Fuji X100F review: Our Verdict
Beautifully designed and engineered, the Fujifilm X100F is a hugely desirable camera
Fujifilm’s X100 series has long been a favourite of serious photographers, for its unrivalled combination of stunning good looks, intuitive, dial-led handling, and excellent image quality. With the X100F, the firm has continued its tradition of making substantial improvements without losing the essence of the original, and its 24-milion-pixel sensor brings the best image quality yet. But in many ways, it’s the X-Processor Pro that’s the real star here, because it makes the camera feel that much snappier and more responsive in every aspect of its operation. This is particularly noticeable with the autofocus – I’m really quite impressed Fujifilm has managed to get the lens moving so fast.
But there’s more to the X100F than improved image quality and focusing, and it’s the accumulation of small but significant handling changes that boosts its appeal even further. Additions such as the AF joystick, full-image electronic preview in the optical finder, and extended ISO and exposure compensation control options all make the X100F an absolute joy to use. Few cameras inspire you to pick them up and go out shooting in the way this one does, and few deliver such attractive results when you get home and look at your pictures. Make no mistake; it’s a serious photographic tool.
The Astia / Soft Film Simulation gives lovely, true-to-life colours
Of course £1,249 is a lot of money to pay for the privilege of owning a camera with a fixed lens that doesn’t even zoom, being quarter as much again as the X100T was at launch. For most photographers, it’s probably not even going to work as their only camera, but more a companion to something with interchangeable lenses, which makes it something of an indulgence. But then again, the price has to be seen in the context of the competition – because there really isn’t anything else quite like it.
With the X100F, Fujifilm has produced a camera that’s as lovely to shoot as it is to look at, and it delivers image quality to match. Users of the X100S and original X100 will find it a huge upgrade, while even X100T owners should appreciate the new sensor and improved controls. One thing’s for sure – like its predecessors it’s one of the most desirable cameras on the market.
