Photography News | Issue 67 | photographynews.co.uk
Techniques 22
Fujifilm
Fujifilm lenses
Boasting a rich heritage, Fujifilm’smirrorless contenders deliver superb performance in small packages Xmarks the tops
The introduction of Fujifilm’s X Series was the company’s first step into the digital mirrorless market, seeing the introduction of the landmark X-Pro1, released in March 2011. What made the X-Pro1 unique wasn’t its vintage rangefinder styling – although that is very nice – but its hybrid optical/ electronic viewfinder and APS-C format X-Trans sensor, developed with Fujifilm’s rich heritage in colour technology producing film. Using a more randomised pattern of red, green and blue pixels than is found on a conventional Bayer sensor, an X-Trans sensor doesn’t require an optical low pass filter, giving an advantage in sharpness as well as colour reproduction, and because of it, X Series cameras are known for their highly detailed pictures and rich and accurate colours. At the top of Fujifilm’s X Series range now are the X-H1, X-T3 and X-Pro2, all of which are weather resistant and built to withstand professional use, so are a great fit for serious enthusiasts who want the best mix of quality and durability. The X-T3 is popular with landscape, wildlife and sports photographers, but equally at home shooting portraits and documentary. With a 26-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 and X-Processor 4 combination, it was the first in the X Series line-up to feature a back-side illuminated sensor. It also offers up to 30fps blackout- free high-speed continuous shooting, ISO sensitivity to 51,200 and rapid autofocus thanks to 2.6 million on-chip phase detection pixels. The Fujifilm X-T3’s EVF is a 3.69 million dot high-resolution model with a display lag time of just 0.005 seconds, so tracking subjects is rapid, while increased read speed from the sensor and the new high-speed processor have made it possible to have AF/AE tracking, blackout-free continuous shooting of up to 30fps using the electronic shutter, while maintaining a smooth live view of 60fps to track your subject. Rolling
Boasting a rich heritage, Fujifilm’s mirrorless contenders deliver superb performance in small packages X-ceptional lens options Above Fujifilm’s extensive lens range includes the superfast 56mm f/1.2 (left) and the impressive 16mm f/1.4 (right)
Hailing from 2011, Fujifilm’s X Series has had the better part of a decade to build up a range of lenses, and the quality and spread of options shows. Broadly split into XF and XC lenses, the former being superior but heavier, the range includes all that a creative photographer would generally need, although Fujifilm hasn’t brought a tilt-shift option to market yet. Everything else is there though, from fast wide-angles like the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LMWR (tested in this issue) for landscapes, to telephotos like the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 WR OIS for sports and action work, along with some delicious primes like the XF 56mm f/1.2 APD for portraits and the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR for low-light work. The WR means they can be used with just as much confidence as the Fujifilm weather-sealed bodies. There’s no shortage of third- party options either, with Zeiss and Samyang in particular offering great options. From Samyang, there’s the manual focus 12mm f/2 NCS CS, a fast wide-angle prime that weighs only 260g, and the 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS with impressively smooth bokeh and sharpness for portraits. Zeiss introduced the Touit range for X Series bodies, which allows autofocus and includes three fast primes with amazing sharpness, the 12mm f/2.8, 32mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/2.8 macro.
Fujifilm’s X Series range has the option of DSLR-style cameras (top) like the X-T3 and rangefinder style products, like the X-Pro2 (bottom)
shutter distortion – a typical issue for electronic shutters – has been halved compared to the previous generation, though if you shoot lower shutter speeds and fast pans in the electronic mode, verticals will skew. The X-T3’s autofocus makes it easy to keep locked on to your subject, and it features face and eye detection modes for portrait work. It also had dual card slots a three-inch, 1040k-dot, tri-adjustable touchscreen LCD. The X-Pro2 might be due an upgrade soon, but it’s still many photographers’ weapon of choice, with a 24.3-megapixel X-Trans III sensor and X Processor Pro engine. Like its predecessor, the rangefinder styled X-Pro2 uses a hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds, but has an upgraded focal-plane shutter, 8fps continuous shooting and an enhanced ISO range of ISO 200-12,800, expandable to 100- 25,600. Despite its retro styling, it also packs in modern conveniences like built in Wi-Fi and dual SD card slots. The X-H1 is unique in the range, being the only model to offer in-
body image stabilisation, rated at 5.5 stops. It sports a 24.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor, but one of its main claims is improved operability – that means a larger grip than the X-T3, easier access to the shutter release button and a quieter mechanical shutter for candid work. AF was also beefed up from previous versions, with a 1.5 stop improvement in sensitivity, meaning you can use autofocus even when the aperture is restricted to f/11 via teleconverters. Away from the top-end cameras, there’s a slew of other X Series bodies to consider. For instance, many of the X-T3’s features are included on its little brother, the X-T30, which uses the same 26.1-megapixel X-Trans 4 sensor and X Processor 4 in a package that’s over 150g lighter and a fair bit smaller. Similarly, if you want a rangefinder- style body, but can’t stretch to the X-Pro2, there’s the X-E3, using the same 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor and X-Processor Pro in a smaller, lightweight package, without
Above Fujifilm’s X-T30 features the brand’s latest sensor and AF technology at a great price
Right Fujifilm’s XF 50-140mm f/2.8 is one of the sharpest telezooms around
the hybrid viewfinder, but with enhanced 4K video options.
NEXTMONTH: We look at themirrorless full-frame options fromSony, Canon, Nikon and Panasonic
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