Attention! Now arriving on your photographic B&H Photo Wish List: the newest Fujifilm X-series flagship, the Fujifilm X-T3. As many of you know, Fujifilm has carved out a distinct niche in the photo world with its retro-styled cameras, armed with beautiful X-Trans sensors and mated to extraordinary optics. The X-Pro line's rangefinder DNA appeals to one group of shooters, while the X-T cameras have been the standard-bearers of the X-series fleet. The Fujifilm X-T2 was a welcome refinement of the X-T1, and it looks like the brand-new X-T3 is a nice improvement over the X-T2. If it isn't broken, just make it better.
What is new with the X-T3? Let's have a look… inside and out!
Specs, Please
The X-T3 is equipped with a fourth-generation X-Tran CMOS APS-C sensor. This one is backlit and has been given a slight bump in resolution, to 26.1MP, and a new lower base ISO of ISO 160. Directing all of the information and operation of the new camera is the new X-Processor 4—a Quad Core unit with 3x the processing power of the X-T2's brain. This enhanced processor allows for faster processing of autofocus information and file crunching, among other things.
Speaking of autofocus, now you have wall-to-wall 100% frame coverage with more than two million phase-detection pixels providing automatic focusing information. Focusing may now be achieved down to -3 EV where the X-T2 was left gasping at -1EV. The new processor is crunching focus information 1.5x more frequently than before. There are new and improved algorithms for face and eye detection.
A 3.69-million-dot-resolution viewfinder shows you the world with a magnification ratio of 0.75x. And, even without the new battery grip, you can shoot at 11 fps in mechanical shutter mode. If 11 fps isn't fast enough for you, there is a Sports Crop Mode that reduces resolution to 16MP, provides crop framing lines that allow you to see the action past the edge of the new capture area, and fires the camera at a blistering 30 fps.
Those familiar with the pleasures of manual focusing with the mirrorless Fujifilm X-series cameras have a new mode to try out—a digital microprism. This mode simulates old-school manual focusing with a microprism focusing screen.
Video
Fujifilm has continuously stepped up its video capabilities through the X-series evolution. The X-T3 is rocking internal SD-card 4K 60p 4:2:0 10-bit recording and is the first camera with an APS-C or larger sensor that is capable of 4K 60p 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI output. Video formats include H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, as well as H.265/HEVC for data compression, which enables the use of high 200 Mbps bitrate and simultaneous HDMI output while recording. The X-T3 sensor's read speed enables fast 17 msec reading of 4K 60p video, and a reduction in the rolling-shutter distortion for smooth replay of a fast-moving subject. 10-bit color depth for video boosts the amount of color information 64 times, compared to 8-bit, and is combined with approximately 12 stops of dynamic range. Also new is a noise-reduction algorithm and 4K inter-frame noise reduction. The minimum sensitivity for shooting F-Log footage has been lowered from ISO 800 to ISO 640.
Body Refinements
Side by side, the X-T3 and X-T2 will pass as identical twins. However, the X-T3 incorporates a few refinements to the body. The rear buttons are a bit thicker on the X-T3—protruding from the body a hair more for a better tactile response. Giving the camera a slightly less chunky overall appearance, the top dials are thinner, resembling the X-H1's dial profile, and the exposure-compensation dial is now a bit smaller in diameter to help prevent incidental rolling of the dial. The EVF diopter knob now locks to avoid accidental adjustment. The handgrip looks to be a bit deeper, too.
The side door is now removable (don't lose it or you'll be buying the CVR-XT3 Cover Kit) for video shooters, and that door now covers a headphone jack and USB-C receptacle that allows in-camera battery charging.
Overall, though, those familiar with the X-T2 will have an adjustment period of zero seconds when getting familiar with the X-T3.
Accessorize Me
Also released with the new X-T3 is the new Vertical Battery Grip VG-XT3 that holds two additional NP-126S batteries (same as many other X-series cameras) to give you up to 1,100 images per charge in the normal mode, as well as a plethora of buttons to control camera functions. The MHG-XT3 Metal Handgrip gives enhanced ergonomics for horizontal shooting, and a genuine leather BLC-XT3 case protects your investment. A new remote release, the RR-100 has been rolled out, too.
Yes, Please
The X-T3 body is available in black or silver and as a kit with the XF 18-55 f/2.8-4 R LM OIS zoom lens. Are you ready for the Fujifilm X-T3? What are your thoughts? Share them with us below!
15 Comments
Seriously complaining that the XT3 doesn't have IBIS ? wondering how Doisneau did it with his Leica camera and no IBIS ?
If someone is so concerned about things like that , they should remember that the camera is your eye not the tech inside .
This Fuji will work perfectly for me .
Hi Gwenael,
I am personally not a fan of image stabilization...and have it off almost all of the time when using lenses equipped with it. So, I hear what you are saying.
Thanks for stopping by!
Another Fuji letdown. Slightly better focusing, slightly better sensor, slightly better video, no IBIS, same lousy battery life... I shoot with an X-Pro-2. After several years, the quirks and compromises you accept and make to use this system are starting to wear on me. You may not "require" the battery grip to unlock vital features (ala the X-t2) but you WILL need it to make the camera work properly. That brings the price to $1800 and for just $200 more you can have the a7III. Full-frame, better low-light performance, better battery life... Fuji better wake up or they are going to be relegated to the niche market.
Forgot to add that the Sony also has IBIS.
Why do you need the battery grip?
On the contrary, and some of many other photographers: this is now a *very* attractive package especially at its price. It now includes really advanced video capabilities, for which I do not care for, except that by appealing to a wide class of users it reduces my costs. What makes Fuji different is well known: fast photographer centered buttons instead of computer like menus, image quality out of camera without Photoshop treatments, continuous system improvements via firmware upgrades.
See more for example at [jmpeltier.com].
I really don't understand you sir the sony is a very nice and capble piece of gear same for the fuji xt-3 but you actually didn't mention all the good stuff about the fuji and i think that's not fair so i'm over here doing it for you the fuji has 4k 60p in 10bit 4.2.0 and in 4.2.2 external up to 400 Mb/s the sony doesn't shoot 4k 60p at all, a lot better color sience and skin tones a very fast af with face and eye detect in video the sony doesn't have it but the af is still at least the same if not better on the sony, a lot better looking 120p (higher bitrate with less artefactes), 30 frames per second shooting rate in photos and it doesn't need the baterry grip since it can be charged trough the usb c port and last but not least the biggest advantage of fuji over sony is that fuji does every think to realease more and more featuers in firmware updates to unlock more capabilities for the users and to push the body to it's limits per example the fuji xt2 got 120p in fhd on a firmware update wich is mind blowing it's literally a feature that other brands consider important enough to praise when releasing a brand new camera and yes it doesn't have IBIS but if it did it would've been a lot more expensive and a lot of people don't really need it and prefer spending the extra cash on good glass.
if you prefer the a7 iii good for you sir but please don't came to the xt-3 page to write lot of misinformation and express you rage, fuji filmmakers and photographers are mostly very wise and respectful people and we admire and appriciate every other community.
Thank you for your time i appreciate you reading this till the end.
aulso i'm 20 just cause after reading this response it felt like a super old dude making aspeech lol.
This is not Fuji's flagship camera. Fuji has said this recently.
I love the concept of the XT series but can't help feel Fuji has let me down with no IBIS (yeah Sony is giving this away everywhere now) and a battery that hasn't really improved. Sorry but I dont want to carry a clunky grip and 5 batteries, I may as well bring a DSLR.
Outside these show stoppers its a killer camera.
Any comments on the touch shutter? Random feature i know but I rely heavily on touchscreens:)
No image stabilization? How many card slots?
No, two.
While the X-T3 lacks in-body stabilization, it does offer two UHS-II compliant card slots.
I just bought a second X-T2 so I can carry wide and tele lenses simultaneously. Ugh! Now this newbie blows them out of the water. I'm going to have to adopt my cell phone upgrade policy; wait for every second upgrade. Meanwhile, I'll be wishing I didn't.
Best advice is to monitor the rumor websites ;)
Hi John,
Depending on your budget or penchant for "FOMO," getting a new body every second generation is probably not the worst thing in the world. Only some have the financial wherewithal to get the next generation of everything. Meanwhile, your X-T2(s) are going to be great cameras for you for many years.
I miss the days of film cameras where you'd have a decade between releases!
Thanks for stopping by!