What does Indiana Jones take with him when he goes out adventuring?
He takes his hat, his whip and maybe a map (if he’s feeling organised). He pairs these essential items with his grit and determination to get the job done. He backs himself. Any more kit would slow him down.
The X100s, is the Dr Henry Jones Jr of the camera world. It is everything you need to adventure, but nothing more.
In a tight spot, it will get the job done as long as you are able to think on your feet.
No camera ‘does-it-all’ . Smartphones are definately getting close though, on paper at least. AI is now integrated in the process, which definately muddies the water on to what is being captured. The X100S is an honest camera. The 35mm equivalent field of view of the can get you what you need, if you can quickly adjust to your surroundings.
The lens is sharp. The lens is fast (F2). The camera is small. It has a flash and ND filter built in. These raw ingredients haven’t changed from the original X100 (2011), to the current X100VI (2024).
I would argue that the biggest leap in progress in the X100 series, was from the X100 to the X100S.
It went from being premium, but a bit frustrating – to a well rounded camera that you could now take everywhere with confidence. After the X100S, each iteration just added one or two small improvements. The X100vi now has all the bells and whistles, but the improvements were steadily built on a stable foundation (see my essential guide to the X100 series).
That’s obviously just my opinion, and it should stressed that I have no idea what I am taking about.
My X100S
I bought my X100s dirt cheap. It was a bit rough around the edges, and had a strong whiff of tabbaco smoke, which took a long time to fade. Strangely I didn’t mind. It felt like this camera had a life before me. I often wondered who the previous owner was. I imagined the kind of photos that might have been taken before. I hadn’t ever been curious about a second hand item before.
Because the camera was a little roughed up (and because I got it for very little), I was not precious about using it. I would take it out in the rain, trusting that my jacket pocket would offer enough protection in-between shots. It owed me very little. I have always struggled to use new, expensive or immaculate kit. I am so much more comfortable if my camera has already been in a few fights.
Is it’s still good in 2026?
Why wouldn’t it be? If it was award-winning in 2013, surely it should still be good now?
It will perform just as it did in 2013. Check out the reviews from the time. It still performs well.
Image quality-wise, it is super. Even after 13 years, it will still be one of the smallest cameras to house an APS-C sensor. This gives you some good low light performance, and detail. The images, especially of people, really pop.
But let’s quickly discuss the obvious potential issues (compared a new camera).
Age & Condition
Yes. Age affects us all. This is probably the biggest issue. The camera is now 13 years old. Some copies will have had a hard life. But some may have been well loved and well looked after. Shutter count can be read from the menu of this camera which can be helpful, but just as a general indicator of use.
The main issue will be repairing an X100S, should it ever develop an issue. I do not think Fujifilm accept these for repair (in the UK) any longer. So, consider buying somewhere with a warranty (local camera shop) or don’t overpay on ebay/second hand market.
Sensor resolution.
The X100S has a really special sensor. It definately contains Fuji magic. Skin tones are perfect, and colours across the board are really vibrant. This sensor is a APS-C sized, with a 16mp resolution. This should still be enough in 2026. You will need to get your compositions right in-camera, but there is still a bit of wriggle room for cropping.
The ‘Staight Out Of Camera’ (SOOC) jpegs are still impressive, and I often used these instead of editing the RAWs.
Battery life.
The X100S uses a NP-95 battery. This is a smaller battery, which is trickier to find (although it isn’t that difficult). These batteries got a bad rap, but I always thought they did well for the size. I always kept 2 in my pocket, and that worked for me. As they are small, it wasnt a problem carrying them.
Autofocus
Autofocus isnt razor sharp, but I found it responsive. I didn’t feel like it was ancient. The X100 feels older, but it seems to have been significantly improved for the X100s.
Price.
This is probably an issue. The X100S has surged in popularity (in line with the whole X100 range). These used to be pretty cheap. A few years ago, they used to cost the same as a used XF 23mm lens £250-300. Now they are commanding decent money £350-500.
Perhaps, if you are serious about purchasing, take your time. Wait for the right thing to pop up. Then pounce. A good deal can still be had. £350 is a fair price, and I think that is still possible in 2026 for a decent example.
Selling up.
Why did I sell up?
At the time, I believed I needed extra features on a later model (Classic Chrome Simulation, extra Fn buttons, wireless transfer). This was technically true. The ‘Seller’s market’ was also a factor.
The real reason.
Looking back I now see the truth. It’s because I didn’t back myself. I didn’t back myself to be dropped into a situation and come out the other side with decent images, not without enhancements and gagetry anyway.
Marketing plays into this and gives us the a solution: buy ‘this’ and things will improve. What we probably need instead might be: motivation, inspiration or confidence. These often seem the hardest things to grasp.
Maybe we (I) just need to pretend for a bit. Go on an adventure somewhere with just a hat, a whip and an old camera. It might be fun to not have everything you need.
You will be good enough, and you will make it out alive.
Thanks for reading.
I’d love to know what your best experiences are with the X100s – especially you are still using one in 2026.
Also, if you would like me to write about anything in particular in future posts, then add a comment below or send a message via the ‘contact’ page and I will see what I can do.
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