The Competition
The X100 is never going to be a mainstream camera, so it competes most with cameras that are as much icons of design as photographic tools – those such as the Leica X1, which is around £400 more expensive. The X1 shares a fixed 35mm equivalent lens but has an f/2.8 aperture. It lacks a viewfinder and the ISO range of the X100, but the red dot of the Leica symbol is often a swaying factor for many camera fans.
For practical use the X100 must be compared to a compact system camera. The Samsung NX100, for example, also offers an APS-C sensor and full manual control. Although it doesn’t have the classic design or metal bodywork, it is slightly smaller than the X100, offers the ability to change the lens and costs nearly £700 less.
