Over the next few weeks, I’ll be talking about using the Fuji X100 for a variety of purposes. I’ve already written about my first impressions of the Fuji X100, but this time I’ll go in depth on using the camera. Let’s start off with using this for travel and landscape photography.

I initially bought the X100 with the intention of using it primarily as a camera for street photography. However, I also travel quite often so I wanted it too as a lighter and a more compact replacement for my Canon 7D and 17-55 f/2.8 lens.

I was finally able to test out the X100 on a recent trip to Samar (which I’ll write about in my coming Travel Wednesday posts) as a travel and landscape photography camera.

So how did it fare? My thoughts after the jump.

The X100 as a Travel Camera

The X100 is mostly a joy to use when you’re on the road. It’s light and compact and you can happily carry it with you the whole day without straining your shoulders. It’s also perfect for candid shots of people on the streets, but you know that already, don’t you?

What I also loved about it is how easily and quickly I can bracket shots by turning the EV compensation wheel on top of the camera. I found this important when shooting quickly and I’ve no time to ‘chimp’ or review my shots. This is also important in fast-changing situations as when you’re shooting people, or fast-changing landscapes.

Three shots combined together to show how I quickly bracketed them.

But there are still things that can be an issue when using the camera. One’s the autofocus, which has already been discussed to death on the internet, so I’ll skip that one here. Another thing would be the “Turn the Camera Off and On Again” issue. This happened to me a couple of times, though I’m not really sure what I did to cause it. If memory serves, it happened whenever I put my eye to the viewfinder and then turned the camera on. If any of you encountered the same problem and have a solution, please let me know.

Speaking of the camera’s compactness, I really appreciated it when I went spelunking. I couldn’t imagine lugging around a huge DSLR like the photographer I was working with during the trip. However, I was totally careful too about bringing the camera anywhere near water, since I wasn’t sure if it’s weather sealed or not. I thus put the X100 inside a dry bag and in a padded case when I wasn’t using it.

Okay, enough about the Fuji X100 as a travel camera. How’s it as a landscape camera?

The X100 as a Landscape Camera

The view at Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Used with an ND grad filter.

By this time, you already know that the Fuji X100 has a fixed 23mm (35mm equivalent in 35mm format). So if you’re used to using ultra wide angle lenses, then shooting with the X100 might be a little too tight for you. But that didn’t stop me from using the camera for landscape photography.

The first thing that I realized was how challenging it was to use for shooting landscapes. It really forces you to find a good place from which you can create a good photograph.

Now if a 35mm moderate wide angle lens is too narrow for you, you can use the 180-degree sweep panorama mode instead. I’ve tried it a couple of times, but found that I need my subjects to be still and my hands steady (or use a tripod) to make sure that the shots are perfect.

I tried using the panorama mode about 3 times during the trip, and I’ve come up with less than satisfying results. Good thing I don’t really intend to use this feature that much.

The Pacific side of Guiuan shot using the sweep panorama mode.

The devil is in the details. Taken from about the right side of the photo above.

Meanwhile, the EVF (electronic viewfinder) also enables you to use filters, just as you would with DSLRs and other live view-equipped cameras. This is great because it’s not something you can do with the OVF (optical viewfinder) since you’re not seeing the image through the lens. So if you want to use your CPL and ND grad filters with the X100, simply flick the switch at the right of your lens to activate the EVF!

The camera is also equipped with an electronic level which helps ensure that your horizons are perfect. I personally don’t use this feature, so I’ve no real world experience using this. But I’m sure many of you will appreciate having it.

I tried using the built-in 3-stop ND filter of the X100 to slow down the camera’s shutter speed so I could get silky smooth water effects at the Lulugayan Falls. I found out that the combination of the filter, the fact that the aperture closes down to a mere f16 and that its lowest usable ISO is 200, wasn’t enough for me to get the effect that I wanted. So if that’s what you’re aiming to achieve, I would still recommend that you get a screw in ND filter. The built-in one is only best for using wide apertures in sunny conditions.

Lulugayan Falls, Calbiga, Samar. No silky smooth water effects here.

As for the image quality, it wasn’t really surprising that the X100 produced finely-detailed images. But since I was often pressed for time and the fact I was working as a writer and not a photographer, I wasn’t really able to get the shots that I wanted during sunrise or sunset, which could’ve displayed further what the camera is capable of.

All in all, I’m satisfied with the X100 as a travel camera. In fact, it’s a great travel camera, granted that you really understand its strengths and limitations, so you can put your expectations in context and maximize its capabilities. Now I can’t wait to share more photos of my upcoming trips using the X100. Til next!

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