What's it like to use?
Cameras can serve different purposes for different photographers; the right tool for one person might be the wrong one for someone else. With that in mind, we'll be taking a look at how the Fujifilm X-T3 stacks up for a variety of common uses, based on its specifications, our lab testing, and the time we've spent with it in the real world.
Travel
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ISO 160 | 1/500sec | F2.8 | Fujinon XF 16-55mm @ 53mm |
The X-T3's comparatively small size (especially when paired with the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 or one of the small F2.0 primes), makes the X-T3 an attractive travel camera. Add in its combination of stills and video capabilities and it's only really the lack of IS for video that counts against it.
Pros:
- Great JPEG output
- Bluetooth-supported Wi-Fi for easy image sharing
- Excellent stills and video quality
- Decent battery life
- USB charging (type C)
Cons:
- Lack of in-body stabilization undermines video quality for hand-held shooting
Video
The X-T3 is one of the most impressive video cameras we've tested, with quality living up to the specifications. The provision of the flat but attractive 'Eterna' film profile and 10-bit Log, even for 60p capture, makes the camera hugely flexible, with or without post-processing. Autofocus, while not as simple as on a Dual Pixel Canon, is good enough to make shooting simpler.
Pros:
- Good quality 10-bit 4K at up to 60p
- Separate exposure settings for stills and video
- Eterna / 10-bit Log give flexibility
- Good (though not 100% dependable) autofocus
- Headphone and mic sockets
Cons:
- Limited exposure monitoring tools
- Silent Movie Control interface is a little fiddly
- Lack of in-body stabilization
- No AF tracking in video
Family and moments
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ISO 160 | 1/280sec | F2.8 | Fujinon XF 16-55mm @ 49mm |
The X-T3's attractive JPEGs and improved autofocus make it a tempting camera for family photographs and significant moments, but its Face Detection isn't sufficient for complex social situations.
Pros:
- Excellent JPEG output with attractive color
- Face/Eye Detection works well for single subjects
- Easy to shoot stills and video without having to re-configure exposure settings
Cons:
- AF not responsive enough for running children
- No way to specify which face you wish to prioritize, camera easily confused when multiple subjects are in a scene
Lifestyle and People
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ISO 800 | 1/100 | F2.8 | Fujinon XF 16-55 F2.8 @ 55mm |
The X-T3 lends itself well to general social photography thanks to its compact size and good low light performance. The inability to specify which face you want Face/Eye AF to focus on limits its usefulness in situations with multiple subjects though. AF can also struggle in back-lit conditions.
A strong range of fast-aperture lenses makes it attractive for lifestyle shoots, though you won't get quite the same image quality as full frame. Setting up a Bluetooth connection makes it quicker to re-establish a Wi-Fi connection if you want to share your images.
Pros:
- Effective Face/Eye AF system
- Good low light performance
- Attractive and easy-to-share JPEGs
- Decent battery life
Cons:
- Face/Eye AF can jump between subjects unpredictably
- High ISO JPEGs can lose the whites of subjects' eyes
Portraits
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ISO 160 | 1/300sec | F2.8 | Fujinon XF 50-140mm @ 134mm |
The X-T3's improved Face/Eye detection system lends itself well to posed portraits, and the JPEG output makes the results look attractive. As a bonus, Fujifilm's TTL flash system is increasingly supported by third-party flash makers.
Pros:
- Face/Eye Detection does a good job of putting focus on the eye, with minimal input
- Choice of attractive color modes
- Easy to Wi-Fi small or full-res image for sharing with your subject
Cons:
- High ISO JPEGs can lose the whites of the eyes
- Cameras with higher resolution are available
- Arguably the system's best portrait lenses (the 56mm F1.2s) are also the slowest to focus
Landscape
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ISO 160 | 1/500 sec | F5.6 | Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 @ 25mm Photo: Jeff Keller |
The X-T3 is a fairly small camera to carry and it promises weather sealing. Battery life is reasonable but it's probably worth carrying a second battery. It can't compete with the dynamic range or resolution of some more expensive full frame cameras, but it's still a very attractive camera for landscape work.
Pros:
- DR modes make it easier to visualize and exploit camera's dynamic range
- Attractive JPEG output and flexible Raw files
- Promises a degree of weather sealing
- Flip-out screen makes it easier to work on a tripod or at odd angles
Cons:
- Higher resolution cameras are available in a similar form factor
- Extending the rear screen doesn't disengage viewfinder (tap 'Viewmode' button to switch off the Eye Sensor when shooting on a tripod).
Sports
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ISO 500 | 1/250 sec | F5.6 | Fujinon XF 55-200mm @ 78mm Photo: Carey Rose |
The X-T3's ability to shoot at up to 11fps (20 in E-shutter mode, 30 with an additional 1.25x crop), plus improved AF makes the X-T3 a plausible sports camera. It's not quite Nikon D500 responsive, but with a little AF tuning and used in Zone AF mode, the X-T3 does well. It'll shoot for around 35 shots even with Raw enabled, which should be sufficient for capturing most moments.
Pros:
- Improved AF performance makes X-T3 pretty capable
- 11fps shooting is competitive (20fps if your subject and lighting allows the use of electronic shutter mode)
- Strong JPEG images out-of-camera
Cons:
- AF system requires a degree of fine-tuning to suit subject
- Lens choice and rental availability may be lower than other systems (so check first)
Candid and street
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ISO 160 | 1/220 sec | F2.8 | Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 @ 94.5mm equiv. |
The X-T3 isn't as small and subtle as a Ricoh GR or even a Fujifilm XF10 but, particularly if you choose the black version, it's a pretty discreet camera to shoot with. The two-axis tilting touchscreen allows waist-level shooting, but you'll need to tap the 'Viewmode' button on the viewfinder hump to avoid the eye sensor constantly blacking the screen out.
Pros:
- Flip-up screen and small size allow discreet shooting
- Silent shooting mode has pretty well-controlled rolling shutter
- Touchscreen and AF joystick for easy AF placement
- Nice-looking, ready-to-post JPEGs
- Wi-Fi for easy sharing with subjects
Cons:
- Extending the rear screen doesn't disable the eye sensor
- Becomes quite noticeable with all but the smallest of lenses
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