The Fujifilm X-T100 is meant to be a small but capable little mirrorless camera with a retro look and feel. Does it measure up?
I took the device out on the town to find out, with two delightfully small lenses in tow.
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Design
Nostalgic is a word that often comes to mind when handling the X-T100. The device evokes thoughts of monochrome shoots and faded-out prints with its vintage aesthetic.
The camera body is indeed quite small, making it a pleasure to move around with in the busy crowds and quiet streets often encountered while exploring Cape Town.
A three-way tilting screen is also featured on the X-T100, a tool always useful for added perspective when shooting at odd angles.
Specs and price
This 24MP camera boasts a high ISO sensitivity of 51200, 4K burst shooting, a tilting 3-inch LCD screen, and 4K video recording.
The camera also features wireless connectivity, a pop-up flash, and an electronic viewfinder.
With a 15-45mm lens, the X-T100 typically sells for about R8900. Considering the price tag, the device is a fairly decent mirrorless starter-kit.
The feel
Once again the X-T100’s size, combined with small 35mm and 18mm lenses, is a breeze to move around in a number of spaces.
The camera feels quite sturdy, and I often found myself enjoying carrying it with minimal stress about knocking it around or exposing it to thieving eyes.
The results
Unfortunately, the X-T100 does not have the same grand flare of Fujifilm’s flagship X-T3.
Where I found the X-T3 intuitive to shoot with, it took a little more effort to get the results I wanted with the X-T100.
I also found my pictures a little less crisp and more blurry than I liked, no matter my manual settings. But, perhaps this is just part of the camera’s retro charm?
Despite my disappointment, the X-T100 still pulled off a couple of great photographs that I particularly loved for their warm, saturated and nostalgic colour tones.
Final Say
The Fujifilm X-T100 isn’t the worst camera I’ve come across this year, but its worthiness still hangs in limbo. With my own expectations sky-high after handling the gorgeous X-T3 last year, I was disappointed to find the device a little less grand than I had hoped.
If you’re starting out in the field of photography, however, and want to keep up with the lightweight and mirrorless times, then the X-T100 should suit you fine.
Additionally, if you want something a little more hipster, old fashion and easy to travel with, this camera would work well too.
Feature image: Shereesa Moodley/Memeburn
