A camera that makes you want to shoot again instead of feeling like you are clocking into work is rare. The Fujifilm X half is one of those small, odd-looking tools that quietly changes how you think about carrying a camera in daily life.
Coming to you from John Branch IV Photography, this honest video walks through why the Fujifilm X half keeps ending up in Branch’s hand instead of his usual full-size bodies. He explains how the compact point-and-shoot-style design and vertical half-frame sensor push you to think in a different format. The camera stays light enough that tossing it in a small bag or a jacket pocket feels natural instead of like packing a kit. Branch talks about taking it to weddings, family outings, and everyday moments where a big camera would feel like overkill. You get a clear sense that this thing is built to live with you, not sit in a case until the next booking.
The video also highlights how the X half pulls you away from constant spec talk and back into actually seeing scenes. Branch points out the back screen that looks like a little film canister label and the crank that advances frames when you use the Film Camera mode. In that mode you pick a virtual roll, shoot through it without chimping, then “develop” it later in the app, which slows you down in a deliberate way. He leans into Fujifilm’s film simulations, especially Classic Chrome, pushing grain and letting the small sensor create a slightly gritty, nostalgic look straight out of camera. Instead of juggling raw files and deep editing sessions, Branch leans on JPEGs that already have character baked in.
Branch spends time on how the X half slots into real life with kids, events, and paid work without feeling precious. He talks about taking it to a balloon festival, handing it to his oldest child, and watching how quickly someone completely new can start making fun frames with it. The simple interface and film-style feedback make it approachable if you are tired of menus and custom buttons. He also shows how the camera connects directly to Instax printers, pairing perfectly with an Instax mini printer so you can make vertical prints on the spot. That combo makes it easy to walk away from a moment with a small stack of physical photos instead of another unseen gallery on your phone.
Later in the video, Branch ties the X half back to his own history and main system. He mentions starting out on a Polaroid 600, just wandering around the house making simple snapshots without worrying about perfection. The X half pulls him back toward that mindset even though his main work now happens on much bigger gear like the Fujifilm GFX100RF. You see how he uses the big body as the serious tool and the half-frame as the playful sidekick that lets him experiment, hand prints to couples, and keep his own love of shooting from burning out. Branch hints at specific film-mode habits, printing workflows, and business touches he adds at weddings, but he saves the exact details for the video. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Branch.
