Fujifilm Photography News and Rumors

Previous Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories:
Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #1: The New Sub LCD
Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #2: Learning from Film
Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #3: Aged or Damaged
Fujifilm X-Pro3 Stories #4 Love of Photography

The unique design of the Fujifilm X-Pro3 has been contentious, but Fujifilm is trying to making additional effort to differentiate their cameras. The design of the Fujifilm X-Pro3 seems to be something that people love or hate, but it fits well within Fujifilm’s design philosophy.

While the relationship between hardware and software is symbiotic, basically it’s hardware that comes first: only after the hardware is created can software be developed to suit, and consequently, the hardware can reach its full potential only when the software is complete. What I’m trying to say is that the X-Pro3’s focus system was developed to maximize the performance of a fourth-generation sensor and processor and that the autofocus system is essential given the nature of the X-Pro3.

If I had to define a field of use for the X-Pro3, I would no doubt place street photography, photojournalism, and documentary photography at the top. All call for a compact, light camera that can be used under any conditions once a subject is found; indeed, a camera that may be called upon by photographers who have to dive into one tough situation after another in search of photographs of things one doesn’t ordinarily see—tough situations that may well include both harsh natural environments and rough terrain, or crossing cultural barriers. That’s right: what photography requires above all is access to the subject. And once you have access, what then? How will the camera support you? This was the engineer’s theme for this camera, and as you will probably have already guessed, it is the phase-detection autofocus system that functions in environments as dark as −6 EV. This is what lets you take the X-Pro3—and do your job—anywhere.

While the Fujifilm X-Pro3 might not be much different than an X-T3 on paper Fujifilm is obviously happy with their advancements in their new AF system which will help photographers. Fujifilm is even providing transparency about how they measure low light AF performance in their official materials to help photographers better know what to expect.

In calculating EV, we define 0 EV as the exposure achieved in 1 second (1″) at ISO 100 with an aperture of F1.

−1 EV = ISO 200, F1, 1″
−2 EV = ISO 400, F1, 1″
−3 EV = ISO 800, F1, 1″

The above is the specification for the X-T3, and is already a perfectly adequate level of performance, allowing snapshots to be taken at night without difficulty. Nevertheless, let’s try continuing the sequence:

−4 EV = ISO 1600, F1, 1″
−5 EV = ISO 3200, F1, 1″
So, −6 EV = ISO 6400, F1, 1″

For an X Mount system lens that supports an aperture of F1, you’d need an XF50mmF1, so for practical purposes settings of ISO 1600, F1.4, and 2″ would be needed for −6 EV.

Any real-world situation in which such settings would be required for optimal exposure would be a very dark one indeed. These are probably not settings you’d use for photographs taken under a full moon but are more those that might be required in an unlit alley or for scenes lit by starlight on a moonless night.

PDAF AF has drastically improved mirrorless AF in recent years and it looks like Fujifilm is pushing even more performance out of their current X-Trans design. Hopefully, Fujifilm can catch Sony soon in mirrorless AF performance, which is the only area they still fall behind.

I can only say that this miracle would not have been possible without the magic hands of the engineers. The X-Pro3’s autofocus uses information from phase-detection pixels embedded in the imaging sensor. The placement of these pixels on the imaging sensor is what makes accurate focus possible, but the sensor is not used only for focus—as an imaging sensor, it has another crucial role it must fill, namely, creating the image.

At low light levels, pixels with color filters—the pixels used for imaging—function in their normal role, while the phase-detection pixels, which lack color filters, operate in a different sequence to maximize exposure time to produce a sufficiently strong signal even under low light.

Not only that, but this is the level of performance the sensor can achieve just with the current lens lineup. With the XF50mmF1 (in development) I mentioned above, a performance of 1 stop better (−7 EV) becomes possible.

Fujifilm should add the AF system from the X-Pro3 to the X-T3 in the future via a firmware update, but they might make us wait a while to increase sales. Until then we will have to wait and see if their new AF system lives up to the hype.

Fujifilm X-Pro News, Rumors, and Collaboration
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via Fujifilm

Gordan from Camera Labs just dropped his full Fujifilm X-Pro3 review and while not as long as past reviews only coming in at around 30 min you can find excerpts below from the video if you do not have the time to watch:

• X-Pro3 is one of Fujifilm’s flagship cameras like xt3 so Gordan’s review this time is less technical
• Same as XT3 with processing enhancements but XT3 has 60p
• The X-Pro3 is more expensive than the XT3 and if you add a premium coating then the X-Pro3 moves into the area of Full Frame pricing
• X-Pro3 is all about a shooting experience
• Fujifilm’s hybrid viewfinder is still very unique
• You would want an X-Pro3 over X-T3 because of the hybrid viewfinder and premium build quality that uses titanium
• The new finishes are very nice and what you would find on a premium watch
• The X-Pro3 is a specialist camera and Fujifilm doesn’t expect to sell many
• Fujifilm is big enough to get away with specialist cameras and the people that like them are willing to pay for them
• The screen on the back is not backlit to save power
• Gordan thinks the rear screen looks nice when properly illuminated
• You can change the simulations using the joystick if you want, but there is no q menu on the back
• You need to put conscious effort into using the rear screen if you want to use it which leads to you spending more time taking pictures rather than looking at them
• If you need to access menus etc you can do so through the EVF instead of the backscreen which keeps your eye to the viewfinder
• Gordan was shocked to see how little time he spent in menus and he liked that the design kept him from spending too much time in the menus
• The ability to tilt the rear screen down 90 degrees makes shooting very discreet and this is great
• Shooting with the back screen at 180 degrees isn’t a practical way to shoot though
• Gordan was initially leary about the design, but he found the new design to be great for discreet screen photography and for making him more focused on shooting
• The OVF is great, but most of the time you can see the lens in the viewfinder, but you can overlay a lot of useful information including a grid and level
• The EVF is not different than traditional EVF
• There is a third option that overlays a little of the EVF over the bottom right of the OVF and its useful since it really only blocks you from seeing the lens in the OVF
• The new OVF doesn’t let you switch magnification so 23mm takes up pretty much the entire frame
• The removal of the ability to switch magnification impacts the usefulness of the OVF for long glass on the X-Pro3
• The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is strongest at 18mm, 23mm, 35mm but if you’re going longer frequently you’re probably wasting your money
• The 23mm works the best with the X-Pro3
• The new film simulations are only available on the X-Pro3
• HDR mode does a good job
• Classic Negative and be a little washed out
• The Fujifilm X-Pro3 allows lots of fine adjustment of JPEGs that can be applied after to RAW files using the in camera RAW editor
• The joystick allows for diagonal movement for the AF point, but not in the monochrome adjustments
• Gordan used classic negative for all of his pictures
• When ACROS came out it was his favorite and now Classic Negative is
• Classic Negative is very 60s/70s/80s developed film
• The digital filters are great
• The highlight of the X-Pro3 is how the camera processes images
• High ISO matches XT3/XT30
• Video is essentially like the XT30
• Decent face tracking in video, but the exposure adjustments could be smoother
• Gordan tried to shoot OVF as much as possible but found that the auto parallaxing adjustment wasn’t good enough for his style of photography
• EVF is better for precision
• The Fujifilm X-Pro2 magnification of the OVF might not be as big of an advantage s you might think since the X-Pro3 OVF is larger than the X-Pro2
• If you’re going to use the X-Pro3 with a single lens you might want to get an X100 and Gordan wonders if it will have the hidden screen
• The Hidden screen was a transformative experience that Gordan likes and finds to be his favorite upgrade on the X-Pro3.
• The X-Pro3 was very enjoyable to use and Gordan attributes the enjoyment to the hidden screen which changed up his shooting style that was refreshing
• The X-Pro3 is the best camera to emphasize the photography experience which Fujifilm understands

Fujifilm X-Pro News, Rumors, and Collaboration
Fujifilm X-Pro Owners Group

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Fujifilm X-Pro3 (Pick Your Trim): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama