Does the Fujifilm X100V Deserve to be the Most Sought-After Camera in the World?
It’s Good-Looking... But What Else?
The Fuji X100V is currently one of the most sought-after cameras in the world, with the X100VI being even harder to find. The camera has had a significant social media push due to its attractive design, further accentuated by its scarcity. The Fuji X100V is a stunning camera, especially the black-on-black version, which is my personal fave.
The camera features mechanical dials for ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, providing a tactile experience reminiscent of film photography. But don’t let that put you off if you’re new to photography. You can set all the settings to auto mode and let the camera do everything for you. It’s an accessible camera regardless of where you are in your photography journey.
Images edited using my City Escapes Lightroom Preset Pack
Specifications for the Fuji X100V
The Fuji X100V has a fixed lens, and with the APS-C crop, it works out to around 35mm with an aperture of f/2. It is a sharp and bright lens and a joy to use. An added benefit is its slim profile—not quite pocket-sized but very manageable as an everyday carry camera.
Along with the compact form factor, it weighs just 478g, which is incredible considering it is made of pretty much pure metal! It has a magnesium alloy body and an aluminium top, making it robust yet light, offering the best of both worlds.
Weather Sealing, Are You There?
The weather sealing on this camera is somewhat confusing. There are rubber seals around all of the doors, but there has been some online discourse contradicting just how weather sealed the X100v is.
Fujifilm sells a kit that enhances the weather sealing. Personally, during my travels in Japan, I took the Fuji X100V out in the rain in Osaka. For everyday use, it’s fine, but I wouldn’t push it too far in the rain. The additional kit must exist for a reason!
Fujifilm Enhanced Weather Sealing Kit
Handheld Long Exposure
One of my favourite things to do at night, or in high-traffic places, is handheld long exposures. Unfortunately, the X100V lacks in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) and any stabilisation at all, in fact. Not even digital stabilisation for the (basic) video features.
I attempted longer shutter speeds, but this camera is not ideal for that. The camera is very photo-centric, with minimal video features. Accessing video features is not intuitive, as they are hidden in the drive menu, making video a low priority on this camera.
Taken with the Lumix S9, which has EXCELLENT IBIS, edited using City Escapes Preset Pack
More important specs of the Fujifilm X100V
The Fuji X100V has a 26-megapixel APS-C sensor, allowing for slight cropping but not too much. With the focal length being 35mm, I found myself wanting to crop in quite often. You can usually crop the image slightly, but I wouldn’t go overboard.
The megapixels have had a bump in the Fuji X100VI, which means you can crop in a ton on that… but not so much here.
A Classic Camera… from the Future
One of the best things about this camera is the viewfinder—it is super impressive!
It’s a sort of optical/electronic hybrid. When looking through it optically, you can see all your settings electronically imprinted around it. It’s so cool! Even though the camera has a classic look, the viewfinder makes it feel futuristic.
Personally, I prefer to use the screen when shooting, as shooting from the hip or without looking is very easy with fixed focal-length cameras. Once you learn the fixed focal length, you can shoot with pretty accurate composition without too much effort.
But I know having a viewfinder is a real dealbreaker for many photographers. The one here is excellent.
Learning Curves for Me
Shutter Speed Priority is weird… but this saves time
When using either the top of the camera to set my shutter speeds, I found that I was spending too much time looking down at the camera, trying to move the dial, causing me to miss shots.
But there’s a handy workaround! Once you’ve chosen a shutter speed, you can use the back dial to take it up a notch or down a notch. This means that, so long as your needs are in the ballpark of what you’ve set, you will be able to tweak the settings without having to mess with the top dial.
Fuji X100V
Mechanical Shutter
This camera has a leaf mechanical shutter built into the lens itself, helping keep the form factor down and remaining quiet—a definite bonus for an every day carry camera!
The quiet nature of the shutter is great for street photography, as it allows you to capture images discreetly while providing tactile feedback. It really is the best of both worlds—it feels mechanical and wonderful but is also incognito.
Custom Fujifilm Recipes
Putting custom recipes into the camera is a bit tedious, to be honest. You’ve got to input each setting manually then save it. But they are worth the trouble, I think. Some of the looks you can get without any editing afterwards are really impressive.
… I do, however, think the Lumix Real Time LUT way of doing things is much, much more modern and versatile. I have a review of Real Time LUT here, which you should read next.
One top tip here, too, for Recipes! Avoid the Clarity slider all together. When I used recipes with that engaged, it took the camera ages to save the photo. Things are much snappier without it.
SOOC using Fuji Recipe
Low Light and RAWs
If you massively underexpose with this camera, the RAW files can be pulled back with zero issues. There is plenty of information to work with in the RAW files from the Fuji X100V. The APS-C sensor is bigger than what I am used to, being a micro four nerd and all, and the recoverability really impressed me!
SOOC Underexposed
Same image pulled back
Speedy Starts
This camera is pretty snappy, pardon the pun.
From turning the camera on to actually shooting takes just a few seconds. This is a helpful feature for a photographer like me who, when travelling, likes to turn the camera off and on throughout a photo walk to preserve battery life.
Taken with the Fuji X100V edited using City Escape Preset Pack
Is The Fujifilm X100V the Camera for You?
When deciding whether this camera is for you, consider a few points: Do you prefer a fixed lens vs. interchangeable lenses? And do you like shooting with a 35mm focal length, if you are a prime shooter?
Personally, I enjoy the versatility of changing lenses when shooting, especially when travelling, as certain locations suit certain focal lengths. For example, in places like LA and Seattle, I preferred using a 50mm to capture things further away. In contrast, in places like Liverpool, where everything is closer together, a 35mm works better.
I also prefer a 35mm for personal occasions, such as outings with friends, taking selfies, or behind-the-scenes shots. I’d definitely recommend this camera if you’re using it to document life and your family rather than for travel and vastly different locations.
Lumix GX8 | 50mm Lens
Lumix GX8 | 50mm Lens
Fujifilm XF10 | 35mm Lens
Fuji X100V | 35mm Fixed Lens
Video on a Photo-Centric Camera?
As I alluded to earlier, the video features of this camera are underwhelming at best.
It’s difficult to find and access video mode, and although there is a mic input, it’s a 2.5mm jack, so you would need an adapter to use a microphone. The lack of in-camera stabilisation is another reason why I wouldn’t recommend this camera for video.
But I don’t think people who purchase this camera are looking for video features; they are solely looking for a good, small, attractive photo camera. That is what this camera excels at and what makes it such a joy to use.
Fuji X100V edited using City Escape Preset Pack
Is the Fuji X100V Worth the Hype?
So, yes and no. Hear me out!
For the price, you can find much better cameras with similar specifications for much cheaper. But if you are looking for a camera that appeals to your heart over your head and focuses on creating art, this camera offers more than a spec sheet suggests.
If you really like a camera, you’re much more likely to go out and use it, be inspired, and improve as a photographer. In that regard, I believe this camera is worth the hype. It’s enjoyable to use — though not always the best focal length for my tastes — but for documenting, having fun, and creating art, it is a great everyday carry option.
I can see why people love the Fujifilm X100V. My main issue is the price, but that’s the only thing that would bring down its overall very high score for a photo-centric camera. I think it will be tough to beat for a long time to come.
You can get your own Fuji x100V, as well as many other excellent pieces of kit from MPB: MPB UK/ MPB US/ MPB EU.
You can also shop my Preset Packs over on the Micro Four Nerds Store.