“V”, as in X100V and by the way it’s the 3rd letter in the word “LoVe”! Now it ain’t my intention to try explain what love is here, so let’s just head over to Merriam Webster (dictionary). They got a fitting definition I’d like to share with y’all: Love is … “a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties”. Another? Ok, so in this case it ain’t a person, but it’s the X100V! Please check out my user review, tips & recommended settings below after nearly 4 weeks of extensive use:

Twin lamps’ shadows, captured on Fuji X100F with 23mm F/2 @F/8, 1/350 sec, 160 ISO

See the picture above? Somehow I never seem to find that kind of images (or should I say the image found me? ;-) when using my exchangeable lens cameras (X-Pro2, X-H1, GFX 50R, etc.) … Maybe it’s the increased creativity spawned by the X100V’s limitation to one lens only or its smallness & unobtrusiveness? Whatever. Look at the image below, another example. OK, I do concede this kinda images don’t qualify as artistic masterpieces by any measure, but they do elicit a strong emotion in me, which most of my other, documentary style photography don’t. It’s somehow got something to do with how the X100 series cameras influence my approach to photography: These little cameras make you want to try out new things. Their fixed focal length animates you to experiment with light & shadows, perspective & point of view, rather than fussing around with focal lengths. You start to intensely feel the world around you, rather than just taking pictures of it. The whole experience is similar to the impressionist painting style: Impressionists like Claude Monet, or Pierre-Auguste Renoir are known for their flurried brushstrokes, they paint the scene as if they had only glanced at it for a moment. It’s just a quick, spontaneous “impression”. That spontaneity is also the core attribute that justifies the X100 series’ value for me! Below another surreal motif which captured my fancy. It’s defined by the stark contrast of the puddle’s inky blackness vs. the bright white pillars - looks like the black puddle is “leaking” from those pillars:

Pillar puddle, seen by Fuji X100V with 23mm F/2 @F/8, 1/80 sec, 200 ISO, -1 EV

Fuji’s original X100 launched in Feb 2011. It went on to become a game changer in the world of photography, mainly due to its promise of “A compact take-everywhere-with-you camera with pro-level image quality output”. Despite its undeniable (retro) charm it did however have several quirks and bugs, many of which were subsequently solved by numerous firmware updates. Since then Fuji has also launched several camera upgrades, all of which have since accompanied me for parts of my photographic life, building the aforementioned “kinship” & “personal ties” in my opening “Love” statement: After the initial X100 came the X100S = “second”, X100T = “third”, X100F = “fourth” and now, after 9 years Fuji’s fifth iteration called X100V is here (the Roman numeral “V” indicating the “fifth”)

Below night image benefitted from using the X100V’s tilting rear LCD screen. I could unobtrusively frame the image properly and wait for the right moment before firing the shutter:

Nightly bistro rendezvous, observed by Fuji X100V with 23mm F/2 II @F/2.8, 1/40 sec, 6400 ISO

The X100V is the one, which in my opinion finally fulfils the original X100 model’s promise, due to following 5 major upgrades:

Weather Resistance (provided the lens is protected by a good UV filter attached to the AR-X100 adaptor ring): Finally this gives me the peace of mind to really always have the camera with me & take photos in all conditions (hey, usually that’s when you find the best images!)
Articulating LCD Screen: Finally the LCD screen can be tilted. In combination with the X100V’s fast autofocus this allows me to discreetly & unobtrusively snap quick pictures from the hip while remaining in full control of image composition & lighting (no more guesswork). The slightly lower point of view also results in a more pleasing perspective in people shots. Raise the camera to your eye? People notice immediately & gone is the spontaneity!
Significantly Improved version II Lens: Honestly I was never unhappy with the X100 series’ original 23mm F/2 lens: But it’s definitively no match for the improved 23mm F/2 version II on the X100V! At max. aperture it’s already sharp over the full frame! And there’s no more close focus softness nor weird lens flare patterns around bright highlights
More Intuitive ISO Dial (and user interface in general): This may be a small change technically but it completely transforms the usability, as you can now leave the ISO ring in the lifted (unlocked) position & fluidly change ISO w/o needing to take the camera from your eye!
Beautifully Designed & High Quality Sleek Housing: Ok, so this one don’t really influence your images but the latest iteration of this camera feels so solid & looks so beautiful, especially the silver version - you just can’t put it down anymore & constantly need to take photos … ;-)

There’s one more upgrade which is the slightly higher resolution BSI (Back Side Illuminated) X-Trans IV sensor with 26MP and 160 base ISO vs. the previous 24MP X-Trans III sensor with 200 base ISO. However I can’t really see a big difference here so for me this one don’t really qualify as a substantial upgrade … The new sensor even demonstrates slightly higher noise levels at higher ISO’s, but you really need to look very closely to see the difference, see below example taken at 1600 ISO - still perfectly OK if you ask me:

Grey vase found by Fuji X100V with 23mm F/2 @F/2.8, 1/40 sec, 1600 ISO

Unfortunately there are also 2 “downgrades” compared to the X100F which I’m not so happy about:

1. NO infinity target indicator box in the OVF (Optical ViewFinder) when using “Corrected AF Frame”:

This means you lose any indication of where your AF target box will be at distances larger than your current focal position, making AF focussing using the OVF less predictable: No way of knowing to where the AF target box will jump when refocussing from near to far. If you’re at a point A on a map and you don’t know how far away point B is, how’re you supposed to know when you’ve passed 1/3, 1/2 or 2/3 of the distance toward point B? On the X100F the always visible near & far target boxes make it more easier to judge!

2. Missing D-Pad: This is partly mitigated by the ability to use gesture swipes on the rear LCD touch panel

To be fair the X100V’s EVF has a higher resolution compared to the X100F (3.69 mln dots vs. 2.36 mln dots) & it offers a more smooth viewing experience than the EVF on the X100F. Below image was composed by using the EVF (I needed the precise limit of the frame on the right side to exclude a building crane from intruding into the image & I didn’t want to have to crop afterwards … ;-)

Early morning sun on town house façade, Fuji X100V with 23mm F/2 @F/8, 1/680, 320 ISO

OK, so I can live with those lesser downsides. Not to forget there are still 2 big benefits inherent to the X100 series compared to other mirrorless cameras: A super quiet leaf shutter allowing flash sync up to 1/4000 sec shutter speed and a built in (4 stop) ND filter

In overall I gotta say that the above mentioned improvements make the X100V the most significant upgrade of the whole X100 series ever (from my point of view). The X100V finally fulfils the brave promise of Fuji’s original X100: A compact, always with you everywhere camera delivering pro-level image quality. So, how about some images of brick walls to demonstrate that “pro-level image quality”? Sorry, I ain’t a brick wall photographer really. Y’all just gonna have to believe me on that one … the X100V’s new version II lens is phenomenal. Totally rad. Simply awesome! Don’t trust me? No problem, there’s like a million of brick wall photography specialists roaming the net - just head over to them & pixel peep to your heart’s content!

There are some reports on the web about the camera heating up and the manual focus ring making grating noises. While I’ve not experienced the former I did have to exchange my first camera to get one without the grating noise of the manual focus ring …

Summing up I can without any reservations highly recommend the X100V and rate it with ***** (five stars) … It’s ideal for all kinds of documentary & street photography and for social, family and wedding photography I’m sure y’all will have a wonderful & fruitful experience with the X100V. FYI for me the X100V is a “her” coz I got an emotional connection to her & absolutely love shooting with her (her name’s “Irene”, crazy huh? ;-)

So, before I close this post I’d like to share my preferred personal Fn (function) button allocation with youse (don’t worry, it’s totally for free, kinda like a “bonus”)

These Fn button settings give me a seamless adjustment experience while using the camera, minimising the interference on the image taking process (please excuse the less than perfect image quality of the X100V’s LCD screen off my iPhone, but it’s good enough to see the settings I think):

Fn1 ………… Shutter Type
Fn2 ….…….. Face / Eye Detection Setting On/Off
T-Fn1 ……… Photometry
T-Fn2 …….. ISO Auto Setting
T-Fn3 …….. AF Mode
T-Fn4 …….. Natural Live View On/Off
AELAFL …. AE Lock Only On/Off
R-Dial ……. Focus Check (press to Zoom in)
Selector … ND Filter (pull to the right & hold for 3 sec to activate)
Q …………… Quick Menu

If you have any questions and/or any comments / suggestions please leave me a note in the comments section below or on my “about” page (your email will not be disclosed), I’ll answer every one of your messages!

Many thanks for visiting & reading and hope you enjoyed it! Please take care & stay healthy,

Best regards,

Hendrik

If you like you can support me by sending me a small donation via PayPal.me/hendriximages ! Helps me run this site & keeps the information coming, many thanks in advance!

So I’ll spare y’all the trouble & cut right to the chase: After playing a bit with Fuji’s newest creation (borrowed from an early adopter photographer friend), I came up with 3 reasons why the new X-Pro Three is NOT for me:

The weird “hidden” LCD, in combination with
The “forgotten” D-pad, and last but not least
The “crippled” OVF (Optical View Finder)

If youse are interested in my uninfluenced & unbiased opinion, please read on! In case you’re intrigued by all the hype around the new X-Pro3 and contemplating getting one, I hope this will help you to decide for y’self before spending your hard earned cash on something you may regret … For starters see below an image taken with my trusted and beloved X-Pro2 (who’s real happy it ain’t gonna be replaced anytime soon ;-)

Bikes in contre jour, captured on X-Pro2, with XF 18mm F/2 @F/4, 1/2700 sec, ISO 200, -1EV

Now before I get “shot down” by the Fuji fan-boys out there who can’t handle anyone disagreeing with what “their” brand is doing and/or need to justify their own purchase decision, please hear this disclaimer: This is my website where I share my opinion, whether you like it or not. Why? Coz I can. I ain’t no “X-Photographer”, nor a “Fuji Influencer”, and also no “Brand Ambassador”, who all seem to feel obliged to follow their master’s voice: Repeating marketing mumbo jumbo ad nauseam in the hope of animating people to buy an in my opinion flawed concept … Having said that I do have to say I commend Fuji for having the guts to try something new in a somewhat saturated market and bringing out a highly controversial & polarising proposition. Refreshing. And not at all mainstream. No sir. But just a step too for far for my liking! Missing the for me most important attribute of a camera of getting outta the way of my creative photographic process. My X-Pro2, X-H1 and GFX50R all have that capability. The X-Pro3 don’t. Sorry. With their whole range Fuji up to now aspired to create serious photographic tools, but this one undoubtedly has been born outta a more ‘hipster’ kinda philosophy!

Let’s dive a bit more into the 3 initially mentioned reasons: Fujifilm’s first strike is the weird “hidden” LCD screen, where the usually visible LCD screen is replaced by a digitally simulated film box tab harking back to yesteryear’s analogue photography equipment. Maybe a fun feature for a couple minutes but then decidedly becoming an annoying gimmick. Annoying because if I want to review my image I gotta fumble with the camera to first fold out that LCD screen which then awkwardly sticks out exposed from the camera at a weird angle, getting me more worried about breaking it off. Hey, I’d prefer to have the main feature (image review on LCD) immediately accessible without having to fold anything out, rather than seeing this weird film tab / exposure settings display, which don’t really add any value to my photographic process

See, the main innovation of the digital age over the analogue era (which I grew up with) was the ability to instantly review your image (if needed), rather than sweating it out until your developed films came back from the lab a week later. This “immediate review” capability had a significant positive impact on accelerating my photographic learning process as I could improve the composition & exposure in real time & on location rather than trying to fix it in the darkroom afterwards, especially with fast changing subjects / lighting situations like in the below image with 4 walking girls backlit by the late afternoon sun:

Walk into the light, with XF 35mm F/2 on X-Pro2 @F/8, 1/320 sec, ISO 200

So Fujifilm wants to change the way we take photographs … all that talk about the X-Pro3’s “hidden” LCD on their website, making the photographer concentrate more on his image & somehow magically enabling a more “pure, raw photography” (whatever that’s supposed to mean … ?). For me this seems more like a case of “if you can’t fix it feature it”. Well, y’all can be sure I ain’t gonna let nobody prescribe to me if, when or how often I look at my display! Seriously, if you really think you need a hidden LCD to stop you checking and/or adjusting your image to become a better photographer and you think a traditional LCD’s the reason why you never liked your images, then I guess you you got a real problem & don’t really have a clue what you’re doin’ … One more small remark on the sideline: The X-Pro3’s ingenious hidden/folding LCD collides with my quick release plate when using a tripod, so I could only fold it out to 90° (nearly broke it too then) …

But then Fujifilm’s second strike is an even more strange design choice, completely incomprehensible in my view in conjunction with the “hidden” LCD: They went along and simply “forgot” the D-Pad. Gone. Missing. Deleted. WTF? Ok, so my GFX50R also ain’t got no D-Pad, but there I can at least use the touch screen LCD to access my 4 most used functions (Face/eye Detection Setting, AF-Mode, ISO and Photometry). But on the X-Pro3? Sorry. No joy … oh yeah, coz that one’s LCD is usually hidden! Great. Did you forget? Well, the fan boys & ambassadors got all the answers: “… at first I missed the D-Pad, but then I got used to it, coz it gives me a more ‘pure’ photography experience …”. Sure, you can use the menu button and the joystick to surf the menu’s in the electronic viewfinder, but that completely disrupts the photographic process IMO. I just needed 2 fluid motions on my X-Pro2’s D-Pad to change the AF-Mode for the image below:

Sun reflecting in contre jour façade, seen by X-Pro2, with XF 35mm F/2 @F/8, 1/950 sec, ISO 400, -1EV

Last but not least Fujifilm’s third strike is the X-Pro3’s “crippled” direct vision optical viewfinder (OVF). In my opinion this is a significant evolutionary step back from my X-Pro2. Crippled? Yeah, well it don’t change its magnification any more when using different focal lengths. Instead of the X-Pro2’s 0.36x and 0.6x magnifications which switch, depending on which lens you attach to the camera, the X-Pro3 compromizes on only one fixed 0.52x magnification, optimised for the 23mm focal length. This compromize means I couldn't really judge the framing in the OVF when using my beloved XF 18mm F/2 anymore (especially losing the ability of seeing what’s going on outside the frame - ideal for street photography). On the other hand the frames in the OVF became too small when using my XF 35mm F/1.4 or XF 56mm F/1.2 that I can’t really use them for careful portrait compositions anymore either. Although the X-Pro3’s viewfinder image is larger than the X-Pro2’s it don’t help if it can’t be used properly with certain focal lengths - those of youse who prefer shooting with 16 or 18mm wide angles using the OVF will probably be frustrated with the decision to limit the magnifications. Apart from that the infinity indicators are now also missing, meaning you lose any indication of where your AF point will be at distances larger than your current focal position - so, no way of predicting were the AF-frame will jump when refocussing from near to far. Even the X-Pro3’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) having a larger resolution & refresh rate, it’s limited OVF options make the the hybrid viewfinder lose some of its appeal. For the below image I needed to use the EVF to keep the sun just outside of the frame:

Bus stop in contre jour, discovered by X-H1 and XF 14mm F/2.8 @F/8, 1/120 sec, ISO 200

Well, I needed to get that out. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there will be many out there who will love the Fuji X-Pro3’s controversial design and I wish them all the best & lots of fun with it. Originally the X-Pro line was intended for wedding & professional photographers, however in my view there’s nothing professional about the above mentioned drawbacks & limitations. So I get the impression that here overhyped marketing and an army of “ambassadors”, maintaining that only the X-Pro3 enables the user to experience “raw, pure photography” are being used to influence people to purchase an in my opinion flawed concept. So I hope that presenting my differentiated view will help to counter a bit of the marketing hype around this camera

You don’t agree? No Problem, go out and be happy with your X-Pro3, I wish you all the best! You don’t know? Then I strongly advise you to try the camera out carefully before you hit the buy button, to see if you can live with its quirks. You agree? Then you are also one of those for whom the camera should get out of the way of your creative photographic process. Whatever, I’d love if you’d share your opinion in the comments section below. Looking forward to a lively discussion!

One final thought - I hope the guys over at Fuji are reading this: PLEASE Fuji don’t repeat the “hidden” LCD thing on the upcoming successor of the X100F (X100V)! Give us an updated 23mm F/2 lens, weather sealing and a normal tilting touch screen LCD, that would be THE street photographer’s dream! Hey, we then could even live without a D-Pad (it’s ok on my GFX50R too …)

Wish y’all good shooting & a very nice Sunday!

Best regards,

Hendrik

If you like you can support me by sending me a small donation via PayPal.me/hendriximages ! Helps me run this site & keeps the information coming, many thanks in advance!

All You Need is LoVe ... for the X100V!

3 Reasons Why the X-Pro3 ... is NOT for Me!

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