The X100S Silver vs. Black

The latest Fuji camera to hit the streets is the FUJIFILM X100S Black Edition. Unlike with the X100LE, the X100S Black doesn’t come with any extra goodies in the box like a case, filter attachment, or hood. It also doesn’t come with a premium price over its silver sibling. You can buy a brand new X100S in black for the same price as the X100S in silver. If you can find one in stock of course.

I managed to get my hands on one, and I decided to dedicate a vast amount of time and effort to compare and contrast the real world differences—of which there are some—between the old and busted silver X100S, and the shiny new black one. Let’s have a look.

Well, they definitely both come in boxes, that’s good. But what’s this? There seems to be an extra marking on the black one. It clearly reads “Black”. If you’re fortunate enough to live in Canada, as I do, it will also include the word “Noir”. Our first difference! This begs the question, will the silver boxes be revised to include a sticker with proper denotation of the fact that the camera is in fact silver? Moving on.

Both cameras come complete with push on lens caps. There is a clear difference though. Yes, yes, the black X100S has a black cap. No question. The second real world difference! Fascinating.

Guys like David Hobby are always ragging on this thing, but I love it. I had mine taped up so it wouldn’t attract as much attention when the sun reflected off it, but in use it’s great. Haven’t lost one yet. Let’s keep going.

Caps off! Here we notice... nothing. Same FUJINON 23mm aspherical ƒ/2 lens. Same fantastic leaf shutter. Both even have OVFs. The black one looks slimmer somehow. That might be an optical illusion though.

Facing front we see that both cameras have an “S” in the bottom right corner. The black one still looks decidedly blacker while the silver one appears more silvery. Interesting stuff.

You’ll have to take my word for it on the sides, top and back. They’re all the same too, the black one just has more black and white writing so you can, you know, read it. The back of my silver X100S has a screen protector on it, but I’m pretty sure I put that on myself. Yeah, I don’t think it came in the box.

Conclusion

Well folks, after extensive looking at the cameras, I can safely say the difference between the X100S silver and the X100S black is clear. The black one is black. Yep, that’s about it. So if you like black, as I do, the new X100S Black is the one to get. Otherwise, get a silver one! It’s really not old and busted at all and somehow feels more retro which is great if that’s your thing. Either way, you’ll have a fantastically versatile camera.

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