So let’s have a look at my list.

First up (and again, in no particular order) is the Fujifilm Finepix X100.  A fantastic looking camera with a new fandangled hybrid viewfinder/rangefinder and a 23mm prime lens which in 35mm speak is equivalent to … well … 35mm and shoots wide open at f/2.  There’s no extension of the lens when you turn the camera on which I like.  The aperture ring is on the lens and there’s also a manual focus option (it has autofocus too) which from reviews is a bit of a hit or miss affair.

The real issue here is actually trying to get one.  They were released in early March 2011 and are back ordered everywhere.  You can get them on ebay for the usual inflated scalping prices or you can wait.  The disaster in Japan has affected a lot of technology supplies as well, although Fujifilm have started manufacturing again.

Next is the Leica X1.  This is a true Leica “compact” with a 24mm Leica Elmarit f/2.8 ASPH lens (35mm equivalent).  Not as fast as the X100 but still an impressive piece of glass for a compact.  It’s got the usual auto everything you’d expect from a compact as well as the ability to manual focus (some how using buttons or some such).  What it doesn’t have is a viewfinder/rangefinder so composition is all done by the live view LCD.  An aftermarket range finder that attaches to the hotshoe can be purchased.  However it’s a “dumb” scenario as no details such as aperture, shutter speed, etc are provided.  This camera looks like a Leica.

The images I’ve seen from this camera still have the Leica touch.  Very impressive and the detail is amazing, as I guess you’d expect from Leica glass.  Anyway, the one major thing for me about this camera that I really don’t like is the lens.  What I mean by that is when you turn it on, the lens has extend.  Like a normal compact I guess but is it really necessary?  The surrounds are also plastic.  Not so cool when you look at the rest of the camera.

To this end I was still debating what I was wanted.  In the end I came to the conclusion that I didn’t want either.  What I was really after was a Leica M8.  So I managed to find one for a reasonable price.  That’s reasonable in Leica terms so you do the math.  Fortunately it was being sold with a Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2.  Bonus :)



So that’s what I’m shooting now.  All my Nikon gear has been sold.