The X100V has a revised ISO dial which now stays up when you pull it and makes ISO adjustments much easier than with the old spring-loaded dial. (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) Build and handling The X100V is the fifth version of this design, and has Fujifilm’s latest 26.1-megapixel X-Trans processor, a new and superior lens and a new tilting touchscreen. There are some ergonomic enhancements too, but fundamentally this is the same design that has developed a cult following amongst enthusiast and pro photographers. It's clearly set to be one of the best Fujifilm cameras for fans of the brand, and certainly one of the best compact cameras for enthusiasts. The fixed focal length lens limits it a little as a travel camera, but its slim body certainly makes it portable enough.

The X100V features an incredible 26.1 MP X-Trans CMOS 4 Image Sensor which is going to provide you with the same sort of powerful you'd expect from pro-level mirrorless cameras. Yet, it's not a pro-level camera. It's a compact and stylish camera which is will be fast and reliable in any situation, capturing stunning photos and video footage. 4K Video Footage This isn’t a travel all-rounder or point-and-shoot king, because the X100V’s fixed focal length and emphasis on manual shooting make it much more niche than that. Instead, it’s the ideal walkaround camera for keen photographers who see that 23mm f/2 lens as liberating rather than a frustrating limitation. If that sounds like you, then there’s a lot to love here. The X100V’s tilting screen makes it more versatile than any of its predecessors, its new lens and sensor combination produces excellent images, and it’s weather-proof if you’re either careful or use it with a filter. Beyond all of this, it’s just incredibly fun to shoot with.We certainly felt comfortable taking it out in light rain without those accessories, though, and simply kept the included lens cap close to hand. The X100V comes with 425 focus points (17 x 25) with 95% coverage. Shoot in RAW and various sizing of JPG to suit your output needs. Film Simulation Use the wide conversion lens (WCL-X100 II) or tele-conversion lens (TCL-X100 II) to extend X100V’s fixed 23mm focal length to a 28mm equivalent (0.8x) or 50mm (1.4x) equivalent lens on a 35mm format system. You can also add agenuine-leather case (LC-X100V) to the X100V to complement its classic design while giving complete access to the camera’s battery and memory card whilst in place.

This flexibility is supported by the strong autofocus performance. We tested it side-by-side with a Fujifilm X-T3 fronted by a 23mm f/2 lens, and it’s certainly not quite up to the level of that combination –the X100V was noticeably slower and noisier, particularly in low light situations. Detail rendition is excellent and, although it wasn't needed for this shot, the high-ISO image quality is very impressive too. (Image credit: Alistair Campbell/Digital Camera World)Designed for street and documentary photographers who need a compact, lightweight, and responsive camera, the FUJIFILM X100V harnesses its 26.1-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4, X-Processor 4 image processor and a newly designed 23mmF2 fixed lens to provide superb image quality, superfast autofocus performance and shooting speeds up to 11fps. It’s a combination that lets photographers capture fleeting moments in amazing detail. Looking to upgrade your equipment? Get competitive prices on major brands with our part-exchange service.

To make handling swift, sure and enjoyable, the X100V mixes tactile physical dials with the introduction of a two-way tilting LCD touchscreen. As well as using intuitive gesture controls for image review, settings and menu access, the latter helps when shooting at high or low angles. And completing the picture is the X100V’s Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, which lets you switch between the utility of an EVF with the appeal of a rangefinder-style real-world view. One of Fujifilm’s strengths has long been the quality of its out-of-camera JPEGs and it’s the same with the X100V –shots have pleasing, accurate color rendition and reliable exposure. You also get the full array of ‘Film Simulations’, which simulate the look of the company’s range of analogue films. Moreover, the operation with the smartphone and tablet terminal becomes much simpler than the current application software, since all the data transportation operations, except for the “Bluetooth Pairing” between camera and the application software required at the first time only, are completed with the smartphone and tablet terminal. The lens has an identical focal length and aperture to the X100F, but Fujifilm says the one on this camera has two aspherical elements (rather than one). In theory, this helps improve resolution and reduce distortion. Those Raw files also show that the X100V’s performance at higher ISO sensitivities is impressive. Shots are nice and clean all the way up to ISO 3200, where they still have very good detail and dynamic range. Even shots at ISO 6400 and ISO 12800 are certainly usable, despite a gradual increase in color noise, which means you have a good safety net in low-light situations.

Notes

The X100V isn’t the obvious choice for a video camera, but how does it fare with moving pictures? Well, it’s actually very capable for video, both in terms of quality and features, though this is counterbalanced by some inevitable practical limitations. The fifth iteration in Fujifilm’s X100 Series, the X100V is a significant upgrade over previous models and features a 23mm F2 lens, improvements to its Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, weather resistance, and a tilting rear LCD monitor among a host of other updates.