Discovering a $35 knockoff of the Fujifilm X100V that claims to shoot 48-megapixel images and 4K video seems like a dream come true for budget-conscious photographers. However, as the saying goes: you get what you pay for.
Coming to you from Tom Calton, this intriguing video unpacks the mystery box of a knockoff Fujifilm camera, starting with its surprisingly nice packaging to the variety of accessories included—ranging from a lens cap to a USB-C cable and even a 64 GB microSD card. Calton's humor-infused exploration reveals a device that, while outwardly impressive for its price, harbors limitations and quirks that photographers would find both amusing and at least mildly frustrating. The inclusion of features like a wrist strap, two batteries, and even a lens cloth rounds off the unboxing with a sense of unexpected completeness, despite the post office's apparent disregard for package care.
The real meat of the video, however, lies in Calton's hands-on testing of the camera's capabilities, or lack thereof. From the puzzling array of automatic shooting modes disguised as manual controls to the "sweet, sweet 4K action" that comes with significant caveats like atrocious audio quality and blurred motion, the review is a rollercoaster of low expectations surprisingly met and then dashed. The attempt to use external microphones, the exploration of bizarre modes like motion detection, and the painfully slow response times add layers of comedic tragedy to the ordeal. Yet, amidst the criticism, Calton finds genuine enjoyment in the challenge and novelty of using such a flawed device, highlighting an important aspect for photographers: sometimes, the value in equipment lies not in its perfection, but in the creativity it inspires, regardless of its limitations. Maybe there's a better middle ground, though.
Check out the video above for the full rundown from Calton, and embrace the joy of discovering that in photography, as in life, sometimes, the cheapest seat offers the most exhilarating ride.
