Fujifilm X100VI Review (2025): Retro Looks, Modern Power

Fujifilm X100VI Review (2025): Retro Looks, Modern Power 📸✨

The first time I picked up the Fujifilm X100VI, it felt like opening a doorway into two different eras at once — the nostalgia of film and the clean precision of modern tech blending together in a way few cameras ever pull off. There’s something instantly magnetic about the X100VI’s retro design. Those crisp metal dials, the textured grip, that hybrid viewfinder that flips between film-era glass and a crystal-sharp EVF — it all hits you with that familiar Fuji charm. But the moment you press the shutter and hear that soft click, you’re reminded this isn’t just a pretty camera. It’s a tiny powerhouse built for street shooters like me who love slowing down, composing deliberately, and letting the world unfold in front of the lens. 🎞️🌆

What really impressed me is how much punch Fuji crammed into this compact body. The 40.2MP sensor — the same one from the X-T5 and X-H2 — brings a level of detail that feels almost surreal in a camera this small. Every texture, every light reflection, every shadow feels richer, deeper, more alive. And paired with that gorgeous 23mm f/2 lens, you get the kind of rendering that makes everyday scenes feel cinematic. I love walking downtown with it slung over my shoulder, catching reflections in bus windows, runners crossing Provencher Bridge, or just the soft glow of Winnipeg streetlamps on a warm night. This camera turns those small moments into memories that feel crafted, not just captured. 🌙💛

The addition of IBIS finally changes the game for the X100 line. I can shoot handheld well past sunset and still keep my images sharp without cranking ISO too high. And the fact that it now shoots 6.2K video makes it even more versatile. I’ve filmed little walk-and-talk clips with it, grabbing soft, shallow-depth street shots that look like something out of a travel documentary. It’s wild how stable it feels for a camera this light. Even when I’m moving quickly or bracing against the wind along the riverside paths, the footage stays beautifully steady. 🎥🌄

Autofocus is snappier this year too. Fuji finally leaned into deep-learning AF, and it shows. It catches eyes, animals, cars — almost anything I point it at — and holds on better than older X100 models ever could. It’s still not quite Sony-fast, but for 95% of what I shoot with a fixed lens, it feels more than capable. And honestly? Part of the fun of this camera is slowing down anyway. It’s the kind of gear that reminds you to breathe, to frame intentionally, to pay attention to the light instead of rushing. Something about this camera just pulls you into the moment. 💭✨

What I like most is how the X100VI fits into my creator life so naturally. For quick café shots, for walking paths at The Forks, for those lazy weekend trips where I don’t want to bring a full kit — this camera feels like a companion, not just a tool. It’s compact enough to disappear into my jacket pocket, yet powerful enough that when I import the images later, they hold up like something shot on a much bigger system. The Fuji magic is still here too — those film simulations. Classic Chrome, Nostalgic Neg, Acros… they each give the world a slightly different emotional color, and I find myself choosing them the same way I’d choose music for a mood. 🎼📷

Fujifilm X100VI Review (2025): Retro Looks, Modern Power

📦 Buy on Amazon USA

Fujifilm X100VI

Final Thoughts 🌄💭✨

There’s a certain joy that comes from using a camera that sparks creativity the moment you pick it up, and the X100VI does exactly that. It doesn’t pressure you to shoot fast or think technically — it encourages you to slow down, wander, observe, and fall back in love with the craft of seeing. Every time I take this camera out, it feels like I’m giving myself permission to enjoy photography again, not just as content creation but as a personal ritual. This camera brings out the storyteller in me. 📜🌆

I also appreciate how it makes me feel more connected to the environment around me. There’s something about those tactile dials and the hybrid viewfinder that puts me right back into my body, into the moment. Whether I’m standing in the golden hour light near the river or being pulled into the energy of Portage and Main, the X100VI turns each scene into something worth remembering. It’s not perfect — nothing is — but it has personality, and that matters more than specs on a sheet.

In the end, this camera feels like a companion for creators who value the journey as much as the shot. It’s the kind of tool that stays with you not just because it’s good, but because it inspires you. And for me, that’s what great gear is supposed to do — help you see the world with more curiosity, more emotion, and more intention. The X100VI does all of that with style. 📸✨

Buy on Amazon Canada

Fujifilm X100VI