Why You Don’t Need The Fujifilm X100VI To Be A Good Photographer

German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder famously said that every good director only makes the same film over and over again. I’m not a filmmaker, but as someone who occasionally dabbles in photography I find that sentiment oddly relatable—especially when it comes to cameras. For years, I’ve been buying the same camera, the Fujifilm X100VI.

Well, sort of. The X100VI dropped in February 2024 and although I technically only purchased it once, it felt as if it wasn’t the first time. That’s because I wasn’t new to Fujifilm’s X100 series, having previously copped both the X100F and the smash-hit X100V.

I’ve waxed poetic about my love affair with the X100F in the past and my affinity with the X100 series is no secret. But half a year with the X100VI has convinced me that even though it’s a very capable piece of gear, it’s not a smart purchase for most people—especially for first-time camera buyers or those seeking to reignite their love for photography.

Let me explain.

Why I Got The Fujifilm X100VI

Much like thousands of other people, I rushed to pre-order the X100VI as soon as it was announced last February. It was an easy call, given that I was able to sell my old X100V almost at the same price as the new X100VI (thanks TikTok). But to my annoyance, I only got my hands on it six months later in August 2024.

During that window, I went back to my beloved X100F, which was my very first camera. I could’ve sold the X100F when I upgraded to the X100V, but it held sentimental value to me so I had decided to keep it.

I expected to notice the difference in speed when I switched to the X100F, but I was pleasantly reminded that even eight years after its release, it was still a phenomenally capable little shooter. Video capabilities aside, the X100F and X100V are nearly identical—both in terms of specs and design.

On paper, the X100V comes with improved weather resistance and offers a slightly better resolution at 26 megapixels compared to the X100F’s 24 megapixels. In practice, though, that’s hardly noticeable—even in heavy weather conditions thanks to Fujifilm’s excellent build quality.

Boasting a 40-megapixel sensor and in-body image stabilization (IBIS), I similarly expected the X100VI would feel like a massive upgrade compared to its two predecessors. But when the X100VI finally arrived at my doorstep in August, I was surprised how little of a difference the beefed-up features made to my photography.

Don’t get me wrong. The extra pixels and the IBIS are welcome additions, and I have gotten much more liberal with cropping in post-production. But in the grand scheme of things, the X100VI carries the same shortcomings as its past iterations.

Why You Shouldn’t Get The Fujifilm X100VI

The X100 series is great. Each camera is beautiful piece of design and engineering, with superb handling, image quality and inexplicably magical film simulations. I get why people love them so much and their popularity is well-deserved. But like most fixed-lens cameras, they’re also remarkably impractical—especially at that price point.

Throughout the four years I spent with the X100V, I went through a creative slump. I had lost my passion for photography and visual art. I found myself frequenting the same locations, taking the same photos I had already taken and editing my work in the exact same way I always do. Each attempt to break away from that sameness resulted in more of the same.

So when nothing seemed to work, I convinced myself that a new, more powerful camera will help me out of this rut. Hence the X100VI. Yep, I knowingly fell victim to the dreadful gear acquisition syndrome—yet again.

If you’ve made it this far, you probably recognize a little bit of this in you—especially if you’re in the market for your first camera or someone wrestling with a creative crisis. The bad news is that the X100VI probably isn’t the solution. The good news is that the solution is much simpler.

Forget about the gear and focus on the creative process. If you’re new to photography, take your camera out, give in to the unknown and allow yourself room for mistakes. Don’t fuss over technicalities and sharpness—there’s beauty in imperfection. If you’re struggling with a creative block, look for what made photography fun in the first place—the rest will follow.

Photography isn’t about the thousands of discarded snaps. It’s about the one that you keep.

A Camera Is Just A Tool

The past six months with the X100VI have been great. I’ve hardly gone longer than three days without taking it out for a spin. I still take thousands of pics that I absolutely despise, but that’s part of the process. Fortunately, I’ve also captured a dozen stills that I’m happy with—you’ve seen them throughout this piece.

Even better, for the first time in a while I feel my best work is still ahead of me.

But the reality is that the X100VI had little to do with that. The ironic part is that I rediscovered my passion for photography during the six months I spent with the X100F in anticipation for the X100VI.

Because at the end of the day, the camera is just a tool—whether it be the X100F, the X100V, the X100VI or some other completely different camera. And chances are the best tool for the job is the one you already have.

I shelled out €1,799 ($1,599) to learn that lesson. You can do the same. Or you can skip ahead and take my word for it—that costs nothing.