Is the Fujifilm X100VI really worth the hype in 2025?

It’s a fair question. The internet has been flooded with praise for Fuji’s little retro-looking camera, and at times the hype has felt louder than the shutter itself. But here’s the thing: I’ve lived with it for over a year. I’ve owned the X100T, the X100V, and I still use other cameras from Nikon, OM System, and Fuji’s GFX line. In other words, I’m not here as a fanboy or someone dazzled by the buzz — I’m here as someone who knows both the strengths and the caveats of the X100VI in the real world.

Are there technically “better” cameras out there? Absolutely. The Sony A7C II gives you faster, smarter autofocus and class-leading full-frame image quality (its basically the same as the Sony A7IV which I owned and compared to its predecessor here). The newly announced Ricoh GR IV will likely be the more pocketable everyday option. But both of those have their own compromises — and that’s exactly where the X100VI finds its charm. See my full comparison of the X100VI and Ricoh GRIII.

Because the truth is this: yes, it is worth the hype… but to ensure it’s the right camera for you, you need to set the hype aside and look more closely at what this camera is — and what it isn’t.

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Why Hype Almost Put Me Off the X100VI

The funny thing is, hype usually has the opposite effect on me. When every photographer on Instagram is suddenly carrying the same camera, it doesn’t make me want one — it makes me hesitate. I’ve never been someone who likes to follow trends for the sake of it. If anything, I’ve often gone against the grain just to see the world differently.

That’s why I can honestly say I didn’t buy the X100VI because of the hype. In fact, I bought it despite the hype. I already owned the X100T back in 2014 and the X100V before the hype kicked in, and I use other systems alongside Fuji — so I knew exactly what I was getting into, and I didn’t need the internet to convince me. What mattered to me was whether this latest X100 was still a camera that could stand on its own merits, not just as the flavor of the month.

I’ve included a very personal video that I created while using the X100Vi for a project about my father below. It may go some way to explaining my attachment to it.

Why I Keep Reaching for the X100VI

What appeals to me most about the X100VI is its simplicity without compromise. I find it refreshing not to think about lens swaps or what gear to pack. If I only bring the X100VI, I have no choice but to use it — and that clears my head. Instead of debating which focal length might work best, I’m free to focus entirely on composition, light, angles, and how to tell the story in front of me.

Some will argue you can achieve the same by putting a single lens on an interchangeable-lens camera. Technically, that’s true — but for me it isn’t the same. With those systems, I still face the decision before I even walk out of the house. With the X100VI, there’s no decision to make. It’s 23mm, full stop (unless you count the converters, which I don’t use). I compared the XT5 against the X100VI here.

And that 23mm (35mm equivalent) has become my favorite focal length. It’s wide enough to give context, but not so wide that it loses intimacy. It works for travel, environmental portraits, and family life in equal measure — and just as importantly, I simply like the way the photos look at this focal length.

So why the X100VI specifically, when there are other fixed-lens cameras out there? I also own the Ricoh GR III, and my daughter has the GR IIIx. They’re brilliant cameras in their own right, but the experience is very different. I’ve learned I need a viewfinder to stay connected and to concentrate on framing properly. Holding a camera out in front of me, composing on an LCD, feels too much like using a phone — and that’s not what photography means to me.

The X100VI also keeps me grounded in the shooting process through its physical dials. They’re slower than a PASM dial, yes, but when I use this camera, speed isn’t the goal. I’m shooting more deliberately, and the dials support that rhythm perfectly.

Then there are the little Fuji touches that make this camera uniquely versatile: the built-in flash, the internal ND filter, and the leaf shutter. Together, they give the X100VI abilities that very few other cameras offer. I can shoot wide open in bright light, add subtle fill-flash in backlit situations, and sync flash at high shutter speeds — all in a compact package that slips into a small bag.

On top of that, the lens is sharp and compact, and even at f/2 it can give you enough shallow depth of field to separate a subject. Once you’ve customized the controls and set up the custom functions, you can shoot without ever menu-diving again. And of course, this being Fujifilm, the SOOC JPEGs are some of the best I’ve seen from any camera I own — another reminder that the X100VI isn’t just about specs, it’s about the entire shooting experience.

Finally, there’s history. Long before the hype train gathered around the X100V, I spent over a year shooting with the X100T as my only camera while living in the Philippines. That experience taught me that when a camera does exactly what I need, the noise around it doesn’t matter. I don’t buy into hype — but if the tool works for me, I’ll damn well buy it.

Conclusion

Yes — in my opinion, the Fujifilm X100VI is absolutely worth the hype. Not because it’s perfect, but because it delivers a unique combination of simplicity, portability, build quality, image quality, and user experience that is unmatched at this price point.

Could you get better image quality and an equally enjoyable shooting experience? Sure — but you’ll need to spend another $5,000 or so to step up to something like the Leica Q3. Want something smaller and lighter? The Ricoh GR III was fantastic value when I bought mine for around $1,000, but prices have crept up to $1,300 and it comes with real compromises: no viewfinder, no weather sealing, and slower autofocus. The newly announced GR IV improves autofocus, but it still lacks a viewfinder and weather sealing — and at $1,499, it’s now priced within touching distance of the X100VI.

That’s why the X100VI continues to stand out in 2025. It’s not just a hyped-up toy, and it’s not just a retro design exercise. It’s a serious photographic tool that encourages you to slow down, commit to a focal length, and focus on making images. For me, that makes it not only worth the hype — but one of the best cameras you can buy today. If you already have your X100VI then see the best accessories currently available for it that take it to the next level.