The FujiFilm X100 series of fixed-lens rangefinder-style cameras are loved by many and for good reason. The X100S was the first in the series to feature Fuji’s XTRANS sensor; but is it still a viable camera some 7 years later?

FujiFilm X100S in 2020?

It has that great vintage rangefinder look, it’s compact, it’s got a high-quality lens, and it has Fuji’s widely praised set of film simulation modes. There’s a lot going for the the FujiFilm X100S, but it’s definitely showing its age given that it debuted in 2013.

There are so many great and thorough reviews of this camera that I’m not going to rehash all the specs here. Rather, I will speak to how the most critical specs impact how the FujiFilm X100S fits into the camera bag of a photographer in 2020, who would be a likely fan of this camera today, and which photographers should probably take a pass on it.

X100S Quick Specs

Here’s the quick-and-dirty summary of what you need to know about the specifications and limitations of the FujiFilm X100S:

Resolution: 16.3 Megapixels

16.3 Megapixels Sensor size: APS-C (23.5mm x 15.6mm)

APS-C (23.5mm x 15.6mm) Viewfinder: Electronic (EVF) and Optical

Electronic (EVF) and Optical ISO Range: 200 – 6400 (pull to 100 / push to 25,600)

200 – 6400 (pull to 100 / push to 25,600) Shutter Speeds: 1/4000 – 30 seconds + BULB

1/4000 – 30 seconds + BULB Continuous Shooing: 6 Frames Per Second

6 Frames Per Second Lens Details: 23mm f/2 AF (equivalent to ~35mm on full frame)

23mm f/2 AF (equivalent to ~35mm on full frame) Video Modes: 1920 x 1080p @ 30 FPS or 60 FPS

1920 x 1080p @ 30 FPS or 60 FPS Built-In Flash: Guide Number 15 @ ISO 100

Guide Number 15 @ ISO 100 Size: 126.5 (W) x 74.4 (H) x 53.9 (D) mm / 5.0. (W) x 2.9 (H) x 2.1 (D) in.

126.5 (W) x 74.4 (H) x 53.9 (D) mm / 5.0. (W) x 2.9 (H) x 2.1 (D) in. Weight: 445 g / 15.7 oz

The Good Stuff

There’s a lot to like about this camera, including the relatively low ISO noise, in-camera RAW processing, film simulation profiles (for JPEG and also RAW via Lightroom or Photoshop), and of course the very compact and portable form factor. Also, the lens has excellent image quality, is a respectably fast f/2, and the leaf shutter mechanism means you can sync the flash at ANY shutter speed. The option of using the EVF or optical viewfinder is very useful and not a very common feature on mirrorless cameras.

One of my favorite aspects of this camera is that shutter speed is set with a physical dial and f-stop via ring on the lens. And moving into and out of the classic A, S, P, and M modes is as simple as turning those two dials.

With the shutter dial on A, the camera operates in aperture-priority mode. With aperture ring on A, it’s in shutter-priority mode. With both on A, you’re in Program (full auto) mode). And you guessed it: with manually selected f-stop and shutter speed, you’re in manual mode. Set the camera to auto ISO and shutter and aperture to A, and you have a fully dummy-proof camera you can hand over to clueless friends or strangers so they can take a pic of you.

The video options are sparse, but I don’t mind at all. You get one resolution (Full HD 1080P) and a choice of 30 fps or 60 fps. Couldn’t be simpler.

I find myself often grabbing the X100S on the way out instead of my D610 or 6D because it’s just so easy to carry, intuitive to use, and the image quality is quite good. For family and social events, I generally leave the heavy and complicated gear at home and just take the X100S.

For travel photography, The X100S would make a great “snapshot” camera similar to a point-and-shoot, but the much higher quality and image capture flexibility.

In general, this camera is just simply fun to shoot, and people frequently ask me about why I shoot film these days. It really does conjure the visage of the halcyon days of film photography. Cool points: check!

The Maybe Less-Than-Good Stuff

I say “maybe” because some of these will be shortcomings to some and good things to others. The first is that this is a fixed-lens camera, and there is a lot of bias in photography that if a camera doesn’t have interchangeable lenses, it’s not really that good or not capable of “pro” quality images. You’ll have to judge that for yourself, but if you hold this opinion, I’d encourage you to at least be open to the idea that a fixed-lens camera can put out amazing images.

The EVF is a bit “laggy”; far too laggy for sports or anything action-related if you need precision. I don’t find it too distracting, but I do notice it. There’s a bit more shutter leg a well, as compared to a modern dSLR. The optical viewfinder mode is perfectly lag-less, but then you don’t get real-time exposure visuals.

16.3 megapixels isn’t exactly a lot these days. It’s not a tiny file, but you can’t do aggressive cropping and retain good detail. On the plus side, you can shoot a lot and not have to deal with a ton of massive files. So it’s kinda good, kinda bad.

The native ISO range is 200 – 6400 (with 200 being the base ISO), which doesn’t set any records and is starting to show the age of the camera processing technology. But the noise is relatively low and images are very sharp and defined, based on my real-world shooting tests.



I previously listed the limited options for video capture as a plus, but some will see this is a negative. There’s also no 4K, but given the camera’s age, that’s hardly surprising. Still, these days 4K is more and more common, and not having the option will be a negative for many.

You can’t shoot “flat” JPEG images; you must choose one of Fuji’s film simulation profiles. There are a few that are close to the standard modern digital look, but the rest are more Instagram-like (although far more film-realistic). RAW images, of course, are not subject to any in-camera filters, but it’s a little annoying that it’s not possible to use the X100S as a purely digital camera in terms of color profiles for JPEG. If you shot Fuji slide film in the past, you may love the profiles, but younger photographers may not be as keen on the limitations.

Who Should Buy the FujiFilm X100S in 2020?

So who should considering picking up a FujiFilm X100S in 2020, would be most appealing to photographers who already own a dSLR or mirrorless system with multiple lenses. The simplicity and freedom of the small size, great image quality, and retro styling makes it a compelling travel camera or “walk around” option. The fixed lens may seem like a negative, but sometimes it’s nice not to have to make a decision about which lenses to bring. Additionally, I find that focal length limitation often forces me to be more creative in my compositions.

For a beginner looking to get into mirrorless Fuji, I would recommend an X-T10. It’s the same sensor and processor as the X100S, but it’s got the ability to swap lenses. These days, the X-T10 is pretty cheap on the used market and would make a better plaform for someone looking to get into photography. Or if you have a few more bucks to spend, check out the new X-T20 with better ISO range, newer senseor, 4K video capability, and more pixel density (24 MP).