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    Home » Tiny camera, big joy: Fujifilm X-Half review for those who’d rather feel inspired than be impressed by specs
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    Tiny camera, big joy: Fujifilm X-Half review for those who’d rather feel inspired than be impressed by specs

    Lia EspinaBy Lia EspinaOctober 21, 2025Updated:October 21, 20259 Mins Read
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    “It’s SOOOO SMAAAAALLLLL!!!”

    That was my exact reaction when I first saw the Fujifilm X-Half at a pop-up event in a mall a few months before buying it. I couldn’t help but squeal a little. It was ridiculously cute, retro, and compact. It was definitely love at first sight.

    However, I didn’t get it right away. A new camera wasn’t exactly on my radar, but it never left my mind. A few months later, the opportunity to buy one finally came up and I went for it. No regrets. Not even a little.

    A hobby reignited

    Photography has always been one of my favorite hobbies. I started young, using those little 110 film cameras, and I’d get so excited every time my dad took me to have the rolls developed.

    After college, during that “what am I doing with my life” phase, I took photography lessons and even worked at a studio for a bit. Eventually, I realized I loved photography but only as a hobby.

    Then smartphones happened.

    As mobile cameras got better, my old cameras ended up in drawers. The last one I owned was a Canon M10, which I really liked, but it still felt too bulky for everyday use. I had multiple lenses but rarely changed them because, honestly, I just wanted to shoot and not fiddle with gear.

    So when I met the X-Half, it instantly brought back that spark. The simple joy of taking photos for fun.

    Design and build

    The Fujifilm X-Half looks like a love letter to vintage cameras: solid, simple, and stylish. It has that unmistakable Fujifilm aesthetic, complete with tactile dials for ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation.

    It weighs just 240 grams with battery and card (191g body only), which is unbelievably light. You can toss it into a small crossbody bag or even a jacket pocket and barely feel it. The 2.4-inch touchscreen color LCD is compact but functional, letting you navigate menus and review shots with simple taps, swipes, and pinch-zoom gestures.

    It’s the kind of camera that just feels right. Comfortable, charming, and easy to bring anywhere.

    That said, the screen is a bit on the small side. Under bright sunlight, it can be hard to see especially for my Tita eyes, which now prefer bigger, brighter screens. Still, it’s forgivable considering how portable it is.

    Also, I do wish the touchscreen felt a bit snappier. Sometimes it lags just enough to make me tap twice.

    And then there’s the Reverse Galilean optical viewfinder, with roughly 90% frame coverage and 0.38x magnification. It’s not something I always use, but peeking through it gives me that old-school feeling of slowing down, like I’m back in the film days, taking a moment before pressing the shutter. It’s both nostalgic and novel at the same time, and somehow makes each shot feel more intentional.

    You also get a hot shoe on top of the camera though technically, it’s a cold shoe. It’s there mainly for accessories like a small mic, viewfinder attachment, or light mount, but it doesn’t support a strobe flash. It’s a thoughtful design addition for creators, even if it’s limited in function.

    The Half-Frame concept

    The “half” in X-Half isn’t just marketing. It literally shoots two vertical photos per 35mm-equivalent frame, giving you twice the number of shots and a naturally portrait-oriented layout that’s perfect for social media and storytelling.

    It’s a refreshing twist that encourages creativity. The X-Half feels less like a “tool” and more like a playful companion that reminds you photography doesn’t have to be serious to be satisfying.

    Image quality and film simulations

    Despite its small size, the X-Half produces surprisingly beautiful images. It has a 1-inch 17.74MP sensor (13.3×8.8mm) with a FUJINON 10.8mm f/2.8 lens (32mm full-frame equivalent),

    It supports apertures from f/2.8 to f/11 and focuses as close as 10cm from the front of the lens. ISO ranges from 200 to 12800 for both stills and video, with Auto ISO modes for flexibility.

    As expected, you get Fujifilm’s beloved Film Simulation modes — 13 in total, including Provia, Velvia, Astia, Classic Chrome, Classic Neg, Nostalgic Neg, Eterna/Cinema, Reala ACE, Acros, and Sepia.

    There are also several Advanced Filters like Toy Camera, Miniature, Pop Color, High-Key, Low-Key, Light Leak, Halation, Expired Film, and more — each giving you a different creative look right out of camera.

    What’s missing, though, is the ability to create your own custom film recipes, something Fujifilm fans usually love about the X-Series. Some people might find that limiting, but personally, I like it. I tend to get option paralysis, and the X-Half’s fixed palette of looks keeps me focused on shooting instead of endlessly tweaking.

    There’s also a certain honesty in working with what you’re given and this camera does that beautifully.

    Film Mode: A digital roll of film

    One of the coolest things about the X-Half is its Film Mode, not to be confused with the Film Simulation filters.

    When you enable Film Mode, the camera mimics the experience of shooting on an actual roll of film. You can’t review your photos right after taking them. Instead, the images “develop” only once you’ve filled your roll just like the old days.

    And the best part? You actually have to turn the thumbwinder after every shot, just like on a film camera. It doesn’t just look vintage. It feels vintage. The gentle click and motion add a tactile rhythm to shooting that makes you slow down and enjoy the process. It’s a small touch, but it completely sells the illusion that you’re shooting on film again.

    It’s such a charming, nostalgic feature. You learn to trust your instincts, focus on composition, and enjoy the anticipation of seeing your shots later. It really captures the spirit of analog photography, minus the cost and waiting time of actual film development.

    I used Film Mode during a night walk in Shibuya, and it felt like being transported back to my film-camera days — framing light trails, reflections, and street colors without knowing exactly how they’d turn out. When I finally “developed” the roll back at the hotel, it was pure magic.

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    Performance and everyday use

    The X-Half uses a lens shutter that supports speeds from 15 minutes to 1/2000 sec (depending on mode). Burst shooting goes up to 8fps, and it has TTL 256-zone metering with Multi, Spot, and Average options.

    Autofocus uses a TTL contrast AF system with single, continuous, and manual modes. You also get face/eye detection, single-point AF, and a 3×3 grid selection.

    It also records Full HD (1080×1440) vertical video at 24p or 48p, but make no mistake, this is primarily a stills camera.

    And honestly, that’s what makes it so good. It doesn’t try to be everything. It just makes photography fun again.

    Battery life is one of its biggest wins: about 880 shots per charge or up to 165 minutes of continuous video at 24p.

    Connectivity and app experience

    Here’s where the X-Half still needs work. The X-Half app is the only companion app you can use with this camera. It’s not compatible with the regular Fujifilm XApp.

    It supports Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 5.2, but connectivity can still be finicky, especially on iOS. There’s no remote shooting, and I sometimes need to toggle Bluetooth or restart the app just to make it connect.

    Once paired, transferring photos is easy enough but it’s an area where Fujifilm could definitely polish the experience.

    The Price Question: Is it worth it?

    Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the price.

    A lot of people find the Fujifilm X-Half too expensive for what it offers. Around ₱40,000–₱46,000, and you don’t even get RAW support, interchangeable lenses, or 4K video? On paper, it doesn’t make sense.

    But here’s how I see it. This isn’t a camera you buy for technical specs. You’re paying for the experience. The joy. The simplicity.

    It’s for those moments when you want to take photos just because it makes you happy. For people who find peace in composing a shot, pressing the shutter, and getting an image that already looks beautiful straight out of the camera.

    So yes, it’s pricey for a “fun” camera but it delivers something I can’t put a number on: inspiration.

    Verdict: Not perfect, but perfectly fun

    The Fujifilm X-Half isn’t about chasing specs or performance charts. It’s about the feeling you get when you rediscover why you loved taking photos in the first place.

    If you want a camera that’s light, fun, and ready to go wherever you do, this one’s it. It’s definitely not for pixel peepers or professionals. It’s for the hobbyist, the traveler, the nostalgic photographer who wants something that just works.

    So yes, it’s expensive. But sometimes, the best gear isn’t the one with the most features. It’s the one that makes you excited to pick it up again.

    Even my Tita eyes can forgive the small screen, because every time I use it, it just makes me smile.

    Pros

    • Super compact and lightweight (240g)
    • Fujifilm’s color science and film simulations
    • Fun Film Mode that mimics analog shooting
    • Excellent straight-out-of-camera results
    • Great battery life (up to 880 shots)
    • Cold shoe for accessories
    • Simple interface that limits overthinking
    • Brings back the joy of casual photography

    Cons

    • No RAW support
    • Fixed, non-interchangeable lens
    • Connectivity can be buggy on iOS
    • No remote control via app
    • Only uses the limited X-Half app
    • Can’t create custom film recipes
    • Cold shoe doesn’t support flash
    • Price feels steep for its feature set

    Specs summary

    FeatureDetails
    Sensor1-inch 17.74MP CMOS (13.3 × 8.8 mm)
    LensFUJINON 10.8mm f/2.8 (≈32mm full-frame equivalent), 6 elements in 5 groups (3 aspherical)
    Aperture Rangef/2.8–f/11 (1/3 EV steps, 3-blade diaphragm)
    Focus DistanceApprox. 0.1m (from lens front)
    AutofocusTTL contrast AF, Single/Continuous/MF, Face/Eye Detection
    ShutterLens shutter, 15min–1/2000s
    Burst ShootingUp to 8 fps
    ISO Range200–12800 (Auto1/2/3)
    VideoFull HD 1080×1440 (3:2, 3:4, 1:1) 24p / 48p / 36p / 28p, MOV or MP4 (H.264, 10–50Mbps)
    Film Simulations13 modes: Provia, Velvia, Astia, Classic Chrome, Classic Neg, Nostalgic Neg, Eterna/Cinema, Reala ACE, Acros, Sepia, etc.
    Advanced FiltersToy Camera, Miniature, Pop Color, Light Leak, Halation, Expired Film, and more
    Film Mode“Digital roll” simulation where photos can’t be reviewed until roll completion
    Display2.4-inch touchscreen LCD, 0.92M dots
    ViewfinderReverse Galilean OVF (0.38×, 90% coverage)
    Hot ShoeCold shoe mount (no flash sync)
    ConnectivityWi-Fi (IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.2
    BatteryNP-W126S, ~880 shots / up to 165 mins video (24p)
    StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
    Dimensions105.8 × 64.3 × 45.8 mm
    Weight240g (with battery/card), 191g (body only)

    camera review compact camera fujifilm x-half travel photography
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    Lia Espina
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    Multimedia Producer for PhilSTAR Tech. Lia is also a tech and lifestyle writer with over a decade of experience in making gadgets, games, and digital trends easy to understand. Most days, you’ll find her writing with a milk tea in hand and at least one cat supervising.

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