A beast of burden dreams of film

As I trudge and traipse across London Bridge, grumbling like a mule and burdened like a packhorse, I recall a time before digital equipment weighed me down. And once again I find myself wishing: if only digital cameras could be more like their film forefathers.

Cue nostalgia and the sound of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop

Cue wavy lines, BBC Radiophonic Workshop music (creators of the iconic Doctor Whoa theme), fade mind’s eye to the Fujifilm X100VI, and run internal voice-over. “In a world where technology seems to be shouting at us ever louder, boasting of more and more capabilities and convenience, the X100VI whispers gently, promising a profound, almost nostalgic experience of photography.”

But haven’t we been here before?

Hang on, hang on… Is this not just a repeat? Didn’t Fuji already do this with the X100 series? Aha, the elephant in the room has roared. OK, there is nothing new about the formula of a high-quality fixed lens compact. And yes, Fuji has already set the bar rather high with its X100V, but the X100VI is much more than just a dodgy tribute act.

The joy of lightness

The thing I love, and the thing that transforms me from a beast of burden back into an enthusiastic street photographer, is the weight – 1.15 lb. In camera terms it weighs nothing, and nothing makes a huge difference in terms of my back, my smile, and brings back some of the spontaneity of my craft. Quite frankly, on that score, it’s about perfect. Right in the middle of the Goldilocks zone: neither too heavy to be irritating, nor too light to feel insubstantial.

Design that delights

Parking the wonderful weight issues to one side for a second, let us turn to the X100VI’s sleek retro styling. A crafty combo of analogue-cum-digital dials and knobs is quite wonderful. A delightful blend of metal and synthetic leather not only provides great grip, but reminds you that the top and bottom plates are milled from single pieces of aluminium, giving it a reassuring solidity.

A nostalgic nod with modern magic

Again, it’s a throwback to a bygone era when craftsmanship was king. Its sleek, retro design, with that same combo of analogue-cum-digital dials and knobs, is delightful. It evokes a pleasing sense of nostalgia. A bit like holding a piece of history – yet one packed with modern and not-so-modern wizardry. If, like me, you like shooting at slow shutter speeds, the built-in 4EV ND (Neutral Density) filter is a genius touch.

Same spirit, sharper tools

Singing to the same tune as the original X100, the X100VI (the sixth incarnation) invokes that very same feeling of nostalgia. Yet they are different beasts. Then again, they are the same but different. While the autofocus system has been remixed and improved, the X100VI shares the same hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder as its immediate predecessor. This has three modes: fully electronic, fully optical, and optical with an inset electronic display.

Beneath the hood – serious sensor power

They have also upgraded the sensor, so it now boasts the same unit as found in their flagship X-T5 and X-H2 models, yet still shares its diminutive body size with its predecessors. It now packs the new stabilised APS-C 40.2 megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR*1 sensor and high-speed X-Processor 5 image processing engine for outstanding performance. And perform it does.

Colour, contrast and character straight out of the box

Out of the box, the files are lovely, bright and detailed, with excellent saturation – and that’s before one experiments with any of its 14 simulated film stocks (in-camera processing that replicates the look of analogue film). But a good sensor is nothing without a good lens.

A lens to love

The 23mm f/2 II – due to the APS-C sensor size which is equal to 35 mm on a 35mm camera – is not a good lens. No. It’s a very, very good lens. A beauty. Both super fast and wide, ideal for most of what life throws at it. And whilst not as wide as I would like, you can remedy this with the Fujifilm WCL-X100 II Wide Angle Lens converter.

Sharp, even wide open

It provides a lovely view of the world and is as sharp as a knife even wide open at f/2, where it exhibits as much bokeh as you would expect from an APS-C format. Stop down and it gets even sharper.

Autofocus with brains

The autofocus system is, as one would expect from Fuji, quite magical, and includes lots of features such as the X-Processor 5’s subject detection autofocus system. This now helps to better track a range of subjects, along with the capability to detect animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, aeroplanes, trains, and insects.

Stabilisation and specs for video lovers

The camera also has in-body stabilisation, which means you can shoot at lower shutter speeds without experiencing camera shake – an excellent feature that is a godsend when shooting video. Not that I ever shoot any, but if I did I could film in 6.2K up to 30 fps.

Friendly to use (mostly)

Using the user interface and menu system is a breeze – logical and methodical to navigate. However, I am very familiar with Fuji. Mind you, even I have to consult the manual more often than you might think. Given the stated battery life of 450 shots per charge using the optical viewfinder, or 310 shots if you use the EVF (electronic viewfinder), it might be prudent to invest in a spare battery too if you consider getting one of these.

A mate, not a machine

In some ways, the X100VI is a real photographic Swiss army knife – more of a travelling companion than a camera. A cheerful chappy with whom you’d gladly share a pint at the local. So raise a glass and let us toast a triumph of technology and styling, and drink to what really is a jolly good camera. And at £1,599 including VAT, you’ll even have change for another couple of rounds.