Happy Birthday to me!

Shhhhhh - don’t tell anyone, but I’m turning 58 in five days time!

I can’t quite believe it really, and it seems quite surreal. My Dad only made it to 36 before he passed away (as the result of a bad accident at his place of work). And while I didn’t therefore assume that I would also go young, 58 (only 2yrs away from the big 60) has kinda snuck up on me. 

I’ve also been struggling a bit health-wise this year as well. I have a family history of high blood pressure, of which I take daily medication to keep it under control. But this year I’ve also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, as well as having had surgery for ankle issues. I am taking action to deal with the diabetes and am hoping to get this under control through diet and exercise in the new year.

But this isn’t a health and fitness blog (you’ll be pleased to know), so what has this all got to do with photography? Excellent question. I’m glad you asked.

My wife and I travel quite a lot back and forth to Christchurch, to spend time with family. And on these trips, it’s a good opportunity to take some family photos. The grandkids are growing up fast (as grandkids are wont to do), and we like to document this. Or at least we like to ‘occasionally’. More often than not, I find myself leaving my full-frame Lumix S5 behind and not bringing a camera at all. I end up taking photos on my phone instead. And as a ‘serious’ photographer, this simply will not do.

This, of course, got me thinking. Maybe I need a more compact travel camera? Something that I don’t mind lugging around for those photo opportunities with family and on the road. Something like a Fujifilm X100 maybe?

To be fair, I didn’t have a specific camera in mind when I started looking on TradeMe (NZ’s answer to ebay). I actually bid on a few cameras (including a Canon M10 and Lumix GX85), before putting in a rather cheeky bid on a Fujifilm X100 (original). I made an offer of $400.00 on the camera with an asking price of $500.00 - and was surprised when the seller accepted my offer! But I ain’t complaining.

For those of you who may have read some of my previous posts, you will be aware that I have taken a deep dive into the Fujifilm rangefinder-esque style of camera in the past. I owned both the XE1 and XE2, and loved the aesthetics, handling and functionality of the Fuji system. Especially the film simulations. And I have used an X100 in the deep dark past (briefly) when they first came out in 2011. Ironically, I can recall not being overly enamoured with it. But this was also when I was deeply embedded in the digital SLR system.

With the original X100, I’m getting 15 year old technology, with a fixed 35mm equivalent lens and 12 megapixels. It’s slow focusing, inaccurate, has slow write speeds and has very limited film simulations. On paper it’s a bit of a dog to be honest. So what's the appeal?

Well, for a start, just look at it! It’s flippin’ gorgeous. And yes, as vain as it may seem, looks do matter (to me at least). If I’m looking for a ‘fun’ travel camera that makes me want to pick it up and take pictures with it, then look no further than the X100.

And I also don’t need (or want) another camera crammed with technology and all the modern bells and whistles. I’ve already got one of those. With the X100 I’ll look forward to slowing down and experience the process of taking a photo. And yes, the experience is very much like shooting film. Which I love. But with digital, which I also love.

So while the Fujifilm X100 might be old, and slow, and lack most of the newer film simulations, I think it will more than make up for this with the experience of picture taking. Will I miss some shots occasionally? Undoubtedly. Will I find the fixed 35mm equivalent field of view limiting from time to time? Most certainly. But will I enjoy using the X100 and taking photos with it? Absolutely!

It should arrive on my birthday (happy birthday to me), and I can’t think of a better present to give myself for my 58th birthday.