With all the mirrorless noise of the last couple of weeks, it's easy to forget that Fujifilm's latest offering is about to hit the shelves. With its new sensor and upgraded video specs, the X-T3 could be about to lead the way in the world of APS-C cameras.
Fstoppers' Dylan Goldby will be putting the Fujifilm X-T3 through its paces in the next week or two, but until then, here are the thoughts of Gerald Undone, who was fortunate enough to have been dragged out to one of Fujifilm's rather swanky press events featuring helicopters and supercars.
From the specs sheet alone, it seems that Fujifilm has made some fantastic improvements over the X-T2, and those who love Fuji's color science will certainly appreciate something comparable to the Panasonic GH5 that doesn't lean towards yellow and green. With so few bodies available right now, we might have to wait a few more weeks before any decisive judgments are made regarding battery life and heat dispersion. The lack of IBIS — a compromise probably made to allow such a small body — will no doubt be critical to many, but the cheaper price point and lower weight mean that it's ideal for gimbals and sliders, especially with the weather sealing and the notable upgrades to the autofocus system (100 percent frame coverage).
The X-T3 will be available as of September 20, and for anyone new to filmmaking who is after an affordable camera packing an amazing range of features (but can live without IBIS), this might well be their best bet.
What is IBIS and why may it be important?
In Body Image Stabilisation...very important if you want to have smooth footage, especially when moving, and don't want to use a gimbal or Glidecam style stabiliser...the sensor moves to smooth the footage out rather than having the stabilisation be only on the lens as is the case with IS lenses.
I think it more important for photos and not for video. I do not like any type of camera stabilization as it interferes with the pan or tilt I am trying to do. If I want stability, I will use a stedicam, gimbal, tripod, slider, jib, etc. to get the shot. That is why Panasonic removed it from their GH5S.
I think it's a pretty important feature for a lot of amateurs and vloggers that might not be able to afford steadicams, gimbals, sliders, jibs, etc. It's also useful for people that might have to switch quickly between shooting stills and capturing videos.
A lot of people like to take some video handheld every now and then and IBIS is really helpful for that.
Um..just turn it off? Any camera on a steady mount will have issues. IBIS and IS is only good for hand holding. IBIS is definitely a must for video, if you're not buying a gimbal.
I'll probably hold my verdict until the new, supposedly high-end APS-C camera from Sony comes this month. Definitely will have a comparable BSI sensor with IBIS. Supposedly aimed at the Nikon D500 and XT-2 markets: 2 memory slots? 10-bit 422 video? Joystick AF?..
Photographically speaking, the X-T3 is really impressive. 1 week heavy duty use of the body on fast moving subjects, technical data apart, seriously... i'm hesitant to sell my X-H1 and go with two X-T3 instead, it's That Good ! Happy to share my input if some want a few details about it and the shoot.
Would it be more reasonable to just wait for the X-H2?
Anthony Cayetano , I could not say as I have no information that the X-H2 is yet in the pipeline. That being said, it's clearly a technology race, so bodies will come out, seeing the rythm and the actual shelf life of any photography product, new stuff is bound to come out sooner or later.
The major question is, IMHO, how you enjoy the grip and the use of each body. I love my X-H1 but the X-T3 felt quite amazing and clearly lighter, more compact and the X-H1 felt bulkier. On long term missions, or travel, or where compact is also needed, this comes as an ergonomics question too.
So if it were me, I would not wait for a non-existent ghost, I would go for a latest tech body, covering my needs, and if, in the. future, i need to change... then I sell and change (but I also know it's GAS full on :D).
there are still photographers out there who only shoot stills, and this might be wonderful still camera.
Yeah I'd love to see a still photography review of a stills camera one day.
#metoo
I'm a still photographer doing more and more video for marketing purposes. I've owned the X-T2 since it came out and I absolutely love this camera. It's great for getting started in video, but I think there are a few simple, but significant upgrades that are needed that would make it likely the best all-around camera across all sensor sizes. All the necessary upgrades are on the video side. For photography, the X-T series is simply spectacular.
1) Stop using FAT32 so video files don't get broken into clips. I've experienced frame loss between clips.
2) Record video to both cards like the GH5.
3) Rotating screen. I don't need it. The existing phone app is a better solution for me. But for vloggers, this small camera with it's great AF and other features and a flip out screen would be a wonderful tool.
I'd like IBIS, but I don't NEED it. Unlimited recording time would be nice (for long interviews), but that's too much to expect from a non-video-specific camera.
I expect the X-H2 will leapfrog the X-T3 in a big way when it comes out and it will end up being that perfect APS-C camera for video. If not that one, they'll have it figured out by the X-T4 or the X-H3. That's the great thing about Fuji. Everyone knows they're coming out to impress with each camera release. I know they'll get it right.
Meanwhile, I have a shelf full of Canon glass that I'll eventually resume using with a Sony body because, as with Fuji, I know what to expect from Canon. But unlike Fuji, I know Canon is not going to produce something that I'm interested in paying for. They just refuse to be competitive, for some reason.
one nearly total weird and against the market point no one seams to notice, but this thing is cheaper than it precessor - in a world every chance is taken to raise the prices