I was thinking of buying one of these Fuji digital cameras and then thought that perhaps I only like the look of them because they look a bit like a Leica. What are they like? And which is the best version? I have never bought a digital camera before.
To start from end the X100V or current model has improved lens (all earlier ones had same but different lens, new has some changes to optical design, all claim it is better or sharper wide open) and it has 26 mpx sensor, and his is good due to better cropping potential. It is also weather sealed (if you spend extra money to "finalize" it, which I find as an insult to buyers of this well over grand camera).
Viewfinder is absolutely brilliant all around and Fuji put on that blue DOF slider in view that is absolutely fantastic for manual focus shooting, as you can see DOF on the fly and super easy to shoot hyperfocal distance.
Current version has touch screen and joystick, earlier models had 4-way controller and this is personal - I hate joysticks. Screen on newest is also flex-mounted so it gives some flexibility in specific situations.
Manual focus is fly-by-wire so ring spins around and around. I have X100T and am not sure if newest model has improved resistance, but all before it ... it's almost a joke how freely focus ring spins around. But the most annoying is the non-stop in any direction, so I wish they would come up with manual focus that would hit stops at either end just like manual lenses. This camera screams for having classic feel and this kills it for me.
AF works fine on T, it reportedly is vastly improved on V, but quite honestly, if one uses AF to catch action, there are not a lot of times when a wide angle lens is suited for action shots that would also require pin point sharpness. That's my view. In other words i don't see much need for latest and fastest AF on this kind of camera.
And now the front ring. What Fuji engineers were thinking to put male thread on the front of the lens is to me beyond outrageous. In order to even put a lens hood on, an adapter is required to flip the thread to female.
They make conversion lenses too, a wide and a tele. How these are designed is another joke. I regret I bought them, even if only paid half price (and it's clear why). A screw on lens that takes forever to complete, then go to menu to flip camera's brain into thinking what it has. I believe newest version recognizes what is on, but am not sure.
All lenses are corrected in camera, so your camera RAW isn't as RAW as definition would suggest. However, the outcome is quite good so I am not complaining.
Overall controls are just what they look like, as close to manual RF as you can get these days. Shocking why any other major has not yet picked up on the idea.
Fuji also implemented its range of film simulations, which are mostly quite good. But best is the B&W out of camera, and you can filter it from standard through green/yellow/red filter.
In the end I'm pissed at some design elements, I absolutely love how it handles by being so close to real classic RF, and not just from looks, it is a hefty device, all metal and feels premium from all directions.
But I would suggest to see it in store, or at least by remote with mind set on possible return.
