And what a! The JPEG image quality at high sensitivities is higher than that of all other non-DSLRs and beats the old record of F30 & Co. For the first time the record holder has in this field at the same time a powerful stabilizer. Operation and continuous shooting speed move on absolutely level DSLR. The important dynamic range strikes in most DSLRs JPEGs even.
It remains to their design spared from the various disadvantages of DSLRs. You do not need lenses to buy and change and therefore has no dust hazard. You pay not for medium and high depth of field with enormous sensitivity loss: for the identical image, in which the S100FS manages with ISO200, needs a normal DSLR already ISO1600 (possibly even more if it has no stability.). There is no loud and verwackelnden mirror shock, but Live View without restrictions.
The lens has Fuji quite uncompromisingly optimized in a particular direction: apart from edge blurring in the extreme wide-angle shows it through the entire zoom range, a sharpness, as it has never been at such a zoom lens strong mW. Especially not in the telephoto position, where the focus is particularly important. There are at both ends of the zoom flashy color fringing (CAs) in the extreme wide-angle these are even exceptionally strong. Still, I'm grateful for this intransigence Fuji, because this type of color fringing occurs in many motifs not only revealed and can be combated subsequently otherwise with suitable software (PTLens, Lightroom, DxO etc). Many DSLR owners do something every day. Against the blurring of the entire competition, however, no post-cure for that. An in-camera correction of CAs still would have been nice, of course.
Unfortunately, the S100FS contains a few Fuji typical weaknesses: in the modes A, S, M, ISO speed must be set manually; there is no support for external TTL flashes; RAW is in the depths of the main menu; Direct deletion from the image preview is not possible and (a real classic) time display, there's only the AM / PM format. Compared with the positive sides of the camera, however, are the proverbial peanuts.
And these positive aspects, there are a lot of: sturdy tripod mount and lens center; Dial easy and pleasant to use; To achieve good buttons with useful functions, with clear pressure point; manual zoom smoothly adjustable, pretending not just happen; Folding screen and robust with useful positions; Belt holders do not cut into the flesh, etc, etc. ... with most cameras are there any annoying design weaknesses in the S100FS I have not found. You just works.
My conclusion: a camera for almost any situation, with few weaknesses and many strengths. Highly recommended and currently no direct competitors in the market: who looks for comparable service and quality elsewhere, they found only in DSLRs and then have to live with their handicaps.