Early this morning Fujifilm announced an entirely new and exciting member to their growing family of rangefinder style cameras-- the Fuji X-E3.
The first thing that jumps out to me about the Fuji X-E3 is that it seems to be a very consumer friendly camera. While it’s always going to play little brother to the Fujifilm X-Pro2, for the modest price, the X-E3 delivers in almost all of the ways that you’d want it to.
On it’s face, the Fuji X-E3 is a smaller, touchscreen only version of the Fuji X-Pro2. Equipped with a 24-megapixel APS-C X Trans III sensor teamed up with an X-Processor Pro image processor, the X-E3 isn’t necessarily a step back in image quality from the X-Pro2. It shoots also UHD Video at 29.97fps, which the X-Pro2 will also adopt via firmware update. In fact, it comes with identical shutter speed and exposure compensation dials and the focus control joystick that made the X-Pro2 so loved. So what’s different?
The Fuji X-E3 doesn’t come equipped with a hybrid viewfinder and is limited to the use of an electronic viewfinder. While this may not be a deal-breaker for some, it’s definitely something that many professionals should consider if they’re considering the X-E3. In addition, the X-E3 has fewer buttons which leads to less flexibility when customizing your camera. Again, this is a function and a change that most professionals should consider. It’s lost the button to change exposure modes and the shutter dial is unable to function as an ISO dial. Keep in mind, that with the loss in button controls, the X-E3 has heightened its reliance on touchscreen functionality. This can be a really great thing for a lot of people, but if you’re a button freak like me, you might be a bit bothered.
But let's ignore all of this for a moment and look at the huge upside the Fuji X-E3 presents. Yes, you may lose out on some usability and functionality, but you’re getting a huge amount of proven, tried, and true technology for a really fair price. The X-E3 shows that Fujifilm makes serious rangefinder cameras for shooters at every level.
The Fuji X-E3 will be released sometime at the end of this month with three different options in black or silver. The body will be available for purchase at $899.99, or with the 18-55 f/2.8-4 for $1299.95, or with the 23mm f/2 prime for $1,149.95.
Fuji also announced two new lenses today-- the XF 80mm f/2.8 and the GF 45mm WR f/2.8. The XF 80mm f/2.8 is the first 1:1 macro lens in the X-Series and is equipped with optical image stabilization, weather resistance, enhanced autofocus capabilities, and a, “nearly silent” linear motor. It will debut at $1,200 in November. The GF 45mm f/2.8 is the sixth lens for the medium format GFX system and will release this November as well at $1,700.
Yes the xf 80mm is the first xf macro lens... since the 60mm macro.
You're right. Correction: the XF 80mm is the first 1:1 Macro.
Bingo! Sorry to be a bit of a troll there. The 80mm is way more important now than the 60mm so it's easy to forget.
Totally cool! In the rush of getting this info out, sometimes we forget to add in little (but important) details like that.
It's a very nice and affordable alternative to the X-Pro2. Personally, I'd like to see Fuji roll out more focal length variants of their compact, fixed-lens, leaf shutter cameras. The X70 is 28mm, so I'd like to see a 35mm f/2 (52mm equiv.), and a 60mm f/2.4 Macro (90mm equiv.). The XF lenses are top-notch, but I'd prefer to pay a little more for a trio of fixed-lens leaf shutter cameras at those focal lengths if it meant I didn't have flash sync limitations.
Agreed, for me a 24-70 LS zoom would be wonderful. Yes, I get that you could not put it in your pocket but that is not where I keep cameras.
What it would do is revolutionize flash photography. HSS is OK but is a kludgy, low power work around.
I use a Panasonic FZ1000 with a small speedlight and can get superb fill in bright sun at 1/8 power and can throw serious light up to 25 feet outdoors.
An APS camera with a short LS zoom would cover 80-90% of my commercial work.
Yes , I hear about global shutters "any moment" but I am sure we will see some real shortcomings in their unevenness of exposure at high speeds.
Leaf shutters are here today.
With capture one I don't have those problems
Even Lightroom is good these days. If you are still not satisfied you can use Irident
I am sure it is a great performer, like its predecessors. Not at all appealing to me, lacking a viewfinder and having touch screen, but it will do well with a lot of people.
I really wish you finally stopped calling these RANGEFINDERS, when they obviously are not!
It has a viewfinder, that thing in the left corner. Also they refer to it as a rangefinder style, not as a rangefinder.
you are right about the evf, i did not notice it, sorry! they do call these 'rangefinders' though...
Having had the X100 and still have the X-Pro1 the reason i will not buy another Fuji is the exposure compensation dial, most frustrating part of the camera to easy to inadvertently move it and ruin pictures. although the Fuji range is good I still find myself thinking I wish I had my Nikon here rather than this.
I agree, for me the exposure comp dial is unnecessary. I know a lot of people use it, personally I wish they had a lock. Same goes for the Sony's, my a9 has had the exposure comp Dual knocked around more than once: