The Fujifilm X100V is a camera that will leave a dent in your wallet — but also rekindle something most photographers have lost: the simple joy of shooting. With its gorgeous retro-inspired design, genuinely improved lens, and the best straight-out-of-camera JPEGs in the business, this fifth-generation X100 is the first model in the series we can wholeheartedly recommend to photographers at any level.
Key Specs
- 26.1 MP X-Trans CMOS 4 APS-C sensor
- Redesigned 23mm f/2 lens (35mm equivalent)
- Hybrid OVF/EVF (3.69M-dot OLED)
- 4-stop built-in ND filter
- Tilting 1.62M-dot touchscreen LCD
- 4K/30p video + F-Log
- Weather-sealed (with optional filter adapter)
- 420 shots per charge (OVF)
Build & Design
Top and bottom plates are milled from solid aluminum with a satin finish. The back is clean and simplified with a new joystick replacing the D-pad. Build quality is excellent — this is a camera that belongs on a shelf as much as in your hands.
The hybrid viewfinder remains the X100 series' party trick. Switch instantly between an optical finder (great for street photography, where you can anticipate subjects entering the frame) and a crisp electronic finder for exposure preview. The EVF now has 3.69M dots — sharp and responsive.
One design quirk: full weather-sealing requires a 49mm adapter ring and filter (sold separately). Without it, the lens remains vulnerable.
Autofocus — Finally, It's Good
This is the first X100 camera where autofocus won't cause you to miss shots. The quad-core X-Processor 4 enables face/eye detection down to -5EV. While it still hunts slightly in very low light, face detection works reliably, and the touchscreen tap-to-shoot mode makes candid photography genuinely fun. Continuous AF at 11fps is overkill for a camera of this size, but it works.
Image Quality — SOOC JPEG Excellence
Fujifilm's straight-out-of-camera JPEGs are the best in the industry. The Classic Neg film simulation — based on Fujicolor Superia 100 from the 1980s — has become a favorite. RAW files offer adequate dynamic range, though full-frame cameras still hold an edge for extreme highlight/shadow recovery.
The redesigned lens is sharper at f/2 than any previous X100 model, especially in macro mode. The bump from 24 to 26 megapixels highlights the improved resolving power.
Who Should Buy the X100V?
This is a camera for photographers who want to fall back in love with the process. It's not a workhorse — the ergonomics aren't suited for all-day professional shooting — but as a daily carry, travel companion, or street photography tool, it's nearly perfect.
If you own an X100F: the tilting touchscreen, sharper lens, and dramatically improved autofocus make the upgrade worthwhile.
Practical Tips
- Set minimum shutter speed to 1/200 and max ISO to 6400 for reliable auto-ISO street shooting.
- Enable the built-in ND filter with one button press to shoot wide open in bright sunlight.
- Use tap-to-shoot on the touchscreen for discreet candids — it's faster than bringing the camera to your eye.
FAQ
Q: Is the Fujifilm X100V good for beginners? Yes — the hybrid viewfinder, excellent auto modes, and film simulations make it approachable for beginners while offering enough manual control to grow into.
Q: Does the X100V have image stabilization? No. Neither the body nor the lens includes stabilization.
Q: Can I use the ND filter during video recording? Unfortunately, no — the built-in ND filter only works for stills.
Q: What's the difference between the silver and black models? Purely aesthetic. The all-black version is more inconspicuous for street photography; the silver/black is classic eye candy.