There is design that is good by measure of its intuitiveness and effortlessness in usage (this might be well exemplified by the inevitable curve of a spoon), but the Fujifilm X100 is a child birthed from design of a different measure.
In 2010, Fujifilm released the X100 to much fanfare, but also frustration. The camera descends from multiple photographic lineages. The APS-C sensor is standard for an SLR, but it works mirrorlessly like a rangefinder. A quirky reverse Galilean viewfinder makes it possible for the contraptions to work together within its compact body.
The X100’s distinctive body style was a pleasant surprise to the photography community. It has a lightweight magnesium build with solid metal top controls and dials. The traditional analog inputs are reminiscent of the halcyon days of film.
Yet despite its beauty, using the camera is hardly intuitive. Its many quirks make spontaneously shooting a picture just about impossible at first. Each photographic outcome requires active thoughtfulness and an overall sense of deliberateness. Odd as it may sound, this turns out to be a somewhat noble pursuit. After all, it results in each individual photograph having more human and less machine put into it. And is that not wonderful?
I like a few things 