Image credit: Future/TechRadar
A new standard has been set by the finest premium compact for the majority of people.
At the moment, the Fujifilm X100V is the greatest premium small camera on the market, although the X100VI has recently surpassed it. The sixth-generation model improves upon previous models in terms of features, performance, and image quality. Still, it keeps the X100 series’ signature traits, such as its gorgeous hybrid viewfinder, retro exposure dials, and super-sharp fixed 23mm f/2 lens.
The Fujifilm X-T5 housed in an X100-series chassis is one way to describe the X100VI. As a result, you can expect a 40MP sensor, 6.2K video, and in-body image stabilization, a first for the series. With this, you get the finest autofocus from Fujifilm to date, as well as subject detection for a wide variety of objects, including people, animals, birds, and cars.
The greatest installment in this fixed-lens compact series so far is the product of merging two excellent cameras into one. In many respects, it is a more alluring substitute for the Leica Q3, and I adore it.
Additionally, you will recognize a lot of this. There have been minor updates to the classic design, but overall, it’s the same. The addition of in-body image stabilization makes the camera a little heavier, but the extra 10 percent is more than justified by the increased flexibility it provides. Keep in mind that this is still a little camera.
Some X100V-era features now feel like annoyances: The video and burst-shooting capabilities are limited by a single UHS-I SD card slot. Weather-sealing requires an additional lens adaptor. For those who prefer wider shots, the lens focal length of 35mm, which is equivalent to a full frame, may be too narrow. This is especially true considering that we could easily crop to 35mm using the extra pixels. A unique little camera, nevertheless, is the Fujifilm X100VI.
Due to its impressive capabilities, Fujifilm may want to consider something completely new, such as introducing a lens with a different focal length or developing a comparable camera for its GFX series of medium-format cameras.
When comparing the two series, the more expensive Leica Q3 has a 60MP full-frame sensor and a more opulent feel, while the smaller and less expensive Ricoh GR III series is more affordable. However, most people consider that the Fujifilm X100VI is the greatest premium compact right now.
Price and Release Date
Starting on February 28, you can purchase the Fujifilm X100VI for $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,899. Since 1934 was the year Fujifilm was formed, there is a special edition model of the X100VI that is limited to 1,934 units. Each model has its unique number carved onto its top plate, marking 90 years of Fujifilm. This limited edition X100VI costs $1,934 / £1,934 / AU and differs only in strap and etchings; otherwise, it is functionally equivalent to the regular X100VI.3,499 dollars. You may buy this camera online starting March 28, but if you’re in the UK, you’ll have to wait in line at the London House of Photography starting April 6.
Design
The Fujifilm X100VI is an even better camera than the X100V, which you will love. And if you’re unfamiliar with Fujifilm cameras, the X100VI captures the essence of the X100 series that has made the brand famous.
The X100VI ably bridges the gap between the analog and digital eras of photography with its brushed aluminum top and bottom plates, vintage exposure control dials (the dual-purpose shutter speed / ISO dial is particularly eye-catching), faux-leather body, and hybrid viewfinder that provides both an optical and electronic display, which can be toggled between with the press of a button.
We also get a tilt-touchscreen that, when folded, fits flush with the body; however, unlike a vari-angle screen—which is my preferred—it cannot be turned completely upside down and hidden from view. Even so, for individuals who like a viewfinder, this is an excellent camera for low-level shooting, which is something I frequently used to catch reflections in London’s rainy Chinatown and Tokyo’s Fujifilm X-Summit.
After you’ve spent some time navigating the menus and getting the camera set up the way you like it, you can make adjustments with the viewfinder held high without taking your eyes off the screen because all of the controls are conveniently located and easy to reach.
The lens is identical to the one on the Fujifilm X100V—a fixed 23mm f/2—and features an aperture adjustment dial and a control ring that let you choose from a variety of settings, including the digital teleconverter that offers 50mm and 70mm lens-effect options. When it comes to street photography, this is the real deal.
Even though the new camera uses the same battery as the X100V, the battery life has been enhanced. Camera makers are getting better at conserving electricity. However, you only get about 450 photos on a full charge because of the power consumption of in-body image stabilization, which cancels out the boost in battery life.
Among my many wish lists for an improvement to the X100V, the new sensor-based image stabilization developed specifically for the X100VI ranks high. Handheld cameras with in-body stabilization let you shoot with shorter shutter speeds for crisper images. Although Fujifilm claims that the image stabilization is effective up to six stops, my tests show that it is only effective up to three stops (or 1/4 second) of shutter speed, and that I get a far lower hit ratio when using slower shutter speeds to get sharp photos.
Using the improved in-body stabilization in conjunction with the built-in 4-stop ND filter allows for previously unattainable creative slow shutter speed effects; the built-in ND is also great for video work. If you’re shooting in moderately bright light, you may use the X100VI’s f/2 aperture and shutter speeds of about 1/60 sec, which are suitable for video.
Although there is little noticeable change in size, the X100VI is approximately 10% heavier than the X100V at 521g (with battery and card), thanks to the additional image stabilization feature. Even with the additional weight, the practical benefit more than makes up for it, and I still consider it a tiny camera.
The lens hood, wide and tele converter lenses, and any other lens accessory will be compatible with the X100VI since the lens is identical to that of earlier models.
Performance
Image credit: Future
Continuous burst shooting at up to 11 frames per second in full HD; Direct uploads to the Frame.io cloud service; Same X-Processor 5 engine and autofocus technology as the X-T5
The most powerful camera in the X100 series to date is the Fujifilm X100VI, which has the same X-Processor 5 engine as the X-T5.
Along with Fujifilm’s most advanced autofocus system to date, it features subject-detection autofocus with settings for a variety of objects, including birds, animals, cars, and planes, and tracking autofocus for still images and moving video.
The camera’s left-hand side switch allows users to switch to manual focus. There is plenty of manual focus aids to choose from, such as magnification, peaking (red to the highlight edges works well), and a split image or “digital micro prism” that mimics the old rangefinder focusing system by allowing you to align the two images on the screen to get sharp focus.
Additionally, there is full wifi connectivity for capturing and uploading images, and you may directly upload your photos and movies to the cloud using Frame.io, albeit this service requires a separate membership.
Image and Video Quality
Image credit: Future
The raw files from the newly released Fujifilm X100VI cannot be processed just yet, but I believe that the images will be of high quality. The camera shares a 40MP APS-C sensor with the X-T5, and the lens is identical to the one on the X100V, so I have no doubt that it will be sharp enough to complement the sensor’s increased resolution. To sum up, the pictures are larger than the ones from the X100V, and the sharpness is exceptional all the way through the frame.
Another option is a digital teleconverter that can simulate two different lenses: a 50mm lens with a 20MP “medium” image size and a 70mm lens with a 10MP “small” image size. Those two digital crops are totally acceptable with the larger 40MP full-size image.
Although the X100VI is primarily designed for still photography, it serves as a respectable video camera as well. It boasts 6.2K resolution up to 10-bit and a 200Mbps bit rate, in-body image stabilization with extra digital stabilization, and Fujifilm’s competent autofocus with active subject tracking.
In addition to the complete set of Fujifilm film simulation modes—now numbering twenty—you receive Fujifilm log color profiles for video, which optimize the sensor’s dynamic range. Six of these modes are black-and-white looks that utilize various lens-filter effects to highlight specific tones; for example, green brings out the detail in portraits, while red and orange create vivid skies.
Some of my favorite films to use in film simulation bracketing mode were Acros (black and white), Reala Ace, and Provia (standard color). This allowed me to capture three different views at once. After shooting in raw, you can use the camera’s built-in raw converter to switch to a different film simulation.
Final Verdict
I am glad I waited. At long last, a model with in-body image stabilization and a flexible 40MP APS-C sensor has joined the long-running Fujifilm X100 line, which has been great for recording everyday street and reportage photography. With its one-of-a-kind hybrid viewfinder, the X100VI has all the makings of a retro-styled line pinnacle model; after all, how else could Fujifilm enhance its already-proven fixed 23mm f/2 lens beyond adding more fixed-focal-length options to the lineup? Also, it might expand its medium-format GFX line to include this fixed-lens technology. Our next premium compact camera winner may be the sixth-generation model, which might be the best of the series for years to come.
