Fujifilm X100VI Camera Review

[SECTION]INTRODUCTION[/SECTION]

The front of the camera houses the front control ring, the built in flash and the control for the viewfinder. The viewfinder is a masterpiece, without doubt. It can be toggled between an EVF and an optical viewfinder with electronic overlay. The EVF is a 0.5” OLED with 3.69M dots, giving a 100% view at 0.66x magnification. Flick the switch and we have an optical viewfinder with an electronic bright frame and info overlay, giving a 95% view at 0.52x magnification. It is easy to see why many photographers prefer optical viewfinders, not only because of the crystal clear view but also the ability to see objects just outside the frame. On the other hand the EVF gives us the precise view that the lens sees. The choice is there, along with a digital rangefinder in the form of a small EVF image that appears in the bottom right of the OVF view if required. This shows a magnified area for manual focus, but it could be debateable whether this is really practical.

The top plate has the shutter speed dial, along with the A setting for Av mode. Shutter speeds from 1s – 1/4000s plus B and T can be set directly from the dial. The dial rim is lifted and turned to set the ISO value, along with A setting (auto) and C setting (controlled via the camera). This is all familiar to those who use Fujifilm cameras. The shutter release and on/off switch are combined, probably the most efficient way. There is also an exposure compensation dial, again a very efficient way to adjust the overall exposure of an image.

The back of the camera houses the 1.62M dot LCD tilting monitor, which is clear and crisp. The joystick control, menu, playback and drive buttons are some of the controls found here, along with the useful Q menu button. The Q button is separated from the rest and unlikely to be pressed accidentally. The rear control wheel is also located near the top of the camera back. The right side of the camera has an access door to the various connections, including HDMI and USB. Charging is possible via the USB socket. The battery and single card socket are found on the camera base.

Under the skin, the camera houses the excellent 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor and X Processor 5. Native ISO range is 125-12800, or 64-51,200 extended. 5 axis IBIS gives a 6 stop advantage. Deep learning AI enables subject recognition of animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, trains, insects and drones. 

Having a fixed lens, some attempts are made at increasing the versatility. The basic 23mm optic has a 35mm-equivalent field of view of 35mm, and two digital teleconverter modes are available to deliver 50mm-equivalent and 70mm-equivalent. This does result in a loss of resolution, but with a 40.2MP sensor there is some leeway and the 50mm setting is probably very acceptable on this basis. 

Fujifilm has made the inspired choice to include a wide set of film simulation modes in its digital cameras, and it now runs to 20 options. The basic descriptions such as “Vivid” or “Soft” are self explanatory to all users, and those familiar with film characteristics will find some familiar names alongside these basic descriptions. For example, Vivid is the Velvia setting, which is highly appropriate.

Fujifilm X100VI Key Features

• 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR APS-C sensor
• X Processor 5
• Digital 1.4x and 2x teleconverters
• Shutter speeds 30s – 1/4000s (mechanical leaf shutter)
• Shutter speeds 30s – 1/180,000s (electronic shutter)
• 5 axis IBIS 6 stops
• Subject detection: animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, trains, insects and drones
• ISO range 125-12,800 (Native)
• ISO range 64-51,200 (Extended)
• SD Memory Cards: UHS-I, SD/SDHC/SDXC
• OLED EVF 3.69M dots, 100%, 0.66x
• OVF Digital bright line + info overlay, 95%, 0.52x
• Tilt 3” LCD Touch screen 1.62M dots
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• 6.2K/30p 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording video
• Frame.io to Cloud natively
• 20 film simulation modes
• USB and HDMI Micro Connector (Type D)
• Li-ion battery NP-W126S
• E Mode 360 shots (EVF)/450 shots (OVF)
• Normal mode 310 shots (EVF)/450 shots (OVF)
• 6.2K/4K movies 45 minutes
• FHD movies 50 minutes
• 128.9mm x 74.8mm x 55.3mm
• 471g/521g with battery and card
• Supports Fujifilm X App

Fujifilm X100VI Handling

Whilst photography is ultimately all about the resulting images, there is still much satisfaction to be found in handling and using various cameras. Some much more than others. There is a lot to like about the X100VI design, especially in the way it handles so beautifully as a fairly pocketable notebook; an ideal companion for travel and street photography. Of course, for those who moved away from basically rangefinder designs to SLR cameras, going back to the X100VI reveals the same drawbacks as before, principally the viewfinder and parallax and the lack of really close focusing. The X100VI actually solves most of this now we have the LCD monitor and the EVF with its precise and very clear view. All the joys of rangefinder design with the snags removed, perhaps? Well, mostly, and ironically, one of the joys of this camera is that incredible hybrid viewfinder. The optical view is amazing and combined with AF and IBIS there is so much versatility built in. There are a couple of niggles such as the lenscap and the way the centre focus point is so easily nudged, but really these are minor things in what is essentially an excellent ergonomic design that works extremely well.

[SECTION]PERFORMANCE[/SECTION]

Fujifilm X100VI Performance

The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
 

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Fujifilm X100VI Sample Photos

Lens Performance – The Fujinon Super EBC 23mm f/2 II fixed lens has a “35mm-equivalent” field of view similar to a 35mm lens on a full frame camera. This is the “wide standard” favoured by so many reportage/street photographers. The digital teleconverter can crop in to this image to give “35mm-equivalent” views of 50mm and 70mm, albeit with reduced pixel counts.

Optical construction is 8 elements in 6 groups, including 2 aspherical. The diaphragm comprises 9 blades. Closest focus is 10cm, or 3.9 inches, creditably close.

There is no filter thread, so an adapter ring AR-X 100 is needed to use 49mm filters. The lenshood is the LH-X100. There is also a wide conversion lens WCL-X100 II 0.8x, for an equivalent view of 28mm. The tele conversion lens TCL-X100 II gives 1.4x for an equivalent view of 50mm.

The lens was put through Imatest, and the results are nothing short of amazing. Centrally, this is one of the sharpest lenses ever tested. The centre is outstanding from f/2 right through to f/8, excellent at f/11 and still very good at f/16. The edges are very good at f/2, excellent from f/2.8 to f/5.6, very good at f/8, good at f/11 and fair at f/16. Well done, indeed.

CA is centrally well under control, and although there is a tinge of colour fringing at the edges wide open, by f/4 this has settled to half a pixel or less. CA is not an issue with most subjects, and there are always software solutions if deemed necessary.

Distortion is very low, measuring just -0.18% barrel. This is very close to rectilinear and it is highly unlikely that more correction would be sought.

It is possible to generate some flare in the most demanding lighting, but this is not a huge issue and does not seem to affect contrast. Fujifilm’s EBC coatings are highly effective, even without a lenshood.

Bokeh is very smooth and pleasant.

(Below you’ll find images demonstrating the aperture range of the lens alongside CA and MTF charts.)

Fujifilm X100VI Lens test images

Vignetting is also very modest, -0.8 stops wide open and then a consistent -0.6 stops over the entire aperture range.

In summary, an excellent lens with outstanding central sharpness.

Fujifilm X100VI ISO test images

ISO Performance – Images are totally clean up to and including ISO 400. At this point, there is the slightest whisper of noise and this holds good up to ISO 3200. Up to this point any ISO could quite happily be used with confidence. ISO 6400 sees a sudden dip in quality and noise creeps in, becoming even more evident at ISO 12,800. ISO 25,600 is almost overwhelmed by noise and ISO 51,200 is awash with it. These last two high values have little viability for normal use, but could perhaps be used for special effects and in emergencies where some image is better than no image.

Fujifilm X100VI White-balance test images

White Balance – Most of the usual white balance presets are present. The choice is Auto White Priority, Auto, Auto Ambience Priority, 3 custom settings, Colour Temperature, Daylight, Shade, 3 Fluorescent settings, Incandescent and Underwater. All of these are fine, but we still have missing a Cloudy setting, the equivalent of the 81A filter that would probably go very well with the colour slide film simulations.

Fujifilm X100VI Digital filters

Digital Filters – The 20 film simulations offer a wide selection of options that can be taken simply as their descriptions or can relate to the films that they mimic. The beauty of this is, of course, that we have 20 different types of film available at the flick of a switch and we don’t have to change the film to move from one type to another.

Source: Photography News
Fujifilm X100VI Camera Review
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