As of this writing, it’s been two weeks since the announcement of the much-hyped 6th-generation X100 from Fujifilm. A four-year wait now finally over. Watching the event and follow-up coverage unfold, however, I must say I am left with mixed feelings.
First, the naming: the product obviously could not have been another X100S for “Sixth” long after the X100S for “Second”. Many observers, me included, had predicted an X100R, which would have neatly carried over the one-letter suffix in the convention, only switching to the Japanese system from the brief use of the Roman numeral “V”. That way, Fujifilm could have avoided any trouble with naming all the way up to the 10th generation (R-N-H-K-J), with an option to return to the Roman numerals at the 10th generation (“X100X”) for style. But no, Fujifilm did not seem to like the idea of adopting the Japanese numbering system, which has resulted, for the first time in the history of the X100 series, in a mismatch between how the name is written and how it’s supposed to be pronounced, although I have seen YouTubers choosing to call it X100-Vee-Eye instead of X100-Six. I’m not sure if the prospect of seeing the X100-Vee-Eye-Eye and the X100-Vee-Eye-Eye-Eye in the coming years is wise branding.
[Edit: Perhaps Fujifilm said no to the Japanese numbering system because the camera is no longer manufactured in Japan?]
More importantly, everyone seems to agree that the X100VI is only a minor upgrade from the X100V compared to the previous shift to the X100V from the X100F. Perhaps the naming is a testament to that. I have yet to see a reviewer recommend the X100VI to anyone currently owning an X100V. That is rightfully so, especially considering the price hike, although it could be argued that a brand-new X100VI is still considerably cheaper than a used X100V, with the actual challenge being finding either one of the two available for sale.
From the perspective of an original X100 user, I can only pick two highlights that matter to me if I were to consider the X100VI: in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) and support for high-efficiency image format (HEIF). IBIS has always been on any X100 user’s wish list as it would extend the usefulness of the camera to low-light handheld photography. HEIF is a welcome addition given the ultra-high-resolution output. At 40 megapixels, I would hesitate to shoot in RAW for storage and processing overhead reasons.
Honestly — the rest of the selling points, dare I say, aren’t material to why people want the X100 series in the first place, or what makes the X100 the X100. Video capabilities, digital zoom, (incomplete) weather-sealing, the resolution of the electronic viewfinder, 20-plus film simulations, etc., are simply not the reason why someone would choose the X100 series over other cameras. The X100 stands for 35mm-equivalent still photography fuelled by fun and attractiveness. Granted, any manufacturer must keep up with technology enough to stay relevant and appease the public, but I hope the designers and engineers at Fujifilm do not depart from the essence of what makes the X100 a true one of a kind.
That’s all I wanted to say about the X100VI. As you can tell, I am not interested in upgrading. I only hope my X100 original continues to function for many more years to come.
Speaking of which — my review of the original X100 can be found here.
