Firstly, this blog isn’t a detailed technical review of the camera. There are loads of these online and to be honest, the technical aspects of a camera aren’t the main reason behind my buying decisions. I thought i’d share what impact this camera has had on my photography which I hope may prove helpful to others considering this camera.

Just to be clear and upfront. This is a camera I bought with my own money and I have no affiliation with Fuji. It’s my honest opinion based on my experiences of using the camera daily over the last 4 months.

Why did I buy the camera?

Well, I already own a couple of Sony cameras which are both fantastic, but neither of them are really what i’d call pocketable and great as an everyday carry which is what I wanted. I had a few planned trips abroad and wanted something I could carry around everywhere I went and thought the Fuji would fit the bill.

My first impressions

It’s certainly a cool camera, looks the part and the minute I picked it up, I just wanted to go out and shoot with it. Having never used the Fuji system before, I found it surprisingly easy to get to grips with. Trying out the film simulations was great fun and the JPEGs straight out of the camera are very impressive.

How the camera has changed my photography

The first thing to mention is just how much fun the camera is to use. It’s such an easy carry that I tend to pop it in my pocket or sling bag and take it with me most places.
I’ve become far more creative in my photography. Having a camera with me daily has definitely made me more observant. If I find something interesting i’ll take a photo of it. Yes, prior to owning the Fuji I had my mobile phone with me, but I find mobile phone photography a bit of a soulless experience so never used it to take anything other than the usual pointless snap of my lunch!
Being restricted by a fixed focal length has really helped me improve my compositional skills. I have to work harder to get an image. Yes, there are times when I miss out on shots, but I don’t let it bother me. I focus on what I can shoot within the restrictions of the focal length.
The film simulations built into the camera help create some really pleasing JPEGs and I will often use these as they represent the look I want without having to edit. I do always shoot in RAW+JPEG so I have the option to edit if I want a specific look. I have saved time though with my overall workflow.
I’m predominantly a hand held shooter (I hate tripods, but that is best saved for another blog!) and this camera is perfect for my photography style. It has excellent image stabilisation and a built in ND filter which means I can typically shoot at shutter speeds of around 1/4 second meaning I can leave the tripod at home nearly all of the time.
Most importantly for me though is it just makes me want to take photos. I’d previously rarely go out with the camera if the light wasn’t great and I knew I wasn’t going to get any good images. I really don’t care about that anymore and just concentrate on the enjoyment of taking photos which is often more rewarding than the end result.

Here are a few images to provide a bit of an idea of some of the ‘everyday’ images i’ve been taking

I’m just more observant since i’ve started using the Fuji. This scene made me stop and question who had put that there

Playing with the Fuji film recipes here. Went for one of the old classic chrome film look.

A few images to illustrate what has caught my eye on my daily walks with the camera. Are they my best work? Of course not. Did I have fun and enjoy the process of photography? Absolutely and that is what this camera is all about. I want to go out and take photos and enjoy the process and that’s exactly what i’m experiencing with this camera. I just wouldn’t have taken these photos otherwise as I just wouldn’t take my bigger cameras out with me on my daily walks for numerous reasons.

Is there anything I don’t like about the camera?

It’s certainly not perfect and in many ways it is inferior to my Sony cameras. The battery life is average, although not terrible. The autofocus is less effective than in the Sony camera. Still, it works fine for my style of photography 99% of the time.

I wasn’t a fan of having to buy the weather sealing lens cover separately too. I thought that Fuji not including one was a bit mean. They do offer this as a separate accessory at a cost of £99. I got an aftermarket one much cheaper as I wanted a lens hood instead.

You also have to buy the soft touch shutter button separately too. I did get a couple of those, but they both fell off and I’ve lost them. I’ve given up on those for now and just use the shutter button as it was factory designed.

It’s certainly an expensive purchase and the price almost put me off of buying it. Have I regretted buying it though? - Absolutely not.

Cheesy Instagram photo. I’ll hang my head in shame

Summary and would I recommend it?

If you have read this far, you can probably guess the answer to this question. I have loved every minute of owning this camera as I look forward to getting out and using it and it never fails to put a smile on my face. I enjoy that it makes me creative and has made me focus on just enjoying the process of photography.

Prior to owning this, i’d mostly only ever take my camera out when the light was optimal for good images. I just go out now and don’t worry about the weather. It’s all about the enjoyment of the hobby and the process of taking photos.

As for whether i’d recommend it - I think this is ultimately down to your style of photography and what you want from a camera. If you want an everyday carry and something that will encourage you to go out and take more photographs then this is a camera well worth considering.

How the Fujifilm X100vi has changed my photography

Why engagement in photography is declining and what you can do about it

A weekend of photography in North Yorkshire