Fujifilm X100 VI Gets IBIS! Woo-Hoo!

Surely one of the landmark cameras of the whole digital era is the Fujifilm X100 series, which started in 2010 and just now reached its sixth, count 'em, sixth, iteration. It was a surprise smash hit, and propelled Fuji into its current role as a multifaceted camera manufacturer. The Fujifilm X100VI (Mark VI, that is) was just announced, and is available for pre-order. It's the king of compacts, the apotheosis of the point-and-shoot, the modern-day Barnack camera.

I'll assume you're passingly familiar with the X100 series. What's so different about the VI?

It's a major update, for two reasons. Starting with the most important new feature, the VI get IBIS (in-body image stabilization) for the first time in the model's now 131/2-year history. Fuji was late to the party with image stabilization, but now that they have it they're obviously spreading it around their lineup generously. The new IBIS claims six stops of improvement at the cost of only 1.5 ounces of extra weight—the camera can actually stand that, and it might actually make an improvement in hand-feel—and nothing in terms of added size.

If you want to modify the opposite extreme and make the lens slower in bright light, there's a built-in 4-stop ND filter for shooting wide apertures for better bokeh in bright light. I don't know when that arrived. Word on the street is that you can use both IBIS and the ND filter together, which might be especially useful for video.

You remember the tagline of Bill Hader's "Stefon" character on SNL, who reviewed the latest, hottest clubs? "This club has everything"?  Well, after five go-rounds of refining the original, the Mark VI has everything. Ghosts, banjos, Carl Paladino, a stuck-up kitten who won't sign autographs, furkels*. No, seriously: all the goodies of previous versions, including its Leica-inspired good looks, flip-up screen (the 3.0", 1.62m-dot LCD is a touchscreen), knob-and-dial controls including an aperture ring, a way to increase the weather resistance by adding two mysterious rings to the lens (I can't quite sort that out), and of course the famous and exclusive hybrid viewfinder that switches on demand from optical to electronic. Using the front switch that pays homage to the frameline lever on ancient Leicas. (Modern ones too, Jeff reminds us. But ancient ones too.)

X-Processor 5
The second big new thing is the sensor/processor. The Mark VI inherits Fuji's latest 40-megapixel sensor and processor from the X-H2. The plethora of pixels makes possible 1.4X and 2X digital crop settings at lower but still usable resolutions, resulting in equivalent focal lengths of ~50mm and 70mm. That's separate from the attachable optical converter lenses, available as accessories, that change the native 35mm-e lens to 50mm-e and 28mm-e.

AF is said to be "improved," and it probably is. In car magazines, every new model of virtually any sporty car claims to have a chassis that is "X% stiffer" than the last model. Some wag of a writer once factored in all the claimed improvements over time and noted that the latest car had to have a chassis that was something like 2,371% stiffer than the original—which might have been possible if the chassis originally had the stiffness of spaghetti or silly putty, or the new one was as stiff as a Formula One racecar. "Improved AF" is a bit like that. On the other hand, the original X100 did have pretty slow AF, and by the Mark V it had become significantly better and, moreover, no longer an annoyance, so it's good that they're continuing to improve it. The processor, like the 40-mp sensor, is Fuji's current best.

The X100VI also sports a new film simulation called Reala Ace. This kind of thing would normally not be of interest, mimicking, as it does, a gimmick, but the X100VI has twenty film simulations, and finding your favorites among them is actually a real part of the appeal of the little camera. Some the film simulations are very good, and, if my own experience is any guide, they can actually be surprisingly difficult to reproduce "manually" in Photoshop. No reason to scorn them. Fuji knows color.

The X100-series is a remarkable camera. It's been popular for going on 14 years, and with successive generations of humans, too—it's gotten an significant injection of popularity from attention on contemporary social media. Granted, it's not cheap at all at $1,600, but maybe it's actually creeping into Veblen-good territory, in which people prefer to pay more because of what the camera says about them and their values and their sense of style (and their wallets). It's a premium price; but it's a premium product.

Simplicity
It's not exactly the pathway I personally would have liked to see with the camera. I'd be in favor of lower price and not so much of everything. I mean, if I wanted a do-everything general-purpose camera with multiple focal lengths, I'd just get a Fuji X-T5 for pretty much the same price as this, along with a dessert-cart choice of Fujicrons starting with the 23mm. Granted, the conversion lenses for the X100VI are cheaper, but they're also not usable on any other camera.

The X100 series would be the perfect package in which to reach for a little Apple-like simplicity. (Although I sat in on a lecture at the Apple Store recently about how to use the iPhone 15 camera, and that has lost its Jobsian simplicity too. I can't even remember half the arcane things I learned how to do.) I've opined in the past that I'd like to see simplified, streamlined, easy-to-grok versions of existing full-featured cameras come on to the market, and if Fuji had a different vision for this camera it would be interesting to see what could be done with it. But that isn't the fashion, so, never mind. I guess Gen Z'ers need their video. But to add a note of gratitude to my tune here, videography functionality is probably why this little varmint got its IBIS, so, okay. Thanks for that.

Verdict
This looks to be easily the best and most capable iteration of this perennially popular little camera yet. If I were in the market, I'd get it just for the IBIS and let everything else fall where it may. If you have and love any of the five older versions, even the V, now would be the time to move up.

Mike

*That was the club called "Push," where club owner Gay Dunaway built a fantasy world that answers the question, "Nooow?"

Original contents copyright 2024 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)

Featured Comments from:

Stephan Cowdery: "It's hard to believe that there were camera lines without IBIS in 2024. Of all the improvements in cameras in the last 20 years, IBIS has to be, in terms of improving image quality (in non-tripod situations) the most significant."

Michael: "I have the X100V (Apparently I'm one of the lucky few), and it is such a joy to use. I love the tactile feedback of the controls, the wonderful film simulations, the OVF/EVF option, and the ability to accessorize it to your liking (I added a soft shutter release and thumb grip). The fixed focal length makes you think a lot more about composition and being a part of the process, which reignited my enjoyment of going out to take photos. You would be surprised how differently you look at the world and the hidden treasures you find to photograph when you are restricted to one focal length. When people talk about the camera you just always want to use, this is the camera they are talking about."

William Cook: "After reading your excellent post on the X100V in September [Wasn't it February? —Ed.] 2020, I wrote this comment: 'I have always throughly believed in this type camera and Fuji’s interpretation is near perfect...except for one thing (for me). And obviously, that ‘one thing,’ is only important to me and maybe a few others. Certainly not important to enough people for Fuji to entertain the idea of including it—image stabilization. Because of my older, less than steady hands, I need stabilization. My current larger camera doesn’t have it but my lenses do. As much as I would love to have the X100, I would need a tripod. Kinda defeats the carry everywhere ethos. But I still admire it.'

"I can’t believe they’ve included the one thing I’ve always wanted in this camera! I put my money where my mouth is and at five minutes after the embargo ended the other night, I had mine on order at B&H (through TOP’s link, of course!). Normally, whichever camera feature I truly desire, the universe conspires to ensure it’s NEVER offered. For once, providence has smiled upon me!"

Dogman: "Lovely camera, the X100. I'm still happy with my X100S. I'm sure the VI is 'better' in many ways but I love the 'S' too much to part with it. Or upgrade from it. But, yeah, the VI is a really lovely camera."

Arg: "If the X100 is, as you say, the king of compacts, then the Ricoh GR is the Lord Tyrion Lannister of compacts: no doubt flawed, but devilishly small, incomparably clever, and able to make one smile uncontrollably in its presence."

Charlie E: "The X100S pulled me into the Fuji X system back in 2014. It was a great camera aside from the very slow autofocus. £699 felt a lot at the time for a fixed lens camera, even if it did look pretty. I don't think I could justify £900 more on that sort of camera, even if it's pretty, has the great Fuji simulations, IBIS, etc. (inflation hasn't been 228% in the last 10 years, though it feels like it sometimes).

"The X100S did pull me into the X system though, and I traded up to an X-Pro2 which I still carry with me every day and I won't swap it until it breaks. Hopefully there will be a new version with IBIS at that point!"

Comments

[Chris A Beloin]

What a beautiful camera - The X100 V6 does temp me but I'd like to see Fuji update the menu system to make the work flow a bit smoother. It is not quite weather sealed yet & I don't know how much I would use the optical viewfinder.

Given the popularity of this form factor, could Nikon bring back their rangefinder? I hope so.

Chris in Wisconsin

[Stelios]

I wonder if Fuji ever considered making one without the hybrid viewfinder, to have only the optical viewfinder with the framelines/speed/etc information read in.
Probably not many would go for it? For the 3 days I used an X-Pro 2 I only used it with the optical viewfinder. Too niche?

[Jeff]

Mike wrote: “Using the front switch that pays homage to the frameline lever on ancient Leicas.” The frame line lever exists on even the current M11. Many users, especially newer ones, find it quite handy.

FWIW, Leica experimented with a hybrid VF for the M, according to Stefan Daniel, but ended the project due to unacceptable compromises to both viewing systems. Simply not enough space to meet Leica standards. The Fuji, without a mechanical rangefinder mechanism, has no such size constraints.

[Dave Millier]

The little Fujis are cute, but I have just gone in the opposite direction with my 2010 era Pentax K5. I love this camera, superb build quality and it fits my hand like a glove. I've never worked up the nerve to sell it but I don't have a use for it; it sits on a shelf. But I suddenly thought of a use for it and a legitimate one that will allow me to enjoy that rock solid build: a DSLR superzoom! My K5 is now sporting a Tamron 18-250mm (27-375mm eq) 19x zoom for those days when you can't be bothered to plan a day out photographing and just want an all-in-one solution. A replacement for my FZ1000 I sold on recently. Total cost £82, with a six month guarantee.

[hugh crawford]

I have wondered about that constant increase in automobile stiffness myself. If you think of the automobile, overall as a spring, (I know, “imagine a spherical cow”) increasing the stiffness of the spring increases the natural frequency of the system. When the natural frequency gets into the audible range. I would imagine that it would be pretty unpleasant, and just below the audible range, and I speak from experience with farm machinery here, is pretty unpleasant as well. Perhaps the stiffness of which they speak is a different sort of stiffness?

[ChrisC]

Now they just need a monochrome version for you!

[Jeff Pressman]

One feature of these cameras that is often overlooked is the digital zoom built into the focus ring that gives you an additional 50 and 75 mm FOV using the EVF. I use it fairly often. Plus, through some computational wizardry, the file size of the zoomed images is only slightly less than the full 35 mm view, so you're not losing much. Kinda cool, in my mind.

[Kye Wood]

I had the original X100.

Heavy.
Large.
Horrible focal length.
Looked expensive (thief magnet).

Some things never change. Sigh.

Image quality was profound though. As was colour rendering. And printed output was glorious.

The 15mm Panasonic micro 4/3 lens has better haptics and equal IQ. And the 30mm equivalent focal length for me, is simply perfect.

[Nico.]

If they can squeeze IBIS in a X100 they should be able squeeze it in a future X-E… series camera.
Fingers crossed, incense burned, chicken sacrifi… Forget that last bit.

[John Payne]

I had an X100F for a couple of years and I really wanted to love it. I wanted it to be my always on my shoulder Leica type camera. But I just didn’t. I experienced the known issue with the switch and prism system to go back and forth between optical and electronic viewfinder. It kept switching to electronic on its own which I never wanted. A very expensive repair. I stopped trusting it. I finally sold it and bought a used Leica M Type 240 which I absolutely adore. Should have done it from the beginning.

[John Krumm]

I put it briefly into my shopping cart, then backed away slowly. Then I went out shooting with my still excellent camera and had a great time in awesome light. But if my wife decides this is a good Christmas present for me, I won't complain!

[Bear.]

I can see why these things are so popular - it meets all my requirements; (a) small and light, (b) allows for my most used trilogy of 28/35/55 mm without much extra weight and changes without exposing sensor to dust (fixed lens), (c) OVF, and (d) sufficient megapixels for larger exhibition prints. IBIS sounds wonderful to me, even though I've never owned anything with it. I suppose I'll have to buy one...

[Rob L]

Just as I came to terms that I did not need a Nikon ZF, even though I truly prefer have some dials on my camera, this critter pops up. IBIS is a big, big big draw - but looking at what I was able to capture with my Z6 and 35 1.8 - useable - good looking, even, color shots at ISO 12,800 by firelight! Even with IBIS, and APS-C 40MP sensor is not going to do better than a 'full-frame' 24MP one.

Bummer. It's gorgeous and I loved my x100 and x100S, but at $1600, you are correct - it's near Veblen territory.

[John]

For me, the weather sealing the V introduced was the key improvement. IBIS is nice, but not (yet?) necessary for me. Now, 40mp is handy to crop, but I think I can wait. First upgrading to the new OM-1 II.

[Luke]

I see they still use the "fall-off" style lens cap.

[Trevor Johnson]

The X100 is the reason I never bought any Fuji APS-C cameras. I looked at the XPro-1 when it came out, but it took a very long time for a 23mm, (35mm equivalent), lens to appear for that system, no doubt to protect sales of the new X100. Instead I bought a Nex-7 and 24mm f1.8 Zeiss, still an excellent imaging making combination.

[Adam R]

Robert Plotkin's opening paragraph in his article about the original X100 in 2010 right here on TOP is one of the funniest things I've ever read in a camera review, and his whole article is superbely written (and doesn't hold back on the significant weaknesses of the original X100): https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2011/12/guest-post-robert-plotkin-on-the-x100.html

The X100S was my gateway drug into the Fuji ecosystem, which I'm still happily using to this day. After getting an X-T1 I liked using an EVF so much that I just wasn't using the OVF on the X100s, and its performance in other areas was getting rather behind, so I sold it on after 6-7 years. Maybe someday Fuji will grace us with an XE4 with the bigger sensor and IBIS...

[ASW]

To answer Hugh Crawford's question in a very generalized manner, the reasons you make an automobile structure stiffer include:
1) crash protection - strong where you need it allows it to deform where you want it to in a crash;
2) ride quality - a stiff structure allows for softer suspension tuned for ride quality;
3) handling - conversely, a stiff structure also allows the suspension to better control motion when encountering bumps, dips, weight transfer from side-to-side and back-to-front, etc.

The idea of the entire vehicle as a spring is somewhat useful when the structure is floppy (think of a 1980s economy car). As you make the structure stiffer, the suspension is better able to be the "spring" and isolate movement and harshness from the main structure and occupants of the vehicle.

[Bob G.]

Read recently that one can swap the screw-in diopter between an X-Pro1 and an Fujica ST-901… wonder if that the same for the X100 series?

[Harry B Houchins]

I now use an X-S10 camera and an XC 18-50 Fuji lens. Both with IBIS. I live in Western Oregon (rain!). Both bought for $600 total a couple years ago. Both suit me well and I see no need to change. Another prime rounds out my bag.

[Albert Smith]

This is a semi-flagship camera from a major player and there's something that I don't understand. Why must the buyers of this model (and the previous V) have to hunt out and aquire the apparently "must have" accessories, such as a square hood and a thumb grip? If you watch the numerous YouTube videos from street/travel photographers using the X100 class camera, you'd be hard pressed to find serious shooters that don't have at least the hood and grip. I use to think.the thumb grip was a joke until I bought one and now I wouldn't ever use my X-E and X-Pro bodies without it. I also bought the expensive Square Hood for my X100 because I couldn't stand to see that exposed glass with no physical protection and flare shielding.

If you buy a Fujifilm XF lens, you get a hood, so why not on this model that has an integrated lens? This body should come complete in the box at this price and prestige class. The buyer should not have to make separate purchases to have a complete set up.

As for me, I'll not be buying this model. I'm full-Fuji with half a dozen bodies and over ten lenses, but I have no need or desire for 40mp. I'm happy with my 16mp bodies and have two X-T3 bodies with 26mp X-Trans sensors that have never been any limitation for real world shooting, so I don't need 40 memory clogging, processor slowing megapixels.

[louis mccullagh]

Maybe FUJI is following Apple and pricing high to see how much the market will bear. Certainly looks like it.
In time the price will drop! Patience pays just wait for the impatient to move on to the next great thing.
I would definitely buy this but currently have a sony rx100va which has ibis and a 24-70 zoom F1.8-2.8 which second hand is much less than half the price of the fuji

[Eric Brody]

I hadan earlier version, thought I’d love it but a single focal length lens was just not for me. I’m a fan of “real” cameras as opposed to the ubiquitous iPhone, but it just never worked for me. I’m sure they’ll sell as many as they can make. I’ve become a “one system, one camera” person. Lenses on the other hand, I have WAY too many lenses.

[hugh crawford]

Perusing specs:
Flash sync at all speeds (to 1/1,000 at all apertures, 1/2,000 f/4~f/16 and 1/4,000 f/8~f/16…
Hmm, maybe I need this. Haven’t done any daylight flash street photography in ages.

[Andrew L]

It's such an Apple-esque strategy to hold out for so long on a feature that everyone else has (IBIS) and then finally release it as one of their major features, counting on a faithful following who will sing its praises. Wow, that sounded harsh. The X100 series is the Fuji that I have the most positive views about. But it's still baffling. It's a nice little camera, but I think Fuji's pedigree isn't such that it should be brought up in the same sentence as Leica. It feels firmly anchored in the modern "electronics" world rather than the historical "machine" world. The camera that I think fits the "machine" ethos more fully is the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome that I'm testing out. That camera feels like it has history in its DNA, while I feel the X100 cameras always had history in their thoughts.

[Ari]

I bought the original X100 new in 2011 for $1200, so $1600 for the X100VI in 2024 doesn’t really seem like much of a price increase.
I still love my old X100 and use it all the time: It’s small (but not too), light (but not too), great hybrid viewfinder, beautiful colors, great 35mm equivalent lens, solid mechanics. I want to upgrade to the newest iteration, but I really don’t need to!

[Steve Biro]

I don’t understand why some people consider the X100VI’s asking price of $1600 as Veblen territory. Mainstream mirrorless cameras are starting at $2000 and more these days - without lenses. Many more are in the $3K, 4K, 5K and 6K range. Yes, many people can’t afford $1600 - or even $600. But, in the current market, the new Fuji is reasonably and fairly priced.

[StephenJ]

I have experienced some of these novelties with digital cameras. I have a Sigma DP3 and a Leica Q2, and I find them confusing to use, the Leica being a very expensive mistake for me.

In my case, I attempted to give birth to a kidney stone, (giving birth is very tough for a bloke, it is bad enough for the ladies) and a subsequent OD of morphine due to communication issues between paramedic and consultant, which made my lifelong Crohn’s disease and its episodes seem like a walk in the park (which it is most definitely not).

Since then, the resulting short term memory issues are encouraging me to get back to basics. In short, I have been picking up my ancient Rolleiflex 3.5t and shooting 12 shots. No extra rolls in my pocket and more selective, rather than spray and pray.

As a result, I have been looking at acquiring a pre-M Leica, they can still be bought cheapish, though not as cheap as the one that I did the OCOLOY with back in the day.

The reason for the possible move is due solely to the unwieldy nature of the Rolleiflex, I would rather be able to slip a simple camera into my pocket as I did with my Leica ii, with a short roll of film (24 exposures, or I could roll my own in even shorter lengths), and take it from there.

Until recently we could buy such film from the local £ shop, for yes £1, it is colour, but it can still be used and developed in B&W chemicals to produce pretty good B&W negs. Even without the option of the £ shop, colour film is pretty inexpensive.

I have a bag of the stuff, (well around 30 rolls) all of which is now expired, I just need to source an old camera, those old Leica's seem to be priced between £300 and £600 depending on spec and condition (other cameras are of course a cheaper option).

I will have to try and find a scanner, I sold my last one for £900 and attempted to employ a digital camera to ’scan’ the negs, and couldn’t make it work very well. That scanner is now over £2,000 and used ones are few and far between. I suspect that I may forget about attempting to scan MF and just be happy with 35mm, the scanners are much cheaper.

I now really regret exchanging my collection of old film cameras, for that Q2. Maybe it is time to trade down the Q2… besides, my memory issues mean that I nearly always forget to install the battery, or the card. It will cost me, but not as much as switching gear costs a golfer.

[darlene]

My x100v still meets my needs perfectly. Interestingly, I don't use it in the way many photographers might, or even for its intended purpose of candid photography. Instead, I primarily utilize it for quick studio shots, focusing on products and infographics. On a recent trip, I packed it for easy access, keeping it separate from my digital Hasselblad. Yet, throughout three days of traveling and photographing, I never once felt the need to use the x100v. When I got back, I realized I had left it in the camper van; I only remembered to retrieve it a day later and then returned it to its place in the studio. Although I did capture some street scenes during my trip, those shots were taken with my Hasselblad.

[ronin]

Aw heck, I went ahead and pre-ordered one of these, let's see of I end up cancelling.

I can readily see that as an image making machine, the final product will be indistinguishable from prior versions of the model, sure.

But I think I ordered it for the nostalgia element. Not nostalgia for old fixed-lens rangefinders of the 60s and 70s. But nostalgia for the X100 itself.

Because way back in the day- 2011 we had bulbous plastic DSLRs of the same format, or even bulbouser new 35mm format DSLRs. But the X100 appeared in the midst of all that- svelte, slim, seductive in its simplicity and petiteness.

But like all of us, it's no longer what it was, with so much competition and many alternatives having grown up around it. So happy that Fuji is still putting out upgrades on this old girl, but now it seems not so compact anymore, kind of restricted, a little bloom lost: sort of, I don't know, dated.

[James]

Well for the first time since 2010 I am going to be without an X100. I have owned every version of the camera. I sold my V version last week for $1300. I sat up and placed a pre-order with B&H within 3 minutes of when they opened. I do have a receipt confirming this. I contacted B&H this AM about it. Apparently that wasn't fast enough. The salesperson told me it would be a minimum of 6 months before they could fill my order.

I promptly contacted Adorama. The salesperson there told me they had over 1,000 pre-orders of the black they couldn't fill this week and exactly 486 of the silver they wouldn't be able to fill. He said it would probably be a 6 to 9 month wait to get one.

I cancelled my order. What's the point. I am little soured on Fuji at this point. On the plus side listed my X Pro 3 this AM for $1400 and it sold in 15 minutes. That X100V didn't even take 5 minutes. So I am going to strike while the iron is hot and list all the rest of my Fuji gear including the GFX 50R, a X-T5, and multiple lenses this week. The upside is everything is selling at a premium. I think a lot of people will be soured on Fuji after this experience. I have a couple of other friends who place pre-orders for the X100VI at our local camera store in Houston. They cancelled theirs too since they were told the delivery time would be in multiple months.

I have been shooting Fuji since 2011. I do have a Leica Q2 Monochrome and a GR III. Looks like I am going back to Nikon since Fuji can't seem to anticipate the demand for their products. I am ordering the Zf plus the 40mm lens today. I made enough off the X100V and X Pro to buy that and put money in my pocket.