Fujifilm X100VI Review: Real-World Test & Sample Photos
From seeing so many posts and videos about how great the Fujifilm X100V and X100VI were it made me feel like I needed this camera. Sooo many reviews talking about how it literally changed how people took photos and how it has sparked so much joy in the art of photography, and yet there was the other side to this where people spoke about how it will never be as good as a Full Frame camera, the limitations around having a fixed 35mm full frame equivalent lens, slow autofocus, and not the greatest low light capabilities...it was hard to know what to believe.
As a lifetime Sony shooter in my professional work, I have always shot on Full Frame cameras and loved the flexibility of how much I can adjust images in post (even for low light images) and the autofocus on Sony is globally known to be top of the line. So these negative reviews definitely made me cautious about pursuing Fujifilm X100VI, but I still pulled the trigger anyways. Now the big question I had on my mind was, am I falling for all the hype?
But why do you need an extra camera?
I realised that my love for photography was getting tainted by my work, which I know sounds dramatic. I wasn't photographing anything for enjoyment anymore, and noticed that 99% of the time I touch my camera, it's for paid work which isn't always the most exciting. I now felt like it was a chore to use my camera for everyday candid activities, because I knew that I would be taking a decent sized bit of fit around, and I wouldn't be able to truly enjoy the photos until I take my SD card out of the camera, bring the raw files into Lightroom, spend time editing, and then I can share them properly. These added layers of friction evidently were enough for me to not want to shoot just for the sake of shooting. I wanted something that helped me bring that spark and enjoyment back, and from what I could see, the X100 series might be the closest thing to perfect for that.
Receiving the X100VI
I decided to go with the all black X100VI as my Sony A7CII was silver, so wanted something a bit different. When it arrived I was instantly in love with the overall aesthetics and feel of the camera. It felt nostalgic, yet modern, but also so compact that it doesn't stand out as a "professional camera" which was a big plus for me.
I read that there were a few accessories people were recommending to really get the most out of the X100VI, such as a lens filter to make the lens properly weather resistant.
The list of accessories I decided on were:
A 1/8 strength Gold Mist filter from Formatt Hitech
A short leather neck strap from Etsy
It was definitely an adjustment getting used to how to shoot with the X100VI, as well as how to navigate the settings. But it only took a couple of YouTube videos as well as a handful of outings to really start to get comfortable shooting with this little camera.
Overview of the X100VI
The Fujifilm X100VI, launched in February 2024 , is the sixth iteration in the popular X100 series of premium compact cameras. It introduces significant internal upgrades while retaining the classic design and handling the series is known for.
Key advancements include a new 40.2-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor for greater image detail and cropping flexibility. A major addition is the 5-axis in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) system, offering up to 6.0 stops of compensation, a first for the X100 line, which aids in low-light shooting and video stability. The camera is powered by the faster X-Processor 5, enabling improved autofocus with AI-based subject detection and 6.2K/30p video recording capabilities.
Despite these modernisation, the X100VI keeps the core elements cherished by its users: the fixed 23mm f/2 lens (35mm equivalent), the unique Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, and Fujifilm's acclaimed Film Simulation modes. It's positioned as a versatile everyday camera, particularly well-suited for street, travel, and documentary photography, appealing to enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Deciding to use Japan as its Maiden Voyage
Do I leave my usual travel kit at home and just take my new Fujifilm X100VI on our long awaited trip to Japan? I contemplated this decision for a long time, as I knew I would be disappointed if I came across many scenarios where I knew that my standard kit would be able to get the exact shot I wanted. But I decided that I was willing to risk it, as I was already happy with how the X100VI was performing, and loved its compact form factor in comparison to my Sony A7CII + Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 setup.
Every day I was impressed with how this little camera performed. Because of its size, it was easy to just throw around my neck or in my small camera sling, enabling me to always have it close by when I needed it. The ability to use custom film simulation recipes (basically like advanced Lightroom presets baked into the camera that can be applied to the jpegs) made taking photos a lot more enjoyable because I could see, capture, and post professionally edited looking images without needing to bring the raw file across to Lightroom and make manual adjustments. I had so much fun being able to take photos all day, then connect wirelessly to my phone that evening and send across all the images I wanted to keep/post that night.
QUICK PRO TIP THAT I LEARNED
If you go into Network Setting > Bluetooth/Smartphone Settings > Wireless Comm. Frequency Settings and change the WiFi to 5ghz it significantly improves the transfer speed
Now, to address the limitations that some people say this camera has:
Full Frame vs APS-C
I can confidently say that I don't notice any significant different between the 33mp Full Frame sensor from my Sony to the 40mp APS-C sensor on my X100VI. If you were to hold up images from either camera and tell me to guess if it was a Full Frame or APS-C camera that took the pic, I most likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Even when it comes to editing, I feel like I have a similar amount of room to crop into the image without losing quality (thanks to the 40mp sensor).
Autofocus Speed
Obviously it's very hard to compete with Sony with regards to autofocus speed - they are known for their insane autofocus abilities. But, with all that said, was I ever struggling so much with my autofocus on my Fujifilm X100VI that I wasn't able to get the shot? No. It takes some getting used to, but once you find the right zoning/shortcuts that work for your way of shooting then it becomes second nature. Would I use this camera photographing a sports game or the F1? Probably not. But for everything else I think it is more than capable.
Limitations of a Fixed Lens
A pretty cool feature that Fujifilm has implemented into this camera is the ability to digitally zoom at predefined 'focal lengths' by using the focus ring on the lens. This allows you to get shots at 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm (full frame equivalent) by cropping into the 40mp as you're shooting. Now I know that this isn't the exact same as using proper lenses at these focal lengths as the digital zoom doesn't produce that beautiful lens compression that usually happens at longer focal lengths, but it does give you the opportunity to have an added layer of versatility when you're out there shooting with this compact setup.
While we were travelling around Japan, there were HEAPS of tourists out there with their full, chunky, camera kits hanging off of their shoulder which was really hard to miss - I found my setup to be significantly more minimalistic and didn't draw nearly as much attention from other people, which allowed me to comfortably take photos without feeling like I am causing a scene.
A few features which made the Fujifilm X100VI even more enjoyable to shoot with
Inbuilt flash
First off, the inbuilt flash...I love it. I was skeptical as to how often I would use it, or if it would even be powerful enough for the situations I'd find myself in and I can 100% say it gets the job done, and I use it waaaaay more than I thought I would. It was especially handy when we would be out late at night roaming around Japan/in a dimly lit restaurant and we wanted to take a quick snap. The direct flash plus film simulations makes the images feel like they came from a retro film camera (except the quality is infinitely better).
Inbuilt 4 stop ND Filter
I honestly don't know why more cameras don't have this feature. With a simple flick of a lever, I can turn on my ND filter to allow me to experiment more with my shots. I was able to shoot on slower shutter speeds, all while handheld (thanks to the IBIS), to get some great shots of people moving throughout the city and the subways. I was also able to capture some quick video footage using the ND filter to maintain the 1/frame rate rule for shutter speed.
Leaf shutter
The Fujifilm X100VI uses a leaf shutter instead of a standard shutter (unsure what they are called) that most other modern cameras use. I'm not sure what the main benefits of the leaf shutter are, but all I can say is that it is SILENT. Like, I didn't even know I was taking some of my first shots because it is so so quiet. This helps a lot when taking photos in quiet areas like on trains etc.
Sample Gallery
Conclusion
Honestly, I'm in love with this camera. I now use it all the time to capture everyday things and to just shoot for the sake of shooting. I'm very confident that this camera can tackle basically anything I throw at it, and for any of my future travels I have coming up, this will be the only camera I take. It definitely makes me wish I found this camera series sooner, as it has 100% changed how I feel about photography now and is nice to have a "work camera" and a "personal fun camera".