Where’s The X-Pro3 Review? (Plus X-T4 stuff)

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I’ve been receiving emails from readers asking where the heck my X-Pro3 review is already?! After a lot of careful consideration, I decided to pass on the Dura Black X-Pro3→ I had preordered a few months ago, and I’m not sure if it’s a camera I’ll ever own,1 as much as I’d like to. Part of this came down to budget, but the other part comes down the X-Pro3 simply not being the right camera for me.

How did the X-Pro go from being my favourite camera ever with the second iteration to something I can’t even justify the purchase of with the third? A bunch of reasons, cumulatively, and some of them are admittedly a bit retroactive.

  1. The “Hidden” LCD: More than enough has been written about this screen already. It caused a ton of controversy. I’m not going to say Fuji shouldn’t have done it—I still think something bold like this was the right call, and we should be thankful Fuji are willing to push boundaries in that way—but it’s not the right direction for me personally.
  2. The OVF magnification: I was really disappointed to learn about the move from a dual 0.36/0.6× to a singular 0.52× magnification, even if the OVF is better in all other respects. I previously recommended looking elsewhere if you plan to do most of your shooting outside 18 to 50mm, and now that range is reduced further with 18mm being beyond the X-Pro3’s OVF field of view. I was hoping for a third magnification2 not one less.
  3. Missing D-pad: I can sort of understand the desire for simplicity, but this is a trend I just can’t get behind, especially on cameras that have the room for it. The GFX 100 doesn’t have a D-pad for crying out loud.
  4. The sensor: I have zero issue with the sensor and processor combination found in the X-Pro3, X-T3, or X-T4. That written, because I already have Fuji’s top of the line imaging as far as still photographs are concerned in the X-T3—and the difference between X-Pro2 and X-Pro3 is marginal (again, as far as still photography goes)—it makes the X-Pro3 less attractive.

Missing Features

Now that the X-T4 is out, there are a couple more things that irk me about the X-Pro3:

  1. If the X-Pro3 had the fully articulating screen of the X-T4—Sub monitor and all—I’d have had one for months already. I’m sure there are engineering challenges to solve for there, but I really hope that’s where the next iteration goes. That way the photography purists can easily hide the screen away, but full access is still available to anyone who wants it.
  2. I’d have been pretty frustrated if I bought the X-Pro3 with its lower capacity NP-W126S battery only to have the X-T4 be announced a few short months later with a newer, higher capacity battery. I thought the battery should have been addressed with the X-Pro2 and the subsequent X-Trans III generation of Fuji cameras. Here we are four years on with one flagship body still on the old battery technology, and the other body on a new one.

Despite the items above, I’ve almost convinced myself to buy an X-Pro3 a couple of times. For many people it will be a fantastic camera, but I really do think I’m going to hold strong and sit this generation out. There are just too many “if only’s” with the X-Pro3, and I feel like the next generation could solve at least some of them.

About The X-T4

The X-T4→ is a similar situation. It’s clearly going to be Fuji’s most versatile camera yet, but as mentioned, I have its still photographic quality in the X-T3 already, in-body image stabilization when I need it in the X-H1,3 and I just don’t shoot a whole lot of video.

I initially thought I might get an X-T4 to go along with my X-T3 for a two-body setup, but then I’m not only dealing with two different sets of batteries, but also slightly different button interfaces, and screens. The latter is far from a dealbreaker, but it contributes to my decision-making process. I personally prefer the default rear button operations on the X-T3.4

2 × X-T3

I’ve been selling off some older kit in recent weeks to fund the purchase of something new. I contemplated a move to Medium Format (more on that below), but I think the prudent choice would be to buy a second X-T3 with its reduced price and free grip kit.→ My desire is to have two bodies as similar as possible—with image quality being the priority—each with a prime lens and Peak Design plate→ attached. Had the X-Pro3 turned out different, I’d have gladly worked with the differences between it and an X-T body (probably the X-T3 in that case), but failing that, two X-T bodies would also be just fine. I could look at also selling the X-T3 to fund two X-T4s, but I just don’t think that makes much sense.

The X-T3 is a bit smaller, lighter, and is still Fuji’s best still image quality. I don’t really need IBIS, personally. When a steady camera is critical, I want to use my Peak Travel Tripod.→ Now that I’m shooting RAF exclusively, and processing in Capture One,→ I’m not at all concerned about new Film Simulation Modes. I don’t vlog, barely shoot video, so I’m really having a tough time justifying the X-T4 for anything more than a review/comparison.

The X-T4 Will Be An Amazing Camera

Earlier this week I tweeted an overly simplified upgrade path for the X-T4. While I stand by that, it must also be said that the X-T4 is set to be an absolutely incredible APS-C camera. I wish some of those features made it into the X-T3. I would love to keep that LCD folded closed, screen side in, and to have the outstanding IBIS at my disposal, but the improvements the X-T4 offers to my shooting style simply aren’t great enough to warrant the upgrade. So I think I’m good with the X-T3, and probably a second one.

What’s This About Medium Format?

After the X-Pro3 ended up not being the camera for me, I started looking into Medium Format again. I would love to have the image quality and dynamic range a GFX 50 offers. The 50S→ is much too large, bulky, and frankly, ugly for my liking, and with the rather exceptional pricing on the 50R,→ I thought it and a half price GF 50mm F3.5→ would be the way to go. So much so that I almost ordered the lens before having actually handled the 50R.5 I’m glad I didn’t because the 50R is enormous. Small for Medium Format, sure, but compared to an X-Pro, or even something like a Nikon Z7, it’s huge.

What Does This Mean For Reviews?

There probably won’t be much in the way of body reviews for the next while. With the X100V→ accounted for, that’s three new Fujifilm bodies I’ll likely be passing on.

I feel I’ll be able to make informed kit recommendations still, however, and the new cameras will absolutely be making an appearance there shortly.

  1. At least not at any time when a review would be worth writing or reading. ↩︎
  2. Ideally all of Fuji’s recent compact primes—XF 16mm F2.8, XF 23mm F2 WR, XF 35mm F2 WR, and XF 50mm F2 WR, not to mention the kit lens, FFS—should be perfectly comfortable to compose with the OVF. ↩︎
  3. Granted not as good, or as compact as what’s in the X-T4, but it’s fine for my limited IBIS needs. ↩︎
  4. It makes far more sense to have the two lock buttons on the same plane than it does to move one down and replace it with the Q Menu. ↩︎
  5. There is a remarkable lack of 50R’s available to handle in Toronto, Canada. Fuji will actually bring the camera to you if you ask for it, but I wanted to get an initial feel for it before troubling them. ↩︎

Fujifilm X Summit and the X-Pro3

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Last Friday, Fujifilm Japan held a “Fujifilm X Summit” in Shibuya to talk about a few upcoming developments. Toshi Iida, General Manager hosted alongside Shin Udono, Senior Manager, and Takashi Ueno, Senior Manager from Fujifilm as well as X-Photographers Bert Stephani and Tomasz Lazer.

XF 33mm 50mm F1 WR

The XF 33mm F1 WR was due to be officially announced anytime now, but it seems Fuji were a little too quick to add the lens to the roadmap. Back in July I wondered if it was premature to proclaim the lens as “world’s first mirrorless lens with an F/1 maximum aperture.” They are indeed sticking to F/1, but the focal length has been extended from 33mm to 50mm.

There are exactly two reasons for this; size, and weight.

When Fuji announced the XF 33mm F1 WR, I envisioned a lens about the size and weight of the XF 56mm F1.2. Early mockups of the XF 33mm F1 WR were already much larger, in around XF 90mm F2 WR territory, and since then—despite Toshi’s insistence the team make it smaller—it has actually become larger. In order to achieve excellent image quality from the centre of the frame through to the edges, and eliminate all the resulting aberrations, we were looking at a lens with 15 elements (the XF 35mm F1.4 has only 8), and over 1.3 kilograms in weight. The lens was so large, it was going to include a tripod mount, like the ones found in telephoto lenses. For a 50mm equivalent, that’s more than a little nuts.

The new XF 50mm F1 WR promises to be 35% smaller, with a target weight of under 900g (still pretty damn heavy), and we are to expect “50% richer bokeh.” I have no idea how one measures bokeh in terms of percent—there could be something lost in translation here—but at least some of this will come down to the change in focal length.

On the subject, I’m a little disappointed by the focal length change—50mm in 35mm equivalence is my jam—but it is absolutely the right call to keep X Series kit small and light. Bert wryly stated he was fine with the change, provided Fuji update the XF 35mm F1.4. Hear hear to that. I’ve moved back the original 35 myself, weather permitting.

Firmware Functions

Fujifilm Japan have a long list of customer-requested functions, which is to be expected. There are 20 or so commonly requested items, of which they shared what are apparently the top 9. Of those 9, they shared 3 functions are currently in development. Not the top 3, rather the top 3-5 requested features. Although I must call into question a couple of these requested functions.

On order of preference, those functions are:

Multiple shot for HDR

Cool, but if this is just for JPEG, I’m not super interested. If Fuji were able to somehow stack the dynamic range of multiple exposures into an HDR RAF, I’d be psyched. This feature strikes me as a response to things like “Smart HDR” and “computational photography.” Hopefully Fuji crushes it on their first attempt, otherwise they are going to be awfully far behind.

Focus Bracketing

Fuji’s demonstration shows 109 AF point calculations that can be combined ”on the PC in software” to create a sharp image. Also cool, but we'll need more concrete info. I definitely don’t want 109 frames to import and merge in post.

Multiple Exposure increased from 2 to 9 images

My first thought was “Who the hell is asking for this?” Honestly, I wish I could remove the Multiple Exposure functionality from my camera altogether to avoid the odd occasion is gets triggered accidentally. Doing this stuff in camera is about as useful as the Toy Camera effect is to me, but apparently people want more of it.

Gimbal and Drone Compatibility

A bonus function that wasn’t on the list. Buttons on gimbals will soon actually work, and key functions like shutter speed, exposure settings, and focus will be adjustable from both gimbal and drone controls. Big step up from just Start and Stop (recording).

Which Cameras?

One item of note is we don’t have any idea which cameras these features are in development for. Given Fuji has called these features “firmware functions” certainly suggests they will be coming to cameras that are already available. My guess is at least X-Trans IV, but it would strange to exclude the X-H1, so perhaps X-Trans III cameras will also be included.

X-Pro3

Now we get to the main event. A teaser for the development of the X-Pro3. Toshi set the whole thing up talking about “Pure Photography,” and asks “Why don’t we go back to basics?” Both of which sound familiar, but as I’ve quipped a number of times in the past, Fuji has delivered on what Nikon promised with the DF, seemingly without even trying.

Pure Photography

“Pure Photography” is described as having 3 parts:

  1. Carry & Access
  2. Find & Frame
  3. Shoot to Express (pressing shutter most important)

This in turn was broken out into 4 categories: Size, Weight, Discreet, and Durable. The rest of the presentation only loosely tied back to these items, but it’s worth understanding the thinking behind the X-Pro3’s direction.

Titanium

Toshi started with Durability. The X-Pro3 will be machined from titanium, a material largely abandoned for being too difficult to work with due to manufacturing challenges, and heat dissipation. But, as Toshi put it, Fuji “found a way.”

DuraBlack and DuraSilver

An added coating will (optionally?) be added to make the camera even tougher. Fuji calls these “DuraBlack” and “DuraSilver.” Standard black will seemingly also be available, but it is unclear whether this added finish will come at a premium. I suspect it will be treated the same as “Graphite Silver” was, and at least this finish adds function in addition to form, in that it will be 10 times more resistant to scratches than steel. My days of sweating over my camera getting scratched are behind me, but I totally understand this is important to people.

It will be interesting to see how the combination of Titanium and Dura finish stacks up against, say, the thicker magnesium and “hammer tone finish” of the X-H1. There was casual mention of the X-Pro3 feeling light, but no official claims of it being lighter than the X-Pro2. That suggests it is tougher without increase in weight.

This is good stuff, provided the X-Pro3 doesn’t run into any thermal issues. Given the combination of build materials, and pure photographic vision, it’s possible we could be looking at relatively limited video functionality in the X-Pro3. Personally, I’d be A-OK with it not even shooting video. Can’t get much more pure than that.

Also, “DuraBlack” looks hot. That’s definitely my choice of finish.

Hybrid Viewfinder

Both the OVF and EVF have been upgraded.

OVF

  • Clearer
  • Less distortion
  • Wider angle of view

The first two points are great. On the last, it sounds like there is more room for the viewfinder frame when using wider lenses like either of the 23mm, but I hope the viewfinder is also larger.

EVF via brand new panel

  • Higher resolution
  • Higher contrast
  • Wider colour space
  • Brighter
  • Higher frame rate

The one thing missing from that list that I really wanted to see was magnification. Once you get used to the EVF on an X-T or X-H, going back to the X-Pro takes a little getting used to.

The UI of both EVFs looks updated well. The text on the OVF has more white backing, and Fuji has introduced blue into the UI. It looks really nice.

Hidden LCD

Undoubtedly the most controversial portion of the announcement, the X-Pro3 will sport what we know as the “Sub Monitor” from the GFX 50s, 100, and X-H1 on the back. The LCD flips down for when it does come time to review your images. The Sub Monitor can also display your Film Simulation Mode in a nice graphic representation of the film packaging. It looks great, and feels very Hipstamatic.

My initial reaction is that it feels a bit gimmicky, and at the very least, extremely niche. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing. I love Fuji’s commitment to Pure Photography, but no one should expect big sales figures out of this thing. At least left-eye shooters won’t have to worry about nose smudges on their LCD anymore.

New Film Simulation, Classic Negative

It looks nice, and I’m sure like ACROS and CLASSIC CHROME before it, it will be the new Film Simulation hotness for a while. Which current cameras will be bestowed this new Film Simulation Mode, I wonder. I hope at the very least it trickles down to any X-Trans IV cameras (X-T3/X-T30).

Official Announcement

The X-Pro3 will be officially announced October 23, 2019, preceding “FujiFest” which is set to hit cities around the world, but disappointingly, none in Canada.

Thoughts

You’ll notice I haven’t complained about the lack of a D-pad yet. I had intended to, but after some thought, I’m not sure a camera of this kind really needs one as much. I do think we are going to want, if not need more access to Function buttons. Press and hold a button, turn a command dial, and watch the setting change on the Sub Monitor. One of the key features of the D-pad is being able to use the directional buttons as Function buttons when I’m not navigating menus. The way the mockup looks now, owners will either have to flip the screen open to make adjustments, or peer through the viewfinder, which can be a really clunky experience. Unless Fuji comes up with a way of using the Sub Monitor for that, but I won’t hold my breath.

Early Reactions

Based on replies on Twitter, and what I’ve seen online, reactions to the X-Pro3’s new design are mixed to say the least. There’s certainly some love for the idea, and Fuji’s willingness to put all their wood behind this arrow, but there are about as many people wondering if Fuji have their collective heads screwed on tight.

My Reaction

The X-Pro3 is decidedly old school, and borderline hipster, but I can definitely get behind thinking if the user experience lives up to the Pure Photography mantra. I think I’ll have a really hard time recommending a camera that is so purpose-built to anyone who might dabble in many different genres. But then, that’s entirely the point of “purity,” isn’t it?