The slippery dial problem
The Fujifilm X100 series is one of the most beautiful cameras ever made. The metal focus ring around the lens? Part of that beauty. But beauty and function don’t always align.
The smooth metal is slippery. In cold weather, with slightly sweaty fingers, or when you’re trying to make a quick adjustment — your grip slips. The ring spins, but not quite where you wanted it.
It’s a small frustration. But for photographers who use manual focus regularly, small frustrations add up.
What we didn’t want
We’ve seen the solutions out there. Rubber grip stickers that peel off after a month. Bulky third-party rings that change the camera’s profile. Textured tape that looks like a bandage.
We didn’t want any of that.
What we wanted: a grip enhancement that feels like it could have come from Fujifilm. Something that improves function without screaming “aftermarket accessory.”
The design approach
We started with the camera geometry. In Shapr3D, we modeled the exact profile of the X100 lens barrel — the specific radius of the focus ring, the clearances around it, the way your fingers naturally land when adjusting focus.
The first challenge: making something that adds grip without adding bulk. Every millimeter of thickness changes how the camera feels in your hand. Too much, and it stops feeling like an X100.
Finding the right texture
Smooth plastic would be pointless. But aggressive texture — deep knurling, sharp ridges — would feel wrong on a camera this refined.
We landed on a subtle ribbed pattern. Enough to catch your finger and improve grip. Not so much that it dominates the tactile experience. The goal was “better,” not “different.”
The material matters here too. We print in PETG, which has a natural slight grip compared to PLA. It’s also more durable and handles temperature changes better — important for a part that lives on a camera you take everywhere.
The snap-fit problem (again)
If you’ve read about our Power Switch Lock, you know we have opinions about snap-fit tolerances. The Focus Ring was its own puzzle.
Too tight, and it’s hard to install — or worse, it puts pressure on the lens. Too loose, and it shifts during use. The goal: a friction fit that stays put but doesn’t bind.
We tested maybe forty versions. Tiny adjustments — 0.1mm here, 0.15mm there. The final piece slides on with light pressure and stays exactly where you put it. No adhesive. No tools. Just the right amount of grip.
The case (because we learned)
After the Power Switch Lock, we learned our lesson: small accessories disappear. A functional part is only functional if you can find it.
Every Focus Ring ships in a small multipurpose case. Store the ring when it’s not on your camera. Or use the case for SD cards, a spare battery, whatever fits. It stays with your kit.
What we ended up with
A focus grip that:
- Snaps onto X100V and X100VI without tools or modifications
- Adds tactile grip without changing the camera’s silhouette
- Stays put during use, removes easily when you want
- Comes in Black (minimal, nearly invisible) or Green (a quiet accent)
For manual focus shooters
If you use autofocus exclusively, you don’t need this. The X100 autofocus is excellent.
But if you ever:
- Zone focus for street photography
- Manually override for close-ups
- Shoot in conditions where autofocus hunts
- Just prefer the feeling of manual focus control
…this is for you.
Fitment note
The tactile experience
There’s something satisfying about a tool that feels right. Not just functions — feels. The slight resistance as you adjust focus. The secure grip. The way it becomes invisible in use because it just works.
That’s what we were after. A small improvement to a camera we already loved.
