Kit review: Fuji X100

Photographer Colin Nicholls often surprises his clients with the dinky, retro-looking camera he pulls out of his bag, but this beautiful piece of kit has just as much substance as it has style…

The Fuji x100, what is it?

The Fuji X100 is a mirror-less APS-C camera with a revolutionary hybrid viewfinder fitted with retro styling and incredible power for its size. 

What does that all mean? Well in short, it has a sensor the same size as most standard DSLRs, but it is much sharper than anything you can get for equivalent money, the hybrid view-finder means you can toggle between a rangefinder style optical view of your subject or an electronic actual view of the image along with exposure information and a live preview of that the image will look like.

Finally the most noticeable part, and the part I fell in love with, is the beautiful retro styling. People think this is a film camera and are pleasantly surprised when you reveal its digital heart which lies under its dials and switches. The camera is a beauty to use and produces images better than a DSLR. It is my go-to, grab in a fire, the one I can't live without, all purpose camera.

Using the Fuji X100 for wedding photography:

The X100 is a camera that goes most places with me – it's light, small and inconspicuous, and was my very first X series camera and made me photograph in a more thought out way for weddings. I now don't leave the house without it – it is an invaluable pice of kit for a documentary wedding photographer.

For weddings the X100 comes out for one key situation in particular and that's when I have to be quiet. The x100 is silent, so it is fantastic during the service and for readings and any time where you want to be much more subtle than with a DSLR. During the bridal prep for instance, if there is an intimate moment between a bride and her mother the quick silent action of the X100 captures the moment without anyone realising. Couple this with outstanding image quality, sharpness and low light ability and you have a great combination.

Now that version 2.00 of the firmware is out, I'll be using this more and more at weddings. My main problems previously were with less than ideal autofocus and a very long minimal focus distance before switching to macro, these have now both been greatly improved and my love of the camera along with it. In short, a great camera for weddings.

Using the Fuji X100 for street photography:

This camera was made for street photography. It simply is incredible, harking back to the bit about weddings, the whole silent thing is prevalent here again. if you want to photograph people without them realising, then a camera that makes no noise is a no-brainer. Again image quality makes this camera a great choice, but one of the best things is its unsuspecting nature. It looks like a film camera, it's small and no one thinks it can knock out the kind of images it does. People just don't think you are going to take a photo of them with this camera. 

Now the silent shutter – that's the leaf shutter you may have heard about – It's dead quiet but it also makes almost no movement, no mirror, no curtains. This means you can hand hold this camera at 1/15th without a problem. Yes you have to steady yourself but try this with a DSLR and you have no chance.

For street photography I usually focus on having the shutter speed I need. To that end the settings I use most are, Auto ISO, Auto Aperture, and Veliva Film Preset on JPEG. I do edit them all afterwards anyway, then to get my exposure I'll set the shutter I want [125th for most things] then tweak the exposure compensation dial to get it to look how I desire. It works pretty well and helps you to focus on making the picture and not too much about camera settings.

Using the Fuji X100 for travel photography:

If I'm going anywhere, particularly a place with people who aren't photographers, I'll reach for the X100. It makes things simple – one lens that's fixed and that's it. It makes you work for the photograph and by taking choice out of the equation helps you focus on making pictures. iIt also doesn't weigh anything so no getting tired or killing your back with 5 kilos of gear.

Again image quality is great so no worries there – you even have a panoramic mode that isn't too bad to get a wider shot in, it's 35mm equivalent ,which really is wide enough for most things. Yeah sure, sometimes you will wish for a super wide lens or a nice telephoto, but the trade off of weight and size means you will, in reality, take more photos.

Also that super light shutter means you can get real nice night time shots without a tripod. If you do use a tripod you can take a light travel one as you won't need to support the weight of a DSLR. Just make sure you take extra batteries – you will go through batteries like mad, especially if you start doing long exposures or are out all day. 

Summary

This camera is capable of incredible images, but like all good tools you need to master it. It won't help you take better pictures but due to its size, form and specs it may just make you.

You can't fire away with this and capture something, it's not great for fast moving action, you must stop, take your time and compose yourself before you take a shot, this camera will slow you down and make you work for an image.

To anyone on the fence about this camera then go ahead and rent one for a weekend and see what you think, it you will either fall in love or become frustrated and whip out your phone to take shots, either way this is the beginning of a new era in camera design, form and function.

Find out all the technicals specs about the X100 camera here or visit the Fujifilm website.

Colin Nicholls is a Hereford-based photographer specialising in weddings and editorial work while maintaining a keen passion for landscape and street photography. Shooting in a documentary style, he aims to create photos that give a realistic portrayal of an event or subject and to capture true mood and feeling. colinnichollsphotography.com

When Millican encountered Fuji

These camera bags are flying off the shelves, people.

You’ve got to love a company that named themselves after a cave-dwelling hermit. Millican Dalton swapped life in the big city in 1905 for a Borrowdale cave, where he made his own clothes, foraged for food and slept by a campfire. It’s his sustainable, back-to-basics ethos and passion for nature that inspire the Lake District-based makers Millican in the design of their bags, and is perhaps one of the reasons why Fuji chose Millican to create a quality, understated and functional bag for their X-series digital cameras.

Meet Robert – a great camera bag for travel use. It’s made from organic cotton weather-proof canvas, and has multiple pockets for boarding pass, passport, notebook and iPad storage, and a removable felt protector.

And here’s Christopher – this larger bag holds the X-Pro1, X-M1 and X-E1, plus two spare lenses, memory cards and a spare battery.

Robert, £99

Christopher, £199

homeofmillican.com/fujifilm.html

In the dog house

Jon Saxon, editor of Doghouse, will be a regular contributor telling us about the best British pubs in the country. In the meantime, we've pulled him up for a chat about ale, pubs, cobs and darts. 

1. What's your magazine about?

Doghouse Magazine is all about the traditional British pub and the essence of pub culture. The loose tag-line is: "A love-letter to the British pub: celebrating tales from the bar, mystery of the cellars below, and ghosts that lurk around upstairs." 

2. What inspired you to create your own mag?

I had been a features writer since 1994, first working for music magazines then within the motoring sector. One day I popped down my local pub and just sat there thinking what to do next. I knew I wanted to keep doing something for myself, but only in print – but didn't know what. It sounds so romantic now, but I looked up at that moment and noticed sat across the room a man reading the newspaper, with a pint in front of him and a dog fast asleep half across the newspaper, and half in the crook of his arm. And I thought there and then: that's it, I'll be that man and travel around writing about pubs, talking just as much about the history, architecture, people at the bar, the region itself, wildlife, ghosts, and so forth. 

3. Why are we getting excited about real ale and independent breweries and micropubs? 

It's quite remarkable really. Maybe it's a shift in the mood these days, with people possibly being more in-tune with the underdog, and – more importantly – supporting new and exciting products/produce/ventures from independent companies, some of which operate from a tiny broom cupboard, restored outdoor toilet-block, or in the case of Brew Dog, occasionally at the bottom of the North Sea. It's exciting and people feel connected. It feels real, and well-worth supporting. Whether it's a boom or not, it's being grabbed hold of by an awful lot of people, and that's fantastic – especially if it means more folks are heading down the pub to try new ones out, rather than ordered mainstream nonsense.

4. What's the future of the British pub? Is it a positive one?

I think it has to be positive, else we'll be doomed as a nation. I am asked the same question quite a lot, to which I put on my 'why wouldn't it be positive' face. I think you have to be optimistic. If you don't rally up a smile and confidence, than people will soon stop caring along with you and let a rather important part of the British landscape slip away only to possibly return as themed establishments (carved out of post offices, libraries and butcher shops, which will also be long gone too if we don't start spending more times in them) ultimately showcasing how pubs used to be. For some people, though, traditional pubs are rather terrifying places to enter – for whatever reasons – so I do see why larger, brightly-lit corporate pubs and bars are more popular. For others, there's no value put on the traditional pub – so they don't feel the need to support them – but I guarantee if every back-street boozer disappeared overnight, those same people would be up in arms. 

5. What four essential things should a good pub have? And four things they shouldn't?

Now this is a tough one. My idea of a good pub is some people's idea of hell. But if you are talking about a pub just for me, and the like-minded, my should-haves are: real ale and real cider (I hope that stands as one thing), a plate of selected cobs under cellophane, over-sized glasses, good regulars (one at best being as old as life will allow, so you can possibly leave having learned something useful). And I know these will tally up to six, but I think pubs  should be difficult to find/give directions for – even if you've been there at least once before. And I rather like dartboards too – there is something attractive and comforting about seeing one, even if you don't personally play or see anyone throw a dart throughout the whole time of your visit.

Not haves: I think lager should be thrown out altogether. There's no place for it these days, with so many ale options – some of which are designed to appeal to the lager-crowd. No music (background is okay but not the foundation of a pub). I think bar staff get nervous of quiet pubs and fill the void with inappropriate sound. No TV at all. But that's just me. There is so many great things to glance your eye over at a pub than needing the news, a soap or reality show on. Of course certain pubs rely on the TV, especially sports-heavy places which is fine. It's clear from the A-frame outside advertising the football and every seat taken what's awaiting for you inside, but to wander into a lovely old pub to be faced with two locals and the TV blaring away pretty much to itself is a big no-no for me. Energetic young children in the public bar shouldn't be allowed as much as they are – more for the sake of the children than the drinkers. They get bored and put people off their pints by making a racket. I don't blame them though; I'd be the same if I had my time again as a youngest I'm sure, but better off in the lounge or anywhere else but the public bar. 

6. Favourite pub and why?

I'm very fond of The Cresselly Arms, Cresswell Quay, Pembrokeshire: they serve straight from the barrel into a jug and then into your pint glass. Great in every way. I even talk a lot about the toilets. I'm also head-over-heels for The Dyffryn Arms, Pontfaen (also in Pembrokeshire): straight from the barrel (only Bass available) served through a hatch that is only opened when you rattle an empty pint glass on the hatch-ledge. It's a no-fuss simply-furnished single room in someone's home. A pub-defining establishment: the opposite to anything you'll find on the high-street. I also spend a lot of time in The Three Kings in Hanley Castle, Worcestershire. If you haven't been, I encourage you to do so: it's not too old-world to frighten you off, but untouched and much-loved. Great drink choice and fantastic conversation. It's got stuffed birds and everyone gets a dimpled glass. 

7. Favourite ale and why?

Pretty difficult one to answer. At home I drink Banks's Bitter (as I really like the taste at home: why, not sure). At my local I drink Wye Valley Bitter as it's an easy session drink. I'd rather have a couple more at 3.7% than only two 5% for example. Anything that keeps me in the pub longer helps. Around me there are plenty of really good breweries so I do like to mix it up as often as I'm in the mood to do so.

8. If you had your own pub, what would you call it?

The magazine has its own pop-up pub, which travels around any food festival that will have us – which I plan to give a semi-permanent home in the near future. Everyone expects it be called The Doghouse, but I rather like: The Dog End. A couple of my favourite pub names, for reasons unknown, are: The Gate Hangs Well, and The Romping Cat. Also, there is no longer a pub left standing by the name of The Silver Lion, so maybe that should be a firm contender? In short I haven't got a clue.

9. What's on your bedside table?

A pile of books: just finished Fear & Loathing on The Campaign Trail 72, as well as The Cult of the Amateur. I've just started Roger Deakin's Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees. I also have a pint glass of water close to hand.

10. Finish the following sentence: "I have never..."

...as my memory serves, drunk a pint in Wetherspoons – which I find both impressive and note-worthy. I've also never been bored, though frustrated maybe from time-to-time, while working for myself on a print magazine all about the British pub.

Jon Saxon is the founder and editor of Doghouse. Ernest readers can purchase four issues at 10% off by entering 'ERNEST' in the discount code field on the Doghouse website.

doghousemagazine.co.uk

Message on a bottle

Andy Poplar had a successful career earning shed-loads in advertising. He gave it all up to etch glass and be a stay-at-home dad. It was a good decision.

So, tell us about Vinegar & Brown Paper – what is it and what do you do?

As a contemporary glass etcher, I take vintage or iconic pieces of glass and bring them to life with typography, language and a slightly askew way of looking at the world. 

What were you doing before Vinegar & Brown Paper? How did you make the transition?

Advertising creative gets burnt out by the industry. Quits. Becomes stay at home dad. Has an idea about etching words onto glass. Sets out to mend his head (with vinegar and brown paper).

Tell me about the process of etching a bottle.

There are several rather unglamorous stages – the interesting two for me are the moment you think of the perfect words to etch and the moment you finish cleaning off the glass and hold it up to the light.

What's your favourite message you've ever etched?

A set of vintage apothecary scales with the words 'work' and 'life' etched on it.

What inspires your work?

The myriad of connections that occur between absolutely anything and absolutely everything.

What's on your bedside table?

Anglepoise type 1228 lamp, iPad and usually a book by Haruki Murakami. 

Who's your hero?

Alan fletcher. Thomas heatherwick. Haruki Murakami.

Complete the sentence: I have never...

...felt that i wasn’t just making all of this up as I go along.

Give us a song, any song (one that gets you in the creative mood)

Obscurity Knocks by the Trashcan Sinatras.

What would your own shaving mirror say?

‘Today will be better.’  (Actually, it does say that).

Andy etches vintage glass bottles, ink wells, mirrors, sweet jars and kitchenalia with witty phrases, messages and anecdotes. 

vinegarandbrownpaper.co.uk

Come rain and wind

The British weather is unpredictable and unstoppable and is out to exasperate you. Don't let it.

We’re a hardy, steadfast nation because of our weather. Its sheer unpredictably; the fleeting, teasing breaks of sunshine, sharp showers and teeth-gritting winds can have us clinging to our breakfast bowls, wondering ‘What should I wear to work today?’ Cagoule or string vest? Cotton shirt or hale-proof shield?

Howies has the answer in its Airman Wool Wadded Ventile Jacket. Ventile. Sounds vaguely like a cross between ‘vent’ and ‘versatile’, doesn’t it? Well, yes, it is indeed both those things.

Ventile was invented in the 1940s, originally for pilots’ flying suits, because of its durability. Howies say Ventile, like merino wool, is naturally technical, made with 100% cotton so tightly woven it doesn’t need chemical finishes, plus it’s breathable (the venting part of it, get it?) as well as water-resistant and windproof.

We like this jacket's simple, understated design and nifty little pleasers like the internal headphone aperture and velcro adjustable cuffs, which come in handy if you're cycling in the rain. It's a tad pricy, but Howies assure us these jackets are built to last 10, 15, even 20 years. Plus it’s wadded with Bradford  wool, so you’ll feel as snug as a bug in a duvet. Get one and get up them hills come rain or shine then, boyo, or to work or wherever you’re going, I don’t know.

Airman Wool Wadded Ventile Jacket, £329

howies.co.uk