14 DAY TRIAL // As some of you might remember, Fujifilm's FinePix X100 premium digital camera was announced way back before Photokina 2010, but the company sure took its sweet time before actually pushing it onto the market, pricing and availability details being kept under some pretty tight wraps up until now.
As a quick reminder, the FinePix X100 sports quite an attractive, retro design, with upper control deck and a bottom surface that have been die-cast from magnesium alloy (semi-solid metal casting), protecting the APS-C CMOS sensor (12.3 megapixel) and EXR Processor found inside.
Moreover, the compact camera also packs a FUJINON 23mm Single Focal Length Fixed F2 lens, a 2.8” LCD 460K, and the world’s first Hybrid Viewfinder, while also providing a choice between the 49-point auto EVF focus area or the 25-point OVF auto focus area as well as the selection of 5 different focus area sizes in EVF mode.
Naturally, the camera also delivers video recording capabilities (720p), packs a mini-HDMI output and supports a photo panorama mode, as well as a multi-bracketing function.
Moreover, FujiFilm also revealed the fact that, together with the X100, they'll also release a couple of very interesting accessories for this camera, such as a luxury, retro leather “quick shot” case, a lens hood and adapter ring, as well as a new Auto Flash module.
“It has always been important for Fujifilm to introduce products that are in a class of their own and with the FinePix X100, we have achieved that level,” said Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging and Electronic Imaging Divisions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation.
“The combination of a hybrid viewfinder, large APS-C sensor and a precisely matched prime lens, make this camera unique to anything else in the market, and is presented within a rangefinder design that makes it an instant modern classic,” Mr. Miyazaki concluded.
Now that we've kept you long enough, we'll finally provide you with the info you're really waiting to read, namely the fact that the X100 will be available in March 2011, and will be priced at $1,199.95, which is, to be honest, a rather high price point, but it's probably worth it, given the features this premium compact camera has in store.