The X100 series has become somewhat of a hit thanks to social media, and this means it’s almost impossible to get hold of the latest X100VI without having to wait for months or paying above retail for a used copy. As much as I love the X100 series, having owned the X100V (before it got famous) and currently being the owner of an X100VI, I don’t think I would wait for months on end, and I certainly would never pay over the odds for it.

In this blog, I will share a potential alternative that is being overlooked: an XT body with a 27mm pancake lens. I can already see some people shaking their heads, so let me explain.

I am specifically referring to either the XT3 or the latest XT5. I’ve left the XT4 out because it’s larger, with a screen not best suited to photography. As for lenses, the 27mm is (at the moment) the most compact focal length one can get for the X-mount system. I personally recommend the Fuji 27mm f2.8 WR lens because it’s the most compact and weather-sealed. TT Artisan offers a great alternative, and if you go down the manual focus route, you can actually get a wider focal length. For this blog, I will be using the XT5 and 27mm f2.8 as an example.

Size

There’s no getting around the fact that the XT5 is larger in every dimension and a little heavier too. It’s not that much bigger, but the difference will be noticeable to many. If you carry the camera in a bag or sling, you won’t notice any difference. However, if you carry it around your neck, the extra weight will be noticeable, and if you put it into your coat pocket, the extra size will be apparent. There is one huge caveat, though, and that’s if you’re not using the weather-sealing adapter for the X100. The moment you pop that filter on, the size of the lens nearly doubles. It’s still smaller than the XT, but the already weather-sealed 27mm is now smaller.

Cost

On average, the XT5 and 27mm f2.8 setup will cost you around £400 more than the X100VI at normal retail price. The XT5 is mass-produced and often heavily discounted, especially during big sales, so you can easily save £300 there. If you buy used, the XT5 prices are much better, given there’s more supply than demand. If you shop around, it’s totally realistic to pick up an XT5 with the 27mm f2.8 for the same price as the X100VI (standard edition).

Build Quality

Both systems are from the same generation of slightly cheaper-feeling Fuji bodies. The build quality is the same, and there’s nothing to distinguish them here.

Weather Resistance

The XT5 and 27mm Fuji WR combo is fully weather-sealed without needing any additional accessories. The X100VI body is weather-sealed, but the lens is not. You’d need to buy an additional filter and adapter ring (which Fuji will kindly sell you for £100) to make the camera weather-sealed. There are cheaper alternatives, though.

Aesthetic

For many people, this is an important consideration when buying a camera. While photography purists might scoff at the idea of prioritising looks, for many people, it’s a selling point. Looks are subjective, but the X100VI wins this one with ease. Even if the XT5 were silver, it’s just not the same.

Image Quality

Lenses aside, you’ll get an identical image, as both use the same internals. It’s the same sensor, the same colour science, and the same processor. All the same JPEG profiles carry over too. There’s no difference here.

Lenses

If you go for the 27mm AF lens from either Fuji or TT Artisan, you’re getting a slower and slightly inferior lens. In the case of the TT Artisan, it’s much worse. I personally found the Fuji 27mm to be a fraction softer than the lens on the X100VI, although you’d need to pixel-peep to notice. The biggest difference is close focusing, with the 27mm not performing well in this area. The difference between f2 and f2.8 isn’t a big deal for most scenarios, but if you plan on shooting in low light, f2 does have an advantage. Both systems have pretty outdated autofocus motors, no real difference here.

Focal Length

This is a very subjective topic, and there’s no right or wrong answer. For day-to-day documentation of your life, family, and so on, I feel the wider 23mm focal length is more useful. If you want to do more street photography or travel, I find the 27mm to be a better choice. Either way, the difference is minimal, and you can easily use both lenses for most purposes. If I had to pick one for life, I’d choose the wider 23mm, as you can always crop in with that 40MP sensor.

Ergonomics

The XT5 wins hands down here. Although it’s not much larger, it provides a nice grip. You also get more customisable buttons and a screen that tilts vertically for portrait shooting from the hip. The XT5 also has a bigger and better EVF. On the flip side, this is a more complicated body with many buttons and dials, whereas the X100 is minimal and simple.

Features

The XT5 also pulls ahead here, offering better battery life, dual memory card slots, UHS-II support, and the ability to use different lenses.

Video

The XT5 is a native hybrid camera with a dedicated stills/movie switch. That said, the X100 is a very capable video camera, and some might argue it’s more practical than the XT5 because of its built-in ND filter. You can toggle the ND filter on and off via a custom button, saving you from using external filters. The image quality is the same, the IBIS is the same, and even the codecs are identical. The F-Log2 files you get from both cameras will look the same. Where the X100 falls short is with battery life, overheating, and the fact that you need to navigate through a menu to enable video mode.

Overheating

If you plan on shooting in hot conditions, this is an important consideration. The X100VI will overheat much sooner than the XT5 due to its smaller body, which can’t dissipate heat as effectively. I used the X100VI in Croatia for a week and had daily overheating warnings in 30c+ sunshine, though the camera never shut down. In contrast, I’ve only ever had one overheating warning on the XT5, despite using it much more frequently in all conditions.

Rangefinder Experience

Finally, you lose out on the rangefinder-style experience that the X100 offers with its optical viewfinder. It’s important to note that the X100 is not a true rangefinder, but it gives you the feeling of using one. I’ll also add that the rangefinder-style body is more appealing to some people, which is something you’ll certainly lose with the XT5. If you love the sensation of looking through an optical viewfinder, the X100 is your only option. However, if you prefer an EVF or mostly use the screen, the XT5 experience will be better.