It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in front of the laptop writing the draft of what would eventually be my first look at the X-Pro2. Prior to that had been two hectic months filled with photographic inspiration. There was no doubt in my mind back then, that Fujifilm had created a masterpiece of a camera. – I still to this day believe that the X-Pro2 is Fujifilms best camera.
But there was always the lingering. The consistent urge to witness a proper update to the little gem that started it all for me. That small silver package that had me floored with its incredible image quality and its undeniable charm. – It had gotten to be a bit long in the tooth. It had seen the technology of its X-series brethren evolve past it.
There had been many rumors about a new version of this iconic camera. Rumors of release dates, specs etc. – But the development took its time! The time, however, is finally here. We finally get the long awaited update to the X100 line.
The X100F.
During this past year I have had the immense pleasure of testing and trying almost all of the new X-series cameras. And even though I am easily smitten by the new shiny gadgets, I always go back to the X-Pro and X100 line. They’re simply the tools that are right for me. Sure you can get other cameras, more technically advanced cameras, faster focusing cameras, sturdier built cameras. But for me there are no better cameras! – They spark my creativity, hence making them my photographic companions. They are the cameras that enables me to capture my vision exactly how I want to capture it.
I first laid my eyes on this camera back at Photokina 2016. It had been ready to go for some time, but as you probably all know there was an earthquake incident that involved a big sensor supplier. So I think the entire industry took a big product cycle setback because of that. I got sent a test unit back in october/november and it hasn’t left my side since.
The X100 series is still labeled as a compact camera. It was never meant to be anything else. But the truth is that with the X100F, it is now just as powerful as the flagship cameras in the Fujifilm lineup: The X-Pro2 and XT2.
Some of you might think that this is a small update to the camera line, but that really depends on your point of view. Compare it to the X-Pro2 – The X100F is just basically catching up. Compare it to the X100T that it’s replacing, and you have the same massive spec upgrade that you had going from the XT1 to the XT2.
New sensor, new processor. Same size, same lens. – And thats basically it! So I can stop writing now? – Not really! 😀 – The X100F represents the single largest spec update to the X100 series since the original 12MP bayer sensor version.
The X100F is the sharpest looking, best operating and most versatile version of the X100 series yet. And that is no small feat in my book.
Now before we get further into the geekery I need to put my usual disclaimer here. I’m a Fujifilm ambassador. It’s an amazing gig. It’s not a paid gig (but I don’t care, my M.D. gives me that luxury) I’m not impartial. Nor do I try to make you believe that I am. I try to show you what the camera can do through my images. If you don’t like it – Awesome. If you do – Lovely. – But do me a favour and use your critical sense when reading this, cause I’m just about as biassed as they come 😛
Design
When you talk about the X100 series, theres no getting around it. The industrial design. The thing that initially got so many photographers looking in the direction of the second digital coming of Fujifilm. Mr. Masazumi Imai created a true icon when he first designed the X100. – Imai-san and his designteam at Fujifilm have kept incredibly true to the original concept of the X100 through all the generational interactions of the camera.
The X100F is no different. However they have done a lot to streamline the design and make it akin the X-Pro2. When you look at the lines of the camera there is so much of a resemblance that it really looks like a smaller and more refined X-Pro2.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the changes.
- On the front, the letter of generation indication is no more (good riddens!).
- The OVF/EVF selection lever now has larger center that serves as a function button.
- The LED AF illuminator has been moved up next to the flash, and made square.
- There is now an added front selector dial.
- The top line now has a 45 degree angle on the hotshoe/selector dial transition area.
- The ISO/Shutter speed selector dial from the X-Pro2 has found its way through to the X100F as well (YAY!).
The back of the camera has really been cleaned and tidied from a design standpoint. The screen has been moved to the far left, and just with the X-Pro2 you can right-hand operate the entire thing. Fujifilm also fitted the selector joystick-knob-thingy. Buttons are super well laid out with one exception. – A constant irritation for me is the Q button. I would REALLY like for it to be an assignable Fn button for AE-L instead!
Material wise its still an all metal housing and lens. The silver argent coating is a little different from its predecessors. Its a little bit more shiny, and it looks more refined. Less plastic’y. The serial number and FCC approval label has been moved from the bottom of the battery hatch to the inside of the hatch covering the HDMI, mic and USB ports. The size/weight distribution makes it feel solid and exclusive without being too heavy. It feels like a high end product through and through.
Designwise this camera just makes so much sense. It’s like a tiny X-Pro2, and that is seriously a good thing! Daddy’s impressed.
Functions
So let’s start by mentioning a function that is NOT in the package. There is no weather resistance in the X100F. I know I had hoped that there would be, but I’m not impervious to the fact that it would mean a consequently larger camera as a result of implementation of such a thing. If weather sealing is what you require in your Fujifilm camera you will need to look closer at the X-Pro2 – XF23mm f/2 combo. That being said, the X100 cameras take quite a bit of weather without caving.
Fujifilm is launching a new set of conversion lenses. The WCL-X100 II and the TCL-X100 II. Optically not too different from the mark 1 version, but they differ with a cool feature. The camera can now detect if you attach either of them, and add correction to the files accordingly. The old versions still fit perfectly, but you have to enable the corrections in the menu as before.
A new thing is the Digital Tele Converter. You can set it to 50mm eq and 75 mm eq and it will give you an upscaled 24mp file with the corresponding crop. This function is only available in jpeg mode. I wrote about this function in my X70 review and it’s basically the same. I would love for Fujifilm to implement this in RAW files as well, so you get a predefined 16MP 50mm eq crop and 12 mp 75mm eq crop when you load your RAW files (just like the Leica Q does it) The function works very well, and is very handy if you don’t do your cropping in post.
The gallery above, is a first for me. The X100F proves pretty awesome in a portrait session. Especially with the TCL-X100. The 23mm FOV can add something a bit different to the scene.
An incredible new feature is the small EVF window within the OVF mode that was introduced with the X100T, now can show the ENTIRE 100% view of the image. Not just the zoomed in center portion. You switch between the modes by pressing the rear dial. It’s a great little twist! – And I’ve found it incredibly useful!
The X100F has the same focus system as the X-Pro2. It means you now have fast, precise AF with zone mode, center mode and wide tracking mode. It works just as well as on the X-Pro2, so if you have tried that, you will know what to expect. I don’t miss shots because of autofocus of Fujifilm cameras anymore. Thats basically what I require.
The Continuous shooting menu now has 4 settings. L(ow),M(edium), H(igh) and S(uper)H(igh) – Respectively 3, 4, 5 and 8 fps. – In all modes, when you quick press the shutter, it only takes one image.
For those of you who enjoy the AutoISO function, it’s worth noting that minimum shutterspeed in auto ISO has been raised to 1/500s from previously 1/125s. Good thing! – And for those of you who dislikes the ISO wheel of the X-Pro2, you now have an option to use the front command dial as ISO selector. So when you set ISO command dial to A you can scroll the front command dial to change ISO. You can select auto ISO by scrolling all the way past the high ISO settings, and there you will find the 3 Auto ISO settings. I really like the dedicated ISO function, so I will probably never use this, but here’s to Fujifilm listening to what the people want. Big thumbs up on that!
Also the menu system, flash menu and general operation of the camera is exactly like the X-Pro2. Its really great that Fujifilm finally found a consistent platform across the cameras. It makes you feel right at home when you have multiple camera models.
There are many things to love about the X100 series, next the the hybrid viewfinder, the leaf shutter and built in ND filter are such amazing features that it’s not even funny. And of course they kept it around in the X100F. The leaf shutter is almost inaudible, but doesn’t give you rolling shutter as the inaudible electronic shutter does. The 3 stop ND filter will actually let you shoot wide open at 1/1000th sec while syncing the flash at that speed in daylight. Who needs HSS right?
Fujifilm changed the battery types for the X100F. It now takes the NP-W126 and NP-W126s. Its perfect! – Again, a streamlining of the product line. Good job! You get one UHS-1 compatible SD card slot.
Of course we now have the one film simulation that I love above all the others. Acros! I have written about its fantastic features, tonality, and light-level-based grain control here. It’s absolutely fantastic to have this film simulation in the X100F. Especially because you cannot emulate the grain control in post. It has to be done by the X-Processor Pro in camera. So to finally have it in my favourite camera series is bloody marvelous! – All my black and white images are shot as Acros jpeg and then tweaked in post processing.
Image Quality
The X-Processor Pro and the 24mp X-Trans 3 sensor does an incredible job. We already know this from the X-Pro2/X-T2. But one joker in all of this is the lens. Fujifilm uses the same 23mm f/2 lens in the X100F that they have used since the beginning of the series. I have read equal amount of love and hate in descriptions of this lens. Every thing from bad flaring to softness at close distances to perfect golden lights and fantastic clarity. I know how I feel about it, but more importantly, I know its strengths and weaknesses.
I have used this lens since 2011, and we’ve gotten quite acquainted.
What surprised me a lot was the fact that the lens seems better when treated to the new higher resolution sensor. In NO WAY what-so-ever does the sensor out resolve the optics. So again, I must give it to Fujifilm and its Fujinon optics division, they think far ahead when designing lenses.
The lens still softens at close focussing wide open. But if any of you have ever read the original X100 manual you will know that its actually stated as a feature in there. For soft focus portraits. – If you want to shoot at macro distances with this lens and you want sharp images you need to stop it down to f/4. The flaring to me is quite gorgeous. Its unique, and thats what its all about if you ask me. The low light flaring of the 23mm f/2 of the X100 series is one-of-a-kind. And I’ll take unique over perfect ANY day!
The image quality from the X100F can easily match that of the X-Pro2 – XF23mm f/2 combo. So the choice is yours! – The colors are rich, the images are sharp, and the jpegs from the X-Trans 3 do NOT give you wax-figure skin in portraits.
I don’t want to go into the technical analysis of the X-Trans 3 and X-Processor Pro yet again. So if you want a more thorough walk through of the image quality of the sensor/processor combination you can read it here in my X-Pro2 review.
Usage
Of course the X100 functions as a street photography camera for the majority of its user base. Its rangefinder’esque look and feel makes you think of leica, and the silent shutter and small size makes it ideal for many street photographers around the world. This is what I spend a lot of my time photographing, and this is where the X100F has its core audience.
But for me, the biggest selling point of the X100F is really how versatile it is. I have not found myself in a situation where I could not take the image that I had imagined in my head with just the X100 and the 2 conversion lenses. Landscapes, starscapes, cityscapes, street, documentary, family and leisure, portraiture, products, concerts, travel, weddings…etc etc. This little box will do it all. And it will do them all very very very well!
So this is how I ended up (again) shooting so many different styles and scenarios. I really wanted to show that this camera is really the only camera some of you might ever need. I know for sure that it’s my desert island camera!
Samples
As usual, for my camera tests, these samples are processed. You can see images SOOC elsewhere. I always want to show what I do with the tool I have in my hands. What you do with the X100F is your business. 😀 – I tried to show just how versatile this thing is, by taking it through all sorts of disciplins. It excels in all of them! – click the images for larger view
Street
Nature
Relic Motorcycles
General usage
Conclusion
The X100F is a great update to the iconic X100 camera series. For many, this series has been a gateway drug into the Fujifilm X-eco system. I think the X100F will carry this tradition on. It’s all about fantastic image quality packed up neatly in a fantastically designed container that just begs to be carried around and used. It does everything you would expect from a modern digital camera, and it does so in style. This is my desert island camera. I could reduce to this, easily.
In closing, if you want to read some reviews made by some crazy talented people let me point you in the direction of some:
Mr. Patrick LaRoque – The guy is an absolute wizard with a camera. www.laroquephoto.com/blog/2017/1/10/x100f-dawning-of-the-age
Mr. Kevin Mullins – A legend. Personified.
http://f16.click/gear/fujifilm-x100f-review.html
Mr. Ian MacDonald – My canadian brother from another mother. https://ianmacdonaldphotography.com/2017/01/19/coming-home-the-new-fujifilm-x100f/
Awesome review as always Jonas. And your product shots are from another level.
Now you choose, Grey of black 😉
To* choose
Damn autocorrect 😉
When will these be released?
Hey Jonas, great review, like always.
Like your style, the way you look at the world and shoot. Always a pleasure to look at your blog.
I’m almost settled with getting the X100F as my go to camera. One thing that I found a bit annoying on the older X100 was the EVF, compared to the X-Pro 2. I could not find a hint in your review if it finnally caught up to the one in the Pro2. Can you comment on that please.
Thanx a lot for taking the time.
Marco
Is it worth to upgrade from x100T to x100F?
Ps. Your photos is sooo gorgeous !!
Pardon my French ; fucking awesome!
This is the update I have been waiting for…my X100F preorder is in. The Med Format will get a test run from Lens Rentals…God is Good.
Great review, I’ve shot with the x100s but sold it to purchase a 35mm sigma art.
What are your thoughts on shooting with this setup, x100f or Nikon df 35mm 1.4 sigma art?
Cheers
… Must… Get… A… Fuji… Sometime… Argh, i always get this urge when I see your pictures but then I remember that I’d rather have to become you 🙂
Great shots again and a very enjoyable read!
Very nice review with awesome samples – can you comment on the AF – both versus previous X100s and versus the XT or XPro line ?
Hi, thanks for the review.
Just a comment: if you digitally change from 35 to 70mm you won’t get a 12mp but a 6mp file. (as its 2 times the length but 4 times the area)
cheers, Tom
Hi Jonas, Thanks for another excellent review on another excellent Fuji camera. I only have one
question, with my X-T1 and X-E2 I shoot in manual mode, firstly setting the iso, next the aperture
and finally with the shutter wheel on T position, I regulate the shutter speed with the front command
dial on X-T1 and rear command dial on X-E2. My X100S is incapable of this function, is it possible
with the X100F? If not I’m afraid it will be a deal-breaker for me and focus my attention on the X-T2
or X-Pro2 that no doubt have this feature. One final observation, I’m in my 80’s, have been into
photography since my Art School days in London during the mid-fifties, think I know a great deal
about the subject then along comes a bloody doctor with enormous talent, please send me some
anti-depressents!
Som sædvanligt Jonas… Fedt!
Great review and fantastic shots! Lets do some street shooting soon. And maybe I can borrow one of your nice little Fuji things… 😉
Jonas, as a Fujifilm fan myself I’m trying to build a central site that gathers all the details about the new Fujifilm X100f at http://www.x100f.com . I’ve just linked to this review. I’d love to include some of your awesome X100f sample photos too, please let me know if you’re OK with that. Thanks!
Thanks so much for the review! Really like it.
From your stand point of been able to use this camera for a while, which are your toughts on the lay-out of the AF-L button with respect to the x100T? I trying to understand that the reason behing to move that button is due to the increase in capacity of the AF system on this new camera.
By the way:
https://jonasraskphotography.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscf1033.jpg?w=674&h=449&crop=1
I see a blurry section close to the forehead… too much retouching? XD
Thanks!!
Update:
It seems that you the rear wheel comand can be adjusted to function like the AF-L. Great addition!
And you didn’t let me down sir. First site I checked when I picked up the phone today and here it is. 🙂
I need to take more time to gush over the fantastic photos you have provided.
Nice work as usual and good luck with the hectic time crunch that likely ensues as part of all of this plus your regular life.
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
Love your reviews Jonas, they are great, informative and first of all you write about how the cameras feel and what they are capable of instead of dry specks that bore the reader. All these apply to this last one about the X100F as well. I have the X-Pro2 but still this camera is as tempting as ever, so I need to stay strong and resist the GAS, haha. 🙂
Would love also an article on your LR post processing workflow. Maybe not a tutorial like, but insights and best practices from your POV on topics like ISO noise and worming reduction and to give a realistic, still cinematic look to the shots, as I really enjoy your works.
Anyway, congrats and keep the great stuff coming, like Fujifilm does! 🙂
and fantastic samples
Hey Jonas, could you tell us a little bit about your processing of the portrait photo shoot of the model? I love those muted colours!?
Thanks
Steve
Your photographs are amazing Jonas. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what you shoot with. As a fellow hobbyist physician, I’m quite envious of your talent. Keep it up.
Sir – you just made my jaw drop!
What an amazing set of pictures. Thanks for the awesome review and the beautiful pictures. Whenever Fuji releases a new camera/lens your site is one of the first places to check out 🙂
Keep up the good work, Jonas
Cheers from Austria 🙂
Oh snap, I’m just going to end up buying this, aren’t I?
So the question is… black or silver? I didn’t quite like the toyish silver finish on my X100S. And I like my black X-Pro2. But if the silver finish is better now, then… I can’t decide! 😫
Hey Jonas! Sorry for being so “frank”, but I “hate” you! 😇
Your shots and reviews are sooo sooo perfectly awesome! The pics just makes everyone else’s look like… well, you know…
I wish I could pick your brain, for some of that post processing awesomeness!
How about setting up a full-day workshop where you share some of your tips and tricks!
Fantastic review as always! It was your review of the XT2 that convinced me to go out on a limb and switch over to the Fuji system and I am more than chuffed with the camera that I bought last year. And am so tempted to give the X100 series a twirl as well.
As other people above me have mentioned, I would love a write-up about the post-processing techniques that you use. Your pictures are wonderfully eye-catching!
Thanks for the great review. Is the size close enough to the X100T that I could still use my Gariz half case?
I have an XT-2 and an X-Pro2. I’m thinking about selling the X-Pro2 and getting this “little” baby. Is the X100F that much smaller and/or lighter in weight than the X-Pro2?
“I would love for Fujifilm to implement this in RAW files as well, so you get a predefined 16MP 50mm eq crop and 12 mp 75mm eq crop when you load your RAW files (just like the Leica Q does it) ” AMEN to this..I hope we can see this function in a future firmware update.
I owned the original one for a month or so but was so frustrated with the AF that I sold it and havent purchased any fuji since.. This one though…
Thank you for the review. Your stunning pictures are the best advertisement for this camera 🙂 I would be interesting too in knowing some of your post processing tips.
Dear Jonas, great review as always – and the samples are gorgeous!
I want to know if you can use the tele-conversion lens AND the digital conversion zoom function simultaneously.
Thanks,
Can’t help but wonder whether Fuji has hit a bit of credibility wall with the claims made by you and others about the F, especially with no meaningful comparsion between it and the T. This will be a pricey camera in Canada (relative to the now discounted T). Always niche products, the X100 series enjoyed a small but loyal following, though I wonder whether Fuji has now rolled out a product iteration few will buy. I will but not until my newish T craps out and/or the F gets seriously discounted in a couple of years–maybe sooner. Doubt I’ll worry much about dying in my sleep not owning an X100F.
The expression is “good riddance”.
It was a pleasing review.
Great review!
Great Review bro…I’m sold! One quick question…I have a plan to sell off my 23mm 1.4 to fund for the x100f, I’m thinking the lens will be a bit redundant after I get the x100f, so you think this is a wise decision?
Great review. Well done. Beatiful images.
Not one tack sharp photo in the review.
Every photos, with the exception of one B&W of the woman, is soft.
Im assuming that was the idea, but, i like extreme sharpness and none of the pics in this review suggest the camera will provide it.
However, if the focus is consistent, then i’m good.
The lens is about 8yrs old….but to say it’s soft is rather harsh. Old yes, soft no!
Hi Jonas, great review! Can you tell us if the film simulation bracketing works with the digital zoom? It is jpeg so am hopeful! Thanks Steve
Great work and review, thank you. Curious about the difference between the XP2 VS X100F in terms of flexibility. I am looking for a new source of inspiration (haha..new camera time!) and coming from FF Canon with several lenses…will I miss the lens selection If I choose the X100F? I have researched a lot and I am sold on moving to Fuji at least for personal projects but I want to be sure to spend wisely. Both bodies remind me of my incredible Contact G2 and I am looking forward to getting back to a quality rangefinder.
Hi, anyone any idea whether the X100f’s digital teleconverter works in conjunction with the TCL-X100 teleconverter lens? If yes any idea what equivalent focal lengths can be achieved?
Many thanks.
yes it does, as long as you shoot jpeg. it multiplies the equivalents by about 1.42. so youll get about 72 and 102 or so.
Hi Jonas!
I would like to ask you, how do you do to make lens fronts look so great??
Thanks you, I’m a big fan of your works
Hi Jonas,
Very nice review.
Sorry to be the spelling police but I spotted a couple of things and thought you *might* appreciate it. ‘Biased’ only has one ‘s’, and instead of ‘good riddens’, it should be ‘good riddance’.
Sorry to be a pedant! 🙂
Alex
Excellent Review, thank you Jonas. I have the x100f and love it apart from continually pressing the Q button in error. I have one problem however, I can’t get my old Tele-conversion lens (TCL) to screw in plush to the camera… it leaves a gap/ridge. This is not the case with my lens hood or my Wide-Conversion lens (WCL). I tested the TCL on my old X100s and it fits perfectly, plum to the camera with no gap.
Is this a common issue or am I missing something? The TCL still works but cosmetically it doesn’t look right.
Keith
I have explored the TCL issue further, several people are raising the same issue… this is a camera fault on some copies, maybe all , i’m not sure. If you own a TCL and a Fuji X100f check they fit together properly. For me this is a deal breaker.
Hey Keith.
I don’t have this issue with my TCL, Mine screws in perfectly, and sits completely flush.
Regards,
Jonas
Thanks Jonas, unfortunately my TCL doesn’t fit properly on the X100f. The lens hood, WCL and original ring all work fine, so I’m totally confused as the TCL fits perfectly on my old X100s
Great 🙂 I love this small camera 🙂
After reading your review I went out and bought this camera, I love it.
Question, do you know if the two macro tubes that came out three years ago will work on this body?
Thank you for taking the time to compile this thorough review and gallery. All in all it’s painful since there are none available in the States. 🙂
Nice article! I have a query – one can buy either X100F or XPro2, which one would you advice? I generally do landscape and portraits. Looking at this mainly for my business trips when i pack light!
thanks in advance 🙂
Just wondering did you shoot with the Teleconverter or not?
Thank you for the review, its hard not to be a bit of a fanboy when enjoying your picture which does tell more then a thousand words 😀 However as it does make me want to add a x100 to the collection, which my wallet and wife does not appreciate as much 😀
I struggled wit this purchase for months. Funny things, as I waded through the QC issues with the F (either read about, heard about or the two units I tested at the local store and declined to buy) I kept coming across a couple things. One, do I really want a non ILC camera and Two, the other cameras it was being compared to. I finally answered that by realizing the glass in the X100 series is the weak point of the system and that most if not more of the special attributes I was seeking could be found elsewhere. I found them. The Pen F.
So if s = second, t = third, f = fourth, then; Fujifilm we have a problem for the fifth version 😊
Great review – as always.
No problem for Fuji. It will the Fuji X100V. (Know your basic Latin.)
Hi,
I using currently the XPro1 with the 23/2.0 WR.
I want to decide whether it is worth it to eihter buy
a) a Fuji X100F or
b) a Xpro2 to use it with my 23/2.0
c) buy nothing and wait for a Xpro3/ X100u (u for ultimate)
To make that decision, I would love to hear from you
1. Is the corner softness of the X100F significant worse than in the 23/2.0 WR?
2. How would you compare the AF for kids and in low light between X100F and XPro2 with 23/2.0?
3. What kind of difference in AF do you see between XPro 1 and XPro2, both only with the new 23/2.0 WR?
Thanks
awesome pics really. The choice between an X100F and an X-E3 purchase is horrible at the moment for me…. I do have a nikon D600 with 50mm 1.4 Sigma, and Nikons 24-70 + 70 200 Sigma too. While reading reviews about how great the X100F is, I wonder what all these reviewers think now the X-E3 is out.
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Love all your pics on this site ! Crazy nice Jonas 👍