Fujifilm X100V Fujifilm - Review 🏆

The Fujifilm X100V is the latest model in Fujifilm's X100 series of premium compact cameras. First introduced in 2011 with the X100, this line of cameras is geared towards advanced enthusiasts and professionals looking for a compact camera with excellent image quality and manual controls.

The X100V features a 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X-Processor 4 image processor, which enables impressive image quality. It has a fixed 23mm f/2 lens, which provides a 35mm equivalent field of view. This fast prime lens allows for beautiful bokeh and low-light performance.

Other key features of the X100V include a hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, great ergonomics with physical dials for key exposure settings, and a tilting rear touchscreen LCD. The camera body is weather-sealed and very portable. New upgrades compared to previous X100 models include a redesigned lens, tilting screen, and improved autofocus.

Overall, the X100V aims to provide stellar image quality and an engaging shooting experience in a take-anywhere form factor. It's a versatile compact for those who appreciate fine optics and manual controls.

Design and Handling

The Fujifilm X100V features a classic retro rangefinder-style design that appeals to many enthusiasts and professionals. The camera body is made of lightweight and durable magnesium alloy, giving it a premium feel in hand. The synthetic leather finish on the body provides a secure grip.

Despite its compact size, the X100V is ergonomically designed with easy-to-reach dials and buttons. Key shooting controls like shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation have their own dedicated dials, allowing for quick adjustments. The aperture ring sits conveniently around the lens, enabling you to intuitively set the f-stop. Overall, Fujifilm has paid great attention to the handling experience.

The controls and dials have nice tactile feedback. Buttons are logically laid out, with the most frequently used ones within easy reach of your thumb and index finger. The camera feels well-balanced and comfortable to hold. The textured grip gives you a secure one-handed hold, making it suitable for street photography. At 479g, the X100V remains lightweight enough for all-day shooting.

The Fujifilm FinePix XP140 is a rugged, waterproof camera ideal for adventure enthusiasts. It is waterproof down to 25 meters, shockproof from 1.8 meters, freezeproof to -10°C, and dustproof. With a 16.4-megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom lens, it captures high-quality images under challenging conditions. The XP140 also includes features like 4K video recording and wireless connectivity for easy sharing. Built for durability, this compact and robust camera can withstand the elements, making it perfect for outdoor photography.

Image Quality

The Fujifilm X100V features a 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 APS-C sensor which delivers exceptional image quality with rich colors and sharp details. The unique X-Trans color filter array minimizes moiré and false colors without the need for an optical low-pass filter.

The sensor's native ISO range is 160-12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200. Images are clean and noise-free at the lower end of the ISO range, making the X100V great for landscape, portrait and street photography where you want to shoot at base ISO. Noise handling is very good, with images remaining very usable even at ISO 6400-12800. At the highest ISO settings, noise and loss of fine details becomes more apparent but overall high ISO performance is still impressive for an APS-C sensor.

The combination of the high resolution sensor and Fujifilm's excellent image processing means the X100V can capture a high level of detail, especially when paired with a sharp prime lens. The camera renders intricate textures, fine details and subtle tonal gradations beautifully. Dynamic range is also very good, allowing for great shadow and highlight detail to be retained in high contrast scenes.

The Fujifilm X-T3 with XF18-55mm kit offers a versatile option for photographers looking for a powerful combination. The X-T3 features a 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, similar to the X100V, ensuring excellent image quality and dynamic range. The XF18-55mm lens, renowned for its sharpness and flexibility, complements the camera perfectly, providing a wide range of focal lengths for various shooting scenarios. Together, they deliver stunning photos with rich colors, fine details, and exceptional clarity, making it an ideal choice for both amateurs and professionals.

Autofocus and Performance

The X100V features the same advanced autofocus system as Fujifilm's flagship X-T3 and X-T4 mirrorless cameras. It uses on-sensor phase detection pixels across almost 100% of the frame for fast and precise autofocus.

Focus speed is extremely fast, even in low light conditions. The camera can lock focus instantly in bright light, and only slows down marginally in very dim conditions. Focus accuracy is excellent, with very few instances of hunting or locking onto the wrong subject.

For continuous shooting, the X100V can shoot at up to 11 frames per second when using the mechanical shutter, or 20 fps when using the electronic shutter. This makes it easy to capture fast action sequences with tack-sharp images. The buffer allows for up to 38 compressed RAW frames in a burst before slowing down.

Autofocus tracking for moving subjects has also been improved over previous models. The camera does a good job of locking onto a subject and tracking it around the frame during continuous shooting. This makes the X100V well-suited for street, documentary, and sports photography requiring fast autofocus.

Overall, the autofocus and performance of the X100V lives up to Fujifilm's reputation for having some of the best AF systems on the market. It's a huge upgrade over previous X100 models and makes the camera a very versatile everyday shooter.

Video Capabilities

The Fujifilm X100V can shoot high quality 4K video up to 30fps. The max resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels. In addition to 4K, the camera can also shoot Full HD 1080p video at frame rates up to 120fps for smooth slow motion footage.

The video quality on the X100V is excellent with crisp details, accurate colors, and low noise in most lighting conditions. Footage has minimal artifacts or moire thanks to the camera's X-Trans sensor and processor. You can shoot 4K video using the full width of the sensor or switch to a cropped mode for additional reach.

While not a dedicated video camera, the video capabilities of the X100V are quite robust. The quality is good enough for travel films, family events, or even professional use in many situations. Slow motion 1080p video at 120fps provides creative options for highlight clips. Overall the X100V strikes a nice balance between photography and videography.

New Features

The X100V brings some significant upgrades compared to the previous X100F model. One of the most notable is the addition of a tilting rear LCD screen. This 3-inch touchscreen can now tilt up and down, making it easier to compose shots from high and low angles. This is a very useful upgrade for street photography where you often need to shoot discretely from the hip.

Another major upgrade is the addition of weather sealing for dust and moisture resistance. The X100V now has sealing in over 40 points, making it much better suited for shooting in inclement weather. Photographers who shoot landscapes and street scenes in all conditions will appreciate this increased durability.

The sensor and processor have also been upgraded to the latest 26MP X-Trans CMOS 4 and X-Processor 4 combination. This delivers improved resolution and faster overall performance including quicker autofocus. The phase detect AF area has also been expanded, increasing focusing speed and accuracy.

Overall, Fujifilm has taken an already excellent camera in the X100F and meaningfully upgraded it to create the most capable X100 camera to date. The tilting touchscreen and weather sealing are the most notable improvements, but the bump to the latest generation sensor and processor should also deliver tangible benefits.

Hybrid Viewfinder

The Fujifilm X100V features a unique hybrid viewfinder that combines both an optical viewfinder and electronic viewfinder into one. This allows photographers to take advantage of the benefits of both finders.

The optical viewfinder provides a bright, clear, and natural view that many photographers prefer for composing their images. It's ideal for following fast action as there is no lag or blackout. The electronic viewfinder can overlay helpful information like exposure settings, histogram, and focus peaking. Photographers can easily switch between optical and electronic modes with a lever.

Compared to a DSLR optical viewfinder, the X100V's hybrid viewfinder offers nearly 100% frame coverage and diopter adjustment. However, the magnification is lower at 0.52x versus 0.7-1x on most DSLRs. The resolution of 2360k dots is also lower than the latest high resolution EVFs.

Versus mirrorless cameras with only an electronic viewfinder, the X100V's hybrid viewfinder provides an optical alternative that many photographers still prefer. However, the EVF resolution and magnification is lower than the latest mirrorless cameras. The benefit is having both options available in one camera.

Overall, the hybrid viewfinder gives photographers unique flexibility compared to DSLR or mirrorless cameras. The ability to switch between optical and electronic modes allows you to take advantage of the best of both technologies.

Connectivity and Battery

The Fujifilm X100V has great connectivity options and decent battery life for a camera of its size. It has a USB 3.1 Type-C port which can be used for charging, data transfer and tethered shooting. There's also a 3.5mm stereo mini jack for connecting external microphones. The camera has a micro HDMI Type D connector which allows you to output 4K and Full HD video to external monitors or recorders.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the X100V has Bluetooth and WiFi built-in. This allows you to wirelessly transfer images to your smartphone or control the camera remotely.

Battery life is rated at 350 shots per charge when using the rear LCD, or 420 shots per charge when using the EVF only. This is decent for a mirrorless camera, but you may want to carry a spare battery for all-day shooting. The NP-W126S battery can be charged in-camera via USB. Overall the X100V has a good selection of wired and wireless connectivity options.

Pros and Cons

The Fujifilm X100V has many strengths that make it a great choice for certain photographers, as well as a few weaknesses to be aware of.

Pros

• Excellent image quality with rich colors and sharp details
• Compact, stylish retro design that's a joy to use
• Fast, accurate autofocus especially effective for portrait, street and documentary photography
• Useful new tilting rear LCD screen
• Great control layout and handling
• Effective image stabilization
• High-quality EVF and OLED viewfinder
• Film simulation modes produce nice JPEGs
• Weather-sealed body
• USB-C charging

Cons

• Expensive for an APS-C sensor camera
• Fixed 23mm (35mm equivalent) lens limits flexibility
• Video capabilities still lag behind some competitors
• Battery life could be better

Overall, the X100V shines for experienced photographers seeking a compact prime lens camera for portraiture, street photography and everyday casual shooting. Its retro charm and excellent image quality make it a pleasure to use. However, the fixed lens and premium price mean it has limited versatility and won't be the right fit for all. But for those seeking its strengths in a go-anywhere package, the X100V delivers outstanding performance.

Conclusion

The Fujifilm X100V is an excellent premium compact camera that delivers impressive image quality, intuitive handling, and a wealth of advanced features in a stylish retro design. It's the latest iteration of Fujifilm's popular X100 series, refining and building upon previous models.

Overall, the X100V is ideal for enthusiasts and professionals seeking a capable daily carry camera that encourages creativity and thoughtful photography. The hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, array of physical dials, and retro aesthetics deliver a unique shooting experience. Image quality is outstanding with excellent detail and Fujifilm's renowned color science. The new tilting rear screen improves versatility. Autofocus and overall performance see nice upgrades over previous models.

The X100V truly excels as an all-purpose camera for street, documentary, travel, and daily photography. It lacks the versatility of an interchangeable lens camera, but the fixed 23mm f/2 lens is extremely sharp and versatile. The X100V pushes the capabilities of a compact camera about as far as possible.

For users wanting a premium, fixed lens camera with classic appeal, outstanding image quality and intuitive physical controls, the X100V is an easy recommendation. It earns a rating of 4.5/5 stars.