To think that it has been well over 2 years since I last did a review. Where did time go, huh?
As I’ve outlined in a post some months back, I was really just sick of it all. I even stopped paying the server fee for the site. But slowly during the course of 2023 my desire to start blogging again returned. And I can’t think of a better camera to kick things off than the new Fujifilm X100VI.
As some of the more frequent visitors of the blog might know, the X100 series is what started my journey with Fujifilm.
And what a journey it’s been.
I’ve made so many great friends through the ambassador program as well as great friends in the Japanese headquarters. I have continued my collaboration with Fujifilm, even though my ambassadors ship has ended, and I continue to deliver product shots and sample shots for various camera releases for the company.
Out of all the cameras that Fujifilm has produced during the past 12 years, the X100 series and the X-Pro series are the cameras that have always been my tools of the trade. I’ve seen the two lines grow more complete with every new iteration, to the point where I thought that Fujifilm couldn’t improve upon the X100V. It has been that perfect to me. But then again, so was the S, the T and the F.
Design wise the updates have been fairly conservative, with the biggest change being the introduction of the V with its sharp aluminum edges, the flat top plate, and the glorious flush design tilting rear LCD. This time around the design changes are so minor that it’s basically the same camera as the V.
Obviously since I last blogged, Fujifilm has put out lots of cameras within their product lines. The X-T5 and the X-H2 as well as the X-H2S and also a lot of new cameras in the GFX line.
Since I took a break from blogging for more than 2 years, I never commented or reviewed any of them but for me the biggest change in all of those was actually the introduction of the new 40 megapixel APSC sensor that found its way into the X-T5 and X-H2.
The sensor is unbelievable and ever since I first started using it, I’ve wanted it built into every Fujifilm camera going forth. This has nothing to do with resolution, but more with the way it renders color. It’s a kind of color rendering that I haven’t seen since the original XTrans sensor in the X-Pro1.
There has also been a lot of improvements in terms of auto focus, speed and reliability, as well as the implementation of various AI modes into the cameras. This all served to help the photographers to accomplish the tasks at hand.
So, if nothing else, these are the two things that I actually expected Fujifilm to incorporate into a new iteration of the X100 camera. And luckily they did. Those are indeed the two new main areas of improvements, in addition to another very impressive feature, the IBIS!
Well, lets get started shall we? – I’m going to use my old tried and trialed formula of going through the build and feel, the technicalities and then lastly the shooting experience as well as a ton of sample images from my time with the camera.
Before we get going for real, I need to do a couple of disclaimers like I usually do just to set everything straight. Feel free to skip everything but number 3
Disclaimer 1: I WAS an X-photographer. That’s spelled brand ambassador for Fujifilm. But I quit a couple of years ago. I still maintain a very close relationship with Fujifilm, however I don’t get paid for doing these write ups (and I have been doing them even before getting involved with Fujifilm). This still means that I’m just about as biased as I can get, and whether you choose to believe my views or not is entirely up to you. I expect you to be adults, capable of forming your own opinions based on presented information.
Disclaimer 2: All the images in this article has been shot using a prototype of the X100VI camera. Image quality might therefore not be final, although I have been told that it is.
Disclaimer 3: All shots with- and of the product has been shot by me, and is not to be used without my explicit permission.
Design, build and feel
As I wrote a bit further up the new design changes are very minimal at best. When I got the cameras back in October my immediate reaction when unwrapping them was that they sent me a couple of X100V’s – They’re that similar!
It actually took me some days to really find all the minuscule changes between the V and VI.
Fujifilm stated that it would be larger due to the fact that they needed to incorporate the IBIS unit. But seriously, the difference is around 1,5mm in added thickness. You can only notice if you put the V and VI bottomplate to bottomplate and compare.
So let’s start by listing the changes in exterior design that I could find.
- The OVF/EVF selector lever has a different design. Gone is the little red marker, and it now has a little rugged tab for better grip.
- The AF assist LED is slightly bigger. Same window diameter though.
- The Drive/Delete button is moved further to the right for easier access when you have your eye to the viewfinder.
- The Disp/Back button now has a bluetooth logo next to it.
- The tripod mount has been moved forward, likely due to the IBIS unit extending downward behind it.
A bit of a bigger change is happening to the back LCD screen.
- The tilt screen now goes out further and lower which is really great. It also means that the angle of downward tilting is upped to 45 degrees. Something that is VERY usable for those times where you want to do overhead shooting at eg. events and concerts etc.
So as you can tell from that list, it’s pretty evident that Fujifilm took the “Less is more” approach on the design changes on the X100VI.
Just as the Leica M models remain largely unchanged through the different iterations, so seems to be the new design strategy for the X100 series, and I LOVE it.
As I wrote in my X100V review more than 4 years ago:
“I seriously don’t know where to start with the X100V. The design work that Imai-san and his team has done with this camera is beyond amazing. I always loved the look of the X100 series, and I have spoken to Imai-san about how this design came to be. His father had a glass cupboard with a lot of cameras that Masazumi wasn’t allowed into. So he designed the initial X100 from the memory of all those beautiful cameras. He made the perfect camera design from his mind. I love that story, and I think it speaks volumes about why the X100 has become such a design icon.
During the past 4 iterations, Imai-san has gradually, but gently, evolved the design of the X100 into an increasingly refined camera, which still retain the same aesthetics of the original. This must not be an easy task, and I’m in complete awe of the talent of him whenever I see the newest iteration.”
This means that all the beautiful design features from the X100V are unchanged. You still get the super sleek anodized aluminum finish with the ultra sharp and crisp edges. The lovely pull-up-to-change-iso shutter speed dial combo. The luxuriously flush back tilting LCD and the lovely Hybrid viewfinder. Everything is completely unchanged, and to me it’s perfect that way.
What HAS changed however is the innards of the camera…. And oh boy does it pack a punch!
Specifications
Now this is where it gets interesting! The innards of the X100VI is definitely where Fujifilm has put the majority of their work this time, and what they managed to cram into this compact shell is nothing less than incredible.
Spec sheet
The full spec sheet can be found at Fujifilm-x.com. I see no point in me pasting it here, cause you’re probably going to be heading straight to that website today anyway… 😀
Instead I’m going to point out the main new things going on in the X100VI. So let’s dive straight into the deep end and talk about the most obvious new thing going on in the X100VI. The sensor
The 40mp X-Trans 5 HR sensor
The X100VI has gotten a pretty massive sensor upgrade. It now features the absolutely amazing 40mp BSI X-Trans 5 HR sensor.
Since I’ve never reviewed a camera from Fujifilm with this sensor before, this X100VI review will be the first time I’m going to put my thoughts about it onto paper. By now I have extensive experience with the 40mp X-Trans 5 sensor. I first started using it during the summer of 2022 while dragging the then unreleased XH2 through France, then continued using it in the X-T5 prototype and later selling my GFX100S replacing it with the production XT5 to take over all my product shooting needs. It’s THAT good!
So what makes this sensor shine? Well obviously the sensor is nothing without the image processor that decodes and interprets the sensor data. And Fujifilm is combining the high-resolution 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor with its X-Processor 5. It has a lot of improvements in AI processing technology, it handles next generation HEIF image file format and most importantly it features reduced power consumption.
The output from this sensor had me blown away from the first images I saw from the XH2. The color tonality is very rich. It’s very contrasty and it has a way of making the golden light of summer feel extra warm and well balanced. It does something in the tonality of daylight kelvin temperatures that I cannot really explain in theory. But I can see it. And that’s what counts to me.
It also has incredible performance in the dark tonal areas of the images. I was very surprised that for my very dark product shots the X-Trans 5 sensor of the XT5 handles the shadows at least 90% as good as the GFX100S. It’s so well balanced and capable that I actually switched to the XT5 from my GFX100S for all my productshots. So all the product shots you’ve seen me do for Fujifilms launches this past year and a half has actually been shot on the X-Trans 5 sensor. Pretty incredible feat for a sensor with a pixel density that high.
Compared to the X100V this new sensor has a lower base ISO of 125 which is a little lower compared to the ISO 160 on the old model. It goes up to ISO12800, with extended ISO down to ISO64 and up to ISO51200.
I was a bit afraid that it would suffer during lowlight conditions, but on the contrary it really handles lowlight amazingly well. It’s almost on par with the 26mp X-Trans 4 sensor, but the added resolution makes the image seem clearer and less grainy. (basically the grains are smaller when viewing the images at the same size on screen / printed.
It features BSI (Backside Sensor illumination) which definitely gives it a slight boost in low light and general handling of dynamic range, to compensate for the slight less light sensibility of the high resolution build.
I LOVE shooting at nighttime, and during my testing of the X100VI it has basically been total darkness in Scandinavia, so trust me when I say that in the dark it delivers the goods!
There are definite benefits of having a high resolution sensor in a compact “jack of all trades” camera like the X100VI, something that the Leica Q2 and Q3 has benefitted from during the past couple of years. I’ll get back to a very specific feature further down in this review.
Lens
Well, the lens is actually the same 8 elements in 6 groups w/ 2 aspherical elements design that is found in the X100V.
When going from the X100F to the X100V, Fujifilm upgraded the lens significantly compared to the original lens that had been on every iteration since the original X100. The old lens wasn’t designed to cope with much more than the 16mp that was offered in those cameras, so when moving to the 26.1MP X-Trans4 sensor it definitely needed an upgrade. But apparently Fujifilm decided to make it future proof, cause it more than handles the new resolution demands of the X-Trans 5 HR 40mp sensor.
The lens exterior is also exactly the same as on the X100V, so all your old custom lens hoods and the WCL-X100II and TCL-X100II adapters will fit with no issues whatsoever.
The adapters actually opens up some very interesting possibilities in combination with the new high resolution sensor, which I’ll adress in a bit.
The lens still needs an adapter ring and a filter for the camera to achieve weather resistance. I had hoped that Fujifilm would have solved this problem more elegantly, but it is what it is.
During fall last year, rumours circulated that the new X100 lens would be redesigned to feature an OIS (optical image stabilisation) system, but it turned out to be completely wrong. What they ended up implementing was even cooler. They incorporated IBIS!
IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation)
The X100VI features a 6 stop IBIS unit. Think about that for a second. In a body that is only a couple of millimeters thicker than its predecessor, Fujifilm managed to cram an incredible IBIS unit that delivers 6 stops of image stabilisation!
It’s absolutely stellar to say the least. It does wonders for low light photography where I can easily handhold the camera at up to 1 second and still get tack sharp images. It’s also a true benefit when shooting the new 40mp HR sensor.
I’ve really come to appreciate IBIS on the X-T5 and the GFX series, but I’ll be the first to admit that in the past I’ve thought this feature to be pointless. I now think that it’s quite invaluable in my digital cameras.
It might seem like overkill to feature IBIS on a small compact, semi wide angle camera like the X100VI, but trust me – when you get used to having it, you won’t want to let it go.
All the things that makes it an X100
What has always defined the X100 series for me has been the extreme versatility of the system. Even though the old saying “jack of all traits, master of none“ hints at a certain amount of shortcomings, the fact of the matter is that the X100 camera excels, and is indeed a master at being a true alround camera that you can throw at any photographic opportunity, and it will reward you with great images. During every iteration of the camera, Fujifilm has added things to the list of features that seems to further define and refine what a super versatile camera should be.
The X100VI is certainly not swaying from this path of evolution that Fujifilm seems to be on. The IBIS and new high resolution sensor are both additions that takes versatility in terms of cropping capabilities and low light performance even further than ever before. It still has a 4 stop ND filter built in, a close distance macro-range focusing lens, a hybrid OVF/EVF viewfinder, a compact size and super intuitive handling.
Some people online have already started whining about the fact that the X100VI is made in China and not Japan. Let me say this right now. Build quality is as good as ever. And what about if we all started letting go of that old prejudiced line of thought that chinese made products is nothing but cheap crap. I see only benefits to this. Fujifilm can rely on a much larger production capacity, even while making QC on site ensuring the same level of quality that we’re used to. (Your iPhones or Teslas aren’t worse off just because they were assembled in China now are they!)
Battery and SD card slot
Fujifilm kept the same battery as in the X100V – the NP-W126S. I was rather surprised by this as all the other X-Trans5 / X-Processor 5 cameras have been updated to the newer, higher capacity NP-W235 battery.
I was afraid that battery life would suffer quite a bit from this descision, which I definitely think was made out of necessity due to size constraints. They did NOT want the X100VI to grow in size.
However in all my testing of the camera since early october 2023, in both warm and (very) cold conditions, the battery consumption of the X100VI seems on par with the X100V. And that is definitely good enough for me. I can get a full day of street shooting on a single battery without having to change. If I know I need to be out for extended periods of time, I just carry an extra battery. I’ve done this for 10 years, and have NEVER run out of battery. Your milage might vary of course, but then again. The X100V isn’t exactly made for professional sportsphotography 😀
In the same context Fujifilm has kept a one SD card slot setup. It’s a UHS-I standard. It’s nothing fancy, but it works, and it’s more than fast enough to handle bursts and the new 40mp HR RAW files. Again, it’s a non issue, that any good “internet camera expert” will make you believe is a massive deal breaker. I think they should go outside and spend some time shooting images.
Features and usage
Just like the hardware side of things has been upgraded to almost 1:1 mimic that of X-T5, so has the features on the software/firmware side of things. Although in addition there are a couple of things thats are quite unique to the X100VI. So let’s start off by talking about one of those features that I find to be by far the coolest feature.
Crop modes
Because of the newly incorporated HR 40mp sensor, Fujifilm can FINALLY realize one the features that made me purchase and use a Leica Q2 a year ago (I later sold that camera because I never achieved quite the “connection” to it that I had hoped)
The crop modes!
Fujifilm had tried to incorporate it with the X100V, but in a very crippled form. Mainly because they didn’t have the sensor resolution, what they did was make upscaled versions of the jpeg files, to keep resolution.
What Leica did with its Q2 was introduce cropmodes for 35mm, 50mm and 75mm. It would give you the full raw file, but it would bake the crop-info into the raw file, so it would appear cropped in Lightroom, when in reality it had just placed the lines for you. All of this with a push of a button on the back of the camera. It’s probably the one feature that I loved most on the Q2.
With the new high res sensor Fujifilm can FINALLY do something sort of similar. They didn’t do it by baking in crop-lines into the raw files, instead they leave them uncropped and just gives you cropped JPEGs.
I really want Fujifilm to add crop lines to the RAW files too, like Leica does. I’ll have to check whether or not it’s my early firmware that doesn’t do it or if it’s the same in the final version.
In the viewfinder or on the screen you will get confirmation of the current crop mode you’re in, by a square icon with the cropped focal length inside (in full frame equivalents) and in the OVF you will get the changing framelines shown just like on any true rangefinder.
The corresponding file resolutions are as follows:
- 35mm (23mm APSC) – 7728 x 5152 px – 40mp
- 50mm (35mm APSC) – 5472 x 3648 px – 20mp
- 70mm (50mm APSC) – 3888 x 2592 px – 10mp
To switch modes you simply turn the focus ring on the lens. So easy! And a much cooler implementation than the button on the Q2/Q3
These modes make this camera so much more versatile for me. Especially since I could never decide between 23mm and 35mm. And I always end up carrying both my X100 and my XPro. Well with the X100VI I don’t really have to do that no more. And yes, yes, yes I know that it’s just a digital crop solution that can be achieved in post. But I just shoot different images if I frame them with a certain focal length in the field. So for me having the different modes in camera makes a world of difference. I’m also well aware that you won’t have the same optical compression of field as you would with optical tele-lenses, but it’s a non-issue for me.
Converter lenses
When discussing the crop modes I also need to talk a bit about some add-on hardware that you can buy for your X100VI. It’s the WCL-X100II and the TCL-X100II conversion lenses that you can attach to your X100 series camera. The MKII versions were introduced with the X100F and features magnets so that when you attach them, the camera will automatically detect , and switch into, the corresponding mode. It does some correcting to the files to correct for optical distorsion.
Fujifilm are not launching new converters, since the existing MkII resolves the 40mp sensor, as well as attaches to the X100VI lens just the same as on the X100V.
When you have these converter lenses attached, the crop modes also change accordingly.
WCL-X100II crop mode resolutions:
- 28mm (18mm APSC) – 7728 x 5152 px – 40mp
- 41mm (27mm APSC) – 5472 x 3648 px – 20mp
- 58mm (38mm APSC) – 3888 x 2592 px – 10mp
TCL-X100II crop mode resolutions:
- 50mm (35mm APSC) – 7728 x 5152 px – 40mp
- 72mm (48mm APSC) – 5472 x 3648 px – 20mp
- 100mm (66mm APSC) – 3888 x 2592 px – 10mp
So if we include the less usable (however usable for all your online social media needs etc) 10mp resolution you have a very impressive “lens arsenal” to chose from by just throwing the two converters into your camera bag, or pockets when going out shooting. There are some focal lengths overlapping, where I would definitely choose the optically altered focal lengths – but this is just to say that you have TONS of options for shooting very versatile images in such a compact system. The Fujifilm X100VI does this like no other camera on the market right now.
Autofocus / AI features
The autofocus capabilities have gotten a huge upgrade from the X100V. It’s now even faster and even more precise to lock on to a target. This has also been trickled down from the X-T5 and it’s the same focusing system between the two cameras.
This also means that all the new AI focusing features are present in the X100VI. Animal tracking and object tracking etc. You have it all. And it works so amazingly well.
I especially enjoy using the subject recognition mode / eye / face recognition modes. So much so, that I have even assigned that function to the AEL/AFL button on the back. It’s just so good for nailing focus on the faces of people when doing fast paced street photography. Way faster than my usual focus and compose routine.
If you havn’t yet tried the X-T5 and you’re upgrading from an X100V to the X100VI you’re in for a treat with this new focusing system. It feels quite modern, and it’s at a point now where it just works with no hassle.
Reala Ace (Nostalgic Neg. & Eterna Bleach bypass) Film simulations
Since the introduction of the X100V a lot of things has happened in regards to film simulations. First of all the community that revolves around making your own custom looks from the Film Simulations has exploded in popularity, largely due to the popularity of sites such as FujiXweekly.com. Fujifilm has always touted their Film simulations as being something much more than the standard image looks that a lot of other manufacturers put into their cameras. Fujifilm takes great pride in their heritage, and every new Film simulation is developed with great care, knowledge and attention to detail.
I think it’s also quite a big part of what has made the X100V such a hugely popular camera with the “young crowd” from eg TikTok. The film simulations makes it very easy to achieve a very unique, complete looking image without having to mess around in a raw converter.
I for one ALWAYS shoot my black and white images as Acros jpegs, with the raw as a sidecar. The Acros film simulation brings a lot of unique features that cannot be replicated in post, for example the luminance-dependent grain structure. You can read more about this particular film simulation here
I’ve heard so many people saying that they want an X100 monochrome akin the Leica M monochrom. To these people I always say. Switch to Acros, It’s such a unique B&W rendering that it oftentimes blows the M mono out of the water. And trust me, I’ve been to LalaLeica land for many years. And it’s not all it’s made up to be.
So given the popularity of shooting jpegs with these film simulations, it only makes sense that Fujifilm keeps developing these and putting them into their cameras.
Since the launch of the X100V, Fujifilm has developed and released 3 new film simulations, and those 3 have all made it into the X100VI.
- Eterna Bleach Bypass.
- Nostalgic Negative
- Reala Ace
All of these film simulations have been introduced on various GFX cameras at the time of their release, and have since trickled down to later X Trans cameras. Mainly the ones with the XTrans 5 sensor. (XH2, XH2s, XT5).
I absolutely love Nostalgic Neg. It gives a real “Fred Herzog” vibe. And the orange/reds and the blue separation in that film simulation is to die for. On the other hand I never really liked or used Eterna bleach bypass. I just never got back into that whole 90’s MTV look.
I didn’t get much time to play around with the GFX100II when I did the productshots almost a year ago, so the X100VI is for me the first time trying out the Reala Ace film simulation. I must say it didn’t catch on at first. It seemed very yellowish to my eyes, and not all that true to life. But I think that was because of the very grey lighting conditions that Denmark had to offer this winter, cause after having stuck to it and used it in much more varied lighting conditions, it’s actually become quite the favourite of mine.
During sunshine, it gives off a very soothing saturated golden image. Very nice clear tonality. During night time, I set the WB to around 3000K and it presents a very cool green cast to the artificial light sources. I really dig this look a lot. All in all I think it’s one of the more usable film simulations that has been added during recent years, and it will be cool to see what kind of expressions and mashups the film-simulation community can do with it.
Conlusion and sample image gallery
We’re at that point in time where any update to any digital camera is merely an incremental update to an already very capable product. In a world where phones combined with their powerful processors, amazing software with full AI capabilities one could even ask the question “Do we need premium compact cameras such as the X100VI?”. If you ask me, a photographer, with a passion for all things photography, the answer is OF COURSE!
But when catering to the general user segment the above question will likely result in a very different answer. However, somehow the X100V seemed to catch on to a market of young online users that really likes it and loves using it, and actually promotes using it. My best guess is that it’s part the look of the camera. It looks fantastic, and it’s a real fashion accessory. But I also think the whole philosophy of film simulations and the “carry with you everywhere, in any situation” approach of the X100 series is catching on with this audience.
Will these users gain much improvement with the updates in the X100VI? No, certainly not. But for those of us that use the camera as an everyday photographic tool, the updates are amazing and relevant. The camera feels much more technically refined and modern.
Yet again I need to express my awe of Fujifilm. How did they once again mange to improve upon a camera that I already thought was pure perfection? I really have no good answer to that. Anyway that’s what they did, and that’s where we’re at. An already wonderful do-it-all camera just got made even better.
The X100VI is absolutely fantastic.
Sample image gallery
I have shot the X100VI since early october 2023, and I have put it into almost any situation and enduring circumstances. It has delivered flawlessly. Everytime.
Bear in mind that I have been using a prototype camera, so IQ might not be final. Since no raw converters out there can read the RAF files from the x100VI yet, all the sample images in this review are jpegs. This is of course a limitation to the IQ, but it is however exactly within the philosophy of the 100VI.
Hi Jonas,
thanks for this new review and your “return as a reviewer” 🙂 I have already pre-ordered the X100VI and can hardly wait for it to arrive. For me, IBIS is the game changer.
Hi Peter – can I ask where you preordered it from?
Hi. I ordered mine from Bestbuy, shipping on Feb 28.
After receiving my VI today I contacted Adorama and told them I needed to return it for a replacement. If I hold the unit and rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise something inside the unit moves and ‘clunks’ which is disconcerting. I removed the battery to determine if the battery was causing the ‘clunk’ but it happened regardless. I hope this is a one-off.
i read that the ibis doesn’t lock when the camera is turned off. seems like what you’re describing is the ibis.
That’s the ibis unit and is normal.
It is the IBIS suspension system and quite normal….i hope you managed to source a replacement unit but suspect it’s just the same. Otherwise you’ve missed your opportunity to own a superb camera. Mine is off to China on a tour next week so it’ll be ‘going back home’ for a few weeks along with my new iPhone 15 pro max and iPad Pro.
Hello. Great, I’m glad you’re back on your site, I really enjoy your articles. Just a small point, I’m not sure I understood. If you use the 50mm Crop Mode (35mm Apsc), the image will be exactly the same – with the same perspective – as if you’d used a 50mm lens (35mm Apsc)? So there is no point for you in using the Xpro any more ?
And just one more question: do you mainly use OVF or EVF?
A great review. Happy to see you writing again. And of course, fantastic shots!
no xpan crop 🙁
perhaps via a firmware update …. the 40MPX resolution begs for it
Thanks for your review! The pictures are, as always, incredibly good.
What I miss with the X100VI is more aspect ratios. It’s no longer enough for me to just take photos in 3:2 or 16:9. Why doesn’t Fujifilm also offer 65:24 or 4:3?
Actually like the X-T5 it also features 4:3 and 5:4.
Hi Steve, I just bought them.
Hey Jonas. The camera is nice. But the images are nicer. Incredible how many great interesting shots you can make in 2-3 months my friend! If you have an hour or two next time you are in Copenhagen, lets meet for a good cup of coffee 😉
Hi Jonas. Thanks for this great review, now I must try this Fuji by myself 😂
Your photos are amazing, wow! I read the entire review even tough I’m not in the market for a Fuji X100 but after seeing your images I’m considering picking one up again. I had the original X-Pro 1 but never got on with the OVF and the EVF at the time wasn’t that good. Maybe I need to have another look into Fuji.
Let me just point out something else: ” I’m also well aware that you won’t have the same optical compression of field as you would with optical tele-lenses, but it’s a non-issue for me.”
What changes with the crop factor is the perceived Depth of Field but not compression, as compression is given by perspective. There is no such thing as optical compression. Try shooting your 35mm at f2 in 50mm crop mode and compare it to a 50mm at f/2.8. You’ll get essentially the same image save for some optical differences in lens design.
Hope that doesn’t come off wrong. I really enjoyed your review and your images are absolutely stunning. There is just this misconception about cropping and as we get more high res cameras it becomes a viable tool for more people and it’s important to understand the concept.
@Hans: I was just about to write the exact same thing about the “optical compression”. As long as you don’t change the distance to your subject you will have the same resulting image through a crop (even the Background Blur stays the same) just in a lower resolution. If someone don’t believe it: just try for yourself. So loosing resolution is the only disadvantage you get. Which, in this case just adds to the plus points of the new sensor. Really no problem at all using the digitally cropped 20 Megapixel images.
@ Jonas: as always an excellent review, superb images and the new X100VI seems to be just a great camera! Nice, that you are back into blogging 🙂 Love your site and style!
“Try shooting your 35mm at f2 in 50mm crop mode and compare it to a 50mm at f/2.8.”
In order to see no difference, you should shoot at the same f-stop 😉 No need to multiply the f-stop as the sensor stays the same and we’re not talking about different (crop-)sensor sizes. That’s a different topic.
So in this case, Jonas could just shoot 2 images on his X100VI: One digitally cropped 50mm version and one with the TCL without crop. They both have f/2 and will give the same results (just the resolution will be the difference).
“sensor stays the same”
not when you crop. with cropping you’re using the central part of the sensor resulting in a smaller sensor area (less pixels as you point out). And therefore the cropped image will look more stopped down. That’s why (extreme example, I know) the artificial blur on Smartphone images exist despite their lenses being f/1.8 or faster.
I assume the TCL has glass in it making the 35/2 into a 50/2 so therefore you’d need to stop down the 50 to 2.84 (2*1.42) in order to equate the 50mm crop out of the 35/2.
Exactly right that the two things that matter for “compression” are the distance of the subject from the lens and the f stop (entrance pupil, really) of the lens. Telephoto lenses show compression just because you are physically farther away from the subject looking at a narrower angular spread. So cropping a wider lens to a narrow view while standing the same distance away should produce basically the same image.
But, different lenses have optical performance optimized for different focus distances, and cropping reduces the effective sensor resolution. Shorter focal length lenses also usually need more aggressive optical gymnastics to correct the wide range of incoming angles so probably lose some image fidelity for a cropped view compared to a longer lens even with matched resolution.
I think it’s fantastic to have more raw cropping modes in camera for such a compact carry. I just wish fuji did firmware updates to make more aspect ratios possible, like the 4:3 and 65×24 aspects included with GFX.
oh sir, here we go again with an amazing and inspiration review. i can’t hide my LOVE to the cropping mode!
and you know what? i have the X-Pro 3 and now i can sell the 27mm and 35mm to get the X100VI.
Thank you for sharing the whole experience. Amazingly put together. 👍🏼
Thanks for such a detailed review Jonas. I love the reds and oranges in the Nostalgic Neg too. Quite interesting how they approached the digital crop on the raws. I read the other comments about a digital crop not being any different but not sure I agree (am open to trying it in case I am indeed wrong) but with a longer focal length the relative size of objects in the far distance will increase – I use this effect with wide angles in street photography at times to make people in the near distance much smaller than the subject. Very different to what a cropped image would show. Anyway thats academic, the review is great – amazing shots for such a short time with the camera and yet again Fuji another amazing camera.
“I read the other comments about a digital crop not being any different but not sure I agree (am open to trying it in case I am indeed wrong)”
I encourage you to try it out for yourself. If you don’t have your camera handy and are in the office (like I am) look outside the window make frame with your hands or fingers. Have your hands with the frame close to your eyes depicting a wide angle and then extend your arms simulating a “crop”. The relations in your “image” between your objects in this imaginery frame haven’t changed (assuming you didn’t change perspective as in did not move your feet). This is an easy experiment and should then answer this question if a longer FL changes “compression”. Answer, no it does not.
All the best
It’s easy to get confused with all this but I think you need only consider a zoom lens here. Zooming from 23 to 35mm is identical to cropping, which is why zooming is so boring and why physically moving the camera is much preferred; because moving the camera brings a different perspective and zooming does not. And needless to say there is no difference between a lens that is zoomed to 35mm, and a 35mm prime. They are the same perspective.
You’re still a genius my friend. My favorite photo blogger is back finally. I started about nine years ago with x100T, and never looked back. I use XT5 now, and will add this amazing beauty to my Fujifilm family.
Thank you Jonas,
Bané
Hey Jonas,
Thanks for your great review. I was wondering if I can get your feedback on a question. I ironically ordered the XT5 yesterday (literally the day before they announced the X100VI) as I got tired of waiting for the X100V to restock.
I went ahead and preordered the X100VI as well with plans of returning one of the cameras after doing more research. I am trying to get back into photography after COVID so I am looking to do fashion events, street photography, etc again which requires a fairly adaptable camera for multiple situations. My original plan was to use the XT5 with the Fuji 27mm pancake lens for when I am in transit, travel, etc and be able to switch to other lens for more specific events.
As someone who owns both the XT5 and the X100VI- which do you prefer more for you workflow? Which would you keep if you were in my position? Features wise it appears that the X100VI is almost on par with its bigger brother the XT5. I feel that the XT5’s ability to change lenses may be advantageous, however, the compactness of the X100VI seems to counter it.
Thanks!
Also consider the possibility of mating the x-t5 with the Voigtlander Ultron 27mm f/2 or the Voigtlander Scopas 18mm f/2.8. Very compact and the joy of true manual focusing.
I have the X-T5, my first Fuji was the X100s – in my opinion, if weight and size are not your most important points, you’re better off with the X-T5.
Hey! As both a X100V and X-T5 user, I would suggest trying out the 18mm F2 from Fuji. I got a very sharp copy and I’m pretty much satisfied. It offers me everything I can do with the X100V plus the ability to change objectives if I want. That being said, the X-T5 is nowhere as compact as the X100V. But I still carry it always with me in my fanny-pack.
flip screen integration to the body puts the leica Q3 to utter shame
Nice to see another progression with meaningful changes performed without altering the core device! Now, hopefully the chip shortage is over and the price of used Fujifilm kit will calm back down. 🙂
Thank you for the fantastic review. Personal, intimately precise, emotional information (fotos) is what we need to connect to the material out there. And boy did I connect to the VI. She’s preordered and will accompany us for a very long while…
fantastic review! Just a heads up. Every time I try to click on the gallery to make the pictures larger, they all just show up as a black screen.
Jonas-
Believe me, it is a true JOY to read your WRITINGS and to see your PHOTOGRAPHS!
PLEASE CONTINUE BOTH!
Blaine Baker
Dayton, Ohio, USA
I pre-ordered the X100V and when it arrived I found that it became extremely warm when out taking photos. I never really shot any video with it. I was concerned enough that I returned it after a couple of days. First digital camera I ever owned that became uncomfortably hot to the touch and I figured it would not be good for the electronics in the long run. Maybe I should not have done so given that they were going for close to 2x what I paid later!? Any problem with this on your end and/or with the recently reviewed VI? Perhaps it was a relative non-issue or they have it sorted with the new one?
Actually I think it is a real disappointment that this camera is made in China. I have purchased lighting equipment made in China. And other accessories. And of course clothing and shoes. Because we have no choice price wise . But I will draw the line at buying cameras made in China. And I surely wouldn’t buy a car made in China.
the crop applied to the raw files must be new ? in the current firmware for the xt5 the crop is not applied to the raw files , just only to the jpg files as far I am understand. so no crop information in the raw files for editing.
Jonas, thank you for a review and great images. Do you know if x100vi can print directly on instax printers, specifically Link Wide?
Welcome back! When I saw the camera was announced, this was the first review I wanted to read. It’s nice to see you returning to form!
Best insight and description of this new camera I’ve found! And the pics are fantastic!
Just wanted to pop in and say that your photography is inspiring. Constantly impressed with how you see light, color, and shape in the world. Your photos are also a great blend of art and human moments. Hope to keep seeing more!
Jonas takes fantastic pictures with all cameras. You just need to go back to older reviews. They’re just as great. It’s not the camera. It’s not the camera. It’s not …
Absolutely love your photos and reviews!
One very important detail and the reason for me to stick with the X100 series is… the leaf shutter!
“Made in Japan” is a stamp of quality…
Fantastic review and amazing photos. Seriously.
Superb review, superb photography. Well done. I’ve pre-ordered my X100VI and cannot wait.
Great review and even greater photos!
Does the VI feel noticeably heavier? Thanks!
Wow, first time visitor to your site. What stands out in your blog, compared to all others, is just how many remarkable images you have on here. You are a fantastic photographer; this feels like visiting a gallery!
I have an X100T that has been languishing a bit. I love the form factor, and the simulations, but it just feels like the dynamic range–especially in the highlights in contrasty conditions–doesn’t hold up well without perfect exposure. I’m sure this is user error to a degree, though I don’t have any problems exposing with my Canon R6 II, but that’s a much more massive camera (with lenses) not so fun to take around. I’d love to know if you have any thoughts on what improvements I would see, particularly with image quality (I don’t care all that much about resolution) if I upgraded to the new X100VI?
So excited to receive mine. Own the V and have loved it for years. Thanks for the great thoughts and images.
Hello enjoyed your review and I’m seriously thinking of getting the camera.
Do take one minor exception you mentioned when the crop feature goes to 10 megapixels you give the impression that’s only good for web use.
We are spoiled with megapixels these days, however I have numerous 12 x 18 photographs printed at home from my 10 megapixel Canon 20D and have found if you have nailed everything they hold up very well to scrutiny.
Dave
Great review Jonas!
I wonder which camera you use to take photo of X100VI.
Omg! Gorgeous pictures! The pictures you took look fantastic!
Thanks a lot mr. Rask, very inspiring. I am convinced to buy one, hope my wife too, after reading your story.
Pre-ordering today!
I’ve never been more on the fence. I have an x-t3 with 16-55 and it is brilliant -but- I am going travelling Europe for a while and must face the question of -will a 1.3kg cam/lens combo be a thorn in my side vs. just having an x100VI in my jacket pocket? In some ways I might regret owning each one equally but for different reasons. I’m not sure there is an answer to the dilemma, but I am leaning towards just suffering a bit with the heavy beastie vs. face missing the flexibility of my addictive 16-55. I keep going back and forth lol.
Sean, I’m in the same predicament. I have an XPro3 with the 16-55mm. The X100VI looked like a good way to downsize as I generally just walk about towns I’m visiting and take pictures for my own pleasure. My days of long hikes with a ton of camera equipment are over I’m afraid. Well, the order backlog has made the decision for me. No surprise on the order backlog. I’ll just use a prime for size and weight reduction. But the 16-55mm is hard to leave behind.
Crop Modes
what a great name for that feature; less misleading.
The Crop Modes + higher resolution is a major buying factor for me. I often find myself at a toss up between 35mm and 50mm ( full frame equivalent ). So this might be an viable solution to needing a zoom lens or carrying two primes.
I already pre-ordered it, but this article really aligned with my “excuse” for getting new gear. the words, backed up impressive images.
Dear Dr. Jonas,
Thank you so much for an awesome review coming directly from your heart. I have always loved your photos and your passion. Do keep up the good work. I hope we can her from you on a regular basis from now on. Do avoid getting burnt out by pacing yourself.
Made in China vs Japan: for me, you’ve completely missed the point on this. It isn’t about Chinese quality or a lack thereof, it’s more a matter of feeding the beast. It’s geopolitical, plain and simple. I don’t buy Chinese products because I don’t want to support and fund their regime’s attempts to supplant and/or destroy the US. So, as it sits right now, all three of my favorite lines in Fuji are w/o a proper upgrade path. The X-T line: went to China with the X-T3. The X100 line: now China. The X-Pro line: who knows if they’ll ever release another one to replace the giant mistake that was the X-Pro3, and who knows if that camera will get same level of non-Kaizen like the previous forgotten iterations. If I had to guess with what was just done with the X100 line being moved to China, I expect the same to be done with the X-Pro line. I think more than anything the bean counters have gotten involved in recent releases, made all the wrong calls, and put Fuji into position where there are a completely differently behaving company. I loved Fuji for what the company was, but now I see it more as a manufacturer who simply makes nice looking cameras that don’t compete terribly well on form or function as everyone else has passed them by, hence the need to outsource to cheaper shores. We used to talk about the soul of Fuji…well, it looks like Fuji’s soul got sold out to China just like so many others.
China is not trying to supplant and/or destroy the U.S.
The U.S leadership is making it sound like they’re picking a fight with China but China has no interest in a fight with the U.S.
China has always been comparatively isolationist, and are mostly focused on their own internal problems. To the extent they go beyond their own borders, they do so with economic projects like the Belt & Road Initiative.
If we’re talking about supplanting like you said, as in jobs getting outsourced to China, that’s simply global capitalism. As China has gotten more and more expensive, a considerable number of manufacturing jobs have since in turn moved to places with cheaper labor like Vietnam & Bangladesh.
But China are still the best when it comes to the pure volume they can produce. And because of that, they’ve retained most of the production for foreign companies despite the rising costs of labor there.
Not wanting to buy a superb camera just because it’s made in China is a bit like not wanting to buy a Macbook Pro because it’s designed in the U.S (for those who have negative feelings toward what the U.S represents right now).
In the end, you’re mainly hurting yourself IMHO.
Jonas a great review. I am ready to order it. I just to buy X100 VI or Leica Q3 for my street photography. Anyone has X100V and Leica Q3 or Q2 to help me?
Akis
Thank you Jonas for this remarkable review. If the ultimate is your requirement then I would upgrade from the 100V … mainly for me for the IBIS in low light and the improved tilting screen. This relates to my three score years and ten … with a slightly less secure taking of photographs and knees that don’t like to bend so much!!
However I realise for me that the previous sensor is adequate for me … and happy to take spare battery if needed for the day. So I will just look with a little green envy on those with the new camera … but at last I have reached a stage where …for me … the 100V has all I need … and is the camera I have most loved using since my Pentax LX ….. it is such a JOY!
I found the original X100 lovely but infuriating …the X100F a huge improvement … and the V the one I finally fell in love with.
Great to see you back ..thank you
Nice review and great images as usual Jonas.
A question: do the subject/eye/face recognition modes work with the OVF? I’ve ready mixed comments on this for the X100V. Can you confirm for the X100VI?
Please help! I shoot B&W with X100V and when editing these B&W photos in PS they all opened in colour!!!!???
Why these photos shot in B&W opened as colour in PS???
What am I doing wrong???
Please reply.
Thanks.
Waldemar
My guess is that you’re shooting raw files (.RAF), and they’re not impacted by the color simulation you’re using. Try switching to shooting JPEGs and it should come out in black & white.
Absolutely amazing pictures! Are all of these SOOC or did you tweak them before uploading? Which simulation did you mainly use in your sample gallery? Do you use any type of diffusion filter? 🙂
Great review, thanks a lot.
Has anyone been building any recipes on the Reala Ace platform yet? I’m curious, because I can guess Jonas is using it occasionally in these sample pictures. By it’s “bluey” tone that seems to stick out to me.
Jonas, are those hard contrast and shadows done in post, or are you baking them into your film sim?
Excellent review and truly outstanding sample images–thank you for sharing your work! One thing which you may or may not care about: the expression is “jack of all trades,” not “traits.” Regards,
Mark D.
One could make the argument for traits😂
Great to have you back reviewing Jonas! I hope to get my X100 VI before the next Olympics?…Ice age?? 😉
Some lovely cool cinematic images as always.
You had me at “It’s a kind of color rendering that I haven’t seen since the original XTrans sensor in the X-Pro1.” Still regret not holding on to my X-E1 but this should help.
Great review! Amazing shots!
Thanks for the super detailed look at the VI, can’t wait to get mine. Amazing shots you posted, great job on those!
Thank you so much for that great review, Jonas. The photos you took with this camera are some great examples and your detailed review convinced me to get this camera!