Photography News 77 NEWSLETTER

Big test

PERFORMANCE: ISO

160

800

1600

3200

6400

12,800

25,600

51,200

The X100V’s sensor is the 26.1-megapixel back-side illuminated model working with the X-Processor 4 engine, the combination seen on other current Fujifilm cameras. For this shot, the X100V was fixed on a Gitzo Traveler GT2545T carbon-fibre tripod and the shutter released using the self-timer. The exposure required for the ISO 160 shot was 0.8secs at f/8, and the Raws were processed through Adobe Lightroom with default noise reduction.

Images up to ISO 800 were very clean and tonal gradation looked silky smooth. Overall quality was so good that I would be happy enough to use it as my default ISO setting knowing that I'd still get critically good results for exhibition use. Up to ISO 1600 and you start to see grain in smooth mid-tone areas and in shadows, but it’s neutrally coloured and fine, so not disruptive of intricate detail. Quality at ISO 3200 is more than acceptable and definitely superior to some

APS-C format cameras that have been tested in these pages. Grain in the mid- tones and shadows take an upward hike at ISO 6400 and 12,800 onwards, and with it comes a deterioration of overall image quality so only venture this high up the ISO scale if it is essential. The FujifilmX100V delivers an impressive ISO performance, so if you enjoy low-light street photography or shooting in dim interiors, this is a camera that deserves very serious consideration.

and you need to use this method to access the expanded speeds. This changes if the exposure compensation dial is also set to C. Now operating the input dial changes compensation or ISO and you toggle between the two by pressing in the input dial. I liked this way of working, because being able to apply compensation or adjust ISO with the C dial is quick, and both values can be fine-tuned while the camera is up to the eye. The stay-up ISO ring is a nice design feature, of that there is no doubt, but for sheer usability, I enjoyed using the C setting and front command dial option more. The exposure compensation dial is clicked-stopped in 0.3EV steps but, typically for Fujifilm, it has no physical lock, so there is the risk of it being nudged when the camera is taken out of a pocket or bag. Something I have been known to do on Fujifilm cameras is have the dial set to C for front input dial control and just stick the actual compensation dial down with a small piece of gaffer tape. A firmer click on C or 0 or a lock would be nice – but given that I have said that from the first X camera, I can’t see it happening any time soon. Speaking of locks, there’s a menu item to lock all buttons and controls, or you can select which items to lock off. By the way, the exposure compensation can be turned off completely using the Lock item in the menu, but I regularly use the feature, so this is not a practical option.

PERFORMANCE: EXPOSURE LATITUDE

Aseven-shot bracket (+/-3EV in 1EVsteps) was made using the camera’s autoexposure bracketing feature.The base exposure was 1/400sec at f/5.6, ISO 160.The Raws were corrected in Lightroom. Overexpose by +3EV and you are at the limit of acceptability. Bright highlights are OKwith a hint of greyness, and colours neededmore editing.With lower contrast scenes, +3EVRaws were recoverable withmore success.The +2EVshot recoveredwell in terms of highlights and contrast, but there was a faint cyan colour cast.The +1EVshot was fully recoverable. With underexposure, the abused shots were successfully recovered to give results comparable to the correctly exposed frame.There was some digital noise in the -3EV shot, but you needed to be viewing at 100%to see it so not really an issue.

+3EV

+2EV

+1EV

-3EV

-2EV

-1EV

0EV

Issue 77 | Photography News 25

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