Fujifilm X100VI Review: A Compact Camera with a Big Sensor and a Classic Style
The Fujifilm X100VI is the latest model in the popular series of compact cameras that combine a large APS-C sensor, a fixed 23mm f/2 lens, and a hybrid viewfinder. The X100VI offers some significant improvements over its predecessor, the X100V, such as a higher resolution sensor, in-body image stabilization, and enhanced autofocus. But does it live up to the expectations of the fans and the critics? In this article, we will review the Fujifilm X100VI and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about it.
Design and Handling
The Fujifilm X100VI retains the classic and retro design of the previous models, with a metal body, a leather-like grip, and a range of physical dials and buttons. The camera is available in two colors: black and silver. The camera is compact and lightweight, measuring 126 x 75 x 53 mm and weighing 478 g with the battery and memory card. It is also weather-resistant, when used with the optional AR-X100 adapter ring and PRF-49 protection filter.
The camera has a hybrid viewfinder that lets you switch between an optical viewfinder (OVF) and an electronic viewfinder (EVF). The OVF has a 0.52x magnification and shows a bright frame that indicates the approximate coverage of the lens. The EVF has a 3.69 million-dot OLED panel and shows a 100% coverage of the scene. You can also overlay some information and settings on the OVF, such as exposure, focus, and film simulation. The viewfinder has an eye sensor that automatically switches between the OVF and EVF, or you can manually toggle them with a lever on the front of the camera.
The camera has a 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with 1.62 million dots. The screen can tilt up by 90 degrees and down by 45 degrees, which is useful for shooting from different angles. The screen is also responsive and intuitive, and supports touch focus, touch shutter, and touch menu. You can also customize the screen with various options and functions.
The camera has a fixed 23mm f/2 lens, which is equivalent to 35mm in full-frame terms. This is a versatile and popular focal length for street photography, landscapes, portraits, and more. The lens has a fast and silent autofocus system, with a minimum focusing distance of 10 cm. The lens also has a built-in 4-stop ND filter, which can be activated with a button on the side of the camera. The lens is compatible with the existing WCL/TCL conversion lenses, which can change the focal length to 28mm or 50mm respectively.
The camera has a range of physical controls that give you direct access to the most important settings. On the top of the camera, you have a shutter speed dial, an exposure compensation dial, and an ISO dial. On the back of the camera, you have a focus lever, a Q button, an AEL/AFL button, and a rear command dial. You can also customize some of the buttons and dials to your preference. The camera also has a hot shoe for attaching an external flash or a microphone.
Image Quality and Performance
The Fujifilm X100VI has a 40.2 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor, which is a significant upgrade from the 26.1 megapixel sensor of the X100V. The sensor has a back-illuminated structure that improves the light-gathering ability and reduces noise. The sensor also has a unique color filter array that eliminates the need for an optical low-pass filter and enhances the sharpness and detail. The sensor works with the X-Processor 5 image processing engine, which is twice as fast as the previous generation and enables some advanced features and functions.
The camera has an impressive dynamic range, which means it can capture a wide range of tones and colors in a single shot. You can also adjust the dynamic range settings from 100% to 400%, or use the HDR mode to combine multiple exposures. The camera also has a high ISO range, from 64 to 51,200, which allows you to shoot in low-light conditions. The camera produces clean and detailed images up to ISO 3200, and maintains a good level of quality up to ISO 12800. Beyond that, some noise and loss of detail become noticeable, but still acceptable for some purposes.
The camera has 14 film simulation modes, which are based on the legendary Fujifilm film stocks and emulate their color and tonal characteristics. Some of the most popular modes are Classic Chrome, which gives a muted and cinematic look, Acros, which gives a rich and contrasty black and white look, and Velvia, which gives a vivid and saturated look. The camera also has some new modes, such as Reala ACE, which gives a natural and balanced look, Nostalgic Neg, which gives a warm and nostalgic look, and Eterna Bleach Bypass, which gives a high-contrast and low-saturation look. You can also fine-tune the film simulations with various parameters, such as grain effect, color chrome effect, clarity, and curve.
The camera has a fast and accurate autofocus system, which uses phase-detection pixels across the entire sensor area. The camera can track and lock on to subjects in various situations, such as moving, low-light, or low-contrast. The camera also has a face and eye detection mode, which can recognize and focus on human faces and eyes, even when they are partially obscured or turned away. The camera also has an animal and bird detection mode, which can recognize and focus on animals and birds, such as dogs, cats, horses, and eagles. The camera also has a vehicle and aircraft detection mode, which can recognize and focus on vehicles and aircraft, such as cars, motorcycles, bikes, planes, and trains. The camera uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to achieve these modes, and can also learn from your shooting habits and preferences.
The camera has a high-speed continuous shooting mode, which can capture up to 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter and up to 15 frames per second with the mechanical shutter. The camera can also shoot blackout-free, which means you can see the live view without interruption during the burst. The camera has a large buffer capacity, which can store up to 105 JPEG images or 48 RAW images in a single burst. The camera also has a pre-shot mode, which can start recording images before you fully press the shutter button, and a focus bracketing mode, which can take a series of images with different focus points and combine them into a single image with a large depth of field.
The camera has a 5-axis in-body image stabilization system, which can compensate for camera shake and provide up to 6 stops of stabilization. This is especially useful when shooting handheld at slow shutter speeds or in low-light conditions. The camera also has a digital image stabilization mode, which can further reduce the blur caused by camera movement, but at the cost of some image quality and resolution.
The camera has a 6.2K video recording mode, which can capture stunning and detailed videos at up to 30 frames per second. The camera can also record 4K videos at up to 60 frames per second, and Full HD videos at up to 240 frames per second. The camera can record videos internally at 4:2:0 10-bit, or externally via HDMI at 4:2:2 10-bit. The camera also supports the F-Log and HLG profiles, which offer more flexibility and latitude for color grading. The camera also has a microphone input, a headphone output, and a USB-C port that can be used for power delivery or as a webcam.
