Fujifilm X-Pro3 review: living in the moment, not a screen in sight

if only X-Pro2 evf was not that bad

X-Pro3 EVF/OVF is on the hotseat now. How many units have problems?

When I first saw firm info on the XP3 and its "interesting" design, my first reaction was to sell my tired old X-Pro2 on while it was still holding value and invest in an XT3, since I wanted the improvements in the newer cameras but it was clear to me the X-Pro series wasn't the way forward for me anymore.

A couple of months on I'm actually selling the XT3 and have picked up a brand new, heavily discounted X-Pro2 again. The truth is I prefer it's style and having thoroughly tested the XT3 I'm not so impressed with the improvements to sensor and AF etc. It's good, but not dramatically better than the already good XP2 generation in my opinion, at least for my purposes. I actually used both side by side at a wedding this weekend, and in terms of performance and IQ for me it was a wash.

The XP3 is a misstep for me in many ways. Hopefully they've done their research and are exploiting some lucrative new market, but as a devotee of the last two cameras it's absolutely not for me.

all in all overpriced and disspointing in a few serious areas, not exciting at all with this OVF.

John,

Did I say that you have to use the same thing as me? I said I don't understand why this appeals not that it should not appeal. It seems to be an excellent camera and the OVF/EVF combination is a good idea. I don't see the point of the hidden LCD or the high price as compared to the XT-3. But that's just my opinion. Or are opinions no longer acceptable?

"I don't understand the logic behind this "less is more" approach."

Compare Google to Yahoo. When Google started, Yahoo was the big deal in search engines. Yahoo not only had a search field on their home page, but all sorts of other links and sections. Google to this day has a home page only with the search feature. Google is huge, Yahoo is a fraction of its former self. "Less is more" won out.

For $250 you can buy a X-Pro1, for $1,200 a Leica M8 a true RF, but for $2,000 you can buy this. Why? It takes great pics, looks great, it's indestructible, and it appeals to few ppl only, thus is rare. For the price point, there are other cameras such as the Sony Alpha7 which deliver better IQ, but you're not buying this for the ultimate IQ. You're buying this cause it's a collectable, and for the pride of ownership. Would I buy this? Yes, the DuraSilver variant. The real problem of the system remains to be the lens options: the 35mm f1.4 is old, the f2 is slow and not enough shallow DOF. Fuji needs to update the 35mm line with a modern, sturdy 35mm f1.2 to match the X-Pro3.

John Gellings has low comprehension skills..... it's confirmed.

notpc ... since I was able to infer that MrHollywood needs an LCD so badly that he has to make several posts about a camera he is never going to buy... I would say my comprehension skills are spot on. Secondly, this is his MO... to talk crap about all cameras except the one he is currently in love with. I've seen him in other forums here.

John Gellings: You don't know if someone is going to buy a camera or not. And so what if he makes posts about it. This is a place for discussion about equipment. That's what people do. If you disagree with his point about the Df or the rear LCD, then you have the opportunity to give a counterview. But no, you went for the personal projection.

Do you really think we need more criticism about the LCD? Is that really adding to the discussion? We get it. You guys don’t like the camera. Move on. Some of us like it and would like to discuss it positively.

Hi John, Is that any different than saying we get it. You guys love the camera. Move on? It is just a discussion and to me all posts are welcome. If there are 1000 positive posts and a 1000 negative posts there is room for all. It is what makes the forum interesting.

I get what you are saying, but generally people come to forums to talk about the gear they like using, not about gear they hate and then repeating why they hate it over and over. If I don’t like a camera, I assume it just isn’t for me. I just don’t pay attention to it anymore. I don’t go to a forum for that camera and complain.

@John Gellings... This wasn't an ordinary forum thread about someone who was enjoying his camera, it was a REVIEW of a new camera and discussion is obviously going to be what people like and don't like. The LCD design choice for this cam is just plain weird. It's super annoying to find someone scolding others for saying they don't like it.

X100F can charge via usb and comes with external charger.

So you did, I missed that :-) I've left a comment under your post there. Cheers!

Why don’t you just buy the Nikon z6? It is also portable, has better image quality, you can keep your lenses and it is cheaper!

I had been shooting w/Nikon D800 for a couple years when the XP 1 was getting a lot of attention, then the XP2 exploded on the market, I decided to give it a shot. I was very impressed and invested in a 50mm f2 and a 10/24 F4. Putting the D800 on the back burner for most of a year, Eventually I pulled it back into service and, well, I've decided that they both have a place in my bag.
My suggestion to anyone contemplating the move, make an objective comparison before you cut the Nikon cord.

not only stupid but a waste of energy better spent addressing focus issues finally brought to the front by a number of frustrated users made to employ convoluted methods to make focus work as it should

IMO every camera with fixed screen is "stupid design"
When you really need it you can't see it.

At least with this you can see it from the hip or when you are down low.
So not that stupid.

Strong reactions are from the trolls that never used xpro2 (or xpro3) and have nothing better to do than take a dump here in comment section.

I suppose any individual considering their perception of the product as the definitive viewpoint and any other opinion invalid probably does make things seem simple.
This product was worth making by Fuji just for the excitement and passion, flying fur and feathers it has generated with throwing a spanner in to the works of the habitual upgrader expecting just a bit more of the same.
Fuji are not ones for the conventional predictable approach and you would think people would have realised that by now. Long may they continue to do this as it is a refreshing change to most of what goes on know.

@celestialemissary I love my X-Pro2 and my X-E3 (for travel). I would have loved an update to the X-Pro2 with much better AF and some other features. I am not a troll at all, but quite a fan of fuji otherwise. Respectfully accept my strong dislike for this model as my own personal idea of how I would like to use a camera.

Remember the Nikon Z7 and only the 1 card slot. I’m amazed I can take any photo’s at all with mine!

Being an X user as well I’ll be keen to see one in the metal, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to use it just fine.

Definitely a lot of noise just for a camera

@kreislauf - lol at neophobic, the X-Pro3 is literally designed for people who want to believe they’re shooting film and get too distracted by the presence of a screen on a digital camera.

X-Pro2 better? Well it has better high iso performance, it’s better for switching seamlessly between screen and viewfinder shooting, it’s better for fast access to functions via more function buttons (and a non-hidden menu system), and it has a better OVF with switchable magnification covering a wider range of lenses. So yeah, for many it is the better camera.

On a performance level the X-Pro3 brings XT3 level improvements; I’ve been using an XT3 for the past couple of months and I’m so impressed with those improvements that I’m selling it and going back to the X-Pro2. Don’t get me wrong, the newer AF system etc is good, but in most circumstances it’s not a big difference and the XP2 still measures up well. Sorry to disappoint.

The Z6 is a great camera. Go buy it and be happy.

in europe even black xpro3 costs around 2000 euros, titanium even more. I bought Z6, FTZ and 2470f4 for 2000 euros. And Z6 is a lot of camera for it's price. I think Z series will be a great disturbance for the market especially to Sony's. Which Fuji could have done as well.

Remember that this camera body style offers the rangefinder type viewfinder. I (and others) find this preferable to the SLR prism type (IE. the X- T3 or X-H1) that the Nikon has.

Got a Z camera and it’s really just not the same as an X camera

These forums show there is an infinite supply of words so not to worry. Though the word hipster is a bit worn out and jaded.

If you look at the gear list of most of the dullards, they do not have a Fuji... yet, they swear they were happy X-Pro2 users.

The waste of words is those who would never have bought this camera just spreading negativity, thinking they are so clever in doing so.

It is this strange use of the word hipster whatever it means, but is obviously derisory, that is dull and uninspiring. The camera has little to do with it.
These camera companies are not obliged to produce the same camera forever and the ILC market is collapsing faster than the compact market. Compact owners have had contend with losing their brand of camera completely.
People who get in to a great state of angst over their particular camera going away are going to be in for a hard time over the next few years.

They just know it is cool

Here is a clue: if you accuse others of being "hipster" you are showing that it is you that is the poser, the one trying to fulfill an image and acting condescending towards others.

I am just calling it as it is. If it hurts your feelings to bad so sad for you.

Maybe Fuji can complete the look and add one of those old school film canisters on the strap.

You're not doing anything except trying to make yourself look better by attacking a straw man...and coming off as the true poser, the one just trying ever so hard to prove how clever they are but just repeating tired cliched criticism.

That screen also displays current settings like that hipster Z7.

LOL desperate much

with a roll of Kodak in it to make one feel like a "real" photographer

The X-Pro3 is quite large for an APS-C camera but it's small and light by comparison with a D750.

The F1.2 and F1.4 lenses means it can offer directly comparable IQ to the D750 if the Nikon is at F1.8 / F2.1 (respectively) or slower. Except in bright light, where the FF camera will use a lower F number for the same DoF, letting you drop the ISO lower and get more light/better tonal quality.

Meanwhile the F2 lenses let the Fujifilm be much smaller than the D750 can get (while still at least matching the Nikon up to F3). So it will be comparable in a lot of situations.

The Fujifilm will also shoot much, much better video.

But there's no substitute for sensor size when you push beyond the range in which they're equivalent. Those are the trade-offs of sensor size.

Richard, i do really like Fujifilm very much, but i must admit, the aging D750 is currently for as low as around ~950 EUR, with current savings. (I won't buy it - i use still my old 5D, A7 gear) just saying, into Germany.

https://geizhals.de/nikon-d750-schwarz-gehaeuse-vba420ae-a1164870.html

Which makes it even more, at least ~250 EUR usually being cheaper, compared to a used 5D Mark III, which is even older, these DSLR usually go for 1150-1250 EUR being used, with restricted warranty, from Retailers.

Good light, and good night Forum, i am way overdue my usual sleeping time.

They already did that with the Xpro2. They didn't need to make the LCD unusable on a tripod and downgrade the OVF to 'improve' it.

OTOH, most of it's biggest fans seem not to have been interested in the Xpro2, and a lot of Xpro2 users are very disappointed with the Xpro3. They basically took a great camera, removed some controls, and made it harder to use.

And yes, it looks really retro hipster with that little film window on the back of the part-time LCD. Me, I'm more interested in a camera I can use daily.

No it is not. It is larger, more complex to use, cannot be used with a screen in a handy manner and cannot d any fancy manipulation.
This camera has nothing to do with smartphones.

@fpessolano: That's the point: this camera is different enough from smartphones to attract some attention.

If you just offer a more traditional mirrorless to smartphone users, on the basis of better IQ and more fancy photographic features, they will continue to do what they already are: say not interested, my smartphone is good enough but easier to use and carry. And talking about screens, all smartphones have far better screens than any mirrorless.

But this camera offers a different type of experience and feel, and for some that will have appeal. As smartphones get better, and you can bet they will get a lot better in a hurray with the R&D budgets of Apple and Google and Samsung, more and more the only differentiator for most will be the user experience.

With this camera Fuji is at least thinking about the user experience.

@Thoughts R Us

'With this camera Fuji is at least thinking about the user experience.'

It's always been hit or miss though. Like up until the X-T1, all other Fuji X cameras had lousy ergonomics. I still have an X20 and love the camera to bits for its simplicity, and for being the last compact camera with a truly good OVF. I loved my X-Pro 1 and X20 because they were very simple and intuitive cameras to operate. But the way the buttons are placed, and the feel of the buttons for example, aren't well thought out. Would it kill Fuji to give us a nice big AF-On button with good tactile feedback instead of those tiny, mushy AF and AE lock buttons? It's a shame because Fuji is the only brand that lets you set an AF-On button and still use the shutter button to focus.

Then with the X-Pro 2, they forced everyone into using Auto ISO or the physical dial rather than simply letting turn one of the command dials. I swear, sometimes Fuji is being different for the sake of being different.

@Thoughts R Us
This makes is not an easy step from a smartphone, not even from a compact camera. Some hipster smartphone user might look at it and buy it to "be different". Most smartphone users will find it too complex, big and user unfriendly to be interested to carry one around.
Let's face it, somebody (and of course I am generalising too much) who likes photography per se has a camera and uses a smartphone when photography does not matter. People who just what to snap away, post or need just a quick memory (like it was with instant cameras in the past) will stick to smartphones or something as simple to use with no need to postprocessing.

In terms of the bespoke technologies and processes, the pressed titanium, Duratect coating and hybrid viewfinder are expensive, as you say. But you get what you pay for.

You can buy a number of different FF mirrorless cameras just as small and smaller. That will give you far better image quality. Oh and a few are actually less cost.