FUJIFILM X Half Mirrorless Camera - Charcoal Silver

UPDATE: Review is below. I took a couple of shots in a very badly lit room. The light is 60w. I wanted to see what it would capture. I cropped the image, taken at ISO 1600, and of course, it's grainy, but the lamp still has a lot of detail. I also took a closeup of a 12mm socket. It's lit from ambient light from my phone. The camera captured autofocus at about 3.5". I also cropped the photo, to pixel peep. The detail is actually extraordinary. The camera is simulating a rangefinder film camera. It's not meant to simulate an SLR, nor a $1500 digital point and shoot. Remember that even in "digital" mode, the camera is simulating the chosen film. I remember the days of 35mm film. The camera takes very good shots in very low light, given it's main function. It's obviously capable of capturing fine detail, even in bad lighting, as the socket photo shows. But, as a photographer, I wouldn't use the camera under these circumstances, other than to do tests. It will excell in good light. First, you have to judge the Fujifilm X Half based on its intended purpose. This novel camera is a point and shoot digital that simulates a rangefinder 35mm camera. I grew up with film cameras. Fujifilm made some of the best film on the market. This camera harkens back to those days, but without the added expense and time that it takes to get film developed. You need to judge this camera based on this. Build quality: The camera is small and pocketable. I love small cameras. I own a Sony a7R-5, which is a lot of camera to carry. I also own a Nikon 1 j5, a tiny mirrorless camera that regretfully, Nikon discontinued in 2016. I have a Lumix bridge camera, as well as the Lumix ZS99. The camera is solidly built. Yes, there are plastic parts, but the weight suggests a metal frame. It weighs about 1/2lb. The camera has 2 non-articulating lcds, both small, and both touchscreens, which work great. There are few knobs compared to premium point and shoots. There is a rotating knob for exposure compensation, and 2 rotating rings, one for the f-stop and the other for manual focus. You have a choice between manual and autofocus. It has a large 1" sensor, with 17 effective mp. It's capable of producing nice jpeg images. There is no raw. I'll note here that the aspect ratio is 3:4, not 4:3 that you're used to. It shoots vertically. If you want the traditional landscape, hold it sideways. The viewfinder is a rangefinder style; it's not electronic. It's straight through viewing. Use: First you choose 1 out of 13 fujifilms. I chose the Provia for the examples. In manual mode, you can choose 200-3200 iso. I won't get into the menu's, but they are intuitive and easy to navigate. In digital mode, you point and shoot. But, what is this film mode??? This camera can simulate shooting a roll of 35mm film. Things to understand, back in the day of 35mm film, you shot the whole roll, and got it developed before you knew how good the photos were; you didn't have the capacity to preview your images. This is the same when you put it into film mode. You choose your film, 1 of 3 exposures (36, 54, 96 pics in the roll). Once you start, you cannot preview the photos. You either use the whole "roll", or you can end the roll early. As with old rangefinders, you have a viewer that is simply see through; it's not electronic. There are 2 things I would change on this camera, the location of the viewfinder being one. It should be centered. To advance to the next photo, you must use the thumb lever. I'm adding a little round vintage yashica viewfinder to the cold shoe to aid in centering the film mode photos. Once you've shot the "roll", the camera will "rewind" the roll. To develop it, you connect to the app. This is pure genius! As you can see from the screenshot, you get negatives. Lol The 2 things I would change: 1. Location of rangefinder viewfinder. 2. When advancing to the next photo, it would add to the realism to have an option for it to sound like an old camera. I could write reams about this camera, but hopefully this overview will help you decide whether this novel camera is for you. It's made for the enthusiast, for those folks who want the experience of 35mm film shooting, without the added expense. Fujifilm could have added things like a larger articulating screen, but it would take away from the film asthetic. It's a wonderful camera and for a premium Fujifilm, reasonably priced. Added: I added 2 photos of the viewfinder that I added on the cold shoe. It's a Vintage Yashica viewfinder that's as clear as a bell, with 2 frames, wide and telephoto. These are widely available.

This thing is seriously fun and a joy to use. It’s so small it fits in your front pocket and you can take it anywhere. The filters and settings on top of the super efficient app to download photos makes this a no brainer. Pictures really come out super refined and elevated. Super fun to adjust the filters and experiment - no shot will be the same - and once you take the shot there’s no going back! Makes for a super unique experience. I do think the price point should be closer to $599 new. I bought used so totally worth it for me. Charcoal is a super cool color - seems durable - and I purchased a couple cook accessories from small rig to elevate the camera ergos. Highly recommended camera! Don’t believe the skeptics. My other camera is a Canon SL2 but I hardly take it anywhere due to needing a bigger bag and the need to lug around lenses. This camera is a one-stop-shop in a small, but powerful package!

Expensive. Too expensive. But wow is it fun and what should you pay for fun? It’s a camera that inspires a return to having fun with photography and everything about it supports that philosophy of go have some fun and don’t worry about analysis….of the fun you have. Just shoot. And it is THAT camera. Controls are basic and it’s easy to use. So easy. Duel touch screen is cool and it is responsive. Menu system is easy to navigate. It would be cool to combine a filter with a film simulation. Firmware updates will be a thing I’m sure. Battery life is insanely good. It is easy to handle and some have complained about the screens and the viewfinder and start up time but it isn’t as slow as all that. I personally love the picture quality and am more of a deliberately lo-fi photography enthusiast. I like a little grain and character in my photos. If I wanted a “pro” camera I’d get one. I like this one. It’s the camera you’ll carry and have on ya cause it’s little and light and rad.

I’ve been into photography for years and recently picked up the Fujifilm X-Half in silver—honestly, it’s one of the best camera purchases I’ve made in a long time. I wanted something small enough to take everywhere but still capable of producing high-quality images, and this camera fits that need perfectly. Setting it up was quick and straightforward. Fujifilm’s menus are easy to navigate, and the physical dials make changing settings feel intuitive and tactile. I was out shooting within minutes of unboxing it. Despite its compact size, the X-Half feels solid in the hand and looks beautiful in silver—it has that classic Fuji style that makes you want to carry it around. What really makes this camera shine is the image quality. The photos are sharp and vibrant, with great dynamic range, especially for such a compact form. But what takes it to the next level is the film simulation mode. Being able to switch between different film looks—like Classic Chrome, Acros, or Velvia—adds a ton of creative flexibility. The JPEGs straight out of camera often don’t need any editing, which is a huge plus when traveling or shooting on the go. I’ve also started experimenting with custom film recipes, and it’s a lot of fun dialing in a look that matches the mood of the moment. I mainly got the X-Half for travel and pocket-carry, and it’s been fantastic in that role. It slips easily into a coat pocket or small bag without weighing me down, and it’s discreet enough that I feel comfortable using it in public without drawing attention. Whether I’m walking through a city, out on a hike, or just hanging out with friends, it’s always ready to go. The portability alone makes it worth it—but the fact that it takes such beautiful images makes it a camera I truly enjoy using. If you’re looking for a camera that’s small, powerful, and just plain fun to shoot with, the Fujifilm X-Half is a winner.