kit Twists & Turns

 Stop me if you've heard this one before.. No wait: this is a new one! I'm certain of that!

I've gone rogue and purchased a Fujifilm X camera. Not entirely rogue, (that would be too big an ask) but an A-series body with Bayer color array not x-trans - and not with a "retro" pile of dials on the top plate. I do get the film simulations, but just one of the three Fuji marketing plays still resulted in putting a Fuji in my bag.

Update (what already?!?) I found another deal on an xT100 and swapped for that. Adjusted raves follow..

So what brought this about? A few things.

• Cost: an x-T100 for about $280 is a nice deal, and the curious new 15-45mm kit lens (that's 22-68mm/e) was available for $120 more. The Lumix S5 with its 20-60mm lens just lost its death grip on my imagination and its $2k hold on my mythical wallet!
• Features: a small body holding an aps.C 24Mpx sensor with 4k focus-stacking and image-extraction? 430-shot battery life and in-cam charging? Tip-not-flip touchscreen? One-touch square format? My kind of stuff, I confess.. and it reduces the incentive to add a 4k Lumix 𝛍43 or S-type body (hey I like Lumix stuff! A lot! But ..see the preceding point: $400 will not get me a 4k Lumix plus a lens like the 15-45mm).
• Perceived health: unlike 𝛍43 and Pentax, the X system is young and energetic, and owners don't live in fear of its imminent demise. Such fears do not haunt me, but lens developers pay attention to such trends! Being mirrorless and popular means small lens makers like TTArtisan are making X mount lenses - plus adapters for PK lenses like my 70-150mm f/4 Rikenon are available. 

So I'll be trying something truly new to me. We'll see how that goes.

I read about the x-/A5/T100 downsides in several places: a bit sluggish, no VF nor ibIS nor wx seals. Just excellent images in a package made with many features I truly use and don't merely covet. And a chance to learn how useful 4k still images might be!

Sounds about right.

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First xA5 tests went decently well. AF speed is similar to my other cameras so no big deal,Just one little problem: the viewfinder. Or lack thereof.

It was a bright and storm-free day The camera and 15-45mm zoom seemed to be taking decent photos - BUT pictures were nearly impossible to frame or review. The reflection of my dark-grey patterned shirt was overpowering the screen, and brightness adjustments weren't the answer. 

Guess I need to.. er, what exactly? 
Get an xT100 (x∙TC in Roman), apparently. The same camera with a viewfinder - not quite true, but most reviewers figured that generalization was close enough.

The next issue was entirely Fuji-induced: I ordered a grip for the x-T100, which they confirmed in my order. They then sent me the shipping announcement for my grip - for the X100F camera. Note the missing 'T' and the bonus "F". Yes they made X100 X100S X100T X100F X100V and XT100 models. I'm going rogue/Roman and it shall be called an x-TC. And I might be getting a grip soon.. or praps not.