The 5 Best Fujifilm Camera for Beginners, Professionals and Travelling in 2024

There are a wide range of wonderful Fujifilm cameras on the market at the moment and like most cameras at varying price points they’re aimed at different users with different budgets and different needs. I put together my 5 best Fujifilm cameras for travelling, beginners and professionals. I’ve used them professionally on commercial lifestyle shoots and at home with the family. I’ve also included a couple of recommendations for the best Fujifilm cameras for video and vlogging.

I have become quite the fan of Fujifilm cameras in the past years. Despite having shot professionally on Canon cameras for most of my life, the small form factor, really beautiful design and excellent image quality really drew me into them and then I actually ended up shooting all my pro jobs on them for a long time. A lot of the cameras here are really similar in technical specs and are hugely similar in image quality but their price point usually reflects their feature set. I’m not going to go hugely into the technical specs of these cameras but rather the actual day to day practical experience with them.

1. The Best Fujifilm Camera for Travelling: Fujifilm x100v

The Fujifilm x100V was my first choice for picking up a travel camera at the beginning of the year. I’ve owned the previous X100 and the X100s and know how well they handle out in the field. I love the fixed 23mm (35mm equivalent) lens that the Fuji x100V is known well and in the new X100V it’s actually been improved. It’s super bright and creates a really lovely depth of field when shooting portraits at f2 whilst remaining pin sharp. It really allows for separating subjects when you’re on the go.

One of the wonderful design and technical features the camera has is a hybrid viewfinder. You can look straight through the eyepiece and overlay digital information or you can switch it to full EVF which shows you a full high resolution LCD image of what you’re pointing the camera at. It’s really useful for zooming in and checking focus or seeing what images look like with the many awesome Fujifilm film simulation presets applied in real time. The autofocus and low light ability are brilliant and it even shoots decent 4k video for grabbing handheld clips, though it does lack any image stabilization.

Check Latest X100v Price

Fujifilm Design is Beautiful and Subtle

Practically, the Fujifilm x100v is small, simple and subtle. It doesn’t draw attention which is why so many street photographers have turned to it. It’s choices of mechanical and electronic shutter are great for when shooting quietly is important. I can fit it in a tiny Eastpak bumbag, it’s weather-proof (when you use the sealing filter/hood) and has some really great accessories to make it super comfortable and easier to use (I wrote about my favourite accessories for it here).

You could say being limited to the 23mm lens is hindering but actually I find it makes me take more considered photographs. I did in the end opt for picking up the two screw on “lenses” that sit on top of the 23mm lens. The TCL-x100 II and WCL-x100 II both provide a 50mm and 28mm equivalent instead of the fixed 35mm. They’re small and fit in my shoulder bag without taking up too much space. You also don’t need to worry about getting dust near the sensor, bonus! They bump the price up on your kit but I really think they’re worth it, personally the TCL-x100 II would be the first to get. It makes lovely portraits and has a bit extra reach for those telephoto shots.

Overall the Fujifilm x100V is the best travel camera. I’ve shot commercial shoots with this camera (I pack it as a nice small second shooter) and it’s a joy to use. I actually find it changes my mindset and can refresh you after staring through a big DSLR all day. It’s beautiful.

2. The Best Fujifilm Camera for Beginners: Fujifilm X-S10

The Fujifilm X-S10 (Amazon) is the latest camera from Fujifilm. This new X-S10 bridges the gap between former DSLR users and new mirrorless cameras. That’s not to say you need DSLR experience, you don’t. It’s intuitive and sympathetic to new users. It’s sleek, versatile and extremely capable with some great features and tech specifications. It even has the same APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor as some of the higher priced Fujifilm cameras.

The autofocus speed and accuracy is one thing you should be looking for in all new camera purchases and the X-S10 has remarkably good autofocus. It also features eye-detect and again, surprisingly great tracking with moving subjects. It has a version of the In Built Image Stabilization (IBIS) that we saw in the Fujifilm XT-4, albeit marginally lesser (about a ½ stop difference). This is such a huge plus for shooting with longer lenses or in low light / slow shutter conditions. Families and family photographers will love how quick the IBIS and AF tracking is when photographing active kids whilst out and about.

Check Latest X-S10 Price

Fujifilm Colour Profiles are Stunning

You can set up the buttons and dials to whatever controls you want as it’s fully customizable. It comes with all Fujifilm’s beautiful film simulations including Eterna, Classic Neg, Velvia and Astia. I used to scoff a bit at the film simulations but as I’ve grown as a photographer I’ve realised that they actually keep me shooting more and off the computer trying to edit them into looking similar to them. Connecting it via the Fujifilm Camera Control app means that you can shoot and send it to your phone and off to Instagram in a matter of seconds too which is really neat. It’s a wonderful “straight out of camera” camera.

Some of the practical bonuses include USB charging (we all carry those power packs round these days don’t we?!) pop-up flash, big comfortable grip and a flip out screen which is why I’ve recommended it for vloggers below. Its video capabilities are great, shooting 4k at 30fps – the footage looks wonderful using Eterna and the IBIS means handheld shooting is a little more possible to do. My only minor gripes with it are the lack of weather sealing (You’ll need to goto the Fujifilm XT-4 for that) and the single SD card slot (I like a backup if I’m shooting pro jobs) Other than those two the Fujifilm X-S10 is a really great camera to start out with.

3. The Best Fujifilm Camera for Video (plus the best Fujifilm camera for vloggers): Fujifilm X-S10 / Fujifilm X-T4

Check Latest X-S10 Price

I won’t go too much into this section because yep, it’s the same camera as I recommended above. The Fujifilm X-S10 is finally a decent attempt at a vlogging camera. Popping a nice wide lens onto the X-S10 and using it’s inbuilt stabilization means that you can hand hold this whilst moving around filming. The best thing too, a true flip out screen! I used to hate these and thought they were novelty but they’re essential for vlogging and I love being able to get low or high and still have a clear view of the LCD.

The X-S10 has a hot shoe mount for popping a decent shotgun mic on alongside a 3.5mm mic input . A USB C-type headphone jack is included for monitoring audio too. The X-S10 shoots 30 minute clips now and can record non-stop for about 45 minutes before overheating.

Video nerds, you can also output this to 10bit 4.2.2 which is pretty wild too via the HDMI out.

The last thing I love about it? A dedicated video record button! Woo!

The footage out of it looks really beautiful, again, Eterna and Fujifilm’s colour science is pretty special. Occasionally some skin tones need tweaking in post but more often than not, they’re nailed on.

An improvement on the Fujifilm X-T30, the previous favourite for video, the Fujifilm X-S10 is definitely worth stretching to.

If you’re looking for the best Fujifilm camera for shooting professional looking video then you’ll need to get hold of the Fujifilm X-T4 (I’ve written about it below). Spoiler: beautiful Eterna profiles, full IBIS and 4K at 60p. Oh yes.

Check X-S10 Latest Price

4. The Best Affordable Fujifilm Camera: Fujifilm X-T3 (Used)

I’ve cheated a bit on this and opted for a quick chat about buying second hand. The Fujifilm X series cameras are all cheaper than buying some of the other major brands equivalents. When it comes to buying kit second hand that price drops even further.

I’m not going to suggest jumping straight to Ebay. If I’m honest, I don’t really sell my kit or buy there any more. When I sell things now I prefer to sell them through Facebook marketplace or part-exchanging them at my local camera store. You can read another post about how I sell and buy on Facebook marketplace here (when it’s published).

For now though, you should be looking for some previous Fujifilm models. A really great reason why I jumped to Fujifilm was their support for older cameras. Fujifilm regularly updates their older cameras firmware and not just small bug fixes, sometimes adding entirely new pieces of functionality.

Go for an older flagship: The Fujifilm X-T3

The Fujifilm XT-3 is a previous flagship camera for Fujifilm and you can now pick them up for around £750 (in January 2021) which is really freaking cheap for the quality and functionality you get from it.

It’s the same sensor that is currently in the Fujifilm X-T4 with great autofocus and tracking. It has the trademark Fujifilm X-Series design and it’s also really durable and solid. I put mine through some rough stuff and they are said to be weather sealed but I’d probably not dowse it in anything other than light showers just to be safe. It can shoot up to 20fps continuously with it’s electronic shutter which is phenomenal and will appeal to sports photographers and bird / wildlife photographers.

It’s a “pro-camera” but I find Fujifilm cameras to be really easy to get to grips with, the menus aren’t complex and you can navigate through intuitively making it suitable for all levels of ability. You get all the good stuff in the film simulations, amazing 4k video, lovely EVF (it really is nice to look through the viewfinder) and USB charging.

Check Latest X-T3 Price

Picking up a second hand one is a really good choice, so do go check in at your nearest local camera shop and see if they have stock in. (PS. If you’re up in the North-West of UK, it’s worth making the trip to Colwyn Bay in North Wales to see the gang at Cambrian Photography who specialise in Fujifilm cameras. I’ve part exchanged my kit with them before as well as buying new from them and they have been the most helpful, quick and personable whenever I’ve had any issues. I can’t recommend them enough.

Be sure to check out my second hand camera buying guide here and how I sell kit here.

PS. If you’re really looking to buy a BRAND NEW affordable Fujifilm camera? Read about the critically acclaimed Fujifilm X-T30 below as part of the two bonus best Fujifilm cameras I recommend.

5. The Best Fujifilm Camera for Professionals: Fujifilm X-T4

The Fujifilm X-T4 is the camera to buy for professionals who are shooting a range of subjects or are on the go a lot. I have shot shoots for major clients with my old X-T2 and I still would now. It’s sensor is again the 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4. It has the best IBIS that Fujifilm makes with an amazing 6.5 stops which makes those long telephoto lens and low light shots much easier to create.
I love the design, the top dials have that classic rangefinder feel and the magnesium alloy body feels cool and robust.

The X-T4 uses the NP-W235 Battery which is a big improvement on the previous batteries common throughout the X-Series cameras. They’re rated for a much larger 600 shots per charge.

There’s a new switch under the shutter speed dial which switches between stills and video modes too which is a welcome addition. It also keeps the settings you’ve applied stored so if you’re shooting both video and stills on the same shoot (which many photographers are now) then it makes the transition between much smoother and intuitive.

Check Latest Fujifilm X-T4 Price

Pro Quality Video, improved.

The Fujifilm X-T4 shoots beautiful video. It comes with the Eterna profile again which I can’t say more good things about, it’s really lovely. It’s actually a lot nicer than the F-LOG that it comes with. The 240p in HD is pretty wild. I’m not sure I’m using 240p very often but it’s a cool addition for sure. 4K at 60fps is a must have nowadays and it shoots up to 400 Mbps depending on the frame rates. The IBIS really works great here, keeping your hand held shots really steady. The IBIS inclusion coupled with the new entirely flip around LCD make this a really solid option for vlogging too.

There are a few minor gripes with it. The grip (gripe) is a little small and even I found with smaller hands that I didn’t quite have it secure. Definitely a worry if you’re lugging a big lens on it. Though there are some good accessories you can get for it, like a thumb grip, that would help. (I didn’t get a chance to try it but I’ve used one on my Fuji x100V). The colour profiles are great but I felt like I had to tinker with the skin tones a bit to warm them up a bit. It’s probably personal preference after years and years of shooting Canon but a gripe nevertheless.

The Fujifilm GFX Range and final thoughts

The Fujifilm X-T4 is suitable for shooting most subjects to an absolute professional standard. I guess the only other suggestion / recommendation would be to their GFX range. I’ve not had lots of experience with them but I did shoot a major campaign for a football club with one and it was beautiful to use (check it out on Amazon). The medium format images were not only HUGE but the dynamic range was absolutely mind blowing. I literally shot some in near darkness and was able to pull back shadows to daylight levels. Crazy quality, but also big money. There are an array of newer models now and some more affordable too, worth taking a look.

Overall, I actually believe that Fuji dominates the APS-C market and the Fujifilm X-T4 is the best camera for professional use and amateur too. Versatile, incredible quality, pro-level features both in stills and video. There’s not much wrong with it at all. You won’t be disappointed.

Bonus: 2 More of the Best Fujifilm Cameras

I’ve not used some of these because they haven’t quite fit the bill for me personally but they’re very much worth a mention. I’ve tried to summarise briefly who they’re aimed at. I’ve cut the fluff out so don’t worry about any of these being totally duff.

The Fujifilm X-T30

Perfect for people looking to avoid the higher price of the X-T3 whilst not really sacrificing too much in the way of features.

Pros

• Lots of features and similarities to the X-T3
• Great Autofocus and face detect
• 4K Video with Eterna Profile
• Smaller and Lighter than the X-T3

Cons

• Only shoots 10min video clips
• Only a single SD card slot
• No Weather Sealing

Check Latest X-T30 Price

The Fujifilm X-T200 (Amazon)

The Fujifilm X-T200 is a great beginner camera and probably one of the cheapest too. Vloggers may like this as an option as it packs a flip out screen but beware there’s no in built stabilization so walk and talk may be rocky.

Pros

• Affordable
• Easy to Use
• Basic 4K video at 30fps
• Good Autofocus
• Flip Screen
• Mic Input

Cons

• Not built as sturdy as other X-Series.
• No IBIS
• Lacks some advanced features.

Check Latest X-T200 Price

Frequently asked Questions

Which Fujifilm Camera is the best?

It’s so difficult to just say “This camera is the best! You should buy it!” because it’s never the same from person to person. People have different requirements and budgets. I think if money is no option and you’re looking for a great camera with versatility, quality and durability then the Fujifilm X-T4 (Amazon) is still Fujifilm’s best offering. In fact it’s possibly the best offering across all the camera brands for an APS-C camera. It’s beautiful, fast, sharp and solid.

Is Fujifilm better than Sony?

I don’t really like pitching brands against each other. I think it’s partially down to the amount of times people have said “But Nikon is superior to Canon…” to me whilst I’ve been working on shoots for the past 10 years. In the end, I think the offerings from different brands at set price points are really similar. At this point it boils down to usability and how natural, easily and quickly you can move around a camera and make it do what you want. You could hand me a top of the range Nikon or Leica now and I wouldn’t know how to change the ISO or make it send an image to my phone. I’d be slow and sluggish and it’d take me more time to do the task in hand.
I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t think any of the major camera brands are better or worse than the other. It’s a case of which camera/brand is suitable for you.

What camera should I buy in 2021?

BIG question! Again, it depends on your needs but some of my favourite cameras I’m using are the following:

• Fujifilm x100V – Amazon | B&H | Warehouse Express
• Fujifilm X-T4 – Amazon | B&H | Warehouse Express
• Canon 5D MKIV – Amazon | B&H | Warehouse Express
• Canon G7X MKII – Amazon | B&H | Warehouse Express

I have my eye on a new vlogging camera though, possibly going for the S-X10 or maybe even trying a Sony RX100 (Amazon) 🙂

What are the best cameras on the market?

Leica make beautiful cameras, I’ve never had the chance to own one but I would love a digital Leica M system to shoot with. Small, lightweight, full frame, stunning lens. Dream camera, I think!

What’s the best Instax Fujifilm Camera?

I LOVE my Fujifilm Instax Mini (Amazon) – I actually take it with me on most family holidays and I even made a Christmas advent calender last year, taking a shot every day with it. I’ve written an entire piece about them here. (soon to be published!)