Fujifilm Finepix X100, the digital camera for photographers

Photographers and camera fans first got a sneak peek of the FinePix X100 digital camera back at the Photokina in Cologne, Germany in September 2010. Fujifilm has now officially unveiled its FinePix X100 digital camera for U.S. consumers and it’s slated for commercial distribution in the month of March. The company apparently created this camera after receiving numerous requests from professional and amateur photographers across the globe.

The new camera sports a traditional design with a magnesium alloy casting for the top cover of the upper control deck and the bottom surface. The various controls offered by the device are carefully positioned to allow quick access to shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation and more with relative ease. The settings can be viewed even with the power turned off. The combination of the 12.3 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and the large aperture F2 lens allows users to capture soft out-of-focus images for HD video recording. The device has an ISO range of 200 to 6400 and this can be expanded to incorporate 100 and 12800.

The non-collapsible 23mm fixed F2 lens enables users to snap images with sharper resolution and dissuades telescoping of the lens. The macro shooting capability heightens the close-up photography experience and the built-in ND filter can be switched on or off using simple in-camera settings. The gizmo comes equipped with a new Hybrid Viewfinder feature which combines the window-type optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder system to reintroduce the old- school camera experience. Clicking pictures in RAW format can be achieved by just pressing the RAW button on the back of the camera.

“It has always been important for Fujifilm to introduce products that are in a class of their own and with the FinePix X100, we have achieved that level,” quoted Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging and Electronic Imaging Divisions, Fujifilm North America. “The combination of a hybrid viewfinder, large APS-C sensor and a precisely matched prime lens, make this camera unique to anything else in the market, and is presented within a rangefinder design that makes it an instant modern classic.”

Users can choose between the 25-point OVF AF area, the 49-point auto EVF focus area or even avail of 5 different focus area sizes in EVF mode. The built-in HDMI mini connector aids easy and direct connection of the FinePix X100 to HDTVs for screening photos and videos. Additionally, the Motion Panorama function makes it possible to capture 180° and 120° panoramic stills and further supports AE, ISO, Dynamic Range and Film Simulation bracketing functions. The accessory line-up for this device includes a retro leather ‘quick shot’ luxury case, lens hood, adapter ring and EF-20 as well as EF-42 TTL auto flash add-ons.