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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.
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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!
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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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Congratulations on receiving your birthday gift. I know it means a lot as your wife was thinking outside of the box for this gift.
ReplyDeleteAmazing that the waiting lists for that camera are so long. But, there is a lot that amazes me these days.
I owned and used a fixed lens Rolleiflex 2.8 D. Later, I used a "fixed lens" Leica M2 with 35 Summicron lens. That one was a "fixed lens" because I knew I could not afford another Leica lens.
Good shooting!
Thanks! ~Dennis
DeleteYou'll love your X100VI, Dennis. I got lucky, ordered mine two weeks before they were released on the 28th of Feb last year with a local, small, bricks and mortar. Lovely people. On March the 1st, couple of days later, they contacted me saying they had mine and I ran down there as fast as I could. Couldn't believe I had received it so quickly. I have other Fuji bodies and lens, but when I want something simple but powerful, or I'm traveling, I go straight for the X100VI. There are some differences, compared to say an X-T5, but they are good differences and they keep you thinking. Enjoy it Dennis, I'm sure you will grow to appreciate what you can do with it. Your lovely wife is definitely a keeper, too! Cheers, Michael
ReplyDeleteMichael, thank you for writing and thank you for your thoughts. Also, I passed to my wife your agreement with me that she is wonderful and she sends her thanks as well. I took out the X100VI for the first time early this morning on a short photo walk. I had nothing in mind but trying out the camera and capturing things I happened to see that looked interesting. The experience is much different than with my X-T5 or other cameras. But, as I get used to it, I’m sure I’ll modify some of my settings as well as refine my technique. For example, I shot exclusively using the LCD. That reinforced to me that I’m not particularly good at using an LCD instead of an EVF. I’m OCD about my compositions and I was just not getting them exactly as I wanted. But, that said, I had fun with the camera this morning and I intend to have fun with it each time I take it out. I’ll be writing more about it in the blog in the near future. Again, Michael, thanks for writing. ~Dennis
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