Quick take: The X100VI is my most personal camera, and these five accessories make it even better: the Zeniko wireless flash trigger with Zeniko flashes for easy off-camera flash, a SmallRig grip (or cage), a Hoage lens hood/filter adapter that completes the weather sealing, Fujifilm's TCL-X100 II teleconverter for a 50mm-equivalent view, and Llano USB-C rechargeable batteries.
1. Zeniko Wireless Flash Setup
I've used Zeniko flashes for a while. They're USB-C rechargeable and come in two sizes: the smaller, less powerful ZF04 and the ZF08, which isn't much bigger but is considerably more powerful. I have a pair of ZF08s. Because there's no removable battery, they stay really small, yet you still get about 440 full-power flashes per charge, with a recharge in about 40 minutes.
What changed everything for me was Zeniko's new wireless flash trigger. It's probably my favorite accessory for any camera in a very long time. The X100VI's built-in flash gives you the popular direct-flash look, but if you want something that shapes people more, you just hold the flash off to the side and shoot.
Pairing is easy: press the wireless buttons and they sync. Once synced, you don't need to re-sync every time you turn the camera on. The trigger also works as a flash riser if you want a flash on top. As of recording, the flashes are about $30 and the trigger is just a little more.
The best part: every X100, including the VI, V and IV, has a leaf shutter, so there's no flash sync speed limit. On most Fujifilm cameras with a focal-plane shutter, you're capped at 1/250 second (the "X" on the shutter dial), which makes fill flash in bright sun hard. With the X100VI's leaf shutter and built-in ND, off-camera flash is really easy. All the flash shots in my Sigma 18-50mm review from Vermont were taken this way. This setup is the reason I'm keeping the X100VI instead of selling it.
My previous off-camera flash, the Lightpix Labs flash, was good, but you had to re-sync it every time, couldn't tell when the remote was off, and it charged over micro USB.
2. SmallRig Handgrip and Cage
I use the SmallRig grip with the wooden handle. It makes the camera easier to hold and has an Arca-Swiss plate on the bottom, so I can pop it on a tripod anytime. It stays on full time, and it's never come loose. SmallRig even includes a little screwdriver. I wish it sat a bit more flush with the body, but I still think it's the best grip of its kind.
As a video guy, I also have the SmallRig cage, and the X100VI is a pretty good video camera. But the cage still only has one mounting point on top, which kind of defeats the purpose. I prefer the clean silver styling of the grip, and SmallRig kept the branding minimal.
3. Hoage Lens Hood / Filter Adapter
The X100VI is weather sealed except for the front element. To fully seal it, Fujifilm sells an adapter ring and filter kit. The annoying part is that once it's mounted, the original Fuji lens cap no longer fits. It just falls off.
The Hoage adapter solves that. It completes the weather sealing, gives you a filter thread and lets you keep using the original cap. It looks great on the silver body, comes in a few colors and costs about $25, roughly half the price of the Fuji kit. You can add a Pro-Mist or CPL, and you don't really need an ND thanks to the built-in four-stop ND, though you could add a variable ND for long exposures.
4. Fujifilm TCL-X100 II Teleconverter
Fujifilm makes two conversion lenses: the WCL wide converter (28mm equivalent) and the TCL teleconverter, which gives you a 50mm equivalent. Because the glass is actually magnifying the image, you keep the full 40 megapixels with no digital crop. With the digital teleconverter on top, you get roughly 75mm and 105mm options.
That's different from just cropping, which doesn't change compression or subject magnification like a real lens does. If there's any image quality loss, I couldn't see it even zoomed way in. Get the Mark II, which is designed for the higher-resolution X100V and VI.
It's expensive (around $400 new), I tried aftermarket alternatives and they weren't as good, and it makes the camera much chunkier. But 50mm is a close second to my favorite focal length, 85mm, so it almost stays on full time. It takes 67mm filters, and I often use a circular polarizer in the city to cut reflections when shooting through glass. I don't care much for the WCL; I'd rather take a step back. Fujifilm, a 50mm version of the X100VI would be a very hot seller.
5. Llano USB-C Batteries
Llano makes rechargeable battery cases, but what I really like are their batteries with a built-in USB-C port. If you already carry a power bank or will be near power, you don't need a charger at all. Just toss a couple in your bag and plug them in when needed. Like all aftermarket batteries, they hold a little less than the originals, maybe 5% at most, and they work great.
Final Thoughts
I hated the X100V, but I love the X100VI. It's such a personal camera that I barely talk about it on the channel. Let me know if you want to see more videos on it, like a portrait session with this flash setup.
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