The Fujifilm X100VI is everywhere right now. Your favorite photographers are posting gorgeous street photos with it, YouTube is flooded with glowing reviews, and it's still backordered months after release. But after living with this camera for several weeks, I've discovered some frustrating truths that most reviews conveniently skip over.
Don't get me wrong—I genuinely love this camera. But if you're about to drop $1,600 (plus another $200-300 in necessary accessories), you deserve to know the full story before your pre-order ships or before you click "add to cart."
Why Everyone's Obsessed With the X100VI
Before I dive into the issues, let me be crystal clear: this is a genuinely great camera. It perfectly fills the gap between a professional mirrorless system and your iPhone. It's compact enough for everyday carry, capable enough for serious work, and fun enough that you'll actually want to take photos.
The camera won't magically transform you into Ansel Adams (despite what some influencers claim), but it will inspire you to shoot more. And honestly? Taking more photos is the fastest way to actually improve your photography.
But here's what the hype machine isn't telling you.
1. The Hidden Costs: Budget an Extra $200-300
Here's a shock: when you unbox your shiny new X100VI, you're not actually getting a complete camera. Some assembly required doesn't even begin to cover it.
No Battery Charger Included
The most egregious omission? There's no battery charger in the box. In 2024. For a $1,600 camera.
Yes, you can charge via USB-C (which is convenient), but here's the reality: the battery life is mediocre at best. Fujifilm claims 450 shots per charge compared to 420 on the X100V, but I've struggled to make it through a heavy shooting day on one battery.
One morning, I took just 92 photos over about an hour of walking around, and I was already in the red. If you're serious about using this camera, you need at least one or two spare batteries. And at that point, you really need a dedicated charger rather than tying up your camera to charge each battery individually.
The Lens Needs Work Too
Out of the box, you get the adorable fixed 23mm f/2 lens with a basic lens cap. That's it. All those cool lens hoods, filters, and accessories you've seen in videos? Sold separately.
Want to attach filters? You need an adapter ring first. Want weather sealing? That requires a protective filter. And once you add that adapter ring, guess what? The stock lens cap no longer fits properly.
Here's what I recommend for a complete setup:
- Lens adapter ring
- Lens hood (for protection and style)
- At least one spare battery
- Battery charger
- Filter (I use the PolarPro Short Stash Everyday Filter—a game-changing combo of circular polarizer and 1/8 mist diffusion)
- Thumb grip or handle for better ergonomics
Total additional cost: roughly $200-300
2. The Grip Problem (Or Lack Thereof)
One of the X100 series' best features is also one of its biggest weaknesses: the compact size. There's barely any grip to hold onto, which can make the camera feel precarious in hand.
The good news? There are plenty of aftermarket solutions—thumb grips, handles, and base plates. The bad news? More money and more decisions.
The Tripod Plate Nightmare
If you're planning to use this on a tripod, here's a fun surprise: you can't attach a standard Arca Swiss plate without blocking the battery compartment door. And since the SD card slot is in the same compartment, you literally cannot access your memory card with a regular tripod plate attached.
The best solution I've found is something like the SmallRig L-bracket, which includes a grip, Arca Swiss mounting, and cutouts for the battery door. But again—more money.
3. The Autofocus: Better, But Still Finicky
The autofocus is significantly improved over the X100V—that's undeniable. The new subject detection is genuinely great, tracking is improved, and overall responsiveness is much snappier.
But here's what they're not telling you: the lens is still incredibly loud when focusing.
Listen to any video review with good audio, and you'll hear it hunting and whirring. For a camera touting video specs, this is embarrassing. Nothing outside a kit lens should sound like this, especially not a fixed lens on a premium compact camera.
The autofocus also struggles in certain scenarios:
- Focusing on subjects in shadows
- Transitioning from distant to close subjects
- Using single-point focus (it hunts a lot)
It performs best using subject detection mode, but even then, it's not magic.
4. Film Simulations: Beautiful But Slow
The Fujifilm film simulations and custom film recipes are legitimately awesome. They're one of the main reasons people love this system—you get gorgeous, stylized images straight out of camera with minimal effort.
But here's the catch nobody mentions: many popular custom film recipes slow the camera down dramatically. We're talking 2-4 seconds between shots.
This is typically caused by recipes that adjust the Clarity setting, which most popular recipes do. The new processor was supposed to fix this, but nope—it's still painfully slow.
The workaround is simple (avoid Clarity adjustments), but if you're loading in popular recipes from the internet and suddenly your camera feels like it's running through molasses, now you know why.
The Lightroom Situation
Another important note: custom film recipes only apply to JPEGs. They won't show up in Lightroom for RAW files because they're baked into the JPEG processing.
However, you can import Fujifilm's built-in film emulations into Lightroom by going to the Profile Browser and selecting "Camera Matching." This lets you apply any of the camera's native film simulations to your RAW files and make additional edits.
The HEIF Advantage (And Disadvantage)
The X100VI now supports HEIF format, which offers smaller file sizes and larger color depth compared to JPEG. Film recipes still bake into HEIF files, but you get more editing latitude than JPEG.
The downside? HEIF support is terrible. Lightroom and Apple products handle it fine, but good luck posting HEIF images directly to social media. You'll need to convert them first.
5. Video: Don't Believe the Hype
This is where I need to pump the brakes on the enthusiasm. The X100VI has made significant video improvements over the X100V—4K 10-bit recording, 60fps capability, internal ND filter, IBIS stabilization—and the marketing really pushes these features.
But the reality is far less impressive.
Rolling Shutter Is Brutal
The rolling shutter effect is absolutely dreadful. Imagine mounting your camera inside a Jell-O mold—that's the level of wobble you're dealing with. It improves slightly at 60fps, but anything shot at 24fps or 30fps is likely to make you seasick.
For a camera being marketed for video, this is a dealbreaker.
The Port Placement Is Absurd
Fujifilm made some truly baffling decisions here:
Micro HDMI: Okay, fine. For an ultra-portable camera, I get it.
2.5mm audio input: Wait, what? Not the standard 3.5mm that every microphone uses—2.5mm. You'll need to carry around a dongle adapter or suffer with the in-camera mic that picks up all that lovely autofocus noise.
Everything on the right side: Both the audio and HDMI ports are placed exactly where your hand needs to be to hold the camera. Want to connect a microphone or monitor? Good luck figuring out where to grip this thing.
The Bottom Line on Video
Can you shoot some quick clips with the X100VI? Absolutely. Does it have some cool specs on paper? Sure. But anyone trying to convince you this is a serious video camera is selling you something.
If video is a priority, look elsewhere. This is a stills camera with video as a bonus feature—treat it accordingly.
6. The Lens Focus Noise (Again, Because It Matters)
I mentioned this earlier, but it deserves its own section because it affects both photo and video use. That autofocus motor is loud. In quiet environments, it's noticeable and sometimes distracting.
For street photography, it can draw attention when you're trying to be discreet. For video, it ruins audio unless you're using an external microphone (which, remember, requires that annoying 2.5mm adapter).
This isn't a dealbreaker for most people, but it's worth knowing before you commit.
7. Should You Buy the X100VI or X100V?
Here's an honest assessment: the X100VI is absolutely an improvement over the X100V. The autofocus alone makes it worth the upgrade if you're buying new.
But here's a secret: if you don't need that improved autofocus (and many photographers don't), you can probably find a used X100V at a compelling price right now. People are offloading them to upgrade, which means deals are available.
The X100V is still an excellent camera. Unless you're shooting fast-moving subjects or need the latest specs for bragging rights, it might be the smarter financial choice.
Who Should Actually Buy the X100VI?
This camera is perfect for:
- Street photographers who want a compact, capable camera
- Photographers who love Fujifilm's color science and film simulations
- Anyone wanting to carry a "real camera" daily without the bulk
- Creators who prioritize stills over video
- People who appreciate tactile, physical controls
Think twice if you:
- Need professional video capabilities
- Shoot primarily fast action or sports
- Want the best battery life possible
- Can't afford the $200-300 in necessary accessories
- Need a zoom lens (this is a fixed 23mm f/2)
The Final Verdict: Still Worth It?
Despite everything I've complained about, yes—I still think the X100VI is worth it for the right person. The image quality is fantastic, the film simulations are genuinely fun and useful, and it's one of the few cameras that actually makes me excited to shoot.
But go in with eyes wide open. This isn't a perfect camera, and it's definitely not a complete camera out of the box. Budget accordingly, manage your expectations (especially for video), and you'll likely love it.
The X100VI represents everything that's both wonderful and frustrating about Fujifilm: brilliant image quality and design wrapped in quirky decisions and necessary compromises. If you can embrace the quirks, you'll find a camera that inspires creativity and delivers gorgeous results.
Just don't forget to order that battery charger.
Are you waiting for your X100VI pre-order, or are you considering the X100V instead? Let me know in the comments what matters most to you in a compact camera.