Fujifilm X-T3
The X-T3 is the first of Fujifilm’s cameras to use the fourth generation of its X-Trans CMOS sensor. This is a 26.1-million-pixel APS-C format chip that eschews a low-pass filter to enhance detail sharpness. While the increase in pixel count from the 24.3 million of the X-T2 doesn’t seem especially noteworthy, the sensor has a backside-illuminated (BSI) design, meaning the light-gathering potential is better than with the standard design of the previous sensor.
Also, Fujifilm has paired the sensor with its latest X-Processor and together they enable a slightly wider sensitivity range than previous models, ISO 160-12,800, with 160 now a native setting rather than an expansion setting. This range can also be expanded to ISO 80-51,200.
Another benefit of the new processor is that the X-T3 can shoot full-resolution images at up to 11fps with the mechanical shutter or 20fps with the electronic shutter. If you’re willing to accept a 1.25x crop to capture 16.6MP images,
Topping the X-T2 was never going to be easy, but Fujifilm has found a way with the X-T3
the rate can be pushed to 30fps with the electronic shutter. What’s more, those rates are without the need for a booster grip.
Fujifilm has increased the number of userselectable autofocus (AF) points on the X-T3. There’s a choice of 117 in a 9x13 grid or 425 in a 17x25 grid. That means with the smallest of six AF area sizes selected in single-point AF mode, you can target the point of focus very precisely. In addition, the performance of the face and eye detection system has been improved upon the X-T2’s and it works with continuous autofocusing. This is especially useful for wedding and social photographers as it gets the most important part of the subject sharp even if they are moving.
The AF system’s low-light sensitivity has also been improved from -1EV to -3EV. However, we still found the X-T3 can be hesitant when shooting indoors where light levels and contrast are a bit low. No such trouble outside in normal daylight conditions; we were able to
“We were able to fire off streams of images and get sharp shot after sharp
shot of fast-moving cars”
fire off streams of images and get sharp shot after sharp shot of fast-moving cars.
We like the X-T2’s viewfinder but the X-T3’s surpasses it by providing a wonderfully smooth, detailed view that looks even more natural. Of course that comes with the benefit of being able to show the impact of the camera’s settings, so you can assess whether you have the right Film Simulation mode, exposure and white balance settings selected before you take the shot.
As we’ve already mentioned, the X-T3 only makes a small increase in pixel count over the X-T2, so there’s not much of an increase in the image detail resolution. However, the switch to a BSI sensor helps improve the low-light performance and this means there’s less noise in higher-sensitivity images. As a result, the X-T3 keeps noise under very good control up to around ISO 3200. Above that value it becomes a little more evident, but we’d have no issue with using the full native sensitivity range if the lighting conditions demanded it.
In its Multi setting the X-T3’s metering system can be relied upon to get the exposure settings right in most situations. unless
Natural Live View mode has been activated in the menu, the EVF and screen should alert you to any exposure errors. If you do make any mistakes on the exposure front, however, you’ll find that the X-T3’s wide dynamic range makes substantial brightening possible.
Fujifilm cameras have a good reputation for colour reproduction and the X-T3 doesn’t disappoint. It produces attractive images with good colour and pleasant midtone contrast.