Final Call for Fujifilm X80: Closing the Gap between Premium Smartphones and X100VI

Guest Post by FR-reader Igor
(original text in Slovak and translated using AI for better grammar)

A High-End Smartphone or a Better Compact Camera?

Photography today stands at a crossroads. When it comes to capturing moments, many of us face a tough decision: should we invest in the latest flagship smartphone, like the iPhone 16 Pro, or buy a premium compact camera, such as the new Fujifilm X100VI? This dilemma isn’t just about image quality—it’s also about convenience, affordability, and the overall user experience.

Convenience vs. Quality

For everyday photographers capturing family moments, nature trips, or city life, a smartphone seems like the obvious choice. It’s always in our pocket, offers excellent image processing, and allows instant sharing on social media. The iPhone 16 Pro features advanced computational photography, yet it’s still limited by its small sensor and optical constraints.

On the other hand, the Fujifilm X100VI provides a true APS-C sensor that significantly outperforms any smartphone camera. It boasts great low-light performance, stunning color reproduction, and optical capabilities that smartphones simply can’t match. However, it lacks instant connectivity, is bulkier, and requires extra investment in accessories.

Price: Where Is the Limit?

Price plays a major role. The iPhone 16 Pro costs between €1,000 and €1,500, while the Fujifilm X100VI with essential accessories (memory card, bag, extra battery) reaches around €2,000–2,200. For an average user with family expenses, a mortgage, and other financial priorities, spending such an amount on a standalone camera is a significant decision. Moreover, many people might not see enough of a quality difference to justify the higher cost.

What Should an “Ideal” Compact Camera Offer?

Fujifilm has an opportunity to fill a gap in the market with a more affordable, compact alternative to the X100VI. A successor to the Fujifilm X70 or Fujifilm XF10 could be the perfect solution, featuring:

  • an APS-C sensor
  • fast and accurate autofocus
  • seamless smartphone connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth)
  • a tilting screen for selfies and creative angles
  • a built-in flash for quick indoor shots
  • a compact body that fits in a pocket
  • a reasonable price range of €1,000–1,400

Such a camera could be a strong competitor to smartphones while offering noticeably better image quality. It would attract a broad audience, from families to street photographers, who want something superior without the bulk of a larger camera.

Will Fujifilm Release a Smaller X100VI?

Fujifilm has a strong track record of producing iconic compact cameras. If they were to release a more budget-friendly, compact version of the X100VI with simple controls and outstanding image quality, it could be a game-changer. But the big question remains: does Fujifilm have such a camera in the pipeline?

For now, the dilemma continues. Investing in a high-end compact camera is a major decision, especially when smartphones are so convenient. But if Fujifilm were to introduce a well-priced, compact camera with the right balance of features, it could shake up the market.

What do you think? Is it worth investing in a dedicated compact camera, or is upgrading to a flagship smartphone the smarter choice? Let’s discuss!

New Fujifilm GFX100RF Teaser Launched: Shows X100VI and GFX Fusion

Fujifilm has just released yet another teaser showing a heavily underexposed camera.

But this time it comes with a hint: they show an Fujifilm X100VI first, then a Fujifilm GFX100SII, and ultimately the silhouette of e new camera.

That’s so far the best hint we got that our rumors were right: a medium format X100 is on the way, and it will be called Fujifilm GFX100RF.

Fujifilm X-Pro4 Delayed by High Expectations – Fujifilm Wants It to Be More Than Just an Upgrade

Petapixel shared the X-Pro related part of the interview they had with Fujifilm managers at CP+. You can read it here.

In short:

  • Fujifilm is aware of demand for X-Pro3 successor
  • New X-Pro will come, but Fujifilm does not want it to be just a small “boring” update
  • the new X-Pro needs something which would satisfy the expert users
  • it would be boring to just put the 40MP and X Processor 5 in the X-Pro and call it X-Pro4
  • it should be a worthy upgrade
  • X100VI got IBIS and 40MP, hence introduced noticeable changes to the X100 line
  • Fujifilm has spent lots of time in thinking about X-Pro4, and during that time expectations kept expanding, making it harder for Fujifilm to live up to those expectations.
  • “the longer it takes to develop it, the more difficult it will be to please fans of the series“
  • “we probably made it difficult for ourselves, because we perhaps made the X-Pro too special.”

Fuji Guy Billy said already back in 2024 that the Fujifilm X-Pro4 needs to be something special. So the interview today confirms that.

Fujifilm GFX100RF: Viewfinder Switch is Still there, and Here is How it Works

We know it…and you have seen it: the Fujifilm GFX100RF has an electronic viewfinder only.

And we also know (and you have seen it here and here) it comes with a bunch of all new dials and levers already.

Considering all this, you might think the viewfinder switch we can find on the Fujifilm X100 line and X-Pro line are gone, as on those cameras it switches between the various viewfinder modes.

But as we could see on the leaked images, the viewfinder lever is still there.

So here is how it works on the GFX100RF: moving the lever to one side switches between display modes (LCD, LCD+EVF etc) and moving it to the other side changes how crops are displayed in-camera. There will be three options: black out the area outside the crop, darken the area outside the crop or display a white border to indicate where the crop is.

Of course, to change the crop itself you’ll have a dedicated toggle lever placed below the shutter button and command dial – see here.

A dedicated aspect ratio dial, a dedicated crop toggle, a dedicated shutter dial, a dedicated ISO dial, a dedicated aperture ring on the lens, a dedicated crop mode switch…

Guys, the Fujifilm GFX100RF is manual control heaven. ;)