If you're looking for a camera that has the latest digital technology but still honors the old-school mentality of film photography, Fujifilm is the brand to look at. Generally speaking, the company makes versatile cameras aimed primarily at photography enthusiasts. These days, Fujifilm solely produces mirrorless cameras and, unlike some of its competitors, focuses mostly on APS-C cameras, along with medium format and premium compact cameras. The brand is also known for continuing to support older models with firmware updates well past the point that most brands typically stop providing such support.
We've bought and tested over 85 cameras, and below, you'll find our picks for the best Fujifilm mirrorless cameras. Read on to see how the brand stacks up in today's camera market.
Updates
- 08/11/2023 Fujifilm X-S20 reviewed
- 08/09/2023 Fujifilm X-T5 reviewed
- 06/27/2023 Fujifilm X-H2 updated
- 06/15/2023 Fujifilm X-H2S reviewed
- 01/12/2023 Fujifilm X100V updated
Best Fujifilm Cameras
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Best Fujifilm Camera For Pros And Hybrid Shooters
Travel Photography7.9Landscape Photography8.3Sport & Wildlife Photography8.2Vlogging7.1Studio Video8.5Action Video6.4The Fujifilm X-H2 is one of the best Fuji cameras we've ever tested. This flagship model ditches some of the things Fujifilm is known for—dedicated exposure control dials and a compact design. However, it's a hybrid powerhouse with a lot to offer for pros and enthusiasts. For one, it's incredibly well-built, with weather-sealing and a top display to check your settings at a glance. With a 40-megapixel backside-illuminated APS-C sensor, it's the highest-resolution camera in Fuji's lineup, along with the Fujifilm X-T5 below. It can capture a stunning amount of detail, with plenty of room to crop in if needed, making this a great choice for high-level studio work, portraits, or landscapes.
The camera also includes in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and records video at up to 8k resolution, and its pro body with fully articulated screen is more tailored towards video work than cameras in the X-T series. If you're interested in videography, choose the slightly pricier Fujifilm X-H2S instead. At 26 megapixels, it's a lower-resolution sensor, but its stacked design has a faster readout speed, which is ideal for video work and action photography.
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Best Fujifilm Camera For Photography Enthusiasts
Travel Photography8.2Landscape Photography8.4Sport & Wildlife Photography8.4Vlogging7.4Studio Video8.9Action Video6.9If you're looking for a more traditional Fujifilm shooting experience, turn to the X-T series, the latest of which is the Fujifilm X-T5. With a notably more compact body than the Fujifilm X-H2 and dedicated exposure dials that are tailor-made for manual shooters and hearken back to the days of film photography, this camera offers a more "pure" photography experience. Its 3-way tilting screen is also ideal for waist-level shots and street photos.
Beneath that exterior, however, is the same 40-megapixel sensor you get with the X-H2. Once again, you'll get stunning detail and plenty of cropping leeway. With a shallower grip, it may not be as comfortable to shoot with, particularly for those with larger hands, but it's much more portable for street shooting and on-the-go photography. Though photography is the name of the game here, don't overlook the X-T5 for video, either. It has some excellent video specs, though unlike the X-H2 and Fujifilm X-H2S, it lacks internal support for Apple ProRes codecs.
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Best Mid-Range Fujifilm Camera
Travel Photography8.0Landscape Photography8.0Sport & Wildlife Photography7.6Vlogging7.3Studio Video7.7Action Video5.9The Fujifilm X-S20 is an excellent hybrid camera for intermediate shooters. It's one of the best mid-range models on the market, with a great mix of advanced photo and video features at a lower price than the cameras mentioned above. With a comfortable hand grip and a more typical PSAM dial, rather than dedicated control dials, it's a more accessible option than the Fujifilm X-T5 but with a more portable design than the Fujifilm X-H2, offering the best of both worlds.
While it uses an older fourth-generation 26-megapixel X-Trans sensor, it still captures excellent image quality. Plus, it has IBIS to help with handheld shooting and 4k recording at up to 60 fps, albeit with a bit of a crop. Not bad for a camera at this price point. However, if you're looking for something cheaper, the Fujifilm X-S10 is still a very capable camera and will save you a few hundred dollars. Its video specs aren't as good, with internal recording limited to 4k 30 fps in 8-bit, but it's a steal for those who don't need the latest and greatest video features.
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Best Entry-Level Fujifilm Camera
Travel Photography7.8Landscape Photography8.0Sport & Wildlife Photography7.2Vlogging6.5Studio Video7.4Action Video5.8The Fujifilm X-T30 II is among the best entry-level options in Fujifilm's lineup. It uses the same sensor found in the Fujifilm X-S20 and higher-end Fujis of its generation, like the Fujifilm X-T4, so you'll get excellent image quality straight out of the camera. The big difference here is in design. With a highly compact and lightweight body, the X-T30 II is one of the most portable camera bodies in the Fujifilm lineup.
Unlike the X-S20, you also get exposure dials here, so you get the old-school Fuji shooting experience that makes it a breeze to adjust settings on the fly. Its tilting screen is also great for waist-level shooting. It's notably cheaper than the X-S20, although its autofocus system is less reliable than newer generations of Fujifilm cameras. Still, this is one of the best Fujifilm cameras for beginners or those who need something portable for travel or street photography.
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Best Fujifilm Point-And-Shoot Camera
Travel Photography7.6Landscape Photography8.1Sport & Wildlife Photography7.7Vlogging6.3Studio Video6.9Action Video4.8A point-and-shoot can be a great tool in the photographer's arsenal, especially for travel or street photography. Fujifilm's X100 series has long been a favorite among pros and street photographers, and the Fujifilm X100V is the best of the bunch. With a stylish rangefinder-style design, it's relatively compact and well-built, with an excellent lens that's fairly well-suited to low-light situations. Though recent demand has caused stock shortages and price surges, the X100V is worth the hype—if you can get your hands on one.
Using the same fourth-generation 26-megapixel sensor as some of the other cameras listed here, the X100V comes with a sharp built-in prime lens and a unique hybrid viewfinder. Flip a switch, and it goes from an optical rangefinder to a high-res electronic viewfinder, letting you engage with your surroundings or see what your camera "sees" in real-time. Of course, battery life isn't as long with a compact camera like this, but if you're looking for a portable all-in-one camera to take on the go, it doesn't get much better than this.
Compared To Other Brands
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Sleek, well-crafted designs.
Many Fujifilm cameras take inspiration from the company's history by making retro design elements new again, from rangefinder-style viewfinders to sleek silver accents. They're also usually fairly lightweight and feel well-built overall. -
Manual exposure controls.
Most Fujifilm cameras sport dedicated shutter speed, aperture, and ISO dials, similar to traditional SLR film cameras. While they may take some getting used to, dedicated dials and manual controls can make adjusting settings on the fly easy. -
Color science and film simulation modes.
Fujifilm's history with producing film has translated to its color science with digital cameras, which also feature 'Film Simulation' modes that mimic the color and tones of famous film stocks, giving you another way to get creative with your photography.
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Autofocus performance can be inconsistent.
While Fujifilm has made strides with its autofocus with newer models, the AF on many of the brand's cameras still falls short of the high standard set by competitors like Sony and Canon. -
Adequate ergonomics.
Many Fujifilm cameras sacrifice ergonomics in favor of size, weight, and portability. Hand grips can be small or even non-existent, although you can purchase external grips and other accessories to help with this. -
No full-frame offerings.
For the most part, Fujifilm only offers APS-C and medium-format digital cameras. While some of Fujifilm's APS-C cameras can compete with full-frame cameras, those looking for the RAW noise handling capability and low light performance that full-frame sensors generally offer will have to look elsewhere.
Fujifilm vs Sony
Unlike Fujifilm, Sony also produces full-frame models. Sony cameras tend to be more on the front lines of technological advances, with more sophisticated and reliable autofocus systems and class-leading sensors. On the other hand, Fujifilm's out-of-camera JPEG image quality stands out among other brands. Fuji's dedicated exposure dials also make it easy to adjust settings without diving into menus, while Sony cameras tend to have less intuitive user interfaces and menus.
Fujifilm vs Canon
Canon cameras tend to be less portable than Fujifilm cameras but typically offer better ergonomics and more simplicity, making them more accessible to a wider range of users. Canon's autofocus is also generally more reliable. However, Fuji's dedicated exposure dials offer an old-school shooting experience you don't get elsewhere.
Fujifilm cameras provide a slightly different shooting experience than competitors like Sony or Canon due to the company's dedication to old-school design elements. Think physical exposure control dials, rangefinder-style optical viewfinders, and more limited LCD screens. These elements add up to create cameras that are both fun and intuitive to shoot with, encouraging users to understand the art of photography and engage more closely with their surroundings. While these cameras tend to cater to a similarly old-school crowd, the company also offers a range of entry-level and mid-range cameras to entice beginners and hobbyists alike, offering great image quality, impressive video features, and good-looking designs.
Lineup
Unlike some competitors, Fujifilm has a more limited lineup of cameras. They focus mostly on producing high-quality APS-C mirrorless cameras and are one of the few brands to offer more advanced medium format cameras on top of popular consumer products like the Instax series of instant cameras.
GFX Series: Medium format sensor cameras.
- GFX100 = Flagship model.
- GFX100S = Smaller variant of the GFX100.
- GFX 50S = First GFX series model with a smaller body than the GFX100.
- GFX 50R = More compact variant of the GFX 50S.
X Series: APS-C mirrorless cameras and premium compact cameras.
- X-H(X) = Flagship hybrid cameras aimed at enthusiast photographers and video shooters.
- X-T(X) = Interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras aimed at professionals and enthusiasts.
- X-T(XX) = Mid-range interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras.
- X-T(XXX) = Entry-level interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras.
- X-S(XX) = Fujifilm's newest lineup of mid-range interchangeable-lens cameras aimed at vloggers.
- X-Pro(X) = Retro rangefinder-style cameras aimed at enthusiasts and professionals.
- X-E(X) = Mid-range rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras.
- X-A(X) = Entry-level rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras.
- X100 series = Premium digital compact cameras with APS-C sensors and fixed prime lenses.
Recent Updates
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Sep 12, 2023: Replaced the Fujifilm X-T4 with the Fujifilm X-T5 and renamed it to 'Best Fujifilm Camera for Photography Enthusiasts', replaced the Fujifilm X-S10 with the Fujifilm X-S20 as the 'Best Mid-Range Fujifilm Camera', renamed the Fujifilm X-H2 to 'Best Fujifilm Camera for Pros and Hybrid Shooters', and renamed the Fujifilm X-T30 II to 'Best Entry-Level Fujifilm Camera'.
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Jul 17, 2023: Added the Fujifilm X-H2 as the 'Best Fujifilm Camera', with a nod to the Fujifilm X-H2S as a video-oriented alternative. Renamed the Fujifilm X-T4 to 'Best Upper Mid-Range Fujifilm Camera'.
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Apr 20, 2023: Removed the Fujifilm X-T200 and added the Fujifilm X-T30 II under the new category, 'Best Portable Fujifilm Camera'. Also renamed the Fujifilm X-S10 from 'Best Intermediate Fujifilm Camera' to 'Best Mid-Range Fujifilm Camera' and added specific brand comparisons.
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Jan 17, 2023: Verified accuracy of picks with no change to recommendations.
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Oct 19, 2022: Reviewed picks and restructured article for clarity and to better reflect user needs.
Conclusion
Many photographers swear by Fujifilm cameras due to the company's dedication to old-school design elements like manual exposure controls, relatively portable camera bodies, excellent lenses, and second-to-none color science. Overall, Fujifilm's long history of producing film and digital cameras and its continued efforts to prioritize the art of photography have translated into a range of well-rounded cameras that can keep up with the needs of modern consumers.