Fujifilm X100 Digital Camera Review

Dynamic Range

First, an important word about dynamic range on this camera: the X100 comes equipped with two level of dynamic range expansion (200% and 400%), but these settings have a peculiar relationship with ISO. For starters, the minimum ISO at DR200 is 400, while the minimum ISO at DR400 is 800. To make matters a bit more complicated, the relationship is a bit hidden: adjust the ISO down to 200 and the DR will automatically get knocked down too. And if you swap between Aperture Priority and Manual mode, your DR settings (which are inconveniently buried in the menus) are reset.

Our dynamic range score does not include the slight improvements that can be made using DR200 or DR400. Instead, it focuses on the results that can be achieved with standard dynamic range settings. In this regard, the performance was a bit disappointing. Even at ISO 100, the dynamic range maxed out at about 6 stops—poor results for a camera that costs over $1000. Most cameras at this price point manage at least 7 or 8 stops at the lowest ISO. The good news for Fuji is that the results at higher ISOs are actually pretty good: 4 stops of dynamic range at ISO 1600 isn't terrible. And while dynamic range expansion isn't particularly intuitive or convenient to use, it does improve performance slightly. More on how we test dynamic range.

You can boost dynamic range using the dynamic range controller, with options of 100%, 200%, or 400%, but this is only recommended when shooting in high contrast conditions.

The mirrorless competition for dynamic range isn't particularly strong. The sensor in these cameras—particularly the Olympus PEN lineup—doesn't typically perform well in our dynamic range testing. One notable exception is the NEX line; Sony has developed a sensor that captures fantastic shadows and highlights. We were surprised that the X100 didn't do better in this test; the target demographic for the X100 is comprised of photographers prize dynamic range and will certainly notice the X100's limitations.