Rethinking my photography needs through an "X Half" experiment 📷

04 Jun, 2025

The pal2tech solution to limit camera features, which triggered me to run this experiment.

I've been doing photography for as long as I can remember. From shooting parties and events every weekend for the event website we were running, to holidays, family events, ...

Over these many years, I used a lot of gear, ranging from small Sony cameras to full-size Nikon DSLRs, eventually ending with mirrorless Fujifilm cameras.

My editing workflow also changed. From the default camera output, to minor editing via Lightroom, to full editing with RAW files.

I've been shooting with Fujifilm for about 7 years now, and while I only got an X100VI last year, the newly announced Fujifilm X Half sparked my curiosity. Because of its small size AND features. But not because of what it could do, but because of what it couldn't, and the restrictions it puts on the photography workflow.

It doesn't save photos in RAW.
It has no preview, only an optical viewfinder. So you don't know what your end result will look like.

Seeing a lot of pre-launch videos, many have the same conclusion after using it: It's fun and sparks creativity.

However, 800€ for such a camera is not cheap, so I decided to do an experiment over the weekend to see if this would be something for me. I took my X100VI to our weekend off with the family, disabled most of the X100VI's assisting features and only shot via the optical viewfinder.

And having done so, I learned quite a bit about my current photography needs and likes.

I actually like the optical viewfinder more than I thought

I’d used the Electronic viewfinder most of the time, probably just out of habit. With the experiment, I only used the optical viewfinder, and while I needed to get used to it at first, eventually, it felt more natural. Maybe because I saw the actual scene instead of a computed preview. It reminded me of how I used to shoot with my Nikons back in the day.

I must admit, I still checked the image afterwards just to be sure, but while composing, the optical viewfinder let me think more about timing and framing, especially as it showed a wider view than the final image.

And, using the optical viewfinder also had a positive effect, extending the camera battery life.

I didn’t miss RAW as much as I thought

I’ve been shooting RAW (or RAW+JPEG) for years. It felt like the "right" way to shoot, having full control over the output after the shot. But lately, I found myself sitting on more and more unedited RAWs, and less time (or motivation) to actually process them.

Switching to JPEG-only took away that pressure. It felt good to take a photo and be able to use or share it straight away. Not every image needs to be perfect or heavily edited. If a shot isn’t great, I’m okay with letting it go.

Shooting without RAW also made me more aware of checking my settings of ISO, exposure,... before the shot and the outcome afterwards to see if anything needed changes or perhaps if I had to retake the shot. Too often, when shooting with RAW, I would take the shot and walk away knowing I could correct much at home. No more with JPEG-only, and that's ok.

And honestly, Fuji’s JPEGs look really nice right out of the camera.

Big files take up a lot of space

Nowadays, it seems to be a battle to launch the camera with the highest megapixel sensor. The X100VI already has a 40MP sensor, and the image quality is excellent. But those files are big, especially when you shoot RAW or fine JPEGs. I realised that I don’t need that kind of resolution for 99% of my photos. I rarely print large, and even when I do, I’m not printing at billboard size.

So, going to a lower file size setting more often doesn't make a difference in how I enjoy my photos or how I share. And in doing so also helps with reducing storage needs and editing workflow via my phone.

Carrying a Lightweight Camera Makes a Difference

I love walking around with a camera. And the lighter and simpler it is, the more likely I am to bring it with me. That makes a big difference in how often I actually shoot.

This weekend, I saw lots of people still walking around with big DSLRs and heavy lenses, and I used to be that person, too. At some point, I made the switch to mirrorless with Fuji, and I’m really glad I did.

They say the best camera is the one you have with you, and a smaller and more lightweight one provides the incentive to take it along more.

Yet, a real camera is better than a phone

I always have my phone with me, so if I don't bring a camera, I'll shoot with my phone, but I still prefer the experience of a real camera over my phone.

Maybe it’s the physical controls, looking through a viewfinder, it being a dedicated device, or that it doesn't render over-processed images, but it just feels better to shoot with a camera vs a phone.

Will I buy an X half?

I've seen many of these limitation challenges of 1 lens, camera, setting, ... before, but never considered trying. Only via an interest in the X half, I gave this experiment a try, and I'm really happy I did.

It made me think and be more purposeful about photography.
And it helped me assess what I need and want from my setup and processing.

One thing I did not mention before nor experimented with is the fact that the X Half shoots in vertical format. This, while for the majority of shots I prefer or shoot are horizontal.

Doing the experiment, I see that many limitations that come with the X Half are not an issue for me. And letting go of full control, like RAW & preview, is not necessarily a bad thing. I do, however, need to assess whether vertical shooting or rotating the camera for horizontal shots is something I'm ok with.

The X Half hasn't launched yet, so there's still some time for me to think it over. But with the information available today, its small size and my testing, I do find it an appealing option to add to my kit.

But who knows, perhaps it'll be as hyped as the X100VI and nowhere to be found for months.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

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#2025 #2025-06 #article #photography