Missed out on the Fujifilm X100VI? New leak suggests the next best thing could land soon

An X-T50 launch is looking increasingly likely

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

The staggering popularity of theFujifilm X100VImeans it can be tricky figuring outwhere to buy one, but a new leak suggests another small, retroFujifilmcamera could launch soon – and it could be the more versatile choice.

As spotted byFuji Rumors, the first image of the rumored Fujifilm X-T50 has appeared on the Chinese social media site Weibo. Well, when we say image, we mean a somewhat blurry close-up of the camera’s name below a Fujifilm dial on the camera’s top-left corner.

That doesn’t tell us a whole lot on its own, but it does make the rumored arrival of the Fujifilm X-T50 (which would replace one of the world’sbest travel cameras, theFujfilm X-T30 II) look increasingly likely.

Last week,Fujifilm announcedthat its next X Summit event – where it typically announces new products – will be on May 16 in Sydney, Australia. And while there’s no official schedule for the event, recent speculation fromFuji Rumorssuggests that the X-T50 and a new XF16-50mm f/2.8-4.5 kit lens are the most likely arrivals.

There would likely be significant differences between the Fujifilm X100VI and X-T50. The X100VI is a fixed-lens compact camera, so you’re stuck with its 23mm f/2 lens. That’s part of its compact charm, but it can also be limiting unless you’re happy to use its in-camera crop modes.

If the X-T50 follows the usual X-T series style, it’ll be like a miniature version of theFujifilm X-T5with interchangeable lenses. And given the latter is one of thebest mirrorless camerasyou can buy right now, that could make it a very popular choice indeed for keen amateurs.

X100VI vs X-T50: which would be best?

The Fujifilm X100VI’s fixed lens means it sneaks into our guide to thebest compact cameras, where it’s currently in the number one spot. But the X-T series isn’t much bigger than Fuji’s hit camera – the current X-T30 II, for example, is actually narrower (by 10mm) and not much taller, even if it is 14mm thicker.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

The X-T series also comes with a much bigger viewfinder and the option of interchangeable lenses, making it more versatile. You can pair it with a little lens like the XF23mm f/2 for a similar experience to the X100VI but also get the option of switching to a different focal length or even a zoom.

The X-T30 II’s small size means there is a limit to the kinds of lenses you can comfortably pair it with, and the X100VI is undoubtedly more of a purist’s choice with a classic design. But if you’re looking for a small travel camera or one that’s ideal for family or street shooting, we’d recommend waiting to see what Fujifilm announces at its next X-Summit.

There haven’t been any specific X-T50 specs leaks yet, but it’s fair to assume that it would adopt Fujifilm’s latest fifth-generation 40MP sensor and X-Processor 5 (the same as the X100VI). And with virtually no rumors about new models in Fujifilm’s X-E or X-Pro lines, the X-T50 could be the most promising option for fans of small, APS-C mirrorless cameras.

You might also like

Mark is TechRadar’s Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he’s contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph’s Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London’s Square Mile.

Nikon reveals the Z50 II – a modest update of its hobbyist mirrorless camera with an identity crisis

The Nikon Z6 III is our best-rated camera of 2024 - and it just got its first price cut

Phishing attacks surge in 2024 as cybercriminals adopt AI tools and multi-channel tactics