Big test
“THE CAMERA BOASTS AN IMPROVED AF ALGORITHM AND USES DEEP-LEARNING AI FOR SUBJECT DETECTION, RESULTING IN HIGH ACQUISITION”
seen in the GFX100 II; as well as improved battery performance. This latter point matters. I was expecting to see the larger W235 battery in the X100VI, but Fujifilm suggests this alters the camera’s form factor too much, therefore the W126S battery has been retained. This is claimed to last for around 450 frames-per-charge. While I initially anticipated having to change the battery on the regular, in reality it’s good for a day of shooting – even if you decide to spend time reviewing images on the rear LCD. This battery performance is even more impressive when you consider there’s also an in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) system offering a benefit of up to six stops. The inclusion of IBIS is significant; during the testing period, I spent a good amount of time taking pictures at night on the streets of Tokyo. IBIS unlocks far greater opportunities (see the low-light performance panel for more details). As a proud owner of a second- generation X100S, I’m well aware of the shortfalls earlier models in the line-up had in terms of focusing
GO WITH THE FLOW The 4-stop internal ND filter makes images like this simple
performance. However, I have no qualms about the improved AF system in the X100VI. The camera boasts an improved AF algorithm and uses deep-learning AI for subject detection, resulting
in AF performance that’s high on acquisition and low on frustration. On bustling Tokyo streets, I found the face detection mode could be overwhelmed and wouldn’t pick out the face nearest to the camera – but this is hardly something to fault the camera for. The focusing is assured and fast. There are also benefits for those who like to shoot video, with improved AF subject tracking. If you enjoy shooting movies, the X100VI is well-featured, offering up to 6.2K at 30p. Given its size, previous iterations of the camera were only suitable for video when on a solid platform, but the inclusion of IBIS is again a benefit here. It’s viable to shoot handheld and get smooth footage. Like the GFX100 II, the X100VI is also natively compatible with Frame.io Camera to Cloud, allowing video and images to be shared and edited in real time once the camera is connected online. In use, the X100VI truly comes alive. The design has been fine- tuned over the six versions and this one is undeniably the best yet. The advanced hybrid viewfinder remains, offering you a choice of three views: electronic (EVF), optical (OVF) and optical with an electronic rangefinder (ERF) window. If you’ve used an X100 series camera before, the chances are you’ll already have a favourite, but I prefer the WYSIWYG EVF. Although the OVF gives you a slightly wider view to see what’s about to enter the frame, which can have its benefits for street photography. The top-plate of the camera is clean and simple with the shutter speed/ISO dial dominating, plus the shutter release and exposure compensation dial. I’m a fan of the lift-and-turn collar for changing the ISO as the action is smooth, but the lack of click stops could make it hard to do this precisely with the camera to your eye. On the back of the X100VI, the tilting LCD fits flush to the camera body when not in use. The controls are designed to be accessible with the right hand if you have the camera to your eye. In addition, the handgrip has been subtly redesigned for
CITY LIFE Close-up shots showcase the camera’s advanced subject detection when used for street photography situations
PERFORMANCE: LOW-LIGHT ISO
DETAIL
although beyond that the noise starts to become more apparent. But as these images show, it’s rare you’ll need to stray into these ultra-high-ISO sensitivities – making the X100VI a very capable machine, no matter how low the lighting.
requiring minimal work in Lightroom afterwards to get the look I wanted. In terms of general ISO performance, you can confidently shoot up to ISO 3200 without any fear of digital noise adversely affecting your images. Even ISO 6400 is a viable option,
With nothing more than available light and IBIS, the Fujifilm X100VI is a fantastic camera for low- light street photography. For this selection, I went with auto ISO up to 3200, then chose a minimal shutter speed of 1/125sec and centre-weighted metering. The results speak for themselves,
40 Photography News | Issue 114
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