Review Date: May 15, 2017
Category: Serious to Advanced Amateur
Photoxels Editor’s Choice – Compact Premium
2 Image Quality
3 Photo Gallery
4 Handling & Feel
5 User’s Experience
6 QuickFact Sheet / Buy this camera
IMAGE QUALITY
No compromises. In this fourth “regeneration” of its X100 camera, Fujifilm has upgraded the sensor from 16-MP to the new excellent 24.3-MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor used in the X-Pro2 and X-T2. The Fujifilm X100F is targeted to serious and advanced amateur photographers and features a fixed focal-length wide-angle 35mm (Equiv.135) lens with an aperture range of F2-F16 (1/3EV step controlled with a 9-blade aperture diaphragm).We find the overall image quality of the Fujifilm X100F to be excellent at ISO 200 with low noise and good image detail. Image quality is very good up to ISO 1600. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 3200 and is usable up to ISO 6400. At higher ISOs, images suffer from noise and loss of detail, but should be usable in small prints and Web display.
FUJINON 23mm F2 Lens
The Fujifilm X100F has a fixed prime lens: fixed, meaning you can’t change it (i.e., it does not accept interchangeable lenses), and prime, meaning it’s a quality single focal length (i.e. it’s not a zoom lens). In the above picture, we show the coverage for 35mm (equiv.). Note that there is no image stabilization. There are two optional conversion lenses available: the WCL-X100 II Wide Conversion Lens (28mm equiv.) and the TCL-X100 II Teleconversion Lens (50mm equiv.).
Macro
The closest focusing distance for the XF23mm is now 10 cm (3.9 in.) and so you don’t have to press a button anymore to specifically invoke macro mode.
AF is fast, works very well in good light and even in low-light, with the help of the AF-assist illuminator.
White Balance
As the above two pictures show, the Auto White Balance (AWB) is not quite accurate indoors under artificial lighting [I have two energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs on the ceiling]. The Fujifilm X100F allows WB to be easily set manually and this brings out the real colors. AWB works very well in natural light.
ISO Comparisons
Since the X100F uses the same sensor as in the X-T2 and the same image processing engine, we would expect the same noise characteristics.
You can set the ISO on the Fujifilm X100F from 200 to 12800, plus the ability to have extended output sensitivity equivalent L : ISO 100 and H: ISO 25600 or ISO 51200 (you can specify only one in SET UP). Noise at ISO 200 is under control with excellent detail preserved. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 3200 but is still very usable up to ISO 6400. The noise, though, is more acceptable film grain-like than unacceptable digital noise, and so I would feel quite comfortable setting AUTO ISO to 6400. The grain might even be a welcomed characteristic for shooting some beautiful B&W low light scenes (e.g., when using the ACROS film simulation filter). At higher ISOs, the presence of digital noise is visible at full image size and with visible loss of detail. Overall, a superb class-leading ISO performance.
TIP: How to Specify Your Maximum ISO (H)
MENU – SET UP – BUTTON/DIAL SETTING – ISO DIAL SETTING (H) – Select 25600 or 51200
CA (Purple Fringing) does not seem to be much of a problem and in this 100% high contrast crop, this is about as close as we get to purple fringing; the X100F is taking care of it in firmware.
Long Exposure
Our Long Shutter Speed test is a torture test for digital cameras. Here we test whether (and how well) a camera can lock focus, provide accurate WB and obtain a correct exposure in extreme low light situations. The Fujifilm X100F passes this test very well.
The Fujifilm X100F allows the use of a long shutter speed of 30 sec. This allows us to take some nice Night Shots. I switched to manual AF mode and used the AF-L button to lock focus (only) in bright light, then turned off the lights, set ISO 200, dial in a 30 sec. exposure and the camera selected f/3.6 as the correct exposure.
Overall, excellent image quality at ISO 200 and very good up to ISO 3200. Its superb lens, quick and accurate focus and fast performance make the Fujifilm X100F a wonderful camera to use.
Next: Fujifilm X100F Photo Gallery
2 Image Quality
3 Photo Gallery
4 Handling & Feel
5 User’s Experience
6 QuickFact Sheet / Buy this camera
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