I know this is controversial, but I do NOT think the new Fujifilm X100VI is worth it for street photographers. I have picked out a few cameras that I think fill a similar role to the X100VI but offer better features, lower cost, or more flexibility.
Why isn’t the Fujifilm X100VI Worth It?
With so many great new & used cameras on the market, a new camera really needs to make a splash with notable features for it to be worth the upgrade. And, I’m not sure the X100VI made a big enough splash, especially for the price.
As of this writing it is $1,599 which throws this camera up into a pretty competitive price bracket. What made the previous model of this camera appealing was that it was cheaper than Fujifilm’s interchangeable lens cameras but offered more features and a built-in lens. Now, it is competing against some really killer options.
So What Would I Buy Instead if I had $1,599?
Fujifilm X-T30 + 18-55mm f/2.8-4
If you are eyeing the X100IV as your first camera, then you will be much better served by a Fujifilm X-T30 paired with Fujifilm’s phenomenal kit lens the 18-55mm f/2.8-4.
All thought the Fujifilm X100IV has more resolution, I would argue that 24 megapixels is plenty. Most photos never get printed larger than 11×14″, if even printed at all. Therefore, 24 megapixels should be plenty, even if you crop a bit.
The beauty of this setup is the 18-55mm lens, because it gives you all the essential street photography focal lengths (in full-frame terms: 28mm, 35mm, 40mm, & 50mm) at a fairly affordable price. You can practice at each length until you decide which length suits your style best.
Furthermore, once you learn which focal lengths you like best, you can buy them as compact primes and use them with your existing camera body.
Two Ricoh GRIIIs
I know, this crazy sounding, but I would buy two used Ricoh GRIIIs instead of the new X100VI. Why two? Well, one would be the original GRIII with the 28mm equivalent lens and the other would be the Ricoh GRIIIx with the 40mm equivalent lens.
The beauty of this setup is that I have a wide angle for getting up close with my street photography. While at the same time having a more normal focal length available for when I want to shoot portraits or zero in on a piece of the action.
However, the coolest part of these cameras is the size, they are the only truly compact APS-C camera on the market. You can fit whichever one you are not using right in your front pocket.
If you can live without a viewfinder, then this would probably be my favorite set up on this list.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1, 2, or 3 + Prime
Before I reveal why this is a better deal than the X100VI, I have to be transparent, that this is my current setup. I rock a Fujifilm X-Pro 2 and 18mm f/2 about 90% of the time while out shooting street photography.
I think this setup is not an alternative to the x100VI, but an upgrade! This is because it offers many of the same features like the OVF, compact body, old school controls, beautiful aesthetics, but it allows for interchangeable lenses.
I shot for years on the Fujifilm 23mm f/2 (full-frame 35mm, but when I tried the 18mm f/2 (full-frame 28mm) I fell in love with the focal length. And since I use an X-Pro 2, I could just buy a new lens for a few hundred dollars rather than a whole new camera or a clunky lens adapter.
The fact that I get almost all the X100VI features and interchangeable lenses makes this setup a huge winner in my book.
Sony A7C + Adapted Manual Focus Lens
If you like the X100VI size, but need a full-frame camera, then I think this is your best bet! The A7C is a tiny camera with a full-frame sensor that produces beautiful images, Sony makes Leica sensors after all.
I think the cool thing with this is that Sony has a variety of adapters that allow you to put vintage lenses from other manufactures onto this camera without a crop-factor because it is full-frame. Therefore, I would pair this with a used Voigtlander 28mm or 35mm and enjoy a Leica-like shooting experience, but with all the modern amenities like focus peaking and burst modes.
Fujifilm X100V/F
Last but not least, just get an older X100 series! These things should drop in price on the used market once the x100VI orders start getting fulfilled, and they should offer a lot of the same features.
I think the magic of the X100 series is the viewfinder paired with the leaf shutter. That is something you are not going to find on any other camera on the market today. So I totally get wanting one. Being able to see your composition in real life and having unlimited flash sync speeds is a super useful feature set for any street photographer.
And if a 35mm equivalent focal length is one you like, then purchasing one of these is a no-brainer.
Who Should buy the Fujifilm x100VI?
I know I just presented a ton of alternatives, but that is because the Fujifilm X100VI is short supply and in my opinion a little expensive for what you get. However, that does not mean you should not buy one or pre-order one. It is a great camera! It has some killer features that no other camera offers today such as an optical view finder, leaf shutter, built in ND filters, and a compact lens.
Just know you have options depending on your needs. And who knows, you might like using a Ricoh or Sony more!