In my experience, the leaf shutter lets u sync at high speeds anyway, which is amazing! Here's what I recommend: * Godox TT350F Mini Thinklite TTL Flash: It's a TTL beast, but honestly feels way too top-heavy. Watch out for hot shoe strain!
* LightPix Labs FlashQ X20: My favorite! It's tiny, has TTL, and balances perfectly for street stuff. Honestly, the FlashQ is the way to go. ur gonna love it. gl!

sooo i went through this last year and ended up with a used Nissin i40 Compact Flash for Fujifilm. it works great with the leaf shutter and i think it feels way less top-heavy than that Godox mentioned earlier!! honestly, i found those physical dials are sooo much faster for street work than digging through digital menus...

From a purely technical standpoint, the leaf shutter on your X100V is a game changer because it allows for flash sync at high speeds without needing HSS protocols. This basically means you can get professional results with much smaller units since you are not losing light power to the pulsing effect of high-speed sync. If you want to avoid the top-heavy feel of the larger Godox units, I highly recommend looking for the Sunpak RD2000 Digital Flash. It has a unique folding design that keeps the center of gravity low and protects your hot shoe when you are not shooting. In terms of modifiers, I always suggest the DIY route. Instead of paying for a professional service or expensive branded diffusers, you can create a pretty effective bounce card using simple white cardstock and a rubber band. This gives you more control over the light quality for street portraits without adding unnecessary weight. Another solid technical option is the Metz Mecablitz 26 AF-2. It is very reliable and much more compact than the Nissin or Godox alternatives. If you ever run into sync issues, a quick self-service cleaning of the hot shoe pins with isopropyl alcohol usually solves the problem without needing a pro repair shop.

Coming back to this after seeing the thread. Honestly, skip the EF-X20. I've used one for years and the recycle time is painfully slow... plus the prices are just dumb now. If you want something that actually balances on the X100V without feeling like a brick, here are my picks:

• Fujifilm EF-20 TTL Flash: This is the best kept secret for the X100 series. It's super light, has TTL, and the head tilts for bouncing light. You can usually find them pretty cheap on the used market.
• Nissin i400 for Fujifilm: It is basically the stripped-down version of the i40. No fancy dials to bump, but the TTL is solid and it is very compact for travel. Dont worry about the retro look too much. At the end of the day, you want something that wont strain the hot shoe when youre walking around all day. The EF-20 is kinda ugly but it works perfectly.

Respectfully, I'd consider another approach before you spend a fortune on the used market. I've been shooting with Fuji for over a decade, and unfortunately, the hype around certain gear has made prices pretty ridiculous lately. While I get why people like the Godox TT350F Mini Thinklite TTL Flash, I’ve had issues with it in the past—it’s just too tall and puts way too much stress on the hot shoe for my liking. If you want to keep the kit small but need TTL, I’d look at these two instead: Meike MK-320F Digital Flash for Fujifilm vs Fujifilm EF-20 Flash The Meike MK-320F Digital Flash for Fujifilm is basically the best bang-for-your-buck option right now. It’s way more compact than the Godox and still offers full TTL and HSS. It charges via USB too, which is a lifesaver for travel. On the other hand, the Fujifilm EF-20 Flash is an older, discontinued model you can usually find cheap. It’s not as "retro" looking as the X20, but it balances perfectly on the X100V and the build quality is solid for an older unit. Ngl, I’ve found that the Meike is actually more reliable for quick street shots than some of the more expensive options that try to do too much. The interface is a bit clunky, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. Anyway, hope that helps you save some cash... cheers!

TL;DR: The "Fuji tax" is making everything way too expensive lately so u gotta decide if ur paying for the brand name or just want something that works. Honestly I'm pretty new to all this but I've been doing a ton of market research because the prices for anything Fuji-related are just getting ridiculous lately. It basically feels like if a flash looks even slightly "retro" the price triples overnight which is so annoying for people just starting out. I'm trying to figure out the same thing as u but I'm curious are u looking for a brand that has a solid reputation and a real warranty or are u okay with a cheaper third-party brand where u basically just buy a new one if it stops working? Also what's ur actual budget for this because it feels like the market is totally split between super cheap stuff and overpriced "pro" gear right now and finding that middle ground is pretty tough!

Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!