Fujifilm X half X-HF1

The Fujifilm X Half won’t be the camera for everyone, but that’s not really the point. It’s a charming, personality-filled little shooter that leans hard into nostalgia, and if you’re happy to trade a little control and outright image quality for a more playful, more considered shooting experience, there’s a lot to like here.

The X half is certainly an interesting camera, more about having fun and worrying less about specifications. It’s less a mini-X100 and more a maxi-EVO with the promise of better quality and some fun shooting modes. In fact I was struck by how similar the experience felt to a mini Evo with the vertical screen and wealth of effects. Sure the X half has a larger and higher resolution sensor, an optical viewfinder, not to mention the more refined Film SIMs, but both are aimed at sharing images socially where the quality difference may not be apparent. If you’re looking for a smaller version of the X100, perhaps a spiritual successor to the much-missed X70, then the X half’s limitations could prove frustrating. Or if you’re considering the X half as a cheaper entry to the X-system, you’ll be better served by an X-M5 or even an X-T30 II although you would need to factor in the cost of a lens too. But the X half isn’t aiming at those people. It’s a different concept, targeting those who mostly shoot photo and video in the vertical format, and who’ll enjoy the 2-in-1 composite and deliberately restrictive Film mode. Ultimately I’d have been happier if the X half were closer to 500, but there’s no denying it’s a refreshingly unique prospect in a market packed with boringly similar cameras, and I certainly enjoyed using it.