- Location
- Switzerland
- Name
- Matt
I hope you get lucky. The problems I see is that most of the new features and improvements, apart from I.B.I.S., really don't matter that much to me. Especially not the 40MP resolution (see below).
In fact, after looking into everything again, I'd rather add a A6700 (I still own three E mount lenses that I'm currently adapting to Nikon Z via the Megadap ETZ21): exchangeable lenses, trusted 26MP sensor with superior I.B.I.S., much better battery life, better AF ...
But ...
I simply love the whole concept of the X100 line, and for me, except for its lack of I.B.I.S., the X100V seems the best bet because I increasingly think that 40MP is overkill for APS-C, at least in a small, light body; in fact, my suspicions are borne out by comparisons between the 26MP and 40MP Fujifilm sensors that show that in many situations, the 26MP sensor offers as much or more DR than the 40MP one - and that the gains in resolution are often much less than the 40% increase in pixels.
So, if Fujifilm had used the 26MP sensor from the X-H2S, I'd be all over the camera (that'd be wild!). As it is, I feel I'm probably better served by the 26MP unit of the X100V, which in the last couple of days I have used handheld down to 1/6s - better than some experienced reviewers have managed with the X100VI. I'm beginning to feel certain that I'm actually good as-is.
And just to round off things, the acquisition of the A6700 won't happen either - there's not enough to be gained, and adding another system has never brought the benefits I hoped for. In fact, going back to using some of my current cameras more often might benefit me a lot more: My current smallest platform for small, fast zooms is the Olympus E-M5 III - and the more I use that camera, the more I find it punches way above its weight and sensor class in terms of results; in many cases, it's not noticeably inferior to either the Nikon Z DX (APS-C) bodies or the X100V. Yes, the Fujifilm is the best performer in absolute terms - but neither it nor the Nikon Z 50, combined with the really pleasing Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 C adapted to it, can really manage what I can get from the seemingly more pedestrian Olympus 12-45mm f/4 PRO. As good as the Sigma is, the Olympus is visibly better. And if I need more light, I still keep the 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO around for events - that's a great lens, too, and would, to this day, be my first choice if its smaller sibling wasn't so amazing, much smaller and 40% lighter. And if I want to go prime, the Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 is a great alternative (and the I.B.I.S. of the Panasonic GX9 I usually use it with is - in the real world - not a lot worse than the X100VI's). I think the only real asset would be the OM System 20mm f/1.4 PRO ... Now there's a thought ...
All that said, I know that the lure and the merits of the X100V and X100VI are both real as well as justified. If I didn't own the X100V, the X100VI would most probably be a no-brainer, and I'd probably placed a pre-order like a shot last week. It pays to remember though that it's not a particularily versatile camera, I.B.I.S. or 40MP resolution notwithstanding. It's pleasing, compact and produces great results - in situations is suitable for. I have traveled with it as my only camera - but happily, only to places I had been before, so I could just seize opportunities without fear of not being able to catch the most rememberable sights.
M.
