Another new source just confirmed: the TCL-X100 will be released in the second half of April. Still no informations about the price.
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13 Responses
Shut up and take my money!!! LOL
Question for Patrick (and this is not a criticism at all, as I love the site!):
If I write an ‘anonymous tip’ to you, then I assume I’m considered a ‘new source’. Could my tip end up being covered in a post, like this one? Or do you do any other cross-checking before posting news that was received like that?
cheers 🙂
no, a new source is one I had the opportunity to talk with and ask questions, as in this case. they don’t use the rumor box. Sources I can’t contact, ask questions or check the identity are “anonymous” sources…. and they use the rumor box
I’ve heard from several sources: “April/May”, “end of April” and now “second half of April”. Therefore I decided to confirm the release of the TCL in April.
Sure, it’s all from new and unconfirmed sources. But most of the rumors about the X-T1 came from new or anonymous sources too, and they were all correct.
Of course I never feel “save” until one of my trusted sources says something. But even a top trusted source began their “career” as FR-source as new and unconfirmed source.
If they are right, we all will have more sources to trust, if they are wrong, I won’t consider their rumors anymore.
Most of the sources do not hide their identity, as they are sure I’d never reveal it. Sometimes they even read the text of the rumors before I post it, so that they feel 100% safe.
Just saying, I do this at the best as I can, and if you check the rumor section, you can judge by yourself if I’m spreading BS or if I try to deliver you the best rumor-service as possible.
cheers
Patrick
Thank you for your good work Patrick. I appreciate the FR mix with rumors, user stories with pictures, gear facts, deals and discussions. The rumors do indeed usually turn out to be based on relevant and correct information.
Hopefully they won’t price it that high at the beginning : I’d like to buy it as soon as possible, but 400 sounds high…
What kind of camera are we talking about? An X100 with TCL? What does that mean?
It’s a lens converter for X100/X100s. The lens becomes a 35mm f/2
The X100/X100S is already at 35mm f/2 (actually, it’s a 23mm f/2, but a 34.5mm f/3 as a 35mm/FF equivalent figuring the 1.5x crop). This new teleconverter is suppose to give you a 50mm on the X100/X100S.
Anyways, pretty cool focal length options soon for the X100/X100S as you can have a 28mm (with wide angle converter), the base 35mm (camera as is), and a 50mm (with the new tele converter). Some nice very usable wide to short tele FC’s that would be even more ideal for the X100/X100S as a street camera or general purpose camera.
The 28mm wide angle converter worked great already. I hope the new 50mm tele converter will be as good in image resolution and performance.
It may be $400, but hopefully it will be closer to around $300 like where the wide angle converter currently is. Still, if you’re really into the X100/X100S camera, I think it would be worth it to invest in the converter lens, especially if that happens to be your only or main camera. Although 28mm doesn’t sound like much difference than 35mm, it is noticeable and there were times I shot my X100 and wished I had the wide converter to capture more of interior shots or even landscapes. The tele converter looks promising to just give that extra reach or tighter crop if and when needed.
Question: I wonder how does that effect DOF? I know the aperture is still an f/2 regardless, but since you’re either technically loosing some focal length with wide converter, do you lose about that same amount in shallow DOF (meaning more DOF)? and conversely, if you technically are adding focal length with the tele converter, do you gain about as much in shallow DOF (meaning shallower DOF with the tele)?
I’m curious to what extent this will end up being usable on other cameras/lenses with the same front diameter. Given Fuji’s usual image quality standards for the X series and the very limited number similar screw-on TCLs, this might easily be the best one ever built. So it could become an interesting solution beyond the X100(s), especially considering that it will likely be mount-agnostic. Question is how specific it is to the base lens.
I cannot wait. How awesome is this setup huh? 28, 35 and 50mm? That’s basicly all you need for life!
I would agree, but I personally wouldn’t be able to keep the X100/100S as the only camera.. there are times where you really need a much longer tele for places you simply cannot reach no matter how hard you want to use your fee to zoom and frame up a shot.
Other than the fixed focal length (well, semi-fixed now with converter options) being a bit of handicap under certain circumstances, the X100/X100S I consider to be one of the best X cameras to date, though it’s far from the newest. The IQ is definitely there and performance-wise, it’s not unlike the X-E2 and X-T1 with the 16mp X-Trans II CMOS sensor with phase detect and the image processor/software inside should be about the same (if not the same).
It’s not weather proof, but I’ve taken my X100 out with heavy misty rain at the top of Victoria Peak in HK and it was fine.
If you enjoy the hybrid VF, then it’s the best offered.. still has the cool OVF, but for more precise focusing and framing, you can quickly switch to the improved EVF in the X100S.. it’s the same high resolution as the X-E2 & X-T1, though, the X-T1 has magnifying lenses inside to make it appear larger, but resolution wise it’s pretty much the exact same.. about 2.3million dots or so… currently about as high res as it gets for EVF’s these days.
What I also just stated as a slight handicap of a “semi-fixed” lens camera is actually a slight advantage for the same fact.. more than just slight, because the leaf shutter will at least allow you much higher flash sync speeds.. something very usable when shooting in bright harsh daylight, unlike any of the ILC X cameras… and the built in ND filter is a treat and comes in handy, too!
I like the X100. But 28mm is not wide enough nor is 50mm long enough, for me. If that’s all you need for life, we lead very different photographic lives! 🙂
Pretty cool focal length options soon for the X100/X100S as you can have a 28mm (with wide angle converter), the base 35mm (camera as is), and a 50mm (with the new tele converter). Some nice very usable wide to short tele FC’s that would be even more ideal for the X100/X100S as a street camera or general purpose camera.
The 28mm wide angle converter worked great already. I hope the new 50mm tele converter will be as good in image resolution and performance.
It may be $400, but hopefully it will be closer to around $300 like where the wide angle converter currently is. Still, if you’re really into the X100/X100S camera, I think it would be worth it to invest in the converter lens, especially if that happens to be your only or main camera. Although 28mm doesn’t sound like much difference than 35mm, it is noticeable and there were times I shot my X100 and wished I had the wide converter to capture more of interior shots or even landscapes. The tele converter looks promising to just give that extra reach or tighter crop if and when needed.
Although the X100/X100S is a fixed lens camera and you have converter lenses instead of actual lens replacements to get the wide and tele focal lengths, it’s kind of a good thing at the same time.. I see it being a lot faster to change between focal lengths by quickly spinning on or off the desired lens.. plus, you never open the sensor up to the elements and can keep it clean no matter how often you change the focal lengths with the converter lenses.
On a design and aesthetic standpoint, not sure if I like the particular size or shape of the tele, though. It’s a bit large and flutes out towards the front end. Obviously, you can’t use the same vented lens hood as with the stock on-body lens or the wide converter lens, unfortunately. So, there will be a new lens hood included, I guess?.. minor details, but still, the details matter… I would have preferred it if they had kept the same size and shape as the wide converter lens.. relatively straight out from the existing lens, but I still welcome the chance to finally get a 50mm equivalent focal length for the X100/X100S.
Question: I wonder how does that effect DOF? I know the aperture is still an f/2 regardless, but since you’re either technically loosing some focal length with wide converter, do you lose about that same amount in shallow DOF (meaning more DOF)? and conversely, if you technically are adding focal length with the tele converter, do you gain about as much in shallow DOF (meaning shallower DOF with the tele)?