Fuji Film Simulations Explained: Which Cameras To Buy for That Famed Fuji Look

Fuji mirrorless cameras are some of the most popular on the market. Not only are they portable and stylish, so they look the part around town and they don’t weigh you down, but they also offer impressive image quality that can go toe to toe with full-frame sensor offerings from other brands.

As outlined in our Fujifilm mirrorless camera roundup, there are beginner models that allow you to point and shoot and still capture glorious imagery and more advanced models with enhanced video recording and extensive weather-sealing for outdoor usage. One thing they all have in common though is a range of popular film simulations, which offer a unique aesthetic with minimal effort. Find out more about Fuji’s film simulations below.

Fuji's film simulations could be explained as preset filters, designed for achieving vintage-looking photos that we usually associate with film photography. Fujifilm undoubtedly offers the best digital cameras for the vintage look, so you can have the aesthetic and feel of film photography, without any of the drawbacks.

While many cameras, and even your smartphone, provide lo-fi filters with characteristics such as low-contrast and light leaks, which are designed to emulate the look of film, Fujifilm takes this one step further by producing simulations that are a near-perfect match of specific popular camera film stocks. Suppose you have a favourite Fujifilm negative or slide camera film that you have used in a film camera. In that case, you will be amazed to see it replicated in a digital file, with satisfying accuracy.

Ultimately, this is up to you to decide! While it might not be worth upgrading from one Fuji mirrorless camera to another model just for a single new film simulation, if you have been wondering what cameras give the vintage look, this is your best chance at success.

You can try your best to replicate Fuji film simulations in Lightroom, and other post-production software with varying success. But with a Fuji mirrorless camera, it's as simple as selecting the desired mode, pointing and shooting.

Now that you know what Fuji film simulations can do, it’s time to discuss which is our favourite, and what camera you need to get the look yourself.

1. Classic Chrome:

Fujifilm’s Classic Chrome simulation first appeared in the fixed lens Fujifilm X100T, and it has also appeared in more recent Fuji X releases. With its low saturation and hard tonal graduations, it is best for documentary-style photography, as a good replacement for a good slide camera film stock.

2. Provia:

Provia is one of the most basic and non-descript of the simulations, and with its neutral colour output, it is great for general-purpose photography, from portraits to landscapes. While this one may not be as exciting or eye-catching, it is a great way to put those Fuji colours on show and produce a high-quality JPEG that is ready for printing or sharing online, straight out of the camera.

3. Velvia:

Velvia offers the most vibrant colours of all the Fuji film simulations, and as such, it is the most popular choice for landscape photography. As well as its rich colours, it is high in contrast, and its name and look will be familiar to many film photographers who have used the popular Velvia slide film in the past.

4. Reala Ace:

The most recent of Fuji’s film simulations, Reala Ace was first introduced in the medium format Fujifilm GFX 100 Mark II, and it has since appeared in the hugely popular Fuji X100VI as well as the Fujifilm X-M5. As a film stock, Reala was targeted at professionals, and it included Fuji’s 4th layer technology. The result was a remarkably accurate, beautiful colour, which was a hit amongst serious portrait and wedding photographers, and these same qualities can be found in the Reala Ace film simulation.

If you feel you are missing out on this one, there is good news for X-H2, X-H2S, X-T5 and X-S20 owners, with Reala Ace being made available to you soon, via a firmware update!

5. Acros:

Black and white film has always been the hardest to replicate in a digital image. There’s just something special about black-and-white film that can’t be matched. That is until you’ve used Fuji’s Acros film simulation. Based on the film of the same name, Acros produces images with super-fine grain, excellent sharpness and details in the shadows. By bumping up the ISO of your camera you can add some grain to your images, for that true black-and-white photography look.

Where can you find Acros? This simulation can be found on all modern X-series cameras, that feature an X-Trans III image sensor, or later.

Want to delve deeper into the world of photography? Follow our Photography blog for expert tips and tricks, as well as gear advice. For a more hands-on experience, stop by your Local Ted's store for a face-to-face chat with our camera experts; they'll be happy to answer your questions and help you find the perfect Fuji camera to capture that famed Fuji look!