The mirrorless territory is where we've been spending most of our time lately, and it's full of attractive models with well-defined strengths and a design aesthetic that turns heads. The Fujifilm X-T100 is one of them. Its retro exterior is irresistible for some users, but Fujifilm also delivers one of the best sensors on the market for capturing landscapes and other static scenes with excellent sharpness and vibrant colors. The competition among camera manufacturers is becoming a real bloodbath, and honestly, we love it. Slowly, they have to deliver more for less, and that's not exclusive to DSLRs. There's also growing pressure in the mirrorless format, which many enthusiasts already see as 'the future' of photography. Personally, I hope any major transition happens in an orderly fashion (and without ignoring the opinion of professionals), but it doesn't sound bad at all to have the power of a traditional DSLR in a format similar to a smartphone. The Fujifilm X-T100 goes in that direction. It's not the cheapest in its group (if you need to save, look first at the Canon EOS M100), and its features present some compromises we can't sweep under the rug, but if your priority is landscapes, portraits, and other relatively calm scenes, it's very tempting at 600 euros.
Fujifilm X-T100: Excellent Images and Impeccable Looks
Officially announced in May of this year, the Fujifilm X-T100 features a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor with a Bayer color filter, ISO sensitivity from 200 to 12,800 with Boost in both directions up to 100-51,200, and two shutter speeds: 1/4000 to 30s for the mechanical system, and 1/32000 to 30 seconds for the electronic. It has a three-inch touchscreen that tilts in three directions (120, 45, and 180 degrees for selfie mode), with a maximum resolution of 1.04 million dots. The OLED viewfinder is 0.39 inches with 2.36 million dots and 0.62x magnification.
The autofocus system on the Fujifilm X-T100 is hybrid, with a total of 91 points, of which 35 are based on phase detection. The final burst rate depends on the configuration, but in the best case we're talking about 6 FPS with a buffer of 26 JPEG images, dropping to 3 FPS afterwards. The general recommendations for optimizing autofocus on the Fujifilm X-T100 all point in the same direction: concentrate our efforts on the center of the frame (phase detection covers approximately 40 percent), or set a single autofocus point during face detection. Storage uses SD cards (up to 256 GB with UHS-I), and for wireless connectivity, the Fujifilm X-T100 offers 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy.
The appearance of the Fujifilm X-T100 definitely makes us sigh. If you appreciate the style of retro cameras, you'll love having this mirrorless in your hands. Its controls feel a bit more complex than usual, but don't let them fool you. The mode dial presents several functions: 'SR+' as equivalent to Full Auto, Program auto 'P', Shutter Priority 'S', Aperture Priority 'A', Manual 'M', and Panorama (the widescreen symbol). We can also use the predefined scenes, Face Smoothing (read 'Portrait'), Landscape, Sports, and Night, or set the dial to 'SP' to enter Advanced Scenes (Portrait, Night with tripod, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Parties, Flowers, Text, and Multiple Exposure).
The last entry on the dial is 'Adv.', which handles the filter effects: Toy camera, Color pop, High tone, Low key, Fisheye, Dynamic tone, HDR art, Miniature, Star, Partial color (six colors), Fog removal, and Soft focus. All the secondary details on each one can be found in the manual. Now, what about video modes? Technically, the Fujifilm X-T100 supports 4K, but at 15 frames per second it's only good for casual experimentation. The 1080p60 video is there, however, its final quality doesn't rewrite any rules. If having a good 4K mode is non-negotiable, it's best to invest 200 euros more and jump to the Sony Alpha a6300.
Accessories for the Fujifilm X-T100
With a 15-45 lens included and a 600-euro price tag, the Fujifilm X-T100 is ready to use, and a novice photographer probably won't need anything else. Even so, aspects like the lack of weather sealing and the natural demands of low-light shooting require a basic set of accessories to protect and optimize this mirrorless. If you've decided to bend your budget toward the Fujifilm X-T100, you might want to take a closer look at this list.
Batteries and Power
With a reported performance of 430 shots per battery charge, the Fujifilm X-T100 is one of the most efficient mirrorless cameras out there, but our stance on energy doesn't change: it has to be abundant. The good news is that we don't have to spend too much. A battery compatible with the NP-W126 format costs just 15 euros, while the Gloxy 2-in-1 hybrid charger for home and car floats around 22 euros. The product code for the charger is "DI527,VDTS-4604-CH-VDTS-4242".
Tripods and Supports
On the other side, we discover that the Fujifilm X-T100 weighs 448 grams with battery and memory card. That makes it a bit heavier than its direct rivals, but it's still a feather compared to the average DSLR. Any user who needs a tripod for the Fujifilm X-T100 will have no difficulty with the professional-quality Gloxy GX-T6662A, which can work at a maximum height of 1.6 meters and supports a load limit of 10 kilograms. Among the more compact and less orthodox solutions, so to speak, the crown jewel remains the Clampod Takeway T1. With its maximum load of 40 kilograms, it will barely feel the Fujifilm X-T100.
Backpacks and Bags
As I mentioned above, the Fujifilm X-T100 doesn't have advanced weather sealing to protect it from the whims of the climate. That means any chosen mode of transport should be up to the task. When looking for a backpack for the Fujifilm X-T100, it's very hard to go wrong with the Gloxy Pro AW. Its external waterproof cover gives us exactly what we need, and its customizable padded interior adapts to the most unusual setups. The alternative is the Delta 400a Fancier bag. Compact, lightweight, with a wide strap, and a front pocket for all our personal items. The product code for this set is "GloxyPRO,Fancier400a".
Flashes
The Fujifilm X-T100 has a hot shoe on top. So why not put it to good use by pairing the camera with a dedicated flash? Our first choice is actually an official design, the Fujifilm EF-20. Tiltable head, two AA batteries as power source, and just 100 grams in weight (without batteries) make it very easy to use. The second is the Meike MK-320, which includes a diffuser, direct charging via micro USB, a protective case, a bracket, and a better price, at least for now.
Lenses
Do you think Fujifilm's X mount will make your life harder? Don't worry: on one hand, you can always find adapters, and on the other, some manufacturers have done a great job. One of them is Samyang, with its ultra-wide-angle 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS, which begs for wide landscape, architecture, and interior sessions. However, if you want to go to the other extreme, a good starting point is the Gloxy 500-1000mm f/6.3 telephoto lens, which comes with a T2 adapter, and most importantly: it won't turn your budget to ashes.
In summary, its 4K video is very limited and you have to work on autofocus a bit, but if you're willing to look past that, the shots from the Fujifilm X-T100 are a delight. The camera is fairly recent, which translates into a natural price drop. Don't take it off your radar; you might be in for a surprise in the near future. Good luck!
