I own the Fujifilm X100V because it is the best synthesis of size, style, price and image quality of any camera currently available. Fuji has carved out for itself a cool, vintage-made-modern reputation, and their X-system cameras instill an inspirational, contagious shooting experience. I love my X100V, and take it with me everywhere, always ready for photographic moments.
But as User Experience thinker, it still does leave some things to be desired. Case in point: sealing the front lens element on the X100V. The camera body is deemed to be weather-sealed (a claim I’ll be exploring another time), but the lens is not. The fixed lens (unremovable from the body) has a moving focus mechanism that is technically vulnerable to the elements. I’m less worried about water and rain, and more concerned with dust and dirt, since I’m prone to throwing my camera into pockets and bags, not bothered to coddle this fun tool that’s always with me.
For peace of mind, another piece of gear is necessary. I bought the Fuji adapter ring originally, and opted for the B+W filter to screw onto it. This combo offers a decently compact solution with style consistent with the camera. It didn’t take me long to completely adjust to this new size and appearance - well worth it for the security of a fully protected camera and lens.
I recently tripped on some stairs, trying to catch the U-Bahn in Berlin. I just missed it. Worse, I had my X100V in my fanny pack, and it made impact with the concrete. The front element bore the brunt of the fall, specifically the B+W filter I had screwed onto the Fuji adapter ring, which cracked. Luckily, the rest of the camera seems fine. The filter is also stubbornly stuck onto the adapter ring; time for a new solution.
I ordered the NiSi lens cover Amazon and it seems good so far. The aesthetic isn’t quite in line with the vintage look of the camera, but the rounded face does make sense, when quickly removing it from a pocket or bag. I appreciate that it’s all one, solid piece, and wonder why Fuji doesn’t offer something similar, designed by its in-house team. This NiSi product trims a couple millimeters of the entire lens element as well, compared to my previous system, so that’s a good thing.
Here’s a GIF that compares them:
And here are the still images:
Is this the best solution? I’m really not sure. The look will take some getting used to - it’s a bit too curvy and modern for the X100 series, in my opinion. But it’s practical, and doesn’t seem to negatively affect image quality.
I do wonder if it’s as small as it can really get. The focusing barrel of the lens protrudes about 2mm - no more than 3mm - from the tip. The NiSi UV filter seems so overshoot this considerably. It measures a total of 10mm. By comparison, the Fuji adapter ring is 9mm, and the B+W filter (along with most other options, from what I can tell) is 3mm. Somehow these total 13mm, an extra 1mm added in their combination. 🤷🏻♂️
That focusing extension is employed for close-up photos, and it’s great that Fuji has improved the lens for sharpness at close range. I do love having this option, even if I don’t shoot close-up much myself, and I love the lens in general. But that extending focus mechanism does bother me a bit. Its sound is a little crunchy, and I’m always worried something might be wrong, but it seems in order, actually. I accept that it is what it is, but I have yet to accept that a filter has to be so long in order to protect it.
I’m curious if others have tried using a UV filter (or even straight glass) without the Fuji adapter, and if such filters might clear the focus mechanism. It seems to me that a larger one, longer than 3mm, would do the trick - a 4mm filter on its own would best the NiSi solution by 6mm, and the adapter+filter solution by 8 or 9mm. It might be worth a try.
Of course I’m not the most technical person, and I could be overlooking some important reason(s) that these are designed the way they are. As a user, though, I’m still just a tad perplexed.
Nevertheless, I’m happy most of all for the confidence in placing my camera in my fanny pack or hoodie pocket, knowing that dust and lint won’t ruin the camera, as has been the case for so many fixed-lens cameras. (I’m thinking especially of the Leica D-Lux / Panasonic X100 series, which are notorious for this problem. My old X100F also felt quite susceptible.) The most important things for me remain size, style, price and image quality, but user experience can best sum up the synthesis of these things. We want to feel as good as possible when practicing our photography.