The Project – Detroit: My Baby

With such credentials, Vuhlandes was the perfect creator to test FUJIFILM X100VI fixed-lens digital camera on his documentary photography project, Detroit: My Baby.

“It’s a photo-based project that centers around Detroit and me as a photographer who just so happens to be from Detroit,” explains Vuhlandes.

“Detroit itself and my overall experience of being a photographer from the city have not only shaped my style, who I am, and what I decide to frame, but also what I value within photography and life in general,” he explains.

“It can be a difficult city to be from, live in, and grow up in – but at the same time, it is beautiful and inviting. I wanted to show that through the work I was creating, whether it was cars, random places throughout the city that mean something to me, or other places in the city that mean something to everybody.”

The Camera – X100VI 

X100VI is the latest generation of Fujifilm’s X100 camera series. By packing professional-level features into an extremely compact body, this legendary family of fixed-lens digital cameras has garnered huge popularity with photographers of all levels, the world over.

Such a combination of advanced functionality and convenient portability makes X100VI perfect for street, documentary, travel, and everyday photography.

Size vs Resolution

One of the biggest upgrades enjoyed by X100VI is the 40.2-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor. While resolution is not a deciding factor for Vuhlandes, this many pixels in such a portable body was certainly not lost on him. 

“I don’t tend to get too much into specifications when testing out a camera, but it would be hard not to rave about such a high-resolution sensor in a camera as small as this,” he says.

He explains that, for him, it’s more about the quality of image the sensor creates than the number of pixels it includes, so the high dynamic range and legendary Fujifilm color tones produced by X100VI were a big hit. 

Furthermore, the inclusion of a new Film Simulation mode, REALA ACE, was a welcome addition.

REALA ACE Film Simulation

REALA ACE is the 20th Film Simulation mode to be made available. This versatile option offers faithful color reproduction and high-contrast tonality, making REALA ACE suitable for a wide variety of subjects and situations – perfect for creating straight out of camera (SOOC).

“I do like the addition of REALA ACE. It’s a Film Simulation I’ve never created with before, but will probably become the one I use the most; it felt natural, but with a lot of character,” Vuhlandes declares.

In fact, REALA ACE was responsible for his favorite image from the project, one that shows a classic car in a parking lot.

“The contrast between the gray of the parking lot and the color of the car makes it pop. The colors look amazing,” he beams. “When I was younger, my dad used to have an old-school car and would go meet up with his friends in a parking lot, so that one resonates with me on a personal level.”

Film-Like Quality

The nostalgia created through the combination of subject matter and Fujifilm color science was perfectly complemented by X100VI’s ergonomics and Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder.

The latter offers photographers the option to create using a rangefinder-style optical viewfinder (OVF), in addition to its 3.69 million dot electronic viewfinder (EVF).

As an avid film photographer, this was key for Vuhlandes.

“I love how X100VI feels in my hand – it’s like a film camera. Looking through the viewfinder is like looking through a film camera viewfinder. Everything about it is film-like, and that draws me to it.”

Tactile Retro Design

The stylish design was also a hit – not just with Vuhlandes but with the people he met. 

“I remember being in everyday situations – in the store or wherever – with the camera around my neck and getting a bunch of compliments on the camera as if it’s part of my outfit,” he laughs.

However, the best part for Vuhlandes was the external controls that allow you to change essential exposure settings without having to look at the camera’s LCD.

“That’s my favorite part,” he tells us. “Being able to change aperture, shutter speed, and ISO so easily.

“It feels like you’re doing something right when you use an analog dial to change these settings.”

Versatile Fixed Focal Length

Along with the 40.2-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor, X100VI’s high-quality FUJINON XF23mmF2 R WR fixed lens played a huge part in creating the images for Vuhlandes’ project. 

“I love fixed-lens cameras,” enthuses Vuhlandes. “Having to carry multiple lenses and other accessories can get in the way when you’re just trying to go out and make pictures.” 

The lens offers an equivalent focal length of 35mm in 35mm film format and uses precision optics, which are more than capable of reproducing every detail recorded by the high-resolution sensor.

“I do a lot of environmental portraiture and documentary work, so I try to get as much as possible in the frame without it being too much. A 35mm equivalent is a good focal length for that – so this is the perfect setup.”

Autofocus With AI-Based Subject Detection

At the heart of X100VI is X-Processor 5 – an image processing engine that not only powers an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system offering up to 6.0 stops of correction, but also autofocus featuring AI-based Subject Detection.

This improved AF enables X100VI to detect and follow specific subjects, such as certain types of animals and vehicles.

“The AF on this camera is extremely good. It’s possible to set different types depending on what you’re photographing – that’s insane,” asserts Vuhlandes.

“We were making images of someone skateboarding and I was able to just choose the relevant setting, then sit back and let the AF do the work,” he recalls.

Professional Video Features

Vuhlandes also highlights X100VI’s high-quality video features, which he says add to the camera’s versatility.

“I do a lot of filmmaking, and it’s insane that you can record F-Log footage at 6.2K/30p and 4K/60p in such a small body.

“As a filmmaker, I feel like I can take this camera out to make professional short films and photographs at the same time. It’s an amazing camera all round.”

The Verdict

In conclusion, Vuhlandes tells us that X100VI is a welcome addition to the Fujifilm lineup, building on the strong reputation for quality, portability, and style for which the X100 series is renowned.

“You get the same quality out of this as a camera twice the size. Put it in your coat pocket, take it wherever you want, and create whatever you want with it,” he enthuses. “It’s a game changer.

“From the colors and ergonomics to the images it produces, I couldn’t even imagine getting the same from any other camera.”