The Fujifilm X100F in 2025
For the last few months, I’ve been borrowing and testing out the Fujifilm X100F. Since I’ve never actually used a Fujifilm camera for more than 5 minutes at a time, I thought it would be a good chance to try out a camera from a series that has some insane hype around it.
This camera turns 8 years old as of this month and although it may not seem that old, in camera years, that’s quite a bit. Since the release of the F, two newer X100 cameras have been released including the V and VI and as much as I’d like to try those one day, I thought it’d be interesting to use a camera that isn’t as technologically advanced, but is still very popular.
Specs & features
At the core of this camera is a 24.3mp APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor, which even today, still holds up perfectly fine with more advanced sensors. Crop sensor cameras are still very alive and well and I don’t think image quality should be the thing that stops you from buying an older camera, especially not this one. Comparatively speaking, yes the newer sensors are better, but older ones don’t just magically get worse when a new one comes out.
The Fujinon 23mm F/2 (35mm FF equivalent) fixed lens is basically a perfect combo for me because 35mm is my favorite focal length and I think an aperture of F2 is suitable for most situations.
In dark situations, you can also make use of the built-in flash that I’ve actually got more use out of than I thought I would. I was using it during the holidays at some gatherings and it kind of made me realize how helpful it was to have a flash, especially if you like using a flash for street photography.
The design and experience of actually using this camera and holding it is probably one of my favorites. The body is pretty small, not Ricoh GR IIIx small, but still small enough not be a burden around your neck. The whole X100 series was made with that analog feel in mind which I’ve really come to love since I started shooting film. At the top, you have a combined dial for your shutter speed and ISO, as well as a separate dial for exposure compensation. You can adjust the aperture on the dial in the front, or on the lens itself.
I love the hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder, and I’ve found myself using the optical viewfinder more than the electronic viewfinder. The leaf shutter is also such a relief because if you’ve heard the shutter on the A7IV, you’d know how loud and electronic-sounding it can be, so the leaf shutter is a very welcomed change. Overall, the camera has a very tactile feel and it feels less robotic than some newer mirrorless cameras, which I appreciate.
For video, you could shoot up to 1080p at 60fps, so it’s not the best considering 4k is the standard now, but it’s still usable footage. With that said, this camera is definitely tailored for photography. I wouldn’t consider this for shooting video because there are so many other better cameras out there for that purpose.
How I’ve been using it
This camera (for me at least) is a fun, point-and-shoot camera and for the most part, that’s what it was designed to be. It would never replace my main street photography camera which is the A7IV, but when it comes to avoiding the occasional burden of bringing my Sony with me everywhere, this is a great option.
I wanted to get a lot of use out of this when I first started borrowing it so it came with me to places I wouldn’t exactly bring my Sony including some nights out with friends where I enjoyed taking photos of people with the flash. I also was able to bring it around with me on dog walks or when I was just hanging out with my girlfriend because it is such an enjoyable camera to use and doesn’t get in the way.
There were days where this was the only camera I was bringing with me into the city to do street photography because aside from the AF (which I’ll talk about below), it was a great fit for me in terms of the fixed 35mm focal length, small size, and solid image quality.
One of the things I do like about using a camera like this is that it takes guessing out of the equation. I don’t have to worry about what lens I’m bringing with me or if I need to bring my Sony in case I also want to film video. I know exactly what I’m getting out of this camera. And so I’m also aware of the areas where this camera falls short.
The downfalls
After 2-3 months of using this, these are some of the drawbacks I noticed about this camera. More could arise the longer I use the camera, but so far, these are the things that stand out.
Autofocus - When it comes to features that I notice the most while shooting with a camera, it’s the autofocus. The AF is probably the most important thing to me when it comes to actually being able to get shots I want.
I’ve been spoiled by Sony AF for years now, and the X100F does occasionally have a hard time keeping up with my pace of shooting. At the end of the day, this is an older camera and AF is one of those things that continues to get better with every year and every new camera, so if fast and reliable AF is of the utmost importance to you, I’d consider opting for one of the newer models.
No tilt screen - Another thing that does take some time to get used to, as it did for me, was the lack of a tilt screen which was introduced in the following model (X100V) . Now this may not matter to you depending on how you prefer to shoot or if you don’t have previous experience with an articulating screen, but I do like to use the screen a fair bit and being locked in one position can be a bit limiting if I’m trying to get shots at certain angles, but in a way, it contributes to the analog design of it so you can make a decision if you like that or not on your own.
Battery life - The battery life is average. It’s not terrible, but not too great either. I have 2 batteries for this camera and on a longer day of focused street photography, I would feel much better if I had an extra battery or two.
Video quality - Like I said, this camera was tailored for photo, not video. However, if we compare it to the X100V and VI, the video got a major upgrade on those cameras so if you did want an X100 series camera with high quality video, you should probably opt for those instead.
Is it still a good purchase in 2025?
Overall, yes, this camera is still a solid option for photographers in 2025. I think if you’re someone who is looking for a solid everyday-carry camera for still life/street/documentary purposes , you can’t go wrong with this one. It has its quirks of course, but this is a great rangefinder style camera that is just really fun to use and bring out with you wherever and whenever. I’ve heard so many people say this was one of their favorite cameras they’ve ever used and regretted selling it.
However…
I’m not exactly sure if it’s worth it for the price. The resale market on the X100 cameras is pretty rough because of the limited availability of the newer models and also the popularity boom (thanks Tiktok). This camera originally retailed for $1,299 in 2017, and people are still reselling it for over $1,000. If you can find one in the $700-800 range, I think that’s a pretty good deal if the body itself is in good condition. If you have more flexibility in your budget, I’d even consider trying to find a used X100V or even the X100VI if you can swing it.
Why I won’t be keeping it
Even though I really do enjoy the photos and experience of using this camera, I won’t be keeping it (mainly because it’s not actually mine lol). I’ll be holding onto it for a bit longer and I was given the option of buying it if I wanted to but at the end of the day, I already have a pocketable point-and-shoot camera (Ricoh GR IIIx). Even though I like the design of the Fuji a lot better including the viewfinder and 35mm focal length, F/2 aperture, and more, the Ricoh’s size is pretty unbeatable which is the most important thing for me when it comes to using a camera for the purpose of documenting daily life. The image quality is comparable, so it’s the size of the Ricoh that wins me over.
I also think if I were going to buy one of the X100 cameras, I’d probably opt for one of the newer ones considering photography is my full-time job, so it’s not exactly a bad idea to invest in a camera that is a bit more reliable in certain aspects but obviously if that’s not the case for you, this is still a very capable camera.
I could see why the X100 series has so much hype around it — maybe sometimes for the wrong reasons, but I could see why so many people love this series. It makes me curious on how much enjoyment I’d get out of using the X100VI.
This pack is a collection of 6 different presets that I use to edit my photos, including 5 color looks and 1 monochromatic look. If you’re looking for presets that give you rich, bold colors and deep shadows, this is the pack for you.