By Brian Renshaw — 12 Jun 2025

Fuji x100vi and Dallas

I recently bought the Fuji X100VI, a camera I’ve admired from afar for years but never committed to until now. Over the years, I’ve cycled through several Fuji cameras, including the X-T20, X-T4, X-S10, and X-S20, but none have truly stuck. While I always loved Fuji’s aesthetics, vibrant colors straight out of the camera, diverse film simulations, supportive photography community, and dedicated magazines such as Fujilove, something always held me back.

You might wonder why I hadn’t tried the X100 series earlier. The simple answer is that the fixed lens intimidated me. I’ve long appreciated the creativity enforced by a fixed lens, but the flexibility of interchangeable lenses always won out. My relationship with Fuji cameras has historically been complicated, a true love and hate dynamic. Persistent frustrations with autofocus and low-light performance often led me away. I admired photographers like Kevin Mullins, who embraced Fuji cameras professionally and thrived despite these challenges.

The turning point arrived with the release of the X100VI, featuring significantly improved autofocus and Fuji’s latest sensor technology. Around the same time, I began following Matt Junior for his golf photography but was more inspired by his incredible family and everyday photography, often captured with an X100 series. If the camera worked for him, surely it could work for me too.

After completing a consulting gig that provided funds for a new purchase, I decided it was finally time to embrace the Fuji X100VI. Now, several months later, I couldn’t be happier. My past experiences have given me clearer expectations, and years of photographic growth have made me more capable of appreciating and maximizing this camera’s potential.

The Fuji X100VI’s appeal largely comes down to its compact size and enjoyable handling. Professionally, I shoot with a Sony A7RV, a fairly compact full-frame camera, but I found myself increasingly reluctant to carry it around casually. With the Fuji, though, it effortlessly accompanies me everywhere. Often, I don’t even notice it’s with me until a moment to capture presents itself.

I currently enjoy shooting a combination of RAW and straight-out-of-camera JPEGs, utilizing specific film simulations. I’ve learned to embrace flexibility and not stress too much about adhering strictly to one workflow.

A recent trip to Dallas solidified my affection for the X100VI. Typically, I’d travel with multiple lenses, always anxious about missing the perfect shot. This time, I traveled with just the X100VI. Although I occasionally imagined how certain images might be better with a different lens, focusing on maximizing the equipment at hand proved creatively rewarding and genuinely enjoyable. I’m thrilled with the images I captured and, more importantly, the joy of the entire photographic experience.

Ultimately, photography should be fun, and Fuji continues to embrace that joy. With the X100VI, I’ve found a camera that effortlessly blends pleasure and performance, renewing my passion for everyday photography.

Below are some images capture on the trip: