Fujifilm X100VI Review After Two Years

Last updated: June 27, 2026

If you came here and just want the quick answer then here is my summary after owning the X100VI since its release and shooting it for thousands of photos.

I’ve now owned the Fujifilm X100VI for over two years.

When I bought it, I already owned a Fujifilm X-T5. On paper, that made very little sense. The X-T5 offered interchangeable lenses, similar image quality, and arguably far greater versatility.

But that wasn’t why I bought the X100VI.

I’d previously owned both the X100T and X100V, and what I wanted wasn’t another camera. I wanted a camera that simplified photography.

I wanted something I could take on family days out without turning the outing into a photography trip. A camera I could sling over my shoulder, largely forget about, and use only when a moment presented itself. I wanted something discreet enough for everyday life in the Philippines and simple enough that I wouldn’t spend half the day wondering which lens I should have brought.

More than two years later, the X100VI has become exactly that camera.

I’ve used it to document my daughters growing up. I’ve photographed places in Devon that were important to my late father. I’ve carried it around the Philippines and, more recently, around Scotland. In fact, as I write this, I’ve just returned from a woodland walk with my daughter Sofia where the X100VI came along for exactly the same reason it usually does: not because it’s my most capable camera, but because it’s the camera I can bring when the day is about something more important than photography.

That’s ultimately the X100VI’s greatest strength.

It isn’t the best camera I own.

It isn’t the fastest camera I own.

It isn’t even the most versatile camera I own.

But it is the camera that lets me enjoy photography without photography taking over the experience.

And after more than two years of ownership, that’s why I’d still buy it again today.

If you’re considering an upgrade from the X100V then I wrote a comprehensive comparison between the two which explains whether upgrading is worth it for X100V owners.

What I Love About the X100VI

• Beautiful JPEG and RAW files
• IBIS genuinely improves low-light shooting
• Small enough to carry almost anywhere
• Hybrid OVF/EVF remains unique
• Encourages a simpler approach to photography
• Same image quality as my X-T5 in a much smaller package

What Frustrates Me

• Autofocus still requires some understanding
• Aperture ring is too small
• Battery life is average
• Weather sealing requires additional accessories
• Expensive for a fixed-lens camera

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Why Is the Fujifilm X100VI So Popular?

Part of the X100VI’s popularity comes down to image quality and portability — but honestly, that’s only part of the story.

The real reason people become attached to the X100 series is because it simplifies photography.

Modern cameras can often feel overly technical. Endless autofocus settings, huge lenses, complicated menus, and the pressure to constantly optimise everything. The X100VI pushes in the opposite direction.

You get one fixed focal length, physical control dials, a compact body, and a much simpler, more film-like shooting experience that gives a genuine sense of nostalgia.

That simplicity matters more than many photographers realise.

I’ve found the X100VI encourages me to shoot more casually, more instinctively, and more consistently. It becomes easier to take the camera everywhere, easier to document everyday life, and easier to focus on moments instead of gear choices.

The X100VI also occupies a unique place in the market. It offers more than good enough image quality, features, and build quality for serious photography, while remaining far more accessible than cameras like the Leica Q3 for most people.

That’s why these cameras develop such a loyal following.

Yes, social media hype has amplified demand, but underneath that hype is a genuinely well-designed camera that reconnects many photographers with why they enjoyed photography in the first place.

Can the X100VI Keep Up With Kids?

This is one of the questions I’m asked most often, and the honest answer is: yes, but with some caveats.

The autofocus on the X100VI isn’t as cutting-edge as the latest cameras from Sony, nor is it as quick as my X-T5 paired with Fujifilm’s faster focusing lenses such as the XF 23mm f/2, XF 35mm f/2, or the excellent XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II.

That said, I’ve photographed my daughters extensively with the X100VI over the last two years and have captured plenty of sharp images. In fact one of my favourite trips in years was some quality time I spent with Sofia at the Twin lakes in Negros oriental, in the Philippines where the X100VI’s size and capability made taking photos fun and the photos captured memories for us both. Spending time with Sofia, her with her Ricoh GRIIIx, me with the X100IV, walking along Dumaguete boulevard, her searching for her next dog portrait, watching her grow in confidence asking owners for photos of their dogs, is one of those coming of age moments, and we shared that through photography.

If your children are running flat out towards the camera, the X100VI can struggle at times and you’ll need to be realistic about its limitations. However, if you take the time to understand the autofocus system, use appropriate settings, and learn to anticipate moments rather than simply relying on the camera to do all the work, it’s perfectly capable of producing sharp, in-focus images of children.

The difference is that the X100VI rewards a more deliberate approach. With a modern Sony camera, you can often rely heavily on the autofocus system. With the X100VI, I find myself timing shots a little more carefully and paying more attention to what my subjects are doing.

For me, that’s a trade-off I’m willing to accept because of everything else the camera offers.

However, if photographing fast-moving children is your primary priority and you don’t particularly care about the X100VI’s size, simplicity, leaf shutter, hybrid viewfinder, or fixed-lens experience, I’d honestly suggest looking at alternatives. Cameras like the X-T5 with the right lens, or some of Sony’s latest bodies, will make that specific job easier.

The X100VI can absolutely get the shot.

You just have to work a little harder for it.

The Freedom of a Fixed Lens

Having previously owned both the X100T and X100V, the X100VI didn’t contain many surprises. I knew exactly why I was buying it and roughly what sort of experience I would get.

What I didn’t expect was just how attached I would become to it.

Over the last two years, I’ve realised that the X100VI gives me a sense of freedom that many other cameras don’t. With one lens, one angle of view, and no decisions to make about focal length, photography becomes simpler. There are no lens choices to second guess, no temptation to bring an entire camera bag, and no feeling that I’m compromising when I get home and open the files in Lightroom.

The X100VI isn’t the most capable camera I own. My Nikon Z8 is faster. My X-T5 is more flexible. My GFX100S produces higher image quality.

Yet the X100VI is often the camera I choose.

Part of that is its size, part is the excellent image quality, and part is the simple pleasure of using it. But I think the biggest reason is that it removes friction. I can take it almost anywhere and never feel under-equipped, while also never feeling burdened by my gear.

For me, that’s the real appeal of the X100VI.

The 40MP Sensor: Nice to Have, Not a Reason to Buy

One of the headline upgrades of the X100VI is the move from 26MP to 40MP. Quite frankly, if Fujifilm had released the X100VI with the same 26MP sensor as the X100V, it wouldn’t have bothered me in the slightest.

For me, the 40MP sensor is a bonus rather than a reason to buy the camera.

Twenty-six megapixels was already more than enough for the way I shoot. I tend to compose carefully in camera, and while I occasionally trim the edges of a frame, I very rarely crop heavily. In fact, I’d estimate that 95% of the images I keep use essentially the same composition that I saw through the viewfinder.

That’s not to say the extra resolution is useless. It does provide more flexibility when you can’t physically get closer to your subject, and on a fixed-lens camera that can occasionally be helpful. But personally, I’d have preferred Fujifilm to improve dynamic range or high ISO performance rather than add more megapixels.

If you’re wondering how the X100VI stacks up against the X-T5, it’s worth noting that while they share the same 40MP sensor, the shooting experience is different. I’ve spent significant time with both, and if you’re trying to choose between the fixed-lens simplicity of the X100VI and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, these might help:

• I’ve put together a detailed field comparison for street photography to show how they behave in the real world.
• If you’re curious about the look and feel, I also ran some side-by-side image tests comparing the X-T5 with the 23mm f/2 lens against the X100VI.

The real upgrade for me wasn’t the sensor resolution.

It was IBIS.

That’s the feature that genuinely changed how I use the X100VI day-to-day.

I shot a POV video in the Philippines of the X100VI in action which will give you a feel for how the camera is to use in the real world.

Play video

The Lens: Improved Where It Matters

On my X100T, I was generally happy with the lens. However, when shooting close-up subjects wide open at f/2, it could show some softness that occasionally became noticeable.

That changed with the X100V and continues with the X100VI.

After shooting thousands of photos with the X100VI, I’ve never looked at an image and felt disappointed by the lens performance. It resolves individual eyelashes in portraits, captures the texture and detail in the bark of the giant trees I’ve been photographing in Scotland, and produces files that stand up perfectly well to the camera’s 40MP sensor.

Combined with IBIS, I also no longer feel compromised when shooting landscapes handheld.

The highest compliment I can pay the lens is that I simply don’t think about it anymore.

It’s no longer something I worry about or work around. I trust it completely, which allows me to focus on making photographs rather than thinking about equipment.

High-Quality Build, Even Without Japan-Made Label

Though the X100VI is now manufactured in China, I’ve noticed no compromise in quality. It feels sturdy in hand, with a classic aesthetic that doesn’t draw unnecessary attention—a plus for candid street photography. The control dials for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO are tactile and easy to use, especially when shooting one-handed. Compared to my Fuji XT5, the ISO dial on the X100VI is actually easier to adjust one-handed, a minor but noteworthy convenience.

During a dawn shoot on the Dumaguete coast, I encountered an odd issue where the LCD screen refused to turn on for about a minute — though the viewfinder worked perfectly. The camera had been stored overnight in an air-conditioned room, and when I brought it outside, it was immediately covered in condensation. I can’t confirm if the two events were related, but it didn’t happen again after that morning. Worth noting if you’re shooting in similar humid environments.

Leaf Shutter and Built-In ND Filter

Two features that often get overlooked on the X100VI are the leaf shutter and the built-in ND filter.

I’ll be honest — neither of them are features I use every day. But when I do need them, they make photography simpler simply because they’re already built into the camera.

The leaf shutter allows much faster flash sync speeds than most interchangeable-lens cameras. In practical terms, that means I can add a touch of fill flash to portraits in bright sunlight without having to think too hard about my settings.

The built-in 4 stop ND filter is equally straightforward. A quick flick of a switch and I can shoot at wider apertures in bright conditions, or slow the shutter speed down to capture movement in water without carrying additional filters.

Neither feature is a reason to buy the X100VI on its own.

But both fit perfectly with the camera’s philosophy. They remove friction, reduce the amount of equipment I need to carry, and make it easier to focus on taking photographs rather than managing gear.

In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS): Enhanced Low-Light Capability

One of the notable upgrades with the X100VI is the inclusion of in-body image stabilisation (IBIS). For a compact, fixed-lens camera, this is a significant feature, particularly for photographers who often find themselves shooting in low-light conditions. The IBIS system compensates for minor camera shakes, which is incredibly useful when shooting handheld at slower shutter speeds. I owned the X100V prior to getting the X100VI, and one of my only real gripes with that camera was the lack of IBIS. It’s not that I’m constantly shooting at slow shutter speeds — but in real-world use, IBIS means I don’t have to think about shutter speed nearly as often, unless I’m photographing moving subjects.

In practical terms, IBIS is especially beneficial when there’s limited ambient light, and you’re shooting a static scene. It allows you to lower the shutter speed without introducing motion blur, helping you capture sharp images while keeping ISO levels down. This is a feature I’ve found invaluable as the light fades during a shoot. Previously, with older models like the X100T, I’d often have to raise the ISO to maintain sharpness. With the X100VI, I can drop the shutter speed, allowing the sensor to capture more light and keep noise levels to a minimum. I can comfortably shoot the X100VI handheld at 1/2 a second and get consistently sharp images. That opens up a lot of creative opportunities when the light levels drop. 

For a documentary and travel photographer, this enhancement makes the X100VI even more versatile, especially when conditions aren’t ideal. It’s one more reason why this camera is proving to be my go-to choice for personal projects and spontaneous shoots alike.

Ergonomics and Customisation

The X100VI has a solid ergonomic design, but I’ve added a SmallRig thumb rest and grip extension to make it truly comfortable for extended shoots. While the camera’s grip is fairly small on its own, these additions have made it much easier to handle for all-day use.

The lack of a D-Pad is a minor drawback — the camera relies more on the touchscreen and joystick for adjustments — but most essential settings are still quick to access. I do prefer the XT5’s extra custom function buttons, but the X100VI’s small size and light weight make it ideal for travel. And with these accessories, it’s even better. If you want to set it up the way I use it — fast, intuitive, and ready for real-world shooting — you can download my free Fuji setup files and X100VI quickstart ebook here.

👉 These are the essential accessories I’ve added to my X100VI to take it to the next level of comfort.

🔗 [Fuji X100VI Accessories]

Control Dials, Hybrid Viewfinder, and Customisation Options

The X100VI’s dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO are fun to use, offering a tactile shooting experience. The hybrid viewfinder, which combines an optical viewfinder with an electronic overlay, is a unique feature that works well for street photographers. Personally, I use the electronic viewfinder most of the time, but it’s nice to have the optical option for situations where seeing outside the frame is helpful. The focus ring can also be customised to adjust settings, though I turned off this function since it often got accidentally knocked in my bag. There are enough external buttons and customisation options that if you set it up using my custom settings, you can access virtually every important function without menu diving.

Battery Life: Good for a Day of Shooting

Despite using the older NP-W126s battery, I’ve found battery life to be ok. A single battery will generally last me a few hours of shooting. IBIS drains the battery so I still carry spares, especially for long shooting days, but I’m pleased with the performance overall. Of course it can also be charged by USB-C and I usually pack an Amker Nano power bank in my Peak Design Everyday Sling bag which has enough power to fully recharge the battery 2 times.

Film Simulations

One of the highlights of Fujifilm’s X100 series has always been the film simulations, and the X100VI is no exception. Despite the introduction of new film simulations, after playing with them briefly, my favourites remain the same. Classic chrome is my go to while I sometimes use Provia, Pro Neg and ocassionaly Astia. However, after more than two years with the X100VI, I’ve actually found myself returning to shooting Raw and editing in post but I work from Adobe Lightroom’s included Fuji film simulations as a base. For Jpeg shooters, the film simulations are like a cheat code. There’s a simulation to suit most tastes and subjects but I still prefer the control of editing in post.

Who is the X100VI for?

If you are looking for a camera you’ll actually carry, this is it. It’s the kind of body you grab without a second thought, and because it’s always with you, it actually gets used. It’s built for those who value simplicity but still demand serious image quality—the 35mm-equivalent lens keeps you focused, while that 40MP sensor gives you plenty of room to crop. It’s my go-to for travel, documentary, and everyday life because it’s small, discreet, and quiet, and it offers a much more film-like, intentional experience than a modern, menu-heavy digital camera. Plus, it’s a more accessible way to get that premium, fixed-lens experience if you’ve been eyeing a Leica Q3 but can’t justify the price. The addition of IBIS finally removes the friction of shooting in low light; I don’t find myself fighting my shutter speed nearly as much, and it’s genuinely changed how I approach handheld work when the sun goes down.

Who should skip it?

That said, it isn’t for everyone. If you already own an X100V, the upgrade is hard to justify unless IBIS or the faster autofocus is genuinely solving a specific problem for you. Similarly, if you are looking for a powerhouse for chasing fast-moving subjects—like kids indoors in poor light—an interchangeable-lens body is going to be a much more dependable tool. And, fundamentally, if you know you’ll constantly find yourself wishing for wider or tighter framing, the fixed lens will eventually feel like a limitation. You’re better off with an X-T5 and a small prime.

Supply Issues and Alternatives

Fujifilm’s X100VI has been difficult to find. Preorder numbers were huge and it was sold out for a long time after launch. However, supply is now improving and I have seen a lot more available stock in 2026. Fujifilm moved their production to China to increase supply and while demand has still outstripped supply, the situation does now seem to be improving.

In 2026 the popular alternative is the recently released Ricoh GRIV. I have reviewed the GRIV as well as putting it up against the X100VI. Both cameras are excellent but offer very different shooting experiences. Personally, I’d still pick the X100VI and thats why it remains top of my best compact cameras 2026 list but it really does come down to what you prioritise from your compact camera.

If you’re ready to pick one up, you can check the current price of the Fujifilm X100VI here. It’s the easiest recommendation I can make for a camera that balances portability, capability, and sheer enjoyment

If you’re unsusre whether to buy the X100VI

When people ask me if there’s anything else they should look at, I usually point them toward three distinct directions depending on what they actually value.

If you want something truly pocketable, the Ricoh GR IV is the obvious rival, though you’ll have to give up the viewfinder and that tactile, physical charm the X100 line is famous for. If your priority is lens flexibility, a Fuji X-T5 paired with a small prime keeps the footprint manageable while giving you options the X100VI simply can’t provide. And for those drawn to a full-frame sensor, the Nikon Zf is a serious alternative, though in my experience, it’s noticeably heavier and less comfortable for all-day carrying.

 Fuji X100VI review Conclusion: A Camera I’ll Never Part With

I moved back to Scotland in 2026 and the first camera that I got out and shot with was my X100VI. It’s still the camera I reach for instinctively when I want simplicity, small size, and the capability to produce beautiful images without the need to consider lens choices. While alternatives like the Nikon ZF offer full-frame performance and better low-light capability, the X100VI wins for me in terms of portability and ease of use. I simply want to pick it up and use it more than other cameras that I own. I own some fantastic cameras so that is very high recommendation indeed.

If you’re a photographer looking for a camera that inspires you to shoot, one that simplifies your gear choices and makes you focus on the art of seeing, the Fuji X100VI is worth every penny. I’ll continue shooting with mine as I explore our new home, here in the Scottish Highlands.

 Frequently Asked Questions

Is the X100VI weather-sealed?

Not out of the box. It is only weather-sealed if you add a filter adapter ring and a front filter to complete the seal.

Can the X100VI fit in a pocket?

Not in your jeans—but it will just about squeeze into a jacket pocket. It’s compact, but not tiny.

Is the X100VI good for travel photography?

Yes. It’s one of the best options available: small, light, discreet, and capable of producing professional-level images with minimal fuss.

Is the X100VI worth upgrading to from the X100V?

Probably not. I owned the X100V, and while the X100VI adds IBIS and a new sensor, the lens is the same and overall handling is similar. Unless you need image stabilisation, you’re better off saving the money and booking a trip instead.

Is the X100VI good in low light?

Yes—thanks to its f/2 aperture lens, strong high ISO performance, and built-in flash. Combined with IBIS, it’s well-suited for low-light situations.

Are there better alternatives to the X100VI?

Not really. If you want smaller, the Ricoh GRIII or GRIIIX are great, but lack a viewfinder, weather sealing, and comparable autofocus. If you want to spend more, the Leica Q3 is an option. Want even more quality? Look at the GFX system. But at this price point, the X100VI has very few true rivals.

Is the X100VI sharp?

Yes—the fixed 23mm f/2 lens is sharp, even wide open, and the 40MP sensor helps extract even more detail.

Is the X100VI good for family photography?

It depends. For general use, yes. But if you’re chasing toddlers around the house, the autofocus may not be the most reliable compared to newer interchangeable-lens cameras with faster tracking.