Why I don't give a shit about the Fujifilm X100VI
While the whole world seems to have ordered this camera (and now wait!), I tell you…
A shot made with Canon EOS M200 in Oaxaca last year
PLEASE NOTE: This article reflect personal opinions about a camera that is on the hype from the times of the X100V because influencers wearing the camera made that absurd fashion. If you buy/bought the camera, good for you, is your choice and enjoy it. Here I point the finger to a consumistic approach that make people blind a lot of times. My speech is relative expecially to the pricenot justified by the features on the camera, especially the lens. Even though I don't like the Leica Q series either, that series counts with a real good lens. When we talk about rangefinder cameras the distance scale on the lens should always be present. And consider also the fact this camera is a point & shoot. Did i have the Leica X2 and Ricoh GRD in the past? Sure, but those camera not pretending at all to be considered rangefinder cameras. Leica X2 is expensive? Sure. But we should talk about the image quality on that camera. But having used it for 5 years also for editorial and commercial work I know what I am talking about.
If you want a serious review about X100VI there's this:
Uh, I guess to be defined "best toy camera" is a goal at certain levels...
And what else should I tell you? For certain prices I would buy a weather sailed camera body and not the cameras are on the hype right now. For a rangefinder style camera I would pretend a lens with a distance scale and anything a serious lens should have. But they didn’t change that, because at Fujifilm they don’t care about real photographers at all.
But what do you want it to matter if in the end many people buy it at those prices, if the hype is so strong that it sells itself? It is a camera perfect for influencers: nice to wear or to put on a compartment, behind, while they make a video, because from afar it resembles a Leica.
Now I have to clarify a thing: between an interchangeable lens system and a point and shoot at certain prices my choice will be always an interchangeable lens system. I say the same for Ricoh GR or the Leica Q series. I owned a Fujifilm X100S. Decent experience until it burned suddenly. I did have in my hands Leica Q3: beside the viewfinder is cool, but I would prefer a OVF or a hybrid one, I am not impressed.
Let me clarify: I defend photographers, not camera manufacturers. And I am against consumism, and too bad what is happening is a classic consumistic effect. Just like the new smartphone or ipad, with people camping in front of the store. It is about: I have that too. But a lot of Fujifilm X100VI already in the second hand market. I wonder why…of course I know why…
And the point is exaclty that: ayone is, of course, free to spend their money as they want, but I feel is correct to highlight certain things on a overrated camera. Because most of the time we see more photos of the camera than photos taken with the camera. That is maybe the reason why the phoblographer defined the best toy camera of 2024.
In another speech, Fujifillm assistance service is very bad: not competent and very expensive. In case of problems is more inviting to replace the camera with a new one. Also because, sometimes, cameras die suddenly with no reason.
My main problem with camera manufacturers are the prices proposed: it is inexplicable for certain cameras and just the hype can explain this. After all this time they still let you think that a great technology advancement is the number of megapixels. And people believe it! It would be better to think of something to solve the battery life problem, just to make an example. In X100VI is even worse from this point of view.
Phoblographer recommend the camera to these people: Influencers and wanna-be influencers: Because you’ll look cool. Great for them, not that much for real photographers. At that price in second hand market I can purchase a real camera and not a toy. And I don't even have to wait to get it.
For those reading about ther weather sailed point in this article: beware, the X100VI is not fully weather-resistant, that fact makes it not weather sailed in my opinion. At that point better a camera not weather resistant at all.
Now is possible to see the defenders of the camera coming here. I don’t care. They are welcome to express their opinion (keeping a polite and respectful attitude) but my point is that the camera is a point & shoot and should be cheaper than the price proposed. And i9n future we will see in second market people purchasing the camera even for a highest price and that is consumism craziness. Through my blog can I recommend not failing into that? Not listening the influencers that usually are meh photographers? If I can do a better work with my Rebel T7, what is the pouint with this camera? Battery life is better in a DSLR and that is a topic when you are a traveller busy all day making photos.
As photographers we should start to pretend respect from the camera brands. And don't keep falling into their net. With that said I have friends, colleagues and students in love with their Fujifilm cameras and is not my intention to break their dream. I am pretty sure that with a X100S or X100T you can do pretty the same especially when it comes to street photography. Don’t buy any new camera on the market, it is silly and doesn’t make you a better photographer.
