Review: Fujifilm X100V

Review: Fujifilm X100V

Features

In-Camera RAW Conversion

There’s not a lot new to write about Fujifilm’s in-camera RAW conversion, which has remained fairly consistent for the past several years. It’s still one of the best in-camera converters out there, with the ability to tweak most everything about the RAW output to JPEG. Pushing and pulling exposure, white balance changes, tone curve, film simulation and more can all be changed.

The X100V’s in-camera RAW conversion is fully featured

Since the last Fujifilm camera I reviewed, the Tone Curve manipulation has consolidated highlight and shadow tone into one tone curve section, and those controls modify a graphic of the curve that will be applied to the file. I don’t think the actual conversion differs from earlier versions any, but it does help with visualizing what the changes you are making will do to the final image.

New items that are more recent to Fujifilm cameras have been added to the RAW conversion options as well, such as the Color Chrome effects and Clarity adjustment. After making any desired changes, you can preview the image before writing the JPEG. It’s a very nice way to tweak images in camera to improve the result you want for direct sharing of JPEG images.

Connectivity

Like almost all modern cameras, the X100V has Wi-Fi built in for remote control of the camera, geotagging images or transferring images wirelessly. The functionality is very similar to previous Fujifilm cameras and has most everything you really need. The camera also features Bluetooth for easier connection and a lower power maintenance of connection when using things like geotagging.

Remote control allows for full control over image settings, including shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure compensation, white balance, and film simulation, plus the ability to move focus points and switch from stills to video while still in the app.

The X100V’s Remote Shooting interface

While the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options are relatively full featured, the mobile app for controlling these things has fallen a bit behind some others in the industry. It could certainly use a refresh to make initial setup more convenient.

There are also some features that are missing that are found on some other cameras released in the last few years, such as the ability to connect to the camera while the camera is powered down. Both the Sony A7R IV I owned, and the Canon R5 and R6 can do this, and I have found it extremely convenient to grab some images off the card while the camera is in my backpack and I’m hiking back to my car, or to grab an image to share when the camera is at my desk in the study, and I’m in the living room. I’m a bit bummed that on the X100V I need to turn the camera on, manually initiate connection and then go.

The X100V also lacks the ability to auto-convert JPEGs from the RAW files for remote transfer; only JPEG images can be transferred. I’d love to see the ability for the camera to instantly create a JPEG from the shot settings if the user requests transfer of a RAW file. The Canon bodies do this nowadays and its very convenient. It would be nice for Fujifilm to add some of these newer connectivity features to the X100V.

Other items of note

  • Bracketing: Fujifilm has finally given us a full-featured bracketing feature. I am assuming this made its way into the latest X-mount cameras as well, but my previous latest Fujifilm camera I reviewed was the X-T20. The X-T20 and X-Pro 2 updated the bracketing from the previously terrible 3 shots at +/- 1 stop of expsosure to 3 shots at +/- 2 stops. Now the X100V (and presumably other X-Trans 4 cameras) has a truly full featured bracketing solution with up to 9 frames of exposure at up to 3 stop intervals. At the maximum number of frames and interval sizing, this results in a 24 stop bracket, which should cover essentially every dynamic range situation you would ever encounter.
  • Battery life on the X100V is decent, but not spectacular. For the type of shooting I do with the X100V, I’ve never had an issue with battery life. I’m able to get a few hundred photos on a single charge. Still, if you anticipate a heavy shooting day, having a spare in your pocket isn’t a bad idea.
  • The X100V, like all the X100 series cameras, uses a leaf shutter instead of a focal plane shutter. While the leaf shutter limits mechanical shutter usage to 1/2000s when shot wide open, rather than the 1/4000s or 1/8000s available on many focal plane shutters, the X100V augments that shutter with an electronic shutter that can go as short as 1/32,000s. Like all Fujifilm bodies, the option is available to use the mechanical shutter until its top speed, then seamlessly switch to the electronic shutter at higher shutter speeds.

    The leaf shutter is nearly silent, making just a faint click when activated, and it has the huge benefit of being able to sync with flash at it’s fastest shutter speed of 1/2000 (or 1/4000s at f/4.5 and smaller). As such, if the focal length is right for you, it’s a great camera to use with strobes in daylight.
  • The X100V has a built-in ND filter that will reduce ambient light by around 4 stops, and with the most recent firmware update, this can be used in video as well. It’s a nice addition to be able to shoot with slow shutter speeds when desired, both for stills and video.
  • The body of the camera gets warm during shooting. It was noticed immediately when the camera was released, and Fujifilm confirmed it was normal operation. It doesn’t get so hot as to be uncomfortable, but it can be noticeable.

Continue: Image Quality

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Comments

9 responses to “Review: Fujifilm X100V”

  1. Rick Avatar
    Rick

    Nice review, and a special thanks for mentioning the compatibility of the WCL-X70 with the X100V, as well as the DIY mod to make it automatically recognized by the camera. I had a WCL-X70 gathering dust on the shelf, and it’s now working well with my X100V. Thanks!

    1. Jordan Steele Avatar

      Thanks. Glad it was helpful!

  2. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    Thanks for the very nice review Jordan.
    I wish you had time to review Eos M6 mark ii with 22mm F2 (pancake, very pocketable combination) or with 32 mm 1.4 lens.
    I am in between X100V and M6ii .
    My travelling businessman side needs a pocketable everyday camera and my more enthusiast side needs more choices in lenses. And I should add the family use of videos to the list of needs.
    I have a Sony 7 iii that I really enjoy when I am in pure vacation. However it gets too heavy and bulky when added lenses and I need an additional camera bag when I walk on the streets for discovery. Yes I know it is not comparable to the SLRs but I am getting old.

    1. Jordan Steele Avatar

      I think it comes down to what you really want out of the smaller camera. For a single lens solution to just pop in a jacket pocket, it’s hard to do much better than an X100V. I think if you want a smaller interchangeable lens camera, something like the a6400 makes more sense…there are some really nice smaller lenses like the Sigma primes, and you can use your existing FE lenses as well.

      The M6 II is a great camera from what I’ve seen. But I don’t know how much sense it makes to get a different system to your Sony. Especially since I don’t see Canon investing too much more in EF-M.

      1. Matt Avatar
        Matt

        Yep!
        these are the right questions and considerations.
        The end results with my Sony A7 iii are more than satisfying, on the other hand, the process of taking pictures is not so much fun. I also consider to go to A7 c (being more compact in size) and use my lenses.
        Not being everyday photographer, the Sony menu is a challenge. I learn and then forget again where to find things. At one point, you turn to “Auto” to catch things, which is upsetting.
        If I go to Fuji or to Canon, I will sell Sony & FE lenses and buy an adapter for my old K (Pentax) lenses.
        I have not known any Fuji user who was complaining from their camera. X100( ) is very popular and for good reasons (as you have explained).
        The possible discontinuation of EF-M is not scary for me. It already have the lenses that I would need, plus, if I really need, with the adapter option, the whole Canon lens arsenal offers enough. My major hold is rainy days, the lack of weather seal.
        I guess what I am looking for is the hands on user reviews.
        Thanks again for the review and taking time to answer me.
        I also thank you for helping me to make my decision on A7 iii at the time. It served the purpose well, when I was shooting my daughters Volleyball games. It was a joy when you set the parameters and shoot. The speedy game at the low light of the high school gyms was no problem.

  3. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    Nice review!
    Do you have any opinions on the TCL lens shot wide open? I’ve seen heaps online how it is really soft on the earlier x100 cameras so I would like to know if the new lens on the V will mitigate it’s wide open deficiencies…

  4. Aiman Avatar
    Aiman

    Another great review, Jordan. Just wondering if you never found time to review the Ricoh GR iii, or you don’t feel it’s enough of a competitor to X100 type P&S?
    I seem to have missed out on how useful it could be for a specific kind of purpose, albeit not as versatile as the X100V.
    It seems built for street, candid, and travel work. The GR iii x has a new 40 mm lens with a crop mode. A review will be much appreciated!

  5. Gordon Ovenshine Avatar
    Gordon Ovenshine

    Hi Jordan, nice work here. I am fairly new to the 100V, which I like especially for the film simulations. I don’t shoot a whole lot of portraits, I’m more interested in landscapes and showing people outdoors. One aspect of photography that escapes me is sharpness. Let’s say I am photographing a 100-year-old barn from 75 feet. What settings would give me the sharpness image? Gordon Ovenshine, Pittsburgh, Pa. Some people say two stops for wide open, other suggest f/11.

    1. Jordan Steele Avatar

      You want to shoot at an aperture that will give you the depth of field needed without going too small. f/11 on an APS-C camera like the X100V is going to start softening the image due to diffraction. I still use f/11 if needed for depth of field, but it won’t yield the sharpest image. On the X100V, the lens is sharpest between f/4 and f/8, so I’d shoot at f/5.6 if there isn’t any foreground detail as well, or stop down to f/8 or even that f/11 if needed to get everything you wish in focus.

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