It was Fujifilm’s X100V the the toy he will have in the last few years (thanks, TikTok) and the company has now released its successor 40.2 megapixel X100 VI, with major improvements across the board. While retaining the same retro form, it offers much faster shooting speeds, in-body stabilization, 6.2K 30p video and more.
The X100VI looks identical to the previous model with the same styling and control positions. The series is designed as a street photography camera, taking many styling cues from Leica’s popular rangefinder cameras. So it doesn’t have the greatest ergonomics in the world, but at 521 grams it’s light, discreet for shooting and can slip into a jacket pocket.
Fujifilm chose to go with the same 40.2-megapixel (MP) APS-C sensor. the larger X-H2, significantly increases resolution over the X100V. I think this is a wise choice, as it gives a camera with a wide-angle fixed 23mm f/2.0 lens (35mm full-frame equivalent) more cropping options. The price for this is probably a small drop in low light sensitivity.
Another big new feature on the X100VI is built-in 5-axis stabilization with up to 6 stops of shake reduction. Given the X100VI’s small body, this is an unexpected but welcome feature, and one that will be a huge help to street photographers shooting candid shots in the moment.
The X100V retains the same 3.69-million-dot hybrid optical viewfinder and 1.62-million-dot LCD display, but the latter now tilts down an additional 15 degrees to facilitate overhead shots. It retains the same battery as before (CIPA rated for 300 shots) and unfortunately the same slow UHS-I card slot.
According to Fujifilm, the X100VI still shoots at 11 frames per second with the manual shutter and 20 frames per second in electronic mode, but the autofocus is faster and more capable. It now offers the company’s latest tracking and face/eye detection, along with animal/vehicle and other types of object detection.
Image quality should also improve with the added resolution and lower native ISO of 125. Since much of this camera’s recent social media popularity is based on its film simulation modes, the camera comes with 20 built-in cameras, including a new camera called Reala Ace, which is designed to offer “faithful color reproduction and contrast tonality.”
Finally, video isn’t usually thought of when it comes to this series, but the X100VI is surprisingly capable for a small compact. It can shoot 6.2K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps and 1080p at 240fps. You also get 10-bit F-log and F-Log2 logging, which is surprisingly good for a small, photo-centric camera with a fixed lens. The only downside is the relatively low data rate (max. 200 Mbps) due to slow cards, but you can capture ProRes to an external recorder.
Fujifilm’s X100VI is available for pre-order now in silver or black for $1,600, with shipping scheduled for early March 2024. The company is also offering a special edition version “embossed with the corporate brand logo from the founding of Fujifilm in 1934” for $2,000. It promises to reduce the long lead times of the previous model by manufacturing in China like other new models.
