First Impression

Yes, I got myself a new Fujifilm camera. It has been a camera I wanted for a very long time. Its simple yet sophisticated technology is built into the camera, and its gorgeous design has enticed me. This is the new Fujifilm X100V camera.

This is my first gear review, but I will not go deep into the details, as there is already lot of information about this camera on the internet and YouTube channels. I will talk about my experience and final thoughts about this camera, after using it for about a month.

The Specs

What is this Fujifilm X100V camera about? It is a 26mp APS-C sensor fixed lens compact camera. There are dials at the top to adjust the shutter speed, ISO speed, and exposure compensation. The aperture can be set at the lens aperture ring. Its sensor and processor are exactly the same as X-Pro3, XT-3, and XT-30 Fujifilm cameras. The video capability of this camera has been upgraded substantially, it is now able to shoot in 4K 30p. Well, I am not a video person, so I can’t comment much on the video image quality. We can now shoot with the Classic Negative film simulation, which was made popular when it was introduced in X-Pro3. I will talk more about the film simulations in a later part.

It has the same hybrid viewfinder as the X-Pro3. I enjoy shooting with EVF, but at times I would use the OVF to get the feel of shooting with a vintage rangefinder camera. The main improvement to the previous model is the redesigned lens which improves the image sharpness when shot in f2, in close distance. The other improvement is the weather sealing of its main body. You will need to buy additional parts (i.e filter ring and filter) to weather seal the lens portion. Though it is more bulky. The articulated LCD screen is another improvement to the series, now we are able to shoot from waist level or lower to get an interesting composition. Guess this is the most requested feature.

The button customization is plentiful. I took almost half an hour to fully customize the settings on the camera. Fortunately, the menu system is user-friendly, no sweat in navigating around it.

User Experience

Now my thoughts on this camera. After using it for almost a month. I have lots of fun shooting with it. The images produced with this camera are stunning. Although it is a fixed-lens camera, I can challenge myself to make do with this limitation. This camera is a DSLR in a small body. You can shoot in full manual mode or customize it with some auto settings. Did I mention that it handles well in low-light conditions? With high ISO, it produces artistically grainy-looking images that can’t be replicated in other brands of camera systems.

One of the main reasons, I am attracted to the Fujifilm camera is its film simulation filters. The images rendered with the film simulations are beautiful, therefore, you can go ahead to shoot in Jpeg and end of the day, you still get a high-quality image. As I like the look of film photographs, so naturally I am fascinated to shoot with it. My favorites so far are Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, and Acros. I did customization to some of the stock film simulations, with reference to the awesome info found on Fujixweekly website. If you want to have a more defined look to your photos, I recommend you visit their site for some simulation recipes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the X100V has inspired me to shoot more photos, as its size enables me to take it anywhere. Without any weight burden. I have no trouble choosing what lens to bring along, as it only has a fixed lens. This does not limit my creativity, in fact, it trained me to move around to look for the best composition in my shots. I am also satisfied with its auto-focus capability. Therefore, this retro rangefinder-style X100V has met my need for a compact camera.

You may find some images below, which I have shot using the X100V.