This kind of annoyed Carlos Vega, who actually bought the Fujifilm X-Pro3, used it, and can’t understand how Tony Northrup can say that, even if he never ever touched the camera.
Now, personally I think people can have opinions about what they want when they want.
But Carlos surely has a valid point, too, as it definitely helps if you try out a camera, before making any conclusions.
So, if you want to read what Carlos Vega and others have to say about the Fujifilm X-Pro3, read it down below.
Fujifilm has just released firmware updates for several cameras, including the Fujifilm X-T3 and Fujifilm X-Pro3. Full list below.
NOTE: At the moment the new firmware is only available at the Japanese Fujifilm site (you can install that one), but it should be available soon also at the English one. I will remove the “coming soon” note for the English links once it’s available for download. Available now!
Gimbal / Drone support (*)
This firmware adds the following function to complement the current support for still image shooting via USB communications:
・Starting and ending video recording
・Adjusting exposure settings (exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, exposure compensation) for video recording
・Making manual focus adjustments for video recording
*This is the function via USB communication. About supported gimbals and drones, refer to support information not only on our website but also manufacturers’ websites.
2.Fix of minor bugs.
Fujifilm X-Pro3 […] has a slight delay in production […] we have received orders from all over the world, and we will postpone the release date on January 16, 2020 in order to ensure sufficient supply.
Notice how that they mostly focus on shooting experience, rather than pixel peeping. And honestly that’s kind of refreshing, as we usually are bombarded with charts, crops and comparisons when a new camera comes out.
Seen from this perspective, the Fujifilm X-Pro3 already achieved what it’s ment for: focus on feel and experience, rather than technical specs.
In case of Gordon (Cameralabs), he says the hidden screen helped him to review images and access menus way less than he normally does. He says:
Previously I always preferred the X-T series over the X-Pro series. But with the X-Pro3 I was surprised just how refreshing and enjoyable I found the experience, how little I worried about settings or features and how much I’d like to shoot with it again.
The Features
With that said, of course the reviewers also go over the new features of this camera.
For example, Gordon from Cameralabs shows samples of the new HDR plus mode, a feature that Gordon says “makes a really good job”. Press the shutter once, and the camera takes three images and combines them into one HDR image (see images below). It works used handheld.
Oh… and Gordon LOVES the new Classic Negative film simulation.
Now let’s cross fingers that all the X-Pro3 firmware goodness on the X-T3, X-T30 and GFX100.
As you know, the optical viewfinder on the “old” X-Pro2 had a build-in 0.36x and 0.60x magnification modes. So, when you use let’s say a 35mm lens, in order for your frame not be too small in the viewfinder, you could switch to the 0.60x magnification.
This is no longer possible with X-Pro3, as it has a fixed OVF magnification of 0.52x.
However, Gordon says that the overall much bigger optical viewfinder on the X-Pro3 helps to compensate for the lack of 0.60x magnification.
For your convenience, down below I have extracted and overlayed both viewfinder frames at 23 and 35 so you get a clear idea how big the difference really is.
With all that said, check out the Fujifilm X-Pro3 review roundup below.
DPReview just published their Fujifilm X-Pro3 review.
The X-Pro3 gets the silver award, but I doubt those, who got an X-Pro3 care anything about it. It is all about getting a different shooting experience that DPR sums up with the sentence “living the moment“. And in this case, the reviewer says:
Personally, although I can recognize the X-Pro3’s appeal, I don’t find that I feel it enough to give it a Gold award.
No review will ever be able to tell you if the Fujifilm X-Pro3 is the camera for you. All you can do, is to get your hands on one, shoot with it for a while, and you will just feel it.
