The FujiFilm FinePix X100 and the Leica X1. Two very nice point and shoot cameras, comparable in almost every way and yet one costs nearly twice as much as the other. 

Yes, the Leica X1 is a couple years old now but it still is retailing for $1,995, where the newer Fuji X100 is retailing for around $1,100. I don't think it's far fetched to say the price difference is all about that little red Leica logo. 

I am not one to pore over the specs of a piece of equipment; I would rather just see how it works in the real world. The only reason I would buy a Fuji X100 is for it to be a "field trip" camera - albeit an amazingly good "field trip" camera. Currently I am using the Lumix LX3 (related post) for this, but only when I don't think the iPhone 4S camera is up to the task (which is rare). If I want a pro camera I will grab my Canon 5D. 

It might be unfair to compare these two cameras but since they are so close in their specs it's really hard not to. If you are technically minded you can see the breakdown here.

Let's focus on real world use of both cameras. The thing I look for in a point and shoot is overall speed. How fast does it turn on? How fast can it focus on the subject? How quickly after pushing the release does the camera actually take the photo?

On all these points I was happiest with the Fuji X100. It was overall more responsive than the Leica  X1. I liked the "smart" hybrid viewfinder on the Fuji. I hope that Canon can adopt something like this in future releases. In the viewfinder window you can see an image review as well as all of these options: battery level, image size, dynamic range, distance indicator, electronic level, aperture, histogram, ISO, shutter speed, exposure, and white balance. I also liked how when I moved my eye from the viewfinder the preview image switched to the back LCD screen. This is particularly useful when trying to shoot macro shots.

Some test shots: 

All shots set to full auto. I am on a field trip with my kids remember? I don't want to be manual shooting. Fuji X100 tends toward brighter, warmer saturated colors. The Leica X1 handled skin tones slightly better but shooting in the same environment it produced darker and more muted images than the Fuji X100. Queen Bee Allison shot with me, (using her beloved branded Leica) we tried to overlap as much as possible. 

In summary: all things considered (price, functionality, quality) I believe the Fuji X100 is the best point and shoot on the market. This could be a great Christmas gift to yourself. 

point and shooter,