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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Fuji X100S Review

Fuji X100S Review

By Nasim Mansurov 28 Comments
Last Updated On April 11, 2020

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Table of Contents

  • Overview and Specifications
  • Image Sensor and Autofocus Performance
  • Lens Performance, Exposure and Dynamic Range
  • ISO Performance
  • Camera Comparisons
  • Summary
  • More Image Samples
  • Reader Comments
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28 Comments
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Michael Cayless
Michael Cayless
May 17, 2021 12:55 pm

I recently sold my Nikon D600 and D90 cameras with lenses and decided to purchase the Fujifilm X-T20 and keep my Fujifilm X100s. Although, nothing can beat Nikon cameras for their reliability and lower cost of lenses, I decided to purchase the XC16-50 and XF55-200 combo for the X-T20. I have to say I am not missing the Nikon cameras one bit. The Fuji’s are light and portable. Their JPEG files are amazing with accurate colors and incredible sharpness. The X100s is my favorite for city and street photos and the X-T20 for landscape use. All in all, the X100s is an incredible camera and, although it still has focus issues, you cannot beat it.

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Patt Kelsey
Patt Kelsey
January 15, 2015 1:30 pm

Hi…I’ve read many of your reviews and articles…and I’m wondering if you’ve had any hands on experience with the new Fujifilm X100T? I read your article about the X100s…but there seem to be a few significant changes from the ‘s’ to the ‘t’. I’m ‘just’ someone who loves taking photos…but want to ‘unleash’ myself from my Nikon DSLR and all my lenses. I want a general all around camera (mainly for daily shots/vacations/scenery/grandchildren…one that I can have with me all the time and easily pull out and take a pic instantly, especially when traveling. And though I DO love being able to have some ‘flexibility’ that comes with a zoom lens, that feature is not as important to me as image quality. I am a ‘detail’ person, and sharp, clear, bright photos are most important. I think I can ‘live with’ the 35mm focal length of the X100T, as that is the prime lens I tend to have on my D5100 most of the time (or if I’m not sure what my day out and about will entail I’ll have the 16-85 lens on). I have read countless reviews about the X100T…and am about ready to order it, but thought I’d get one more opinion. The only other camera I think would be ‘close’ to ideal for me is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-X100 (because of the fixed 24-75 zoom lens). So, your thoughts on the X100T (and the Lumix X100 if you have the time/input) would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! (And your photo of the Bay bridge is beyond amazing!!)

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Etude Imaging
Etude Imaging
Reply to  Patt Kelsey
October 23, 2015 9:15 am

Hi Pat,

What did you decide in the end?

I use both Nikon DSLRs and Fujifilm cameras, including an X100s, and unless I absolutely can’t get the job done with the Fujis the Nikons stay in the dry boxes.

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Tomas Haran
Tomas Haran
March 7, 2014 2:44 pm

Great review, in depth as always. I own the X-e2 and this camera now and the x100s seems to be a tad more solid. The viewfinders are amazing and am really excited to go exploring with it. I’m sure it will get a ton of use and I won’t feel hindered with the focal length. Nice pics!

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Matt
Matt
December 29, 2013 6:48 pm

I sold my Fuji X100S for these reasons:

1) Shutter lag/Slow AF/Poor low-light focusing
2) Loosey-goosey wheel on the back made it annoying to choose focus points
3) Weird artifacts when converting from the RAW in ACR

On the other hand, the Fuji color is great and the leaf shutter/high-speed flash-sync is tremendous.

For things that don’t move, it’s a good camera (if you don’t mind the weird artifacts).

Maybe the Fuji X200 will nail it!

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Alis
Alis
December 6, 2013 3:00 am

I finally bought the fuji x100s. I wanted a small camera for walking around (I own a Nikon 7100 for dog photography). I don’t mind the fixed focal length, I can crop in Lightroom. This camera is AMAZING! The image quality is a blast! I am very happy with it. The image samples of this review convinced me.

I was considering the x-E2 but with a zoom lense it doesn’t work as a “compact camera” anymore… So I went for the x100s.

I will sell my Canon Powershot G10… I don’t think I will ever use it again.

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Red
Red
November 23, 2013 9:47 am

Nice review. What I really would like to see on this site is “full disclosure”. A page where you explain how you get hold of cameras you test. Are you being payed by manufactorers ? What sorts of deals regarding advertising are made and so on. Reason behind all this questions is that this site used to be a small outfitt that suddenly got big and fast. No “full disclosure” make me and a lot of people wonder.

Regards Red.
Also this thing where you “approve” comments makes us wonder why ? Are our comments “approved” only when they are positive ?

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Pavel
Pavel
November 21, 2013 5:49 am

Btw, new firmware 2.01 for X100:
www.fujifilm.com/suppo…epix_x100/

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Rick
Rick
November 13, 2013 1:02 am

Hi Nasim I really like you review but right now I’m between the fuji x100s and the Ricoh GR (I guess I hear a lot of comments about this 2 and now I’m very confuse) but your opinion is very important to me, so please help me! I want a compact camera just for travel, people and good B/W contrast.
Thank you.

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Vipul Kapadia
Vipul Kapadia
November 10, 2013 8:55 am

Hi Nasim,
Thank you for such a detailed review. I think I have narrowed down my search for mirroless cameras to X100S and X-E2. I like flash synch speed of X100S yet I am leaning more towards X-E2 as I think it may have better AF performance and focus issues that X100S had (during day light) have been addressed. If I go with X-E2 I am tempted to get 35mm f/1.4 but a lot of people said that lens is slow to focus, noisy and the lens barrel moves in-and-out (by 6mm) during the focusing time. What is your experience with that lens?

On a side note, X200 may come out early 2014 and may be a better camera but who knows. I am currently interested in downsizing my camera bag and thinking I may not want to lug around all this 15 pound worth of stuff to take pictures. When I am on a family trip, I don’t even take my dSLR with lenses and stuff anymore so why don’t I just switch over to these smaller yet powerful cameras. X100S seems compact and that is why I like it as well. This is where I am confused and not sure which one would be better.

Thanks again for all the information you and your team share. I check your web site at least 3 times a day and my day begins with a cup of team and your web site – both of them are addicting/habit forming!

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Dougbm
Dougbm
November 5, 2013 12:25 pm

You said “Unlike Nikon that shamelessly released the Nikon D610 just to address the dust issue of the original D600”. Shamelessly? They needed to fix the issue and needed to differentiate it on the market from the original D600 with the oily sensor issues.

I have had my X100 for over 2 and a half years now and have no intention of parting with it. It improves with every firmware (Fuji have just released version 2.0 with speedier af and manual focus peaking) and I have no real complaints but much praise for it.

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