Last Updated on 02/20/2024 by Chris Gampat
For the past few days, I’ve been testing a fashion accessory: the Fujifilm X100VI. I’d like to otherwise call it the best toy camera of 2024. To be frank, the deepest emotions within me want to label this camera as the embodiment of the word “meh.” At least, that’s the best way that I can describe the one that I’m using. But there’s also another way to say it: the end of a 13-year-long honeymoon. Sometimes, the best thing a photographer can do is finally give up on those who continue to quit on us — and I truly feel that’s what Fujifilm is doing here. When I say that the Fujifilm X100VI feels like a betrayal to the TikTok hype machine, I’m very honest. Don’t believe the influencers.
Editor’s Note: This is a review in progress and will be updated over time. Our findings as of February 20th were done with a pre-production version of the camera. But truly, we don’t have much hope for the final version.
Table of Contents
The Big Picture: Fujifilm X100VI Review Conclusions
The Fujifilm X100VI is a successor to the company’s X100v. There has been a lot of hype around this product. And what’s nice to know is that the company remains committed to the product line — which is something we’re not clear about with the X Pro series. It boasts the same 40MP sensor and processor as the Fujifilm XH2. Below a certain ISO range, the XH2 has some of the best colors of any APS-C camera — depending on what lenses you’re using. However, the Fujifilm X100VI is limited to a single optic. Like the Fujifilm X100s before it, we’re running into a situation where the lens needed a revamp.
In fact, none of the concerns that photographers really clamored for were addressed with the Fujifilm X100VI. For starters, the battery life is still not great. With a new processor and sensor, it’s going to drain faster than ever. Couple this with Fujifilm’s notorious autofocus — which hasn’t gotten much better. The camera also boasts image stabilization, but it feels really weak.
Worst of all, they couldn’t even add further weather resistance to the damn lens. Anyone I know who owns the X100V uses the filter attachment. Fujifilm could’ve charged more for this camera and actually improved it.
By all means, this feels like the Fujifilm X100V Mk II instead of the Fujifilm X100VI. It’s truly the best toy camera of 2024.
So far, I’m insanely disappointed with the Fujifilm X100VI. Fujifilm had five years to get their act together. In that span of time, a whole group of adults started college and graduated into the workforce. The Fujifilm X100v was a nearly perfect camera for its time, flew off shelves, went for more than double the price second-hand, and wasn’t even kept in stock. The Fujifilm X100VI exhibits the happiness of a forgotten plant in a bachelor pad. Fujifilm’s smallest division could’ve strove for excellence, but they settled for mediocrity and algorithmic staleness. The dream isn’t only gone here, it’s been wiped from your memory and sold to you at a discount worthy of the pity one has for starving college students.
Who Should Buy It
- Anyone that wants a higher megapixel sensor in a smaller format: Know that you’re going to be doing slower work with this camera
- Travel photographers: But get the filter attachment
- Influencers and wanna-be influencers: Because you’ll look cool
Pros
- The focus motor is quieter
- Nice colors below ISO 800
Cons
- No UHS-II Card slot or even built-in memory.
- Not fully weather-resistant
- No EVF improvements or screen improvements
- Battery life drains so fast
- Autofocus isn’t really all that great
- This feels like a camera that should’ve been released years ago.
Gear Used
We tested the Fujifilm X100vi with Profoto B10 lights. The Fujifilm X100VI was a loaner provided to us by Fujifilm. The lights are our own.
Innovation: Why This Product is Worth Reviewing
This is the only APS-C premium compact camera with some form of weather resistance and a 40MP sensor, slightly better autofocus and scene detection. That’s it. Otherwise, this camera isn’t innovative — it’s the best toy camera of 2024.
Hardware
In the hand, it’s hard not to like the feeling of the X100 series. If you get a nice wrist strap, wrap a good neck strap around your wrist, or have a finger strap, it will always feel like a constant companion.
Ergonomically speaking, it’s pretty much the same exact camera as the X100V is and was. The cosmetic changes come with a new Bluetooth label on the back, along with a slight movement of the drive button. Additionally, there is also a change to the colorway of the viewfinder switch lever.
Why do I have to pay money for this stupid filter attachment? It was proven already that people want this camera despite the crazy price increases that happened on the 2nd hand market with the X100v. Fujifilm could’ve raised the price to $1700 and people would’ve still bought the camera if they made the lens weather-resistant.
I truly wanted to shoot in the snow with this thing, but I could not do very much. I then tried to gaffe tape on a filter to the lens, but its too close and doesn’t allow the camera to fully focus. After some readjustment, it worked. It’s absolutely ridiculous that they’ve done this.
Every photographer I know who uses and owns the Fujifilm X100v also beats it up a lot. And perhaps more than anything, Fujifilm should’ve made the LCD screen have sapphire glass and charged for it accordingly. This is a premium product, after all. Should I not get premium performance? Why buy this camera just for the TikTok hype when an iPhone does a great job?
Focusing
The custom zone setting is a very nice touch. You can set it to AF-C and let the zone be the entire frame. Then you can simply walk by people and have the camera photograph them — providing that it can catch them. And in most situations, it can’t. During my testing phase, Fujifilm stated that perhaps it was an issue with the firmware I used with the pre-production model I had. However, they didn’t provide access to some experimental firmware they let me know about.
Before I go on, you should know something. I’ve been a Fujifilm camera user since the X Pro 1 and I’ve purchased a new Fuji product every year that X series has been around. I’m very aware of how their autofocus works, and I’m also incredibly aware of how much better Sony, Leica, Nikon, and Canon are. In this instance, I don’t only want to blame the processor and sensor — we need to blame the lens. The 23mm f2 lens on the Fujifilm X100VI should’ve received a revamp with new motors.
For the record, too, I used the autofocus in exposure preview mode and with it turned off. It still lagged behind in both situations. Truly, this feels like the autofocus equivalent of asking your boss for Photoshop, but they give you GIMP instead. And to stay true to my title, this feels like the best toy camera of 2024.
Ease of Use
Fujifilm still doesn’t make their menu system fully touch-compatible; and that’s quite annoying at this point. Sure, you can shoot and stuff using the touchscreen. But photographers have wanted faster menu navigation for a while now. I don’t want to need to go to the MyMenu section. The design of the menu lends itself to easy touch interactivity, but the screen just doesn’t let you do it.
The battery life is also really, really bad due to the new processor and sensor combo. This is the older battery that was in the X Pro 3. Fujifilm said that using their newer battery would make the camera larger. But really, the XT4 wasn’t all that much larger than the XT3 — which used different batteries.
The image stabilization is also not so great. So when I encountered this, I took inspiration from Kazu Camera on Tumblr to make the photos I have. This is where I decided to embrace the camera shake and blur to make painterly images. You’ll see these in the image quality section.
Metering
The metering from this camera is also quite odd. I’d truly want to use it and shoot Sunny 16 style. But more often than not, the metering feels very odd. Where the light meter wants you to overexpose at times according to the image preview rendering, it doesn’t retain highlight detail like it does shadow detail. Over a decade ago, we did a test that showed that Fujifilm was able to get more highlight detail than Sony was. And these days, we’re not so sure anymore.
Image Quality
Capture One recognizes the RAW files already — though even then, it doesn’t seem to be full recognition. I couldn’t get the Reala Ace film simulation loaded. Lightroom also doesn’t recognize the RAW files yet.
At high ISOs, the details are just as soft as ever. I found this to be the case with the XH2 as well. Above ISO 800, the colors and all seem to fall apart. You’re best off locking the ISO to 400 and shooting all day and night right there. Otherwise, embrace the look of Acros.
Extra Image Samples
The Phoblographer has been huge on transparency with our audience since day one. Nothing from this review is sponsored. Further, many folks will post reviews and show lots of editing in the photos. The problem then becomes that anyone and everyone can do the same thing. They’re not showing what the lens can do. So, we have a section in our Extra Image Samples area to show edited and unedited photos. From this, you can decide for yourself.
Unedited
Edited
Tech Specs
The following specs are from Fujifilm.
- 40.2 Megapixel X-Trans 5 sensor
- 23mm f2 fixed lens
- Scene modes, otherwise known as AI autofocus modes
- 4-stop internal ND filter
- 6 stops of image stabilization
- Frame IO camera to cloud
- X Processor 5
- ISO 125-12,800
- 11 frames a second with a mechanical shutter. Less than that with autofocus.