Compact cameras have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and the Fujifilm X100VI sits at the center of that conversation. It's one of the most talked-about point-and-shoots on the market right now, and the hype has pushed used prices close to retail.
Coming to you from James Popsys, this candid and genuinely useful video gives you a second-opinion take on the X100VI from someone who tried it before, didn't connect with it, and came back to give it another shot. Popsys took the camera to Cornwall on a family trip, not a dedicated photo trip, and shot with it over a couple of weeks before sharing his honest conclusions. He covers image quality briefly, noting that in 2026, with any modern camera shooting in daylight, that conversation is essentially over. The X100VI packs a 40-megapixel APS-C sensor with a fixed pancake lens, and Popsys is direct: if you're not getting the results you want, the camera probably isn't the problem. He also talks through how he uses Fujifilm's film simulation recipes not for final JPEGs, but purely for previewing in the EVF and reviewing shots on the back of the camera while still shooting raw files.
One of the more interesting points Popsys raises is about the experience of using a camera you actually enjoy. He describes himself as enthusiastic about photography nearly all the time, but admits there's a small percentage of days when he doesn't feel like going out to shoot. In those moments, a camera that excites him makes a real difference, and the X100VI has become that camera for him on its second outing. He also compared it directly against the Sony a1 II, the Leica Q3, and the Ricoh GR IIIx, and the Fujifilm came out on top for him in terms of enjoyment, despite being technically outclassed by the Sony on every measurable spec.
Popsys also raises a take worth sitting with: he thinks Fujifilm cameras are priced too low. Not in the way that hurts buyers, but in the way that hurts Fujifilm's reputation. His argument is that the X100VI's build quality doesn't match what it's capable of producing, and that gap in perceived quality causes some photographers to dismiss it before they ever pick one up. He draws the comparison to the Leica M11-P, which costs nearly six times as much, and acknowledges that the difference in feel is immediate and obvious. What he questions is whether that gap in feel accurately reflects a gap in output, and his conclusion is that it doesn't. He stops short of calling the TikTok hype fully deserved, but he's clear that the camera itself has earned his respect. There's more in the video on the hybrid OVF/EVF system, his specific ergonomic gripes, and how the X100VI stacks up in real use against its closest rivals. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Popsys.
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