Review: Fujifilm X100V

July 24, 2021

Jordan Steele

Conclusion

Pros

Absolutely beautiful camera with a great combination of retro and modern design
Body is weather-sealed for the first time in an X100 camera
Excellent control layout, with clearly marked dials and buttons, and a strong, customizable interface
Hybrid viewfinder is very good, with a quality EVF and excellent optical finder for outdoor shooting
Rear screen tilts for the first time on an X100 camera – a great addition
Excellent image quality from the X-Trans IV sensor – good dynamic range and noise control
Redesigned lens is sharp throughout the focus range from wide open
Pleasing background rendering that allows subjects to pop
Excellent color response, and I love Fujifilm’s new Classic Negative simulation
A great selection of accessories are available, including excellent wide and telephoto conversion lenses
Leaf shutter allows for high-speed flash sync and near silent operation in mechanical shutter
Fuji’s excellent in-camera RAW conversion gains a few new tricks

Cons

Grip on the camera is only OK. Adding an accessory grip or hotshoe grip can improve handling
Autofocus is only moderate in speed, and a little noisy
Removal of 4-way button controller is controversial, but I found it didn’t impact operation that much
Battery life is only average
Fujifilm’s WiFi implementation could use a refresh: missing some features that are common to competitors
Body can get warm after periods of use.
Full weather sealing requires purchasing a separate filter adapter and UV filter.
No image stabilization

The X100 series cameras have been extremely popular for Fujifilm, and with the X100V it’s not hard to see why. The camera is eminently enjoyable to use, with its common sense controls, excellent viewfinder, compact size and great image quality. A lot of times, packing a smaller fixed lens camera feels like a big compromise, but with the X100V, I never felt like that, even if in reality it is more limited than an interchangeable lens system. The X100V is just fun to use, and the results are outstanding. It’s small enough to fit in a hip bag, but substantial enough to feel like a quality photographic tool in use.

The ability to add a wide or telephoto conversion lens of high quality adds to the versatility, but I think most people will stick with the bog-standard integrated lens, which is a great optic on this latest version of the camera.

Fujifilm can still improve in a few areas by adding image stabilization, improving focus speed and noise, and further tweaking the ergonomics to make it feel better in the hand out of the box, and less dependent on handling accessories. There are also improvements to be made in the WiFi connectivity and battery life, but in practice, these items are all very minor. The X100V is a great camera and a wonderful tool for candid shooting, street photography and any other photographic pursuit where a 35mm lens in small package makes sense. I love it.

Image Samples

Click on an image to enlarge.

Columbus Reflected in the Scioto – Fujifilm X100V with WCL-X70 @ 17mm, f/11, 1/25s, ISO 250

Ram Guardian – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/11, 1/70s, ISO 160

Witches Rock – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/8, 1.8s, ISO 160

Deer Overlook – Fujifilm X100V with WCL-X70 @ 17mm, f/2, 1/2000s, ISO 160

Middle Falls Mist – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/8, 3s, ISO 160

A Boy and his Cat – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/2, 1/40s, ISO 640

Galbreath Pavilion – Fujifilm X100V with WCL-X70 @ 17mm, f/5, 1/12s, ISO 1600

Doing Nails – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/2, 1/80s, ISO 400

City Blossoms – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/2, 1/140s, ISO 160

Upper Falls – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/8, 3.1s, ISO 160

Potatoes – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/2, 1/100s, ISO 2000

Columbus Reflected – Fujifilm X100V with WCL-X70 @ 17mm, f/7.1, 1/120s, ISO 160

Sundial – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/2, 1/60s, ISO 800

Bike Rack – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/2, 1/2700s, ISO 160

Middle Falls – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/8, 10s, ISO 160

Statehouse Fence – Fujifilm X100V @ 23mm, f/2, 1/40s, ISO 500

If you enjoyed this review, check out my other reviews in the Review Index.

Tags:

camera, fuji, fujifilm, review, x100, x100v

Comments

9 responses to “Review: Fujifilm X100V”

Rick

July 28, 2021

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!

Reply
1. Jordan Steele
  
  July 28, 2021
  
  Thanks. Glad it was helpful!
  
  Reply
Matt

August 3, 2021

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.

Reply
1. Jordan Steele
  
  August 3, 2021
  
  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.
  
  Reply
  1. Matt
    
    August 3, 2021
    
    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.
    
    Reply
Matt

September 26, 2021

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…

Reply
Aiman

October 10, 2021

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!

Reply
Gordon Ovenshine

September 13, 2022

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.

Reply
1. Jordan Steele
  
  September 13, 2022
  
  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.
  
  Reply