Fujifilm X100V 2 year review : beyond the hype!

My long-term review of the Fujifilm X100V! Is it still my favourite compact two years later?

Equipment used for producing my videos

00:00 - Fujifilm X100V introduction
01:19 - Why is the X100V so popular?
03:25 - What I like about the X100V
04:50 - What's in my bag?
05:27 - Fujifilm X100V image quality
09:30 - What I don't like about the X100V
11:51 - Possible upgrades for a future X100
14:13 - Should you buy an X100V today?

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[cameralabs]

My long-term review of the Fujifilm X100V! Is it still my favourite compact two years later?

Equipment used for producing my videos

00:00 - Fujifilm X100V introduction
01:19 - Why is the X100V so popular?
03:25 - What I like about the X100V
04:50 - What's in my bag?
05:27 - Fujifilm X100V image quality
09:30 - What I don't like about the X100V
11:51 - Possible upgrades for a future X100
14:13 - Should you buy an X100V today?


As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[FranciscoAlvarezTV]

Just got mine brand new a few months back. This is one camera nobody should ever sell. It’s timeless and such a fun camera. Whatever replaces this won’t be a spec monster so worry not about “upgrading”. This isn’t a camera you purchase as a workhorse. 100% recommend for capturing life and making memories.

[mdw]

The X100V has been my travel companion since the day it was released. Fits perfectly in my peak design 3lt pouch. I do have other cameras but they often stay at home. The X-S20 and the Sigma 18-50 is also quite a small setup for travelling. An updated LX100 would also be very welcomed.

[carldaniel]

The white balance of this camera is just insane. Colours are off the chart beautiful. Love this camera soooo much!

[GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff]

Ordered a black X100V through my local camera shop in early 2022. Had to wait seven months before taking delivery … something the shop owner had never seen before! At least I only paid the MSRP. I learned to shoot, develop and print B&W film in the 60’s and 70’s but over the years my photography relied increasingly on point and shoot film then digital cameras. I’ve mostly been snapping with my iPhone for the last decade but recently, in my retirement, I fancied a “proper” camera. Absolutely no regrets in getting the little Fuji … it’s brilliant. I carry it on bicycle rides using the PS Bagworks Rider Strap. The ND filter gets used often for my landscape snaps, sometimes with the Nisi Pro Filter Kit. What would I like to see next … a monochrome version! Thanks for your review … I enjoyed this video. 📷🙂

[daveed]

I considered the first version of this 10 years ago, but found a mint Sony RX1 for a great price. I wouldn’t give up the RX1 now even for this latest version. That said, the X100V is a superb choice for someone who doesn’t already have this kind of camera need met.

[memeone]

I had the S previously until it suffered a heavy fall. For me it's what a camera should be. Meets all my non specific needs. Looks great and feels great, takes amazing shots outside of telephoto. You can take pics and not look like a crazy camera dad.

[MichaelGerrard]

My X100V is special. I agree that having that feeling about a camera is important, I do want to pick it up and use it 🙂
I like the crop modes, I am happy with the quality. It is almost like having 50 and 70mm lenses as well as the 35. The X100V is a very well executed camera.

[kualilo]

I sold mine at the start of the year and regretted it almost immediately. I figured I would move up to a Leica Q3. But after handling and testing one at a local camera store, it just made me miss my X100V more and I immediately began my search for another X100V. I was able to locate a brand new one with 0 shutter count, never opened -- for roughly the same price retail with tax. This one will be with me until the day one of us dies ;-)

[babyboy]

I bought it right at the beginning of 2021 and it’s still brilliant. I would never sell it. It’s perfect. I even use it as a backup for my XT5 on professional shoots and the images look gorgeous. The lens is way improved over the X100F. It’s sharp as a razor, focuses very close and the tilt screen is very handy. Love this camera!

[Sbvc]

Sold my X100T to upgrade to this. Absolutely love the sharper lens and flippy screen. These cameras take images that are breathtaking and far more tangible than an over-processed mobile image. Perfect for capturing special moments and allowing you to re-live them.

I’m also team EVF! 🙌🏼
Never use the OVF at all.

[grumpyrocker]

I totally get this Gordon. Increasingly I want a small camera I can always have with me, with a great sensor, and an EVF. But there's so little choice now, and what there is available is massively expensive even used. The market has abandoned the premium compact just when the market wanted it. As I prefer 40mm rather than wide the Ricoh GRIIIx would suit me, but not at that price and not with no EVF. I use a Fuji X-S10 as my work camera. But I'm thinking of picking up an X-E3 to combine with my 27mm f/2.8

[adamgrinpukel]

Great to see lots of shots from Peru and Bolivia. Am traveling/living in that part of the world at the moment... photographer's dream!

[gordonbunker]

Hi Gordon, Mid 2022 I hoped to buy an X100V but finding one was like finding hens teeth. So I purchased an Xpro-3 with the XF23 1.4 WR and haven't looked back. Well, ok, maybe a little. But, for me, the far greater versatility of an ILC, with better AF and a few other goodies has proven worth the extra weight and bulk. Thanks for all you do, and wishing you a happy 2024! Cheers, GB

[christopherbgriffith]

I'm in total agreement with you regarding the potential for improvements (better sealing, better software reliability), and I'd probably add the current IBIS unit in the X-T5. I struggled with it for the first year or so of owning it to find when to use it to its fullest. When I attended an outdoor wedding in 2021, I brought only it and I loved the results. It's such a great camera. I even used the small Lightpix flash with it for some shots and the leaf shutter allowed the exposures to blend seamlessly. I shot the whole thing on a single battery, too. It's no burden to me to carry an extra couple of those small 126 batteries in my bag. I don't see myself updating to the sixth model, as the 26MP is still plenty for me, and I think the X-T5 suffers from more noise than my X-T3 does.

[gohumberto]

Had my X100V for 2 years now. I didn't realise how much I liked it until I reviewed the images I submitted to my Photo Club competitions. It turns out that every image that placed in the top-3 was taken on the Fuji. Most of the images on my office wall were taken on the Fuji. Most of my PC screen-saver slide show were taken on the Fuji.
OK, a big reason for this is that I always carry it (in my 3 litre Peak Design Sling bag) and therefore most images I take are taken with it. However ... there's something about it.
I shoot mainly in Classic Neg (or a slightly tweaked version) and a PanF black & white simulation and the results are just great.
I grew up with my Dad's 35mm Halina (the sort of camera that every Dad used in the 60s and 70s. German Range-finder type, brown leatherette case. You know the sort).
The X100 series is exactly this camera. To replicate the feeling I often go out for the day with the EVFs turned off, shooting through the Optical glass viewfinder (and no chimping on the rear screen). It's very rewarding to save your images until you get home.
Anyway, just talking about it makes me want to go and handle it. So that's what I'm going to do.
Buy one.

[StephenCotterell]

I still have my x100s. I bought it new, over ten years ago, instead of investing in a 35mm lens for my DSLR. The x100s has been with me on all sorts of trips from dog walks to many days spent in London, Paris, New York, Sydney and other cities around the world. My only gripe with the camera has been about battery performance. However, I now use third party, higher capacity batteries which has removed my gripe. I have flirted with the idea of replacing it with the x100V but have delayed the decision for so long that I might as wait for its "inevitable" replacement.

[bradk]

Great video, but to add a few recommendations for a new model in case Fuji reads through youtube comments:

What about a d-pad + touchscreen to make navigating menus easier?
How about at least a single additional button to set a quick function to? Even one more button could be massive.
How about internal storage to complement the single SD card reader?

I guess with the model reveal happening in less than 1-2 months we'll have to see what they've already decided.

[billwinward]

I am a Fuji fanboy, I bought the X-H2 a few months back but my favourite Fuji camera is still an ancient X20 which still takes amazing pictures but fulfils that really important criterion you alluded to, Gordon, it is just so nice to use it makes me want to take pictures.

[JaySilva]

The first camera I bought was a point and shoot with a fixed lens. Very small and practical, but very limiting.
Then I upgraded to a DSLR: its like going from night to day. One might enjoy the small compact fixed lens format, but I think the light and small form factor are not an excuse any more.
You can travel with (for example) a Canon R50 or R10 with a tiny kit lens or a pancake lens, still small light and versatile for occasions you wanna use big glass. And cheaper than X100V!