Fujifilm X100F Review

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Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Fujifilm X100F
Resolution:	24.30 Megapixels
Sensor size:	APS-C (23.6mm x 15.6mm)
Lens:	Non-Zoom (35mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	Hybrid / LCD
Native ISO:	200 - 12,800
Extended ISO:	100 - 51,200
Shutter:	1/32000 - 30 seconds
Max Aperture:	2.0
Dimensions:	5.0 x 2.9 x 2.1 in. (127 x 75 x 52 mm)
Weight:	16.5 oz (469 g) includes batteries
Availability:	02/2017
Manufacturer:	Fujifilm
Full specs:	Fujifilm X100F specifications

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24.30 Megapixels	Non-Zoom	APS-C size sensor

Fujifilm X100F Review -- First Impressions

by William Brawley
Preview posted: 01/19/2017

Fuji's iconic and highly stylish street-shooter continues to undergo refinements with the updated X100F. In this fourth iteration of the compact, fixed-lens camera, Fuji puts a focus not only on external control improvements but also on imaging pipeline upgrades. From the outside, it might not look all that different from its trio of predecessor models, but the Fuji X100F is nice, welcomed update to this popular model line.

Refreshed design looks sleek, adds functionality & more dials

As mentioned above, the new Fuji X100F appears strikingly similar to the previous X100T model, keeping its familiar "candy bar," rangefinder-like shape and styling with a fixed, wide-angle lens and viewfinder tucked into the top left corner. The control scheme, though not drastically different than the predecessor, is now more akin to that of the X-Pro2 in many ways.

For starters, the top deck gains the redesigned dual-function Shutter Speed and ISO control dial from the X-Pro2. Though it does not include the locking function from the X-Pro2, this dual dial lets you manually adjust the ISO by pulling upwards on the outer rim of the dial and rotating to the desired sensitivity. With the addition of the dual function dial, Fujifilm X100F owners can now have a full glance at key exposure settings -- aperture via the lens' ring as well as shutter speed and ISO on a top-facing dial -- all without having to power-on the camera.

Top to bottom: X100F | X100T | X-Pro2

The rest of the top-deck is more or less identical to the X100T, with the shutter release button and surrounding on/off lever, a customizable Function button in the top right and a +/-3EV exposure compensation dial in the lower corner. The Fuji X100F does offer up to +/-5 EV exposure compensation, which can be accessed by setting the EC dial to the "C" setting and adjusting the compensation with the on-screen menu. The X100F also keeps the standard hot shoe attachment for an optional flash or other accessories. Lastly, the camera gains built-in stereo microphones, placed right in front of the hot-shoe, which is a minor tweak from the single, front-facing microphone of the X100T.

On the back of the camera, we see more re-styling borrowed from the X-Pro2. Again, it's not extremely unfamiliar compared to the earlier X100T, but rather some nice refinements and improvements to the camera's overall functionality and ease of use. One of the most notable differences is the updated layout of all buttons along the back. The Fuji X100F no longer has a vertical column of buttons along the left side of the LCD screen, but rather a button layout that's nearly identical to the X-Pro2.

The other major update is the addition of the X-Pro2's handy joystick control button. Located conveniently to the left of where your thumb rests on the back, the joystick provides easy and instant adjustments to your AF point. Simply move the joystick to automatically begin moving the AF point(s) around the frame, or press inwards on the joystick and use the front or rear dials to adjust the sizing of the AF box. This direct, one-touch access to AF point adjustments makes composing shots and getting focus where you need it much quicker.

The three-inch rear display of the Fuji X100F is similar to its predecessor's, offering no touch functionality nor any tilting or swivel articulation. The resolution of the LCD panel itself is also unchanged at 1.04-million dots.

The back of the X100F (top) take a number of design cues from the X-Pro2 ILC (bottom), including the addition of the handy joystick control button.

The Fuji X100F's Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, however, does undergo a bit of a refresh. As with the X100T, the X100F's viewfinder offers a variety of viewing modes, including an optical viewfinder mode with overlaid frame lines and other exposure information, an optical mode with a small pop-in EVF that shows a magnified view of the focus area (what Fuji calls "Electronic Rangefinder" mode), and then a full electronic viewfinder mode. With the X100F, you can now adjust the amount of magnification shown in the small pop-in EVF while in Electronic Rangefinder viewing mode. You can now set it to show a 100% field of view or either a 2.5x or 6x magnification view for better focusing accuracy.

The EVF itself is more or less the same as in the earlier model, a 0.48-inch screen with a 2,360K-dot color LCD. Fujifilm has, however, upped the EVF refresh rate to 60fps.

Fuji X100F keeps long-standing 23mm f/2 prime lens

Looking at the front of the X100F, the most notable change we see is the addition of a front control dial to match the similar rear thumb dial that showed up in the X100T. The clever viewfinder mode lever is still there as is the small built-in flash and AF assist lamp.

The X100-series' characteristic Fujinon 23mm f/2 prime lens remains unchanged. This fixed, pancake-style lens uses a total of eight elements in six groups and incorporates Fuji's High Transmittance Electron Beam Coating that reduces flare and ghosting. Offering a 35mm equivalent field of view, the X100F provides a classic perspective that's wide enough for a variety of subject matter, from landscapes to certain styles of portraiture, not to mention street photography of course.

And while the Fuji X100F maintains that notable non-interchangeable lens design, the camera does offer a 50mm equivalent and 70mm equivalent "Digital Teleconverter" function, which is basically a digital crop feature that works for in-camera JPEGs.

On the other hand, like the X100T, this new model is also compatible with Fuji's screw-on accessory lenses. The Fuji WCL-X100 II wide-angle conversion lens opens things up to a much wider 23mm-equivalent perspective, while the TCL-X100 II, a tele-conversion lens, gives you a tighter 50mm-equivalent view.

The X100F joins the flagships with 24MP sensor & new processor

Following its introduction back with the updated X-Pro2 and X-T2, the fourth-generation Fuji X100F now also gains the higher-resolution 24.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS III imaging sensor. As with these other two models, this serves as a sizable upgrade in resolving power over the 16MP predecessors.

Like the earlier X100T, the new 4th-gen model offers the same range of ISOs, going from a native base of 200 up to ISO 12,800. Sensitivity can be expanded down to 100 and up to a maximum of 51,200. Shutter speed range also remains unchanged; with the ability make use of an electronic shutter for super-fast shutter speeds. When using the mechanical shutter, exposure times can range from 30 seconds down to 1/4000s, but factor in the electronic shutter and you can shoot down to a stunning 1/32,000s. Great for shooting with that fast f/2 lens, at f/2, on a bright, sunny day. The camera also retains the built-in 3-stop ND filter should you need to rein in the exposure.

One of Fuji's biggest features across their X-series cameras is their integrated film simulation presets. Offering a broad range of various styles, including Velvia, Classic Chrome and Provia, the X100F makes it easy to shoot and style your images right in-camera. You can even shoot in RAW, select your shot and process out a JPEG image with a film simulation after the fact.

On the X100F, Fuji's now added in ACROS film simulation, which is a monochrome film preset that offers smooth tonal gradations and deeper blacks. The camera also offers an adjustable Grain Effect that will help simulate film-like grain that can also be combined with any of the in-camera Film Simulation presets.

Upgraded hybrid autofocus system packs in 325 AF points

As with previous X100-series cameras, the new X100F offers a hybrid AF system that combines on-sensor phase-detect autofocus and contrast AF systems. The AF system undergoes a noticeable upgrade, as well, going up from a modest 49 points to a whopping 325 total AF points just like the flagship X-T2.

Zone AF mode also gets an upgrade from 49 to 91 total AF areas in a 13 x 7 grid, with three choices of AF point groupings: 3 x 3, 5 x 5 or 7 x 7. These customization options can come in especially useful for continuous AF shooting, letting you more easily track moving subjects with a wider area of AF points. This strikes us as quite handy for on-the-go street photography of people walking by or other quick, moving subjects.

X Processor Pro increases X100F burst rate & buffer capacity

In addition to the updated sensor, the X100F also gains the newer, faster X Processor Pro that saw its debut in the X-Pro2 and X-T2. With this newer chip, the X100F is an altogether faster photography machine. According to Fujifilm's numbers, the X100F will power up half a second, autofocus in as little as 0.08 seconds, offers a shutter lag of just 0.01 seconds, and will take only 0.2 seconds to go from shot to shot.

Continuous burst rates and buffer capacity also get a sizable increase thanks to upgraded horsepower. The X100F now offers a claimed 8fps maximum burst rate (up from 6fps) and a massive buffer increase. According to Fujifilm, the camera is capable of capturing up to a whopping 60 frames in JPEG mode, whereas the X100T was only capable of a mere 16 frames in our tests. For RAW or RAW+JPEG, our testing showed the X100T managed just seven frames, but with the new X100F, Fujifilm is claiming 25 consecutive frames for compressed RAW, 23 for uncompressed, at the maximum 8fps rate. You can adjust the burst rate to a lower fps setting and gain extra buffer capacity for both JPEGs and RAW.

Based on these specs, the X100F sounds snappy and nimble and given our positive experience with both the X-T2 and X-Pro2 regarding AF speed and performance -- which all now share the same sensor and processor -- we're hoping to see similar results with the X100F once we get it into our lab and out in the field.

Minor video updates, no 4K, and 2.5mm mic jack remains

Though perhaps not the most popular video camera on the market, the Fuji X100F is capable of capturing movies up to 1080p at 60fps, but no 4K capture is available. The camera offers 29.97p (30p), cinema-specific 24p as well as 23.98p for the NTSC region, and can shoot at PAL-friendly 50p and 25p frame rates. Full HD video is recorded at a decent 36Mbps bit rate and can be recording continuously up to 14 minutes -- presumably capped for heat-related issues. 720p HD video is also available up to 60fps at 18Mbps and for a continuous 27 minutes or thereabouts.

As mentioned earlier, the X100F has built-in stereo microphones but is also capable of accepting external mics as long as you have a 2.5mm mic or an appropriate adapter.

Battery & Storage & Connectivity

Like its predecessor, the Fuji X100F uses SD storage media, but there's still only a single card slot, unlike the X-Pro2 or X-T2. The X100F's SD card slot is also only UHS-I compatible.

The camera offers built-in wireless connectivity with both image sharing and remote control functionality with the FUJIFILM Camera Remote smartphone app. Additional connectivity includes a micro-USB 2.0 port and a micro-HDMI (Type D) connector.

For power, it's worth noting that the X100F now uses a different rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack -- your old NO-95 batteries from previous X100-series camera won't work. Instead, it shares the larger NP-W126S battery with the X-Pro2 and X-T2. With this physically larger battery pack, Fuji's claiming about the same CIPA ratings for battery life as with the X-Pro2; around 390 shots per charge with the optical viewfinder but just 270 shots with the EVF.

Fuji X100F Price & Availability

Offered up in either a sleek all-black style or a stylist two-toned silver-and-black color, the new Fuji X100F is set to go on sale in February for a retail price of US $1,299.95 (CAD $1,699.95).