Fujifilm X100vi : First Impressions & review

If you're a fan of Fujifilm cameras or curious about the latest addition to the X100 lineup, here are my thoughts after using the camera for a week.

So, I recently had the opportunity to take the Fujifilm X100vi on a photo walk, and I wanted to share my first impressions of this beautifully crafted rangefinder-style camera. With a fixed 35mm equivalent lens, the X100vi is compact, stylish, and packed with features that make it a joy to use. Let’s dive into what stood out to me during my time with it.

The Walk and the Setup

To test the camera, I took it on a 4-mile circular walk starting in the quaint village of Angle. This route offered plenty of photographic opportunities, from charming harbors and beaches to the fascinating juxtaposition of old fortresses and modern industrial elements like the Valero oil refinery. It was the perfect setting to explore the X100vi’s capabilities, especially for my ongoing documentary-style photography project, Between the Hills.

One of the first things I noticed was how freeing it felt to work with a single focal length. With its fixed 35mm equivalent lens, the X100vi encourages you to embrace creative constraints and focus on composition—a challenge I thoroughly enjoyed.

Design and Handling of the fuji x100vi

Fujifilm has a reputation for creating cameras that look and feel amazing, and the X100VI is no exception. Its retro rangefinder aesthetic is as functional as it is beautiful. The build quality is solid, though I was surprised by its size and weight—it’s slightly larger and heavier than I anticipated. Despite this, it fit snugly in my jacket pocket, making it a great option for an everyday carry camera.

The standout feature for me was the optical viewfinder. It’s incredibly bright and provides a unique shooting experience, allowing you to see your scene as your eyes do while still benefiting from digital overlays like the histogram. It’s an absolute joy to use and adds a tactile, engaging element to photography.

Shooting Experience of the fujifilm x100vi

Using the X100VI felt like a throwback to the fundamentals of photography. The tactile controls, especially the ISO dial, are intuitive and satisfying to use. While the lens focusing mechanism is a bit noisier and slower than I expected, it didn’t detract too much from the overall experience.

The built-in ND filter is another standout feature. It’s incredibly handy for long exposures in bright conditions or when you want to shoot wide open in strong light. This small addition saves money and space by reducing the need for external ND filters—something I’d love to see implemented across more cameras.

fuji x100vi Image Quality

The X100VI shares the same 40MP sensor as the X-H2, so I had high expectations for image quality—and it delivered. The details were crisp, colors were vibrant, and dynamic range was excellent. The leaf shutter is nearly silent, which makes it perfect for unobtrusive street or documentary photography.

One minor issue I encountered was that the camera froze once during use, requiring a battery pull to reset it. While this was a bit reminiscent of earlier Fujifilm models like the X-T2, it’s worth noting that it happened only once during an extended session.

Embracing the Built-in IBIS: A Game-Changer for Photography and Video

One of the standout features I enjoyed while using the Fujifilm X100VI is the built-in In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS). As someone who often shoots handheld, IBIS proved to be an invaluable tool. This opened up creative possibilities, particularly for capturing scenes in low light or when trying to introduce a sense of motion into an image.

The IBIS also shone when it came to video. Whether I was panning across a landscape or recording a candid moment, the stabilization smoothed out the footage beautifully. The result was a professional feel without the need for additional gear like a gimbal. For a compact, everyday camera, having this level of stabilization makes it incredibly versatile and user-friendly.

Knowing I could rely on the X100vi’s IBIS to steady my shots and video gave me the confidence to push boundaries. It’s a feature that adds a lot of value, especially for those who enjoy documenting their adventures or experimenting with slower, more deliberate photography without the need for a tripod

Capturing Beautiful Video with Eterna Film Simulation and a Natural Focal Length

One of the joys of using the Fujifilm X100VI was how beautifully it handled video. The combination of the Eterna film simulation and the natural look of the 35mm equivalent focal length produced clips that felt authentic and cinematic. The Eterna simulation has a wonderful way of softening highlights and creating a subtle, muted color palette that’s perfect for storytelling or capturing the essence of a scene without feeling overprocessed.

The fixed 35mm lens played a key role as well. This focal length is incredibly versatile, providing a perspective that feels true to life. Whether I was capturing a sweeping view of the coast or a close-up of the textured rocks, the video footage had a natural, immersive quality that drew me in.

Together, the Eterna film simulation and the fixed lens made for video that was not only visually pleasing but also required minimal post-processing. I found myself using the footage straight out of the camera, which is a testament to how well Fuji has dialed in the camera's video capabilities. For anyone considering the X100vi as a hybrid camera for both stills and video, I can confidently say it excels in delivering professional-looking results with minimal effort.

The Drawbacks of the Fuji x100vi

While there’s a lot to love about the X100vi, it does have limitations. The fixed 35mm focal length might not suit everyone, and while Fuji offers digital zoom options for 50mm and 70mm equivalents, these are essentially crops and don’t replicate the optical quality of dedicated lenses.

Another minor gripe is the lens focus speed, which could feel sluggish in certain situations. And while the camera is portable, its size might make it less “pocketable” depending on your attire—though it’s a perfect fit for a jacket or cargo pants.

Final Thoughts on the x100vi

The Fujifilm X100VI is a camera that truly embodies the joy of photography. Its combination of beautiful design, stellar image quality, and innovative features like the optical viewfinder and built-in ND filter make it a compelling option for anyone looking for a compact, high-quality camera. It may not be perfect for everyone—particularly if you prefer interchangeable lenses—but if you’re drawn to the simplicity and challenge of a fixed focal length, it’s a standout choice.

Personally, I’ve loved every moment of shooting with it. While I’m still weighing whether it fits my specific needs for an everyday pocketable camera, I can see why the X100 series has such a devoted following. If you’re considering the X100vi, I’d encourage you to give it a try—you might just fall in love with it.

What are your thoughts on the X100vi? Let me know in the comments, and if you’re interested in how I edit my Fuji raw photos, please be sure to check out my online club “The photographers clubhouse” where you can download my raw photos and follow along with me as I share my process. Click the button below to learn more

If you would like to see my photo walk with the fuji x100vi then please feel free to check out my YouTube video below.

Happy shooting

Ian

Fuji X-H2 Review: Long term review for photography and filmmaking

As a professional photographer and filmmaker, I’ve had the Fuji X-H2 as my go-to camera for two solid years. From portrait sessions to rugged landscape shoots, and everything in between, this camera has seen it all. It’s high time I shared my thoughts about what I’d consider an almost perfect camera. In this post, I’ll break down my experience into two parts: 5 things I love about the Fuji X-H2 and 5 areas that could use improvement. Whether you’re a fellow Fuji user or considering adding the Fuji X-H2 to your kit, I hope my insights will help.

Before diving in, I’d like to mention that the Fuji X-H2 has been a remarkably reliable camera for me. In over 17 years as a professional photographer, it ranks among the most dependable cameras I’ve owned—on par with my old Nikon D800. No malfunctions, freezes, or glitches. It’s always responsive, which is invaluable when you’re shooting under pressure.

Let’s start with the positives.

5 Things I Love About the Fuji X-H2

1. Ergonomics

This is, hands down, one of my favorite features. The Fuji X-H2 just fits my hands perfectly. The grip is comfortable, even when using heavier lenses, and the button layout feels intuitive and well-thought-out. For anyone who spends long hours with a camera in hand, this is a big deal. The way it balances means I never feel like I’m going to drop it, even during long shoots.

2. Weather Sealing

As a landscape photographer, weather sealing is non-negotiable. This camera has faced weekly splashes from shooting seascapes, sub-zero temperatures down to -7°C, and 35°C heat without missing a beat. Additionally, I’ve only had to clean the sensor four or five times in two years—impressive, considering how often I swap lenses outdoors.

3. Image Quality

The X-H2’s 40MP sensor delivers stunning image quality for both stills and video. In well-lit conditions, the results are sharp and clean and I have no problem shooting indoors at iso3200.

4. Stabilization

Fuji claims up to 7 stops of stabilization, and while I think that might be a touch optimistic, the stabilization is undeniably excellent. I’ve consistently managed sharp images at shutter speeds as slow as 1/6 of a second with wide-angle lenses—a real asset for handheld shooting.

5. Battery Life

Battery life is another strong suit of the Fuji X-H2. On a full day of landscape photography, I usually finish with some battery life to spare. Of course, I always carry a spare, but the X-H2 has proven efficient, even during demanding shoots.

5 Areas That Could Be Improved with the Fuji X-H2

6. Stiff On/Off Switch

This has been an issue since I first got the camera. The on/off switch requires a firm push, and over time—likely due to exposure to salty sea air—it’s gotten even stiffer. It’s manageable, but wearing gloves makes it tricky to operate. On the bright side, I’ve never accidentally turned it on in my bag, a common issue with other cameras like the fuji X-T3

7. Battery Door

The battery door no longer springs open as it did when the camera was new. While it’s not a dealbreaker, it can be frustrating, especially if you have short nails. My older X-T3, which has been through similar conditions, still works fine in this regard, so it’s a little disappointing.

8. Stabilization at Slow Shutter Speeds

While stabilization is generally excellent, I’ve noticed a specific issue when shooting handheld at slow shutter speeds (e.g., 1/3 of a second). The center of the frame is usually sharp, but the edges sometimes show subtle motion blur. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s worth checking your shots carefully when pushing the limits of stabilization.

9. ISO Adjustment Interface

Unlike aperture and shutter speed, adjusting ISO takes over the screen with a dedicated ISO scale. This interrupts the view of your scene and histogram, which can be inconvenient. I’d much prefer if ISO adjustments were displayed seamlessly, like other settings. (I’ve since been told that you can now assign iso to the front command dial which overrides this. Apparently it was in a recent firmware update but I haven't tried it yet.)

10. Weight

At 660 grams, the X-H2 is hefty for an APS-C camera. While its full-sized HDMI port, CFexpress card slot, and 3.5mm jack are useful features for some, I rarely use them. For my needs, a lighter camera with dual SD card slots would suffice. To put it in perspective, it’s almost the same weight as the full-frame Nikon Z7 II.

Final Thoughts

Despite a few minor gripes, the Fuji X-H2 has been an incredible companion for my professional work and creative projects. Its reliability, image quality, and handling have made it a standout performer, and the issues I’ve experienced are relatively small in the grand scheme of things. A lot of the photos in my galleries are taken with the Fujifilm X-H2 so if you fancy checking some landscape photos out click the button below

If you’re considering the Fujifilm X-H2, I hope this breakdown helps you make an informed decision.

Fancy learning more about the Fuji X-H2 - Feel free to watch my Youtube video below. 👇

How to shoot time lapse photography on fujifilm cameras

Create amazing time-lapse photography with fuji x-t4 x-t3 x-t2 x-h1

Today I will be talking about how to capture amazing time-lapse photography specifically with a fuji camera, but if you are using another brand the core principles will apply however you may need an intervalometer or look at your user manual for how the built-in timelapse feature works on your camera.

At the bottom of the post you will find my youtube video which goes through all of these steps in detail.

A sturdy tripod is essential for capturing time-lapse photography as camera shake can ruin your end clip. It's also worth turning any lens or camera stabilisation off as the camera will be locked on the tripod. A couple of other settings you might want to check are that you have long exposure noise reduction turned off and make sure your camera's auto-off or power-saving function is switched off. We will be using all manual settings throughout the tutorials including white balance to make sure nothing changes during the duration of the time-lapse.

Time-lapse using the video mode on your fuji camera

So first up and the easiest method is to capture a timelapse using the video mode in your camera. Now, this is my least preferred method as it gives the least amount of control, limits our motion blur and doesn’t give us as many options for post-production. It is, however, the quickest way to set up and capture something similar to a timelapse, so for that reason when I simply do not have a lot of time on my hands then it’s still possible to get something decent.

For video, I shoot at 24 frames per second as this gives a cinematic look when used in real-time, usually, I’m shooting at 1/48th of a second for my standard video settings as this gives the correct amount of motion blur and fits the 180-degree shutter angle that is used for professional videography.  If required I could reduce the shutter speed down to 1/25 of a second which is the minimum I can go to when shooting video. This will give a little more motion blur for a more dreamy effect.

So we have our frame rate and shutter dialled in now we have to adjust the aperture and iso to set our exposure. If shooting outside during the day then iso will generally be at the lowest setting, that’s 200 on my fuji X-h1

Just remember that if we are speeding the video up later in post-production then we will have to shoot for longer. If I speed the footage up 10 times and I want a 10 second finished clip, my real-time video length needs to be 100 seconds long.

The next step would be to simply speed up the footage in your video editing software.

The downside to this method apart from post-production and shutter speed limitations is that we will need to increase the speed of the clip, meaning frames will be dropped as we try to squeeze all of that information into a shorter space of time. This can result in choppy footage as parts of the clip are discarded.

Time-lapse Fujifilm x series cameras

Using still photos is definitely my preferred method for capturing time-lapse photography, there are 3 main reasons for this. 

1 we have much bigger files sizes meaning a better quality image.

2 more flexibility in post-production, we can edit each frame just like a photo.

3 we have complete control over our shutter speed, frame rate and interval meaning silky smooth motion blur. 

To set up for shooting stills there is one massively important point that often gets overlooked and is one of the biggest causes for flickery footage and that is our aperture.

Now the aperture blades are incredibly delicate things and they open and close with a decent amount of precision but for the most part, not precise enough to capture the exact same exposure every time.

Every time an image is captured the aperture blades reset and become fully open, it’s only when the image is being taken that the blades close to the desired f-number. This means that during a timelapse of many photos, the blades will be continuously opening and closing. It’s these small discrepancies in exposure that can create a flicking effect in our finished timelapse.

My advice would be to choose a lens with a higher minimum f-number. Lenses with a minimum aperture of F4 and above are great. When shooting wide open at f4 on my fuji 10mm- 24mm f4 lens VIEW THE LENS HERE ON AMAZON the blades will always remain open and never move throughout the entire collection of images. Another alternative would be to use a vintage lens that doesn’t have an electronic aperture.

So I use my fuji 10-24mm f4 lens, now if I shoot wide at f4 I’m getting a large depth of field providing I’m not really close to my foreground subject so this works well.

HOW TO CALCULATE A TIME LAPSE

The next setting to think about is iso, and again this will be at my lowest setting of iso 200 if shooting in bright conditions.

This leaves shutter to complete the exposure triangle, now shutter speed will depend on what you're shooting and the overall look that you are trying to achieve. There's no right or wrongs,  it's more down to personal taste and experimentation. If clouds are moving really quick then a quicker shutter speed might work better, if they are moving slower, 2 seconds may give a better result. It really depends on what you are shooting, how smooth you wish the time-lapse to look and how quick your moving parts are travelling. 

Getting some motion in each image can really make your time-lapses flow smoother. Now the trade-off with a slower shutter and wide aperture is that we are more than likely going to be overexposed. This is where our friend the ND filter comes into play. 

Simply attach an ND to the lens to obtain the correct exposure.

It is worth mentioning that if you are shooting at sunrise then the exposure will be getting brighter throughout the shooting period, so you will need to take this into consideration when finalising your original settings.

The interval needed will depend on the speed in which objects are moving throughout the scene, if the clouds are moving at a decent speed, I would go for a two-second interval, if they were super quick, I would decrease the time to 1 second. If slower then I would increase the time to say five seconds, experimentation is key here. If the interval is not correct then the footage can either look too dreamy or too choppy. It’s worth mentioning that shooting at a shorter interval is better than a larger one, you can always discard frames in post-production, but you cannot add them if you didn’t capture them in the first place.

So with a two-second interval, now I need to work out the number of required frames. Here we need to work out a little math. I would like my finished timelapse to be 10 seconds long and 24 frames per second will be my finished video output. This means I need to multiply 10 by 24 to get my required amount of frames. An easy one to work out, that’s 240 still images.

Now let’s work out how long that will take to capture the whole set of images.

We have a two-second interval and we need to take 240 images that means we will need to shoot for 480 seconds.  

It’s always worth working this out so you know how long you will be hanging around for.

Apps such as photo pills have a timelapse calculator to save you working this out which comes in very handy.

Check out the video below for a detailed explanation.

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