Photography News Issue 60

Camera test 34

Photography News | Issue 60 | photographynews.co.uk

The souped-up AF system is a worthwhile benefit. I utilised it mostly in single zone, using the focus lever to navigate the working point around the screen, and having working zones across almost the entire screen is great. The system was very responsive in a wide variety of lighting conditions and performed impressively well in dim conditions. In dimly lit interiors or outside at night the system locked on accurately and decisively. For moving subjects I tried the wide/tracking option, doing

a Fujifilm X Series cameras and this being the first of the fourth generation augurs well for future models. I used the new Capture One Express Fujifilm for Raw processing and the results certainly printed up very nicely indeed. The slightly bigger image size compared with the X-T2 (6240x4160pixels plays 6000x4000pixels) made little practical difference; however, I am always happy with more pixels to work with.

Performance: Pre-shot mode

Shutter button half down

some test shots with the XF 100-400mm f/4- 5.6 lens. The systemdid well and proved very effective with subjects that had defined edges and good contrast.

Shutter button fully down

One benefit of the newprocessor is the Pre-shot mode, a feature seen on other cameras but the X-T3 is the first X Series model to have it. In this mode and with the electronic shutter set, partial pressure on the shutter means the camera starts to buffer frames but no shots are recorded. Press the shutter button down fully and you

get a sequence of shots from that point but you also get the buffered shots, too. So, if you missed the critical moment you might find that you still have the shot. I found I got about 19 uncompressed full Raws with the camera set to 20fps in the second before the shutter button was depressed, and then I got another

16 at that continuous shooting rate before slowing down. Setting the camera to 30fps, I got about 25 shots before I took the shot and 15 afterwards, with the buffer then taking about 30 to 35secs to clear. Pre-shot and buffer clearing speeds are affected by the SD card in use. Here, I used a SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s SD card.

I had no issues with the exposure system, either, and from my 2000-odd test shots (you rattle through frames at 30fps), I didn’t get any total failures, instead getting nice, richly coloured images. Picture quality is of the very high standard I’d expect from

Verdict

Second opinion: Daisy Dickinson, editor

Features New sensor, new processor, handling improvements – all add up to a tempting proposition Handling 24/25 Very sound and helped by dioptre knob lock and smaller exposure compensation dial Performance 24/25 Impressive high ISO image quality, swift AF and good exposure skills Value for money 24/25 Great value considering the impressive feature set you get Overall 95/100 Fujifilm’s fourth generation gets off to a flying start with the X-T3 Pros Sensor, attractive price, focusing skills, Pre-shot and burst modes, ISO performance Cons Small resolution increase for current X-T2 owners isn’t a big leap. Yet there are clear benefits in image quality, AF and high ISO performance, so if you like to make big prints and want snappier, more reliable focusing and shoot in all lighting types, I think the answer’s clear: get out your credit card. Is the Fujifilm X-T3 worth buying? If you are reading this, that’s the question you want answering but as always there are many things to be considered. If you’re not yet a Fujifilm owner, I think the X-T3 is a serious contender for your money. It works very well on so many levels, it’s strongly supported by an extensive X lens system and its price is seriously competitive. For comparison, the X-T2 body was £1399 when it came out in 2016. So, what about from an X-T2 owner’s perspective – is the X-T3 worth upgrading to? If you’re after pure pixel count there is a gain, but 26- against 24-megapixels 23/25

Beautiful weather, classic car racing, vintage get-up, and plenty of people watching – what could possibly offer a better playground in which to test the new Fujifilm X-T3. As a long-term punter at the Goodwood Revival – and already a fan of Fujifilm’s predecessor, the X-T2 – I was keen to put pedal to the metal and see what the X-T3 had to offer. Taking to the tracks at Goodwood, speed was on my mind. The X-T3 didn’t disappoint, boasting 11fps and the option of 30fps with the electronic shutter in continuous shooting. AF has also been improved, four times faster according to the specs, and with better rapid tracking capabilities. I certainly found the camera locked on to the subject more effectively using continuous AF with wide/tracking, and live view of 60fps meant checking the subject while shooting was a breeze. A little manipulation of the custom focusing menu meant I could further adjust for optimum results – particularly useful when not one but five AC Cobras are racing past, all muscling for pole position. Spend all day shooting and the improved battery life is noticeable – this new X-series camera promises to give you around 390 frames on one charge, and I had no power issues during my day of action. Of course, you can opt for the new horizontal grip, too, for further power and stability. Videographers will be pleased about the addition of a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as supporting 4K/60P internal recordingandoutput,butitwasthe speed and precision that really had

my back at Goodwood. Shooting in between crowds of punters, cars speeding past in all directions, and it’s easy to miss the moment. Using a combination of AF tracking, the improved face/eye detection and the X-T3’s focus lever meant I was able to dip between people and get atmospheric, candid shots of drivers in between races. I really

enjoyed using the XF56mm f/1.2 APD for stunning portraits with a beautifully soft depth-of-field and rich, vibrant colour reproduction, while the sophisticated AF made it easy to keep locked on to my subjects, with face and eye detection proving useful. The 3in, 1040k-dot, tri- adjustable LCD is easy to pull out

and twist, and lets you get down low for dynamic shots – it has touchscreen capability, too. With its hybridAF systemand a brand new sensor, the X-T3 offers flexible, fast shooting for a wide range of subjects. Lightweight, packed with functionality and creative potential, it’s definitely a camera I’d happily take for a spin.