GEAR FUJIFILMX-T3 TEST
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In use, the standard colours for shooting video are bright and punchy which suited racing cars, but may be too bold for more cinematic work. In that case, the Eterna Film Simulationmode works really well, or you can fine-tune the settings. There is very little noise, which only starts to show its head at ISO 6400 and above. When shooting F-Log, the dynamic range is more than 11 stops but this drops to around nine when using Eterna Film Simulation. The base ISO for video is 640, which gives maximumdynamic range. It’s possible to drop this really low to ISO 160, which will allow you to use a wider aperture for a more shallow depth-of-field, but it does impact the dynamic range. So if you’re shooting Eterna at ISO 160, it’s something to be aware of. The best results are shooting F-Log at ISO 640, but of course that means an increase in post-processing time. But it’s worth it to get the maximumout of this new camera. Great stills performance Many professionals will want to use the camera for stills and, in this case, the autofocus systemhas had a big boost in performance, with total coverage across the frame of speedy phase detection AF points, plus face and eye detection, too. The EVF has a 100fps refresh rate when set in boost mode and there is no viewfinder blackout during high-speed continuous shooting – something that has blightedmany mirrorless cameras, making them largely unusable for sport. The new viewfinder still has a tiny bit of lag, but is quick enough tomake sports shooting a practical proposition. When shooting stills of racing cars at speed, the AF occasionally hunted a little when you first half- press the shutter, but then quickly acquired focus, locked on and tracked well. The AF is adjustable for tracking speed and sensitivity, with different presets for different types of action or you can custom set your own. These make a big difference in how the AF performs. Once you got to know the camera, you’d soon learn which work best
are Fuji’s Film Simulationmodes such as Acros, Classic Chrome and Eterna, which generate a Raw file so you have full control afterwards. Classic controls Fujifilmhas also fine-tuned the controls with several dials slightly enlarged for an easier grip and buttons modified for a more solid feel. There’s also a newmode where you can change the colours of the menus for easier viewing at night and you can alter the size of the icons on the EVF for easier viewing even with slightly poor eyesight. Battery life is rated at 390 shots per charge, which is decent for a mirrorless camera but you will need spares for a full day’s shooting. The newUSB-C socket means you can charge the camera up easily from a laptop, though. The X-T3 still follows the Fujifilm X Series philosophy of traditional style, distinctly retro controls on a rugged and weatherproof metal camera, but one that’s packed with the latest tech to help the pro do their job. If you are used to the handling of any of Fujifilm’s recent cameras then getting to grips with the X-T3 will take no time at all. The body is now a four-piece design, but the camera is the same size and has the same controls Fujifilmusers are familiar with. If you have a background in old-school film SLRs, then you’ll have no issues either thanks to the traditional layout with obvious, knurled control rings for ISO and shutter speed. Even users of modern DSLRs with swoopy plastic bodies will have little
for different shooting situations. Overall the AF is excellent, with fantastic all-round performance for the vast majority of shooting. There is also quick and precise face and eye detection, offering an ideal way to use fast portrait lenses wide open even when the subject looks away then back again. Reflections in spectacles didmake the eye detection struggle a bit, but you can switch to one of the other AFmodes to nail focus every time. The new 26.1-megapixel BSI X-Trans CMOS sensor can shoot stills at up to 30fps thanks to the electronic shutter – albeit it with a 1.25x crop. Used with no crop, it maxes out at 20fps. Change to the mechanical shutter and it still rattles through images at 11fps. The native base ISO for stills is down to 160 from200, and there
ABOVE The 26.1-megapixel BSI X-Trans CMOS sensor can shoot stills at up to 30fps.
“The body is now a four-piece design, but it has the same controls Fujifilmusers are familiar with”
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PRO MOVIEMAKER WINTER 2018
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