Key Takeaways
Priced at $1,599, the Fujifilm X100VI comes with up to date options, together with a brand new 40-megapixel sensor.
The brand new digital camera retains the design and tactile controls of the X100V, making it interesting to photograph lovers.
Regardless of being priced excessive, X100VI might encourage a love for pictures attributable to its person expertise.
In 2018, I purchased the Fujifilm X-E3. I did not understand it on the time, however that digital camera would change into a life-changing buy. I had owned different cameras earlier than, however none of them managed to encourage me in the best way the X-E3 had. Not solely did it produce lovely images, however every little thing in regards to the person expertise gelled with how I like to make use of know-how. Half a decade later, I am a greater photographer than I used to be in 2018, and I can safely say it is largely because of the X-E3.
After utilizing the Fujifilm X100VI for 2 weeks, I really feel equally impressed. At this level, Fujifilm’s newest digital camera wants no introduction, however in case you are new to pictures, there are some things that make it noteworthy. Fujifilm has been producing the X100 sequence since 2010, and for many of its historical past, the road has had a small however passionate fan base. That’s till partway by way of the pandemic when the X100V, the X100VI’s instant predecessor, gained TikTok fame. Subsequently, the X100V grew to become practically not possible to purchase, and the worth of second-hand X100 fashions — and different Fujifilm cameras extra broadly — elevated considerably.
Considered in that context, the X100VI is as a lot an improve to the X100V as it’s a response to its runaway success. Sure, Fujifilm outfitted the digital camera with some new options, together with in-body picture stabilization (IBIS) and its newest X-Trans sensor, however these tweaks are, for my part, secondary to the very fact the X100VI is now $200 costlier than its predecessor. $1,599 is quite a bit to ask for a digital camera that is restricted to a single lens.
So, I feel the query most individuals need answered is whether or not the Fujifilm X100VI is well worth the hype and worth.
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Fujifilm X100VI
If you slot in its goal market, the Fujifilm X100VI is an unimaginable digital camera. The brand new mannequin retains the design and handbook controls of the X100V whereas including a brand new, extra detailed sensor and 6 stops of in-body picture stabilization.
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Worth, specs, and availability
The X100VI is available for purchase from Adorama, B&H, and different on-line retailers for $1,599. Fujifilm provides the digital camera in two colorways: silver and black. As with the X100V earlier than it, demand for the X100VI is excessive, so anticipate to attend some time earlier than you should purchase one.
What I preferred in regards to the Fujifilm X100VI
Considerate ergonomics and a few nice options
I am going to get to the X100VI’s upgrades in a second, however to start out I wish to speak about what it carries over from earlier X100 cameras. Most notably, the X100VI options basically the identical type issue because the X100 did again in 2010. Certain, Fujifilm has made ergonomic tweaks through the years, shifting the location of choose buttons and dials, however after a decade of refinement, the X100VI continues to be a compact digital camera with a hard and fast lens and a hybrid viewfinder. And in the event you’re a photographer of a sure kind, that is what makes the X100VI so interesting.
One of many causes I like Fujifilm cameras a lot is that they typically characteristic devoted handbook controls fairly than the PSAM format discovered on most fashionable cameras.
I fall into that camp. One of many causes I like Fujifilm cameras a lot is that they typically characteristic devoted handbook controls fairly than the PSAM format discovered on most fashionable cameras. Considerably unintuitively, I discover all these dials make the act of pictures really feel extra instant; when you’ve gotten direct management over the publicity triangle, you are not combating the digital camera to snap a photograph.
The X100VI is essentially the most maximalist expression of that philosophy. Every button and dial feels delightfully tactile, the leaf shutter produces a refined however satisfying click on whenever you snap a photograph, and the digital camera has a hefty weight that’s reassuring. All of these mix to create a tool that feels unimaginable to make use of.
For the 2 weeks I had the X100VI, my girlfriend and I spent our evenings and weekends roaming Toronto’s east finish and taking turns taking photographs of every little thing we noticed. On the finish of every day, we’d lament the very fact I needed to ship the X100VI again to Fujifilm. That is how a lot enjoyable we had with the digital camera.
It will be a mistake if I additionally did not point out the X100VI is, merely put, cool. I can not rely what number of instances a barista or somebody I met throughout my adventures with the X100VI requested in regards to the digital camera I used to be carrying round. Fujifilm understands the rule of cool like no different firm making cameras proper now.
Okay, however what about these upgrades I discussed earlier than? New to the X100VI is a extra detailed 40-megapixel sensor and Fujifilm’s newest X-Processor 5. Fujifilm has additionally outfitted the digital camera with six stops of in-body picture stabilization (IBIS). Moreover, the brand new mannequin comes preloaded with 20 of the corporate’s movie simulations. There are different, smaller enhancements, however I am going to additionally observe right here the X100VI continues to be restricted to utilizing UHS-I reminiscence playing cards and Fujifilm’s older and smaller NP-W126S batteries.
The soar to a 40-megapixel sensor is not as dramatic of an improve as you would possibly suppose. Pictures do look sharper than these produced by my X-E3’s 24.3-megapixel X-Trans III sensor, however I additionally wasn’t blown away by the quantity of element I noticed once I went pixel-peeping in Adobe Lightroom. That should not come as a shock. Like its predecessors, the X100VI includes a 23mm pancake lens with an f/2 aperture. It is a prime that prioritizes portability over picture high quality. For those who’re contemplating the X100VI because the proprietor of an earlier mannequin within the sequence or an older Fujifilm digital camera, the X100VI is not an awesome showcase of what the most recent X-Trans sensor can do.
Fujifilm understands the rule of cool like no different firm making cameras proper now.
The X100VI additionally is not an awesome showcase of what Fujifilm’s X-Processor 5 can do. The corporate claims the chip makes the X100VI virtually twice as quick because the X100V, however so far as autofocus velocity is worried, the newer mannequin is proscribed by a gradual, outdated lens. The processor does lengthen the X100VI’s video seize capabilities — permitting it, as an illustration, to seize 10-bit, 6.2K footage at a 1.23x crop — however between its type issue and that getting old lens I discussed, there are cameras in Fujifilm’s lineup which might be much better fitted to video manufacturing.
Extra impactful is the addition of IBIS. Together with a built-in ND filter (a characteristic carried over from the X100V), the X100VI feels prefer it’s as much as the duty of capturing virtually something. Trying by way of all of the photographs I shot, there is not one which’s out of focus or mushy. Inside the confines of its 23mm lens, the one restrict I felt was associated to my very own lack of creativity.
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What I did not like in regards to the Fujifilm X100VI
Function creep
Exterior of the restrictions of its type issue, there’s not a lot the X100VI does poorly, and many of the issues I disliked about it are points that plague practically each digital camera in 2024.
To begin, the X100VI retains the menu format discovered on previous Fujifilm X-series cameras, however there are actually extra menu gadgets than ever. Coming from the X-E3, every part of the menu has a minimum of one further web page of recent settings to browse and tweak. It may be quite a bit to navigate, notably since most of the settings do not include any form of clarification detailing what they do. I ended up watching a 45-minute video somebody on YouTube made to help different overwhelmed X100V and X100VI customers, and I am glad I did as a result of I really feel I might have in any other case spent many of the restricted time I had with the X100VI tweaking its settings fairly than going out and taking pictures.
After all, it is doable to disregard lots of X100VI’s extra area of interest choices, however their inclusion feels at odds with the digital camera’s unique design. One other drawback with the menus is that Fujifilm would not make use of a constant font, each when it comes to typeface and dimension. The interface is not essentially the most irritating I’ve used on a contemporary digital camera, however it does encumber the X100VI; to get essentially the most you may out of this digital camera, you’ll completely must familiarize your self with its settings. So, calling it a easy ‘point-and-shoot’ is not fairly proper.
Extra annoying than the menu system had been the problems I had with Fujifilm’s companion cell app. It doesn’t matter what I attempted, I could not get the software program to acknowledge the X100VI, which meant I could not switch photographs immediately from the digital camera to my iPhone 12 to make the most of automated geotagging and the addition of HEIF assist.
After all, it is doable to disregard lots of X100VI’s extra area of interest choices, however their inclusion feels at odds with the digital camera’s unique design.
For those who’re a longtime Fujifilm shooter, my expertise will not come as information to you; the corporate’s companion app has been a constant supply of person frustration. A buddy of mine who obtained to evaluation the X100VI early stated they by no means managed to get the digital camera to connect with their iPhone by way of the Fujifilm app, both. For what it is value, the corporate did attempt to assist me troubleshoot the issue, however by the point I heard again, I needed to return my evaluation unit.
Must you purchase the Fujifilm X100VI?
For those who’re studying this evaluation, chances are high you have already got an opinion of the X100VI and know if it might match into your pictures model. I need to admit, whilst somebody who virtually solely shoots with the XF 23mm F2, a main lens that options the identical focal size because the X100VI’s built-in lens, I often discovered the digital camera limiting. There have been moments I wanted I may swap to an extended lens to get a distinct perspective on a topic.
The X100VI is not for everybody. I do know that. Fujifilm is aware of that. You realize that.
Nevertheless, outdoors these cases, the X100VI was a pleasure to make use of, and it rejuvenated my love of pictures. In the end, I feel that is a very powerful a part of any digital camera; all of the options and specs on the planet do not matter in case your digital camera would not encourage you to choose it up. On the identical time, I perceive a $1,599 digital camera, notably one with some limitations, is not a simple promote. And you recognize what, that is okay.
The X100VI is not for everybody. I do know that. Fujifilm is aware of that. You realize that. However if you’d like a photography-first digital camera you can carry round with you every single day, I can safely say the X100VI is likely one of the greatest you should purchase proper now, and it would even encourage you to take your craft to the following stage.
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Fujifilm X100VI