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Very few ‘bad’ or even just average cameras come out from the big makers these days, but there are not many cameras you would describe as genuinely unique and consistently fun to use.
I’ve found the Fujifilm’s ground-breaking X Half to be one such camera, however, as it combines the pleasures and even some of the quirkiness of traditional film photography with the conveniences of digital. You can get a great deal on the Fujifilm X Half here.
Clever, by Half
Before explaining why I enjoy using this characterful camera so much, let’s recap. In essence, the X Half is a digital half-frame camera, based on the idea of shooting everything in vertical format with a 3:4 aspect-ratio. This is also an ideal ratio for sharing your images on social media.
Furthermore, not only does the X Half include Fujifilm’s unique and much-loved film simulations, there is also a Film Camera Mode that enables you to shoot a ‘digital roll’ of up to 72 exposures. I’ll explain how to make the most of this unique option later.
A very compact camera, giving you creative control
When I first got the Fujifilm X Half, the first things I noticed were its compact dimensions and light weight. The camera weighs just 240g including the battery and SD card, and measures 106 x 64 x 30mm, so it’s ideal for travel or a day out.
Walking around with the camera around your wrist, you hardly notice it’s there. At the same time, it’s made from sturdy plastic, so you don’t need to worry about dropping it.
The X Half is a fixed lens camera, but the 32mm equivalent f/2.8 lens is very versatile, especially for landscapes and city scenes. Face detection is also included, making the X Half good for fun, creative portraits too.
Creative control hasn’t been sacrificed either: you can adjust aperture via a ring on the lens (the aperture ranges from f/2.8 to f/11) and there is a big exposure compensation dial on top of the camera. It’s possible to focus manually with a ring on the lens, too.
Meanwhile, shutter speed and ISO can be controlled via the touchscreen – this is used to pick menus and change settings by swiping with your finger, as with a phone, so it’s very intuitive. You can also record video in FullHD (1080/24 footage at up to 50Mbps), in a 3:2, 1080 x 1440 format. Shooting 2 x slow motion video is possible too.
Fun with filters
The film-inspired Filter mode is a good place to start with the Fujifilm X Half, giving you a big palette of creative effects. I particularly enjoyed using Light Leak, which was perfect for a sunny lunchtime walk around Barcelona’s beaches. With Light Leak, the results look different each time, which makes it a lot of fun to use – but the effect is surprisingly realistic.
Always eager to find a fresh creative take on popular destinations, I really enjoyed using the Mirror filter in central Barcelona, too.
It can create some surreal effects that reminded me of the classic Christopher Nolan movie, Inception.
Meanwhile, a landmark set against the sky can be made to look like it is floating in space or reflected in a lake, as with Glastonbury Tor above.
Don’t be fooled by the name, ‘Toy Camera’ can also create professional looking, evocative effects, as with this shrine at the bottom of the Tor.
Fisheye recreates classic fisheye effects – you need to choose your subject carefully, but the effort is well worth it. You are really spoilt for choice with the X Half’s filters: I tended to return to same ones quite often, but your favourites might be different.
Doubling up
Another cool creative effect made easy with the X Half is what the company calls ‘21N1’, aka a diptych or a picture composed of two parts. You can either do this as you take the pictures with the film rewind lever (more on this later), but I found it easier to combine pictures afterwards using the X Half app for iOS and Android.
Film simulations at hand
As well as filters, the Fujifilm X Half comes with all of the company’s most popular film simulations – Provia, Velvia, Astia, Classic Chrome, Reala Ace, Classic Neg, Nostalgic Neg, Eterna, Acros (for black & white) and Sepia.
As with the filters, you will soon find your favourites. I love the rich, punchy landscape and urban shots you get with Velvia, for instance, while Acros is ideal for moody black and white street scenes or portraits. Classic Chrome is a winner for evocative travel images too.
An authentic film camera experience
Filters and easy access to film simulations are only part of the story, however, as I soon discovered. With the Film Camera Mode, you can use the X Half like a film camera, but with the convenience of digital, and none of the cost of buying and developing film.
First, select one of Fujifilm’s acclaimed film simulation modes (or a filter, as discussed before), and choose the number of exposures – 36, 54 or 72. You also need to choose between Auto exposure, or getting more manual control with Aperture Priority.
Unlike film cameras, the X Half will also adjust the ISO (light sensitivity) as you go along, neatly sidestepping one of the biggest technological drawbacks of analogue photography.
Second, you start shooting, but you need to remember to ‘wind on’ with the film rewind lever in order to take the next shot. A frame counter shows how many exposures are left in the roll, and you can also choose whether to have the date printed on your images (another nice retro option).
Once you have shot the required number of exposures – note you can finish the roll early by double tapping on the rear screen – you then ‘develop’ them with the X Half phone app for iOS and Android. The app connects to your phone via Bluetooth, so it’s a quick and easy process.
With your images copied over to the app, you can view them in an attractive contact sheet, share them with the world on social media, or save them out for further editing using third-party tools.
Final thoughts: meet my other Half
I found the Fujifilm X Half to be a lot of fun to use and a refreshing change from many of today’s very complicated cameras, but it’s certainly not dumbed down.
The filters and film simulations give you a seemingly endless choice of creative possibilities, while switching to the film camera mode evokes the pleasures of using an analogue camera, with none of the faff or expense.
The X Half isn’t designed as a camera for pixel peepers – you can’t shoot raw for example – but I found that this took me back to a more authentic and enjoyable photographic experience, rather than spending hours obsessing about fine detail on a computer screen. This camera is so light and compact too, so it never feels like a burden on a trip abroad or family day-out.
Further reading
Why the Fujifilm X-T5 is an excellent all-round camera
