Fujifilm X100VI – One Camera and 1½ Lenses for Travel – with a Pocket of Light

Let’s be honest: travel photography gear can easily get out of hand. I’ve started trips with the best minimalist intentions, only to end up juggling three bodies, five lenses, two sling bags, and wondering if my chiropractor knows more about my travel habits than my family does.

But then something changed. I tried traveling with just one camera, one and a half lenses, and a small flash in my pocket — and it completely shifted how I see, shoot, and experience the world.

My Kit: The X100VI + WCL + Flash

For this kind of travel, the Fujifilm X100VI felt like the right fit. Add the WCL (Wide Conversion Lens) for a 28mm equivalent, and I’ve got all the coverage I need for city streets, sweeping views, and spontaneous portraits. Toss in a pocketable flash — I use the Fuji EF-X20 for now and plan to upgrade to the Godox IT30 Pro — and I’m covered for low light or creative lighting.

This combo doesn’t weigh me down, doesn’t get in the way, and never stops me from enjoying where I am. I don’t feel like a pack mule. I feel like a photographer again.

The Camera I Want to Use

This isn’t about specs — it’s about feel. The X100VI is the first digital camera in a long time that I want to pick up. The dials are where they should be. The response is instant. I don’t get lost in menus. It feels like the camera version of that friend who just gets you.

When I like holding the camera, I shoot more. I slow down, pay attention, and actually notice what’s around me. That shift — from planning gear to paying attention — opened up a creative space I didn’t realize I’d lost.

A Lens That Punches Above Its Weight

The built-in 23mm f/2 is quietly brilliant. Sharp wide open, tack-sharp by f/2.8, with colors and contrast that feel alive. Add the WCL, and the 28mm equivalent doesn’t feel like a compromise — it just adds flexibility. I don’t miss having a zoom.

I’ve even used the digital teleconverter at times. The 1.4x setting gives me a 50mm field of view, still with a 20MP file — more than enough for sharing or printing. It feels like more than it is, and that’s a rare thing in gear.

The Freedom of Not Changing Lenses

There’s a certain joy in knowing I’ll never have to change a lens mid-scene.
No dust on the sensor. No decision paralysis. No scrambling in the rain.

It’s liberating — like carrying less but seeing more. With the WCL attached, it covers 80% of what I shoot, and the rest? I adapt, move closer, or get creative. The constraint has made me a better photographer.

And more than that — it’s made me enjoy travel more. With fewer decisions to make, I’m less in my head and more in the moment. I notice the light on cobblestones, the rhythm of a street market, the quiet pause between movements. It’s not just about getting the shot — it’s about being present enough to see it.

IBIS and Flash: Steady Hands + Pocket Light

The X100VI’s in-body stabilization has saved shots I would’ve missed. I’ve handheld 1/10s street scenes after dark that came out razor-sharp. And paired with the EF-X20 or a wireless flash like the coming IT30 Pro, I can light a scene on or off camera, even at 1/4000s in broad daylight thanks to the leaf shutter.

This setup doesn’t scream “professional shoot,” so people relax — and I get the kind of moments I used to miss.

Film Simulations and Filters: Editing in the Moment

I don’t edit much on the road. Instead, I rely on Fujifilm’s custom film simulations. I’ve got recipes that mimic Kodachrome, Portra, Leica-style tones — all dialed in ahead of time. I shoot JPEGs and rarely touch a RAW file unless I’m home and bored.

I also carry a few small filters: a circular polarizer, ND, and a ½ Black Pro Mist. They change the feel of an image in seconds — no post-production needed.

These tools aren’t about “fixing” images — they’re about choosing how I want to see the world, right there in the moment. That immediacy makes shooting feel more like painting than editing.

Travel Light, See More

Before I pared down, I packed like every trip was an assignment. I worried about missing shots. Now? I move freely. I pay attention. The gear stays out of the way.

Sure, I miss the occasional ultra-wide or telephoto shot. But what I gain — spontaneity, enjoyment, presence — is worth far more than any lens I left behind.

Oddly enough, I think traveling light made me braver. With fewer options, I have to commit. But that commitment also makes me curious — to explore new angles, wait for better light, or approach moments I might’ve skipped. It’s like the creative side of my brain finally has room to breathe.

Final Thoughts

This setup — one camera, one and a half lenses, a pocket of light — has reminded me why I started shooting in the first place. Not for gear. Not for megapixels. For seeing. For connection. For moments that matter.

Share this post: