Limited Beauty

The Hexar

In 1993 I bought a Konica Hexar, sometimes called “the poor man’s Leica.” It was a rangefinder-style camera with a fixed 35mm lens and autofocus, loaded with good old 35mm film. I loved that camera, not just for its looks, but because it was small, discreet, and always ready to take along for a ride. Best of all, the image quality was stunning.

The Nikon

At the time, I was used to carrying around a Nikon F3hp with a motor drive and a full set of lenses packed into one heavy bag. I lugged it everywhere: on holidays, during my studies, and while shooting documentary projects. The F3 was a true workhorse, reliable, tough as nails, and never once letting me down. I ran countless rolls of Kodak Tri-X and other black-and-white films through it. The best interchangeable-lens camera I’ve ever owned. Built like a brick outhouse.

Still, when the Hexar came along, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Light, easy, and quick to pick up. Of course, it had its “limitation”: a fixed 35mm lens, and it didn’t feel anywhere near as indestructible as the Nikon.

Digital photography

Eventually, with a heavy heart, I sold all my analog cameras and lenses. I didn’t want them gathering dust on my shelf, I wanted them to be used.

My digital journey began with small compact cameras: the Nikon Coolpix 995 (3MP), Olympus C7070 (7MP), and Canon S95 (10MP). Each had its quirks: the Nikon’s odd swivel body, the Olympus shaped like a block, and the Canon so tiny and slippery it felt like holding a bar of soap. Later I bought the Olympus E-510, a micro four-thirds DSLR with a kit lens. Released in 2007, it offered good image quality for its time, but I never warmed to the micro four-thirds 4:3 aspect ratio.

The GR

My first serious digital camera was the Ricoh GR, the first one with a large APS-C sensor. Like the Hexar, it had a fixed lens, this time a 28mm (full-frame equivalent). Super light, pocket-sized, discreet, and yet equipped with an incredibly sharp lens. It looked like a toy, which was perfect, nobody took it seriously. That’s exactly why street photographers everywhere love it: a cult camera that slips in your pocket and delivers outstanding results.

The iPhone

Around the same time, I also started shooting with my iPhone 5S. Everyone had a phone, and it was always with me, making it easy to grab quick snapshots. On commutes and lunch breaks in Amsterdam, I used it for street photography. The handling was awful—because it’s a phone, not a camera, but it was there when I needed it.

The X-T2

After a while, I wanted more variety, so I bought the Fujifilm X-T2 with a 23mm f/1.4 lens (a 35mm full-frame equivalent). It was a fantastic camera, versatile with its interchangeable lenses, and Fuji’s ecosystem is full of great glass, including plenty of third-party options. I added a 16mm (24mm equivalent) wide-angle and a 50mm (75mm equivalent) short telephoto. But I quickly noticed I almost always reached for the 23mm. A hefty lens, yes, but the results were gorgeous.

The X100V

Ah, but those small fixed-lens cameras kept calling me back. I’d had my eye on the Fujifilm X100 since it launched in 2011, but it was too expensive then. I watched as each version passed me by, the X100S in 2013, the X100T in 2014, the X100F in 2017. Then in 2020 came the X100V, and in 2021 I finally bought one.

Remembering the Hexar and the Ricoh GR, I knew the appeal of a small, fixed-lens camera. The 35mm focal length fits me perfectly. Compared with earlier models, the X100V had an upgraded lens—sharper, more contrasty wide open, and much faster autofocus.

Limitations

Not having to choose between lenses, or carry them all “just in case,” is a blessing. One lens. One camera. Small, simple, always ready. The beauty of always using the same focal length is that you instinctively know what your frame will look like before you even lift the camera. It becomes second nature. And this camera practically begs to be taken out. Every single time. What I also love is how close you can focus. Paired with its f/2 aperture, you can beautifully separate your subject from the background with a creamy bokeh.

“The best camera is the one you have with you” and this one is always with me. Using the same tool over and over frees you from thinking about technique. It becomes muscle memory. You just pick it up and shoot.

For me, right now, this is the one, together with the GR. Until the next chapter, perhaps… X100VI, GR4?