It’s Getting Rave Reviews… But Would You Buy One

Today I’m going to be talking about the new Fuji X100V, which is getting rave reviews. And the question I’m asking is would you buy one? So let’s just talk a bit about what the Fuji offers us. So it’s the fifth version in the X100 series. And it comes with a 26 megapixel CMOS 4 Sensor, which has been lifted straight from the Fuji X Pro 3 and the XT3. And it also has a rather handy tilting rear screen.

It also has a fixed 23 mm f2 fixed lens. So that 23 mm lens or this sensor is equivalent of a 35 mm lens in full-frame terms. And this is being hailed as the ultimate street photography camera. So what else can we tell you about it? Well, it’s a new and improved lens. It was originally rumoured that we’d be getting a 1.4 lens on this camera, but in fact they’ve stuck with the f2. But it has much better optics to achieve sharper images across the frame with lower distortion levels.

Now you’ve may have read some of the reviews online. As I say it’s getting rave reviews and is being hailed as the ultimate street photography camera. But would you buy one?

Let’s look at some of the alternatives. So the camera I use for my street photography is this Panasonic Lumix GX 80 which as standard, comes with a 12 – 32 zoom lens. Now it’s not a particularly fast lens, it’s f3.5 to 5.6. And it has micro four third sensor, 16 megapixels. So you haven’t got quite as many megapixels as the Fuji, but you have got interchangeable lenses.

So if you want something a bit faster, a bit wider, how about this Panasonic 20 mm, that 40 mm in full frame equivalent, f1.7 lens, which is then half a stop faster than the Fuji. And you’ve still got a nice small compact package. You’ve got the similar tilting rear screen that you’ve got on the Fuji. And altogether that makes a great package. If you want something a bit wider, then you can choose the Olympus 17 mm – 35 mm in full frame terms. Again, it’s a 1.8 lens, so again, half a stop faster than the Fuji.

But price, this camera with the kit lens is only £380. If you add the 20 mm lens, that adds another £240, up to £620. Did I mention that the Fuji is £1300? Yes, £1300. So more than twice as much as this combination with the kit lens, and a fast prime lens. If you wanted to add the Olympus f1.7 instead that’s £399, you’re still only up to £780, and you’ve got all the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. If you don’t like the Panasonic body, then there is the Olympus Pen E body £399, body only, and then you can add a lens. This one, the Panasonic is £240, the Olympus one £400. You’re still only at £800. And you’ve got the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

If you really, really want to stick with a compact non interchangeable lens camera, then you’ve still got options. There’s the Panasonic LX 100 Mark 2 that has a 24 – 75 ml zoom lens, a zoom lens and it’s still fast. It’s f1.7 to f2.8. And that is £760. And you only just over half the price of the Fuji. Or if you really want to splash out, you’ve got the Sony RX 100 Mk 6 and that comes with a massive zoom range of 24 to 200, f2.8 to f4.5, zoom lens, and that’s just over a £1000.

Now, okay, the Sony don’t have quite such big sensors as the micro four third. The Sony has a one inch sensor, and the other cameras I’ve discussed all have M4/3 sensors which are slightly smaller than the Fuji sensor. But if you’re taking street photography, ask yourself, what are you going to be doing with the images? How big are you going to print them? I can print 20 by 16″ images off this 16 megapixel camera. So do you really need it?

So I ask you again, the Fuji sounds like a great camera. I haven’t had my hands on one, but all review says it is awesome. But it is also an awesome price, £1300. I just can’t get over that. That’s my thoughts on it. I wouldn’t be buying one, I’m going to be sticking with my Panasonic. I love it. It’s a great camera for going out shooting street photography. It’s compact. I can stick it in my pocket. I can even take two or three prime lenses with me and I’m good to go. So there you have it. That’s my thoughts. But tell me what you think. Leave me a comment down below.