Fujifilm X100VI – too much of a good thing?

The X100VI has been MY most anticipated camera of all time, even without paying attention to all the hype preceding its announcement! Yet, there hasn’t been a word about it on my blog since its release. Why? Good question!

I got my X100VI on 28 February and, honestly, since then, everything has been a bit of a blur. This “little” camera has had me tightly in her grip since (even before) its official release on 20 February – first impression video recordings for Fujifilm South Africa, livestreams, unboxing and X Summit reaction broadcasts… it was all happening everywhere all at once.

The excitement and activity surrounding the X100VI along with various other Fujifilm-related projects (more on those later) kept me so busy, it was challenging to keep up – almost too much of a good thing. Something had to give.

But it’s April now and I’m back!

It’s been a good six weeks since I put my X100F on the shelf and started shooting on my X100VI, so I thought I’d share some first impressions.

It’s probably no surprise, that I agree with many people who have shared their opinions online. I am ecstatic about this camera. The familiar, irresistible look and feel, the top-notch lens together with the new sophisticated auto focus algorithm, the outstanding colours and superb image quality, it’s everything I hoped for and then some. I couldn’t be happier.  

It’s irresistable

Ever since I got my very first X100-Series camera, the X100s in 2013, I realised that this fixed-lens camera is key to my creative freedom. Because it’s compact, I can take it everywhere, which makes me practice my photography every day. Because it has one fixed lens, I don’t need to spend time worrying about what lens might be right for the type of images I am trying to create. My eyes, my feet and film simulation recipes are all I need to make pictures whenever inspiration strikes. Because the X100VI is equipped with the latest Fujifilm X-Trans V sensor and processor, I am able to create high-quality images that cater for all my needs, personally and professionally. And because it looks so cool and is so pickupable, I want to use it all the time.

It’s a creator’s camera

I love all my Fujifilm cameras, but this one, the X100-Series, has that ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes me love it even more. Taking stock after my latest, eighteen-day content creation trip told me everything I needed to know. I travelled with quite a bit of gear – all of which I love and used on a regular basis. Yet, guess which camera I shot the most number of images with? Correct. The X100VI. It never left my side. And there’s a very good reason for that. No matter the situation, I know that I will be able to create something I like with this camera. It is just so versatile. And the ingeniously-designed, “barely-there” tilt screen makes it possible to get those extra juicy angles while the 6.0 IBIS lets me carry on creating, even when common sense tells me that I should probably stop and unpack my tripod.

Many people have commented that it would be great if the tilt screen would also tilt vertically. If it did, it would have to sacrifice its incredible “barely-there” character. I’m glad it is the way it is.

Capturing low and high angles is a breeze with the tilt-screen

IBIS has got your back when shooting handheld at very slow shutter speeds

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The perfect camera to use with film simulation recipes

X-Trans V cameras make it easier than ever to work with film simulation recipes. The improvements to the I.Q. Menu are particularly welcome, especially when compared to the X100F. All-in-all, it is easier to navigate, change and save settings. From finally being able to custom name C1 to C7 menus, to saving ‘White Balance Shift’ with each custom recipe, all are functions I no longer want to live without. The same is true for ‘Color Chrome Effect’ and ‘Color Chrome Effect Blue’, ‘Clarity’ and 0.5 stops of adjustments in the Tone Curve.

Not to forget that, apart from the GFX100II, the X100VI is the only X-Series camera (for now) that styles all the film simulations that have ever been released by Fujifilm. The latest addition, Reala Ace brings the total to a whopping 20. Whether used ‘neat’ or with additional settings for fine-tuning a specific look, I am liking the new film simulation a lot. I enjoy the gentle, true colour reproduction and the tonal contrast to make my images come alive.

All images shot on X100VI with my “Easy Reala Ace” recipe¹

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HEIF files for the win

The increase in image quality is very noticeable, especially in the next generation HEIF format. After my initial hesitation, I was surprised by the reduced file size. Initially, I thought there was something wrong with my files, but then I realised that the .HIF files are only between 8 and 10MB on average, compared to the 25MB jpeg files from the same camera. That’s just how much smaller the HEIF format is. Crazy really. Remember also, that a smaller file size means faster download speed and less storage space. A-mazing. A small drawback – the HEIF format disables “Clarity”, which means that it is only useful when shooting with recipes that do not use this I.Q. setting or when shooting with a straight up film simulation only.

Sharing is easy with the XApp

An honorary mention goes to the recently updated Fujifilm XApp 2.0. I already enjoyed the benefits when using it with my X-T5 and am very happy to repeat myself. The update has significantly increased how quickly and reliably the phone connects to the camera, without fail. It is now also compatible with all older Fujifilm cameras, so if you own a more seasoned model, be sure to check it out! What’s more is the increased transfer speed of full resolution files (when using the 5GHZ Frequency Setting)! This means that sharing images is even faster now and sharing is what it’s all about, isn’t it? Using this camera keeps getting sweeter and sweeter.

To turn on 5GHz Frequency Setting in your Fujifilm camera, go to “NETWORK/USB SETTING” > “Bluetooth/SMARTPHONE SETTING” > “WIRELESS COM. FREQUENCY SETTING > select 5GHz” 

Apart from downloading images and doubling up as a remote control, the XApp will also register when there is a firmware update available, and the update can be done directly in the app. Keeping up to date has never been easier.

And that’s not all. The ‘Backup/Restore’ function backs up all camera settings, including the custom menu settings – i.e. ALL YOUR RECIPES SAVED IN C1-C7 – saves them in a list of (unlimited?) backups, that can be given custom names and restored at the touch of a button. I can’t even put into words how exciting this is!

Compact yet growable

There are lots of really nice accessories available to give your X100VI a personal touch. Sadly, I live outside of the reaches of “Amazonia” and some of the coolest accessories are not easy to come by. I will have to practice patience until I can get my hands onto a silver square lens hood and thumb grip. In the meantime, I have invested in the wide WCL-X100II and the tele TCL-X100II conversion lenses. I am busy testing them and will report back soon, so don’t go far! 

Where to from here?

5000 images in, the honeymoon isn’t over. I’m enjoying my “little” camera a heck of a lot and don’t foresee this changing anytime soon. Au contraire! With my past experience of using the X100-Series, I am confident it will be a loyal companion for a long time to come.

Additionally, Richie Roesch has just released his first recipe based on Reala Ace and I have just loaded it into my X100VI. This recipe, alongside two others, will be featured in the upcoming episode of SOOC, on Thursday 18 April. Regardless of whether you are amongst the lucky ones that own this camera or not, be sure to tune in. We will be recommending this and other recipes and, as always, discuss other things straight-out-of-camera and getting more out of your Fujifilm gear.

And now – Over to You

Have you upgraded to the X100VI? Or decided not to? What are your thoughts? I’ld love to hear and see what you’ve been up to so please leave a comment!

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1. My Easy Reala Ace Recipe:
   Film Simulation: Reala Ace
   Color Chrome Effect: Strong / Color Chrome Effect Blue: Weak
   White Balance: Auto / Dynamic Range: DR400
   Tone Curve: H: -1 S: 0 / Color: -1 / High ISO NR: -4
   ↩︎