COMPACT CAMERA TEST
EXPERT OPINION ON THE L ATEST KIT
It looks like its predecessor, but it packs in some stealth upgrades
www.fujifilm.com £1,599/$1,599
The overnight success of the T Fujifilm X100V took everyone by surprise – and no one was more surprised than Fujifilm. The X100V was launched in 2020 as the fifth iteration of the brand’s premium compact, and its sudden popularity among TikTok influencers led to a six-month waiting list to buy one. Now Fujifilm is back with the X100VI. As with its predecessor, the premium vintage aesthetic is made for street and travel photographers who want a pocket-friendly camera. The X100 range is also one of the few true rangefinder designs still being made, with the pricier manual-focus only Leica M11 the only other option with an optical viewfinder.
Key features
Externally, little has changed from the previous model, but when you have a viral success on your hands you don’t want to rock the boat. The body and fixed 23mm lens are identical to the X100V’s, with the major improvements hidden inside the camera. The X100VI sees a bump in resolution from the X-Trans 5 sensor from 24MP to 40MP, with video now topping out at 6K. The new X-Processor 5 also powers better autofocus, with subject recognition and tracking for faces, eyes, animals, birds and vehicles. For those who own the Fujifilm X100V, the question is whether the Fujifilm X100VI is worth the upgrade.
Build and handling
The design is near-identical to the X100V, but that repetition is no bad thing. The X100 series harks back to rangefinder film cameras from the film era, and the X100VI is built to a premium standard that feels fantastic in the hand.
1 The body (in a silver or black finish) and the 23mm lens are identical to the X100V.
2 The lens has a control ring, which by default controls the camera’s digital zoom.
3 One minor quibble is with the grip, as there isn’t really a huge amount to cling onto.
4 One of the X100VI’s highlights is the hybrid optical viewfinder: in use, it’s a great experience.
5 If you prefer an electronic viewfinder, a flick of a switch swaps the screen for a 3.69m-dot OLED EVF.
6 The screen only has a 90º horizontal tilt, limiting its usefulness for filming as you can’t flip the screen.
7 There are two dials on the top – one handles exposure compensation, and the other shutter speed.
8 The shutter speed dial has a clever trick whereby you just lift and twist to set the ISO value.
9 Aperture is changed via a ring with two raised handles, which is easy to turn with one finger.
Fujifilm remains committed to dials on its cameras, and there are two on top, one handling exposure compensation and the other shutter speed. This shutter speed dial also has a clever trick whereby you can lift and twist it to change the ISO. Th
