What Goes Around Come Around

Minolta Hi-Matic 7 35mm rangefinder film camera from 1963.  I acquired it in 1971.
(click to enlarge)

My first serious camera, given to me by a cousin in April 1971, was a Minolta Hi-Matic 7.  I still have it.  It is a rangefinder camera, silver with a fixed 45mm f/1.8 lens.  It took 35mm film, of course.  That camera allowed me to fall in love with photography.   For the first time, it allowed me to create images using shutter speeds, apertures and actually focusing on my subject, which neither of my ‘everything automatic’ box-type cameras I used before.  To me it was a ‘real’ camera.  But this post is not about this camera.

Jump to today.  With a bit of a stretch, my newest acquisition could be considered a direct (digital) descendant of that old 35mm rangefinder film camera.  It is a Fujifilm X100VI, silver, 23mm f/2 fixed lens.  Rangefinder ‘style’ instead of being a true rangefinder, but you get my drift.  Close enough.

The X100VI is a birthday gift from my wife!  Did I happen to mention what a wonderful wife I have?  She wanted me to have and use a camera different from any of my other cameras as a challenge and as subject matter about which I can write for this blog.  My birthday is in early January and I originally ordered it on January 2nd.  Getting the camera is a bit of an interesting story, considering its popularity and the recent worldwide disruptions caused by the new U.S. Federal tariffs on imports.

My usual first choice when buying a piece of new kit is B&H.  Upon checking B&H’s website on January 2nd I found they weren’t taking orders for this camera.  Both the silver and black versions of the X100VI were marked in red, ‘Released in Limited Quantities.”  One couldn’t order the camera but one could leave an email address to be notified when the camera returned to stock.  So, I left my email address.  I knew it would be a long wait but that was okay.

Fujifilm X100VI.  After a long wait and much trepidation, I took delivery of this camera on
Wednesday of this week. Read the story.  (click to enlarge)

Thinking about how many people (possibly hundreds!) could be on B&H’s waitlist, I thought I would hedge my bet and look elsewhere for the camera.  Sometimes small camera shops get a piece or two of kit in stock and don’t have waitlists.  I did that successfully last year when trying to obtain a Nikon 180-600mm lens for my road trip to Yellowstone and The Tetons to photograph wildlife.  So I started checking around—everywhere—and no one had the camera in stock.  However, when checking another highly reputable site from which I’ve purchased for many years—Adorama—unlike B&H they were allowing pre-orders, so instead of just waiting to hear from B&H, I ordered the camera that 2nd day of January from Adorama.  The long wait began.  Jump to the past month.

Over the weeks, every morning, as I went through my morning routine of having coffee, reading the paper and checking the various photo websites and blogs, I’d also check if anything had changed on B&H’s website.  Nothing.  Same every day.  Checking on March 17th, however, B&H’s site said the camera was available for pre-order.  What?  Immediately, I ordered one.  I wasn’t sure why it changed but I wasn’t going to pass up that opportunity.  Now, my plan was that whichever of the two suppliers shipped first, I would cancel the other order.  The wait continued.  Now jump to two weeks ago.

The word spread by FujiRumors was that Fujifilm was halting all shipments of three or four of their most popular cameras to the U.S. because of the tariffs.  When I read that, my hear sank.  I felt down in the dumps, so to speak.  There was nothing official but it made sense (it is now official).  I suspected, unless I bought one that was listed $400-500 above list price on eBay or a ‘used’ one also listed above list price, I wouldn’t be getting my birthday present.  My wife would be disappointed.  I had previously made up my mind that I was NOT paying the inflated prices and even if not actually used, if someone else bought one and then immediately resold it, would there be a warranty?  Probably not since you wouldn’t have a receipt in your name from the original store.  Out of the question.  The wait continued.

It got worse.  B&H, for a short time, changed their listing to “No longer available.”  It was true.  I thought, “That’s it, no chance of getting an X100VI anytime soon or maybe never at a price I would be willing to pay.”

Last week, just out of curiosity, I sent an email to Adorama inquiring about when they thought my order would be filled.  I got a very nice email in return basically saying they had no idea.  I followed up with asking if they could tell me how far down on their list I was as that would kind of give me an idea as to where my order stood in relation to others’ orders.  The same gentleman replied that he didn’t know but they had almost 1000 pre-orders they needed to fill.  Wow!  That made me wonder how many B&H, which is much larger and I’m sure has sales that dwarf Adorama’s list was.

So, with hopes kind of dashed with Adorama, I couldn’t also email B&H due them being closed for several days for a religious holiday.  So be it.  I’ll just wait and see how things play out.

On Monday of this week, since they had reopened, I thought about emailing B&H to ask the same questions.  However, before I could, I received an email from them saying they shipped my camera!  Are you kidding?  How could that be?  I ordered it from Adorama on January 2nd but ordered it from B&H only a month ago!

For comparison purposes.  I acquired these two cameras 54 years apart, to the month.
(click to enlarge)

Needless to say, I am thrilled.  Also, I consider myself fortunate to have received this camera considering the effect of the Tic Tockers, Instagramers and the worldwide economic disruptions.  I’ve not used a fixed lens camera in years and I’m anxious to use it.  My plan is to use it in ways I don’t use my interchangeable lens cameras.  Why use a camera which is completely different than my other cameras the same way I use them?  Why would then I even have it?  No, I need to use this camera in new ways.

I plan to adopt a different mindset, different camera settings and potentially use a bit different photo technique.  My goal is to use it as an everyday carry camera and adopt a ‘casual’ photographic mindset.  In other words, carry it with me in a small waist pouch I have and just pull it out and photograph whatever strikes me as curious, whimsical and/or interesting.  No deliberate serious photography although there is nothing to say serious images can’t be created.  We’ll see how that works out.

The upshot of all of this is that what goes around comes around.  My first serious camera from April, 1971 and my last serious camera, April of 2025, are both very much the same yet completely different.  Fifty-four years apart to the month!  Let’s see what I can do with this new one going forward.

You’ll be reading more about this camera in the future—my thoughts, comparisons to my other cameras as well as my adventures with it.  Things will certainly be different being the camera has only a single focal length.  I’ve written about the pros and cons of fixed lens single focal length cameras before.  You can find those posts here and here.  Certainly, you will see images I make with it.

Come back from time to time and see how this all plays out.  Now that I’ve received this fine photographic tool, my job is to fully utilize it.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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