Photography News Issue 60

Camera test 30

Photography News | Issue 60 | photographynews.co.uk

FujifilmX-T3 The X Series explodes into its fourth generation with the X-T3, a top-end camera sporting a new sensor, imaging processor and a world’s first or two

Specs

Price FujifilmX-T3 body only, available in black or silver, £1349; X-T3 kit with 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens, £1699 Sensor 26.1-megapixels, BSI X-Trans CMOS 4 with X Processor 4 image engine Sensor format 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C), 6240x4160pixels ISO range 160-12,800, expandable to equivalent ISO 80, 100, 125, 25,600, 51,200 Shutter range 15mins-1/8000sec (mechanical shutter), 4secs to 1/32,000sec (electronic shutter), Bmode up to 60mins (mechanical shutter, 1/250sec or slower flash sync Drivemodes Up to 30fps (with electronic shutter, 1.25x crop) up to 35 frames burst in lossless Raw compression. 20fps whole APS-C format, up to 34 frames uncompressed Raw. Mechnical shutter 11fps up to 36 uncompressed Raws Metering system 256-zone metering withmulti, spot, average and centre-weighted Exposuremodes PASM Exposure compensation +/-5EV, AEB up to nine frames Monitor 3in, 1040k dots touchscreen showing 100% of image Viewfinder 3.69million dots OLED EVF Focusing Intelligent hybrid AF with single, continuous andmanual focus modes Focus points 13x9 grid, 25x17 grid (425) Video DCI 4K (4096x2160), 4K (3940x2160), full HD Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C, HDMI D Other key features 16 Film Simulationmodes, Grain effect, Color Chrome effect Storagemedia Dual slot SD/SDHC/SDXC Dimensions (wxhxd) 132.5x92.8x58.8mm Weight 539g body with battery and card Contact fujifilm.eu/uk

features a completelynewsensor and imaging processor. Fujifilm uses an X-Trans CMOS sensor in the vast majority of its X Series cameras and it is worth taking a moment to explain the difference between this design compared with the Bayer sensor used by most other brands. A Bayer sensor uses a 2x2 grid of light-collecting photosites with one

blue, one red and two green pixels. This grid of four pixels is repeated across the sensor and it is this uniformity that can lead to moiré patterning and false colours. This happens on areas of fine detail – cloth textures, fur, net curtains and so on – and to cancel its effect an optical low pass filter (OLPF) is often used in front of the sensor. The downside of this is that it impacts on ultimate resolution. Fujifilm’s X-Trans technology uses a 6x6 grid of red, blue and green pixels. The bigger grid, again repeated across the sensor, gives an effective randompixel layout so there is no moiré risk, hence no need for an OLPF and therefore much better image quality. So, the X-T3 has anX-Trans CMOS sensor, but there is a first here, too. It is the first X Series camera with a back(side) illuminated (BSI or BI) sensor. This is a review not a science lesson, but the subject is relevant so BSI sensors deserve a very short explanation. Most camera sensors are front illuminated so what happens is

Words and images byWill Cheung

It is the first X Series camera with a backside illuminated sensor

While there has been a huge amount of noise about full-frame mirrorless cameras recently, very significant developments are taking place elsewhere, not least the introduction of the Fujifilm X-T3. It’s a fourth generation X Series camera and

Left The control layout and monitor of the X-T3 are the same as that of the X-T2. However, the X-T3’s monitor has touch functionality.