Fujifilm’s X-Pro3 Is Even More Traditional

Fans of Fujifilm’s hybrid viewfinder X-Pro series of RF-style cameras will be pleased to know that the line is continuing with a thirdgeneration model. The X-Pro3 inherits the same ‘X-Trans CMOS 4’ sensor as is used in the X-T3. It uses a backside-illuminated (BSI) design which frees up some space on the front to pack in a few more pixels, enabling an effective resolution to 26.1 million, optimised by the absence of an optical low-pass filter. The sensitivity range is equivalent to

ISO 160-12,800, with extensions either side to ISO 80 and 100, or ISO 25,600 and 51,200.

The X-Pro3 also has Fujifilm’s latest-gen processor, the ‘X Processor 4’, which employs a total of four CPUs to enable continuous shooting at 11 fps with the focal plane shutter and 20 fps with the sensor-based shutter. As on the X-T3, a 1.25x crop mode allows for even faster shooting at 30 fps. There’s also extended burst lengths for both JPEG and RAW capture. Additionally, 4K video recording is in either the DCI or UHD resolutions at 24, 25 or 30 fps (with a bit rate of 200 Mbps).

The new processor also enhances the auto-focusing performance with sensitivity extended down to EV -6.0 and the addition of eye-detection tracking. The hybrid contrast /phase-detection AF system uses 425 measuring points. There’s two brand new ‘Film Simulation’ profiles called Classic Neg and Monochromatic Colour (for tinted B&W images) which bring the total to 18. Also new on the X-Pro3 is the ‘Grain Effect’ processing, ‘Dynamic Range Priority’ processing, and a multi-shot HDR capture function.

On the outside, the X-Pro3 is very similarly styled to its predecessor, but gets titanium top and bottom plates, and upgraded weather sealing (now with 70 seals versus 61). The rest of the body panels and chassis are magnesium alloy as before. There’s the standard black-painted finish as on the

X-Pro2, but the option of a heavy-duty scratch-resistant surface protection for the titanium panels called ‘Duratect’. Special ‘DR Silver’ and ‘DR Black’ versions of the camera will be available. As before, the new model has dual memory card slots for SD format devices, but both now have UHS-II speed support as well as Video Speed Class V30.

Of course, the X-Pro3 retains the line’s hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, but with some revisions. The optical finder’s scene coverage increases to 90 percent (up from 92 percent) and magnification is now fixed at 0.52x rather than being switchable as was the case on the previous two models. The EVF now uses an OLED-type panel rather than

TFT LCD and has a higher resolution of 3.69 megadots with a faster refresh rate of 100 fps. The magnification increases to 0.66x.

Fujifilm has taken a very interesting approach with the X-Pro3’s LCD monitor screen which is still a 7.62 cm panel with a resolution of 1.62 megadots, but is now ‘hidden’ unless you deliberately flip it down when it can tilt through to 90 or 180 degrees. In the open position, then, the monitor is primarily designed to work more like a waistlevel finder. Closed (which is face-in to the camera back) what you see is a very small, square LCD panel which can serve as a basic info display or, more cleverly, show the ‘Film Simulation’ profile setting reproduced as the end of a film carton (i.e. Velvia, Provia, etc). It’s the digital-era equivalent of the film memo holder, and is quite a nice added traditional touch to an already very classically-styled camera. However, modern-era additions include Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity to supplement WiFi, a USB-C connector (USB 3.1 speed) and touch screen controls on the monitor.

Available from November, the X-Pro3 is priced at $2699 body only in basic black, or $2999 each in the special ‘DR’ finishes of either silver or black.

For more information visit www.fujifilm.com.au