Fujifilm has used its X Summit event in Tokyo to announce the X100VI, the latest version of its premium large sensor compact. We’ve been shooting with the new camera for the past few weeks. Click here to read our initial review and see our sample gallery.
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Fujifilm Holding’s President and CEO Teiichi Goto says this year marks the 90th anniversary of the company. As the company’s original business, image making will remain at the heart of the business, he says.
| Fujifilm Holding’s President and CEO Teiichi Goto reveals the X100VI |
And, with that, the company has unveiled the latest version of its premium large sensor compact camera: the X100VI.
The X100VI is a 90th anniversary product, says Yuji Igarashi, head of the company’s imaging group. X100VI represents the core value of Fujifilm, he says.
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The new camera uses a 5th generation processor and 40.2MP X-Trans 5 HR sensor and adds 5-axis in-body image stabilization, rated to 6.0EV of correction. The lens “seamlessly resolves 40 megapixels,” says Justin Stailey from the company’s product development team. He describes IBIS as “essential” to getting the most out of the high resolution sensor but the team was determined not to make the camera significantly larger.
It has a base ISO of 125 and gains the subject detection autofocus system we’ve seen in recent X series models.
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The camera retains the external dials and the hybrid optical/electronic hybrid viewfinder used in previous X100 cameras. It adds the Reala ACE film simulation: first seen in the GFX 100 II and arriving for the first time in the X series.
It’s able to shoot video at up to 6.2K/30p resolution in up to 10-bit 4:2:2 detail, internally. The X100VI also becomes the first X-series camera to offer tap-to-track AF in video, and the first to allow camera-to-cloud direct upload to Adobe’s Frame.io collaboration platform without the need for any accessories.
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| The X100VI gains 43g (1.5oz) compared with the previous model but the addition of IBIS only adds 2mm (0.08″) of depth. |
Despite the addition of IBIS, the camera is able to achieve a battery rating of 450 shots per charge, an increase over the figure delivered by the X100V. This is made possible by “the power saving features of the X-Processor 5” says Stailey.
The camera will be available from late February at a price of $1599, in black or silver.
One more thing:
Fujifilm likes to add a surprise reveal at the end of these events. In this case it’s announced an addition to its X lens roadmap: with the XF16-50 F2.8-4.8, a successor to its well-respected 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 OIS, intended for the fifth-generation cameras.
The company has also promised improved subject detection when used with electronic shutter for the fifth-gen cameras: X-H2S, X-H2, X-T5 and X-S20. AF Tracking will also be improved for all but the X-H2. Reala ACE will come to all four models. The two X-H models will also gain direct camera-to-cloud uploading, using their internal Wi-Fi. These updates will come in Spring 2024, it says.
In addition, Igarashi has announced the X100VI limited edition: a 90th Anniversary model limited to 1934 units, sold with a specially-designed box and kit.
This won’t be the only X Summit event this year, he says: with the announcement that the next event will be held in Sydney, Australia, later this year.
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In the entranceway of the Tokyo Midtown building, is a display showing the 20-year history of film simulations, dating back to the S3 Pro DSLR and 2008’s Finepix S100fs, which was the first to name the modes after historic filmstocks.
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