Fujifilm has announced the follow-up to its most-hyped camera of all time, and it might now be its best camera ever.
The X100VI is the sequel to the TikTok mega-sensation X100V. The combination of great looks, Fujifilm's excellent film-simulation modes, and some good old-fashioned social-media herd mentality meant that the X100V has been almost impossible to buy for the past few years. The X100VI should be easier to purchase, as we shall see, and Fujifilm has also made two changes that make this an almost-perfect camera.
"I've never been a big fan of photographing with a phone because of the poor ergonomics. With a camera like the Fujifilm X100VI, you get a dedicated camera with real buttons and dials for a more comfortable and efficient photography experience," said professional photographer Brandon Ballweg in an interview with Tech Times.
Hidden Power
The X100VI is the latest in a long line of X100 cameras, all of which are small, retro-styled cameras with built-in, fixed (non-zoom) lenses. You could be forgiven for mistaking it for a film camera, and that's not a mistake. The X100 series uses manual knobs and dials for the most essential functions, like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. After you get used to it, you can utilize the camera without thinking and without having to dive deep into menus to control basic functions.
The other standout feature is the hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder. This can be switched between a rangefinder-style view, where you look through a glass lens into the outside world, and an electronic 'finder, with a tiny high-res screen that shows you the exact result you're going to get before you take it. In addition, this clever hybrid finder can project information over the optical view and even put a small thumbnail of the electronic preview in the corner. It's a pretty impressive and handy feature.
The last important feature of the X100 series is Fujifilm's film simulations. These draw on Fujifilm's long experience of making photographic film and give amazing colors out of the camera. Some are based on actual films Fujifilm has created over the years, not just color filters. The B&W Acros sim, for example, is tweaked so that high-ISO noise looks like film grain, and the results are very nice.
You can shoot RAW and edit later, like with any camera, but you'll probably end up snapping JPGs with these film sims because they look great.
Small Changes, Big Difference
But what about the differences between the X100V and the X100VI? There are three main ones. The new 40-megapixel sensor (vs 24MP for the older model), in-body image stabilization (IBIS), and the shift of production from Japan to China.
This last one might be the most important, as it should mean that Fujifilm can finally make enough cameras to keep up with demand (the price is also $200 higher).
But the IBIS and the bigger sensor are also great news for photographers. IBIS means that you can take photos in lower light without getting shaky images. Still, it also indicates that you can use that bigger sensor to its fullest-higher-resolution sensors show the tiniest shakes, even in decent light.
This lets you work around the X100 series' biggest shortcoming-its fixed lens. With that big sensor and IBID, you can "zoom in" just by cropping the image, and thanks to the extra pixels, you still end up with an excellent image. The X100 series has had digital zoom, aka Sports Finder mode, for a while now, but this is the first time it makes sense. This gives you the rough equivalent of both a 35mm and a 50mm lens in one package.
Fujifilm has managed to do all this while adding only 2 mm of thickness and 43 grams (less than two ounces) of weight. This model might be the perfect camera if you're looking for an alternative to smartphone photos.
"As a professional photographer, I believe the Fujifilm X100VI offers compelling reasons to choose it over your phone's camera or even a larger SLR or interchangeable lens camera," professional travel photographer Kevin Mercier told Tech Times.
Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for almost two decades. Previously, you could find him at Wired's Gadget Lab, Fast Company's CoExist, Cult of Mac, and Mac Stories. He also writes for his own site, StraightNoFilter.com, Lifewire Tech News, and iFixit.
