Why it is still my favourite camera in 2026!

It has been a year since I first picked up the Fujifilm X100VI. After shooting around cities, on travels, in quiet moments and busy streets, it remains the camera I choose most.

Here are five key reasons why it still feels right for me, plus one extra that never gets old.

1. Fujifilm film simulations and custom recipes

This is still the single biggest creative draw for me.

Fujifilm’s film simulations and the ability to dial in custom recipes make shooting fun and fast.
I see the look I want straight out of camera. It reduces indecision and speeds up the creative workflow.

This remains one of the most meaningful reasons I still reach for this camera.

Film simulations are fully usable on both photos and video, letting me keep a consistent palette in all my work.

2. Video capability that actually matters

One of the biggest upgrades in the X100VI over its predecessor is video.

It can record 4K at 60 frames per second and also offers 6.2K with a crop. It has 10-bit 4:2:2 video, which gives more flexibility for grading if I want to push footage further.

For me, this is a real advantage. I can make clips that feel more cinematic and colour them consistently with my stills.

3. In-body image stabilisation

This is a genuine leap forward compared with the earlier model.

The X100VI packs in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) with up to around six stops of compensation, which helps keep photos sharp at slower shutter speeds and makes handheld video much smoother.

It’s not perfect like a full gimbal setup, but in everyday shooting, it feels like a game changer for low-light and motion.

4. Compact build and everyday carry

The X100VI remains beautifully compact and well built.

It slips into most bags and pouches easily and never feels like an extra burden on a long day of walking or travel.

Its retro-inspired aesthetic and tactile controls also make it feel enjoyable to use rather than a sterile tool.

This everyday comfort is a big part of why I still choose it more often than anything larger.

5. The fixed 35mm equivalent lens

A fixed 23mm lens (35mm equivalent) is one of those creative decisions that changes the way you shoot.

It forces you to work within a frame, think with your feet, and refine compositions more deliberately. I find that constraint liberating rather than limiting.

I use 35mm so often in my work that this focal length feels like a natural extension of how I see.

6. Quiet street presence and unobtrusive capture

An extra reason that keeps it in my hands:

The X100VI does not draw attention.

Its silent leaf shutter and modest profile help keep interactions natural and unobtrusive — ideal for street photography and travel moments where people’s behaviour matters.

That quiet presence helps me stay calm and focused rather than wrestling with gear.

Final thoughts

After a year with the Fujifilm X100VI, it is not just a camera I own, it’s the camera I reach for.

It blends image quality, usable video, creative colour tools and everyday comfort better than most compact cameras I have used. Even in 2026, with plenty of high-spec gear on the market, it still feels like the right choice for how I shoot.

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One year with the Fujifilm X100VI