It looks like the Fujifilm X100VI is nearing its official launch – and the first leaked images of the premium compact camera suggest it won’t compromise on its classic retro design.
Some pixelated images have been shared with Fuji Rumors It looks like they’ve given us our first glimpse of the Fujifilm X100V successor, and the physical differences between the two appear to be very minor indeed. That’s good news for fans of 1950s movie camera looks, which seems to include most of TikTok.
The only changes we can see so far are that the camera’s ‘drive/delete’ button is now more centered under the hot shoe, and the ‘disp/back’ button now also functions as a Bluetooth button ( like on the Fujifilm X-T5) for quickly connecting the camera to your smartphone. That should ensure it works well with Fuji’s new X app.
The X100VI may bring even more changes, but these are the most physically obvious from the leaked images so far. Another likely design difference, according to a separate Fuji Rumors post, is that the X100VI will be 1mm thicker than its predecessor. This is apparently so that the body of the camera can house built-in image stabilization.
Like the X100V, this new version also appears to lack a d-pad on the back of the camera, which may disappoint fans of tactile buttons and shortcuts. But we didn’t mind its lack on the existing model and it looks like there’s the same joystick as before that lets you move your focus point around the frame.
Unfortunately, the leaked images have made the shutter speed/ISO dial grainy, so we’ll have to wait to see if Fujifilm has made any more tweaks to the top plate. But the wait shouldn’t be too long as the X100VI is tipped to launch at Fujifilm’s next X Summit event in Tokyo on February 20.
A familiar retro sight
Since the launch of the Fujifilm
If Fujifilm has (as the rumors suggest) been able to cram modern features like a 40MP APS-C X-Trans V sensor and built-in image stabilization into its relatively compact body, that would be a huge bonus. But we’ll have to wait for the official launch to see if that’s the case.
The current X100V measures 128x75x53mm, so the latest rumors suggest the X100VI will be 54mm thick. While that doesn’t exactly fit into a tight pocket, it would still be fine for jacket pockets and long days out taking street or travel photos.
One feature that Fujifilm may not be able to squeeze into that body is the latest NP-W235 battery. These are considerably thicker than the older NP-W126S batteries used in the X100V, so we may have to accept slightly more limited battery life than Fujifilm’s mirrorless cameras. However, all will likely be revealed at Fujifilm’s launch event on February 20.