The X100 is without doubt one of the most idiosyncratic cameras we've ever come across. It veers wildly between being delightful to use and deeply frustrating, depending on which functions you're trying to access. It has flaws that we never expected to see on a camera in 2011, including the inability to manually focus or change the ISO of AF point while it's writing to card - a process that can take an inordinate amount of time. And the sheer quirkiness and bugginess of its firmware means that you have to keep a close eye on it all the time, lest the camera forget or change key settings on you without warning.

Yet despite all of its manifest flaws, the X100 is a camera that's become a firm favorite in the dpreview offices. Its drop-dead gorgeous looks and excellent build make it a camera that begs you to pick it up and take it out with you, and the image quality it returns at the end of the day is nothing short of superb. And this ultimately is the key to its attraction - it just takes wonderful pictures, time after time.

Overall, then, the X100 is a difficult camera to assess. Indeed it might be tempting, after the litany of bugs and quirks that we've detailed in this review, to dismiss it as a case of Fujifilm hopelessly overreaching itself in a bid to make a 'halo' product. But this would be to miss out completely on the bigger picture. Because when used in a simple fashion, much like a traditional rangefinder, the X100 is (usually) a delightful photographic tool that is capable of image quality that rivals most DSLRs, but in a much more discreet and portable package.

Ultimately, perhaps the biggest problem for the X100 is that it's competing in today's marketplace with the new breed of compact Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras, and it's not exactly cheap in comparison. These tend to offer a more compact-camera-like user experience, often with approachable, results-orientated interfaces as well as full manual control, and for many users they will surely be a more sensible option. But none can quite match the X100's combination of excellent viewfinder, silent operation, and out-and-out image quality - especially at high ISOs.

As a high-end retro-styled camera with a fixed focal length lens, the X100 was always going to have niche appeal. Sadly the way its firmware and behavior have been implemented limit that appeal still further - quite likely ruling out many film enthusiasts attracted by its styling and manual controls. It's too flawed to earn our outright recommendation, but if you're prepared to tolerate its manifold foibles as the price to pay for its superb image quality, it's a camera you can easily grow to love.