The Fujifilm X100V was released in February 2020, but I didn’t get to have it in my hands before August of 2021.

I think that might have been the time when everyone realized that they needed one, and I had the last one to buy from Amazon for a normal price.

More and more often these days I am thinking of selling this camera (it is still in high demand, even though there is a newer model of the same on the market), but why is that?

What I Love About X100V:

1. Colours

Obviously, the most attractive part about having ANY Fujifilm camera is the colour profiles or film simulations that come with it. I always loved the colours that I can get out of Fuji files, even though for years and years I ignored the “JPEGs only” crowd and shot in RAW. You can totally set up your simulations in 7 profiles and just stick to JPEGs if that’s your jam.

The reality of things, however, is that if you are shooting in RAW, you will have to edit the files because they look very meh without additional contrast and other minor tweaking.

I also have a tendency to shoot underexposed so that the highlights are recoverable, and in this case you almost always have to pull shadows out.

2. Viewfinder

Say what you will, but having a viewfinder elevates the experience of any photography equipment handling. There’s just something extra-satisfying to be able to hide your face behind the camera and peep through the viewfinder.

The Fujifilm X100V has a classic rangefinder-style design that many photographers love. While it does not really focus the same way that those classic rangefinders do, it features a hybrid viewfinder (optical and electronic), which allows you to choose between using an optical viewfinder (OVF) for a more traditional experience or an electronic viewfinder (EVF) to see exactly how your photo will come out.

The advantage of using the optical viewfinder is that if you are wearing polarised sunglasses, you can still see what is going on in the viewfinder. The situation darkens in the portrait orientation with those kind of sunglasses (pain in the butt).

EVF is bright and a joy to use even if you are a left-eye shooter (speaking as a right-eye shooter).

3. Image Quality

At 26 megapixels, I wish for nothing else to be honest. The sensor is the same as in XT-3 and XT-4, with great dynamic range, and decent sharpness. You don’t get that much freedom to crop your files, but fairly speaking this is not a camera for those who want to crop, however, you can, but just not much 🙂

4. Design

One of the most attractive things about Fujifilm X100V is the way it looks. You just want to pick it up and take it out, take some photos, rotate some dials, click the aperture on the lens. I always liked the silver one more than the black one, because it really gives the camera it’s true retro-feel. Heck, you can just carry it around your neck as an accessory without taking any photos and it will look good. Extra points for this lens hood.

5. Tilting Touch Screen

After having experienced plenty of different flippy-touchy screens, I realized that my favourite way to have it is the way it is on Fujifilm X100V – the tilty but not flap-out. It’s the best way to have for street photography or shooting from above (unless you need to shoot vertically). I also love the ability to focus by touching the screen, and zooming too. So this screen brings me happiness.

6. Focusing Joystick

Or focusing nipple if you wish. I appreciate having it, and I’d say it is useful to have. I remember having to use some Sony camera without such a focusing joystick and it was not fun, I mostly gave up and had to focus and recompose.

7. Size

It is not very heavy and not very big (but still considerably bigger than RicohGRIIIx). If you remove the lens hood that I have on, it’s like 5 cm thinner, but you still can’t put it in the pocket. It’s less discreet than the Ricoh, but more discreet than your Canons or GFXs. You can easily carry it in your backpack or small bag, but if you’re serious about taking photos – just carry it around your neck or on your shoulder.

8. Fixed Lens of 35 mm Field of View

In my opinion, 35 mm photography is the most true to life. It is also not easy to make things look “wow”, because 35 mm is not really exciting. I like the fact that there are no options for the focal length. It makes you a better photographer – you have to work what you have. It is a decently sharp lens with a good selection of apertures, I would say pretty much all you need in a point-and-shoot.

9. Built-In Flash

Yeah-yeah, real photographers would never use the built-in flash. But the fact that you have it available at any time is a real advantage when you found yourself in a dark(ish) party with your friends and you want to take a few of those 90s looking photos of everyone just having fun. This flash is not of a great quality, but it can be good help for you to fill in some shadows on a harsh sunny day, and also a tool for creative expression if you wanna play with some longer exposure portraits.

10. Exposure-Compensation Dial

I used to be the “everything manual” photographer, and this exposure compensation was a dial I would never touch, but since I started shooting extensively with RicohGRiiiX I let go of the idea that I have to control everything (unless a specific situation) and let the camera shoot it the way it wants. Like this, exposure compensation is handy – if you see that it overexposes too much (or underexposes) the part that you want to be of a particular exposure. In any case, now I use it all the time and I think it’s a great dial to have.

What I Don’t Love About X100V:

1. No IBIS

I know, what people say when it is 23 mm (*35 mm), you can just get away without IBIS if you stand still enough. However, this camera was made to appeal to street photographers and if you are walking and taking photos, without In-Body Image Stabilization, the sharpness of your images will be compromised. Combined with not mega-reliable autofocus, really good luck. On the other hand, a lack of this feature makes you slow down and take your time, which sometimes results in better photos.

2. Lack of Grip

It is not a very handy design to carry around without a camera strap (and I don’t love camera straps) due to a lack of grip. You can get all kinds of accessories to improve this situation, but as it is it kinda sucks (as well as Leica Q2/3 and Ricoh as well).

3. Unreliable Autofocus

The whole Fujifilm autofocus mumbo jumbo is not the worst, but not the best either. In low-light, or with some super bright elements in the scene, it takes some effort to get it right. (I am not saying that I would focus it perfectly in low light myself, but we all can dream). I would say that you gotta make the focusing window rather small for it to focus properly, but then it is hard to use in a fast pace of street photography situations. Fujifilm XT-4 that has the same sensor with 23 mm lens F2 does better job at quick focusing that Fujifilm X100V. But again, the best photographers of last century focused everything with their own hands, and we are quick to complain.

4. Battery Life

These batteries suck, and I am sad that even in the newer version of the X100 series, it is still the same battery. Fair enough, I hate to see batteries draining in general, and these start to go down after like 30 shots… and yes, I do have like five spare of them for any occasion… but they frustrate me. I just constantly think of charging them instead of focusing on taking photos.

5. Super Shaky Video

Lack of IBIS continues into the pretty much unusable video (in my opinion). It looks good if you shoot it on a tripod in static situations – you can do some 4K shooting until it overheats or runs out of battery (see previous point). Not like I would use this camera for video work, but it would be nice to have a hybrid and also with nice film simulations could be cinematic. Not happening.

6. Not Pocketable

Fujifilm X100V is a small camera, but it will not fit in your pocket. Due to this fact, it has often stayed home when I went out because RicohGR can fit in the pocket.

7. Not So Discrete

There are two types of people in this world, there are ones who will ask you if this is a Leica you have when they see your Fujifilm X100V and the other ones will be asking you where the hell did you manage to buy it. Generally, people notice it quite well. Maybe the black one a bit less, but it not really so discrete.

Bottom Line

I realized that I just don’t use this camera often enough, because when I want the Fuji colours and what not, I take the Fujifilm XT-4 with me. I can also take a few other lenses with me, but generally, I am happy with 23 mm F.2. If the sensor and the size of these two set-ups are relatively the same, why should I have two? I can still sell the X100V for quite a lot of money. On top of that, I also still have X100T :p which apart from even worse battery life and no touchy screen, is quite a decent camera.

As always, thanks for stopping by. All opinions expressed are just my point of view.

P.S.

If you think that fixed lens will save you from having dust in the sensor, I do have some dust pieces that show up if I shoot at F16. Annoying, but such is life :0(

Also, why does X100V never want to connect to that stupid phone App – you have to play some African drums to make it work.

Anyway,

Hope you have a good one (and no dust in the sensor),

Take care and go out and take some photos,

Anna