I bought my first X100 camera, an X100S (’S’ for 2nd generation) back in 2014, largely as a result of seeing Todd Gipstein’s wonderful 1 Mile, 1 Year, 1 Lens video presentation. His 15 minute monochrome picture show was, as the title suggests, a series of photos all taken within the space of a year, and within a mile of his home, and all with a Fuji X100 (the original version, introduced in 2011). I already had a Fujifilm XE-2 camera and several lenses but was seduced by the idea that I could take great photos without all the paraphernalia that photographers seem to need.

To be fair, it did work for me for a while, and a produced some decent enough photos, but inevitably I slipped back into GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and I figured a second interchangeable lens body would suit me better, so sold the X100S.  After about 6 months, I really missed that little camera’s portability and relative simplicity, so picked up what was then the latest 3rd generation X100T, but didn’t end up using it as much as my other cameras, so that too went after a few months!

Fast forward to 2017, and I was invited to a launch event for the latest 4th generation X100F, and although very impressed, wasn’t tempted to spend the £1200 asking price.  I did however manage to borrow one for a family holiday in France in 2018 as I was looking for something more portable than the Sony A7iii which by then was my main camera.  I also had a Sony A6300 – great little camera, but there wasn’t a compact lens for it that delivered really good image quality so I had doubts about it as a travel camera.

It took me a while to realise that all I really needed was the Fujifilm X100F – small, simple, but capable of great results. No lenses to change, just a lens hood and a couple of spare batteries, and the camera is pretty much pocketable too.

So here I am, the A6300 and lenses are sold, the Sony A7iii is relegated to serious landscape photography, but for everything else, I am just using the X100F.  Less is indeed more – it’s just a shame it’s taken me so long to realise that!

Stay tuned for more X100 adventures, and hopefully some tricks and tips to help you get the best out of your X100 series!