Gerald Undone has often critiqued Fujifilm quite hard and never recommended to buy Fujifilm, except for the Fujiflim X-T3. He now reviewed the Fujifilm X-T30 and compares it to the Sony A6400.
Interesting to note that he gets better autofocus tracking results in stills with the Fujifilm X-T30 over the Sony a6400. But the a6400 is the better choice for video autofocus.
overheats much faster than X-T3 in video, hence shorter recording limit
X-T30 is a serious upgrade from X-T20
Mic/USB-C/HDMI ports are to close together. If you use one, you block access to the other. You don’t have this problem with Fujifilm X-T3
X-T30 battery life lasts 65 minutes when shooting 4K. You can 90 minutes when shooting 1080p
When used with external video recorder, the camera shuts down due to overheating after 31 minutes
to extend video-life up, turn boost mode off (it affects mainly brightness and EVF refresh rate), pull the LCD screen away from body, mount it on tripod (no hand-holding), less AF-C. He got up to 69 minutes recording this way
X-T3 is definitely worth the money if you shoot lots of video. But for shorter family/travel videos, the X-T30 is great
X-T30 Pros
Sony lenses tend to be a bit larger, hence X-T30 system is smaller
in video the X-T30 has higher bit rate (200 Mbps) whereas the A6400 shoots at 100 Mbps. But higher bit rate does not mean automatically better image quality
A6400 Pros
Sony A6400 tripod mount does not block access to battery door
A6400 has a better screen design (flippy selfie screen)
A6400 lasts longer when it comes to overheating and with high temperature setting enabled, it can last for hours
no recording time limits, so no external recorder required
true 120 fps at 1080p
3.5 mic jack (X-T20 has 2.5mm mic jack)
Sony wins for overall video recording usability
battery life is similar, but Sony is a little bit better (around 10 to 15 minutes longer recording time and 50 more stills)
A6400 Sony’s RAW buffer is about twice at large
Autofocus in Video
for Video, the Sony wins by a little bit
X-T30 offers eye detection in video (the Sony A6400 only face detection), but the X-T30 is just a tad slower to catch up to a subject when moving in and out from the camera. The Sony manages to maintain the focus better
Both are great, but side by side, you can see the X-T30 autofocus drift a little
You can improve this on the X-T30, by increasing autofocus speed, but then it makes focus transition a bit too jumpy. The Sony has a nice balance of offering nice transitions while still locking on the face
Autofocus in Stills
in burst photo shooting continuous focus, the Fujifilm X-T30 beats the Sony A6400. The Fujifilm X-T30 hit a 100% hit rate in his test, whereas the Sony A6400, even with more expensive full frame glass, hit about 80%. The X-T30 consistently nails focus
likely due to the lens he used, he got sharper results with the Sony A6400. He used the Sigma f/1.4 contemporary crop lens vs the Fujinon XF23mm f/2 [admin note: he uses Adobe, too. If he played with the RAW files, then Capture One Pro 12 or the new Adobe enhance detail feature would have given different results]
Fuji is 1 stop noisier, when equalizing the image brightness [admin note: comment about it below]
Conclusions
He recommends the Sony A6400 due to more flexibility: selfie screen, better battery life, better video capabilities, deeper grip etc.
X-T30 might be the better travel camera, since more compact
There are so many reviews out there about the Fujifilm X-T3, and, inevitably, many also comare it to the Sony A7III. So today’s Fujifilm X-T3 roundup is dedicated to comparisons with the Sony A7III.
Let’s start with Venture Arthouse (video above), and the reasons why he got rid of his Sony A7III and Sony A6500 for the Fujifilm X-T3. Here are some keypoints:
The Fujifilm X-T3 has been highly praised by all top review blogs and youtube channels out there. And if you take a look at the Fujifilm X-T3 customer reviews at AmazonUS you will also find overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback.
“At first glance very similar to its direct predecessor the X-T2, this year’s model is in fact a major upgrade, offering a substantially improved set of video and stills features. In fact, despite its lack of IBIS, the 4K/60-capable X-T3 is arguably a better 4K video platform than the nominal video flagship of the X-series, the X-H1. Its ability to capture 4K/60p footage in 10-bit even puts it ahead of the latest models in Panasonic’s video-centric GH series.
All of this is made more impressive by the fact that until quite recently, Fujifilm’s X-series lagged seriously behind its competition in terms of video. The X-T3 is the clearest indication yet that Fujifilm has well and truly joined the game.”
The Sony A7III, though, beats the Fujifilm X-T3 in the “Best midrange ILC” category, with the Fujifilm X-T3 grabbing the second spot, beating the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z6.
DPReview also nominated the Sony A7III best product of 2018, with the Fujifilm X-T3 runner up. They write:
“Picking the single best product of the year is always a difficult task, and if we’re being honest, it’s impossible. Everyone’s needs are different. There has never been a better time to be a photographer, and in 2018 there are fantastic cameras, lenses and accessories out there for everyone.
But pick we must. This year’s shortlist is comprised of those products that represent, in our collective opinion, four of the best bits of gear released in 2018. Two of them really stood out, though. Runner-up is the Fujifilm X-T3 which – in case you didn’t already get the message – we really like. Fujifilm didn’t need to make the X-T3 as good as it is – hell, Fujifilm didn’t even need to replace the X-T2 yet – but they did, and they did. And the resulting camera is one of the best APS-C format ILCs money can buy, even rivaling some full-frame models.”
Compared to the Sony A7III, the Fujifilm X-T3 offers better weather sealing, less rolling shutter, less banding in electronic shutter mode, superior video specs, better EVF, better colors, dual UHS-II SD-card slot, video eye-tracking, blackout-less EVF at 30 fps and more for a cheaper price.
But, well, the Fujifilm X-T3 is not “full frame“, and these two little words just make the difference, probably more in our minds, than in real life shooting. But hey, that’s it. Now let’s talk medium format :).
“This year’s runner-up spot is taken by the camera with the biggest sensor of all – the Fujifilm GFX 50R. Designed for active photographers, the 50R takes the best bits of the more costly 50S – including its most important feature – the excellent 50MP CMOS sensor – and packages them in a smaller, more affordable, rangefinder-style body. Medium-format has never looked more attractive.”
You can read the full list of 2018 DPReview awards at dpreview here.
So, top Fujifilm manager Toshi Ilda said it clearly here: “We will NEVER go Full Frame!”
NOTE: this is not an article against full frame. I just try to put myself in Fujifilm’s shoes and see what it would mean for them to go full frame.
Now, apart from the fact that I 100% agree with what CanonWatch said:
“Never say never, even if you’re making the best APS-C mirrorless cameras on the market“
Remember when Fujifilm said they will never be able to offer IBIS on Fuji X Mount cameras?
Anyway, Fuji says. there won’t be any full frame camera, and according to this huge FujiRumors poll, most of you guys agree with Mr. Toshi.
But imagine…
Imagine Fujifilm would go full frame tomorrow morning.
Mostly due to the slower full frame sensor readout compared to APS-C (as listed in our advantages of APS-C over Full Frame), it would be a Full Frame Fujifilm that:
We did share a dedicated Fujifilm X-H1 roundup earlier today. Don’t miss it. But of course there is lots of stuff about the X-T3 been shared in these days. So here is the next Fujifilm X-T3 roundup.
So Christmas is over, and it was the first one with my new Fujifilm X-E3. So far I am in love with it, especially if used with the XF27mm, it’s the perfect walkaround, street and travel camera.
I have only two issues, one of them I already reported abou it here.
Sometimes my X-E3 tells me that no SD card is inserted, although there is one. In that case, I have to remove SD card, put it in again, and then shoot again. The SD card issue happened also when I shot on tripod… and God knows why the X-E3 has still no centered tripod mount. So I had to unscrew everything, take out SD-card, put it in again, mount it again on tripod, and shoot.
For these two reasons, my local store told me they will replace my camera with a new one, as soon as they get one from Fujifilm after holidays.
I think I was just unlucky… the next sample will work perfectly fine. But of course I will keep you updated.
In the meantime, enjoy this huge roundup dedicated to the lovely Fujifilm X-E3.
Fujifilm X-Trans sensor is the evil, its design is seriously flawed and it causes all kinds of issues. That’s at least what every now and then pops up on the internet.
Since some of these “X-Trans sucks” comments and articles keep up appearing on the web and are sent to me via email, I decided to invest a few minutes of my time to address this here on FujiRumors and let you guys discuss about it in the comments.
Ok… let’s start!
X-Trans III Causes Purple Flare with Grid Artifacts
I recently went on a trip to Canada and really got to put the Fujifilm X-T2 through it’s paces. I’ve played around with the video before but I feel like this trip was my first, real, intensive test of my X-T2’s video capabilities. Prior to this, I had a Panasonic GH3 (that I used exclusively for video work. I used an X-T1 for my photography), which I had sold when I got the X-T2. The following is a collection of thoughts I had regarding using the Fujifilm X-T2 for video work:
Note that I did not record to an external recorder. So everything was shot in 4K 23.97 4:2:0 with the Fujifilm XF18-55 f2.8-4 IS and XF50-140 f2.8 WR IS lenses.
In my opinion, the video files look fantastic. Especially when viewing in 4k on a 4k display.
Nearly every gripe I had while shooting this video was fixed with the new firmware 2.0, such as:
The ability to use single point AF while recording
The ability to change ISO while recording
Using the EVF/LCD while recording
I thought I wanted a firmware that added F-LOG internal recording. Now I don’t care as much. Sometimes it’s nice not worrying about having to grade too much. And if you record in a log profile in 4:2:0 I feel like you wouldn’t be able to push the image too much before you started getting banding and the image falls apart. Of course if they added it it’d be a nice option to have, but I don’t think it’s really necessary. But I’m no colorist, so maybe someone can correct me here.
Speaking of color, I barely touched the color of any of these files. The most I did was adjusting the color temperature in a few shots and add a bit of sharpening. That’s about it. I used the PRO Neg Standard color profile/film simulation.
Most of these shots were handheld. I did add warp stabilizer to a few shots in post.
The X-T2 weather sealing, in my experience, is pretty rugged. Exhibit A (disclaimer – your individual mileage may vary!):
I tried using one Tiffen 77mm variable ND filter for both the XF18-55 and XF50-140 lenses, using adapter rings to fit the filter on the lenses. This was a mistake that led to missed shots. I’d try to swap lenses to get a certain shot, but then I’d have to unscrew the filter and put it on the other lens. By the time I had it ready, usually the opportunity was missed. I ended up buying another variable ND from The Camera Store in Calgary.
I would buy a Fuji XF18-55 f4 WR IS if they made it. The 16-55 2.8 WR looks great, but the IS is very nice to have when I don’t have a shoulder rig, which is most of the time. I take too many photos to usually ever want to use a shoulder rig. I generally tend to find it too cumbersome for me. I would even accept a larger/heavier lens if they could make a XF 16-55 f2.8 WR IS. Basically, I want the best of the XF18-55 and XF16-55 and turn it into one super lens. Is that too much to ask, Fuji?!
I’m actually not sure where the internal mic is on the X-T2. But it feels like I cover it up with my hands whenever I’m recording, as almost all my audio sounds muffled. Or the X-T2 internal mics are just that garbage. That’s also a possibility.
I wish the mic jack had it’s own, independent cover. I hated exposing all those plugs to the elements when all I wanted to do was plug in my Rode Videomic Pro. This led me to not use it very often. It kind of defeats the purpose of weather sealing in that regard.
Be wary of your command dial. I shot all my video in 4k 23.97 and used a shutter speed of 1/50. But sometimes I’d inadvertently hit my command dial, shifting my shutter speed a third of a stop.
The crop when shooting 4k was both a blessing and a curse. It was nice having a little extra crop when I was trying to record something far away. But it sucked trying to get a wide shot and not getting everything fit into the frame. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting.
I hate the fly by wire system of the Fuji lenses. It makes pulling focus/rack focus nearly impossible. Even the fly by wire focusing on my Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 seemed more bearable than this. I’ve heard the Fuji 23mm 1.4 and 16mm 1.4 both have pretty cool manual focus rings with hard stops (I don’t own these lenses, so I don’t know how well they work). That would be amazing if they could somehow incorporate it into all of their lenses. I know that likely won’t happen though.
Fuji shooters tend to naturally gravitate towards each other. A random guy walked up to me while in Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and asked if I was using a Fuji. Turns out he also had an X-T2 and we ended up talking shop for a few minutes. This would never happen when I had my Canon or even my Panasonic. Thinking back on it, I wish I got his name, seemed like a cool dude.
If anyone is wondering, the other cameras I used for this are the GoPro Hero 5 Black and DJI Mavic Pro. But probably 95% of the footage comes from my Fuji.
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message! And if you’d like to check out my other work, you can visit me at www.albenosaki.com or @alben.osaki on Instagram!
Yesterday Adobe updated the Fujifilm Cameras Tether Shooting Plug-in PRO for Adobe Exchange. If you have Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and a X-T1, X-T2 or GFX 50S, the Pro plug-in lets you import captured images directly to a computer and you can control shooting on camera or from a computer. https://creative.adobe.com/addons/producers/121682
HSS
Shared by GFX facebook member Robert here:
“Great news! GFX High Speed Sync with Strobes
I’ve conducted successful HSS tests on the GFX. I’m beta testing the triggers that made this possible and the company has asked me not to disclose the model, which is why they are obscured in gaffer tape.
Behind the lamp is mid-day sun, HSS allowed the background and foreground to be properly exposed. Video features 1/2500th and 1/4000th shutter speeds but I’ve tested all speeds over the GFX’s native 1/125.
Flash power on the Broncolor Siros S 800 was set to 4.2 and strobe was in HS mode. (Flash was active in second half of video but Beep sound was turned off.)
Lens was Fuji 63mm wide open at 2.8.
Rarely the flash didn’t fire but it’s still beta. Every time it did fire exposure and timing was perfect, no banding, no color temperature shifts.”
Shutter Lag (corrected)
I didn’t share the previous video, because it was evident that the shutter lag of the GFX couldn’t be so bad. I didn’t want to create useless alarms. But I’m happy to see that J I M I Z E L L now shared an updated video with the accurate demostration of the shutter lag. So no panic, it’s a lot faster than the previous one ;) Check it out here.
