptoms of a similar path?
@@davidherring I agree with you after going through a phase of owning several system I quickly realized that the process and how you feel about the process make the most difference. For me Leica provides that joy and my Sony is really there for more complex and video related projects.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max changed my mind on buying the new X100Vi, which I cant get anyway. I own a X100s, what I do wish it had was a better focus system and thats it. I have a canon full frame system and decide to try out the world of film and bought a Pentax mechanical camera. The film feeling is different and its the best decision I have made. Cheers!
I shot pro pretty much every brand for 20 years (magazine covers etc) so not new to this. I bought a Laica and realized how bad I am at photography. I kept saying "for the price it should do this or that" but thank God Leica is not changing. They change photographers instead, where other brands feed our ignorance I think. thank you
I have the X100VI and I straight up hate the leaf shutters in the X100 series … no haptics makes it feel like taking an iPhone picture. Everything else about it is great.
@@davidherring yeah and same reason I swapped my Q2 for an M10R. The IQ of the Q2 is spectacular …… but felt like I was taking screenshots like the X100.
I remember the hype around the X100V being about the quality for the price. True, it’s cheaper and great quality, but that puts it line with a smart phone. So then is the weight worth it?
The experience felt kind of cheap to me. Felt more like a toy. Of course I shoot Leica, and it’s not a fair comparison. But I felt like the X100 and an iPhone is a fair comparison… sooooo 😬
Sold my X100V earlier this year after deciding I'd keep my Q2 I got last year. Even then, I don't use the Q2 a whole lot, as I don't do much "casual" photography (where the X100V's size would be better than the Q2), but rather I found I only used either of them in specific situations where I knew I wanted to take photos but didn't want to cart around anything more than a single camera/lens. I can go weeks between taking a photo with my phone -- like I said, not much "casual" photography for whatever reason. 🤷
I'm with you Dave. I have owned 3 Fuji X cameras over the years, 2 Xpro's and an XT, and while they were great in concept, the execution was lacking. Auto focus wasn't that good, hot pixels, terrible battery life, poor cosmetic wear, etc..Plus to me they are a lot of money for what you get. There are a lot of camera's that are overpriced, Leica NOT being one of them, they are worth every penny. And there are exceptional bargains, the Nikon 1 V1, Nikon Coolpix A. Both cameras give stunning results, and there are other camera's as well that have been overlooked by the popular RUclipsrs.
I shot RAW only with my X100 cameras and never equated it with using a phone camera. I do the same with my GFX and did so with a FF Nikon. I chose not to get wrapped up most of the tech these machines contain.
Photograph with a phone, will never be the same for the brain. Not for tech, not for shallow depth of field, just for not holding a device, that is the same thing on what you are working on. And this is just my opinion. Everyone has his own. I love my phone and what i can do with it, but i don't like the touch and feeld of a bar of chocolate for taking photos. But technically, it works, yes. But i love some shallow depth of field, so i love to take a bigger sensor.
Of course, and the X100 is a camera and the phone...a phone with a camera. That said, I still think if we're talking about a daily point and shoot, the iPhone is good enough for nearly everyone.
On the one hand I totally disagree with your statement that the Fujifilm X100 camera is "basically an iPhone". On the other hand I agree with your premise that it doesn't replace a smartphone and most people should just use that thing they have in their pocket already. I laughed at first because you also use a Leica M11 and that's a far bigger contrast to an iPhone than an X100. But I am going to make an assumption that you like the experience of using the Leica (that's why I would use one and am considering it). For me, my Fujifilm X100F rekindled my interest in photography and I love using it. I get no joy from taking pictures with my iPhone (even though it's technically very capable), but I LOVE using the Fuji. That makes me carry it more, use it more, and get more pictures. It's all very personal and that's fine. So I guess I don't disagree with your conclusion for yourself, but I feel differently. Cheers.
its like saying I sold all my glasses because they are basically small buckets. Sure you can drink everything and enjoy soup in a bucket. Not for me, but possible
if we're all honest about our reasons for purchasing a fuji X- it's REALLY cuz we can't afford a leica M. it's ok to be negative cuz i think fujifilm really needs to know this- if they had the balls to produce a camera with less features and focus on nailing the experience the M offers- many of us wouldn't move to M eventually. on a side note, i do have the F, and i think maybe if you'd gotten the F instead of the V you have a different experience. the F's auto focus sucks so bad you'd use manual all the time ;P
Yeah, iPhone=fujiX-100v (& 6) !!! That’s wots putting me off joining the hunt for these almost mythical cameras. I just don’t see a diff of £1,600+ in the images..
Dave - You just tanked my opportunity to sell my X100V! Thanks a lot. Why sell it? Been sitting on my shelf for two years. I've tried to like it. Images are fine. But my experience with it is uninspiring. Every time I grab a non-iPhone camera, the X100V is the last on my list of choices. I know all about the hype, which is why I bought it in the first place. I don't get the hype. So unfortunately, I have to agree. Just sorry you a) beat me to it and b) made this video before I could sell mine. BTW, really looking forward to the Bay Area Workshop!
The problem isn't that you sold the Fuji. The problem is that: A) Other people feel it's any of their business what equipment you use, and B) You worry that people feel they get to call you out for making a personal decision. If others feel so strongly about their (insert manufacturer here) let them create their own channel and go through the process of creating content to prove it. At least that way they'll get out and shoot and not just sit on their laptop in the comments section....exactly what I just did.
As I shared in another comment below, I get DM’s weekly asking my thoughts about the X100VI, and other X100 cameras. This video felt relevant to answer those questions up front.
The problem is that you think there IS a problem. A) his opinion matters cos personal testimonies are strong influence for getting or not getting a product. I own XE1, does this video help me decide if I want to get X100V? Yes. B) the fact that he posted this video to share about his thoughts without sugarcoating doesn't make him look worried about anything
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Love your channel man. I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with any RUclips video from anyone more. I bought an x100f new in 2017, way before the hype. That might have something to do with it. Just because it has tech it doesn’t mean you have to use it. I find I prefer the shooting experience of my x100f over my q2 and all my film cameras. It’s my favorite camera of all time for all the exact reasons you mentioned not liking. Amazing how different peoples views of the same product can be. Love it. ✌️
To each their own! I make that point in my video. Can’t win them all but thanks for sticking around 💪🏼
I agree with your thoughts on the X100V. I had the X100V and enjoyed it. I then bought the Q2 mono and the M11, sold the X100V, and never looked back.
The Q2M and M11 is my favorite combo at the moment!
I completely agree - sold mine for a Q2. I bought the 100VI thinking it would be a better version, but it wasn’t. Returned it after a week.
Goes to show how much the experience matters more than the tech.
Finally someone said it. I feel the same. I sold my X100V a while ago and never regretted it.
My brother.
Ditto, too much tech, takes away from the creative process. I jumped to Leica from the X100V and Xpro3, not for the build quality, hype etc so much as the simplicity. I genuinely believe my photography improved heaps when I wasn't thinking about film sims and such.
Which iPhone app did you use here? 5:13
And is it one click preset application or did you have to tweak a bunch of stuff to get closer to the x100v sim?
White balance and crop, that’s all.
@@davidherring I'd like to know the app too! I am feeling the same way about my X100F lately...
May we know what app is used? Or was it edited post photo?
Lightroom. All was just white balance match and crop.
@@davidherring hope you can make a tutorial video on how to do this kind of editing.
Great perspective Dave, one which I agree with completely also. And your photo comparisons from 05:04 - 05:18 seals the point this video is trying to make. 🫡
Thank you!
It's so funny that I had all these thoughts too and then came to the point of selling my x100f. After half a year I missed it so much that I bought a second-hand x100v (even before this Fuji-x100-hype). I like my little Fuji and it accompanies me on many city trips, alongside my iPhone😉.
I really appreciate your videos, thank you!
That's great! Ultimately, what works for you and inspires you is the best camera for you to carry. Keep it up!
Everyone has their preference of camera, and ultimately it comes down to the experience you get shooting with a particular system. I bought an M10-P late last year after pining for one forever. I thought it would blow me away, and that it would pair nicely with my other beloved Leica M film cameras. However, I just didn't like it and I don't exactly understand why. It was such a bummer to feel that way. Using a digital M is a completely different 'feeling' than using a film M. I don't want to give up on the M10-P just yet so I'm going to start using it more this summer and my hope is that I fall in love with it - I really really hope so.
Completely agree! Thanks for sharing.
I have a few M bodies and I actually find that there is big difference between film M and digital M…
My X100F is collecting dust for similar reasons. I'm just hesitant on selling. I tend to gran my M11 or film camera over the X100F when actually going out to shoot. Otherwise, my iPhone does just as well for the times I might have the Fuji with me.
Exactly my thoughts!
The iPhone prints are shit compared to any X100. The M11 is 10 times more expensive so off course it will be better. I would never use a phone for photographs
@stayuntilforever hi this video is about the experience of using the X100V and the iPhone but thanks for stopping by.
@@davidherring the experience is like day and night. A camera should have a viewfinder, at least the past 100years. A lens you can manually focus with with clicked aperture also gives it a total different experience. One is a camera the other is a phone. 99% of people photographing with iPhone use the standard mode which is all controlled by AI making it very different from x100. The iPhone has 1000000 distractions the x100 have none. I never even bring a phone with me when I'm out photographing, more freedom and relaxation. I print alot and have to this day never seen a good iPhone print but seen and made hundereds of good prints with the 23mmf2.
It's basically saying playing a drumkit is the same experience as playing drums on your smartphone, which is possible and sounds good recorded. But the experience suck.
@@stayuntilforever So, your use case is different. I think the more common use case That Dave is addressing is posting to social media. A more hard core photographer will most likely be using a camera versus a phone, anyway.
I personally like the experience of my Nikon DSLRs more than the X100F. I bought the X100F as a compact EDC camera and it did quite well for 5+ years before getting my Leica M11. There is nothing wrong with the X100F. I just prefer the more tactile feel of shooting with my Leica over the Fuji now.
The beauty of photography and its options is that there are many scenarios that may not fit your needs and other scenarios that will. Some love the Fuji, but hate the Ricoh. Others love the Ricoh but hate the Fuji. Still others hate both the Fuji and Ricoh and love what they use.
This debate can start going off into so many directions -- Full Frame vs. Crop vs. Micro 4/3 vs. cell phone sensors vs. digicam sensors, etc. Then you can go sensor algorithms and color chemistry used in the processes.
I'm glad to hear you found a camera and work flow that works for you. I also love to hear that you print. Too many photographers don't print their own work.
Short. Sweet. Understandable.
I think you put into words what I felt. I went with the Q3 because I was BLOWN AWAY vs the Fuji X100V (at the time) where I felt “yea looks good.”
Exactly!
I had a Q3 for a short while. Glad I got rid of it. Got a Ricoh gr3 and gr3x plus a Fuji xe4. So much more fun to use.
Glad someone said it. I bought an X100V and sold it within a few days.
Haha thanks. I gave it a fair run.
Lol it’s definitely not for everyone. Always comes down to if you enjoy using it! Not just hopping on the wave everyone is on.
Agreed!
I tried the X100V some 4 years ago and I could not get the hang of it. It felt cheap compared to my Leica. It was of course much cheaper, but holding it gave me a feeling of carrying a thin metal container with mostly air inside. The lens did not produce any `look´ at all (vs `Leica magic´) and it went - as you said it : you press the button, the computer does the rest. Clean and boring. I still keep an old X Pro 1 for it´s peculiar X-trans I sensor and for it´s usability with many different lenses, some of which are more than 90 years old, but this again is straight experimental fun.
Well said! Thanks for sharing.
I know for me if I find a really cool photo opportunity, I won't be satisfied with what my phone can do most of the time. Agree with the rest of your advice though, if you don't know how the camera fits into your work or experience, absolutely get a used one. Even as far back as the X100s honestly if you're not trying to take photos of kids or pets and need fast AF but realistically I would go with the F or newer. Some people may really need something more compact or with interchangeable lenses and I think there are good or better alternatives for lots of people where you might have diminishing returns if you are just relying on the film sims to be everything. But it is a legitimately good camera with a lot of features for the right person. If you already have a better compact camera setup, it probably won't change anything, but my second camera kit is heavy and when I want to spend time focused on other people around me, the x100 is a great choice.
I don't disagree, and we should always carry the camera that works best for us. Thanks for sharing!
For me I think part of my attachment to it is sentimental, as my son is a NICU baby and it was the camera I always took to see him. It also made getting high level photos quickly without having to think much about it accessible. I could’ve done it with my iPhone, yes, but I guess it felt different doing it with a camera. 🤷🏾♂️
Totally get that! I went through some stuff with my A7RIII and it will be with me forever.
Of course, everyone should use whatever suits them best for an everyday camera. That said, for photography to be a meditative experience, I find the phone lacking. For many of us, it is a symbol of endless texts and work emails and other intrusions, even though it is, as you say, a wonderful compact camera with many capabilities. I shoot 90% of my stuff with a Leica M11, but I have also owned the X-Pro series and currently have an X100VI. In an endless sea of giant, cumbersome, near-desktop-computers with lenses attached, I still find them really refreshing and fun to use.
I don't disagree. The ultimate point of this video is that the best camera is the one you have with you, and the phone is already with you. For people looking for a point and shoot for everyday life, I would recommend the phone.
Fully agree that the phone camera most of the time. In fact, for those high end ones could even perform great and produce AMAZING results!
It's pretty amazing how convenient it is. I shared in other comments, but for a quick point and shoot it's hard to beat what you always have with you in your pocket.
Prints!!! You never print??
@@stayuntilforever prints are fun and definitely a huge factor of why shoot bigger sensor. but not everyone view the result/art with prints. in fact, at this age of technology people mostly view on phones, and probably laptops. hence why, phone cameras tend to be still enough!
@@amaniahnuar not everyone goes to concerts or the cinema either but that doesn't mean it's right. Photography was made for prints. Not to view as a 1mp image on instagram. But if you only post on instagram then the smartphone is more than enough. It's the people who buy, big expensive cameras that only post on Facebook and instagram I cannot understand.
Problem with the x100 series is that the lens itself hasnt changed much since the release of the x100. I owned the x100 and upgraded to the 100v... Image quality was nice, but the camera didn't agree with me... The fixed lens hunted a lot, AF was jittery. I now own the Leica Q and Ricoh GRiiix and love the xperience.
It didn't agree with me either, obviously. But I really tried.
Hey Dave, thanks for sharing your thoughts 👍 I completely got your point, even if I think that saying the experience of shooting with X100 and iPhone is "the same" is a bit "extreme", but if it was your feeling, that's how it is.
Sharing my own thoughts :
I myself owned the X100V before to jump into the wonderful Leica M rabbit hole 2 years ago 😆and I also bought the X100VI recently with the idea of complementing my M11, as a dad small autofocus cam for "everyday moments". However, even if I loved the V in the past, I sold the X100VI after 1 month, because I really did not find any pleasure to shoot with it anymore, in comparison to my M. To be honest, also because of the image quality. I never thought I would complain about APS-C vs Full Frame etc... (don't get me wrong, the image quality of the Fuji is really great and completely enough for what it is) but man.... I am so in love with these Leica files... 😍
Anyway, I ended up having the same kind of feeling as you describe with the following question : what's the point of owning a dedicated camera for everyday stills if this camera doesn't really gives me more joy to create picture than what my iPhone does, which indeed, can still produce very good result too if we use it properly ?
So that's why I sold the X100VI (which is still 1800€ in Europe, almost 2K with a few accessories), and I am fully committed to the combo : M11 (wonderful shooting experience and amazing image quality) + iPhone (quick videos, snapshots, or pro-raw when I stil want something nice in good lightning conditions with Lightroom presets, and that I don't have my M11 with me).
Last but not least : I think for all people and photographers who just don't have the opportunity to own great analog cameras or lenses, Leica Q or M digital cameras etc... or just don't want to spend the money for it which is of course completely understandable, the X100 line is still a fantastic option for enjoying a much better experience than shooting with a phone. I think we are a bit "biased" by the camera(s) we have the chance to use as for exemple an M11, an M6, a Medium Format Hasselblad...). For exemple, for a beginner, the X100 is a great way to start understanding the exposure triangle, to play with the physical dials, to put an eye into a viewfinder, and even an optical viewfinder ... and to still have a much better image quality than a Phone by using Fuji raw files. Of course, you (and I) have no interest in shooting a X100 with RAW because you have digital cameras that can produce better RAW files like your Sony or Leica. But here is a question : if you never had these full frames or medium formats cameras, and the only camera you had was the X100, would you consider to shoot in RAW + JPEG ? 🙂 Because that's probably the situation of many Fuji shooters who will definitely enjoy more the experience of a X100 than the one they have with their phone.
Sorry, long story, but I really felt concerned as I went through the same path recently in some ways.
Thank you if you read the entire message and keep going with your videos and great work 👍
Thanks for sharing all of that. It's very hard to compare the X100 to the M. They're just so, SO different. The M gives me joy. The X100, compared to the M, feels like a toy. The iPhone lacks joy to use, but for me...so does the X100. So if they both lack joy, I'd rather just carry the phone. Thanks for everything in this comment!
Usually I avoid the "Why I switched..." or "Why I sold..." type of RUclips videos because they always turn out to be self-indulgent, click-bait-y, and in extreme cases, a bit of a circle jerk for the polarized tribalists who hate the brand being ditched. But... I love this channel and felt that you, if anyone, could make it work. And you did! So thanks! You provided interesting food for thought from another perfectly legitimate perspective (one that I hadn't thought of before) and you did it without dissing the departing camera. I would never take that route but I respect your thought process. For me, I hate the camera on the iPhone. I hate shooting pictures with it. I hate looking at pictures on it. And I hate using apps to edit pictures on it. If I ever forget my EDC, and *have* to take a picture on it, I seriously cringe. It's awkward to hold, the button on the glass is imprecise and temperamental, and I have no pleasant memory of enjoying a photographic moment afterwards. It takes a basic well-computed picture, so that's good. But, that's just me and I get it that it's a very personal outlook. I would *never* try to convince anyone to think like I do and I don't think you had that intent either. But you *did* inform and entertain. Also, the pictures you took were bangin'!
The phone is purely efficient. It isn't joyful to use. It doesn't create anything with any real depth or texture. But again...this is how I felt with the X100 as well.
Nice video...I own a series an X100, X100S, and X100F...I know...crazy. At this point I mostly use my X100F as my go everywhere camera...or merely as my backup when going on a photo expedition. This series of cameras has its limitation...but also serves as a valuable tool in my camera arsenal. Again...nice video...and I'm looking forward to your next one.
Thank you! Sounds like you need a few more X100’s!
Hey Dave, I wonder if your experience with the X100V changed when you started shooting the Leica M series. I went from an X100V to the Leica Q2, and I have to be honest, the experience is fairly similar... I know you also sold your Q2, which makes me assume that what you really enjoy is that full manual experience, something the M10/M11 has given you at last?!?! Just a thought...
I definitely prefer the M experience. I don't love a point-and-shoot unless it offers something drastically unique (like the Q2M). To me, most point and shoots with a fixed lens give me a similar experience as an iPhone...one of practicality but not of joy. What separates Leica is the summilux lens on the Q series.
I'd been an X100 fan/user since the X100S. I loved that camera, I loved the images, I loved using it. I later upgraded it for the X100T(When the F was already out) and again loved everything about that camera. I was very immersed in the Fuji ecosystem at that point, I'd had an X-E3, X-T1, X-T2, and an X-M1. I never loved the 3rd gen 24 Megapixel sensor. I thought I'd try the X100V when it came out and didn't love the 4th gen 26 Megapixel sensor either. Of all my Fuji cameras I had over the years (more than listed) the only one I have still is the X-T1. And I keep it out of nostalgia because I traveled the world with it.
After getting the majority of my inspiration to do so from you and your channel, all those cameras funded my Q2 purchase, and later on my TYP240. The overall experience with these cameras is such difficult thing to express to others. It truly is a different feeling.
While I can't say I'd compare the Fuji cameras to a phone, they certainly don't compare to what my photographic process is now.
Thanks Dave
Agreed, it's such a different feeling. Leica is a unique experience in a class of its own. My comparison was more about everyday point and shoot, to which I'd still recommend the phone for nearly everyone who would ask.
I agreed with your opinion about the fujifilm even the nikon Z9, Z8, Sony new cameras, canon cameras. they are all same machines with some little differences but still going to the A.I. features computer machines for photography. I love my Leica M11 always in my bag and travel with me, before that leica Q2 monochrome. both I shoot manual focus or zone focusing, I really enjoyed it. 😁
It’s Leica M for me these days. Always. I keep trying other cameras but keep coming back to it.
I've been shooting an x100S as my daily driver...Love it so much; some of my favorite images of a lifetime have come out of this camera. So, ISO, Shutter speed, Aperture is all I ask for. My lumixs are for video. Granted I'm a "film guy" from the1970s... I figured since Fujifilm was "gearing up" production of the X100VI I'd be able to find on readily... My mistake not to pre order. And where's the the xpro-4 to replace my xpro-1 body???? WTH Fujifilm??? I want 40mpx in the xpro! What I really deeply desire is an m11 and a couple of Summiluxes.
The M11 and Summilux lenses is the best combo I’ve ever experienced.
I sold my X100V during covid because I wasn't traveling so it was just sitting there, I got over $2000 for it though. I reordered the X100VI (just receive it)and also ordered an m110P for travel but now I'm torn and think I may sell the X100VI also. I thought it would make a nice travel compliment to the m11P but now I'm not sure if I want to deal with both systems. I'll have to take the Fuji and Leica out shooting to see if I want to keep it the Fuji. It sure does feel good in the hand and perhaps the extra mp's and IBIS will win me over, if not, eBay or Market Place it will go.
Best of luck!
Great video and thoughts. I typically use my iPhone 24/28mm as a second lens/body to my M11 w/50 Summilux. 50 is my main and preferred focal length used the vast majority of the time, with wider establishing shots (less than 10%) being done with the iPhone 15 pro in raw. Although, color matching and quality won’t be as good as having another modern Leica body with a 28, it does the job for posting on IG, especially when you consider the price and portability of another setup. Do you ever use your iPhone to supplement your Leica/Sony shots for casual, non paid shooting?
This is basically my experience. M11 + 35 Summilux most of the time for serious photography, and iPhone for quick point and shoot from a camera in my pocket. Just hard to beat that convenience. Sometimes I shoot them in tandem, but mostly it's iPhone when I don't have my M11 with me...like today. I'll be in SF for a few things and if something is cool, I'll pull my phone out and take photos. I didn't bring my Leica M11 today, and that's perfectly fine.
Couldn't agree with you more! I bought and sold my X100V before the hype really hit as I felt exactly the same way. I'm typically a Sony shooter but rolled the dice on the Fuji and was left wanting. I dug the look of the camera and tactile aspect however, I thought the X100V's autofocus was hot garbage. Plus, I actually really missed editing the photos I made (using your VGP most times... aces!)
Nice! Thanks for sharing!
You're speaking to exactly why the point-and-shoot camera market is dead. For general everyday snap shots, it's nearly hard to beat something like an iPhone-- image quality is good enough, to excellent for most people and the convenience factor is hard to beat.
Exactly!
Sold mine with zero regrets, Ricoh GR3 is my EDC, a truly compact camera with great colors and way better focus. The focus on my copy of the X100V was pure trash. Still have mad Fuji love. GFX50R is what I bought with the proceeds from the X100 sale.
I have never heard a negative word from anyone about Ricoh cameras.
Side note, but it's wild to me that modern cameras still don't output HDR photos (like smartphones do). The x100v is great at capturing "film" like SDR photos, but I wish it would also output HDR files that I could display on my iPhone/Macbook without extra steps converting a RAW file in Lightroom.
I'm sure for HDR photographers this is frustrating!
@@davidherring Most photographers are HDR photographers (i.e. smartphone users)! It was a big disappointment coming to the x100v from my iPhone how limited it was.
I never use jpeg or profiles so my use case is different. I’m catching great images with great color science and don’t mind minimal processing Raw. But I use a minimal diffusion filter because it’s just so sharp.
Nice! Do what works for you. That’s the best part of photography.
Damn to say the x100v is an iPhone is kind of brutal 😂. I had the x100v but never really connected with the camera as I hoped. I ultimately sold it off and stuck with my two camera system setup Leica & Sony. Ultimately, wanted the option of lenses and full frame.
Haha my point is that my iPhone serves the place of the Fuji - a point and shoot - in my life.
I did a similar decision years ago with the X100T (or was it the „S“?). Never regretted it. Recently, my Q2 started collecting dust - could this be the first symptoms of a similar path?
@johannesgeenen4169 it was for me. I shoot M and when I’m not shooting M, it’s the iPhone.
@@davidherring I agree with you after going through a phase of owning several system I quickly realized that the process and how you feel about the process make the most difference. For me Leica provides that joy and my Sony is really there for more complex and video related projects.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max changed my mind on buying the new X100Vi, which I cant get anyway. I own a X100s, what I do wish it had was a better focus system and thats it. I have a canon full frame system and decide to try out the world of film and bought a Pentax mechanical camera. The film feeling is different and its the best decision I have made. Cheers!
The film experience is really the ultimate of it all!
Did you sell that to J?
Haha yep!
I shot pro pretty much every brand for 20 years (magazine covers etc) so not new to this. I bought a Laica and realized how bad I am at photography. I kept saying "for the price it should do this or that" but thank God Leica is not changing. They change photographers instead, where other brands feed our ignorance I think. thank you
Thanks for sharing!
I have the X100VI and I straight up hate the leaf shutters in the X100 series … no haptics makes it feel like taking an iPhone picture. Everything else about it is great.
Yeah I do not love the shutter at all.
@@davidherring yeah and same reason I swapped my Q2 for an M10R. The IQ of the Q2 is spectacular …… but felt like I was taking screenshots like the X100.
I remember the hype around the X100V being about the quality for the price. True, it’s cheaper and great quality, but that puts it line with a smart phone. So then is the weight worth it?
The experience felt kind of cheap to me. Felt more like a toy. Of course I shoot Leica, and it’s not a fair comparison. But I felt like the X100 and an iPhone is a fair comparison… sooooo 😬
Sold my X100V earlier this year after deciding I'd keep my Q2 I got last year. Even then, I don't use the Q2 a whole lot, as I don't do much "casual" photography (where the X100V's size would be better than the Q2), but rather I found I only used either of them in specific situations where I knew I wanted to take photos but didn't want to cart around anything more than a single camera/lens. I can go weeks between taking a photo with my phone -- like I said, not much "casual" photography for whatever reason. 🤷
Sounds like you need to go on a daily photo walk!
@@davidherring , I often do, but usually take the M11. 😀
I'm with you Dave. I have owned 3 Fuji X cameras over the years, 2 Xpro's and an XT, and while they were great in concept, the execution was lacking. Auto focus wasn't that good, hot pixels, terrible battery life, poor cosmetic wear, etc..Plus to me they are a lot of money for what you get. There are a lot of camera's that are overpriced, Leica NOT being one of them, they are worth every penny. And there are exceptional bargains, the Nikon 1 V1, Nikon Coolpix A. Both cameras give stunning results, and there are other camera's as well that have been overlooked by the popular RUclipsrs.
Thanks for the comment. I still have my Coolpix from 2008 or so, but it won't autofocus anymore haha.
I shot RAW only with my X100 cameras and never equated it with using a phone camera. I do the same with my GFX and did so with a FF Nikon. I chose not to get wrapped up most of the tech these machines contain.
Thanks for sharing!
Photograph with a phone, will never be the same for the brain. Not for tech, not for shallow depth of field, just for not holding a device, that is the same thing on what you are working on. And this is just my opinion. Everyone has his own. I love my phone and what i can do with it, but i don't like the touch and feeld of a bar of chocolate for taking photos. But technically, it works, yes. But i love some shallow depth of field, so i love to take a bigger sensor.
Of course, and the X100 is a camera and the phone...a phone with a camera. That said, I still think if we're talking about a daily point and shoot, the iPhone is good enough for nearly everyone.
On the one hand I totally disagree with your statement that the Fujifilm X100 camera is "basically an iPhone". On the other hand I agree with your premise that it doesn't replace a smartphone and most people should just use that thing they have in their pocket already. I laughed at first because you also use a Leica M11 and that's a far bigger contrast to an iPhone than an X100. But I am going to make an assumption that you like the experience of using the Leica (that's why I would use one and am considering it). For me, my Fujifilm X100F rekindled my interest in photography and I love using it. I get no joy from taking pictures with my iPhone (even though it's technically very capable), but I LOVE using the Fuji. That makes me carry it more, use it more, and get more pictures. It's all very personal and that's fine. So I guess I don't disagree with your conclusion for yourself, but I feel differently. Cheers.
Thanks for sharing! If it gets you taking photos, then it’s a winner!
The pics from the X100V look fabulous though.
I don't disagree!
its like saying I sold all my glasses because they are basically small buckets. Sure you can drink everything and enjoy soup in a bucket. Not for me, but possible
Thanks for the comment.
I have the same feeling with my Leica Q2.
I had a similar feeling...so I sold it last year.
Yea yes I couldn‘t agree more
Thanks!
I’m not saying that you can’t take a good picture with a smartphone, but they always look like a smartphone
True. Depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. I think the X100 looks like a smart phone.
if we're all honest about our reasons for purchasing a fuji X- it's REALLY cuz we can't afford a leica M. it's ok to be negative cuz i think fujifilm really needs to know this- if they had the balls to produce a camera with less features and focus on nailing the experience the M offers- many of us wouldn't move to M eventually.
on a side note, i do have the F, and i think maybe if you'd gotten the F instead of the V you have a different experience. the F's auto focus sucks so bad you'd use manual all the time ;P
I setup my X100V like a Leica with optical display and rangefinder, etc...but the experience with it was awful and I immediately put it back haha.
@@davidherring lol i have a sudden terrible feeling that your past is my future
Completely agree 👍
My brother splootan.
Yeah, iPhone=fujiX-100v (& 6) !!! That’s wots putting me off joining the hunt for these almost mythical cameras. I just don’t see a diff of £1,600+ in the images..
Thanks for sharing!
Dave - You just tanked my opportunity to sell my X100V! Thanks a lot. Why sell it? Been sitting on my shelf for two years. I've tried to like it. Images are fine. But my experience with it is uninspiring. Every time I grab a non-iPhone camera, the X100V is the last on my list of choices. I know all about the hype, which is why I bought it in the first place. I don't get the hype. So unfortunately, I have to agree. Just sorry you a) beat me to it and b) made this video before I could sell mine. BTW, really looking forward to the Bay Area Workshop!
Hahaha thanks! I'm looking forward to it as well!
Guess you need a Leica M2
I need more Leica's, always.
The problem isn't that you sold the Fuji. The problem is that: A) Other people feel it's any of their business what equipment you use, and B) You worry that people feel they get to call you out for making a personal decision. If others feel so strongly about their (insert manufacturer here) let them create their own channel and go through the process of creating content to prove it. At least that way they'll get out and shoot and not just sit on their laptop in the comments section....exactly what I just did.
As I shared in another comment below, I get DM’s weekly asking my thoughts about the X100VI, and other X100 cameras. This video felt relevant to answer those questions up front.
The problem is that you think there IS a problem. A) his opinion matters cos personal testimonies are strong influence for getting or not getting a product. I own XE1, does this video help me decide if I want to get X100V? Yes. B) the fact that he posted this video to share about his thoughts without sugarcoating doesn't make him look worried about anything
Uh oh.. you're going to have the Fuji lovers show up at your farm and stage a protest, maybe even a camp out 😂
I’ve got the water hose ready.
I’ll bring my water gun in defense. 😁🤣
I sold it to a friend (wink wink) 🤣
Lol I did!
Wrong on this one.
To each their own!
I stopped watching when he compared the V to the iphone 😂 🤦🏻♂️
I was comparing it with being an everyday camera. ✌🏼